Under the sky

Chapter 286 Miracle

The rain was pouring down, and the sound of the rain was so loud that Hillidger thought he had heard wrongly, and asked in disbelief: "What did you say?"

"You went too far and almost hurt the Son of God." Meng De said, "If you have any questions, go to the Holy Temple and Gulthas will answer you personally."

Prince Hu Gen stood up tremblingly and said in surprise: "What's going on? Healy, will we be held responsible?"

"I don't believe it!" Hilidegg roared angrily, "What mistake did I make that Gulthas wants to take back my power?!"

"You can ask Gulthas." Meng De handed the token in his hand to Hilidegg.Hilidegg's face was uncertain, looking at Priest Mengde, hesitating.

"I want to see Gulthas!" Hilidegg jumped down from the high platform and called his followers.He didn't even ride a horse, and he disappeared into the crowd after a few ups and downs.

"What does Gulthas plan to do with us?" Prince Hugen asked Priest Mengde in a trembling voice.Priest Meng De shook his head and shifted his gaze to the burning platform.

Yang Yan hugged Wang Hong, knowing that the danger was not over yet.The crowd dispersed, and the heavy rain extinguished the fire. In the darkness, he saw figures slowly approaching from all directions, but he couldn't tell how many there were.He had no weapons in his hands and still protected Wang Hong behind him.

"Who are those people?" Yang Yan asked Wang Hong, "Can you see them?"

Wang Hong grabbed Yang Yan's arm and whispered: "It's the Weiji Army."

The group of figures suddenly became half shorter, as if they were kneeling and saluting. "Gulthas has an order, please ask the Son of God to come to the priest's court to talk!" Yang Yan heard the voice coming from the darkness and tried his best to see clearly, but he could only see vague black shadows.

A carriage came from a distance and stopped outside the group of people. A firefly lit up on the carriage and gradually approached. When they got to Yang Yan's side, they saw clearly that it was a sacrificial guard holding an umbrella and holding an oil lamp. Come step by step.With this light, Yang Yan was not blind. He took the umbrella to cover Wang Hong from the rain, took the lantern and walked to the carriage.

The oil lamp was hung on the ceiling, and the car was finally bright enough for him to see Wang Hong clearly.Wang Hong kept shivering, not sure whether it was cold or fear. Yang Yan wanted to put some clothes on her, but he was also wet all over.

"Have you decided what to say to Gulthas?" Wang Hong asked tremblingly.

Yang Yan shook his head and nodded: "Let's see what he plans to say to me."

"Tucker and Gao Leqi are both back, bringing food." Wang Hong said, "Are we considered a winner?"

Yang Yan didn't know whether this was a win or a loss?

The carriage arrived at the brightly lit priest's courtyard. Yang Yan and Wang Hong were asked to get out of the car, taken to bathe, and put on clean and fresh new robes.

As for Hilidegg, he was not in such a good mood.He hurried back to his residence, dried his hair, changed into dry clothes, and immediately went to the Holy Temple to see Gulthas.Hilidegg was anxious and suspicious, and didn't bother to say hello to Potu who was guarding the door.The door to the Holy Temple opened, and he saw the familiar and respected figure again, sitting on the big bed.

Hillidegg stepped forward, knelt on one knee, touched his heart with his left hand, and asked: "Honorable Gulthas, why did you take back my power? Did the chief priest Mende pretend to pass on your order?" He hurriedly defended, "The Guards Army is on standby. We have the ability to capture Tucker and Gao Leqi and judge them. Although the Son of God is in danger, he is safe. I did not harm the Son of God."

"You are no longer needed." Gulthas replied.

Don't you need me anymore?What's the meaning?Hillidegg felt uneasy and doubtful in his heart.Why don't you need me?Where am I not needed anymore?Does it mean that I don’t need to deal with Tucker anymore, or does it mean that I don’t need to be the heir?He looked up at Gulthas with confusion and begging, like an innocent reindeer.

"You are no longer my heir." Gurthas said.

Hillidegg trembled: "Who is that? Meng De? That fool was deceived by me, and Tucker's people were ambushed! Is it the Potu Festival? You said that he is too gentle and unfit to be in power... …”

Gurthas did not answer, but gave another answer: "I will save your life."

