Under the sky

Chapter 253

Kunlun, summer and May of 78

Time flies, and two years later, Xie Yunjin is already eighteen.In the past two years, his academic performance has been outstanding in the priest's college, far surpassing other academic priests.

He was bound to become the next priest after Hilidegg to serve in the priesthood after completing his studies. There were people who flattered him, but despite this, he lived in seclusion and seldom interacted with others.He didn't make many friends in the first 16 years of his life, and even if he did, they would die soon. After losing his wife Jin, he became even more unable to control the propriety of his interactions with others. He was really indifferent.

He has a few acquaintances who occasionally interact with each other, and Hillidege is one of his few friends. Since Xie Yunjin saved him, Hillidege is very warm to Xie Yunjin. He not only visits him often, but also invites him to go out. , Xie Yunjin would refuse most of the time. His last trip experience was really bad, and he would rather go out alone.

The other two people who can be called friends are Tucker and Gao Leqi.He and Tucker had almost nothing to talk about. In addition to playing chess and music with him, Gao Leqi later became obsessed with painting. Of course, the main purpose was to inquire about news about the Priesthood.

Xie Yunjin is most concerned about the Holy Road. There are many rumors about this, but the location of the Holy Road is very secret. It is said that it is because the dead will be sent out of the customs.The Priesthood only found out about this about ten years ago. Fortunately, Gulthas had always been on guard. Although there were rumors of digging the holy road, there was no proof. The location of the holy road was only known to Gulthas and a very few chief priests.

Xie Yunjin was studying the art of war in the Priest's Academy and could borrow maps. He inspected the mountains and the Shajia terrain in Longdi and suspected several places, but he was not sure.If we can get the map of Longdi as a reference, we can get some clues. Unfortunately, the map of Longdi collected by the Priesthood is not only rough, but also has several obvious errors and omissions, making it difficult to verify.

Another thing he was concerned about was news about Nadia.Nadia was taught sinology and customs knowledge by Kong Xiaodaji herself. Xie Yunjin did not go to see her for fear of revealing that he had greeted her in the slave room.

He is becoming more and more accustomed to life outside the customs.For example, outside the customs, the New Year is not the biggest festival, but the Sri Yanabhata Festival is.It's a strange festival. It's not fixed on any month or day, but three days after the first rain after the beginning of summer.Usually, the people prepare sacrifices before the beginning of summer, looking forward to the arrival of the first rain. The earlier it comes, the more abundant the harvest will be this year.

Different Batu and even different tribes hold the Sri Yanabhata Festival on different days, spanning the months from March to July.There is also a little story here: A god-skeptic met a gangster in Atullebadu and prayed to the Sa god for salvation, so it started to rain. He told the gangster that the Sri Yanabhata Festival was not suitable for being stained with blood. , the bandits had to let him escape, but followed him all the way.Those who doubt God have no choice but to flee north. Wherever they go, the rain falls. After passing through Walter Batu, they come to Nabu Batu, where the Sacred Yanabhadu Festival is held every day.The bandit who was chasing him threw away his sword and cried bitterly: "God Sa, God Sa is stopping me from doing evil, and why don't I repent?" So the bandit and the doubter became good friends, and the two of them became good friends. Became the most devout believer.

The story goes something like this. Some people make it up, and some people believe it.

May [-]th was the first full moon day after his birthday. Xie Yunjin would always remember this day. Counting from the time he fell into the snowy field, this was his fourth year outside the customs.So he chose today to make a request to Gulthas. He took a bath, changed clothes, and combed himself neatly.He has been with Gulthas for two years. These are precious two years. He has learned the ideas for dealing with political affairs and the methods of controlling his subordinates. He knows that sometimes fear is more useful than goodwill, but the saying goes, "Grace comes before threats." There is a truth in the above, it is difficult to govern without power, and if kindness is not given, it will backfire. Gursasi is a person who is good at giving kindness.

He came to the Holy Priest Hall, just like every day in the past, he waited for Gursas to approve official documents, polished the edicts for Gursas, and summoned the people he wanted to see. He waited until the busy day was over before making his request. .

"I have completed what I should learn at the Priest Academy, and I want to become a flame." Xie Yunyan said, "I am also very familiar with the knowledge in the pass. Now I only need to know how to contact other flames so that I can live in the pass. without being suspected.”

Xie Yunyan stood up, knelt on one knee, and touched his heart with his left hand: "I have reached my age, and I will leave the priesthood this year. Gulthas, I hope you can listen to my wish."

