Dharma Ring: Selling dung beetles at the border

Tanis came back from the audience hall with a lot of blood splattered on her body.

She walked very quickly, returned to her seat, sat down, rubbed her temples with her hands, and stared at the floor.

She raised her head and looked at the empty volcano hall. The long wind blew through the corridor, blowing the fire on the brazier swaying and almost going out.

The darkness twisted toward Tanith, and the image of the burning golden tree faded in the darkness.

Tanis sat in her own side room, lost in thought.

Is the merchant still in the room? Tanith suddenly spoke, turning to look at the furnace behind her.

The Crucible Knight silently picked up his sword and shield, walked to Diaros's guest room, and knocked on the door with his horned shield.

Boom-boom-boom.

The room was quiet, there was no sound.

The furnace increased its strength again, and the door trembled, almost exploding.

There was still no movement in the room.

Tanis was already standing behind the furnace, looking at the guest room door, narrowing her eyes slightly.

Open it, Tanith ordered.

The door opened, but it was the one next to Diaros' guest room.

The gorgeously dressed aristocratic girl walked out hunched over, rubbing her eyes, looking at the Crucible Knight and Tanis with sleepy eyes:

Mother, what are you doing?

Tanis' suppressed expression suddenly melted away. She looked at Laya, her eyes curled into a crescent moon:

It's nothing, it's just that the guests in this room haven't come out for a long time, and I'm a little worried about them.

When La Ya heard this, she puffed up her mouth:

They went to bed very late last night. They seemed to have been playing cards in the room. They were so noisy that I couldn't fall asleep.

Laya stepped forward and held Tanith's hand:

Mom, I'm still very sleepy. I want to hear you tell me a story. It's been a long time since you told me a story.

Tanis touched Laya's head, feeling a little hesitant.

At this time, the door of Huoshan Mansion was pushed open again, and a traitor walked in, but his hands were empty.

Lady Tanis, it's been a long time since I saw you reminiscing with your daughter. The traitor greeted, took out a key and pointed to a room, Is this room vacant?

Tanith pointed to another room.

The rebel thanked Tanith, took the key, opened the door and went in.

Tanith looked at Laya tenderly, then glanced at the door, and said to the Crucible Knight:

Watch here - Good Laya, I'll tell you a story.

I want to hear the story of my birth again.

Tanith took Laya back to the room.

Laya helped Wuming keep an eye on Wuming all night until Tanis knocked on Wuming's door, and quickly came out to delay her mother.

Unfortunately it didn't take long.

At least in terms of being very sleepy, Laya didn't lie. She didn't sleep all night and was being watched by unknown people. When she lay on the bed, she quickly fell asleep to the sound of Tanith's story.

Tanith leaned over and kissed the snake man who had restored his original form, then closed the door and left.

The door was sealed, and all Tanith's tenderness seemed to be locked inside. She took out a key and handed it to the Crucible Knight:

Open the door.

A small tail sprouted from the back of the Crucible Knight, wrapped around Tanith's key, and opened Diaros' door.

On the bed, Diaros was naked and fast asleep.

On the ground, Wuming, covered in armor, was also sleeping soundly.

As if he heard the door opening, Wuming rolled to his feet, drew out his sword, and pointed it at Tanis.

After discovering that it was Tanis, Wuming took the sword back:

It turns out to be Lady Tanis, what are you doing here?

It's okay, it's just that it's getting late. Seeing that you haven't come out yet, I'm worried that something happened. Tanis said, You wear armor to sleep?

I never take off my armor. The ring finger pointed at the armor. It's so ugly inside that it can make people cry. It can stop children from crying at night. It's so ugly that I'm afraid of scaring my roommates. Oh, I never take it off even in the caravan. Armor, if you don’t believe me, ask my staff.”

I don't distrust you, excuse me. Tanis said, There are guests next door, please don't make too much noise at night.

I know, I know. Wuming nodded repeatedly.

The door was closed by Tanis, Wuming let out a long breath, and his body suddenly relaxed.

