Three Philosophical Questions for Travelers

"Bring it in." Haven said.

Ramon came in and handed the letter to him, and Haiwen tore open the envelope, and saw what was written: The resistance alliance in the River Bend is over, the nobles of Ersi Fork Road, Forest Bay, Pirate Bay and Valley have bowed their heads and bowed their heads; Kleist is negotiating with Fengleibao, and it is only a matter of time before Mondalia succumbs.Master Haiwen, Bugu Kahn is on the mend, and he cannot compete with him.Compromise can save one's life, and marriage can preserve one's strength.Haven Ambleside, time is ticking, please make a quick decision.

— Yavin Dern.

It seems that I have no other choice, Haven thought.

"Ramon, come with me to the Sands Castle tomorrow." Haiwen put the letter in his hand on the oil lamp and lit it, and the flame illuminated his face. "I want to meet the king of the Gulf in person."

Chapter 6: Hummingbird City? Huadu, a

Chapter 6: Hummingbird City? Huadu, a

After more than ten days of wading through mountains and rivers, Yisruite and his party finally arrived at Hummingbird City.

Hummingbird City, that is a beautiful cruise ship floating on the sea of ​​flowers.

Different from the barren Gulf land, the land in the south is generous, kind, and affectionate. This soil is like a girl who loves you deeply, and will give you everything she has, but is unwilling to take anything.

Hundreds of flowers are blooming in this field, and the bright and colorful colors are reflected in Isrit's eyes.She had never seen so many colors in her life, and the words in her memory could no longer pronounce each color.

She took a deep breath, only to feel that even the air was bright.

In the center of the sea of ​​flowers, there are many blue and white houses made of wooden boards, and in the center there is a tall tower with a blue triangular flag hanging on the top, like a sail.The colors of the houses in Hummingbird City are simple, because the sea of ​​flowers is already bright enough, and people only need to spread a layer of elegant colors to form a perfect picture.

"Master, let's go in." Bai Guo said to her.

Yisruite looked at Bai Guo, the female half-orc was dressed like an ordinary woman, she put a few small flowers on her braid, saying it was the custom of Hummingbird City.Not only her, but Isrit and Gerrit also wore garlands and corollas that they made themselves, all of which were made from local materials.

However, according to the rules, only feather flowers, dewdrop flowers and emerald flowers can be used to weave corolla.The flowers of this kind of flower seem to be flowers, but they are actually seeds. People pick them and wear them on their heads, and then they are abandoned in the distance along with the travel, and they will bloom and bear fruit in the distance.Just as dandelions depend on the wind to travel, these flowers need help from people or animals to reproduce.So, being woven into flower crowns is beneficial to them.People in Hummingbird City love flowers and never destroy other flowers easily. Travelers like Isrit have to do as the Romans do.

The four of them—Isrit, Zerette, the orc warrior Iguana, and the female orc Baiguo—have been away for a long time. These days, most of them eat and sleep in the open and have not had a good rest.At this moment, everyone couldn't help being excited, the iguana was still a little wary of the human city, holding the weapon tightly in his hand, while Bai Guo encouraged him, saying: "Mother said that humans and orcs are no different, let alone you and humans." Look the same, no one will find you."

The iguana is a strong man. He is a head taller than the average person, and his body is full of strip muscles. Except for a slightly protruding mouth, he is the same as a human being.He looked at Hummingbird City with narrow eyes, and said, "This is what humans left for me." He showed a scar on his arm, which Isrit had always thought was from his hunting before that.

"Humans are very friendly to humans, but absolutely not to half-orcs." He said in a deep voice, "In their eyes, I am a slave, Bai Guo, I don't know how you gained the trust of humans, but no matter what , I can't even do it."

"You just need to conceal your identity," said the female orc.

So they stepped into the land of Hummingbird City.

Hummingbird City is a peaceful land, it does not seem to have any conditions to deal with war.The city has no natural barriers to defend, and there are no walls. If there is a war, there will be nothing to protect Hummingbird City.

Dark-skinned slaves were picking flowers, and tiny hummingbirds hovered above their heads, sharing fields with them. "These birds aren't afraid of people," said Gerrita, "and they're full of happiness in their calls. It's a lovely place."

"I think so too," said Estelle.The cities in the south are all beautiful and picturesque, Qingmu City, Hummingbird City, she thought to herself, compared to the stone castles in the Bayland, they are too ugly.

