Under the sky

Chapter 274 Catastrophe is imminent

Kunlun February spring of 91

The light of the gem shone brightly, and Buu lifted it up to admire it in the sunlight.

"Sir, the best rubies and rough stones were transported from the western barbarians. After paying the toll in Atulie Batu, they came to Suma Batu, where the best craftsmen carved them. Then they hid from the refugees and hid. I went through the intrusion of bandits, passed through Getata Badu, and went through many difficulties to get here. Even if the Son of God wears it, it is enough to match his identity."

"You are really good at bragging." Buu smiled, "Which rough stone does not come from the Western barbarians? You can tell a story about every stone in Nabu Batu."

"Make it into a necklace, put it in the best wooden box, and sprinkle it with fragrant powder. You know, women not only love gems, but also like exquisite outer boxes and fragrances." Buu ordered.

"Yes, sir." The jeweler put away the gems and took out several drawings for Buu to choose from, all of which were necklace styles.Buu chose the thickest silver chain, paid the deposit, and left the store.

His carriage stopped next to the jewelry store. He walked out of the gate and met a man with thick hair and a brand new leather jacket. Buu gave way politely, and then he felt a pain in his thigh. Before he could react, the man She had already snatched his money bag and ran towards the alley.

"Catch him!" Buu shouted, "He's a bandit!"

The six guards who accompanied him quickly chased after the escaping bandit, leaving two guards beside Buu.Buu stretched out his hand and touched it. His thigh was dripping with blood and he had been stabbed.

"Damn it!" Buu yelled, "You actually committed crimes under the sun! God Sa will punish these gangsters!"

The robber took the wallet and kept turning in the alley. When passing through a dark alley, he got into a house.He took off his finely woven wig without haste, revealing his bald head, and took off his brand new leather jacket and trousers, revealing an old shorts and tattered trousers.He folded the leather jacket and wig properly and put them into his arms for storage. He dipped dust on the ground and smeared it on his face, then walked out with his head lowered.

Neither the city guards nor Buu's guards noticed this beggar-looking passerby.

■

Hilidegg heard that his brother was injured and had to leave the priesthood to visit.

"These useless guards!" Buu complained, "They can't even catch a robber, and they still do it in broad daylight!"

"How's your injury?" Hillidegg asked.

"I lost more than three taels of silver and many copper coins!"

Hillidegg was very impatient: "You are not short of money. Do you think I don't know that you received gifts from merchants? I asked you about your injuries."

Buu is a tax collector, which is a very fat position in Nabu Badu. If you have a younger brother who is the chief priest in the priesthood, he will be so fat that he will drip oil when he walks.

"The wound is big, but fortunately it's not deep." Buu said, "I'm a little dizzy. Healy, I heard a lot of news. I heard that the Son of God was attacked in the Priest's Court?"

Hillidegg said: "You have a good rest and there is no need to worry about the affairs of the priesthood."

Buu asked: "Some people say that the Priesthood assassinated the Son of God. Is this true?"

Hillidegg said: "That is a rumor, the nonsense of ignorant villagers and blind people. Many people only have ears and mouths, but no eyes and wisdom. They cannot see the truth and only interpret what they hear." Rumors are spread out with added fuel and jealousy."

Buu felt a little relieved: "May the God of Sa bless the son of God, and may the God of Sa bless you. Healy, please come and visit me."

Hillidegg expressed some condolences to his brother, then said goodbye and left. His sister-in-law sent him to the door.Before the gate was closed, the sound of horse hooves could be heard not far away. Hillidegg looked up and saw three riders leading more than a dozen warriors in Arien Palace uniforms running towards them quickly. There was also a rush of people in the alleyway. Soldiers from the Prison Department surrounded Hillidegg with weapons in hand.

Hillidegg's guards sensed the danger and drew their swords one after another. The guard captain Bart shouted loudly: "What are you going to do? This is the chief priest of Hillidegg!"

A captain of the Prison Department stepped forward, holding the wanted drawing and shouted loudly: "The Prison Department was ordered to investigate the death of the little priest Jin Yunjin, and arrest the chief priest Xili Dege!"