Just to save your life?What did I do wrong, just because I almost hurt the Son of God?No, the reason cannot be that simple!Anger rose from Hilidegg's chest and abdomen. He seemed to understand something, but there was also a lot he didn't understand.Just like Mengde was abandoned, he was also abandoned by Gulthas?If it was just a simple replacement of heir, maybe he wouldn't be so angry.

Gulthas never stopped what he was doing, and always watched with cold eyes. Gulthas was just using himself to play a chess game that he would never win from the beginning. When he tried his best and was about to win, , and overturned the chessboard to admit defeat...

Why? !

He regretted not falling out with Meng De in front of the stake. He should have captured Yang Yan and threatened Gulthas with the Son of God!He shouldn't have come back!What is he waiting for?Why should a man as proud as him look up to Gulthas' pitying eyes?

For such an old man, if he died now, he would be the heir, and the chief priests would admit it!He shouldn't have had the idea of ​​pleasing Gulthas in the first place, but should have broken his slender neck!
"You can't do this to me!" Hilidegg whispered, "I have done so many things for you... please give me another chance!"

"You are fighting for your own power." Gulthas said, "Including trying to please me."

"Drink!" Hilidegg's half-kneeling body shot up like an arrow. He had already concentrated all his strength on the foot that was on the ground.This step caused a crack in the floor tiles. His right hand turned into a claw, and he punched with his left hand. In the blink of an eye, he bounced in front of Gulthas' old body.

In a critical blow, he almost used all his strength. Gulthas tilted his slender neck and sideways to avoid it. Hilideg hit the bed with his fists and claws, sending sawdust and feathers flying.

Gulthas sighed softly and floated up.He understands this heir too well, understands his pride and unwillingness to admit defeat, understands his extremely high self-esteem, and understands his reluctance.

Hilidegg did not give up, turned around and rushed towards Gulthas again.He didn't carry a weapon, so he used Chuan Ju Xin Jue, his left palm was like a knife, and used the "Wrath Burning City" in the Flaming Saber Technique to slash down with one palm.Gulthas ducked down to avoid it, and Hilideg bent his knees and bumped into it. Gulthas raised his left palm to block the attack, and avoided it with a light body.

Gulthas didn't fight back, he just dodged and retreated to the table and chair in just two moves.Seeing that he had been pushed into a blind corner, Hilidegg used his right hand to set fire to the prairie fire, and his left fist blocked Gulthas's retreat.

Yes, no matter how awe-inspiring Gulthas is, he has long been an old man. No matter how powerful he was when he was young, he has at least [-] years of experience in fighting with others, because there is no such thing as There is no situation worthy of his taking action.

There was a loud noise, and the door to the left of the big bed was suddenly opened, and a figure rushed out from behind the door like lightning. The speed was so fast that Hilidegg felt that the sound and the figure arrived at the same time.Hilidegg's knife was only halfway through the swing before it was caught by an iron grip, which was as strong as an iron chain binding his arm. Hilidegg hurriedly hit the man's chest with his elbow, and with a bang, the man didn't move at all.A strong force pulled him into the man's arms. Hillidegg had never encountered such a strong internal force. Such a huge force made him be pulled in like a person who didn't know martial arts.

"Don't get stained with blood. The Son of God will come later." Gulthas said softly, his tone still so kind.

Hillidegg felt a big hand wrap around his waist and squeeze hard, squeezing all the air out of his chest. The other big hand covered his mouth and pulled it back. He heard a soft "click".

That was the sound of his neck being snapped.

Hillidegg's waist and neck bones were broken, and not a drop of blood fell to the ground.

"I've given you a chance." Gulthas walked back to the bed slowly, "but you failed to grasp it."

When Yang Yan arrived at the Holy Temple, there was no body of Hilidegg on the ground. The only suspicious trace left was the damage on Gulthas' bed, but Yang Yan did not notice it.

His mood at the moment was extremely complicated. He was angry but surprisingly calm. He had questions but was not too busy to speak.He also doesn't know whether he will win or lose the fight.Can Tucker's timely delivery of food alleviate public anger?Even if it is possible, can this be used to eradicate the power of Gulthas in one fell swoop?
The Saint's Hall was very quiet with the door closed. Although the heavy rain was pattering outside the window, he felt quiet. The sound of the rain seemed very far away, as if this place was an alien world and had nothing to do with the outside world.

