On the great plains in the middle of Mount An, a middle-aged man wearing a bamboo hat was galloping through the wilderness. After he climbed up a slightly raised mound, he saw a rather large camp in the distance. On the surface, it looked no different from the native tribes that lived on the plains.
However, there was a flag outside the camp with a simple scale design on it.
He raised his water sack and drank a mouthful of water, then checked the swords and crossbows he carried with him. Only then did he slowly urge his horse forward. As soon as he arrived near the camp, a group of native barbarians immediately rushed out and shouted at him. At the same time, they raised their crossbows and guns and pointed them at him. They also used barbarian language to ask him to identify himself.
The middle-aged man took out an iron plate from the crevice of his chest. There was a scale symbol on it. After these people saw it, they relaxed and moved aside while cursing.
The middle-aged man dismounted from his horse and led it into the camp. This place was no different from the native tribes' camps he had seen before. The tents were scattered messily, and cattle, horses, and other livestock were mixed in with people. There was filth everywhere under his feet. A few native dogs were stirring up something in the mud, buzzing and buzzing. Mosquitoes, flies, and insects were crawling around.
There were about two to three hundred people here. There were natives, mixed-bloods, and some An people. However, it could be seen that they didn't come from the same place. However, every one of them was fully armed and looked extremely valiant.
He didn't walk very far when he heard a shout in his ear.
"Old Yu, over here."
He looked in the direction of the voice and saw a short old man greeting him beside a relatively clean tent. There were four or five young people with rough skin around him. They were all looking at him with curious gazes.
The middle-aged man looked and led his horse over. He sat down on a wooden stake in front of the tent.
The short old man said in a low voice, "Why are you so late?"
The middle-aged man didn't answer the question. He only looked around and said, "Who are these people?"
The short old man replied, "Most of them are believers of the God of Balance."
The middle-aged man grunted. He wasn't interested in the believers of any god. He was only doing things for the money. Of course, if the things he did didn't like, he would also throw the job away.
He asked, "Do you know what this is about?"
The short old man moved closer and said, "I heard that this time, they are gathering people to attack a garrison town."
The middle-aged man looked at him and said: "The garrison town has guns and cannons. All the men have been trained to fight with the natives of the wilderness all year round. It is impossible for this motley crew to win. If this operation is for this matter, then I will leave immediately."
"Don't be hasty." The short old man looked outside and gave an order. Four or five youths understood and ran to a faraway place to keep watch. Then, he said in a low voice, "Old Yu, did you know that the God of Balance has been resurrected? One of his bodies will come here tonight and work with us." His face was full of excitement. "That's a god. How is it possible for a god to lose? "
The middle-aged man's eyes flickered when he heard that the gods would come. However, he remained calm and said, "What's the point of that? If the garrison town is taken down, the Protectorate will definitely enlist the militia to fight. Even the gods can't fight against the Xuanfu and the Army of God. "
The short old man shook his head and said, "I don't know about that. However, I don't think the gods will do something useless, right?"
The middle-aged man pondered for a moment. Suddenly, he seemed to have thought of something. His expression tensed up. Then, he suddenly stood up and led the horse out. He said, "I remembered something. I have to deal with it first. Don't wait for me."
The short old man saw that he was in a hurry and chased after him. He said, "When will you be back?"
The middle-aged man didn't answer him. He walked all the way out. When he reached the exit of the camp, two natives tried to stop him and interrogate him. He casually knocked down the two of them. Then, he turned over and mounted his horse. Soon, he left the camp and rode away.
Southern region of the Protectorate, Sturdy Claw Tribe's encampment.
The crude buildings had been demolished last year. Now, there were many neatly arranged and exquisite brick buildings standing here. The road outside had also been flattened. Now, all the tribesmen on the road were dressed in gorgeous woven clothes.
Although the overly bright clothes looked rather out of place on these burly and dark-skinned natives, they were no longer as primitive and barbaric as before.
In the largest mansion in the garrison, Great Chief Aikulu was receiving a woman wearing a mask. He stroked his chin and said, "You're saying that you can help 'Toloti' recover his strength quickly. You can also provide 'Toloti' with a good host body?"
"Yes, Great Chief." The woman's voice was very unique. It didn't have any ups and downs. No matter what she said, there was no emotion in it.
Aikulu asked curiously, "Then why are you doing this?"
The woman replied, "Let all things be under the control of the gods. This is the order that should exist in the world. This is also what our God Revival Society pursues. I believe that our interests are aligned."
Aikulu shook his head and said, "But I don't think so. And I don't think you're right."
The woman said, "Great Chief Aikulu, haven't you noticed that your tribe is losing control?
