Chapter 8, The Sacred Tomb

Norsen remained hesitant and did not move. He carefully scrutinized under the moonlight with his dim eyes, and only after confirming that the black cross on the carriage was genuine did he feel at ease to dart over.

"We should go back, Xiaobai Pan. Otherwise, by the next morning, people will be shocked to find your stiff corpse in the stable." Norsen lowered his voice, a terrifying smile appearing on his face, his eyes fixed intently on the coachman.

He wishes such things would happen more often

The bishop at this hour does not use a carriage; we can stroll around the streets. " Norsen squinted and grinned, "Hurry and harness the horses.

Being dismissed is a minor issue; it is highly likely that one could end up in prison, and prison food is not that palatable

Norsen Phillips, the criminal who evaded legal punishment for twenty years, would readily divulge everything during his interrogation as long as he was offered a good meal. However, on one occasion, when a bowl of stir-fried beans was served to him, the detective pointed to the dining table and remarked that the peculiar prisoner, as if facing a judgment day, frantically tugged at his own hair and began to weep loudly

The Cathedral of Fè is a legend in architectural art

"Fortunately, it's only a few drops. If one day the entire bowl of soup spills and stains the precious carpet, the bishop will be angry," said the coachman. "Can't you get off the carriage to eat?"

His intuition has always been remarkably accurate; at least twice in his youth, his ability to foresee danger saved his life

Fortunately, he had reserved some resources when donating his property, allowing him to occasionally sneak out to satisfy his cravings

Thus, Bishop Igg of the Fidu region cleverly drove all the protectors into the monastery.

On the slender spires of the twelve towers, statues of saints are carved, looking down with an air of authority as if they were the rulers overseeing the entire city

"The dog's nose is truly keen," Norsen spat, then shouted at the coachman, "Don't play tricks; no one dares to force the church carriage to stop"

However, the citizens of Feidu have privately given it a nickname: "Holy Tomb," because when gazing at this imposing structure shrouded in darkness, it always seems like the largest tombstone in the world, jagged and fearsome like a corpse, filled with a nightmarish, cruel beauty.

Unfortunate, I have to spend another six months in prison. The priest who drew the worst lot is as dejected as if he has lost both his parents

Suddenly, Norsen relaxed completely, the nauseating smell of dried beans resurfacing in his mind

A golden Caesar can allow the church stableman to take him out for a ride in a carriage while the priests and bishops are all in the chapel during the weekend mass.

Once the two fine horses from the south arrive, I will be able to formally donate them to you, no, to the church. Please believe me, if the gift cannot be perfect, it is better not to present it at all, as it would truly undermine the dignity of the noble class.

"Phillip Knight, you cannot go anywhere. You are now under arrest for first-degree murder," said Detective Lime.

The carriage has basically been constructed using the finest quality wood. Springs, which have recently become popular in the imperial city, have even been added to the axle. It must be acknowledged that this small addition makes the entire vehicle more comfortable and less susceptible to jolts

"Oh, Your Excellency, you are too generous," said Igor politely, though his tone was indifferent, as if he did not care about the value of the gift

"Go back," Norsen said hoarsely

Bai Pan coughed as he broke free, jumping down from the vehicle, "You son of a dog, just wait until I teach you a lesson." He cursed while coughing, his face turning a shade resembling that of liver.

It just stopped next to the garage, it must be newly purchased by the church. Old fellow, you are truly fortunate; perhaps even the bishop has not had the chance to enjoy it as much as you have

"Hey, guys, I am happier than you, at least I will be able to eat meatballs later," Norsen said while passing through the group of coffins, addressing the statues of the deceased of varying sizes on the tombstones.

As he was being taken away in the prisoner transport, Norsen turned his head and said in a pleading tone, "I will explain everything, but before that, could you please buy me a bowl of fish offal soup?"

The carriage stopped outside the slightly ajar iron gate, "Xiao Bai Pan, is that you?" Nuo Sen called out

"I really don't know what that old fool is going crazy about, has he had enough of life?" Igor thought in confusion, but he quickly put the matter out of his mind

The patrol team will never resort to the foolish trick of disguising as a church carriage to deceive themselves out of the church; the black cross on the carriage cannot be impersonated, as doing so would tarnish the sanctity of divine authority

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Norsen reluctantly chewed a few beans, pushing the plate away in frustration. He longed for the rich wine and tender slices of meat; just thinking about it made his mouth water.

