Chapter 1477: [Infiltrating the Divine Temple] (Part 1)

Hong Yingtai said: "As for this Red Wood River, I still know something about it. Over these years, Southern Yue and Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom have been constantly quarreling over its possession, but in fact no one has truly controlled the Red Wood River. This region has many ethnic groups, each looking down on the others, each believing they are the true master of the Red Wood River. Only over ten years ago was Fire Tree City taken over by the Red Barbarians; the one who controlled Fire Tree City then was the Red Barbarian chief Ba Ge. Although Ba Ge was a Red Barbarian, he was also generous and fair, managing Fire Tree City in good order. Because he acted fairly and justly, the various tribes somewhat submitted to him, and during his term there was peace. Unfortunately, good times did not last." He paused there.

Hu Xiaotian listened anxiously, couldn't help but ask: "What happened?"

Hong Yingtai clinked his cup with his, took a sip of wine, and said: "Ba Ge is one of the few Red Barbarians with far-sighted vision. He saw that the Red Wood River, because of its special geography, would inevitably become a target of many covetous parties; with their tribe's strength they could not long maintain a foothold on this land, and sooner or later would be annexed. So he decided to seek a big tree under which to take shelter among the surrounding powers, and finally he chose Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom, deciding to submit."

Long Xi Yue nodded; she had also heard something about this. Ba Ge proactively contacted Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom, but no one knows why the matter came to nothing.

Hong Yingtai said: "Two years ago, Ba Ge personally went to Coconut Wind City in Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom; he had actually arranged to meet the Queen Dowager there, but for some reason Ba Ge broke the appointment, and later word spread that he was killed en route, the assassin unknown. The only one who fortunately escaped was his wife Ga Nuo; the rest of the warriors, together with their young daughter, were all killed."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Exactly who did it?"

Hong Yingtai said: "This is unclear; some say Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom did it, some say other tribes opposed joining Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom and thus killed him. Others say he encountered bandits on the way, but to this day there is no definite account. Only shortly after his wife Ga Nuo returned did she marry Ba Ge's brother Ba He'er; Ba He'er, while taking over his sister-in-law, also took over Fire Tree City."

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "What kind of person is Ba He'er?"

Hong Yingtai said: "Cold-blooded and ruthless, with a violent temperament, but his greatest virtue is that he listens to his wife. If Ga Nuo hadn't restrained him, his hands would surely be stained with even more blood." After saying this, he set down his wine cup, looked at Hu Xiaotian with deep meaning, and said: "Young Master Hu, seeking faraway help while neglecting the near, returning to your homeland via this place—surely this is not just a passing fancy?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "No disrespect, Brother Hong Yingtai, but since the King of Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom has granted me the Red Wood River, I naturally want to come and have a look."

Hong Yingtai said: "It's best not to try to take chestnuts from the fire. Young Master Hu, why risk yourself for a patch of land beyond your reach?" These words were indeed advice, but they also contained some private thoughts; although Southern Yue lacked the ability to control the Red Wood River, he also did not want outsiders to obtain it. However, given Hu Xiaotian's current strength, he should hardly be able to control Fire Tree City. He was clearly overthinking.

Xiao Ou heard the gongs and drums downstairs, ran off to one side to watch the excitement; Long Xi Yue apologetically smiled and got up to follow.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Hong Yingtai, I see two pillars in front of the Divine Temple. Each has a bird flying amidst fire; I don't know what that means."

Hong Yingtai said: "Wisdom Bird. It is the emblem of the Wisdom Goddess, the deity worshipped by the Red Barbarians."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, secretly thinking: "It seems Xiao Ou must indeed be a Red Barbarian." He then asked: "Do the Red Barbarians have a custom of tattooing the Wisdom Bird on their bodies?"

Hong Yingtai chuckled: "Impossible, unless she is a Spirit Maiden of the tribe; as far as I know, Spirit Maidens are appointed by the tribal elders, and the Divine Temple's High Priestess is the current Spirit Maiden."

Hu Xiaotian asked gossipy: "Must a Spirit Maiden remain a virgin her whole life and never marry?"

Hong Yingtai said: "Spirit Maidens are not for life; they are designated from birth, and at age eight they enter the Divine Temple to assume the position of succeeding High Priestess, whereupon the current Spirit Maiden steps down. Each Spirit Maiden serves twenty years, and in the twelfth year of her service as priestess they begin selecting the next Spirit Maiden."

Hu Xiaotian said: "How long has the current High Priestess served as Spirit Maiden?"

Hong Yingtai said: "It has already been the eighteenth year."

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: "That means the High Priestess still has two years before stepping down, and the Spirit Maiden should have already been chosen."

Hong Yingtai said: "The intended successor Spirit Maiden was originally Ba Ge and Ga Nuo's daughter, but sadly she also perished two years ago."

Hu Xiaotian's suspicions grew: "Isn't there a Wisdom Bird tattoo on Xiao Ou's neck? Her age also roughly matches that of the missing Spirit Maiden—could she be Ba Ge and Ga Nuo's daughter? If so, perhaps we have a chance to seize the Red Wood River."

