This was a small, ancient city.
"Wuke."
Wuke was located in a basin surrounded by mountains.
The branch rivers of the Euphrates River and the Tigris River passed through the town and converged into a small lake.
Before the war broke out, this was once a poor town.
The locals had sallow skin, empty eyes, and indifferent faces.
They were dressed shabbily, either lying, sitting, or sleeping by the roadside, on the roof, or on the riverbank.
There were even more people hiding in the shadows that could give them a sense of security. They were hiding and looking at everything in front of them with dull eyes.
In the past..,
There were once bored geographers who discussed the reason for the formation of the basin in Wuke town.
Some people said that this place was formed by the collapse of the ground where the entire town was located after the bottom crust changed.
Some people said that there was a rich underground river system under the town. After days and months, it moistened things silently. The ground gradually sank and formed this landform.
There were also people who said that many, many years ago, a meteorite fell from the sky and smashed a hole in the ground.
No one investigated the specific reason.
After all, this was just a poor town that no one cared about.
Who would care how the basin was formed?
After the summons of all the people..,
This town had also experienced the baptism of riots.
After being plundered by the veterans, this place was full of devastation and only a mess was left.
"This is humans."
On this day..,
A man with silver-white hair passed by.
He wore a clean white robe, which was trimmed with delicate lace. Under the robe was a pitch-black and soft inner shirt. Under his feet was a pair of thick, round-headed leather boots. The man had a smile on his face. As he walked on the road, he gave people the feeling that he was like the wind blowing from the grassland. He was unpredictable, but it was difficult to have a bad impression of him.
"Excuse me, excuse me, do you want to buy a rare-level item? Just, just 300 points! "
When the white-haired man passed by, a woman whose clothes were stained with dried blood staggered over and sold a rare-level item to the man.
She lowered her voice. She only dared to do so because she saw that the man was well-dressed. Otherwise, a rare-level item could be exchanged for a lot of food at the veteran gathering place next door. Under normal circumstances, she would not dare to expose a precious rare-level item.
The white-haired man shook his head and quickened his pace.
The woman bit her lower lip hard and moved closer. She said in an even softer voice, "My skills are very good. 200 points is fine. Please, I beg you, I'm so hungry. Even … I can do it. "
"Aiyaya, what a headache."
The white-haired man smiled embarrassedly and rubbed his hair. "I'm not your kind. Also, I'm sorry to have tainted your determination. I don't like women. "
The local woman selling the [Rare] item was stunned when she heard this.
She looked at the man's face. His flawless facial features and gentle smile. If it was a peaceful era, she would even be willing to throw herself at him. However, such a perfect man actually didn't like women … Tsk, what a pity.
"Shh."
The white-haired man put his white index finger to his lips. He turned his head and looked around. He saw that there were many restless gazes in the dark. He could only sigh helplessly. He took out a package from his bosom and took out a piece of dry bread.
"Go ahead."
The woman hesitated for a moment, but still took the bread and ate it in big bites.
After a while, she finished the bread.
When she raised her head, she didn't know when the man who was like the wind had disappeared.
…
After doing an insignificant thing, it was not worth mentioning.
The white-haired man came to a church.
The church door was open. The benches used for prayer were scattered on the ground.
In the corner of the church, near the wall, there was an empty space. There were seven to eight corpses neatly placed there. Each of the corpses had different scars on them. Some of the corpses were already cold, while some were still warm. They seemed to have died not long ago.
Their age, time of death, and method of death had nothing in common. However, the only thing they had in common was that they were all placed in an upright position. Their faces were facing the sky and their eyes were closed. Their hands were crossed and clasped in front of their chests. It seemed to be a prayer posture.
In front of each corpse's chest, there was a bright little white flower. This ordinary little white flower diluted the sorrow of death and added a bit of dignity and solemnity.
A thin young man in a black priest's robe had his back to the open church door. He lowered his head and prayed.
When the white-haired man stepped into the church, the young priest sighed and put on a ring. "Excuse me, are you here to pray … Ah? Great Sage? "
The young priest turned his head and stared. The round-rimmed eyes on the bridge of his nose were tilted to one side.
Ten minutes later.
The young priest moved two relatively clean stools and a table in front of the statue of the goddess in the church. Only half of the statue was left. He sat with the white-haired man.
The young priest's expression was uneasy. He twisted slightly on the stool, as if he was a little uncomfortable.
"Great Sage …"
After an awkward silence, the young priest gathered his courage and raised his head. When he was about to break the silence, the white-haired man smiled. That gentle smile made people feel like they were bathing in the spring breeze. He magically took out a box of chess from his robe.