Beans, beans, beans, these accursed beans

"Heavens, there are actually people who are afraid of beans." Fulan chuckled as she popped a few roasted beans into her mouth, enjoying their crispness and delightful aroma

It pursues visual beauty to the utmost extent

You see, sometimes I also feel that the right of asylum is too lenient; some fugitives, even after living in a church for decades, still fail to learn to abide by the rules. Bishop Igor somewhat awkwardly explained to the guests

To disrupt this aesthetic, even the important beams and columns must be hollowed out and engraved with winding patterns

The entire church is enveloped in a sacred fervor

Inspector Lime even invited him to lunch. While enjoying a plate of beans stir-fried in oyster sauce, the inspector said in a humorous tone, "Ha, I just remembered something interesting"

Norsen took out a gold Caesar coin and tossed it into the driver's arms, saying, "Old Philip has nothing, but he certainly does not lack money"

They fervently praised the God of Light and blessed the wisdom of the bishop, finally freeing themselves from this cursed task

The weekend night has arrived, and the church is bustling once again, with various chapels filled with people. The kitchen is preparing holy water and communion wafers; the priest stands solemnly at the altar, contemplating how many faithful will donate tonight; meanwhile, the bishop is in a room specially prepared for dignitaries, engaging in lively conversation with prominent figures, having just agreed to baptize a baron's daughter

"Are you crazy? The money is non-refundable." Bopan was displeased; he was still planning to use that gold Caesar to find a few cheap yet practical items at the night market

"At the monastery of the Cathedral of Feidu, back then it was certainly not a benevolent lord." Bopan suddenly recalled this sentence

The horse pulling the cart stumbled, jumping and bouncing, causing the carriage to shake violently. The axle emitted a piercing sound as if it were about to break. The entire cart swayed and twisted as it slid forward for quite some time before finally coming to a slow stop

He wanted to abandon the cart and flee, but when he thought about the punishment that would befall him when the bishop discovered a cart was missing the next morning

Heavenly Father, may all people honor Your name as holy; may Your kingdom come; may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The priest recited while making the sign of the cross

The cost of the carriage was also privately covered by the Count's family, allowing one to sell a favor to Count Rehuber without spending a single penny

The stable is located to the west of the hermitage, not far away. When the wind blows strongly, the hermits often have to endure the pungent smell of horse urine.

Because he had stolen the carriage of His Excellency the Baron and was located outside the church, according to the provisions of secular law, he lost the right of sanctuary

"Damn it, this is all a scam." Norsen understood completely; he gasped for breath, surveying his surroundings, with no chance of escape.

Even in his youth, he was unable to fight his way out of the encirclement of more than a dozen patrol officers with bare hands

The worship and prayers, which are set to continue for several hours, began with the ethereal tones of the choir.

"Oh, old man, I have been busy all day. What reason do you have to disturb the sweet dreams of the young?" complained Bopan

In the cemetery, tombstones stand in neat rows, quietly and silently, like the deceased. Those qualified to be buried here are the dignitaries who believe in the doctrine of enlightenment.

After biting the coin and confirming its authenticity, Bofan glanced around, carefully tucked the money into his inner pocket, and whispered, "As per the usual arrangement, you wait at the back gate of the cemetery."

The gift has not yet been delivered, and therefore does not belong to the church's property. It is regrettable that if you had taken this carriage a few days later, we would never dare to disrespect the authority of God

"Xiao Bai Pan," Nuo Sen called out in a hushed voice. After a while, a young man rubbing his eyes emerged from the stable, yawning.

Now, everything is liberated

"Speak softly, do you want to be discovered?" the coachman replied, it was the voice of Baipan

"Let's go to the night market, I miss the marinated meat and fish balls there," Norsen exclaimed eagerly

Norsen pushed open the front window of the carriage and leaned over to the driver, "Hurry back!" He grabbed Bapan's hair and shouted sternly. The poor driver cried out in pain

Norsen understood something, and he coldly laughed, saying, "Find a broken car and paint a sacred black cross on it? When I am judged, I will definitely bring this up."

No one would be foolish enough to use this method to capture a fugitive and then face the wrath of the Vatican's condemnation

Baron Hassi also happily thought that he had done a great favor for Count Rehku.

He dipped his fingers into the silver chalice, wetting them, and then splashed a few drops of clear water onto the infant's forehead. Bishop Ig was making the sign of the cross over the child's head while uttering a few prayers

As if mocking, the patrol officers swiftly charged onto the carriage, dragging Norsen down and forcefully pinning him to the ground

The "Crown of Feidu" is often described by the bishops in a tone reminiscent of reciting hymns of praise

Bishop Igor furrowed his brow and apologetically said to the baron, "Please forgive an old benefactor who has lived in the church for twenty years for slipping out of the church and getting caught by the police. Even more unforgivable is that he actually stole the new car you prepared to donate to the church"

The exterior reveals no trace of bricks or cement; instead, it is adorned solely with reliefs crafted by renowned artists. The Virgin Mary cradling the Holy Child, the battles between angels and demons from mythology, and various scenes from biblical stories—this building is almost entirely constructed from an array of crafts, both large and small.

