The hall is spacious and the curtains are fluttering. Expensive candles are lit in the corners, and simple murals tell the story of the vicissitudes of life. Under the upper mural, there is a dark ancient pottery incense burner, which has been filled with spices.
Akapu lowered his eyes and stood up slowly. He came to the incense burner, drew fire from the clay tinder pot, and carefully lit the spices. Soon, a gentle and delicate scent rose from the incense burner, as sweet as rosewood. And if you taste it carefully, there seems to be something hidden in this softness.
The young priests and elders raised their heads and looked up at the murals of gods on the incense burner amid the soft fragrance. This mural is quite ancient. In the center is the main god holding a spear, and below are the people of Mexico being led. But at the forefront of all the people, there was an old, white-haired priest holding a topaz scepter.
"The line of main gods...the chief priest..."
Akap closed his eyes, savoring the aroma that entered his heart, and many thoughts came to him like a flood. This is his residence and the former chief priest's residence. And everything in the mansion is engraved with the glory and power that the Lord God line once had.
"Seven years..."
The young priest groaned lowly. He lived in the chief priest's house seven years. These murals seemed all too familiar to him. He is familiar with every detail in the painting and the meaning of each character; he often watches it alone, often thinking about it... What changes will happen to people in these seven years?
When the incense was lit and it was time to taste the incense, the old man at the bottom stopped talking. He took a gentle breath of the aroma, held his breath, and savored it, and a smile gradually appeared on his face. When he opened his eyes again, the young priest with a beautiful face was already sitting in front of him.
"Quio, my friend, how does this smell?"
Acap smiled slightly and asked calmly.
"Akapu, my friend."
Elder Kuio took a deep look at the other person and raised a smile on his lips.
Five years ago, during the Alliance's Western Expedition, Akap served as an envoy of the High Priests and visited the holy city of Cholula. The two met and became friends from then on. As for Pinxiang, Quiao can be regarded as Akapu's enlightenment teacher.
"This fragrance is warm, soft, light and lingering. At first glance, it smells like ripe and processed agarwood seeds. This kind of spice is high-quality and cheap, and it is the most popular... But if you taste it carefully, you will find something new in the lightness. The light fragrance, I just knew it..."
"Oh? What do you know?"
The smile on Akapu's face gradually spread, as if he had met a close friend.
"... What is hidden inside is ground red sandalwood. It is the finest wood and the king of trees."
Elder Quao finished speaking with a smile. Then, his smile faded and he stared into Akapu's eyes with sharp eyes.
"Friend, you can't hide your thoughts from me!"
"Quio, you are really a master of incense. I remember that my first enlightenment was in the holy city of Cholula. Together with the elders, I shared the beauty of the world."
Akapu looked to the west, his expression became leisurely. Then, he stretched out his hand and poured a cup of scented tea for Quiao.
"How is the situation in Cholula now?"
"What's the situation in the Holy City... You are in the high priest group and can see the intelligence on the front line, so you naturally know it better than me."
Elder Kuio looked solemn and sighed.
"His Royal Highness Shulot looted the area around Cholula, and the city-state legions appeared outside the Holy City. The situation is urgent and we can no longer wait...Acap, the fate of the Holy City lies in your hands!"
"Quio, although I am a priest and elder, I am of low opinion. In the high priest group, I can't say much."
Akap smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"Now in the high priest group, it is the high priest who decides the alliance's religious affairs! The rest of the priests and elders are just wood and clay sculptures, doing ordinary chores. And the high priest's attitude towards the city of Cholula , it’s not like you don’t know. Before the Eastern Expedition, when I went to Cholula, the harsh conditions I proposed were all set by the high priest himself!”
"...Honor the King of Mexica and hand over the land and population; respect the high priesthood, with the God of War as the main god; the city of Cholula is downgraded to an archdiocese, with the priest leader Petel as the fifth-level patriarch, and the remaining elders Reduced to level four chief priest..."
Quio chanted in a low voice. He had argued with Acap many times about these terms at that time, and they had long been engraved in his mind, and he would still think of them from time to time.
"...Hey! In fact, these conditions are not harsh. It's just that Cholula was in the Four-State Alliance at that time and was surrounded by the Tlaxcala people. It was difficult for him to turn to the Mexica Alliance..."
"Quio, you don't have to explain it to me."
Akap waved his hand. He had a profound meaning, telling a proverb of the alliance, and seemed to be implying something.
"...There is only one fork leading to the Holy Mountain Temple. If you don't catch it, you will be gone. And if you want to go there again, you have to take a detour."
Hearing this, Quao lowered his eyes and sighed. After a moment, he pursed his lips and asked in a low voice.
"There are twelve elders in the high priest group. No one stands up to compete with the high priest?"
