Under the sky

Chapter 254 Unexplainable

The road to Suma Batu requires passing through Getata Batu, which is a long journey and takes about twenty days.The weather was so hot that people couldn't help but open their mouths and stick out their tongues, especially in this place where people didn't take off their clothes to relieve the heat. They had to wrap their whole bodies tightly. Xie Yunjin almost covered his face to avoid sunburn.

Sumabadu is a place where foreign trade flourishes, with many lakes and rivers and magnificent scenery.There are many lifelike stone carvings and murals in Batu. The goods from the Western barbarians have exquisite and meticulous craftsmanship. The nobles of the five major Batu will buy these strange things from them.

Cursive painting is their specialty and is deeply loved by local nobles and wealthy businessmen.It is a craft of weaving dry rough grass stalks into paper and painting on it. Because dry rough grass stalks are very easy to break, weaving is not easy. Skilled paper weaving women earn a lot of money.

Naturally, you have to be careful when painting on such expensive paper. The famous artist's handiwork will be collected in Arien Palace and the Priesthood. A thousand dollars is not an exaggeration for a painting.The most famous one is undoubtedly the huge masterpiece with a width of three feet and a length of four feet collected in the priest's courtyard: "The Record of the Kingdom of Duosuo". The content is that Yanavata led his followers when the country of Duosuo suffered destruction. Escape scene.Huge fire fell from the sky, thick smoke billowed, mountain birds fell, and dead fish floated in the river. Sri Yanabhata led believers across the eternal night and towards the light.

The content of the painting is terrifying, but it looks solemn and holy. Even if Xie Yunjin is not a true believer in Sacredism, he still respects this painting.Hilidegg's eyes turned red when he saw it, and many of his followers even knelt down to worship this masterpiece.

Another hobby of Sumabatu is hair braiding.Hair braids are also found in Guan, which is not unusual, but the hair color of people outside Guan is not as boring as in Guan. Black, gold, reddish brown, gray, with a little bleaching and coloring, it can have various changes, and there are also requirements for top-quality hair braids. , that is, the same color in each braid can only use the hair of the same person, and it must be a woman's hair, so that it will be delicate and smooth.

For this reason, many hair braiding works will even take ten or even 30 to [-] years to complete. During this period, the hair braider will be responsible for paying the living expenses of the woman who provides the hair. Many famous hair braiders will use their wives’ hair as materials to show their dignity. Love, in Suma Batu, there is a girl with beautiful hair who everyone is vying to marry, and money grows on her head.

Animal husbandry is also their main income. There are many lakes and fertilized wild grass. Milk here only costs half the price of Nabu Batu. Ten copper coins or one cent of silver can be exchanged for two large jugs of milk.

Hillidegg said that if Suma Batu had used the money not for enjoyment and appreciating handicrafts, but to support soldiers, there would be no need to be so afraid of its neighbor Atulie Batu.

Yes, the biggest flaw of Suma Batu is that it is right next to Atulie Batu.To this day, Atulie Batu will bully Sumabadu in various names. Caravans without passes will inevitably be robbed, and even if they have them, it is difficult to ensure safety, not to mention Atulie's extortion from time to time.

Xie Yunjin had to suppress his surprise about his "hometown", especially the interesting handicrafts, and pretended to look like something he was used to seeing.

Hillidege came to Sumaba to discuss the tax between the two major cities. Hillidege was shrewd and capable, and assisted by Xie Yunjin, it only took three days to finalize the matter.

The Sri Yanabhata Festival in Suma Batu had just ended. The streets were full of buskers and people celebrating. They had free time to roam. Xie Yunjin saw the most famous statue "The Blind Thinker" by the pool in the main square. ”, the blind Holy Yanabhadra looked up at the sky, as if he was listening to the divine metaphor, holding a book in his left hand, and writing quickly with his right hand.The details are not only the lifelike expressions, but also the wrinkles on the clothes and the loose spots on the pages of the book.It is said that there are scriptures engraved on the pages, but it is impossible to tell the authenticity of the rumors from below. He did not dare to climb up the stone statue, otherwise he would be beaten to death.