Damn it, Hilidegg knew he was in a trap and lured him out of the trap in the Priesthood.

One of the guards of Arien Palace walked out. Judging from his appearance, he was the captain of the guards.He jumped off the horse, touched his heart with his left hand, and bowed: "Takyarion wants to hear the case personally, please ask the chief priest Hillidege to come with us to the prison department."

Hillidegg said: "I am the chief priest of the priest's court. The crimes of the priests are the responsibility of the Discipline Department. If you think that I have committed a crime, you should hand the evidence of the crime to the Discipline Department, where the impartial priest Kong Xiao is responsible for investigating."

The captain of the guard said: "Please lead the priest to follow us to the Prison Department first."

Hillidege got on his horse and said, "Speak to Priest Kong Xiao." He rode away, and the guards protected him as he moved forward.

"Priest Hilideg, I'm offended!" the guard captain shouted loudly, "grab the priest and try not to hurt him!"

Hilidegger didn't care about him, he rode straight forward, and the guards around him fought with the soldiers of the Prison Department.

"Get out of the way!" Hilidegg pulled out the knife.He has sharp swordsmanship, and he did not forget to learn top martial arts skills when he was studying in the Priesthood.There are many high-level martial arts students in the priest's academy, and he practices the torch-passing heart technique and the flame sword technique.He waved the knife and quickly rushed out of the three people in front of him, including the guard captain.

An ambush stood up on the roofs on both sides, holding bows and arrows and calling to Hilidegg to stop.This group of cowards, they don't dare to shoot arrows, Hillidegg is confident.He was the heir of Gulthas, and they certainly couldn't afford the retaliation that would result from killing him.

"Fire arrows!" A bald man among the surrounding crowd ordered.

Swish, swish, swish, several arrows shot out.These idiots, do they really dare to kill themselves?Hilidegg quickly blocked the arrow with his sword.

The arrow hit the horse, and the horse stood up in pain. Hillidegg tried hard to control the horse. Without the horse, there was no way to escape. He squeezed his legs and spurred the horse to run forward.

The bald man rushed forward, waving the scimitar in his hand.His knife is so fast!Hilidegg blocked with his sword, and went around with his bald head. He braved the rain of arrows and fought with him under the horse. Hilidegg had to use all his strength to deal with him.

Before he could escape, a sharp arrow penetrated his thigh. Hillidegg screamed in pain, fell from his horse, and the sword was immediately placed on his neck.

The bald middle-aged man kicked the knife out of his hand, squatted down to inspect his injuries, and waved to the people around him: "Bring the cloth and the gold medicine."

■

The unbearable stench was that of feces, urine and rotting meat. The afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the window bars and formed a line with the black shadow of the iron bars.

This is a place that Hillidegg is familiar with. After retiring from the post of pen clerk, his first job was as the deacon of the Prison Department.He trained here for two years, and then was promoted to the rank of chief priest. He had interrogated many prisoners in this cell, and he knew very well what the Prison Department did.

Severe pain came from his thigh, which was so painful that he couldn't even move his body. Hillidegg fell on the pile of barley stalks, his body covered with barley stalks and dirt. He had never been so dirty.

"Who are you?" shouted the prisoner on the opposite side. "You are wearing beautiful clothes. Did you steal the priest's robe?"

Hillidegg didn't reply.

"Why are you ignoring me?" the man yelled, "Do you think you are noble? Bitch!"

A ball of something unknown was thrown and hit Hillidegg's chest. It was soft, had a strong odor, and was a barley ball sticky with feces.Hilidegg was greatly frightened, his body jumped up, and he screamed in pain.

"I hit him!" the man shouted, "Eat my shit! Hahahaha!"

There were all kinds of jeers around, and Hilidegg was anxious and angry. He couldn't help but yell: "You rude guys! I swear in the name of God Isa, I will take revenge!"

"Who are you?" the person opposite asked again.

"I am the officiant Hillidegg!"

