Sky Cemetery

Xuan Yuan froze, his breath stopped for a moment when his name was called. He held his breath until he himself didn't know how long. He didn't dare to turn around and look at the person who called out to him. He prayed that it was just his hallucination. But seeing the look on Zhi Qiang's face, he knew that it was real.

He didn't know why he was here, and how long had he been here. They had just arrived from the Gangrim Iceberg. Even if he came a long time ago, then what is he doing here. In the yard of Nhamso's house. That's something strange, of course. He should be in the middle of the city, resting at an inn or at the house of one of his trusted official's people.

He turned around slowly, trying to calm himself down by taking a deep breath and then exhaling. And there, Chi You stood with a wide smile that reached his eyes, making his eyes narrow. He had never seen him smile that wide, during his stay in the Banquan palace. Whether he saw it up close or from a distance. Never.

But now he kept smiling as if there wasn't a day he didn't like. It was a very pleasant day perhaps for him. Why not because the object he had been craving for so many years. Even according to Zhi Qiang's story, long before he was kidnapped from his parents' house. He had been looking everywhere for that precious object long ago. and now the object was in front of him.

His eyes flashed darkly at Xuan Yuan's shoulder. Yes, Mei Long Sword. The sword he had longed for. The sword that would bring him absolute superiority. No one could defeat him if he had the Mei Long Sword in his hands. With this Sword, he can frighten all his enemies. No one would dare to go against him.

He will be rampant, attacking other lands for him to conquer and he will make a colony for him to control. In addition to thirst for power, he is also thirsty for wealth. He colonized lands to extract the abundant natural products from the land. he has amassed as much wealth as possible. Only he knows where he keeps his wealth, even Zhi Qiang his confidant doesn't know where his wealth is stored until now.

A reasonable combination, for the corrupt people, of course. But between the two he has the upper hand in power. His eyes were thirsty for his power. As long as he stays in the Banquan palace, throughout the year he will continue to expand his territory. By attacking other countries.

Even from the map it can be seen, how much territory he has conquered. And he did it in a violent way. Seize by force. Overthrow the control of the land that he defeated and then appoint his trusted people to lead the colonized areas.

Like the land of Tham. An easy example is seen here. Colonized areas, the population is not free to carry out activities, every activity will be questioned, if it will cause chaos and lead to rebellion then they do not hesitate, dragging suspects to prison and tortured there. Only a few go home safely. Mostly, their fate is unknown, perhaps have been killed and their bodies given to the vultures at the top of the mountain. To remove the traces and at the same time follow the tradition so that they are impressed and not suspect that they have killed the population indiscriminately.

This ritual is called the Sky Cemetery. This is a funeral tradition in Tham Country. This burial was carried out because of the hilly and rocky conditions of Tham Country, making it difficult to find land to bury the dead body. It is also because of the barren soil conditions, only small area could be seen with green grass scenery that too only a around resident house. So, not many trees can be seen in the land of Tham so there is not enough firewood to cremate the bodies of the dead.

So, this ritual is inevitably carried out. In addition to bringing benefits to the deceased itself, it also brings benefits to other creatures, indirectly feeding meat-eating animals, Like crows. And other meat-eating animals.

Another blessing that is believed by the inhabitants of the land of Tham is that, for the dead itself, they have done the last good deed, by giving their bodies to other beings. before they continue their journey to the afterlife and be judged there.

The physical body that has been left by the soul. Gradually it will rot, slowly its rotting body will become a nesting place for maggots. And these maggots will also eat up the bodies of people who have died. So, the process and the result for the body that died will be the same, equally eaten by scavengers. So, the sky burial is considered the right thing to do, considering the conditions of the Tham country.

Back to Xuan Yuan

Xuan Yuan looked frantically at Chi You. he is sad why there are still people who are thirsty even beyond the limits of madness experienced by him. He thought how to help him, make him understand, live in harmony is far more valuable than living in fear. He wanted to feel like saying that right now. But he has doubts about Chi You's character, the madness of power that is ingrained. It will be difficult to realize people brain who have been blinded by darkness and greed for power.

On the other hand, Zhi Qiang also experienced the same thing as him. His forehead furrowed, his eyebrows furrowed together sharply. 'How can Mr. Chi You be here?' he asked himself. He had only seen Chi You set foot in this Land once. when he succeeded in conquering this country. At that time, he came to instill in the people mind that he was the master of the colonized country that was colonized by him. And he always did that in every other land he had conquered.

And here he saw him standing, looking at Xuan Yuan with hungry eyes, hungry for the power he would gain when the Mei Long Sword was in his hands. He could only clench his palms tightly. There was nothing to do but support him, for he was bound by an oath of allegiance to him. Whatever Chi You did, even in his opinion, was wrong and inappropriate. Still, he couldn't do anything. He never voiced his opinion. No, he never will or could be said he cannot do it. He had fallen to his knees before him. Oath of allegiance until death picks him up.

The thing that could be done now was as much as possible to protect Xuan Yuan, even though his life was at stake. His instincts could sense that his life would not be long.

He glanced at Xuan Yuan. It could be seen by him that he, experienced shock and reluctance to confront Chi You. He definitely had to hand over the mei long sword to him.

He knew very well that Xuan Yuan did not want to hand the sword over to him. Because he knew, once the sword was in Chi You's grasp, it would end up devouring the innocent blood sacrificed for the sake of power alone.

And his thoughts were interrupted by Chi You's words "I am proud of you, Xuan Yuan. You have brought back the legendary Sword, the strongest sword that will grant me absolute power. Come my child. Come here. Let me see. I can't wait to run my fingers over the blade, which is shiny, sharp and sparkling in my eyes." Chi You spread his arms as if to hug Xuan Yuan in a hug filled with warmth, the warmth he wanted to feel. The warmth he never got, because that warmth had been taken from him since he was a baby.

Chi You continued to smile widely, his lips as wide as he could reach. But the smile disappeared instantly, only one move from Xuan Yuan.