Generally speaking, Sumaba is a leisurely and elegant people. According to Gulthas, they are a weak people.They ignore the "Tengasi Sutra" and only believe in the most primitive teachings - the "Yanavata Sutra". They believe in love and kindness, unlike Nabu Badu who is full of capable, decisive and quick temperament.

"Where is your hometown?" Hillidegg asked, "Shall we go there?"

"I don't have good memories in my hometown." Xie Yunjin replied, "We read the Tengges Sutra, and they thought we believed in heresy."

"They are the heretics." Hillidegg said disdainfully, "We still have some time, we can stay a few more days. Everyone is interested in going to see Lake Kali. I heard that the scenery there is very good. We will come back in about four or five days. are you going?"

Kali Lake is located in the northwest of Suma Batu, close to the border of Atulie Batu. It has pleasant scenery and is a scenic spot.Xie Yunjin originally wanted to refuse. He didn't like crowded places and always felt out of place when everyone got together, but he agreed because he seemed more out of place if he was left alone.

The group set out before dawn the next morning. Suma Batu specially sent a team of 50 people to protect more than [-] of them.It took two days to go to Kali Lake. They rode camels and camped halfway. They camped by the lake on the second day. Xie Yunjin felt comfortable looking at the scenery of the lake and mountains.Returning on the third day, it was almost dusk and everyone was about to set up camp when there was the sound of horse hooves and dozens of cavalry running towards them.

Suma's escorts and Nabu's entourage immediately became alert. Hilidegg got on his horse with a scimitar in hand and called back to the two guards: "Protect Yunjin Xiaoji!"

Suma's escort sounded the horn to warn the cavalry not to get closer, but it was obviously in vain. The other party seemed to speed up.Moreover, there was thicker smoke and dust behind this group of people... What was going on?

Someone shouted loudly: "Are they refugees?"

Seeing that the opponent had reached about two hundred feet, Hillidegg shouted: "Fire the arrow!"

The escort immediately drew their bows, and more than ten of the opponent's enemies fell. Not only did they not fight back, they also did not stop.Just listen to the other party shouting: "Make way, give way!" The two sides were less than a hundred feet apart, and someone shouted: "They are refugees!"

There was no time to think, and it was already difficult to dodge. The Suma guard captain shouted: "Stop them!" The guard immediately stepped forward with swords, and the two sides started fighting.

The battle only lasted for a moment, because they immediately discovered the biggest trouble-the cavalry team of Atuli Batu was chasing closely behind them. It turned out that it was the nobles of Atuli Batu who were hunting?

It was dark, and the cavalry rushed into the formation, killing everyone on sight. Suma's team shouted loudly to stop, and the captain shouted: "We are the Suma Guards!"

The cavalry of Atulie didn't care about this. As long as their master didn't shout to stop, the hunting would not stop. The Suma team was forced to defend themselves, and the two sides started fighting. The Naib escort team closely guarded Hilidege and Xie Yunjin.Seeing that the fighting continued, Xie Yunjin was thinking hard about countermeasures when he heard the sound of "clang, dang, dang, dang" bells on the battlefield. The refugees and the Suma escort were taken aback, and fled back in panic, mingling with the Nabu escort.

A woman armed with a machete broke into the formation and showed no mercy, killing everyone on sight.She was wearing many iron rings. Xie Yunjin couldn't see clearly in the darkness, but he could only feel her whole body making clanking noises.

She may not be well-known in Nabu Batu, but the people in Suma Batu know very well that she is Kayasasi's wife Dak, and the sound of Dak's bell is the footsteps of the god of death.

Just because of the sound of the bell, the Suma escort was defeated.

"Xiaoji, run away!" Nabu's escorts resisted with all their might. Now it was unreasonable. One of the guards pushed Hillidege and Xie Yunjin onto their horses. Hillidege was very good at martial arts, but in this situation, he was in battle. Death is the same as death.

