No one knows why the old lunatic knows these two languages. He is the oldest person here, and he lived here before everyone in the town was born. It is said that he traveled far across the mainland when he was young, and no one knows what he has. How old, but at least a hundred years old. In an age when people are prone to premature death, longevity itself is an admirable miracle, regarded as a gift from God.
After becoming a priest of the temple, Xiao Gu had the opportunity to learn another writing method of these two languages, which is called the divine book, which is usually only used on occasions to praise the gods, and it is not available for ordinary people except nobles and priests. Divine scriptures are basically the same as ordinary characters, but have special and strict writing rules, which are difficult for those who have not studied them to understand. It is said that they have mysterious powers and can communicate with gods.
In the eyes of ordinary civilians and slaves, any text is mysterious, representing some kind of awe-inspiring symbolic information. Duke Town needs a clerk, and the temple also needs a clerk, and Xiao Gu is in charge here alone.
However, the situation has changed in the past two years. The old lunatic taught Amon to write these two languages again, and said to the mayor when he was drunk: "There are actually three clerk positions in our town. Unfortunately, people who know how to write Too few, at least it is not suitable for Muyun Temple and Horus Temple to use one person as a priest, and it is even more inappropriate to serve as a clerk at the same time. Amon is a child favored by the gods, and he has also learned to write, whether it is a knife or a book. The writing is very good, I can guarantee that he will be the most outstanding clerk in the future, and he can also become an outstanding priest."
What made Xiao Gu most dissatisfied was that Mayor Dusty did not express any objection at that time, and said with a smile: "Oh, then Amon is really a child favored by the gods. When he grows up, he should be able to become a Excellent clerk."
This made Xiao Gu feel as uncomfortable as being bitten by a poisonous snake. Whenever he thinks that one day in the future, his power and wealth will be shared and deprived by a dirty alcoholic son, he can hardly sleep well. But today, he wanted to deal with Amon in public, and there was another more important reason, which made his teeth itch from hatred.
The legend about the tears of the gods is not unique to the Ecu Empire. A distinguished lord in a distant city-state had long quietly sent a letter telling him to pay attention to the sacred stones produced in Duke Town, and if he could get the tears of the gods, he would be greatly thanked. All the sacred stones produced in Duke Town are registered by Xiao Gu, which is the most convenient condition.
The Tears of the Gods really appeared, but he didn't get it one step too late. Even if he wanted to get it, he couldn't compete with Rod Dick. This Mr. Dick is really good. No one would have thought that he would be waiting in Duke Town at this time!
When the tears of the gods fell last night, Xiao Gu also felt it. When he rushed to Amon’s house, he saw two heavily armed soldiers guarding the door. Later, he saw Lord Dick’s clerk holding a gold box and bringing two other A soldier came out of the house. When Xiao Gu entered, Amon had already left the backyard. There was only one drunken alcoholic at home. Under Xiao Gu's beck and call, it was easy to ask what happened just now.
Xiao Gu naturally couldn't and didn't dare to question Rod Dick, but given this opportunity, how could he let Amon go? So early in the morning, he rang the bell to summon the residents in the Muyun Temple. Mayor Dusty didn't let him mention the Tears of the Gods, but he mentioned another matter, which was a sudden disaster for Amon.
The residents were all stunned for a moment, and then whispered softly. Amon did violate the ancient oracle, but this kind of thing had never happened in Duke Town before. Learning the skills of miners passed down from generation to generation requires strong physical strength, and it is almost impossible for children who are too young to learn. Even if such a thing happened in history, it is estimated that no one will say it publicly. It is so difficult to mine the sacred stone, what's wrong with having one more qualified craftsman, as long as I don't say it, who will pursue this issue
But in front of the Muyun Temple, under the solemn eyes of the goddess, the priest of the temple announced publicly that the nature of the problem was serious, and no one could justify anything for Amon, otherwise it would be disrespectful to the gods, and the oracle was equivalent to a decree.
Seeing that no one was speaking loudly, Xiao Gu cleared his throat and said loudly: "Being kind is a virtue, but piety and obedience to the gods is even more a virtue, Amon, are you ready to accept God's punishment? ... In the name of Goddess Mu Yun, how should I punish this child as kindly as possible?" His last words were aimed at everyone.
Dusty frowned again, looking very displeased. And Xiao Gu had obviously made arrangements long ago, and a voice from the crowd immediately shouted: "According to the regulations in the oracle, cut off one of his fingers, and the benevolent priest can decide which finger to cut off."
Amon's body trembled, his face was pale, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, he clenched his teeth and did not speak. But his father knelt down and begged in a trembling voice: "Forgive Amon, he is still a child, and he doesn't know what he is doing. I taught him. I am the one who violated the oracle. He should be let I have come to accept this punishment."
Immediately, many voices from the crowd echoed in low voices: "Yes, Lord Xiaogu, forgive that ignorant child! As atonement, let him mine more sacred stones and offer them to the goddess."
Xiao Gu didn't seem to hear these voices, stretched out his hands and pressed down to make people quiet again, then looked at Amon in a calm and indifferent tone and asked: "Amon, when you learn the skills of miners, you should understand Is it an oracle? Even though you are a child, as a resident of Duke Town, you should have understood it from an early age."