They walked along the winding path in the flower field, and halfway through, Isrit was covered with pollen and fragrance.She couldn't help sneezing, and the tidbits flew up.The white elves danced around her, spiraling up into the sky.At this time, a woman in the flower field said to her: "It is beautiful here at night. These flowers are called silver elves, and they will glow at night."

Estelle looked towards the voice, but saw no one in the flower field.

"Hello?" she tried to greet.Then the voice came from the flower field again: "Girl, I think the silver elves are very suitable for you—" She stood up, walked towards Isrit, and put a small silver flower in her braid, "— —The silver elf symbolizes purity and kindness, and good girls like her."

"Thank you." Isrit thanked.

The woman nodded with a smile—it was a thick-handed peasant woman with a round face and soft brows, and she looked amiable.But what she said next startled Esriette:

"So, liberal witches, what are you doing here?" She brushed off the dirt as if she were a real peasant woman. "Two witches, and two orcs—"

The iguana bared its teeth and growled at her: "I'm not a half-orc, I'm an iguana! Hiss!"

Bai Guo pressed his head down, bowed her head and said, "Ms. Madjora, hello."

Isrit also saluted, "Hello, Ms. Madjora." Gerrit nodded lightly and said, "Hello, witch."

The woman named Madraola said: "You smell of sandalwood, strong wine, and seven herbs..." She closed her eyes and sniffed hard, "And blood—it is magical The blood of... a witch, who is it? Who is dead, and who killed her?"

Madraola may not look like much, but she seems to be capable.Isrit and Zhe Lite looked at each other and said: "It was an academic witch, she died of...an accident." Zhe Lite also nodded and said, "Yes, an accident, she died in an accident. Die before us, but this matter has nothing to do with us."

Madjora nodded and said, "You guys lied."

"I haven't." Isrit said.

"It's none of your business," Gerette said.

Mazhuola smiled like a loving mother, and immediately whispered: "Children, come here." The moment she finished speaking, there was a rustling sound in the flower field.Then the iguana jumped up screaming and stabbed the ground with its drawn spear.However, two vines entangled his weapon like tentacles, and the iguana screamed and fell to the ground.It was only then that Estelle realized that there were countless thorns and vines coming out of nowhere.The vines swam like snakes and surrounded her.

"Majora, we have no malicious intentions!" Bai Guo explained, "This is the incarnation of my earth mother, the mother of our orcs, Isrit. She is looking for an academic witch here to carry out the trial of the heavenly father—please You take my word for it!"

Madjora's expression was puzzled, and she said, "Your words are too difficult to understand, Bai Guo—but I believe you have no malicious intentions." She whispered to the vines, "Go and drink water, children." As soon as it fell, the thorns and vines got into the soil of the flower field and disappeared without a trace.

Isrit took a look at the vast sea of ​​flowers and thought: If there are enough witches, then this city really doesn't need a city wall.

Author's message:

ps: I will take a day off tomorrow to organize the outline.

Hummingbird City? Huadu, II

Hummingbird City? Huadu, II

They followed Madraola and continued inside.

Estelle saw that there were many peasant women like Mazhuola in the flower field, but she couldn't tell which one was the peasant woman and which one was the witch.

On the way, Mazhuola continued: "Several academic witches came here a few days ago, and they told me that they encountered an ominous spirit on the road, and the leading Witch Cuckoo died tragically at the hands of the ominous spirit. But..." She Looking back at Estherite, the woman looked kindly, but Estherite felt very uncomfortable, "Earl Aldroland doesn't believe them, the earl has the ability to distinguish lies, and no one can hide it from her."

The countess of Ultraland, Essrait knew this person, she was a moon-level witch, and there were only a few of the academic witches who could reach this level.She can be said to be a model of the worldly school. Isrit wanted to meet this person and learn from her how to use witchcraft in society.

"Under the earl's coercion, those witches changed their tune. They said that it was the liberal witches who killed Witch Dujuan."

The moment she heard these words, the hairs all over Esritre's body stood on end.At this time, Gerrit said loudly: "They obviously did it! I saw with my own eyes that guy smashed the face of the cuckoo witch with a stone!"

Madraola glanced at her and said, "But you said it was an accident."