"Haha. The high priest was determined to reform, regardless of his own safety or his reputation behind him. Dozens of Tlacopan's great nobles were executed as soon as they were told. A full 20,000 people were uprooted and counted as traitors. Exiled to the Kingdom of the Lake!”
Akapu smiled, raised the ceramic cup, and took a sip of scented tea.
"In this situation, who dares to stand up? Who is willing to stand up? What's more..."
"Not to mention what?"
Elder Quaio looked solemn as he listened to the top-secret top-level situation within the Mexica Alliance.
"Above the high priest, there is that one. And below the high priest, there is His Highness Shulot."
Acap stretched out his finger, pointed up, and then pointed down.
"A sun of the past, a sun of the future... Especially at this time, no one will speak for you!... If you don't believe it, you can find other priests and elders, and it will be the same."
"Why!"
Elder Kuio was helpless and sighed again.
"Akapu, I'll tell you the truth. Before coming here, I went to see the elder priest Wugel... but, I couldn't even meet him!"
"Elder Wugel... he has been really busy recently. Even if it is the affairs of the high priest group, he has no time to pay attention to it..."
Hearing this, Akapu's eyes flashed and he nodded meaningfully, with a hint of envy.
"It is really rare to be able to get close to the sun without being stung by the light..."
"Huh? The sun hurts?..."
Elder Quao was a little confused. He raised his brows, but the other party's mysterious temper had not changed at all. It's just that the situation in the Holy City is so critical, and he has no intention of making any more detours.
"Akapu, my friend. The priests and elders of Cholula have had a great conversation with you and have always had a good impression of you!"
Elder Quaio straightened up and spoke frankly.
"How can flowers bloom without butterflies?... If the Holy City can join the alliance, all the priests and elders can become your allies! And with your foundation in the alliance, if you want to go further... you need Cholula The city’s help!”
Hearing such words, Akap pursed his lips, his eyes flashed, and he didn't speak for a long time. As the spices in the incense burner gradually burned out, the smell of rosewood became more obvious. It wasn't until the last wisp of green smoke dispersed that Akapu nodded slowly and responded in a deep voice.
"My friend, you are right... In this case, I have a few words of advice to give you, as well as the elders of Cholula City."
"Appreciate further details!"
Hearing this, Elder Kuio perked up. He straightened up and stared at the other person's handsome face.
"Friends, Cholula is the Holy City of the East, the place where the world's hearts rest. The Alliance will not attack and destroy Cholula without a huge reason... and the marshal of the South Route Army is His Highness Shulot. I I have grown up with him and know his character... As long as Cholubang takes the initiative to show weakness, respectfully humbles himself, and talks about the common people in the country, His Highness will naturally feel compassion."
"Huh? Stay low and talk about moth people?"
Elder Kuio was stunned, thought for a while, and silently wrote it down.
"The real way out for Cholula lies with King Avit on the North Road! The king is determined to conquer the world. He not only wants to pacify all the tribes, but also suppress all the states, and he must be high on the throne of God..."
Akapu pondered for a moment and didn't say much. In fact, he could not gain a foothold in the high priesthood without the support of the king.
"Um..."
Elder Quaio nodded. On the northern route was the chief priest, and Petr personally sent the envoy. He has enough confidence in this old fox.
"The holy city of Cholula has a special status, and the king will not turn a blind eye. Of course, the previous offenses committed by the holy city will definitely be punished. The conditions for surrender will also become harsh. But please priests and elders, please don't be in a hurry. Fight against the king!...The alliance has become a trend, just like the growing sacred tree. As long as you obey the orders, survive this period, and integrate into the alliance..."
Speaking of this, Avit stretched out his hand and pointed to the priest in the divine mural who guides all peoples.
"...When the time comes, both you and I can be in the painting!"
"Well, that makes sense! That makes sense!"
Elder Quao nodded heavily. He looked at Akap for a moment, a smile on his face. But after a while, he felt a little uneasy again.
"Akapu, why don't I do nothing in the capital city in the lake? I brought some magical objects with me... some of the elders of the royal family..."
"Fantasy?!"
Hearing this, Akapu's eyes twitched. The city of Cholula has been inherited for five hundred years, and the good things in hand are quite a lot. He tried hard to suppress the desire in his heart and shook his head firmly.
"Don't do anything. In my opinion, you shouldn't come to the capital! In the eye of this dangerous storm, at this special juncture, at this sensitive time!..."
"Huh? Dangerous, special, sensitive?"
Elder Kuio was shocked when he heard this. He stretched out his arm suddenly and grabbed Akap's hand.
"What kind of big event is going to happen in the capital city in the lake?!"
"...What kind of big thing?...A big thing like heaven."
Akapu was silent for a long time before speaking in a low voice, almost inaudible.
"The immortal sun is about to set..."
"ah!!!"
A fierce exclamation sounded from the ancient hall, even bringing out the wind. The candle in the corner flickered, then went out, completely burned out.
