Chapter 472: High Priest, Ji Mo Clan [Taking a leave of absence]
"What are you looking at?" Gongxi Chou asked, noticing her thoughtful expression. "If there's anything you don't understand, your brother can tell you now."
A family genealogy is the inheritance of the entire Gongxi clan.
It will be handed over to Gong Xilai in the future.
Gong Xilai then asked, "Why is there a Jimo clan?"
As a matrilineal clan, both men and women naturally followed the Gongxi clan. However, the genealogy also includes the Jimo clan, meaning that people of different surnames could also be included. It's strange that there isn't a third surname listed. Could it be that the Gongxi clan continued to intermarry with the Jimo clan?
"The Jimo clan? Oh, you mean the High Priest?"
"High Priest?"
Gong Xichou said, “Our clan believes in gods. Every year on the gods’ birthdays and other important festivals, we hold a clan gathering, which is usually presided over by the high priest. Each generation will select a successor to the high priest to inherit ‘Jimo’.”
He continued, "I've heard that the high priest is the only one who can communicate with the gods, though he can be a bit mystical..."
This role holds a special position within the Gongxi tribe, as it is responsible for listening to divine pronouncements and conveying them to the tribe. Tribal affairs are generally decided by the chieftain and the high priest; only when their opinions differ do respected elders vote to ensure the decision-making process proceeds.
The Gongxi people love singing and dancing.
This was also because the high priest said that the gods loved singing and dancing the most.
Speaking of this—
Gongxi Chou also instructed his sworn sister: "After you have children, remember to try your luck at the central altar in the clan's territory. Every high priest is chosen by the gods. Alas, the extermination of the Gongxi clan may have something to do with the high priest..."
He was still very superstitious in this regard.
"Could it be that the high priest has betrayed the clan?"
Gong Xichou shook his head: "It's not that bad."
The high priest was to be accused of treason, and the entire tribe was in an uproar.
only--
"...My generation's high priest was wiped out before anyone even appeared. The previous generation, the one who was by my mother's side, I heard, died of illness. The generation before that, it seems, when he was out on business, his name was suddenly crossed out of the family register..."
"Most of the tribe believed he died unexpectedly."
"But some voices say he has abandoned his faith."
The high priest must be the most devout person in the tribe to the gods.
They used special abilities bestowed by the gods to protect their tribe. Once they abandoned their faith, their names would naturally be erased from their records.
However, this example has never been seen in the two-hundred-year history of the Gongxi people's seclusion, so this speculation is untenable.
"The High Priest is of utmost importance to our clan. Many years ago, there was a time when a clansman went out and brought disaster upon the clan. You may have heard of the Wu Kingdom's Gu calamity, which was caused by that fellow... We only escaped that time thanks to a divine warning. Our generation has not been so lucky."
With no new high priest yet to be chosen, and a series of unfortunate events occurring among those who had already come of age, the high priest of the previous generation, who had long since retired, was forced to abandon his retirement and continue presiding over important occasions such as the birthdays of deities. After all, he was getting old, and there were some things he was no longer capable of doing.
For example, the ability to hear divine pronouncements is sometimes accurate and sometimes not.
Gong Xichou dreamed of taking his place from a very young age.
Because the high priest, with his white hair and beard, had a truly unsightly dance.
If he goes, he'll definitely be the coolest guy in the whole clan!
The gods' new favorite!
Gong Xilai's attention was elsewhere.
"Isn't this my brother's biological father?"
They actually used "this one next to my mother" instead.
Gong Xichou explained, "Well... In order to avoid problems with newborns due to close blood ties among our clan members, some adult women can choose to marry within the clan or leave the clan territory to find a man they find pleasing to the eye."
"Bring it back?" Gong Xilai asked.
"No, bring the child back after it's born. As for foreign men, they're mostly wicked."
Gong Xilai: "..."
She seemed to know why so many members of her tribe didn't have their spouse's name next to their names; it turned out that's how it was done.
Gongxi Chou said, "My elder brother should be the child of the previous high priest and my mother. However, something happened to him, and my mother, encouraged by my uncle, went out to find a suitable candidate, which led to my birth. My mother's husband may not be my biological father."
Half-siblings are quite common in the same clan.
Gong Xilai: "..."
"Alas, if the previous two high priests were still alive, perhaps our clan wouldn't have been spared annihilation, but the casualties would have been reduced." Gong Xichou's eyes were filled with sorrow. "The clan's territory was attacked by a powerful enemy. The old priest was getting old, and the clan's means of defense could not be fully utilized. As a result, the clan members were unable to escape in time, and with the addition of a traitor, the entire clan perished..."
Gong Xilai could only comfort him: "It's all over now."
"Yes, it's all in the past..."
Gong Xichou was not one to dwell on the past; he had to look forward and wait until his enemies were brought to justice before discussing anything else.
And this—
It will be realized soon.
Gong Xichou hoped that Gong Xilai could have more children. As long as one of them could be chosen by the gods as the successor to the high priest, the safety of the clan's territory would be guaranteed.
However, this matter is too dependent on luck. The selection of candidates depends not only on the gods' preferences but also on the character of the chosen person.
Only a heartfelt and unwavering faith can truly move the god one serves and gain his protection.
If one's will is not firm...
Even the Gongxi clan...
For decades, they waited in vain for a new generation of high priest.
"It's getting late, Alai, go to sleep first. Tomorrow, pack your bags and I'll send a trusted confidant to escort you to your clan's territory."
(ω)
Some things came up at home, so I didn't start writing until very late... Sigh...
(End of this chapter)
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