"It was indeed an accident." Estherite said, "This matter is very complicated, and I can't explain it clearly in a few words."

"Then talk to the earl slowly, liberal witches."

Thus they came to the count's castle.

The countess' castle is a huge monolithic rock.The large rock is four stories high and appears to have grown out of the earth.Craftsmen carved out doors, windows and passages on the giant rocks, then connected the passages, hollowed out the interior, and made rooms one by one.It became a castle.The surface of the giant rock castle is covered with ivy and morning glory, and the monster statues raised on the four sides of the rock wall have been covered with green, and the appearance cannot be seen.

Madjora made the two orcs wait outside, the iguana yelled at her with a spear, and Bai Guo argued with her, but neither worked.Isrit told the orcs to wait at ease, saying that they would come as soon as they went, but Bai Guo said: "We swore to protect your safety, and we cannot break our oath!" She said to Madjora, "Ms. Madjora, unless You kill us, otherwise we will definitely follow my mother."

Madera pondered for a moment, and said, "But the rules of the castle are—"

"Let them in, Madjora," said a hummingbird in the sky.

Madraola nodded and said, "Yes, my lord the count."

Led by the bird, they came to the castle hall.There are emerald green vines hanging on both sides of the hall, and many hummingbirds are parked on it.The birds are as quiet as statues and as orderly as guards.Numerous petals lay on the ground, forming a red carpet leading to the throne. At the end of the petals, there is a chair shaped like a stake, with branches growing on the chair and buds growing on the armrest.

The Countess of Ultramarine sat in that chair.

Earl Ultraland is different from ordinary nobles, she has no surname, and her title is not hereditary.The title of Earl Witch will be passed on to her most proud disciple, from generation to generation.In fact, the name Ultraland is not the countess's real name either, the name means in the language of academic witches: the king of flowers and birds.Every Countess who inherits the title will abandon the old name and use the new name "Ultra Blue".

Ultralan, who sits on the throne today, is a beautiful silver-haired woman.She was about 30, slender, with stars the color of her eyes.Her hand rested on the armrest of the throne, and a small hummingbird rested on her slender fingers.

Estherite and the others saluted her.Oakland was unimpressed, but the hummingbird said, "Liberal witches, I need you to answer me a few questions."

"please say."

Said the Hummingbird of Aldrablue: "A while ago there was a witch who said that the Liberal Witches had killed their mates. Said the Liberal Witches had stoned the poor man's face."

"Nonsense!" Geralte said loudly, "They obviously did it, the Cuckoo Witch died at her hands, and we—"

"You are the accomplices." Hummingbird interrupted her with a sharp voice, "I already know everything, you are the ones who tricked her into committing a crime, and you have a part in this blood debt."

Estherite said: "The Cuckoo Witch kills first. She voted to kill among us in order to get rid of the hidden evil spirit. We just killed a murderer together. Whether it is morality or law, this is all right."

"But in terms of the witch's rules, there is a big problem." Hummingbird flew away from the back of her hand after saying this. At this time, Ultralan's body slowly stood up from the chair. Her body and the chair were almost glued together, and as she stood up, a spider-like white thread stretched out between her back and the chair.Then she shook off those silk threads, and walked towards Isrit.

At this time, two orcs stopped in front of Yisruite, Bai Guo said: "Master Ultralan, please step back!"

"Go away!" said the Count Witch.

Then the other hummingbirds repeated: "Go away!"Bai Guo covered her ears in pain, while the iguana roared: "Put away your sorcery, you witch! Orcs are not afraid of you!"

Hummingbird fell silent, and Aldram said, "Why would an orc protect a liberal witch?"

"Because she is the representative of Earth Mother, Lord Ultralan." Bai Guo saluted her, and then said, "If you hurt her, then the swamp orcs will never let it go."

Aldralan's silent face squirmed for a moment, she looked at Isrit, and said, "Tell me your story, liberal witch—I want you to start from the beginning, what is going on with all this? "

"Yes, my lord." Isrit said to her.

Then Isrit told Aldram the whole story.From the beginning of her travels, she talked about the evil spirits, the trial game, and how the cuckoo witch died; then she talked about the orcs and explained why she became the spirit of the earth mother.

"To sum up, we just stopped her meaningless killing, and all the witches present at the time agreed. If we don't stop her, none of the people behind will survive." Essrit said.

