Despite the recent turmoil in the Western Region, for the Hu and Han people in Quzhi City, apart from the slightly high daily expenses, they did not feel the immediate danger, let alone suffer from the war.
The Fire Worship Temple in the city was as prosperous with fireworks as ever. Holding Dharma and Sabao led the worshipers to burn incense and light fire at the right time every day to worship the gods.
As an elder, Mushid was highly respected, so he naturally had to set an example and set an example. After the service, he would also give sermons to the congregation, holding lacquered gold silk in his hand, framed with gorgeous hadiths, even though Mushid himself had already
He is familiar with it and knows the scriptures by heart.
After the lecture, he said goodbye to the congregation. Mushid returned to the hut with the help of his personal companions. At this time, he heard an urgent voice from the side:
"Oh, Elder Mu's lecture is over? We are too late!"
Mushid stopped, looked aside and asked, "Who is coming?"
The attendant raised his head and glanced: "They are two members of the congregation, and they look like they are no longer young."
"Is this Elder Mu?" A long-bearded old man came forward, full of enthusiasm: "My name is An Quti, and I come from Anxi Prefecture. I heard that Elder Mu is the person with the deepest knowledge of the Hadith records in the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains, so I came here specially.
Come and study.”
Although Mu Xide would not forget about the compliment, he was also happy with the piety of the congregation. He raised his hand and held the other person's hand. He knew that the other person was not young by touch, and said with emotion: "Oh, he is also an old brother.
Now. Anxi Province is far away from Quzhi City, it’s almost to Persia.”
"In order to pursue the supreme virtue and wisdom of the Great Bright Lord, we have to set off even if we are as far away as the Eastern Land of Daxia." An Quti's face was full of respect, he bowed his head, and gently tapped his forehead on the back of Mu Sid's hand to show his piety.
gift.
"Okay, okay." Mu Xiede was very interested. Compared with those evil young men who converted to Zoroastrianism, but in fact they were seeking refuge with the power, they are different. These days, there are very few people who really seek advice from the holy teachings of the Ming Zun.
There are very few.
An Quti introduced the person next to him by the way, who was a tall, thin Han man with an ancient appearance: "This is Guo Lizhen, who used to do business in Suye City and was greatly inspired after listening to the holy teachings I taught. However, my knowledge is limited.
So I came to Quzhi City with him, hoping to follow Elder Mu."
Mushid would never turn away such devout believers who were studying. Even though it was past the time for worship and sermons, he still welcomed the two of them into his home and ordered his relatives to bring fruits to entertain the guests.
, and then chatted with them alone.
"By the way, since you came from the far west, did you encounter bandits and demons on the way?" Mu Xied held a heavy scripture and sat on the wool felt blanket.
An Qu raised his hand and stroked his long beard and replied: "There are indeed many thieves. Fortunately, Mr. Guo came forward to dissuade them and chased them away. As for the demons, I have never seen them. Maybe it's because I silently recited the Hadith and shouted
Holy name, and therefore receive the blessing of the Great Light Lord."
"Brother An's piety is enough to put many of today's younger generations to shame." Mushid praised.
"But in addition to these, we also heard a piece of news on the road and begged Elder Mu to clarify his doubts." An Quti's eyes were sharp, but his tone was still gentle and eager: "Recently, there has been a rumor on the Western Regions' trade routes that a sacred object from our religion has been stolen.
It was sent to the East, which attracted heroes from all walks of life to fight for it. Some horse thieves saw that we were Zoroastrian believers, so they thought that the sacred object was on us, and they were almost killed by them. Elder Mu, is there really such a sacred object?
"
Mushid was silent for a moment, and sighed softly: "It seems that the current chaos is inseparable from this object... That holy object is called Mani Pearl, but I have read all the scriptures and hadiths in the past, and I have never seen it.
It has this precious name."
"Oh? Isn't this Mani Pearl a sacred object of our religion?" Antetokounmpo said: "Perhaps it is because of the passage of time that the name has been changed in the world."
Mushid frowned slightly: "Do you think the Mani Pearl is a Zoroastrian sacred object?"
"I have something offensive to say, but I don't know if I should say it." Ancuti stared at the expression on Mushid's face.
"Brother An, it's okay to say it."
"Ever since Persia was destroyed and the sacred fire of the ancestral court was extinguished, Zoroastrianism seems to have lost its foundation and has declined greatly." An Quti said: "Even if many believers fled to the Western Region of Great Xia, they were just living here as guests.
As the days go by, the worshipers' worship of Ming Zun becomes more and more relaxed. They even forget about the teachings of the Holy Scriptures and indulge in the entertainment of sex, wine and meat. The depths of their souls are filled with filth, darkness and sin. Even if they fall into hell in the future, they will not stop.
Be enlightened!"
