Phil Gray planned to go to the cemetery to test whether he could fulfill the death god's maxim, "listen to the teachings of the dead."
If you're talking about the place with the most dead, isn't it the cemetery?
It snowed all night, and there were very few horse-drawn carriages at the street corner; those that were there were even snatched up by a few quick-thinking passengers.
Phil Gray could only wait a little longer.
"Sir, where would you like to go?"
Phil Gray looked up and saw a carriage that was more luxurious than the previous ones. The two white horses were strong and handsome, the canopy behind was embroidered with gold thread, and the seats were quite spacious. Although it was not as luxurious as the one he had ridden in at the Papacy, it was clearly not a carriage for commoners to rent.
Looking at the man who was speaking to him, he was sitting in a carriage. Wasn't this Mr. Allen from last night?
“Good morning, Mr. Allen. I’d like to go to the cemetery in the White Chrysanthemum District. It’s quite far, so I won’t trouble you.” Phil Gray greeted him with a smile.
"No need to be so polite. I'm just passing through there anyway, so let me give you a ride."
Phil Gray didn't want to refuse his kindness, so he thanked him and got into the carriage.
"I forgot to introduce myself properly yesterday. My name is Alan Charles. What's your name?"
"My name is Kane."
Along the way, they chatted about their respective information and the local customs of Duer City. Phil Gray learned that this Mr. Allen was once an earl of the Kingdom of Puna, but his family fell into decline for some reason. Now he runs a business similar to a clinic, mainly treating nobles at their homes.
“I am a first-order chosen one of the God of Life, capable of curing some more complex illnesses. If I’m not mistaken, you should also be a chosen one of the gods, right?”
There is no such profession as doctor in this world. The treatment of patients depends entirely on the pastors of the local parish. For more difficult illnesses, pastors of the Church of Life or the chosen ones of the God of Life are consulted. Therefore, the Church of Life is actually the most popular church in the world, and people in every city welcome their arrival.
“Yes, I am a first-order chosen one of the gods of fate,” Phil Gray replied.
Mr. Allen's family fell into decline, probably because of the Church of Destiny. Otherwise, he wouldn't have joined the apostates. I wonder what his attitude is towards the chosen ones of the God of Destiny. But isn't that leader also a high-ranking chosen one of the God of Destiny?
“Oh.” Mr. Allen nodded, showing no other emotion. “You’re going to the cemetery?”
“Yes, an elder I know is buried there, and I’d like to go and pay my respects,” Phil Gray said.
"Yes, but the area around the cemetery is quite desolate. If you want to buy flowers, you'll have to buy them here in advance. There's a flower shop not far ahead. I'll have the driver stop there."
“Thank you, Mr. Allen,” Phil Gray said.
Thanks for his reminder, it is indeed better to bring flowers.
After getting off the carriage, Phil Gray returned shortly with a large bouquet of flowers. In fact, this was only part of the bouquet; he also had some in his spatial bracelet.
Mr. Allen was somewhat surprised, then smiled.
The carriage soon arrived at Baiju District, which was indeed very desolate.
Even in winter, the trees and flowers that once thrived in Durr have all vanished here. The withered branches are covered with snow, creating a desolate and lonely scene. Perhaps this is what winter should look like.
There are no other buildings in Baiju District; all you can see is a cemetery.
"We've arrived, Mr. Kane."
"Oh, there's really not much people here."
"Yes, you know, people who believe in the God of Life are somewhat superstitious about these things."
"Okay, thank you again, Mr. Allen, see you later."
"See you later."
After watching Mr. Allen's carriage disappear from sight, Phil Gray put the flowers he was holding into his spatial storage before looking toward his destination.
The iron gate and fence were covered with mottled rust and looked dilapidated. The snow at the entrance was piled up thickly and looked as clean as a freshly washed plate, without a single footprint.
It seems Phil Gray might be the first person to step into this place in the next few days.
The door wasn't locked, and Phil Gray easily pushed it open. The snow inside hadn't been cleared either, so he could only laboriously leave deep footprints.
After walking for a while, he saw rows of neat tombstones.
However, they were all covered with a layer of white snow.
Perhaps he chose a bad time.
We should wait for a sunny day.
But how should we heed the teachings of the deceased?
Perhaps there is an epitaph on this tombstone?
Phil Gray thought to himself as he wiped the snow off the first tombstone with his sleeve. He saw some writing on the tombstone, but it was already blurred and must have been quite old. He could vaguely make out the words "Tomb of Duke Odis Huntington".
Below were several lines in italics. After repeatedly scrutinizing them, Phil Gray finally deciphered the text: "This lies a noble duke, but he was stingy with the gold coins he gave to the priest who treated him, thus becoming the first guest in the cemetery."
Phil Gray placed a white carnation with the inscription, "May you love life more than money in your next life."
Arriving at the second grave, I brushed the snow away with my sleeve again. This gravestone had no name, only two lines of epitaph: "Here lies a merciful bishop, who will return to the embrace of God."
Phil Gray placed a white chrysanthemum.
As Phil Gray walked past, he discovered that among those lying there were dukes and bishops, as well as ordinary clockmakers, coachmen, and prostitutes. Life was so equal in the face of death; no matter how tumultuous one's life may have been, in the end, all that remained was a tombstone and a few strokes summarizing one's life.
He placed a flower in front of each tombstone.
His sleeves were already soaked, and his hands were red with cold as the wind blew.
It was almost noon, and Phil Gray was about to stop and rest when he heard footsteps behind him, which were particularly noticeable in the quiet cemetery.
He turned around and saw an old man with a cane walking towards him. The old man was wearing a dark brown robe, with white hair and a withered face.
Could it be the gravedigger?
"Are you an outsider from Duer City?" the old man asked.
"Yes, how did you figure that out?" Phil Gray asked curiously.
"Haha, because the residents of the Life Parish don't come to this cemetery unless they are dying or burying the dead, let alone come to lay flowers and sweep graves for these strangers."
"I see."
No wonder this place is so desolate.
"People in the Life Parish respect life and value it above all else, but the more they love life, the more they abhor death; the dead and cemeteries are taboo for them."
Phil Gray nodded.
Are you the caretaker of this cemetery?
"The tomb keeper can be understood in this way."
The old man smiled, then slowly said:
"But they are all too narrow-minded. Life and death are interdependent. The end of life is death, and the end of death is also life!"
Indeed, isn't this a dialectical viewpoint? Phil Gray, who has memories of Earth, smiled knowingly. "Yes, life and death, besides their opposing aspects, also have a unified aspect."
The old man gave him an approving look. “Young man, you are very good, and you have the aura of someone I know.”
“Is that so?” Phil Gray was about to ask further, but suddenly a chilling feeling swept over him, and a pervasive black mist enveloped him, blurring the figures before him, leaving only the maxim echoing in his ears, “Listen to the teachings of the dead…”
But then, the content of the sound changed, becoming:
"The deceased gave you their right hand; the accumulation of experience should not remain in the grave."
He felt another kind of divine power flowing through his body, giving him a cool sensation. After merging with the previous divine power, it did not repel him but instead merged with him, becoming calm.
He looked at his right hand, and black characters appeared before his eyes: "The Right Hand of the Dead".
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com