Chapter 353: Jingsha Sacred Tree
"What is the core of the Jingsha city-state?"
"The Jingsha Sacred Tree." Chu Hengkong said.
"Who is best qualified to decide the future of the city-state?"
"The sacred tree itself." Ji Huaisu followed.
"Yes, the city-state is the body of the deity, and the sacred tree is its spirit. Therefore, before discussing public opinion, political schemes, and measures, we must first consider the will of the sacred tree itself. If Jingsha still has his mind, then future actions will be acceptable. If Jingsha is incompetent and unjust, the fate of the city-state is over, and there will be no room for negotiation."
Velvet walked quickly, with none of the frail air of a scholar. The three people from Huilongcheng and Trek and his daughter followed closely behind her.
They had all received permission to meet with the sacred tree, as the purpose of this meeting was to honor the heroes who had made outstanding contributions during the Jinghua Festival. Chu Hengkong and his companions represented the outsiders, Cui Ke represented the Divine Guards, and Li Ke represented the shop managers and other citizens who had volunteered to participate in the war.
Benintic listened to their discussion without commenting. Rico, feeling anxious, asked, "Mr. Benintic, the sacred tree..."
"Due to the limitations of my duties, I cannot elaborate further on this matter. Please make your own judgments about Lord Jingsha's condition later," Benintic said meticulously. "We'll be there soon. Please follow me."
Borrowing Trek's abilities, they teleported multiple times, from the bookstore entrance to a secret room within the Supreme Procuratorate of Mansa Star Fortress. The room had no doors or windows, its only source of light coming from a central teleportation array emitting a green glow. Benintic led the group to the center of the array. Perhaps because this wasn't a public place, his language was much more concise.
"Requesting a meeting with the captain's authority."
【license】
A flash of light appeared within the teleportation array, and everyone smelled a fresh fragrance. They were deep within lush vegetation, branches swaying in the breeze. The light was dim, and it was impossible to tell whether it was starry night or dawn.
There were animals here too. A few rabbits hopped through the tall grass, and birds chirped in the treetops—all familiar beasts and birds in the city-state. A small flower, with its cartoon-like features, turned its head, looking exactly like its ubiquitous counterparts.
Xiaohua whispered, "Wait a minute, it's still sleeping."
"I'm awake," someone said. "Please bring them here!"
The birds and beasts made way, and Benintic led them through the tall grass to a thicket of thorns. Thorns and brambles intertwined, forming a deep green altar. The man lay flat on the thorns, using the altar as his bed. He had called out earlier, but now his eyes were closed, as if he were asleep.
He wore a crown woven from thorns and a white robe embroidered with flowers and creatures. The robe was enormous, as if made for a sturdy warrior, but now it looked like an ornate shroud. The man in the white robe was so frail, his hair was sparse and his bones were thin, a mere skeleton of skin and bones. His muscles had all but vanished, and his bones bulged beneath the skin, with loose skin hanging from the skeleton.
Chu Hengkong recalled the tragic victims he'd seen starving to death in Africa, and now he saw similar people in the heart of this prosperous city-state. A deity with a Sephiroth of 7, closer to death than old age.
Li Ke shed tears in shock: "Master Shenshu!"
Even Trek's expression turned sour: "It has come to this...!"
"Before the Thorn Blossom Festival, Lord Divine Tree was still able to maintain his form," Benintic whispered. "But after the voting results were counted... it's as you can see."
Jing Sha was awakened by the disturbance. He turned his head and cast a dim gaze at the crowd: "You're here! Please come closer so I can see more clearly!"
They took a few steps forward, and at Jingsha's urging, they stood before the altar. Jingsha slowly rose to his feet, refusing Benintic's help. He smiled as kindly and amiably as he could, "The city-state is deeply grateful to you! Your bravery has protected the lives of its citizens, and the city-state will never forget this kindness. Captain, please bring me the medal!"
Benintic handed over a box containing medals shaped like white flowers. Jingsha picked them up and slowly placed them on the shoulders of the group.
"In the past, we wore the medals on our chests... but then some team members gave us feedback that this was too disrespectful to women. So we changed it to epaulettes," Lao Shu told them with a smile. "Fortunately, the recipients so far all have shoulders... at least they have heads!"
At this point he saw Vander, changed his words, and placed the flower on Vander's forehead. He then pinned the flower on Trick's forehead and said, "How many times have we awarded you a medal, Trick?"
"I forgot too... the last time was over 20 years ago."
"Only 20 years! That's only a short time!" The old man said nonchalantly, jokingly, "If a fluid creature becomes a hero of the city-state one day, we really won't know how to award it. Maybe we should develop a liquid medal... ahem!"