With this relaxation, the whole body dispersed for a moment, like melting snow.

Fortunately, I caught up. Asumi's voice came out of Wuming's mouth.

Wuming and the rebel just now were all pretended to be Ashmi.

It was too difficult to return from the original route of Feigun River, so Ashmi immediately changed into a traitor, walked through the main entrance of the volcano, found a guest room, entered, and then used the secret passage to return to the room.

Ashimi felt that her secret would be exposed sooner or later, but Wuming insisted on letting her come, so she could only use this method.

Wuming himself returned to the camp with other employees.

Wuming ran to Serian's experimental platform built on the roof of the coffin:

Look what I brought you.

A strip of cloth was randomly wrapped around Yazler's body a few times, just like ancient magicians wrapped leggings, and then tied with a bow on the top of his head.

Wuming just stood in front of Se Lian, who was already like a sculpture.

Master Yazler? Serian was indeed surprised.

I found it on the side of the volcano, with some of his students and demi-humans. Wuming said, Where is the thing I want you to make, have you finished it?

Se Lian handed an egg-shaped crystal to Wuming:

I've made it, but I don't know if it's useful.

The blood-stained crystals gathered into an egg shape, with holes exposed at the top, and blood vessels could be seen squirming inside.

It seems to be different. Wuming said, This is probably a smelting furnace that combines the characteristics of the border area. As for whether it is useful, we will know after trying it.

Wuming closed his eyes, muttered something silently, and stretched both hands into the egg.

A burst of light shone from the egg, and Wuming grabbed a wide-brimmed pointed hat worn by a heretical magician from the egg.

It works! Wuming cheered and handed the dress to Se Lian, I'll give it to you.

Se Lian happened to have lost his hood, and it was not comfortable to wear a beautiful braid all the time, so he put on the pointed hat.

It was actually successful in just one try. It's amazing. Wuming said.

My own soul is attached to the pyroxene. The difficulty for you is to transfer the soul to the pyroxene. Once you solve this problem, it will be easy. Se Lian showed the confidence of a magic genius.

How is Lani's research going? Wuming asked.

I haven't done it yet, Se Lian said. I'm too lazy to do it. I don't really want to do it for my one-month-old daughter.

I'm telling you I'll do what I do and love what I do. This is also to help you get rid of the curse as soon as possible.

Wuming encouraged Se Lian, jumped out of the coffin with the egg in his arms, and went straight to Pachi.

Finally I can give you a nice set of clothes. Wuming said.

Your aesthetic... Patch expressed doubts.

Stop talking nonsense, we'll talk about it later. Wuming took out one piece of equipment after another from the egg.

The first set is a set of mighty golden armor. The helmet looks like a golden lion. The body is covered with hard armor and is also quite slim-fitting. The waistline is prominent and powerful.

This... Patch smiled, I'll give it a try.

Wait for Patch to get dressed and look in the mirror:

Something feels wrong.

Is there any? It's pretty good. Wuming said.

Where's my hair? Patch found the abnormality and touched the tassel part of the helmet, Where's my hair?

Don't make trouble, you don't have hair. People have hair so they can comb out their helmet tassels. Wuming said.

This suit won't work. Patch took off his clothes.

It looks good without the red tassel. Wuming said.

A golden lion, should I wear it to see the mistress of the volcano? Patch said, Aren't you going to lock me up as a royal treasure?

Yes. Wuming pondered.

And no hair, Patch added.

Want something suitable for a bald head? Tell me earlier. Wuming took out another set of clothes from the egg.

The black iron armor is as blurry as a shadow, with a slight golden afterimage. Intertwined with the black iron armor is dark blue cloth, which looks mysterious and noble.

The head is wrapped in a blue and black spiral-shaped turban with eyes. Under the turban is a warm white porcelain mask with sharp eyes.

The hood is accompanied by long tooth-white hair.

