Pioneer Lord: A Leisurely Imperial Life

Chapter 328 The Priest of Light

The walls of Chisha Town are not high; they can barely keep out the sandstorms in the desert, but they can't stop the people pouring in.

When there are too many people, public order will be disrupted.

At first, some people got drunk and started fighting in the tavern, some were caught stealing leather from the grocery store, and some even stabbed each other in the back over a prostitute.

The city garrison didn't tolerate it; they arrested these troublemakers, gave them fifty lashes each, and then hung them by the river for three days, forbidding them from drinking water or being fed.

The sound of the whip striking the buttocks could be heard halfway down the street, and the screams echoed throughout the small town.

Since then, no one has dared to cause trouble, and public order has improved, much to the dismay of the city's garrison soldiers who were itching to fight.

The sergeant guarding the gate greeted Nia with a smile as she passed through the city gate, "Miss Nia, are you going out?"

"Yes, I'm picking up a friend." Nia smiled slightly at the other person and quickly left the city gate.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, we arrived at a low slope outside the city, surrounded by a few sparse poplar trees. This was the agreed-upon spot.

Nia looked around but saw no one. She wondered if she was too early when she suddenly heard a low, guttural neigh.

She turned her head at the sound and saw a large-bearded man in a gray robe emerge from behind the low slope, his robe covered in sand.

Nia's eyes lit up!

"Did you receive the person?"

The bearded man gave a soft "hmm," turned around, and snapped his fingers. Three more people emerged from the shadow of a poplar tree in the distance.

Two men and one woman, all wrapped in long robes, looked travel-worn, as if they had traveled a long way.

As they approached, Nia immediately recognized the girl in the middle.

"Avril!"

Nia rushed over and hugged her tightly!

The girl was very light and much thinner than when they last met, and Nia's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

"Great, I'm so glad to finally see you! I thought you..."

"I'm fine." Avril lifted the veil over her head, revealing a delicate and beautiful oval face.

Her eyebrows and eyes were exquisite, her nose was straight and elegant, her lips were full like newly blooming petals, and her skin was as white as warm jade.

But her bright eyes were filled with exhaustion, and she looked so haggard that it was heartbreaking.

Nia felt a lump in her throat, but instead of immediately reminiscing, she took out ten silver coins from her pocket and stuffed them into the bearded man's hand.

Thank you.

The bearded man nodded, then turned and left with the three of them. The giant lizard's hissing gradually faded into the distance and soon disappeared into the depths of the desert.

Nia took Avril's hand and looked her up and down.

"How did you get so thin? You must not have been eating properly for days!"

Avril managed a weak smile.

"I hid in the cellar for a few days and didn't eat much, but thankfully the Goddess of Light was with me, and everything is fine."

The situation in Huangshi is extremely serious.

A few days ago, a marquis led a large group of soldiers to Huangshi Territory and surrounded the date palm grove, strictly forbidding anyone from approaching.

Immediately afterwards, the only Church of Light in Yellowstone Territory was burned down, and the ashes were blown everywhere by the wind.

Then came the investigation.

The Marquis's men went door to door asking questions, investigating who had been to church and who had associated with priests, saying they wanted to purge priests and devout believers.

But three years ago, Yellowstone Territory was just a wasteland. After Baron Yellowstone bought it, most of the people who came in were adventurers and merchants who did business with adventurers.

These people live on the edge, their fates are in their own hands, who has time to believe in some goddess of light?

However, although the adventurers are not religious, they have great respect for the priests of light.

Every time someone is injured in the scorching desert, whether stung by sandworms, bitten by giant lizards, or bitten by scorpions, the priest of light treats them all for free.

She doesn't charge money or consider status; she treats even the poorest people who can't afford herbs.

So when the marquis's men tried to arrest the priest, the adventurers objected.

Of course, they didn't dare to confront the nobles head-on, so they only dared to secretly hide Avril away.

The team led by Big Beard just now was entrusted by Nia, and they took a great risk to bring her from Yellowstone Territory.

Although the journey was fraught with danger, we finally arrived safely.

"Let's go back first."

Nia pulled Avril toward Red Sand Castle, but after a few steps, Avril suddenly stopped and looked hesitantly at the low earthen wall in the distance.

"Nia, where are we going?"

"Let's go to the castle."

Avril paused slightly, then asked, "Nia, don't you know what the nobles in the Eastern Territory are doing right now?"

"They're arresting priests everywhere, and once they've caught them, they're hanged. You're taking me to see the lord? Isn't that sending me to my death?"

Nia gripped her hand tightly, looking earnestly into her eyes: "Listen to me, my lord is different from other nobles."

"I assure you, he is a very gentle and kind nobleman. I will plead with him, and perhaps he will be willing to protect you and let you stay in Red Sand Territory to treat the people."

As long as she was a free person, she had received treatment from the priest of light. She was not religious, but she thought Avril was a kind and good person and didn't want anything to happen to her.

Avril gave a wry smile: "There's no such thing as a free lunch..."

She had only been a priestess of light for a little over a year, but her understanding of nobility had been accumulated over a decade.

The nobles kept hundreds or thousands of serfs on their lands, who toiled for their masters from birth to death.

They were starving and cold, and even their marriages were not a matter of choice.

However, how do noble lords, who do not engage in production, manage to live in luxury and be surrounded by servants?

They rely on exploitation!

They exploited the blood, sweat, and tears of the serfs, squeezed the taxes and output of the people, and squeezed the potential of every inch of land!

How could someone in that position possibly be kind?

Only the Goddess of Light can shine equally on the world, without distinction between the rich and the poor, the noble and the lowly, spreading the light of true benevolence.

Before the goddess, lords and serfs are all equal lost sheep; no one is born to kneel, nor is anyone born to stand. They are treated equally.

This is the foundation of her faith and the original intention behind her becoming a priest.

So when Nia said, "The lord is very gentle and kind," she certainly didn't want to believe it.

It's not that I don't believe in Nia, but that I don't believe in this world.

A benevolent lord?

He is not worthy of this reputation as long as there are serfs in his territory!

"Let's go, let's go, stop dawdling." Nia, unaware of her inner turmoil, grabbed her hand and headed towards the castle.

"Believe me, once you've met the lord, you'll know I'm not lying to you."

The master said he would be returning to Chiffon Territory in a couple of days, and she hoped to settle her good friend down before leaving.

Avril was dragged along by her, stumbling and falling as she followed.

At the city gate, two city guards stood ramrod straight. When they saw Nia approaching with a person completely wrapped in a gray robe, they quickly asked, "Miss Nia, who is this...?"

"This is my friend," Nia smiled. "I want to take her to see the lord."

The soldier didn't ask any questions and stepped aside to make way. As the lord's personal maid, she was entitled to this privilege.

Avril walked through the city gate with her head down, quietly pulling her hood down to cover her face even more.

He was secretly surprised.

Nia's status in Red Sand Fortress was much higher than she had imagined; she didn't even need to be checked, and the soldiers let her pass directly.

But that surprise was quickly replaced by tension.

She is about to face a lord, and the lords of the East are now hunting down the priests like prey.

Ugh...

If death could quell all anger and hatred, she wouldn't mind sacrificing herself for the light.