Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 850: Chapter 646: Hill Who Was Asked to Leave

Hill, who was pondering the way home, suddenly became aware and looked to his side, watching a leaf drift down slowly, spinning and changing shape, emitting a faint glow.

Hill could sense the aura of this heavenly guest, one of earth and harvest, presumably a little fairy serving Nong Jiang, the agricultural deity of the Shoulong, named Gu Ling.

This was likely directed at Hill; if it were because of the change in Benevolence City, the visitor would have been an attendant of Guanyin or Zhan Zheng, such as Min Nu or Yin Soldiers.

”Hello, Great Mage Polanio, I am Gu Zhonglin, serving the great lord of agriculture.” Knowing that Hill had noticed him, the green little figure greeted in a warm and neutral voice. Gu Ling’s descent sped up, and by the time he landed on a branch, he had grown to an adult size, almost as tall as Hill.

”Hello.” Hill said indifferently, ”Is there something you need?”

”The Heavenly Court often pretends not to know how powerful a visiting archmage truly is, after all, an archmage of the Kind Alignment entering Shoulong wouldn’t cause much trouble, and might even bring some benefits, allowing us to ignore that little fairy spirit, as long as they are under your control and protection.

But the premise is that we can pretend not to know.” Gu Zhonglin said softly, ”But...”

Hill listened to Gu Ling’s account with an impassive expression, understanding why he went from being allowed to stay to needing to leave.

Though a bit frustrated, it didn’t matter as he intended to leave anyway.

Hill nodded his chin at Gu Zhonglin: ”What do you think of the situation in Benevolence?”

Gu Zhonglin gave a slight smile: ”Great Mage Polanio, the God System here in Kalartu provided the Shoulong people with two choices from the start: either be under the management of the Heavenly Court or be self-reliant.

I think someone like you, staying on the Ferun Great Land, surely understands what choice the people here in Kalartu made, for the Heavenly Court to become so distant and unlikely to descend to the Main World unless the continent collapses.

All we can do is promote the sage’s teachings, letting the Karatu people know that only by following the rites can they receive the blessings from the Heavenly Court, achieving immortality.

And then prevent foreign deities from spreading miracles in Kalartu, isn’t it fascinating? They exclude their own deities but will follow those strong foreign gods that emerge, Haotian God would never agree to this.

Since they chose independence, naturally they have to bear the responsibility for their choice.”

So as long as it’s not Bane himself coming, are they only planning to cause unrest in the Shulong Empire, not spread the teachings of the Tyranny God, and the Heavenly Court will pretend to know nothing?

”Even if that volcano dragon uses a painting of Guanyin as a cover for its evil rituals?” Hill asked curiously.

”Guanyin would certainly punish him, but that’s another matter, she would go directly to that two-headed serpent in the volcano of Wo Country to settle the account, rather than rescuing everyone here.

After all, no one is asking her for help, are they?”

The implication of Gu Zhonglin’s words was clear to Hill, divine benevolence has never been free.

There has only ever been one god, Suren, who offered salvation unconditionally, and everyone knows her fate now. Suren’s teachings too have evolved from saving everyone at the beginning to what they are now.

Hill nodded: ”Once things here are resolved, I will leave.”

Gu Zhonglin’s figure slowly faded away: ”The Heavenly Court in the past did not act this way; back then, the Heavenly Court allowed sages walking the earth to rescue the common people, only the least contributing sages became ancestors caring for their families.

But now... there are almost only ancestors, no sages in Shoulong.”

Hill nodded indifferently: for whatever reason, only the ignorant commoners are abandoned.

Hill could hear the dissatisfaction in Gu Ling’s tone towards the current Shulong Empire.

Perhaps, the Heavenly Court plans to do nothing, waiting for the last straw to break the patience of the masses, prompting them to overthrow the path of noble clans, to return the Shulong Empire to the path of rites and faith in the Nine Walkers?

Before this happens, what do the deaths of the common people mean to them?

Here in Toril, the gods are all the same!

Hill silently leaned back against the high branches of a camphor tree, inhaling that faint familiar scent, and looked up at the sky. Dawn had arrived, the first light appeared, and the sky brightened.

At this time, Hill noticed some sorcerers mixed among the ordinary people who followed them out.

Besides some who are clearly liberal-minded, sorcerers who mingle well with the common people, there are also some whom the people avoid when they see them, likely from the An Family and those noble clans that didn’t plan to revolt. It seems their path home has been blocked.

Hill glanced sideways at the three from the An Family in the back and remained silent.

The people of Benevolence, after the early morning arrival, began to stir. They seemed to be pooling money to hire professionals as bodyguards, planning to settle in other cities. They seem to have somewhat understood what transpired last night, realizing Benevolence City now almost has no future.