He pulled up a chair and sat face to face with Gulthas.

"Xilidege lost." Yang Yan spoke first, "Tucker has found food. We will expose him, and none of the princes who colluded with him will escape."

"You have experienced everything you should go through. Return to the Priesthood." Gulthas said, "You have to learn how to walk the rest of the journey."

Yang Yan said: "Don't waste your efforts. I will not betray Tucker. I will always fight against you with him until you give up your power."

"You are not betraying Tucker, you are saving him." Gulthas said.

Yang Yan couldn't help but be stunned.

■

Ignoring the heavy rain, people rushed towards the carts of food.The darkness and heavy rain made their steps slow, and there were only a few oil lamps to guide them, but this was a good thing, as there was less jostling.

Gao Leqi pulled Tucker back to a position where he could be seen but would not be involved in the chaos. Although someone held an umbrella for them, the heavy rain still wet his feet, and Gao Leqi felt very uncomfortable.He asked the surrounding soldiers to move their oil lamps closer to ensure that Tucker's face could be illuminated clearly.

Soldiers from the Prison Department maintained order, and civilian officials assisted in distributing food.The convoy was very long, and the speed of transporting food was obviously not as fast as the speed of distributing food. The people surrounding the food truck were worried that they would not be able to receive the food, so they began to push each other.Gao Leqi evacuated the grain to [-] distribution points, allowing grain dealers to give priority to transporting grain and assisting in distribution. He commanded decisively and distributed the food appropriately, demonstrating his extraordinary leadership skills.

When the lights illuminated the faces of the soldiers transporting food, sharp-eyed people discovered that the team assisting in transporting food were actually refugees with snowflake tattoos under their eyes.

Tucker and Gao Leqi did not expect such a development. They fled Naibubadu. Before Yang Yan and Wang Hong came to meet up, they were about to set off when they saw a fleet of boats sailing along the Nabu River. There were too many ships. So many, it’s impossible not to notice.

Then they saw Maier waving to them in the firelight on the bow.

Maier told the whole story, and the story had to start with Monduk.Monduke approached Wang Qile and asked him to find a place to hide food for the Son of God. Wang Qile's generous promise even surprised Monduke.Wang Qile sent all his men to inquire about other refugees. There were many refugees gathered around Nabu Batu. It was impossible for such a large amount of food to be transported without traces, but it was well hidden.Wang Qile collected clues, selected several suspicious locations to investigate one by one, and made several unsuccessful attempts.

On this day, he still led his team to investigate.Unlike Maier's night attack, he chose to attack at dawn, so he stationed his team far away. Suddenly he saw a fire in the middle of the night, and led the crowd to observe, thus saving Maier and his team.

"The food was hidden at the dock of the tribe in the upper reaches of the Neb River." Maier told Colachi. "We found it the next day, and the boats and horses were all ready."

pier?It was indeed the best place. Gao Leqi was annoyed that he hadn't thought of it.Hilidegg wanted to quickly quell the people's complaints. The fastest way was to use ships to transport food. The food cache could only be near the Naib River, not in villages where it was easy to ambush.

So did he fall into the fake news that Chief Priest Meng De found, or was he deliberately spreading it?What's important now is not this. Gao Leqi ordered the food to be sent back to Nabu Batu. If he's lucky, maybe the Son of God hasn't fallen into the hands of the other party.What would he think if he knew that Yang Yan escaped once and finally surrendered himself?

Even with the help of the refugee team, it is impossible for more than 2000 people to pull enough food to satisfy Nabu Batu in one night. The first batch of food will be exhausted soon, which is likely to trigger a second riot.The rain came just in time, and the heavy rain made the mob calm down a little. Gao Leqi sent people to inquire about Yang Yan's whereabouts, and arranged for the manpower of the palace guard and the prison department to help carry food. The sacrificial army counterattacked.

However, the priestly guards only gathered outside the priest's courtyard and did not take any action, which made Gao Leqi suspicious.Soon after, he heard that Hilidegg had been recalled to the priesthood, but there was still no whereabouts of the Son of God.

