Abbot of the Tenth Section

  Arwa hastily retreated a few steps to keep a safe distance, putting the honey jar on the ground. Arwa's actions made Leila even more puzzled and her blue eyes stared at the honey jar on the ground. A small pot of this honey was worth as much as a grown farmer's monthly income from hard work, and such precious honey was placed right in front of her.

  "Add the honey to the boiling water and give it to your father, it will be more effective." Arvad said to Leila, then turned around to leave so as not to cause any misunderstanding from the girl. However, just as he was about to leave, he stopped in his tracks and turned back to Leila, "If possible, after using up the honey, please return the jar to me, it's my mother's thing, I hope your father Jodo recovers soon."

  After Arwod left, his figure gradually became blurred, but he didn't know that his life had just made a turn in front of the Ghost Gate. From Leila's simple hut, a crossbow stretched out, with its head aimed directly at Arwod's back. The arrowhead was black and gleaming with a hint of blue. How did this crossbow, which was forbidden by the Church but liked by many lower-ranking soldiers, appear in Leila's home?

  "No, Father just wants to help us." Leila picked up the honey jar on the ground and saw the crossbow sticking out of the house, hurriedly stopping him.

  "The nobles are not to be trusted, who knows what tricks they have up their sleeves." The one holding the crossbow was surprisingly Cowardly Jodo. At this moment, his weathered face didn't have its usual timid look, but instead was filled with a murderous aura. His back, which normally had a hunch, was now straight as a pen, making him appear much taller and more majestic.

  "Spare me, please." Leila's eyes were filled with pleading as she knelt down at her father's feet and spoke in a trembling voice. Seeing his daughter's pitiful appearance, Jiao let out a sigh and put down the bow and arrow in his hand, turning around to hide it in a secluded place.

  "My daughter, don't forget why we've been drifting in this remote village for decades. Never forget." After carefully hiding the weapon, Qiao Duo walked out of the house and helped his daughter up, lovingly stroking her beautiful hair, thinking that she was as lovely as her mother, which led him to reminisce about the past.

  Jodo and his daughter Leila seem to be hiding a deep secret, which is not known by Arwod who only wants to help them. He brings the soul of a kind Chinese person into this dark, chaotic and ever-changing medieval world, but it's so out of place. Fortunately, the Windel family seems to be able to shelter him from the misfortune that befell Jodo and his daughter.

  Sir Wendel's troops were maturing with the help of mercenary captain Marcos, and the deadline for Duke Mason's final was getting closer. As this was a large-scale war unlike previous private wars, Sir Wendel did not intend to find some minor priest to do the pre-war prayer. He wrote a letter to his brother-in-law, Abbot Hoffmannis of St. Franz monastery, requesting him to come in person for the pre-war prayer.

  As a close relative, Hoff. Hannis replied to Sir Wendel immediately after receiving the letter, stating that he would come in person to pray for the warriors and only hoped that Sir Wendel would make preparations to entertain his entourage. Upon receiving Hoff. Hannis' reply, Sir Wendel was half-joyful and half-worried. He was delighted to have the blessing of the renowned Abbot of San Fons, which was extremely rare, but he was worried about his tight financial expenditure. However, in order to gain God's victory on the battlefield, the knight gritted his teeth and decided to agree to this request.

  A week later, on a Sunday, a day of rest for medieval people, Abbot Hannis arrived at Sir Windell's estate with his entourage. As they entered the village border, farmers lined up along the path, removing their hats and kneeling down, their faces solemn and filled with reverence for the abbot. Arin watched indifferently as the plump monks rode by on more horses than the entire Windell family owned, accompanied by a retinue of servants driving pack mules loaded with luggage, and several church knights riding tall warhorses, clad in chain mail and helmets, protecting their safety. The abbot sat inside an oak carriage without springs, which creaked and swayed like a battered ship at sea due to the poor road conditions.

  "Noble and exalted Abbot of St. Fons, my dear cousin Hoff. Honorable Hannes, heartfelt thanks for your arrival, your presence brings double honor to my domain." Sir Wendel, at the head of the Wendel family, stood respectfully waiting outside the manor house, and as soon as he saw the abbot's carriage enter the empty space in front of the house, he hurried forward to greet him with words of welcome.