Gulthas was silent for a long time and asked: "Do you still want to be a flame?"

Xie Yunjin nodded: "This is my ambition. I will work hard to retrieve information within the pass. In addition, I also want to bring a helper."

"Who?" Gulthas asked.

"Nadia." Xie Yunyan said, "She is still young and a girl, so it is easier to sneak in."

"She is a slave. She cannot follow the path of saints. She can only follow the path of heroes." Gulthas said, "She does not deserve this trust."

The Hero's Road is the dangerous path on the Kunlun Palace Mountain, just above the Guigu Palace. Xie Yunjin knows this path. It is a very ancient road, very dangerous, and it is extremely dangerous when it reaches the Kunlun Palace. It's definitely impossible to get through.

Is this what a 12 year old girl can do?

"Gulthas, is this too harsh for a child?"

"If you can't withstand harshness, you won't achieve great things." Gursasi said, "She spent dozens of lives to get this opportunity."

Gulthas bought back the remaining slaves of Prince Hugen. There were about thirty adults and children, and placed them in his slave room.He had met Nadia, but Nadia didn't know it. Accompanied by Potu, he took a look at the resolute little girl studying from a distance, nodded approvingly, and left silently.

"Tell me back to your story." Gulthas asked, "Why do you insist on being a flame?"

"In order to let the light of Sa God shine into the pass."

Gulthas shook his head: "This is the reason that belongs to God. I want to hear the reason that belongs to you."

"Can't the reasons that belong to God belong to humans?" Xie Yunjin asked.

"We are not the God of Sa. Faith is very important, but if we forget that we are individuals, we have failed to live up to the grace of the God of Sa who imparted fire and light to us so that we can possess wisdom."

"I want to see mountains, seas, and rivers." Xie Yunjin replied, "I read geography books in Guan Nei when I was a child. It was a different scenery from ours."

"That place should not be occupied by blind people." Xie Yunyan said, "I have a dream to walk by the river, humming hymns happily, holding scriptures in my hands, saluting and smiling at every passerby. I will Sitting on the big rock by the river, I opened the scriptures and taught the doctrines to the believers who surrounded me."

"Before that, we need to bleed and open the eyes of the blind man."

What he actually wanted to say was that there could be peaceful coexistence within and outside the customs, allowing everyone to find their own beliefs, but Naibuba was a Tengus sect. As long as he spoke out, even if he was not punished, entering the customs would become a dream.

"Dream?" Gulthas closed his eyes. After he couldn't see those dark green pupils, he looked like an ordinary kind old man.

"I also have a dream." Gursasi said, "I want to see the holy face of Sri Yanabhata in the holy mountain. When I return to God Sa, I hope that my bones can be buried in the holy mountain."

However, now the Holy Mountain has become a forbidden area and no one can enter.

"Isa Si's wisdom will definitely make it happen." Xie Yunjin said.

"Don't say false flattery." Gulthas asked, "How long do you think this will take?"

Xie Yunjin couldn't answer.

"Thirty years." Gursasi said, "With a peaceful approach and a small amount of war, 30 years is enough for Nabu Batu to unify the five major Batu."

Xie Yunjin asked: "Nabu Batu is already the most powerful Batu. We have enough ability to defeat the other four Batu. Even Atulie Batu is no match. It will take less than 30 years."

"The war has damaged all the five Dabas. It will be difficult to spread the teachings of the Sa God." Gursasi said, "You can only go far if you take one step at a time."

"Thirty years is too long." Xie Yunyan said.

Gursasi said: "That's why we need to send Huo Miaozi. If Huo Miaozi operates smoothly, the unification of the five major Badu will be faster..."

He closed his eyes again, this time as if he was looking forward to the day when he could see the Sa religion unified inside and outside the country.

Xie Yunjin asked: "Honorable and wise Gulthas, if we really succeed and spread the teachings of the Saha sect into the pass, so that all the people in the mountains and rivers can get the right faith, what's the next step?"

Gulthas smiled: "There are still barbarians in the west waiting for us to civilize, but that is a matter for future generations."

No surprise answer.Over the past three years, Xie Yunjin has long understood that the war of the Sa sect will never end. They are like a prairie fire. When one end is burned out, it will spread to the other end.

"Until one day, there are no more blind people in the world, and the Sa God will take pity on the whole world." Gursasi said, "This is the only way to glorify the Sa God."

