Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 184 183 Same Purpose

Still on the top floor of the cathedral, Feng Xiuhu saw Vadracho praying in the morning in the quiet room.

This time, Feng Xiuhu knew the procedure. He stepped forward and bowed to the Mist Emblem, saying, "Praise the Mist."

Then he came and sat down next to Vadracho.

Without waiting for Vadracho to ask questions, Feng Xiuhu took the initiative to give a conclusion.

"First, the Shenwei Cannon has nothing to do with me."

"Secondly, in order to take the government officials away, Hong Shenghuo ordered the temple to remove the temple's protective talismans."

"Third, the temple is doomed to lose this battle. If they don't surrender, I'll starve them to death. I've roughly calculated the military strength of both sides. If we attack regardless of the cost, we can capture the temple in two days at most."

Vadracho remained calm: "Don't worry, just wait and see."

Feng Xiuhu frowned slightly: "What do you mean?"

Vadracho poured a glass of water for Feng Xiuhu and said calmly, "Xi Wusheng has already been here. Archbishop Toverson received him on my behalf."

Feng Xiuhu didn't understand: "What is Xi Wusheng doing here? To seek peace?"

Vadracho shook his head: "Whether to make peace or fight is not for him to decide - he came to me to ask for the Yulin Bell."

Feng Xiuhu was even more confused: "Is this his job? Why is he just moving forward?"

Vadracho said: "It was Grand Priest Ma Binghe who asked him to come, and Ma Binghe represents the will of the temple master Wan Laiqiu."

The more Feng Xiuhu listened, the more confused he became. "Is this the temple's sincerity? They only sent a high-ranking official to ask for something. I don't think they really want it."

Wadlaqiao looked up at Feng Xiuhu and smiled slightly, "Look, even you know that Xi Wusheng can't get the Yulinling back. How could Ma Binghe not know that?"

Feng Xiuhu was stunned: "So you really don't want it?"

Vadracho continued, "Xi Wusheng himself knew he couldn't do it, but he still came—why do you think that was?"

Feng Xiuhu pondered in vain, then shook his head: "I don't know."

"Because he had to come."

Vadracho revealed the inside story: "Just like our unwavering devotion to the God of Mist, the temple monks also hold a firm faith in the Goddess of Wind and Rain. Therefore, you cannot underestimate their devotion. Unless they receive the approval of the Treasure Palace, the temple monks will not surrender easily, even if it means fighting to the death."

"So, whether to negotiate peace or fight to the death, the decision is not in the hands of Guan Miao or Xi Wusheng."

Feng Xiuhu seemed to understand something: "This matter is up to the temple master to decide."

Vadracho smiled slightly: "But there is someone here who doesn't want to continue fighting."

Feng Xiuhu raised his eyes: "Xi Wusheng?"

"Yes."

Vadrajo nodded and said, "When the Wind Sail Formation Horse Talisman was activated and the temple was surrounded by the Divine Guards, they no longer had a chance of winning."

"The three high priests participating in this battle are all from Xi Wusheng's command. Temple monks are inherently more difficult to train than church priests, so Xi Wusheng wants to find a way out for them."

"So he went to ask for an audience with the Temple Master, but the Temple Master refused to see him. Instead, he asked Ma Binghe to convey his will - bring back the Yulin Bell and make amends for his mistakes, and then he would agree to peace talks."

"Isn't this really embarrassing..."

Feng Xiuhu suddenly realized: "The Temple Master wants to continue fighting—even if the result is a loss?"

Vadracho didn't answer, but just nodded slightly.

After a moment, he let out a long breath, "The Temple must be held accountable for the massacre in the Upper City Temple."

"That's why I told you not to rush into a frontal attack."

"Firstly, it will wear down the morale of the temple visitors and help us reduce casualties."

"Secondly, it's to give Xi Wusheng time to think it over. Let's see when he can make up his mind to trade Bishop Yuke for the lives of the three high priests."

Feng Xiuhu slapped his forehead - he had forgotten about Yukhu again.

If he really followed his tactics today and attacked directly, killing all the Guanmiao people, Yukhu's life would probably be in jeopardy. Feng Xiuhu asked, "Does Xi Wusheng have the right to make the decision to exchange Yukhu?"

Vadracho shook his head. "If it's a bishop in exchange for three high priests, the temple will definitely not agree to such a loss-making deal. But if it's a bishop in exchange for the Rain Bell, the temple will have to think it over carefully."

He chuckled softly, "As for how much time they have left to consider, it depends on how long the temple can hold out."

Feng Xiuhu stuffed a few pieces of dry bread at Vadracho's place to fill his stomach, which he considered as breakfast.

Before leaving, Feng Xiuhu suddenly asked a question that he had been holding back for a long time.

"If it was a church under siege today, would you choose to negotiate peace or continue fighting?"

Vadracho was silent for a moment, then walked to the Mist Emblem and continued to kneel.

Just when Feng Xiuhu thought he would not get a response, Vadracho's voice came.

"For devout believers, dedicating oneself to God is a gift. I follow God's will and show the way for those who devote themselves."

Feng Xiuhu got the answer and turned away.

Not only was the answer to the previous question confirmed, but what he had been guessing in his heart was also confirmed.

Wan Laiqiu and Vadracho were sitting at the same table, and they had the same purpose.

They have been secretly promoting conflicts between the temple and the church, causing clashes.

They are willing to sacrifice human lives to pave the way.

In their hands, some people can be sacrificed at will, while some cannot be sacrificed. Feng Xiuhu has roughly figured out this dividing line.

The banquet was not grand.

High merit and bishops are the upper limit of what can be sacrificed.

To be more precise, they should be practitioners in the barrier-breaking stage or the spiritual world-wandering stage.

Only those who reach the state of breaking through obstacles are truly valuable.

As for what this dividing line was defined on and what their purpose was, Feng Xiuhu still didn't know.

……

When leaving the cathedral, Feng Xiuhu met Konate Chen who came to take up his post.

He first smelled a familiar fragrance, and when he looked up, he bumped into Konate Chen who was walking towards him.

Feng Xiuhu subconsciously looked at Konate Chen's thumb - the fragrance came from the fragrant deer antler ring.

Feng Xiuhu had seen him wearing it last time in Konate Chen’s office.

Feng Xiuhu stood there in a daze.

When he saw the ring, he suddenly had an idea.

Feng Xiuhu remembered who the noble lady was that he met in Old William's tailor shop.

She was the disheveled woman who walked out of Konate Chen's bedroom when he first came to the cathedral to find Konate Chen.

Konate Chen’s mistress?
No, her temperament and dress clearly showed that she was aristocratic.

But why would aristocrats go to a tailor shop in the factory district to have custom-made clothes?
Feng Xiuhu's mind was a little confused.

It seems like I am about to grasp something, but I still have no clue.

However, Konate Chen did not have a good face towards Feng Xiuhu, and his face turned black the moment he saw Feng Xiuhu.

He was prepared for Feng Xiuhu to provoke him, but Feng Xiuhu just stood there, staring at him blankly.

Sick again?

Konate Chen complained in his heart, walked around Feng Xiuhu without saying a word and went inside.

PS: On the day Zhao Yingxia died, Guard Officer Morgan took leave and went to Upper City. What did he do?
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(End of this chapter)