"I am Gulthas, kneel down to me!"

There was another burst of laughter, and Hillidegg's face turned red and white, but no one saw it.

The sound of "dang, clang, clang" came, and Hillidegg heard someone knocking on the iron bars of the prison. This was a signal that important people came to the prison, ordering the prisoners to be quiet.

The person who walked into the prison was a person familiar to Hillidegg, Chief Prisoner Sisi.

"Chief Priest Hilidegar, are they rude to you?" Sisi walked to the door of Hilidegar cell.

"They were also rude to Gul'thas," Hilidegg replied.

"Who is it?" Saisi looked around, looking at the prisoners in the cell opposite Healy, "Is it you?"

"No...no, no, no..."

Hillidegg couldn't see the man's face, but he thought it looked pale.Two guards broke into the cell and beat him up. His screams never stopped, and Hillidegg could hear the sound of the man's bones breaking from across the cell.

Hillidegg didn't sympathize with him, nor was he afraid. He knew that the other person wanted him to be afraid.

"We don't like troublesome prisoners, remember?" Sethi said.

This was the sentence he said most often during his two years in the Prison Department. At that time, Sisi was not the chief prison officer, but now this sentence is used as a warning to himself.

"Are you responsible for interrogating me?"

"No."

He saw Gao Leqi covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief, frowning and tightening his face, walking towards Sisi with a very funny look.

"Hello, Priest Healy." Gao Leqi said, even speaking with a strong nasal voice.

"Only my friends can call me that, Chief Consul. Please call me by my full name, Hillidg."

"I know the officiant is very angry. I just want to ask you a few things."

"About the Jinyunjin Little Sacrifice?" Hillidegg sneered, "Then you should ask Da Kesasi, if she is willing to answer. After all, he died in the chaos of Atulie Batu's hunting."

"I think Darkosas has a different opinion." "You can ask her to confront you."

"I think she will send a representative here." Gao Leqi said, "Do you know why I want to come here? It's so smelly and dirty here."

"Because you won't stay here for long." Hilidegg replied, "You should stay longer and get used to it. Maybe you will live here for a while in the future, who knows?"

There was no expression on Gao Leqi's face, because he kept frowning and tightening his face, as if he would choke to death if he relaxed.He nodded to Sisi and left immediately.

"This is not suitable for Priest Healy." Saixi said, "Let's go downstairs."

Hillidegg's expression changed.

The black cell was built underground in the jailer's cell. As its name suggests, ordinary cells can still see the light outside the iron windows. The black cell is more smelly and filthy, and there is no light, not even a trace of light.When the iron prison door was closed, Hillidger lived in a room where he couldn't see his fingers. There was only a stronger smell of feces, urine and putrefaction, the buzzing of flies in his face, and the subtle "" that came from nowhere. The sound of a rat chirping.

Moisture permeated the surroundings, and Hilidegg was retching due to the stench, but he inhaled more filthy gas, his stomach churned, and he finally vomited a bunch of stuff.He couldn't see what he had vomited, but he only knew that it added a hint of rancidity to the stench. He wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth, managed to stand up and slapped the iron door: "You can't do this to me! I'm hope Priest Lidge, only the Discipline Department can judge me!"

There was no sound outside the door, and it was dark inside. Hillidegg sat down dejectedly.The ground was cold and sticky, and there was something on his hands. Hillidegg didn't dare to smell the smell.

God bless him, he never wants to know what's on the floor, carrion, or maggots?Feces versus urine, or something else?
He took off his noble officiating robe and spread it on the ground, seeking a piece of pure land for himself.Gulthas will rescue him soon, soon, very soon.

What time is it now?Tomorrow morning we will see the sun outside. Gao Leqi, Sisi, and that bald man will all have to pay the price!

Hillidegger was confident, but there was a little uneasiness hidden in his confidence.

If Gao Leqi was not sure, why would he take action now?And hurt him.

Go to sleep, we will see the light tomorrow morning.

He woke up so many times that he lost count. The darkness made him lose all sense of time, but it must be the next day.