Your tribesmen are yearning for life in Auspicious Light City more and more. They like the gorgeous clothes of Dong Ting, enjoy the food of Dong Ting, and are willing to accept the orders of Dong Ting. They're starting to look less and less like pure warriors of the Hard Claw tribe. "
She pointed at the steaming teacups on the table, "Including the things you're using to entertain us, these are all from Dong Ting. Everything of the Hard Claw tribe is fading away."
She looked at Aikulu, "Your warriors are losing their faith. Helping the gods of the Hard Claw tribe will help them regain their faith."
Aikulu met her gaze and said, "My warriors are fighting hard on the battlefield. When they're free, they have the right to enjoy these things. Wearing gorgeous clothes and tasting delicious food is their right. I don't think there's anything wrong with this."
The woman said, "No, Great Chief. When the warriors realize that they don't need to rely on you to get these things, then what's the point of your existence?
They no longer see you as the embodiment of power, and they no longer worship the gods of the tribe. They're still learning the language of Dong Ting. They might not be able to see it now, but the next generation, and the generation after that, the Hard Claw tribe might disappear because they've all become Dong Ting people. "
Aikulu laughed and said, "I admit that you're right, but there's nothing wrong with the people of the Hard Claw tribe becoming Dong Ting people." He picked up an apple and bit into it, "They can treat us as one of their own."
The woman said, "Then forgive me for asking, but if your tribesmen get what they want, what do you get, Great Chief?"
Aikulu's expression became serious, and he said seriously, "I get a lot of things. Reason, righteousness, loyalty, civilization, etiquette. With these, even if I'm wearing animal skin, I'm no longer a barbarian."
The woman looked at him and said, "If you believe in these things, then your gods will abandon you."
Aikulu said without hesitation, "Then let them leave. They need us now, not the other way around."
The woman nodded and stood up, "I understand Great Chief's meaning. If you change your mind, you can come find us again." She placed an exquisite bronze plate on the table.
"Take your things back." Aikulu also stood up, "I don't need these things anymore. Also, you can call me Tianxia by my current name, Ai Chengjian!"
The woman didn't take the bronze plate back. She glanced at him and walked out.
Priest Kamal, who had been sitting quietly at the side, showed a worried expression, "Great Chief, is it really okay for us to reject her?"
Aikulu said, "Kamal, do you think the current life or the old life is better?"
Kamal replied carefully, "Under Great Chief's rule, I think it's good, but … it's better than before."
Aikulu walked to the door of the mansion and said, "What did we see in the old Tough Claw tribe? A group of beasts, besides hunting and reproducing, they didn't know anything else. Their minds were filled with blood and slaughter. Even I was like this before.
Oh, maybe there's a god, but other than constantly asking for things from us, what can he give us? Regain faith? Humph, let us become beasts again? "
Kamal carefully said, "But the gods protected us after all …"
Aikulu immediately denied, "No, to be precise, we hired them. We sacrificed to them, and they were responsible for protecting us. Just like how the people of Auspicious Light City hired our warriors, without them, we can replace them with something else."
He looked at Priest Kamal and said, "Kamal, you should know very well that your power was never given to you by the gods. It was obtained through your daily prayers. What the gods need is for you to offer up the power that you worked so hard to obtain. Although he will give you some benefits, it's far from what you gave. Do you think this is fair?"
He looked outside and said, "I think the people of Dongting have a very good saying. We don't need the gods, because we are the gods ourselves."
Priest Kamal asked, "Then Toloti …"
Aikulu walked to the door and looked at the people walking around under the sun. Everyone's face was full of hope, and not the muddle-headed life of the past.
He said, "Now, we don't need it anymore."
After the masked woman left the Tough Claw camp, she rode a horse towards the south. Half a day later, she stopped in front of a wooden hut at the foot of a hill. There was a wooden pole in front of the hut, and a dyed ponytail fluttered in the wind.
The curtain of the hut was lifted, and an old priest walked out and said, "How is it? I said long ago that Aikulu will not agree with you. He is no longer the great chief of the Tough Claw tribe. He is already an outsider. "
The woman said, "Then are you willing to cooperate with us?"
The old priest said, "I have received Toloti's oracle. I will be able to control the tribe and do as you wish."
The woman said, "Your choice is correct."
The old priest said, "The choice of the gods should not be judged by us mortals."
The woman said, "Then, when do you plan to start Toloti's sacrifice?"
The old priest was about to speak when he suddenly showed an expression of listening. He then said, "The sooner the better. The great God of Massacre can't wait to partake in the feast of the gods."
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