"What you said is very reasonable, but what you have done still violates the rules of academic witches." Ultralan walked towards the wall.She stepped on the petals with bare feet, and her plain white robe dragged on the ground.Then, she flicked the vines on the wall with her hand, and the vines separated automatically, revealing a mural.

"What rule?" Gerette asked her.

"Witch Dujuan is a star-level witch. Her life can equal ten ordinary witches. In other words, if you are all dead, she should also survive." She pointed to the starry sky on the mural and placed her hand on the brightest North Star. A circle is drawn on it.

Hummingbird City, Huadu, San

Hummingbird City, Huadu, San

The murals are painted with stars, moons, birds and butterflies.Academic witches are divided into four levels: Moon, Star, Bird, and Butterfly.The Dujuan witch is a star-level cadre, and she is considered a senior cadre here.Aozhulan is a witch at the moon level, and she is an earl at the noble level, so the status of the cuckoo witch in the academy is a baron or a viscount?Thinking of this, Estelle couldn't help frowning.

At this time Gerrit asked her, "What do you want? Kill us all?"

"I won't do this, but the job vacated by the Cuckoo Witch must be taken by someone." With a flick of her hand, the vines covered the mural again, "In fact, the job of the Cuckoo Witch is very important. Now that she's gone, We'll need at least ten people to fill her void."

Isrit asked, "What is her job?"

"She is responsible for guarding the seal of the witch's secret realm." Aozhuolan said, "The witch's secret realm needs three star-level witches to maintain it at all times, otherwise the seal will become invalid. This year it was the turn of the cuckoo witch, but she did not come back. "

Isrit thought for a while and said, "I'd be happy to help you, but I'm not a star-level witch yet. If Your Excellency is willing to accept me as a disciple and teach me academic knowledge, then I will voluntarily maintain the Witch Secret Realm."

"Son, what you said is so naive." Ultralan leaned against the wall, playing with the silver threads on her temples with her fingers, "First, I don't accept apprentices easily; second, if you want to become a star-level witch, It takes at least five years of study—this is still on the premise that you are smart enough."

At this moment, Gerrit interjected and said, "I don't think it will take five years. The girls in my family are very smart. One or two years is enough."

Aozhuolan didn't speak, she looked at Isrit, and said, "What's your name?"

"Israet Ambleside," she replied.

"You have a surname? What's your family like?" asked Ultraland.

"That is my husband's name, my lord."

"I didn't expect you to be married." Ao Zhuolan smiled.

Not only married, but I have children, Isrit thought to herself.

"I can give you this chance. If you go south tomorrow morning, the hummingbird will lead you. Go to the seal of the Witch's Secret Realm and ask Mrs. Wei'an to sign up for the exam. If you pass the exam in one month after the top three , then I will accept you as an apprentice."

Estelle couldn't help feeling excited at this moment, she quickly saluted and said, "Yes, my lord."

"If you can really become my disciple, I will teach you the knowledge of the academy, and then you must guard the seal for a whole year."

Islet pondered for a moment, and said, "Not for a whole year, my lord."

"Why?" Ultramarine frowned.

"I'm three months pregnant, please let me rest at least when I give birth."

Hearing this, Aozhuolan's brows were immediately relieved, and she couldn't help smiling, and said, "Congratulations, young mother! Any child born here can come to me for baptism. I will use holy water Give him a bath and smear green mud and herbal medicine, so that he will be strong and healthy and free from plague."

Yisrit quickly said: "Thank you, my lord!"

Madera said from the side: "The Earl likes children."

After learning that Estherite was pregnant, the attitude of the countess changed drastically.She asked someone to prepare a comfortable room and a carriage with soft cushions for Isrit, and then invited her to dinner.

Isrit had some doubts about this, so she went to ask Madjora.Madraola told her: "According to the rules, one cannot get married after becoming a Countess, and the Countess has always wanted a child."

Gerrit said, "Then she can adopt one."

Mazhuola expressed the bitterness in one sentence: "The title should be passed on to the adopted son or to the apprentice?"

At dusk they dined together on the roof of the castle.Ultralan and the other witches are vegetarians, but they prepared some meat dishes for the guests of Isrit, including chicken soup, roasted bullfrog, fried silkworms, and salt-fried fish; the main food was sweet honey egg pancakes.