He finally heard footsteps and a click, and something unknown was stuffed under the iron door.

"Who is it?" Hillidegg asked, his voice weak and hoarse. He had not drank water for half a day.

"It's time to eat, Priest Hillideg." The voice outside the door was slightly old, and his tone was full of respect, unlike the attitude of ordinary jailers towards prisoners.

"Who are you?" Hillidegg asked again.

"My name is Wade, and I am a jailer. Priest Hillidegg, your voice doesn't sound good. Are you okay?"

"My legs hurt and I may have a fever." Hillidegg said, "When can I go out?"

"I don't know. I brought the food. Are you thirsty? I'll bring you water."

"Give me a glass of water, no, two glasses... no, a pot!" Hillidegg said.

The jailer's attitude was very friendly. They were the most vigilant group of people and the best at watching the wind. They must have been so respectful because they knew they were about to be released.

Hillidegg was hungry and moved slowly, groping for food in the dark.He touched a wooden plate with a piece of cake on it, probably barley cake. He usually looked down upon this kind of food. He ate the sweeter wheat cake, but he couldn't be picky at the moment.

He was about to stuff the barley cake into his mouth when he suddenly thought of something.If he was about to be released, why would Gao Leqi arrest him?Judging from his confident look, is he determined that he can't live without the Prison Department?
He wanted to poison me and then frame me for committing suicide out of fear of crime?This is a good idea, at least you can do it yourself.

Damn!

"I brought water for you." The jailer named Wei De came back and stuffed a bag of water under the door. He found that Hilidegg had not taken it, and even the food had not been touched.

"Sir, you have been hungry all day and must eat something. I heard that you are injured?"

"Don't let me be fooled!" Hillidegg sneered, "I can't even drink a sip of water!"

"You are worried... Sir, you don't have to worry." The jailer lit the oil lamp, and the light penetrated through the food delivery hole under the door. He lowered his body, and Hillidegg saw a face that was younger than he thought. .

The jailer stretched out his hand awkwardly, took the barley cake on the wooden plate and took two bites. "Look, it's not poisonous." He then raised the kettle and lay down at the entrance of the cave to take a few sips. "There's no poison in the water either. Sir, if you're worried, I'll test all the food for you in the future."

Hillidegg was surprised. After a while, he saw that the jailer had no abnormality. He was so hungry and thirsty that he had no choice but to reach out and grab the barley cake and eat it. His mouth was filled with the rancid smell, and he vomited it out again.

Damn it, his hands... were touching the dirt on the floor yesterday, and he didn't even notice it.

Hilidegg drank several gulps of water and washed his hands.Water dripped onto the ground, making the smell even more noticeable.He touched the barley cake and put it into his mouth. It was hard, dry, and mixed with gravel. He endured the discomfort and swallowed it with water.

"I'm very uncomfortable." Hillidger said, "How long are they going to lock me up? Three days, seven days?" He laughed, "Just lock me up, I'll be out soon."

"I... don't know." The person outside the door said hesitantly, "I heard that Priest Kong Xiao went to see the Archon last night, but nothing happened."

Chief Priest Kong Xiao has already approached Gao Leqi?

"Then why..." Hilidegg turned around and said, "Gulthas..." He felt that this was a useless question. How could such a servant have the chance to know Gurthas's thoughts?He changed the question: "What else do you know?"

"I don't know anything. Chief Priest Hillidegg, do you need me to help you find out?"

"What can you find out?"

"I'll go ask the others."

"Then you go." Hillidegg felt that he could do nothing, but what else could he do?He is the only one who can talk to him now.

What's going on, even the chief priest Kong Xiao can't save him?Is Gao Leqi determined to fight against the Priesthood to the end?Don't worry, he is still important, he is the heir of Gulthas, Hilidegg thought, Gulthas will save him no matter what, and if he is willing, Arien Palace can eliminate him with a raised hand.