Hill sat above, watching groups of people from Benevolence who had decided where to go, walk to the big tree to give thanks before leaving their homeland with tears in their eyes, looking back with every step.

Though it is difficult to leave one’s homeland, without life, one can only return to the earth. It seems the Shulong people, in this regard, are quite similar to those on the Ferun Great Land; they quickly grabbed their bags and headed for the main road.

The only advantage in this world is that no one would forbid commoners from using the main roads that span the continent, as these roads were not built by the government office but are a legacy from the ancient sages.

Hill watched them leave, then glanced in the direction where the Head of the An Family resided. He had awakened, but had not come to recruit the commoners to stay and wait for the future reconstruction of Benevolence City.

Hill shook his head, as it was precisely because these noble families actually did not need ordinary people at all that they could completely ignore the suffering of the commoners.

He continued to sit in the tree, watching the last figure of a commoner disappear before his eyes, before gently flying up to the clouds with Farana and finally putting her away into a pendant after they were out of everyone’s sight.

Those sorcerers who had been stationed on the side promptly hid in the forest after Hill’s departure, but did not plan on leaving the vicinity of Benevolence City.

It seems they were planning to wait for the empire’s army to come suppress the rebellion.

Hill looked down at Benevolence City again, surprised to see that many officials had followed the noble houses, who seemed to be getting ready to leave.

It appears the punishment for incompetent officials in the Shulong Empire is severe enough to make them abandon their inland families without hesitation.

Hill sneered a little; from An Ran’s vague words, it was clear that the nationwide Black Cavalry gathering order was essentially announcing that someone in the Imperial Capital had committed treason.

The alert address was once again Benevolence City.

How foolish must the southern border troops of the Shulong Empire be, to allow such a huge convoy to leave their borders and go side with their eternal enemy?

In this large convoy, maybe only a small portion will make it alive into the Earth Dragon, while the rest are sacrificial bait.

Hill swiftly identified the direction and flew towards the southeastern sea. He didn’t intend to let the Heavenly Court drive him away again, nor did he like being constantly watched; the omnipresent stares were incredibly uncomfortable.

”Hill.” In rapid flight, Hill heard a call from behind. Vila was grasping a corner of his hood, enjoying the ride while shouting, ”Are we leaving this place?”

The other little fairies unzipped their pouches and poked out their little heads to observe their surroundings.

”The Heavenly Court won’t let us stay here any longer,” Hill replied softly.

”That’s not okay! Hill,” Vila reasoned righteously, ”This country may be troublesome, but it has so many flowers and delicious fruits! Have you collected all those plant species?

Especially those lilies in the river that look like roses; they are perfect for the little Flower Fairies to live in!”

Hill couldn’t help but chuckle, thinking Vila must mean the lotuses? On the Ferun Great Land, they seem to be water lilies.

”Those are lotuses, and I have their seeds,” Hill replied with a smile. ”I bought many seeds before leaving and have most of the flower seeds, so don’t worry.”

Vila nodded in satisfaction, turning her little head with an expression of how windy it was, saying, ”What a strong wind! Hill is flying faster than Eschen.”

With a helpless expression, Hill replied, ”When the Pegasus God flies with you, how could he be flying at full strength?”

The Pegasus God wouldn’t open a shield like Hill. Vila acted as if she was affected, but she wasn’t experiencing the high-speed wind.

Thankfully, Reception Island came into view soon, as Hill really didn’t feel like playing this child’s game with Vila any longer.

He saw Purwell waiting obediently by the dockside and descended straightaway, whereupon he also saw An Yanfei.

It seemed he was greeting a new VIP-level magic ship, looking at the suddenly arriving Hill with surprise.

After some thought, Hill smiled and nodded at him, ”Mr. An Yanfei, I am leaving. I wonder if you have time to return my travel documents?”

An Yanfei nodded immediately, ”Please wait a moment, Mr. Polanio, this will be sorted shortly.”

Hill turned around and entered through the front door that Purwell had already opened. As soon as the little fairies got inside, they instantly flew out, except for Vila, who chased Hill for flower seeds.

Reluctantly, Hill counted a few seeds of each type and gave them to her, ”I’ll try to optimize the others; we must ensure they can adapt to this environment. Take these for now and try planting them.”

Only then did Vila leave Hill alone. She was well aware that not all flowers could be planted by Flower Fairies; it depended on the environment.

An Yanfei arrived quickly. Hill had been introduced to him by the family, and he couldn’t figure out what the family could have done to make a Great Wizard-level mage with such a good temperament like Hill choose to leave Shulong so soon.

However, no matter how clearly Hill spoke, An Yanfei felt his brain about to explode. He confirmed repeatedly and even pricked himself with a small dagger to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.