Kyushu · Endless Nagato

Chapter 32 The Secret of the Millennium (1)
一
Shu Lin curled up, moaning softly in the straw pile.He was sleepy, but he couldn't sleep because the wound on his body hurt too much.For half a month in detention, he has been enduring all kinds of unimaginable torture, which is too painful and heavy for a young man who is only 17 years old and almost a child.But he still gritted his teeth and endured it.

He vaguely knew that this was a very secret prison, and there was only one type of person imprisoned in it, that is, the head monks of the Tianzang Sect. of.Every morning, he was brought up to be tortured in the torture room, and then at night, he was taken to another dark room.Apart from him in the hut, there is only one person who hides his whole body behind the curtain, and that person will ask him in a low voice: "Today, are you still unwilling to tell? Where is the cave where your Tianzangzong books are stored?" ?”

Shulin refused.So he was imprisoned again and waited for the next day to continue to be tortured.He knew that it was impossible for him to leave here alive, and he would definitely be silenced in the end, but a confession can be exchanged for a happy death, instead of living and suffering like this.Sometimes, living is more tormented than dying.

But he still refused.This thin child has a strong heart inside his bloody skin.He believes that his classmates are also as strong and unyielding as him.I am a long door monk, I am a disciple of Tianzangzong, I must not betray my sect.

Another spiritual pillar that can support him is a small hole in the corner of the cell.The hole was so small that even a mouse could hardly get through it, but one thing could get through, and that was sound.Relying on this small hole in the wall, Shu Lin can quietly talk to the teacher late at night every day.The teacher received a heavier punishment than Shu Lin, and was already old and weak. He was dragged back in a coma almost every day.But the teacher also did not give in. Instead, he encouraged Shu Lin through the hole in the wall every day, encouraging him to fight tenaciously.

"This is just another door in life." The teacher always said it lightly.

That night, as usual, Shu Lin threw his bruised body in the corner of the wall. In the middle of the night, he put his ears against the wall, waiting for the teacher's call.But the teacher came later than usual, and his voice was even weaker.

"I think this may be the last night I have a conversation with you," said the teacher. "My body can no longer hold on. If I suffer another day of punishment, I will probably die forever. So tonight, I will take advantage of the With this breath, I will explain to you everything that needs to be said."

Tears welled up in Shu Lin's eyes, but he knew that any words of consolation at this moment would be futile and self-deceived, so he might as well calm down and listen carefully to the teacher's last teaching.

"I see that you are talented and able to endure hardships, so I made an exception and prepared to include you in the inner Tibet group. Many people will not be able to enter the inner Tibet group in their entire lives, so they will have no chance to learn the secrets of our Tianzang sect. Now it seems that I There is nothing wrong with your decision," the teacher's words were full of relief, "It's a pity that we have encountered such a catastrophe before you officially joined. But I finally told you the secret of the library cave, I hope you can keep this secret , don’t give in despite torture.”

"I will," Shu Lin said with tears in his eyes, "I will definitely not disappoint the teacher's expectations. I will defend my belief with my life."

"What a good student of mine!" the teacher sighed. "Actually, for thousands of years, our Tianzang Sect has always used our lives to defend our beliefs. What we do must not be known to any outsiders, otherwise it will be ruined." It would lead to unimaginable disaster."

"Actually, teacher, I have always wanted to ask a question..." Shu Lin muttered, "I don't dare to ask this question, but, but..."

"But I'm going to die soon, and if I don't ask, I'll never have a chance, right?" The teacher's voice was very calm, "Just ask, we long-door monks don't need those useless taboos, if verbal taboos If the disaster could be eliminated, we would not be in prison like we are today."

Shu Lin nodded subconsciously, and then realized that it was impossible for the teacher to see his movements: "Teacher, in fact, I have never quite understood why we dig deep holes in every era, collect all the knowledge and historical records, and then Landfill it and seal it up? This knowledge has not been used for thousands of years, so what is the significance of it?"

This question actually pointed directly at the founding foundation of the Tianzang Sect. It was originally a bit rebellious, so Shu Lin never asked.But now, anyway, he was already in a death situation, and he had less scruples, so he mustered up the courage to ask.He waited for the teacher's reprimand.

But the teacher didn't blame him.After a while of silence on the other side of the wall, Shu Lin heard the teacher's voice again: "Actually, this is a very good question. You have to remember that any truth is never unconditionally forced to believe, doubt, study, understand , Believe, is the right step."

"I don't have to question anything," Shulin said, "It's just that I really can't figure it out about this."