As he spoke, he thought to himself—which finger of Amon should be cut off
Mayor Dusty coughed lightly and felt that he should say something, but at this moment, a voice outside the crowd shouted: "Whose ignorance is this? Priest, you have forgotten the truth of God. The oracle, this lucky boy, did not violate it!"
Everyone was taken aback, Xiao Gu looked up, and there was a young man walking in through the crowd. He was in his early twenties, wearing a very clean white cloth robe, with a crown made of fresh branches on his head. Xiao Gu has seen this person before. He is not a resident of Duke Town. He came here with Rod Dick a few days ago. He is a highly respected staff member of Lord Dick. Aristotle.
The mayor of Dusty asked, "Mr. Aristotle, what are you doing here, and what is the order of Master Dick?"
Aristotle nodded with a smile and said, "I'm here to do something for Lord Dick, and I happened to see what happened to this child. Honorable Lord Mayor, can I ask this priest a few questions?"
Dusty nodded politely, "Just ask, Mr. Aristotle."
Xiao Gu was very puzzled, he didn't know what this young man who appeared suddenly wanted to ask himself, let alone why this person defended Amon and how he could defend him? Aristotle smiled and nodded towards the mayor, then looked at Xiao Gu and asked calmly: "Master Priest, in the name of the goddess in the temple behind you, answer me seriously, according to the gods passed down here from generation to generation Only with the permission and blessing of the guardian goddess can one learn the unique miner's skills here, right?"
Xiao Gu nodded solemnly and said: "Yes, sir, I will answer you in the name of a goddess, it is absolutely true, it is like this."
Aristotle nodded again and asked: "This child has learned the skill you mentioned, is it like this?"
Xiao Gu nodded subconsciously, "Yes, that's right."
Aristotle didn't wait for him to say more, and then said loudly: "Then this child has already received the permission and blessing of the patron saint, hasn't he?"
Xiao Gu was a little confused, and retorted loudly: "No, he violated the oracle, so he must be punished!"
Aristotle snorted coldly, and still retorted loudly: "No, the person who has forgotten the true spirit of the oracle is precisely you, the priest! Only with the permission and blessing of the patron saint can you learn this skill, This is an oracle. Without the permission and blessing of the patron saint, one cannot learn, and this child has learned it, which is enough to prove that he has the permission and blessing of the patron saint... If you want to deny this, Lord Priest, you are negating the oracle!"
Now not only Xiao Gu was dumbfounded, but everyone onlookers were also dumbfounded. The miners in Duke Town who have dealt with sledgehammers and furnace fires for generations, have they ever seen the debate skills of sages from the distant mainland
Xiao Gu froze for a moment, not knowing how to answer. Some people say that it is the place where reasoning is least needed in the temple, because the oracle is an indisputable decree, but at the same time, under the gaze of the gods, this is also the place where reasoning is most needed, and you must be respectful and careful, and every word must be respected. Express faith and respect for the gods.
Aristotle saw the doubts on everyone's faces, smiled, raised his finger and pointed at Xiao Gu, and said: "Everyone in the world has life and death. This is the will of God and the major premise. It is obvious that he is a human being. This is the premise. Minor premise. So he's going to die, that's the conclusion. Don't you understand?"
Then he pointed to Amon and said: "Only with the permission and blessing of the patron saint, can you learn the skills you mentioned. This is an oracle and a major premise. Obviously, this child has learned skills. The premise. So he has already received the patron saint’s permission and blessing, this is the conclusion, is there anything wrong?... Do you understand?"
It is easy to understand such an analogy explanation, and many people nodded with expressions of sudden realization. Some people were even more puzzled, always feeling that there was something wrong with Aristotle's words, but they couldn't tell what was wrong. Xiao Gu's face gradually turned into a liver color, while Mayor Dusty's expression was a little funny, as if he really wanted to laugh but couldn't help it.
"But he has not experienced the ceremony of God's grace and blessing, which is against the regulations!" Xiao Gu finally shouted unwillingly, but there was a faint sense of weakness in his voice.
"No, Amon has accepted the grace and blessing of Goddess Mu Yun, and the person who was rejected and warned by the Goddess is precisely the priest of this town, Master Xiaogu!... I can prove this." , the old lunatic Nietzsche waved a cane in front of him, separated the crowd and walked to the front.
The old lunatic was very old, his hair and beard were all gray and white in a mess, and he walked unsteadily, but he didn't look weak, but was learning to walk like a child. His cane was dark brown with golden streaks. Instead of leaning on the ground to support his body, he waved it in his hand.
Nietzsche passed by Aristotle, and looked back at the young sage with a complex expression of admiration, examination, and torture. Then he turned and stood in front of Xiao Gu, standing side by side with Amon, He nodded with his cane and said: "Three years ago, I received an oracle from the goddess Mu Yun in my dream, blessing Amon and allowing him to learn the miner's skills that have been passed down from generation to generation in Duke Town. This child's skills are not his father's. Taught, I taught."
Xiao Gu took a step back and asked, "How can I prove it?"
The old lunatic laughed, pointed at Xiao Gu's nose with his cane, and said, "Master Priest, what has blinded your soul? Please pray and repent in front of the goddess, because God has proven it! Didn't you hear what this gentleman said?"