"Shh, don't talk." The white-haired man smiled and winked. "Let's play a game of chess!"
The young priest was stunned.
But a moment later.
They still played chess.
At first, the young priest was still a little restrained.
The white-haired man's attacks were slow and unhurried. It felt like boiling a frog in warm water.
However, it was precisely this kind of chess style. As the game went on, the young priest looked at the empty camp on his side, and the "Empress" who was surrounded by a group of soldiers and horses until she was shivering. He was dumbfounded.
"Again."
The white-haired man smiled slightly, looking very happy. Another game.
The second game.
The young priest's temper rose. He gradually revealed his dominance and murderous intent as he played chess.
The white-haired man, on the other hand, was still responding calmly. He did not kill those who should be killed, and he left those who could be killed for a while. He looked completely unhurried.
After a few minutes.
The young priest found that his "delicate queen" was surrounded again.
Nothing.
He felt that he had lost inexplicably.
But he was convinced.
"As expected of the Great Sage."
The young priest did not want to play anymore.
"Again."
The white-haired man seemed to be addicted to playing. He rolled up his sleeves and took the initiative to rearrange the chess pieces on the messy chessboard.
"Great Sage, you're …"
"Little Zheng Boy ~ Ah, we haven't seen each other for ten years. We've become estranged."
"Yes, Teacher."
The young priest's real name was Yan Feng Gongzheng, and his nickname was Little Zheng.
The familiar tone of the white-haired man made Yan Feng Gongzheng lower his head. He quickly submitted to the white-haired young man's majesty and obediently changed the way he addressed him.
But his face clearly looked a little happy.
The two of them chatted casually.
The third game began.
"Little Zheng Boy, we haven't seen each other for ten years. You've grown up."
"Teacher, you still haven't changed at all."
"That's right." The white-haired man sighed and casually made a move. Then, he touched his face and said seriously, "In my long life, this handsome face is my only worry."
Yan Feng Gongzheng: "…"
He played chess silently and tried to change the way he played.
Snake movement, fake and real, it was difficult to distinguish between real and fake … Yes, Yan Feng Gongzheng lost this game even faster. Yan Feng Gongzheng suddenly recalled the fear of being caught by his teacher and tortured thousands of times in the boring days of the moving mountain in the Imitation Sea ten years ago.
Yan Feng Gongzheng started the fourth game.
As he played, he could not help but say, "Teacher, long time no see."
"Yes, it's been ten years."
The white-haired man played chess slowly and said with a smile.
"You're here today because …"
"Playing chess. Sigh, Little Zheng, you don't know. In that lifeless place, no one is willing to play chess with me."
It would be strange if someone was willing to play with you.
Yan Feng Gongzheng complained in his heart.
No one was willing to taste the taste of losing again and again, losing until their heads were broken and bleeding.
"Do you know why you lost?"
The white-haired man asked with a smile.
"Because Teacher's skills are too good."
Yan Feng Gongzheng answered honestly.
"No, I'm actually not strong." As he spoke, one of Yan Feng Gongzheng's "horses" was defeated. Its legs were broken and it left the battlefield quietly.
Yan Feng Gongzheng: "…"
"Most humans only like to look at the 'present', but I like to look at the 'present', 'past', and 'future'."
"Teacher, normal people don't use their 'prophecy' ability when playing chess."
Yan Feng Gongzheng looked up at the white-haired man and could not hold it in anymore.
"You don't understand." The white-haired man smiled and said, "What is the past, what is the present, and what is the future? When you truly understand it, you will discover that the past, present, and future are nothing more than a riddle formed by the intersection of countless lines. You and I are both in a mystery. "
"But Teacher, you still won."
"Because I'm playing chess."
Yan Feng Gongzheng: "…"
"How have you been these ten years?"
The white-haired man did not continue to delve into this topic.
Playing chess was more interesting.
He asked about Yan Feng Gongzheng's life over the years.
When Yan Feng Gongzheng heard this, he was silent for a long time. When the chessboard was empty again, he replied, "Just so-so, Teacher."
"Pfft, you're still blaming me."
The white-haired man pursed his lips.
"I wouldn't dare, Teacher." Yan Feng Gongzheng took a deep breath. "Dirty blood flows in my body, and I inherited a despicable surname. I'm really happy that Teacher accepted me as a disciple. After all, Teacher is that 'great sage'. "
"Do you know why we met again at this time, at this place after not seeing each other for ten years?" The white-haired man asked.
