EFB Chapter 72 The Man Who Makes a Vow
Chapter 72 The Man Who Makes a Vow
The drowsiness was like falling into the deepest abyss of the Ganges, with consciousness bobbing up and down in boundless chaos, the order of time completely disrupted, day and night indistinguishable, dawn and dusk indistinguishable.
At times, it felt like being scorched by scorched earth and raging fire, with skin and flesh stinging as if cut by a knife. At other times, it felt like being trapped in a swampy pool, with a bone-chilling cold seeping into the marrow, making the whole body so heavy that it was difficult to move. Even thoughts became sluggish and dull, leaving only a blurry mix of burning and icy exhaustion that enveloped the whole person, letting time flow quietly by, not knowing how much time had passed.
Finally, a very light and soft touch landed on my lips.
The touch carried the sweet scent of morning dew, mixed with the delicate fragrance of salsa, gentle and soothing, instantly piercing through the heavy chaos and awakening a long-dormant consciousness.
Mittal Vijay opened his eyes, and what came into view were two towering mountain peaks that blotted out the sky.
It's a familiar feeling, a familiar taste!
The dazzling morning light slanted in through the cracks in the window frame, and dappled golden rays fell on the bedside.
As my gaze slowly focused, what came into view was the familiar, magnificent golden dome, along with a faint scent of sandalwood, the lingering fragrance of incense from the deities worshipped in my home year-round.
"Master, you're awake!" A clear and joyful voice rang in my ears, as pure as a mountain spring, without a trace of impurity.
After crossing the familiar mountain peaks, Maya's beautiful face appeared before him, her face full of unreserved joy, her dark eyes shining like a star-studded night sky, clear and warm.
Her gaze held no concern for success or failure, only utter care and relief, as if his safe return would make everything in the world perfect.
Vijay sat up abruptly. Perhaps it was because he had been sleeping for too long that he felt uncomfortable all over his body, especially his chest, which felt heavy and his limbs were weak and sore. However, the burning sensation on his back that he had felt before he lost consciousness was much better!
Vijay stood up, seemingly slowly but actually urgently feeling Maya's support as he reached the room door. He called out urgently, "Where's Bim? Quickly, call Bim here!"
Vijay instinctively called out his old servant's name.
His initial slight worry was quickly dispelled by the expression on Maya's face.
From Maya's calm demeanor, he had already guessed that old Bim must have returned safely as well.
Vijay's tone now carried an undisguised urgency; he desperately wanted to know everything that had happened during his coma!
The safety of the caravan, its destination and whereabouts, its encounters on the return journey, and the current situation of everyone involved—every single one of these matters is crucial to the subsequent plans and cannot be delayed in the slightest.
Before he could finish speaking, hurried footsteps came from outside the door, accompanied by a slight limp.
The old servant Bim limped quickly towards them, his clothes, though somewhat worn, were still clean and neatly washed. His white hair at his temples was disheveled, and his face was filled with barely suppressed excitement and tears. His eyes were red-rimmed, and his voice was choked with suppressed sobs: "Master! You've finally woken up! Thank Brahma for his protection, thank the gods for their mercy, you've finally woken up safely!"
He strode over to Vijay and knelt down on the ground, his body trembling slightly. His face, which he had been holding in for days, was filled with genuine fear and concern. His heart, which had been hanging in suspense for days, finally settled down.
"How long have I been unconscious?" Vijay asked, his voice still a little hoarse and dry, as he composed himself.
Bim wiped away tears from the corners of his eyes, his voice filled with lingering fear: "Master, you were unconscious for ten days and ten nights!"
Ten days!
Vijay was shocked, his eyes filled with disbelief.
He clearly remembered that when the caravan set off deep into the scorched earth, it was separated from its homeland by misty swamps and long stretches of wasteland, and the journey had already taken more than a month. However, the return trip only took ten days.
And he was actually unconscious for ten days?
To be honest, even now that he's awake, Vijay still can't remember why he suddenly fell into a coma.
I remember being engulfed by raging flames!
The feeling of being completely burned away was real and undeniable!
His mind was filled with doubt, and he immediately grabbed Bim's arm, urgently asking, "Brahma, what exactly happened? How could the return journey be so swift? Did Brahma encounter any difficulties? Was the journey safe?"
A barrage of questions came out of his mouth, his tone urgent.