But is Gulthas willing?
Everyone knows Gursas’ dream and goes to the holy mountain to see the holy face of Sri Yanabhata.He had been dreaming all his life, and originally thought it was out of reach, but when he lived to an age that he could not imagine, the son of God Sa appeared.

The son of God Sa... Gulthas puts all his efforts into unifying the five major cities and unblocking the Holy Mountain. Will he give in to Yang Yan because of this?It would be easy to destroy Arien Palace, but Yang Yan, the fake son of God Sa, had already forced Gulthas to give in several times.

Will Gulthas give in again?
Hilidegg began to feel confused, the stench and darkness eroding his will.Gao Leqi didn't even come to interrogate him once. How confident was he?

He was imprisoned for several days, and his wounds turned from pain to numbness. He had a fever and was groggy for two days.The only hope these days is Wei De. Wei De will not only bring food and test poison for him, but also bring medicine and cloth to treat the wounds on his legs. He will also bring a small amount of light to talk to him. Good news.

"The situation is very bad." Wei De said, "Priest Kong Xiao said that he would send you to the Department of Discipline for trial, but the consul refused. He said that although you were the priest, the little priest who was killed had not yet worn a robe at that time. , he is just a school priest who is about to be promoted to a minor priest, he is a commoner, and he is under the supervision of the prison director."

"Sir Gao Leqi also brought out the testimony of Da Ke Sasi, including Master Da Ke's fingerprints and gold seals, and a priest from Suma Batu, who gave a lot of negative testimony against you."

Hilidegg started to panic: "What did Daxas say to the little priest?"

"I don't know." Weide said, "Anyway, it's very detrimental to the adults."

"Did Gulthas come forward?" Hillidegg said, "He can save me."

"I don't know. My lord, I know very little."

Hillidegg groaned and began to feel desperate: "Can you make it a little brighter? It's so dark in here..."

Weide lit the oil lamp. The dirty and shiny floor was filled with filth, including his own. Hillidegg had to relieve himself in this hut and was ashamed to live with it.

A person with such self-respect, culture and status as him should not be treated like this.

"Do I know you, Wade?"

He noticed that the jailer had unexpected kindness towards him. He had stayed in the Prison Department and knew how prisoners were treated here, let alone the prisoners in the black cell.

"Sir, you won't recognize me. I am a little person, but I have always been very grateful to you," said Wei De. "That was more than ten years ago. When you were still a small sacrifice, my son was seriously ill and had a high fever. I held him in my arms. I was anxiously looking for a doctor in Batu with my child, and I carelessly knocked you to the ground at an intersection."

"You weren't angry. You looked at my anxious look. You prayed for my child and gave me dozens of coins for medical treatment."

Hillidger had no recollection of the incident and asked, "Is your child okay?"

"He recovered and is now healthy, all thanks to you."

"Thank you doctor, he cured your son." Hillidegg said, "I am just a dying man."

"No, don't say that." Weide said sincerely, "I believe that a kind and gentle person like you would never kill someone. It is also because you are so kind and kind that Gulthas allows you to be his Heir, I believe Gulthas will find justice for you and rescue you."

Hillidegg didn't think of Weide's past, he thought of a person.At that time, when I was still young, I was admitted to the priesthood with the ideal of doing things for the common people, and I wanted to be a priest who could bless the people.

When did it start to become like this?The noble who once hated squeezing the common people later allowed his brother to collect bribes. His job was no longer to bless the people, but to listen to the sounds of insects for Gulthas.

Does it start when you become a pen-servant and your future is limitless, or does it start when the person you admire changes from Potu to Gulthas?
Since when did he only see Sa Si’s power and position in his eyes?
Many things are like a child's face, always growing up and getting older without realizing it. Just like the smell in the dark prison is no longer pungent, he no longer cares whether his body is clean or not, and he no longer cares about the dirt on the floor. Feces, maggots, flies and rats.

A few days later, Wei De said happily: "Sir, you are going out soon!"

"Oh?" Hilidegg sat upright suddenly.

"Gulthas, he wants to see the Son of God." Wei De said, "He must be trying to save you!"

(End of this chapter)