The remaining escort team stayed behind to cover the two's escape. Only a dozen or so defeated Cavalry Suma soldiers followed the two.Xie Yunjin galloped on his horse, and Hillidege caught up with him. Atulie Batu's hunting team refused to let them go and followed closely behind.

"Why did you lie to me?" Hilidegg suddenly asked.

"What?" Xie Yunjin didn't understand what he meant.

"Why did you lie to me?" Hillidegg raised his voice, "When I chased the slaves two years ago, why did you deliberately point me to the wrong path?"

Xie Yunjin was stunned, how did he know? "I was forced, I was coerced!" he replied, which was the explanation for the original slave rebellion.

"I know not. The one-armed man is standing too far away from you. He only has one hand. You can escape!" Hillidegg said, "You want to embarrass me and make me fail on my first mission. Let me fail." The slave ran away, but he came back to save me because he was afraid of making things worse!"

Xie Yunjin has no time to explain, no!Why did Hilidegg bring up this matter at such a critical moment?
He rode his horse to escape from Hilidegg, but Hillidegg followed closely.

"You look down on me. You think you are better than me. You have been looking down on me for the past two years and disdain to be with me!" Hilidegg shouted, "You have to pay the price!"

I don’t know what hit Xie Yunyan’s chest, a fist, an elbow, or a scabbard?Xie Yunjin couldn't be sure.He fell off his horse and rolled several times, until all the bones in his body were about to fall apart.With a bang, he was hit hard on the back of the head and he fainted immediately.

■

When Xie Yunjin woke up, her whole body ached, including severe pain in her chest and back. Fortunately, her hands and feet were not broken.He heard crying and opened his eyes. He was surrounded by darkness, except for the faint light of fire outside.

Fire?Where is this?He found himself in a large tent with the curtains hanging, and he heard the sounds of many people crying.

He grinned in pain and asked in a low voice: "Where is this place? What's going on?"

No one paid attention to him. He tried to move his body, only to find that his hands and feet were shackled.He asked a few more questions to the people around him, and received a few curses and an elbow. He covered the wound and gritted his teeth to endure it.

"This is the prison cell." The man said, "We are prisoners of Atulie Batu."

captive?Xie Yunjin said loudly: "I cannot be a prisoner, I am Nabu Batu's little sacrifice!"

"I am still the son of Gulthastha!" someone among the prisoners said, causing everyone to laugh.

A soldier opened the tent door and walked in, shouting: "Who is talking?!"

Everyone immediately fell silent.Xie Yunjin shouted: "I am Nabu Batu's little sacrifice, you can't arrest me!"

The soldier stepped forward. Just as Xie Yunjin was about to speak, he was kicked in the stomach. The pain was so painful that he almost vomited acid water.

"Shut up!" the soldier shouted in a low voice.

It took Xie Yunjin a long time to catch his breath, and someone whispered: "Don't talk at night, or you'll get beaten."

There are refugees here, traders without passes - a crime close to smuggling, a few Souma warriors involved in the refugees, and some just innocent civilians passing by.Xie Yunjin was hungry all night, and the next morning someone ordered to break camp. They were driven to pack their things, follow the team, carry tents, and push luggage.

But they were not given anything to eat.

Xie Yunjin was so hungry that he was dizzy. When they arrived at the water source, they were responsible for setting up camp and setting off for the stronghold, while the soldiers prepared to go out.They wanted to hunt and hunt everything that moved, including people.

Xie Yunjin met Kaya and Dake for the first time.Kaya is very fat, over eight feet tall, with a wide waist and thick legs. She probably weighs less than 200 pounds. The strong muscles of her youth can be vaguely seen on her body, but now she is a fat man over fifty years old.

Kaya wrapped herself tightly in a red cloak, leaving only a pair of eyes exposed, not to cover her body, but to block the sun.He made "ding-dong-dang" sounds from time to time as he walked, and Xie Yunjin didn't know how many iron tools he had on him.