The biggest difference between "Tengasi Sutra" and "Yanavata Sutra" is the explanation of "initiation, annihilation and return". "Yanavata Sutra" believes that annihilation is inevitable and is a part of reincarnation. It should be accepted with openness. The "Tengges Sutra" believes that only if everyone believes in the Sa God, can the destruction of the Sa God be delayed.

Therefore, it is impossible to coexist peacefully between the outside and inside the pass. The Sa religion must conquer and expand. The barbarians in the west are also worried about the Sa religion.If it were not for trade needs, the Sa tribe could not seal off both ends at the same time, and the barbarians in the west would have been invaded long ago.

"Do you know how we are better than Guannai?" Gulthas asked.

“We are the ones who know the truth and have the power of faith.”

"It's unity." Gursasi said, "Faith unites us. As long as the five major families can be unified, the nine major families in the pass will be easily defeated."

"Can't the nine families in the pass unite?" Xie Yunjin asked.

"No." Gulthas replied, "They have no faith. For the sake of profit, everyone will reserve their strength and let others face strong enemies. It's like two people fighting. One of them wields his weapon with all his strength, while the other's limbs are doing their own thing. , My hands and feet were afraid of hurting myself, so I cowered and hid, unable to deal with the enemy."

"They will fail," Gurthas said.

"Dear Sa Si, no disrespect intended, I have doubts." Xie Yunjin asked, "Saharha Jin was invincible more than 100 years ago. During the civil strife in the previous dynasty, we were unable to cross Hongxia Pass. Can we really do that?"

"In the previous dynasty, there was You Changbo, and among the people, there was an angry king, who commanded everyone uniformly." Gursasi replied, "There is no such thing now."

Mentioning the great deeds of his ancestors, Xie Yunjin's heart surged with passion. It was King Nu who saved Guan Nei back then. What happened after he returned to Guan Nei?

He had thought about it, if he really entered the pass smoothly, should he reveal the holy path to prevent the Huo Miaozi from entering the pass, or should he inform the nine major families of the news of the Sacred Cult?How can I notify someone without involving myself?His situation inside the pass is almost the same as that outside the pass. The death zone sent by Kongtong will be equally fatal when he returns to the pass.He even thought why not give up inside the pass and live outside the pass?He was no longer suspected, he could be a small priest, he could also serve in the priesthood, and he could live a prosperous life without having to beg his father.

But he still wanted to go back and see the people in the pass, see if his father's power in the night list was greater than that of Gulthas in Nabu Batu, and ask his father what he had done wrong and why he was treated like this. Own.

He wanted his father to know what he had been through.

"I don't intend to let you enter the customs." Gulthas said.

Xie Yunjin felt dizzy for a while, but he immediately regained his composure. He learned to control his emotions more and more, and asked calmly: "Gulthas, why is this? Is it because I'm not good enough?"

"You are excellent." Gursasi said, "I want you to stay and assist me, stay in the Priest's Court."

"Gulsasi..." Xie Yunjin was about to plead when he was interrupted.

"Everything is for God Sa and Nabu Badu." Gursasi said, "Thirty years is indeed too long. I am old and I may not survive until then..."

"But Mengde, Kongxiao, Potu, and Hillidege and you will succeed me and follow the guidance of God Sa to spread the teachings throughout the world."

"If I don't have the opportunity to see the remains of Sri Yanabhata, I will be buried on the holy mountain."

"Yunjin Xiaoji, in front of the Sa God, your personal wishes are insignificant. You have the ability, you should dedicate more to the Sa God. The wealthy people offer tithe, the smart people offer wisdom, the hard-working people offer strength, and Sometimes, we have to dedicate ourselves and our dreams, and I do the same."

Gursasi's dream is to pay homage to the remains of Saint Yanabhata. Now Naibubadu is fully capable of launching a war to seize the holy mountain, but he would rather wait and unify the five major Badu in order to reduce casualties.

In the eyes of Gulthas, Nabuba is like a beehive. Everyone is a bee. A single hive and bees cannot be called a hive, nor are they enough to become a hive. Only countless hives gathered together can Known as a beehive.It is their responsibility to grow the hive, and when the hive grows, it can accommodate more bees, and more bees can grow the hive. Any few bees are not important, what is important is the growth.

Gultha Sishuangba was all for his dream and for the teachings he followed. Under this premise, he had no one in his eyes.This is what he said. When standing high, those people, including himself, are so small that they are almost invisible.