Bim composed himself, then slowly began to speak, his tone filled with deep reverence, as he recounted his experiences over the past ten days: "That day, you accompanied Lord Mu deep into the scorched red earth. We waited patiently at the edge of the wasteland, our hearts constantly in suspense, not daring to relax for even a moment."
About three hours later, a blinding white light suddenly shone from the depths of the scorched earth in the distance. Then the world changed color, as if a storm of fire had scorched the entire land. Crimson flames formed a gale, and pillars of fire pierced through the sky!
"Then Lord Mu's figure broke through the air, moving at an unimaginable speed, arriving almost instantly."
"The pillar of fire roared and surged with crimson flames, accompanied by a piercing shriek, as if it were chasing after Lord Mu and you. The heatwave it generated was unbearable even for us hundreds of meters away from the wasteland, forcing us to retreat repeatedly!"
"Fortunately, the fire tornado seemed to have some kind of limit, and it never dared to cross the edge of the wasteland. It hovered at the boundary for a long time, letting out a reluctant howl, before gradually dissipating, leaving only a scorching heat that lingered for a long time."
"When Lord Mu placed you on the ground, I took a closer look and was almost scared out of my wits!"
Bim, tears streaming down his face, his expression betraying his lingering fear, cried out, "All your clothes were burned to ashes, large patches of your back were scorched black and festering, a bloody mess, your breath was so faint it was almost gone, you were completely lifeless. I thought you were surely doomed and would never wake up again!"
That bad?
Vijay was so shocked by the description that he swallowed hard. Although he had some guesses, how could it be so...?
"After Lord Eyes led you out, he didn't tell us the details of the scorched earth, but he didn't abandon you either... Shiva, protect you!"
"Lord Mu performed a miracle, and a soft white light instantly enveloped your entire body. Your charred and festering skin immediately began to improve, and your body healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. The scabs slowly fell off, and new, tender pink skin slowly grew out. In just a short while, your serious injuries were mostly healed, and your breathing gradually stabilized."
"Only then did I feel relieved!" Bim wiped away his tears. Even though he had seen a lot, this was the first time he had witnessed such a miracle, and he still felt a sense of piety and awe.
"Next, Lord Mu spoke calmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt: 'The contract is settled, return immediately without delay.' We dared not hesitate for a moment, immediately packed up the remaining carts and supplies, and followed closely behind, not daring to lag behind even slightly."
Vijay helped Bim up from his fall, and then had Maya offer gravy to his father.
"What's next?"
"Next, we'll head west along the scorched earth's border!" Bim continued, wiping away the slurry. "We walked back for two days, but Lord Mu complained that we were too slow..."
"Then, with his full divine power unleashed, a dazzling white light enveloped his entire caravan and its carriages, propelling them through the air on the wind, ceaselessly, day and night, without a moment's rest!"
"Master, on the way back, I saw the stone forest that I had passed by with the old master before, but that place with its jagged rocks has been covered by scorched earth and no longer has its original shape!"
"Next, Lord Mu asked me for directions," Bim said. "And I, of course, answered them to the best of my knowledge!"
"On our way back, in the Misty Swamp, neither the flying leopard nor the giant dragon could withstand the divine power of Lord Mu! Even that giant dragon, which was tens of meters long, was instantly crushed by Lord Mu when he revealed his true form, as easily as crushing an ant."
"Moreover, the safe zone left by the old man is still there on that path, and I just happened to be able to find a place there, so we only spent 3 days crossing the huge swamp."
At some point, Rajan had quietly knelt down nearby, listening intently to old Bim's words, and even Maya was captivated by what he heard.
Upon hearing this description, Vijay had no doubt that the purpose was powerful.
It seems that the stone temple has elevated the purpose of the project; it's a qualitative leap!
I wonder if the crystal I brought out had any effect on it?
Vijay's thoughts drifted away.
"After returning to Brahma's territory, Lord Eye's power has grown even greater!"
"Crossing wastelands and forests, strange beasts fled at the mere mention of our name. Those who dared to approach were instantly reduced to ashes, utterly powerless to resist. We did not enter cities to rest, but only made simple resupply in villages. In just a few days, our caravan traversed thousands of miles and all members arrived safely at Mital Village!"
Compared to the hardships of the journey there, what is this return journey at all!
Vijay was both amused and exasperated.
"Upon arriving at the village, Lord Mu gently set us down, then turned and vanished into the sky, leaving only the words: 'Return to Harappa City and report to High Priest Dhara.' With that, his figure disappeared into the horizon."