"Because you are still too young," the teacher said, "compared to you, I am an old man, but my age is just an insignificant dust compared with the length of Kyushu civilization; and the history of civilization and the existence of Kyushu land Compared with time, it is only a drop of water in the ocean.”

Shu Lin faintly realized what the teacher wanted to say, and thought seriously in his mind. The teacher continued: "Human beings are fragile, and civilization is also fragile. A war that sweeps across the continent may change everything. People will die. Buildings will be destroyed, books will be burned, and history will be distorted and smeared by new emperors. When a dynasty ends, it will only take ten years, and everything in the past will be completely forgotten, and people will accept those who have suffered a lot. Kong’s lies, and pass it on as the truth of history. In the end, we will not be able to find the real past.”

"I see," Shulin said, "the purpose of our doing that is to preserve the real history."

"Not only that, but there are other equally important reasons," said the teacher, "every age will have all kinds of new knowledge, and because of people's nature, new knowledge is likely to be used in warfare. Certain Sometimes, when we discover such knowledge, we may ... find a way to bury it."

Sometimes, when we discover such knowledge, we may find a way to bury it.

To find ways to.

bury it.

Shu Lin could hardly believe his ears: "What did you say? Could it be that our ancestors would..."

"That's the reason why many members of Tianzangzong have martial arts." The teacher didn't answer directly, but there was no doubt in his words that he affirmed Shu Lin's question.

Shu Lin was speechless.It never occurred to him that the gentle and forbearing Changmen monk would even take the initiative to attack.The teacher's words are very plain, "find a way to bury it", but Shu Lin can fully imagine how much coercion and violence and how many unspeakable bloody truths are hidden behind these short words.His mind was buzzing, and he didn't know how to speak for a moment.

"I know you are surprised, and I also know that you have doubts about Tianzangzong..." the teacher said.

"Shut up!" Shu Lin suddenly felt irritated and growled in a low voice.Since he started at the age of 13, he has never said a word of disrespect to the teacher, but now, he can no longer control his emotions.

"I always thought that Nagato was indifferent to the world, and that Nagato would never harm others," Shu Lin was furious, "Didn't you always teach me?" Even if we hold the truth in our hands, we will never harm others." You can't force others with the truth, then we'd be nothing more than thugs.' And now, you're telling me we're a thug, a thug that's been going on for a thousand years! Why didn't you tell me sooner!"

"Because you are not mature enough to accept all this," the teacher sighed, "I was going to tell you all this after you were 20 years old. By that time, you may have enough optimism to face it. But now ... Sigh, it makes no difference after all whether you say it or not, you and I will die sooner or later."

"No! It's not the same!" Shu Lin almost roared, "If you don't tell me, I will die peacefully while sticking to my faith. Now, when I die, I will be full of regret and pain! I I thought I had crossed the long gates and found the final peace, but all I found was purgatory!"

"As a Nagato monk, I am always in purgatory," the teacher sounded disappointed, "It seems that I misunderstood you, but luckily you haven't officially joined the secret storage group, at least you don't know Where are those caves?"

Both master and apprentice lost interest in dialogue.The teacher was very disappointed, and Shu Lin was equally disappointed, but he thought that the teacher's life might end on this day, and those words of complaints finally fell silent.He just turned his back silently, shed tears silently, felt the sorrow of his faith being shaken, and even forgot the pain on his body for a while.

Just as he was about to fall asleep in a daze, he was awakened by the sound of the door opening.Not his own door, but the door of the teacher's prison.Then he heard the teacher standing up, gasping for breath, and being half dragged out, he was so weak that it was difficult for him to walk on his own.

How is this going?Shu Lin felt something was wrong.Although they were tortured during the day, they could always get rest at night, and they could also get enough food and wound medicine. According to the teacher's analysis, it was because the other party must get the location of the library cave, so they were not allowed to die easily. .But now, the teacher was dragged out in the middle of the night. Could it be that the other party has lost patience?

Although he was still conflicted and angry, he was still very concerned about the whereabouts of the teacher and forgot about sleep.He estimated the time, and after about one time adjustment, the teacher was escorted back before the long night passed.The teacher walked back by himself. Although he was still supported by others, at least he was not dragged back after being unconscious like a few days ago, which meant that he was not tortured.Then what did the pair he was escorted out do?
"Lin'er! Lin'er!" Just as the guard locked the door and left, the teacher rushed to the hole in the wall to call Shu Lin.

"What's wrong, teacher?" Shu Lin could hear something was wrong with the teacher's voice.Before that, no matter what happened, the teacher had always been calm and calm, as if everything that happened was just a part of daily penance.But now, after this strange timing, the teacher's voice has completely changed, full of fear, tension, remorse, anger, sadness, and a kind of deep despair that seems to have reached the extreme.