"My talents will be more useful in the pass." Xie Yunjin said, "Give me three years, no, one year. If I can't be better than all the flames, I will come back."

"You can't do it." Gulthas shook his head, "You don't know martial arts."

"For God Sa, give up your dream." Gursasi said, "You don't have to be sad. After 30 years, you can still enter the pass, and you will be able to see what you want."

"With the blessing of God Sa, the distinguished Gursasi will definitely be able to see the holy face of Yanavata." Xie Yunjin saluted respectfully.

There is no need to utter any more pleas. It is a favor and a special treatment for the impressive Gurthas to be willing to explain so much.

"You are about to be promoted to the rank of minor priest." Gulthas seemed to be trying to make up for his shortcomings. "Hilidege has been in the Prison Department for two years and is about to be promoted to the rank of high priest. I will send you to go on an envoy to Sumaba with him. All."

"I remember that that is your hometown." Gursasi said, "You can wear the most expensive leather jacket, jade, and the priest's robe that represents your identity and return to your hometown."

■

After three years of planning failed, Xie Yunjin was inevitably discouraged, but every setback in the process of returning to the customs did not make him give up, but made him more determined.He had to find a way to find out the location of the Holy Road and leave secretly. He had always avoided playing tricks in front of Gulthas. It was too risky, but he had to do it.

Another troublesome thing is that if he does not leave Nabu Batu, he will face more troubles. As he is promoted to a small priest, Tucker and Gao Leqi will definitely want to get more information from him.

The first is Tucker. Lotyaline's health is getting worse and worse. Maybe Tucker will succeed in a few years.It must be him, although Lot had four boys, one of whom died in infancy, and the remaining two did not have very superior qualifications - not to mention that under the eyes of Gulthas, the smart and independent Arien may not be a good thing.Tucker has become more stable as he gets older, and shows the characteristics of his father Lot, which is tolerance.

Next is Gao Leqi, who has become more and more knowledgeable and will become a shrewd and capable governing talent. Although he is always ridiculed by the nobles of the same age as being a descendant of General Yu, General Yu is only the victim of successful kings and defeated enemies, and is not Not without talent.

These two people will continue to cause trouble for him. Xie Yunjin feels that one day these two people will force him to take a dangerous path and get involved in the power struggle between the Arien Palace and the Priesthood.

That was still a troublesome matter a few years later, even further away... 30 years, he couldn't wait that long.

While he was thinking about it, he heard a knock on the door.It was getting late, who would come to see him?He opened the door, and there was an unknown little priest outside. He saluted respectfully and asked why he came.

"Chief Priest Meng De wants to see you." The junior priest said, "Please come to the priest Jin Yunjin."

Since the death of Luskale, the chief priest Meng De may be the person Xie Yunjin hates the most.That was the culprit who killed the one-armed man. Several times he dreamed of the one-armed man asking him, "Did you help me avenge you?" with a knife in his waist. When Xie Yunjin lowered his head helplessly, the one-armed man would Jumping up to hug him, Xie Yunjin would wake up before the sharp blade passed through his lower abdomen.

But he didn't refuse, put on his clothes and followed the young priest.The little priest did not lead him to the residence of the chief priest Mengde, but walked outside the priest's courtyard, took out the pass, called the carriage, and the two of them got in the carriage together.

It was not a carriage specially designed for the officiant, but an ordinary carriage. Xie Yunjin realized that this would be a secret meeting.Isn’t Priest Meng De still planning to let Hillidegg go?

The carriage arrived at a restaurant in a dark alley. The door of the restaurant was closed, and the aroma of mutton and medicinal herbs wafted out from the window on the tiled wall.The nameless priest held an oil lamp and knocked on the door three times and two more times. The door opened and the boss saluted respectfully and led the two of them upstairs.

When the chief priest Meng De saw Xie Yunjin, he immediately stood up. Xie Yunjin touched his heart with his left hand and saluted, and the chief priest Meng De motioned for him to take his seat.

The fire was very bright, and the hot oil soup in the pot was bubbling. It was mutton soup stewed with medicinal herbs. The mutton was cut into large pieces with the skin on. Next to it were wheat dough, milk tea, and several plates of raw mutton. slices and vegetables, and a jar of wine.

It’s a meal that looks simple but is exquisite.

Mutton outside the customs is usually eaten without the skin, because the sheepskin can be tanned into leather, and eating mutton with the skin can give you some wealth. Wheat-made dough and good milk tea are not cheap, not to mention the medicinal materials and wine for making soup. This is definitely It is a enjoyment that only wealthy merchants, nobles and priests can enjoy.