Hong Yingtai saw Hu Xiaotian staring blankly, not knowing what he was thinking, and whispered: "Young Master Hu, Young Master Hu!"

After calling twice in succession, Hu Xiaotian finally came to his senses, chuckled, and said: "Hearing you say that, I really do want to go look at the Divine Temple."

Hong Yingtai said: "Young Master Hu, you should dismiss this idea; the Divine Temple is the most sacred place of the Red Barbarians, and moreover today is a day of fasting."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "I was just speaking casually; I don't truly intend to go there."

After bidding farewell to Hong Yingtai and returning to the Butterfly Garden, Hu Xiaotian quietly told Long Xi Yue the information he had gathered from Hong Yingtai. Long Xi Yue said: "Didn't Xiao Ou say her parents abandoned her? Besides, she doesn't even speak the Red Barbarian language, so she certainly couldn't be a Spirit Maiden."

Hu Xiaotian said: "She is still under six; when she went missing she was just over three, and two years is enough for a small child to forget many things. She has wandered about, encountering only people from the Central Plains, so forgetting her native tongue is quite natural. She says her parents abandoned her, but the true circumstances she herself may not know; perhaps at the time her parents left her behind to protect her."

Long Xi Yue said doubtfully: "Things couldn't be that coincidental, could they?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's not mere coincidence; I asked, and the tattoo on her neck is called the Wisdom Bird—only a Red Barbarian Spirit Maiden is qualified to bear it."

Long Xi Yue still refused to accept this fact: "Perhaps some people simply admire having a Wisdom Bird tattoo; the court also has many items forbidden to commoners, yet folk still privately keep many."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I am preparing to go to the Divine Temple; as long as I find that High Priestess, everything will naturally become clear."

Long Xi Yue said reluctantly: "Even if she is, what can you do? Would you really send such a young child into the Divine Temple to become a Spirit Maiden?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Everyone has their own destiny; if she had not met us, she might have wandered her whole life; fate brought her to meet us, intending that we send her back to her kin. If she truly is that Spirit Maiden, her mother is still alive—what right do we have to prevent a mother and daughter from reuniting?"

Long Xi Yue bit her lip, her expression dimmed, and said: "Indeed, no one can decide another's fate, nor do we have that right. Xiao Tian, I only ask you one thing: if Xiao Ou does not wish to be a Spirit Maiden, you must help her."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Actually being a Spirit Maiden isn't necessarily bad; one need not spend life alone. It's just twenty years, during which they learn much, and after their term they can naturally seek their own lives." Seeing Long Xi Yue's reluctance, he put his arm around her shoulders to comfort her: "Actually, this is still just my guess; perhaps I am wrong."

Long Xi Yue nodded, hoping in her heart that Hu Xiaotian's guess would be wrong.

Hu Xiaotian said: "By the way, before this matter is clarified, you must absolutely not tell Senior Qiao about it."

Long Xi Yue sighed softly and said: "I understand; if everything turns out as you guessed, Senior Qiao would surely be reluctant." These days, Qiao Fangzheng and Xiao Ou have already developed a deep grandparent-grandchild bond; I fear Qiao Fangzheng can hardly bear to part from Xiao Ou.

After nightfall, Hu Xiaotian alone left the Butterfly Garden; he knew their situation, that every move in and out of the garden would be monitored, so he circled the city, then went to the bustling South River Street and made a round, only then slipping away to head for the Divine Temple.

On the roads surrounding the Divine Temple, tens of thousands of devoutly praying Red Barbarians knelt thickly; Hu Xiaotian did not expect so many people still at night, and silently lamented the boundless power of faith. He circled around, finally discovering a vacant patch of lush vegetation to the southeast, slipped in quietly; there was no path, but this posed no difficulty for Hu Xiaotian, who leapt and vaulted among the trees, soon arriving outside the Divine Temple.

Hiding in the treetops and looking out, he saw that the Divine Temple's outer courtyard was also filled with kneeling devout Red Barbarians, packed so tightly there was no room to slip a foot in; each held a candle, points of light making a magnificent sight, yet the Divine Temple's inner court had no such profusion of candles—apparently inside is where the temple clergy seclude themselves, outsiders not to disturb.

Hu Xiaotian noticed there were no watchtowers around the Divine Temple; he selected the tallest tree, leapt into the air, and his body glided silently like a great bird; Hu Xiaotian, skilled and bold, dared to glide over the heads of the thousands praying below—first, he had confidence in his Art of Soaring; second, he somewhat understood these worshippers, knowing that when they pray they are wholly focused and pay no heed to outside affairs.

Hu Xiaotian silently landed in the shadow at the corner of the inner court's wall; although only a wall separated it from the outside, it was a completely different world—within the inner court all was empty; gazing out, the vast courtyard held not a single person.

Hu Xiaotian tiptoed toward the interior, reached the gate, heard footsteps approaching from afar, hastily hid behind the wall corner, and saw two white-clad women carrying lanterns come from the eastern side gate, followed by a slender young woman.

At dawn I send the first update, begging for monthly ticket support! Just one more ticket to reach 12800—if any brother happens to have an extra ticket, could you throw it in? (To be continued~^~)