Xie Yunjin seized this opportunity and rushed forward and shouted: "Dear Kaya, distinguished Sasi, please listen to me, I am the priest of Nabu Batu!" Kaya glanced at him, and Daklian Without even looking back, they ignored him and set off with a cavalry of more than two hundred people.The guard hit Xie Yunjin on the knee with the handle of the gun, causing him to kneel down in pain, and then hit him hard on the chin. Xie Yunjin rolled on the ground, holding his chin tightly, speechless.

"If you say anything again, your teeth will be knocked out!" the guard scolded, "Go to work!"

They were unreasonable, and Xie Yunjin held on to his strength.He was targeted, and whenever he moved things or set up camp, he would be punched and kicked if he had any trouble with his hands and feet.But those are all things Xie Yunjin doesn’t know how to do. He can distinguish the advantages and disadvantages of the terrain on the battlefield, can write entire classics silently, and can recite a thousand poems, but he can’t set up camp, twist ropes, or knock down a strong camp. Nail, so he received a few more punches.

In just one day, he felt like he was going to be tortured to death and felt dizzy.

After all the coolies were done, the group was allowed to lie down by the lake and drink water. Each person was given a piece of barley cake, which he wolfed down.

He will die. He will die in a few days like this.

In the evening, Kaya, Dake and the cavalry came back, bringing with them many prey, more than ten people, as well as foxes and other animals.Xie Yunjin didn't dare to shout.These people were shackled and thrown into the slave camp the next day. In the evening, they were given a piece of barley bread and a small piece of dried meat.

A huge bonfire was raised in the center of the camp. During this hunt, Kaya brought [-] soldiers with him. They ate and drank around the bonfire, while Xie Yunjin and other prisoners were called to carry food and spirits and pour wine and barbecue for them. , passing food around for these warriors to feast on.

The female prisoners were not so lucky. They would be taken to the back of the camp and would not come back crying until very late. Their screams and calls for help were drowned out by the loud shouts and gossip of the soldiers.

Kaya and Dake sat on the main seat, and Dake took off his sun-shading robe.She wears copper-inlaid leather armor. Unlike the obese Kaya, she has brown skin, thick thighs, well-textured arms, and strong muscles.

Carrying food was also torture for the prisoners, who knew they would die if they took even a small bite.Xie Yunjin poured wine for the soldiers and was called around to drink and pass the food. He was so hungry that his chest pressed against his back, and the aroma was like a needle pricking his stomach, causing sour water to gush out.

Kaya drank from a large bowl and ate meat, and the warriors danced to entertain him. He threw down the reward and asked the warriors to come out for a duel.The two warriors fought to the death by the campfire until one stabbed the other through the chest and left with a huge reward.

Kaya was very excited and shouted: "Call Mi Fei!"

The only Batu among the five great Badu in Atulie Batu does not have Yalien. Sasi is Yalien, who directly manages the people.

Not long after, a girl with a beautiful face and honey skin came over.She wore a loose robe, which still could not hide her bulging breasts, and walked towards Kaya tremblingly, accompanied by a soldier.

Kaya hugged her and pulled her to the seat. He took off her robe in front of many soldiers, exposing the woman's plump breasts and slender waist. He kept rubbing her hands and then took off her pants.

He actually started doing things in public.

The eyes of the girl named Mi Fei did not have the happiness of being pampered, but were filled with humiliation, fear and sadness. She pretended to accommodate, moaned and praised, but she could not hide her red eyes.

Da Ke jumped in front of the campfire in person, and she would give a reward to any warrior who could catch her ten swords.

Xie Yunjin didn't look at these details. He was so hungry that he was dizzy and his eyes were blurred. If it weren't for the will to survive, he would have fainted.

After the orgy, the captives were driven back to the slave camp.Xie Yunjin's whole body ached, he touched his head to confirm that he had a fever, and then fell into a deep sleep.He couldn't get up, there was no food, and he couldn't stand the labor anymore. He lay on the ground unable to move.