He coughed twice, and a trace of blood seeped out from under his white robe. Velvet warned him, "You're injured."
"I was bitten by a wild dog, it's no big deal!" he said nonchalantly.
Strangely enough, he was so weak that even his voice was weak, but his tone still sounded full of energy, as if he was still a strong and vigorous man.
His divine robe was too loose to conceal the dense scars covering his body. There wasn't a single piece of healthy flesh on his body; scars covered it everywhere. He looked like he'd endured endless torture, old wounds healing only to be followed by new ones, like a tangled web of brambles wrapped around his body.
Jingsha noticed their gazes and bared his chest and arms, beaming with pride. "We've all suffered far more serious injuries than this countless times. This little chaos is nothing to worry about!"
“But the city-state is different now than it was in the past. I think now is a difficult moment,” Velvet said.
Jingsha laughed heartily. "My child, you are very clever, but your years of experience are too short. Let us teach you what a difficult time is."
He pointed to an old scar on his neck, where the flesh had been torn. "It was shortly after sunrise, when we had just blossomed our first 'holy flower'. The giants came seeking refuge, their inventions coveted by the devil of greed. We leaped into the maw, breaking the fangs of the greedy spirits one by one, preventing them from ever harassing our friends again!"
He patted his chest, revealing a startling tooth mark. "When the World Tree was stabbed, the Chaos Demon took advantage of the situation and swooped in, hoping to devour this piece of fat meat from us. Its smoke screen tore through our skin, its sharp teeth biting into our flowers. But we pinned that wild dog down beneath our roots, and ever since, he's been roaming around the city-state, but he can't go anywhere."
The old man raised his right arm again, revealing an old wound that looked like a horrific corrosion. "After the Spiral Tower fell, 'Our Lady of the Courtyard,' Lavaeva herself came, intending to uproot us old creatures and plant us in her garden. Her poisonous light infected everyone, and the city was nearly reduced to a dead city. But we didn't give up. We supported each other and stood up, dispelling the poison. We used wooden spears to gouge through her slaves and drove her back into that mad tower."
"Before the war, the Imperial Origin arrived at the front lines. The True Machines had already invaded Mansa Star Fortress, but we remained united and drove them back completely."
"At the end of the war, the bugs rebelled. Ronghuaxian and Cimu arrived, colluding with the enemy to devour Old Jingsha. The city-state collapsed completely, and even the captain felt there was no hope. But we said no, we could hold on to the end. Together with the World Tree, we held off the Desire Demon's offensive and prevented them from taking the secret realm until the very end!"
The old man laughed proudly: "We have experienced too many difficult times, but we have survived every time. Suffering has made the city-state stronger.
We are not afraid of any outsider sects, as long as we are united as one!"
Every word he said was true, and the scars on his body were irrefutable proof. But the more he spoke, the more desolate everyone felt. Because his frail body could no longer bear the weight of such a glorious past.
Velvet bowed in respect. She then continued, "The current dilemma lies in the fact that Jingsha is no longer united. If we leave the secret realm, where will the independent city-state go?"
"The children haven't figured it out yet." The old man shook his head. "They've been overwhelmed by the ever-changing situation, bewildered by this unprecedented world. First, the Heavenly Prison appeared, then the Twilight departed. The world is changing rapidly, with a single year bringing as much change as a hundred years before... They haven't yet realized that there's no such thing as 'being isolated'; the world is forever connected.
But deep down, they know the truth. They understand love, understanding, and the meaning of unity and sacrifice. I believe they will open their eyes."
Velvet tapped her cane and suddenly asked, “Why are you so sure?”
“Because they are our citizens.”
"What if, at the last moment, they still don't change their decision?"
"That means the path of unity has run its course." The old man closed his eyes. "We will follow the will of all living beings and follow the path they have chosen. Life or death, success or failure, we will always be together."
Velvet nodded slightly and said, "Thank you. I have no problem with that. We will take action within the city-state."
The old man smiled and said, "There are no prohibitions in our city-state. You can do anything. As long as it does not violate conscience and justice."
So they turned and left, and the old man lay back on his bed, as if about to fall asleep. Before leaving, Chu Hengkong turned around and said to him, "Hey, we will help you."
The old man didn't respond, seemingly asleep. Chu Hengkong suddenly stopped, vaguely catching sight of another face behind Jingsha. That face, occupying roughly half the back of the old man's head, wore a cold smile that was completely different from the original's.
The face covered by the iron mask was the face of Chancellor Parriman.
(End of this chapter)
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