  In the gap of the jazz conversation, two young monks walked quickly to the front of the carriage, opened the door and waited respectfully on one side. A white hand stretched out from inside the carriage, with each finger wearing a ring set with red, green and blue gems. At first glance, a wave of jewelry aura rushed forward. One monk hurriedly stretched out his hand to support this hand, and immediately a tall and thin figure stepped down from the carriage. His head was shaved like other monks, leaving only a circle of brown hair on top. His nose was high and prominent, with a pair of blue eyes deeply set, and his lips were slightly thin, but the smile at the corner of his mouth made him look friendly.

  "Oh, my dear ones, it's so great to see you." Hof. Hannis smiled and opened his arms wide towards Mrs. Eva and Sir Wendel, they hugged each other warmly before parting ways, instantly the atmosphere outside the manor became friendly and lively. The servants of the Wendel family immediately brought over wooden benches made of fir for Hof. Hannis' men to rest on, while the knights led their horses into the stables of the Wendel family, the noble knights would naturally be accommodated inside the manor to rest.

  "It's really extravagant, when can I have this status too." Yifu stood at the entrance of the barely repaired lord's mansion, looking at Hof, and muttered to himself, while Arut heard it by chance and couldn't help but smile.

  "What are you laughing at?" Yifu's eyes widened in anger as he scolded his younger brother.

  "What's wrong? It's just that the servants of God are too rich, is this what a clergyman should look like? It's simply like a nouveau riche." Arrod sneered, he wasn't one of those ignorant and superstitious people of this era, he knew very well that these clergymen were living a life of luxury by exploiting the nobles and the common people, just like social parasites, which might also be influenced by the unique Chinese view of religion.

  "Hmph, what do you know, you little thing who has never been out of the house? God divided people into those who pray, those who fight and those who work. Those who pray are like Uncle Hof, they pray for blessings on behalf of others, while those who fight are us nobles, maintaining justice and order in the world. And those who work are serfs and townspeople, serving priests and nobles. This is God's will, dare you question it?" Yevgraf said with a self-satisfied smile, congratulating himself for having once listened to a sermon at the cathedral in the provincial town.

  When he heard that Eve had actually moved out of God's will, Arrod didn't say anything. As an uninvited guest in this strange era, he was a little guilty and couldn't help but regret his carelessness. However, after winning this debate, Eve did not continue to pursue the matter. This era was not yet the crazy religious trial era after the Crusades, and people were not particularly concerned with ideology. In fact, many more radical heretical ideas still lingered in the Black Forest of Germany.

  The Wendel family did their best to entertain Hofmann, but the declining estate was in a state of disrepair. At dinner time, last year's dried apples were served, which were so dry they had no moisture left. Hofmann and his companions scrunched up their faces in distaste, but after walking all day, they were hungry and thirsty and could only swallow with difficulty. The abbot, looking at the face of Wendel's sister, was drinking malt beer to cover up his disappointment, but others were not so willing. As monks who owned their own estates and mostly came from noble families, they were used to being treated with luxury wherever they went, and it was unthinkable that in this remote village they would be treated so coldly, leaving them feeling indignant.

  An atmosphere of discontent gradually spread through the late dinner, except for the initial conversation between Hoff and Hannis with Sir Wendel and his wife, no one else spoke. Sir Wendel noticed this awkward atmosphere, he cleared his throat, picked up his wine glass and addressed the monks.

  "Gentlemen, noble monks who serve the divine, no words of flattery can express my gratitude at this moment. That you have come to my humble abode, I can only repay with the most sincere intentions."

  "Thank you for your warm hospitality, Sir Windell." The monks hastily raised their cups in a toast to Sir Windell, most of them though not entirely pleased in their hearts, yet understanding the need to give face to their host; however, not all of them thought this way.

  "Oh, heavens, God as my witness, I've never seen such lavish hospitality." A young monk in a gray robe said with a sarcastic tone, his right cheek having a faint red birthmark that drew attention.

  "This brother is Brother Robert of Perchhelm." Hof. Hannes' eyebrows furrowed slightly, but smoothed out again in an instant as he introduced him to the Wendel family.