The hood has eyes. It looks very similar to the Godskin Messenger. This mask also matches Tanis very well. This mask also matches your slender head shape. Wuming said, The most important thing is that it matches the bald head very well.

This is women's clothing. Patch threw the apron back.

So what's the matter? Maybe Tanis likes women. Wuming dug his new clothes into the egg.

She likes Larcade. You said she likes men and women? Patch threw the mask over.

Wuming tried on Patch more than a dozen times, but was rejected every time for various reasons.

Patch once again took the clothes Wuming took out from the egg, changed them in the tent and walked out.

Dressed in white cloth with gold embroidery, a leather corset outlines Patch's waistline, and blue and purple cloths are tied loosely around the waist. The chest was exposed, revealing half of Patch's rather strong chest muscles.

Isn't it too fancy? Patch said.

Can it be more fancy than Tanis? Wuming said, I heard that Tanis is a foreigner, so our clothes are very exotic.

It seems... not bad. Patch looked at his own image in the mirror and adjusted his wig.

When Wuming heard what Patch said, he collapsed on the ground:

You are satisfied.

You asked me to try on clothes and then complained that I was tired? Patch said.

I didn't expect that I would have to help you change your clothes. Wuming said, How come I only do this follower's job lately.

Patch smiled: Hey, you should think so, the sun helps others, it's a public servant.

Wuming said: It seems that you still care about your image in Tanis' eyes. You don't seem to be someone who cares about image so much. Do you really like Tanis that much?

Patch pondered for a moment: Let's go to the volcano with me.

My substitute is at the volcano, now I'm going to expose myself.

Don't enter the Volcano Residence.

Pachi took Wuming and hid outside the Shanshan Mansion without disturbing any puppet soldiers or mountain monsters along the way.

Your ability to infiltrate is actually so superb. Wuming marveled.

Forgot what I used to do? Patch said.

Wuming suddenly realized: It's just stealing.

Wuming asked: What are we doing here?

Wait a minute. Patch lurked behind the rock, Wait until night.

Wuming changed Patch into a dozen sets of clothes, and then sneaked to the volcano. It was already night.

I remember this was dinner time. Wuming said, Would you like to go in and have something to eat?

Patch looked sideways: Don't you think it's all human flesh?

Wuming also looked sideways: Do you still care about this?

Of course I care. Patch rolled his eyes.

Don't you like to dig through corpses when you're scavenging?

It doesn't mean I can eat it, Patch said. Eating people can easily lead to disease.

Is there such a thing? Wuming was surprised, I've seen a lot of cannibals, but I don't feel sick.

Is it possible that you are the sickest and therefore can't feel it, Patch said.

No way, absolutely impossible.

Patch suddenly covered the gap in Wuming's armor:

coming.

As the night progressed, the Rebels left one after another, and a moment later, Tanith also walked out, rarely following the Crucible Knight. She did not stay away, standing at the door, staring at the burned little golden tree.

Tanith danced among the mountains of corpses and sea of ​​blood.

The dance is bold and powerful, and the long skirt outlines graceful curves in Tanis' dance.

This is a casual dance with no obvious rules, only the freehand expression of emotions.

Tanis stepped on the ground with her toes and heels, and drummed the beat with her palms. Her loose sleeves swayed, revealing her forearms with obvious muscle lines. His movements are full of explosive power. The fingers and arms swing open and close at will, showing slim curves in various postures.

Picking up the corners of the skirt, every time you pause, the flying skirt will create a freehand silhouette in the firelight.

The puppet soldiers had no sanity, and the volcano demon had bad eyesight. Tanis danced an unrestrained and passionate solo dance under the light of the golden tree that no one was watching, until she was panting and sweating.

There was no music, only the strong beat played by Tanis herself, but it made people feel like there was a noisy band with gongs and drums accompanying the dancing figures. It was not like she was in a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood, but in a lively market, surrounded by a band, playing the role of a proud flamingo, beautiful in the blood and fire.

Tanith's dance became more and more frenzied, and her body seemed to be broken by herself.