It was almost midnight when he heard the bad news. The Son of God had been taken to the priest's court.This is really bad. He has no ability to save him now, but he believes in Yang Yan. If Yang Yan knows that Tucker is back, he will be more confident.

A tall figure suddenly covered his sight and the rain, it was Wang Qile.He was wearing a raincoat, and the heavy rain made his whole body wet.

"Our team will retreat before dawn. My brothers are all tired, and the refugees are not allowed to enter Batu." Wang Qile's voice was loud enough to cover up the sound of the rain.

Tucker replied loudly: "You can rest outside Batu. There is a tent, and we can also... entertain you with food!"

"Can the refugees sleep peacefully outside Batu?" Wang Qile chuckled, and the rainwater dripped down along the bamboo hat and fell on his beard, "Everyone has his own place, and no one should offend anyone."

Tucker rushed forward and hugged Wang Qile tightly. He ignored the wetness all over his body and said loudly: "Thank you! Thank you! I don't know how to express my gratitude. From now on, you are my brother! I will forgive you." For your sins, you don’t have to sleep in the open, I will give you the best house!”

Gao Leqi thought to himself, with the speed at which Tucker recognized his brothers, all those princes could be replaced.

Wang Qile pushed Tucker away and said solemnly: "I am not guilty and I don't need you to forgive me."

"Of course! You are definitely not guilty!" Tucker was a little carried away, "You are my brother!"

"I am a friend of the Son of God." Wang Qile said, "This is the only reason why I help the Son of God."

"Me too!" Tucker patted his chest, which was now wet. "We are good friends and brothers!"

Gao Leqi stroked his head and was about to step forward to pull Tucker away when the heavy rain began to lighten up. In the dark night, a group of fire came in from far away from the south.

Who is this?Before he could figure it out, Wang Qile frowned and pointed to the north: "Whose team?"

A fire also lit up in the north.

A refugee panted and came forward to report: "It's the Holy Mountain Guard! At least... there are thousands of them!"

■

"I summoned the Holy Mountain Guards, they should have arrived." Gulthas said, "The Palace Guards and the Prison Department are in chaos, and... your refugee friend? I heard that he is also here."

Yang Yan stood up suddenly and shouted: "What do you want to do!"

Gulthas remained calm and said to Yang Yan gently: "Sit down and listen to me. They are not in danger."

"Do you know why Gao Leqi failed?" Gulthas said, "He is very smart and cannot lose to Hilidege. Why can Hilidege push him into a desperate situation so easily? Because Gao Leqi is too smart. Exceeding moderation, and he fears you.”

Yang Yan listened.

"The Son of God is the biggest bargaining chip he can use to compete with the Priesthood. If he wants to be above power, he can only have higher power. But he doesn't dare to let you have power, and he doesn't dare to make good use of your identity, for fear that he won't be able to control you. If he is willing to use you to control the prince, the priests of the priesthood, and the small priests of each tribe, his chances of winning will be greatly improved."

"Gao Leqi didn't dare, because he was worried that you would become the next me, another person who would overwhelm the priests of Arien Palace. It's a pity that he has a rook, but he is only willing to use it as a pawn. Can you play small chess? ?I hope you understand this metaphor."

"I understand what you are saying." Yang Yan replied.

Gulthas nodded: "Hilidege took advantage of this and united the princes to isolate Tucker. Golachi did not use power as a bargaining chip, so Hillidege could use interests as a tool to easily instigate the princes. "

"He harmed many innocent civilians in Nabu Badu!" Yang Yan gritted his teeth, "You acquiesced in all this, and you watched helplessly!"

"Gao Leqi was very smart to find Meng De, but it is difficult for a slave of power to betray the master of power."

Yang Yan suddenly realized: "You asked the chief priest Meng De to leak the fake location!" He immediately figured out that Meng De must have informed Gulthas about Gao Leqi's visit, and Gulthas asked him to leak the fake location. , causing Tucker to sink deeper.

"One day later, Tucker would not be able to escape, and the Holy Mountain Guards were already on their way." Gulthas said, "However, accidents are inevitable, and Tucker still found the place to hide the food and saved his reputation. Yes, Hilidegger was too reckless and almost hurt you."

"So you are secretly helping Hillidger?"

"I just watched him do it and made up for his shortcomings," Gulthas said. "But Healy was wrong too."

"What did he do wrong?"