"I'm very curious."
"Everything in the world has a pattern. Just like that sentence, every one of us is in a mystery, but we don't know it. Ten years ago, I expelled you from the Boundless Sea for 'cheating in chess' and sent you to the Church of Holy Light. Do you know why you were sent to this barren land as a lowly priest? "
Yan Feng Gongzheng said helplessly, "Teacher, you should know that it's because of the blood in my body that I resist this place."
"No." The white-haired man smiled and said, "Everyone's existence is for a reason. Yan Feng Gongzheng, remember, you and I are both part of the mystery. "
Then …
When Yan Feng Gongzheng was distracted, he lost another game.
He silently arranged the chess pieces and prepared to start the next game.
It had been ten years. It had been a long time since his teacher had such a long conversation with him.
Moreover, he didn't understand.
But this feeling made him miss it very much.
When Yan Feng Gongzheng was young, he was looked down upon because of the surname "Yan Feng".
His teacher also told him the hidden story of this surname.
Therefore, Yan Feng Gongzheng wished he could change his name.
Then, his teacher gave him a name.
— "Yan Feng Gongzheng".
Ten years ago, he came here with faith in his heart and silently learned the "miracles" of the Church of Holy Light.
Later, his teacher secretly sent him a letter saying that everything had a reason and that he would understand one day.
However, ten years had passed, and Yan Feng Gongzheng was still dumbfounded. He didn't understand why he was expelled from the Boundless Sea by his teacher.
But he believed his teacher's words.
Because his teacher was a person who had lived in the Boundless Sea for an unknown period of time like a mystery — the Great Sage.
Some people in the Boundless Sea once suspected that the Great Sage might have the genes of an ancient fantasy creature in his body, which was why he could survive for so long.
To put it simply … he wasn't human.
That was why he could live until now.
In the world, very few people knew the name of the Great Sage of the Boundless Sea.
Coincidentally, Yan Feng Gongzheng was one of the few who knew the name of the Great Sage.
That was when Yan Feng Gongzheng was still young and was tortured miserably on the chessboard. He couldn't help but cry loudly. In order to comfort Yan Feng Gongzheng, his teacher secretly told him.
The Great Sage looked at Yan Feng Gongzheng and silently began to arrange the chess pieces. He gently pressed Yan Feng Gongzheng's hand to stop him. He took out a pocket watch and glanced at it. With exaggerated movements, he sighed. "Aiyaya, there's not enough time for another game."
Yan Feng Gongzheng looked at his teacher in a daze.
"Here, this is for you."
The Great Sage handed a handmade doll to Yan Feng Gongzheng.
Yan Feng Gongzheng looked at it. The doll was somewhat similar to him. It was wearing a black priest's robe, with a cross around its neck. It had short brown hair and old-fashioned round-rimmed glasses on the bridge of its nose. The overall style of the doll was slightly cartoonish. It looked a little silly and cute.
"Teacher, this is?" Yan Feng Gongzheng was suspicious.
They hadn't seen each other for ten years, and this was it?
"A gift." The Great Sage smiled and said, "Actually, it should be a reward. Help me do something. "
"I knew it." Yan Feng Gongzheng lowered his head and muttered to himself. However, he carefully placed the doll in his arms and hid it. He didn't refuse and asked, "Teacher, what is it?"
"I'll tell you later." The Great Sage stood up and patted the non-existent dust on his clean white robe. He walked out of the door step by step. The gentle sunlight shone on the Great Sage's body, making him look like an incarnation of light. Yan Feng Gongzheng stared at his back in a daze. He almost had the urge to worship him.
"By the way, my other disciple will come here later to help you complete something. She's a beauty. "
"Yes, Teacher." Yan Feng Gongzheng lowered his head and didn't ask any more questions. He wasn't interested.
"The weather is good today." The Great Sage raised his head at a forty-five-degree angle and looked up at the sky. He spread his fair fingers in front of him. The sunlight shone through the gaps between his fingers and cast a mottled shadow on his face. At this time, the Great Sage was silent for a moment. With his back to Yan Feng Gongzheng, he suddenly said, "Do you still remember my name?"
"I remember, Teacher," Yan Feng Gongzheng said.
"Call me once. I haven't heard anyone call me by my name in a long time."
"Yes, Teacher."
“？”
"… Merlin."
Merlin walked out of the room contentedly.
"Yan Feng Gongzheng."
Merlin suddenly sighed. He faced the sunlight and called out Yan Feng Gongzheng's full name with his back to him.
"Goodbye."
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