Vijay's lips twitched. Of the three contracts he signed with Mu, this guy had really put the first one into practice!
I suppose the second and third points will also be fulfilled, right?
They were impressed with the crystal and gained a more accurate assessment of its value.
"What about the rest of the caravan, and Sada?" Vijay composed himself and continued to ask.
"The rest of the caravan's servants are all safe and sound, but they are exhausted from days of travel and are currently resting and recuperating in the village." Bim paused, then added, "Lord Sada has already returned to the city-state to report to the esteemed Kshatriya Roshman. Before leaving, he made a special trip to visit you and left some words of advice."
"What did he say?" Vijay pressed.
I saved his life, after all, so those little dirty deeds are nothing to worry about. I suppose he'll repay me in some way, right?
Vijay just hoped that this guy could do his best to mediate for him in front of Roshman.
"Sada said: Although this journey did not reach the eastern destination, it was already a great achievement." Bim relayed the story truthfully, his tone respectful. "He told you that after you wake up, you must prepare generous gifts and personally go to the city-state to meet Roshman and explain the details of this journey."
"As long as you offer enough gold coins and treasures, and he mediates, Lord Roshman will fully support your next trip to the East and will not blame you for this unfinished matter."
Vijay nodded in understanding. That made sense!
He had already seen through Roshman's thoughts; what that guy valued most was definitely the gold coins!
Although he had failed this time, he could stabilize the situation by offering enough gold coins and the proven feasibility of the Eastern trade route. This would make Roshman feel that there would be a steady stream of gold coins to offer in the future, and Roshman would certainly not say anything!
At most, I might just urge myself to start the next trip as soon as possible!
Vijay instinctively raised his hand to touch his chest, only to find that he was half naked and his chest was empty.
What about the round plaque?
A sudden chill ran through him, and he turned to look at Maya: "Where are my belongings?"
Maya quickly stepped forward, holding a delicate sandalwood box in her small hands. She carefully handed it to Vijay, her smile bright and pure: "Master, rest assured, I've kept everything you brought back safe and sound!"
Vijay immediately opened the wooden box, and there was a round plaque inside, and on the soft brocade, there were even two crystals lying quietly.
Vijay's heart settled down, and he gently stroked the crystal with his fingertips. The warm touch spread from his fingertips, and he thought to himself: Fan Numu is indeed a man of his word!
In that situation, both the crystal and the round plate must have been exposed to him, and he had lost the ability to resist!
This guy actually managed to keep his oath and didn't touch anything outside of the oath!
A feeling of goodwill arose in his heart, and Vijay nodded with some emotion. His gaze slowly swept across the room, and he suddenly noticed something unusual.
Where are the people in the side room?
The courtyard, which had always been bustling and noisy before I left, was now unusually quiet. There were no maids bustling about, no servants moving about, and not even the usual commands could be heard. It was so quiet that it felt somewhat desolate.
What about Mira?
Vijay frowned slightly, looking at Maya with some confusion: "Where is Mira? Why can't I see her?"
Upon hearing this, Maya paused slightly and whispered, "Master, Mira is gone!"
She left? Vijay was taken aback, then breathed a sigh of relief. She gave up?
Sure enough, I knew that someone who comes to my door like this must have a purpose!
Did they leave disappointed after realizing their trip had failed?
Maya continued, "On the second day after the caravan set off, a group of elite warriors arrived from the north. Each of them was clad in black iron armor, wielding long spears, and exuding a powerful aura. They went straight to Mira and began secret talks!"
After the secret meeting, Mira's expression changed drastically. She was both shocked and anxious. That very night, she arranged for her servants to pack their belongings and then left with the samurai overnight.
She only asked me to pass on one message to you.
"What did you say?" Vijay tilted his head in confusion.
Although the situation did not go as he had imagined.
But the departure of this mysterious woman wasn't necessarily a bad thing for him.
After thinking for a moment, Maya slowly said, "She said: Master, after you have finished your business, you can go to the northern city of Kluhuxiang to find her. She will be waiting there, and will fulfill the marriage vows when you arrive."
Upon hearing this, Vijay felt a mix of emotions, but then smiled with relief.
Kuru Xiangcheng?
This was a place Vijay had never even heard of; it must be very far away.
However, he has a lot on his plate right now, so how could he easily abandon it and go to such a faraway place to get engaged?
Although this trip was a failure, it can still be considered a success!
Vijay took a deep breath.
Successfully pleasing yourself earns you 1 talent point.
『3 talent points remaining』