"There is no time, listen carefully, you must escape before dawn." The teacher said hurriedly.

Shu Lin was confused: "Escape? How could you escape? Why did you escape?"

"Don't ask, remember the places I told you..." The teacher hastily mentioned several places, most of which are located in deep mountains, dense forests or swamps, places that are difficult for ordinary people to approach.Shu Lin suddenly realized: this is the teacher telling him where the Tianzangzong books are stored!He quickly gathered his mind and forced himself to memorize those locations.The teacher spoke very quickly, and there were many places that he couldn't confirm with the map, so he had to ignore 21 and memorize it by force.

"I know it's a bit difficult for you to remember in such a short time, but it doesn't matter, as long as you can remember a few of them, even just one, it's enough." The teacher said.

"What exactly do you want me to do?" Shu Lin was even more confused.

"You memorize these book caves, find them, and then..." The teacher's voice was suddenly full of murderous intent, "Destroy them! Destroy them completely! Fill every hole, fill them up!"

"What are you talking about?" Shu Lin almost suspected that he had heard wrong.Just one time before, the teacher was still talking about the great achievements of his predecessors in an admiring tone, and he was still disappointed that Shu Lin could not understand the meaning contained in it, but after only one time, he was extremely firm Ask Shu Lin to destroy them.

What happened during this timing?
"You have heard my words," the teacher's words were as hard as iron. "Destroy them! Definitely destroy them!"

"Why, teacher?" Shu Lin had to ask.

"That's because..." the teacher whispered the reason.

"This is impossible!" Shu Lin was stunned, "How is this possible!"

"Of course I'm convinced only after seeing the evidence... I don't have time to say more, it's almost dawn, stretch out your hand, and put the shackles by the hole in the wall!" the teacher growled.

Shu Lin had no choice but to follow the teacher's instructions.His nostrils smelled a strong bloody smell, mixed with a pungent stench, which even overwhelmed the terrible smell from the rotting wound on his body.Then he felt his hand loosen, and looked down, a black liquid flowed from the hole in the wall, which completely corroded and broke the iron lock on his hand.

"Be careful, don't get it on your hands, or you may see your bones directly." The teacher said in a weak voice.

Shu Lin was horrified to see that the hole in the wall was getting bigger and bigger, and the black liquid eroded through the partition wall between the two cells, and even started to corrode the outer wall again.He suddenly understood: "Teacher...is this your blood?"

"This is one of the dangerous knowledge I told you," the teacher's voice became lower and lower, "I didn't expect that I could use this secret technique in my life, but unfortunately I will die after I use it up .”

He cheered up and told Shu Lin: "When the hole in the wall is wide enough for you to get out, run away quickly. When I redeemed you from those gangsters, they told me that you were a member of the gang. The one who runs the fastest is also the one who is the best at escaping capture. Now, run quickly. Run for your life first, and then find a way to complete your mission."

"But, teacher, is what you just said... true?" Shu Lin was still hesitant.

"Is it true? You can dig it out yourself, but once you've confirmed it, you can't hesitate. Even if you risk your life, you have to destroy them," the teacher who lost too much blood was dying, "The hole is big enough, go! Go! Go! "

When the day was about to dawn, Shu Lin had already fled away. As the teacher said, he was born as a thief, and his ability to hide and escape was excellent.It was only at this time that he realized that after they were arrested, they were escorted blindfolded all the way, and they were actually locked up in Tianqi City, the imperial capital.But don't be surprised if you think about it carefully, since the emperor wanted to arrest them, he naturally had to interrogate them in Tianqi.

The smog shrouded the apocalypse at dawn, and the imperial capital of ten thousand years showed a more majestic posture in the blur.This is the eternal truth in the world: things that cannot be seen are often more beautiful.And once you see it through, the beauty may disappear.

For Shu Lin, the current Tianzangzong is such a clear and unsightly thing.To make matters worse, he had to continue to face it, continue to challenge it, and had to rack his brains to find a way to destroy the dream he had so much yearned for.

This is really the great irony of life.

"Teacher, what should I do?" Shu Lin muttered to himself.In his despair, he didn't notice that several pursuers had quietly approached.Although he got rid of the men and horses stationed in the prison, it was impossible for his two legs to run over the wings of the carrier pigeon.The pursuers observed him from a distance, confirmed his identity, and without hesitation raised their longbows, putting sharp arrows on the bowstring.If any long door monks dare to escape, they will be killed, this is the order they received.

The sun is rising.

(End of this chapter)