"He disrespects you too much and doesn't know you well enough to let you take risks." Gulthas said. "He also doesn't see his own identity in this struggle clearly."

It sounds like everything Gulthas does is for himself?

"Why do you sit back and watch, just to let me join the Priesthood and be your puppet?" Yang Yan said angrily, "Now you want to threaten me with their lives?"

"I want you to see clearly your power and your own mission." Gulthas asked Yang Yan, "Have you seen clearly who made Nabu Batu's people starve? Is it Xili Dege? He is the chief culprit, but who gave him this power?”

"It's you!" Yang Yan pointed at Gulthas, "You gave him such power!"

"What else?" Gulthas then asked, "Is it just me?"

"And those princes!" Yang Yan replied. He understood that power would not only compete with each other, but also collude with each other.

"Do you think Tucker will kill all the princes?" Gulthas asked again.

Yang Yan hesitated, even if he didn't understand the power struggle, he still guessed that this was unlikely.

"Even if Tucker wants to kill, Gao Leqi will stop him. He will kill some princes to establish his authority and let people he trusts take over the food. He will reform, but he is more likely to win over these princes to deal with the next battle. The Struggle of the House of Priests.”

Gulthas stood up and walked towards Yang Yan. His voice was still so kind, like a teacher teaching his students: "Those princes are not entirely guilty. Some are blindly following, and some are forced. They don't think highly of Asia. Why is the struggle between the Arien Palace and the Priesthood? Son of God, think about these questions. Why do the princes who should support the Arien Palace fall so easily to Hilidegg? Why does Hilidegg have such great power? Why does no one dare to resist me? Why do people have to starve in the struggle for power? Why do they have to die? Why? There are so many questions to think about clearly."

Yang Yan thought, he had already thought about many issues, and even Qi Zigai could not break free from the web of power.

Gulthas came behind Yang Yan, pressed his shoulder and said softly: "Then you will understand who killed you and Peng Xiaobei's family."

"Shut up!" A rage rose from the bottom of his heart. Yang Yan wanted to get up, but was held down by Gulthas, unable to move. This old man had strength that did not match his age.Yang Yan was about to curse, but Gulthas' other hand covered his mouth.

"The Son of God thought that he could take hundreds of people, practice the God of Fire Scroll, and sneak into Huashan Mountain to kill Yan Feixi, kill Xu Fangge, and redress the grievances between your family and the Peng family? Even Old Beggar Peng can't do such a thing .”

"What killed your whole family and Peng Xiaobei was the entire Nine Families, and it was their collusion." Gulthas said, "Anyone who fights to protect the Nine Families is an accomplice."

Yang Yan remembered that it was Li Xuanxuan who stopped him from taking revenge in the Kunlun Palace. He recalled that Peng Xiaobei had said that even if the redress of grievances was successful, it would be impossible to take revenge on Xu Fangge. He also thought of Qi Zigai's embarrassment.

Sensing that Yang Yan was no longer struggling, Gulthas softened his hand slightly: "Son of God, with all due respect, the way you look at yourself is wrong. No matter you are a genocide or a son of God, you are used to using your identity to protect yourself or protect yourself. Others, you have turned yourself into a tool, so Gao Leqi and Healy also use you as a tool, hoping to wield you to gain power. But tools are powerless, tools cannot protect anyone, and they cannot do anything."

"Weak people look up to power, and strong people compete for power. This is too superficial, because power also has masters and subordinates. People with power must obey those who give them power, just like Gao Leqi to Tucker, Meng De, and Xi Lideger is like that to me. The same is true for Healy. He thought that as long as you don’t die, he can control you and gain power. This was the biggest mistake he made.”

"Don't you think so too?" Yang Yan asked.

"I don't want to use you, nor do I want to manipulate you. That was the idea of ​​Gao Luoqi and Hillidegg."

"I'm going to make you power itself."

Yang Yan's eyes widened in surprise.

Gulthas said unhurriedly: "The first thing you have to do tonight is to decide the life and death of everyone in Badun, from Tucker and Gao Leqi to all the princes and everyone involved in the priesthood. I'll leave them all to your disposal."

Yang Yan heard the sound of rain again, and the rain seemed to be heavier.

End of Volume Seven

(End of this chapter)