He was not the only one who couldn't move, there were also the refugees who were captured earlier. They were covered in injuries and exhausted.The soldiers' method of waking them up was very simple. Those who were too injured to get up would poke two holes in their chests with long spears and throw them out by other prisoners.

Xie Yunjin can only move, otherwise he will die.

At this moment, he saw two horses running into the camp, and he recognized one of them - Hilidegg?
He was refreshed and felt redeemed. Just when he was about to speak, he immediately felt the cold gaze of the soldiers beside him. He hurriedly kept silent and followed the other prisoners to fetch water, but he doubted that Hillidegg would save him?
He had to save him, he had saved him after all, and he was Gulthas' penman.He clung to hope but was afraid of despair.

Not long after, someone shouted: "Is there anyone named Jin Yunjin?" Xie Yunjin was so happy that he put aside his illness and fatigue, raised his hands and shouted: "It's me! It's me!"

Two soldiers immediately stepped forward and carried him to the big tent. In the tent, Hilidegg and another priest were talking to Kaya and Dak.

The priest should be from Suma Batu. I only heard him say: "Honorable Kayasasi, our escort has stopped, and the distinguished guests have refused to fight with you. Why are you still pursuing us?" ?”

"How many times do I have to tell you!" Kaya was furious, "Your people should not hang out with refugees! Refugees are not allowed to approach ordinary people, and ordinary people should not interact with refugees!"

"The refugees were driven here by you." Hillidegg said, "They blended into our ranks."

"Then you should settle accounts with the refugees!" Kaya laughed loudly, "Or do you want to exchange blood for justice?"

The priest of Suma said: "If you kill a priest of Nabu, Gulthas will be unhappy."

"Don't try to use that old man to pressure me!" Kaya roared, "He wants revenge, and Atulie will repay blood with blood!"

He glanced at the door, saw Xie Yunjin, and shouted: "Come in!"

Xie Yunjin was carried into the tent.

"Is he your priest from Batu?" Dake said, "I heard him say that."

Xie Yunjin looked at Xili Dege and shouted excitedly: "Xi Li Dege!"

"How do you know my name?" Hilidegg frowned and turned to Da Ke, "I don't know him. He is not our priest."

Xie Yunjin seemed to have fallen into an ice cellar.

"Xilidege, what are you talking about!" Xie Yunyan said, "I saved you!"

He cannot be chaotic, he must be calm.

"I don't know you." Hilidegg shook his head. "You are a liar." He said to Kaya, "He is a liar. What are you going to do with him?"

Just as Xie Yunjin was about to speak, Kaya said: "Drag him outside and wait."

Two soldiers dragged Xie Yunjin down, and Xie Yunjin shouted: "I am Gursasi's penman, the priest of Nabu Batu, I..."

"Pah, pah, pah, pah", Xie Yunjin's cheeks were swollen with several slaps, and she could no longer speak.

Hillidegg said: "Kayasas, aren't you going to kill this liar?"

Kaya said: "Kill him!"

Xie Yunjin felt dizzy.

Suddenly, Dake shouted angrily: "Are you teaching us how to deal with prisoners?"

Kaya and Hilidegg both looked at Dako.

Dake said: "This is Atulie's prisoner. Kaya knows how to deal with it. You don't need to tell me!"

Kaya also sensed something was wrong and roared angrily: "He lied to us, we will deal with him in a fair way! Nabu Batu's little sacrifice, are you ordering Atulie's Sasi?"

Hilidegg knelt down on one knee, touched his heart with his left hand, and said, "I was rude, and I would like to apologize to the brave Kayasas."

Kaya snorted, and Hilidegg stood up and said: "We have lost a small priest, and I will report it to Gulthas truthfully."

Kaya shouted: "Get out!"

Hilidegg walked out with the Soma priest.Xie Yunjin was still left at the door. He looked at Hilidege, who walked up to him and whispered in his ear:

"This is what you get for looking down on me."

look down?Xie Yunjin didn't know why.Hilidegg has left with the Summa priest.

(End of this chapter)