Ankagaw’s words had both shocked and angered Xilan.
As a disciple of the Prophet, he could never believe these words had co from a preacher’s mouth.
Xilan stared fixedly at Ankagaw, noticing that he seed as devout as ever.
This, in turn, made it all the more disheartening.
Had Ankagaw expressed regret, sha, or guilt for his mistakes, Xilan wouldn’t have been so profoundly shocked and angered.
Yet Ankagaw was accepting bribes in the na of God, as if it were his rightful due.
"Lock him up until he repents,"
Xilan said emotionlessly to Daniel.
Daniel nodded and ordered that the pale-faced Ankagaw be taken away.
Afterward, Xilan slowly asked,
"Earlier, Ankagaw ntioned soone nad Naya. Do you know who he is?"
Daniel shook his head and answered,
"I’ve never heard of such a person.
However, according to Ankagaw, this person is a pure-blooded mber of the Three-eyed Ape People, like a wise sage leading others gently."
A wise sage leading others gently...
Daniel’s words inevitably made Xilan, an elf, even more cautious.
After reorganizing the New Rule Garden, Xilan anticipated upcoming obstacles. He wasn’t afraid of criticism, insults, or persecution from others.
More than that, Xilan feared the collapse and division within the New Rule Garden itself, which is why he had convened the Great Council.
Now, Ankagaw had been deceived by the so-called sage into accepting bribes... Would there erge more like Ankagaw within the Church, distorting the Holy Scriptures and Creed for their own benefit, leading to the collapse and division of the Church?
At this thought, Xilan couldn’t help but shudder.
"Daniel, we must be vigilant,"
Xilan slowly said,
"This sage nad Naya might split our Church."
Daniel nodded gravely.
.........
From that day forward, Xilan and the trustworthy believers repeatedly reaffird the commandnts and rules of the New Rule Garden. They took Ankagaw as an example to admonish each preacher and warned against any potential selfish desires.
In the following days, the New Rule Garden temporarily returned to tranquility.
However, in the land of Ajia, there was a faint sense of a storm brewing.
The King of Ajia, also the son of Queen Isis, suddenly fell ill and was bedridden.
Standing beside the throne, Queen Isis who held the great power of the Kingdom, grew increasingly lancholic day by day as her son’s illness worsened.
One night, Casas secretly visited the New Rule Garden to et Xilan.
After so pleasantries, Casas lowered his voice and said,
"...A priest has whispered slander to the Queen, saying that the King’s sickness is due to the growth of the New Rule Garden, which has led to the neglect of the Temple, angering Kagawus."
"Xilan, Queen Isis knows such words are re slander, and she will not believe them rashly."
"But the fact that a priest has co forward with such slander ans that you all... have gradually beco a thorn in their side."
Casas recounted the developnts and his analysis to Xilan and finally advised,
"...Until His Majesty the King recovers, do not oppose those priests, and certainly do not escalate the conflict... otherwise,"
Casas didn’t continue, but Xilan understood his aning.
Regardless, Prophet Noen was no longer in this world.
Now, Queen Isis, considering her past vow to the Prophet, was watching over the Church’s growth.
But if His Majesty the King died and Queen Isis lost her strongest reason for being the regent, being driven to a dead end, then at that ti... the Church’s situation wouldn’t just be worse, it would be extrely perilous.
"Casas, my friend, thank you for bringing this warning,"
Xilan said gratefully.
Casas replied softly,
"It’s for you, but also for Noen.
"This is the place left by Noen, and I am reluctant to see it decline."
After saying this, Casas look towards the three stone steles in the New Rule Garden.
He knew that on them were the stories of Noen.
"I still can’t understand why Noen sacrificed all of himself like that."
Casas murmured, his voice filled with infinite nostalgia,
"I’ve thought for a long ti, yet I still haven’t figured out the answer..."
Xilan looked at Casas and spoke softly:
"Perhaps no one knows the answer except for the Prophet himself."
"Xilan, you are his follower, can’t you even know?"
Upon hearing this, Xilan shook his head and said:
"Although I follow the Prophet, many tis, I don’t understand why he does what he does.
I can only walk the path that the Prophet laid out, walking and observing as I go, through this way only I can reach the Heavenly City, where God resides."
Casas listened silently and finally smiled, saying:
"That might be a difficult path."
"Casas, I am already prepared, even if I have to sacrifice all I have."
Xilan said softly.
As Casas looked at Xilan’s face, he added:
"...Your faith reminds of Noen. Exactly like him back then, determined to embark on the path back to his holand."
"Is that so?"
Upon hearing this complintary remark, Xilan couldn’t help but feel a bit joyous.
"Xilan, may your God protect you, and may you attain what you wish for, just like Noen."
Casas blessed Xilan.
............
anwhile, in the Great Temple of Ajia Royal City.
The hermit Naya stood before the Divine Statue of Kagawus, leaning on his wooden staff.
The Eye of Prophecy and hands of the statue were coated with copper foil, shining brightly under the lamp light, combined with the white stone statue, it was dazzling and magnificent.
The altar, filled with ancient patterns, was covered with offerings—bloodied lamb at, brilliant gold, exquisite gemstones; the long table in front of the altar was full with rare silver vessels, and everywhere were burning spices.
Whenever it was ti for the sacrifice, the nobles would enter this temple and always be stunned by its splendor.
The entire temple was decorated richly and opulently, resembling a corner of the legendary Country of Divines.
Naya stood silently before the statue, still in his simple gray hemp robe—High Priest Ora had personally offered him the most honorable, most delicate priestly robe, yet Naya had rejected it all.
High Priest Ora and the priests revered him profoundly, always bowing their heads in greeting and only after watching him leave did they sigh in relief.
And his unchanging gray hemp robe had beco the most peculiar sight in the entire Great Temple.
Here, the priests often enjoyed glory and wealth, bathed in clean water every day, and had fragrances by their side every three days; their families were also incredibly wealthy, always eating delicacies and fine cuts.
After observing the Divine Statue, the hermit Naya slowly walked out of the Great Temple, silent under the murky night, unnoticed by others.
He slowly walked along the long corridor of the Great Temple, turning left and right, relying on his excellent mory, from the Temple of Kagawus to the kitchen of the Great Temple.
As he entered, Naya’s nose wrinkled—he slled the rich aroma of oil.
The hermit took out a flint from his arms, lit a lamp, and what ca into view was a heap of bones on one side; strings of sheep and cattle bones, then he slowly moved to the stove, where he could see the cabinet filled with jars of valuable spices, the lids not even closed.
In this Great Temple, they slaughtered six sheep and six oxen every day, using countless precious spices, just to feed and serve the priests of Kagawus.
To allow the priests to enjoy all the glory and wealth.
Naya extinguished the lamp, his figure lingering in the darkness,
"Kagawus, did you bring back here to see how greedy and extravagant they have beco?"
He took a deep breath and prayed:
"If it is so, you might as well let lose my sight."
At that ti, the hermit Naya refuted Ankagaw and bewitched him, telling the preachers: one can warm both body and spirit.
He was able to bewitch Ankagaw so.
Because the hermit saw that the priests serving Kagawus, they were acting this way.
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