Noticing that An Quti's words were becoming more and more excited, Mu Xide said helplessly: "I don't understand, but there are some things that cannot be forced."
"So I feel that we cannot be content with the status quo." An Quti said seriously: "Now thousands of believers are scattered, and someone needs to unite them. The Mani Pearl has caused turmoil in the Western Regions, and we may take this opportunity to welcome the Holy Spirit.
In the name of the property, come forward to claim it, thus turning Quzhi City into a new sacred place for Zoroastrianism!"
Mu Xide was slightly startled: "You... do you know that this approach will definitely attract the attention of the Great Xia court!"
"How could the Great Xia court obstruct our teachings of promoting holy wisdom, light and mighty virtue?" An Quti sneered coldly: "In other words, the Xia court is just a bunch of foreign cults, and the people in the country are full of them.
We are filled with sin and filth, and we urgently need the supreme might and virtue of the Great Light to purify our sins and filth."
Mushid stopped talking now. Only then did he realize that this Anquti had wild thoughts. Not only did he want to fight for the Mani beads that were difficult to distinguish between true and false, but he might also have trouble with those who planned to build a country based on religion.
go the same way.
An Qu asked: "Elder Mu, what do you think?"
"I am just an ordinary member of the congregation now. Even if I am respected and treated politely by others, I have no right to interfere too much." Mu Xide declined politely: "What's more, I heard that the Maocai Society who mastered Mani Pearls left some time ago.
Quzhi City, if you want to ask for it, there is nowhere to start."
"If Mani Zhu returns to Quzhi City, what will Elder Mu plan to do?" An Quti pursued her.
Mushid guessed the other party's intention, so he said with a straight face: "If the Mani Bead is really a sacred object of our religion, then I will naturally fight for it and make sure it is placed here so that it can be worshiped and admired by the believers."
After receiving the reply, Anquti's expression was subtle and noncommittal. Mushid said solemnly: "You are not here to study, but you want me to help you seize the Mani Pearl, right?"
"Seizing the Mani Pearl is only the first step." Anquti no longer concealed it and said with a smile: "The Western Region is a place of trade and commerce, gathering wealth from all over the world. As long as it is firmly grasped, Zoroastrianism will have its roots.
The constant financial resources allow us to train manpower and soldiers in various places, and we can also buy off the Xia court officials with money and silk, so that the emperor of Xia can abolish the ban of the past, thus making Zoroastrianism more popular in the Central Plains, far better than before!"
As a high-status dharma holder in Zoroastrianism, Mu Sidde could not possibly be unmoved by the matter of spreading Zoroastrianism. However, his experience over the years told him that Anquti's actions were a complicity to the Great Xia court.
inverse.
More than ten years ago, Zoroastrianism was banned by the Xia Dynasty and its temples were destroyed. The most critical reason was that Zoroastrian believers from all over the Central Plains gathered in vain and slandered and derogated both Buddhism and Taoism in the Central Plains. Some people even took advantage of Zoroastrianism.
Famous for causing chaos, he claimed to be the Ming Zun who came to the world and gathered in the countryside. He immediately attracted the Xia court to kill him with all his strength, and a large number of believers were exiled to remote states and counties.
Although there were many Zoroastrian believers in the Western Region, Xia Ting saw this situation and did not kill them all. But if the situation really escalated, Mu Xide had no doubt that Xia Ting forced the Duhufu to kill them.
Why doesn't Mushid want to fight for more for the majority of believers? Why doesn't he want to revitalize Zoroastrianism in the Western Regions? But there are always things that can be done and things that cannot be done. He is not willing to drag thousands of believers into hell just to satisfy their wishes.
"Brother An, I'm old, and so are you." Mushid put aside the dignity and seriousness of an elder, like an old man next door admonishing relatives and friends, and said in a gentle tone: "There are some things that we old guys can't do. Although Zoroastrianism
It originated in Persia, but there is no need to insist on one country and one religion. I have seen that in Daxia, the three religions stand side by side and compete with each other. It can be seen that different places have different customs."
An Quti raised the corner of his mouth slightly, as if he was not surprised by this answer: "So, Elder Mu is unwilling to participate in this matter?"
"I'm sorry, but I obey." Mu Xide shook his head and said, "Brother An, I don't want you to get too involved."
An Quti stood up on his knees and said, "Well, it seems like I am just wishful thinking."
Mushid heard that the other party was unwilling to give up, so he had no choice but to say: "No matter what, as a church member, I will not mention this conversation to others. Please take care of it, Brother An."
"You also... take care of it!" After An Quti said this, he suddenly raised his hand and pressed it on Mu Xide's head. The orifices of the two people's bodies suddenly glowed with light. The Han man named Guo Lizhen stepped back and stood at the door.
Keep aside to guard against intruders.