Suddenly everything fell silent, Tanis stopped abruptly, gasped a few times, then simply turned and left.

It would be better if there was a castanet. Patch admired and looked at Wuming, How about it?

Do you believe in my aesthetics now? Wuming said, Are you sure I can appreciate it?

Patch sighed:

That's the dance from Tanith's homeland.

Although I don't know how to dance, as a queen, she seems to dance very professionally. Wuming said.

You don't understand how you can look professional?

The muscles in the legs are very full. Wuming said, It is difficult for ordinary warriors to have such full muscles. They have obviously been trained professionally. Diaros is probably not as strong as her.

Patch said: Because she is a professional. Tanis was Rakad's side chamber and became the mistress of the volcano after the Shattering War. But before these things happened, she was just a dancer in a foreign country. This dance of hers , which is also the style of her hometown.”

So...are you missing your hometown? Wuming asked.

That's true, but it's more like Mingzhi. Patch said, Exotic Country... Hey, you are in the border area, have you ever heard of Foreign Country?

No, aren't they all the territory of the Golden Dynasty? Wuming said, Kalia is also married to the Golden Dynasty.

Of course not, because they have all been destroyed. Patch smiled, In the beginning, the Golden Tree was an enemy of all forces, and all dissidents were eliminated, and the law was established.

You mean... Tanith's hometown was not tolerated by the golden tree and was destroyed by the golden tree? Wuming asked.

Pachi held his chin: It's okay if you don't understand the dance. Do you think that style and the emotions contained in it will be tolerated by the golden tree?

Wuming thought about the atmosphere of Yatan and the golden people.

Everyone has a pretty face and an ascetic style.

Wuming shook his head.

If Tanis had not been favored by Rakad, she would have been no different from the wandering people under your control. Patch said, This is not surprising. The war started by the Golden Tree is much more powerful than the Shattered War. , countless small forces have been destroyed.

No wonder they resisted the Golden Tree with those powers that were judged as blasphemous and unclean. Wuming said.

You take it for granted. Patch said, But to be able to unify the border areas with overwhelming force and defeat the ancient dragon and Kallia to form an alliance, it has become a law.

Patch said: What is the law? It is God, it is heaven, it is the overwhelming power. When the golden tree becomes the law, the people who were destroyed by it will no longer complain. Ordinary people will die because they are swallowed by the tsunami. Do you blame the sea? No, you will only build a statue to the sea, pray respectfully and make offerings.

Wuming said: Obviously you look down on this kind of behavior.

Of course, that's why I hate the priesthood. Patch said, But Tanith is different. She has no fear in the face of such a supreme existence. When she was a dancer, she never flattered the king. When she was the mistress of the volcano, , she won’t be afraid of the Golden Tree, I’m afraid even if she wants to die, she will still have that awe-inspiring energy on her face.”

Patch sighed, looking at the open space, as if still recalling Tanith's passionate dance steps.

Wuming stared at Patch for a moment:

I thought you were just greedy for someone else's body.

Patch rolled his eyes at Wuming Kuang.

Wuming smiled and patted Patch on the shoulder:

Don't worry, I will help you fight for it. I am working so hard in the volcano, not just to do your work.

Don't come here, you are also trying to win over Racade.

The priority is not that high. Wuming said, I will weigh the value of Rakad myself. But what about you? Have you weighed the value of Tanith?

I?

Wuming looked at the mountain of corpses and sea of ​​blood in front of the door:

After all, volcanoes are not kind people. You are so obsessed with Tanith, how much are you willing to sacrifice for it?

Wuming held his chin and looked at Patch indifferently:

If you encounter a dilemma, you have to be mentally prepared.

Patch was a little annoyed by Wuming's look, and he sneered, ready to go back in disgust:

Then you can teach me. After all, you have encountered many such choices, right?

Wuming answered very decisively without any hesitation:

Try your best, but if you can't help it, give it up.

Patch was silent, looking at Wuming's red eyes, but felt a chill.