Chapter 5: The Hermit

"I am neither a pagan nor a dwarf." Gawain stood tall.

Indeed, those lying here are all your fellow countrymen, everywhere you look. Gao Wen mocked inwardly, then he removed the headscarf wrapped around his head. The old man became even more convinced of his judgment—Gao Wen was a tall figure with brown hair and light blue eyes. Although his appearance was much softer than that of a typical Norman or Scandinavian, it was still clear that he was at least not a follower of the Crescent Faith. The old man became even more convinced of his judgment—Gao Wen was a tall figure with brown hair and light blue eyes. Although his appearance was much softer than that of a typical Norman or Scandinavian, it was still clear that he was at least not a follower of the Crescent Faith

The shipowner is God, the helmsman is Christ, the navigator is Saint Peter, the crew members are monks and priests, and the shipwrights are the deacons of the church and monasteries

Gao Wen turned around to take a look, then turned back to glance at A Jie He. After nodding slightly, he walked towards the child's grave, drew out the "Sword of Phosphorescence," and approached the dying person who lay there in a deep slumber. "After all, I can give him a swift end, and in the process, I might also learn the language of his people, right"

At this moment, Europe has just struggled out of the despair of the "Millennium Apocalypse," while the Byzantine Roman Empire is still reeling from a catastrophic defeat. In the East, countless nomadic tribes are mounted on their saddles, leaving behind delicate and prolonged hoofprints in the deserts and steppes. Various new forces and calamities are continuously emerging from the abyss at the geographical edges, while the old powers face a fate of utter destruction. The earth and history are once again placed on the anvil of fire and sword, being recklessly shaped into various different scenes.

"No, no, no, stop." Ajehe said with a very cautious tone, slowly raising her hand, "On the journey ahead, you must accompany him, regardless of how you interact with him, you must follow this person who was previously on the brink of death."

However, A Jiehe insisted on placing the high text inside the close-fitting jacket, and would not relent until this was done

No, this item is worth much more than gold. It is the most precise sundial from ancient times, encompassing calendars, celestial phenomena, and star maps. It is indispensable for agriculture, divination, and navigation, and can be said to be the most precious treasure of the entire ancient world. Keep it close to your heart and vow to cherish it as you would your own eyes." As she spoke, Ajehe extended her hand, and Gavin took it with some skepticism. The surface was engraved with intricate tracks and characters, and he held it in his hand.

Um... Gao Wen casually fabricated a reason, "I am also a pilgrim, having journeyed from Normandy a long time ago. Later, I was captured and imprisoned by the Turks, and this time I managed to escape amidst the chaos."

Where am I! '' but did not receive any answer

It is him. Ajehe smiled mysteriously, pointing at the recently deceased person, and said.

"I apologize, but could you please clarify who the navigator of the ship is?" Gao Wen said, perplexed.

Saint George!!! That dying man, after a moment, surprisingly sat up with great energy, waving the cross and repeatedly howling this name, gasping for breath

Then he saw Gawain sitting in front of him, warming himself by the fire, along with the armor of the Turkic slave soldiers, and he was immediately left speechless. "Why didn't Saint George just kill you, this evil heretic, the dwarf that crawled out of the desert?"

Remember my final piece of advice: too many words will lead to loss, and fortune does not last long; silence is golden, and constant thinking will surely lead to demise

"You, you actually speak Norman? Or the Northern Oïl?" The old man was particularly excited, "By Saint George, you are actually my fellow townsman."

With this thought, A Jie He walked barefoot slowly into the depths of the forest until she disappeared. Gao Wen felt as if he had become the Faust from the great literary works, and this beautiful yet terrifying woman was undoubtedly a devil, a fact she did not deny herself

Having finished speaking, Ajehe raised a gleaming golden plaque, "This is the second gift"

What about the final gift

How many gold coins is this worth? Are you asking me to establish a business here?

Gao Wen had no inclination to ponder these matters in depth; it only served to deepen his confusion and suffering. He walked slowly towards a corpse that appeared not yet frozen solid, raised the "Sword of Phosphorescence" high, and then struck down fiercely...

Gao Wen sighed, thrusting the Sword of Phosphor into the snow-covered ground, and spread his hands, "Do you think he can survive? Why should I obey this old man in his fifties? In my dictionary, there is no entry for being submissive to such a person"

"He will survive without a doubt, trust me, for I am the Lord of the Inferno," said Ajehe, as she approached Gavin, whose face was covered in snow and mud, a moment ago a world-class tycoon. With her delicate fingers, she gently pressed against his forehead and continued, "Because—he and that city are the keys that can help you unlock the vast and endless wealth and power of two great oceans. Listen to my words, and you will not go wrong."

The old man trembled as he stood up, tightly grasping Gaowen's hand, filled with agitation. "My name is Peter, I am a pilgrim and also a hermit. I have journeyed for three years, from Hungary to Bulgaria, to Thrace, to Constantinople, and now here, in the wilderness of Nicaea, to join the other pilgrims in going to the Holy Land, the Holy Sepulchre. However, we have faced relentless slaughter along the way, from the shepherds of Hungary, the mountain bandits of Bulgaria, the treacherous Greeks who prey on travelers, and most terrifying of all, the Seljuk Turkish pagan knights. Now all my companions have fallen victim to the sword, may God receive and save them. Only I have witnessed the miracle of Saint George and survived. And you, my fellow countryman?"

"Not only the navigator on the ship of the Sea of Galilee, which is beset by suffering, but I also aim to persuade the Roman Emperor in Constantinople to unite all believers to accomplish the greatest redemption!" Peter exclaimed without any hesitation, "Clear the path to the Holy Sepulchre with the sword, and launch a holy war that will be immortalized in history! The miracle of Saint George just now is the best proof of my correct path; this war is destined to win, blessed by divine favor!"

Upon hearing this, Peter immediately knelt down, raised his hands to the heavens, sighed deeply, and tearfully said, "Now, tens of thousands of pilgrims have perished or gone missing on this land. It is said that each household of the Seljuks has two to three German men as slaves, and the Seljuk Sultan's court is filled with German women serving as concubines. Many others have been sold into Africa. This is a trial bestowed upon the faithful by God!" He then gazed intently, continuing to hold Galwen's hand, "Thus, I have always harbored grand ideals, which is to rescue the Holy Sepulchre from the hands of the ruthless and malevolent pagans. For this, I am prepared to persuade the navigator of our ship." Continuing to hold Galwen's hand, "Thus, I have always harbored grand ideals, which is to rescue the Holy Sepulchre from the hands of the ruthless and malevolent pagans. For this, I am prepared to persuade the navigator of our ship."

Gao Wen immediately understood that the "navigator" mentioned by Brother Peter was none other than the Pope in the city of Rome

In the present day, Gao Wen could only let out a sigh as he walked into the pile of corpses, gazing at the unfortunate bodies of the victims. Many of them were still tightly clutching wooden crosses in their hands at the moment of their death. "Indeed, this group must be pilgrims heading to the Holy Land, killed here by the Turkish cavalry, including that child just now." With this thought, he took out the sundial gifted to him by Ajehe, which bore small notches indicating the era and time he was in: the year 1093 of the Christian era. This marked the end of one world for him and the beginning of a new one.