Priest Mengde took the mutton from the pot and put it on the dough, sprinkled the spices from the Western barbarians, folded the dough on all four sides, and held it with both hands. The first bite left a fragrant aroma on his teeth and cheeks. He chewed it for a while, and slowly chewed the rest. Put it in your mouth.

Xie Yunjin followed suit. He had never tried the fragrance of wine and the sweetness after entering his throat. Lamb with skin was rarely eaten after leaving Guigu Temple. He found that he missed the elastic and chewy sheepskin.

Priest Mengde didn't say anything, and he didn't say anything either. He just treated it as accepting the banquet.After he was full of wine and food, he scooped a bowl of mutton soup to relieve his hangover. The smell of medicinal herbs hit his nostrils. It was fresh and sweet mixed with a slight numbing sensation that was pungent but not spicy. It was very refreshing.

"You don't seem to be from a small family." Priest Meng De suddenly said.

"The family education is strict, and there is also a priest's college to teach etiquette." Xie Yunjin replied.

"It won't take long for you to be promoted to the rank of small priest. You have done very well in the art of war." Meng De, the priest, said, "I would like to arrange for you to enter the Weiji Military Station. Are you willing?"

"Everything depends on Gultha's arrangements." Xie Yunjin said.

"Then I will arrange it for you." Priest Meng De rolled up the dough, "This way I can arrange for you to replace the old eye in Guan Nei."

Xie Yunjin looked up at Priest Meng De. He was becoming more and more calm, and he gradually learned to remain calm even after hearing shocking news.Priest Meng De also remained calm. He spoke as if he were at work, and it was difficult for you to hear the emotion contained in his words.

"I know your dream is to enter the border and become a flame. Gulthas thinks it's a waste. I'm different from Gulthas. I respect everyone's ideals."

"Yunjin is afraid that he can't afford it." Xie Yunjin knew that there must be conditions in exchange.

"No, I don't need you to pay anything. Compared with what the two children in Arien Palace ask for from you, what I want is like stones that can be picked up by the roadside. As long as you work hard, I will give you a lot in the future. Opportunity performance will also help you achieve your tasks and allow you to seize opportunities, and I won’t ask for the rest.”

Xie Yunjin thought for a moment and seemed to understand: "Dear Priest Mengde, do you think highly of me?"

These words were a bit implicit, but he believed that Priest Meng De would understand them.

"Gulthas likes outstanding young people. Older people have accumulated wisdom, but young people can learn and progress better. You are the best student in the Priesthood, better than Hillidger, and you and him are just Six years apart.”

"Gulthas hopes that his successor will be a young man, and as I am getting older, maybe I will be a good assistant. Of course, this all depends on Gurthas' arrangements."

Gulthas only has four years left to serve as Mengde's priest. Hilidege is resolute and decisive in his work. He is impeccable in government affairs and military affairs. He is No. 1 among the young priests. Although Xie Yunjin ranks first in academics, But now it’s not even a small festival.In another four years, if Gulthas is still there, he will convene a meeting of officiants and hand over the position of successor to Hillidegg. Priest Mende will always be the officiant, but if his performance can make Gulthas Shaken, perhaps Gulthas would like to wait a few more years for him to observe his performance, and postpone the appointment of Hilidege as his successor, maybe for another four to six years.

Gulthas is in good health, but he is over sixty after all. For an old man of this age, death may occur every day, let alone ten years later.For the chief priest Meng De, supporting Xie Yunjin and making Gursasi hesitate is the best way for him to maintain his inheritance rights.

Priest Mengde wanted to delay Hillidege's becoming the heir by cultivating himself.

The conversation ended here, the two stopped talking, and Xie Yunjin enjoyed a sumptuous dinner.

Master Jin often said that power and wealth are like an abyss, which will attract everyone to risk their lives. Power and wealth are not so much an abyss as a whirlpool. They will involve everyone who gets too close, whether you are willing or not, as long as you If you get close, you will be drawn in and torn apart until you are shattered to pieces. Even if you are far away, you may be attacked by the undercurrent and eventually be destroyed.The bodies of more than 200 slaves, one-armed men, and even the Golden Master were lost because they were involved in the power struggle between Meng De and Xili Dege.

Three days later, Hilidege and Xie Yunjin led a hundred-man envoy to Suma Batu.

(End of this chapter)