"You, you..." Mushid tried to struggle, but was firmly suppressed by the opponent and could not move.
Anquti's tone was majestic, as if he were a god in the sky: "Muzhid, you are highly respected by the believers, but you are such a vegetarian. You cannot promote Zoroastrianism, bend yourself down to serve Han'er, and allow thousands of believers to sink into this evil place like you."
This is the greatest defilement and blasphemy in the world created by demons!"
Mushid was speechless at this moment, the breath in his body was sucked out, and his already emaciated body quickly withered away.
When the light emanating from Mushid's body faded, a lifeless corpse fell on the colorful felt.
On the other hand, Anquti held a little pure light in his hand with an indifferent expression: "This is the majestic and solemn light seed granted by the Great Light Lord and inspired by the Supreme Saint Suluji. It is really... too weak!"
Guo Lizhen raised her chin slightly, with a noble look on her face: "In the final analysis, Mu Xide is just a vulgar person. He is still thinking about what is right in front of him. As long as he can protect himself, he will not take a step beyond the thunder, for fear of offending Xia.
The imperial court. It’s so strange that he still pretends to stand up for the church members. It’s not an exaggeration to say that such a traitor to the country’s virtues will break his bones and spread ashes!”
"It's a pity that I still need his skin created by the devil to do things." An Quti closed his five fingers to collect the light seeds, then lowered his hands and pointed away, silently reciting the secret mantra, and a burst of black air floated out from the fingertips, like a thread.
Enter Mushid's corpse.
As black air entered the body and wandered for a moment, the already shriveled corpse swelled and came to life again. As An Quti raised his hand and flicked it, Mushid's corpse slowly sat up like a puppet on strings.
When Guo Lizhen witnessed this scene of near-resurrection from the dead, she felt infinite admiration in her heart. Even though she had already known that the leader was close to the original state of being able to control both light and darkness, Guo Lizhen still felt strongly shocked every time she witnessed miracles appearing before her eyes.
"Okay, that's it."
An Quti waved his hand to disperse the black air, stared at Mu Xide's body and said: "Although the Black Wolf Division failed to recapture Mani Pearl, Su Wangting took the initiative to return to Quzhi City. Should I say he is smart or stupid?
"
"Does the leader want to use Muside to get the Mani Pearl?" Guo Lizhen asked.
"It's really not appropriate to grab it by force. Not only have we been repeatedly blocked, but it's also too arrogant." An Quti stroked his long beard gently: "And after we get the Mani Pearl and complete the holy sacrifice, we can also take the next step. By then everyone
They should have noticed that Mu Xied was dead and Mani Zhu was missing, so they would have taken this opportunity to provoke conflicts between the parties."
Guo Lizhen said with a smile: "Then the believers will no longer be deceived by hypocrites like Mu Xide, and we can take the initiative to make Zoroastrianism gradually grow in the Western Regions and force the Emperor of Great Xia to lift the ban!"
"I have also seen the prosperity and wealth of the Central Plains. How can this land be allowed to be occupied by a group of ignorant demons?" An Quti showed a hint of excitement: "The Central Plains is the fertile paradise promised by the Great Light Lord to the devout believers. Those who receive
The Han people who follow the teachings of the Holy Scriptures will become our slaves and servants, while the lowly demons who are unwilling to accept them will fall into hell and suffer eternal torture!"
…
"At least I'm back."
Cheng Sanwu looked at Quzhi City in the distance, covered in dust, and sighed: "For the first time in all my years in the Western Regions, I feel safe and sound."
After talking to himself and looking back, almost everyone in the group was exhausted. After capturing the Mani Pearl, Cheng Sanwu and his party did not hesitate to stay, and hurried towards Quzhi City. Except for necessary rest and food, they did not
If you dare to stay on the road for too long, you may be attacked and killed on the way.
After many days of trepidation, I finally saw Quzhi City, and I didn't encounter any other accidents along the way, so I was very lucky.
"You are in good spirits." Afu rushed forward, wearing a headscarf and veil, which was her daytime outfit.
"You're not bad either." Cheng Sanwu turned slightly to the side and asked in a low voice: "I heard before that the Yasha clan can't stand the sun, so they walk at night and day. How can you walk around in the wild in broad daylight?
?”
"Guess." Afu did not answer directly as usual.
"You want to talk or not!" Cheng Sanwu was not very happy, and then approached Su Wangting: "Old Su, Qu Zhicheng has arrived, what should we do next?"
Su Wangting, who was sleepy and exhausted, forced himself to cheer up: "Let's find a place to rest first. Everyone can't hold on any longer."
"But if we enter the city like this, we will definitely be noticed." Cheng Sanwu said.
"I know very well that if someone from the Protectorate comes to look for trouble, I will have to ask for advice." Su Wangting snorted coldly.