As the coachman steeled himself and trembled while climbing into the driver's seat, a squad of patrol officers appeared on the street, arriving just in time

Ascetics can only consume this type of food; they demonstrate their unparalleled spiritual devotion through the hardships of life and the suffering of the body

In fact, at the time of its completion, there were predictions that this cathedral would collapse within ten years; however, its existence has now witnessed a history of one hundred and thirty years, attesting to this miracle

The patrol team arrested him

Norsen nodded and emphasized, "Remember, it must be the black cross carriage"

Get off the carriage? God knows if the spies from the patrol are following behind. Leaving the carriage is equivalent to losing the protection of sanctuary. Those red-eyed spies will pounce on him like lecherous men seeing a naked woman, viciously binding him to the gallows.

Oh, I hope the car is not damaged

Norsen, feeling the few remaining gold coins, decided to indulge in luxury once more tonight

From the dilapidated cabinet in the narrow room, Norsen rummaged through a pile of tattered rags and found a small pouch. After counting carefully, he discovered that it contained four or five solitary gold Caesars.

This magnificent building completely abandons the rational concepts of architecture, discarding rigid straight lines and massive arches. Twelve enormous and elegant cylindrical towers, along with countless delicate columns, support the entire weight of the church. The interior of the church features forty-two small chapels, all supported by slanted columns, with all the planes forming a complex wave-like pattern

He shouted in panic, "Xiao Bai Pan, where did this car come from?"

Through the car window, one can experience the bustling atmosphere of people coming and going on the street. Stopping at a roadside stall to buy a bowl of steaming fish offal soup and a few skewers of meatballs, these previously scorned street foods have rescued Norsen from the hell of plain bean curd to the paradise of culinary delight

"No, how could I dare to do such a foolish thing," the inspector said proudly, finding great pleasure in the game of cat and mouse. "The daughter of Baron Hassi is being baptized in the church. To express his gratitude, the baron is preparing to gift a carriage to His Excellency the Bishop, and has consulted Bishop Igor to design the style and appearance of the carriage according to his preferences"

Yes, it is on a street a few hundred meters away from the church

"Or could you help buy some wine and meat, and deliver it to the church? I will eat in my room," Norsen asked tentatively.

"Today I arrived in that carriage. Please forgive my offense, a small touch of vanity, as I wished to experience what it feels like to ride in a black cross carriage." Baron Hassi said, "The feeling is wonderful, but the horses pulling the carriage are of poor quality, failing to reflect the value of the carriage and the status of its owner"

Only those who endure hardship are the true individuals who dedicate their souls to the Lord. This belief is held both among the common people and the upper echelons of the Church

Norsen suddenly realized something was amiss; the carpet on the floor of the carriage, the mahogany wine cabinet hanging on the inner wall, and the thick cushions on the seats were all remarkably new, not the old train he had secretly ridden many times before

"You dare to insult a poor monk on the Black Cross carriage!" Norsen's face turned bright red as he struggled incessantly

A misguided ascetic is not worthy of excessive attention, and moreover, he is more concerned about whether the new car equipped with small springs will be damaged

"To stop these blasphemous thoughts is one thing; taking a hermit out for a stroll is not a big deal. However, bringing forbidden food into the sacred hermitage would lead to being brought before a religious court for judgment," the coachman said solemnly

While chatting, a priest hurriedly pushed open the door to the VIP room and whispered a few words in Bishop Iger's ear

In the eyes of the subordinate priests, Yige is as great as the brightest star in the sky

However, on one occasion, due to the bumpy ride, a few drops of soup spilled onto the carpet in the carriage, and the coachman, with a stern expression, forbade him from eating any food that was soupy or watery.

Your Excellency the Bishop, thank you for officiating the baptism ceremony for my daughter. Baron Hasi affectionately kissed the chubby face of the little infant a few times, then handed his daughter over to his wife standing nearby

The young coachman shivered, his anger abruptly doused as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown over him. He felt that the aged ascetic had, in an instant, transformed into a beast of the jungle, and he himself was merely the prey chosen by the beast

Moreover, having a criminal record signifies that he will no longer be able to find respectable employment, as the wealthy elite will not hire individuals of questionable integrity

In fact, he was extremely pleased; a genuine luxury carriage was worth several thousand gold Caesars

The entire monastery of ascetics is staffed by fugitives seeking asylum, as no legitimate clergy are willing to undertake this task. However, the number of ascetics often serves as a criterion for the papacy to assess the competence of the regional bishops

"Glory be to the Father in heaven, may the Father forgive sinners." The believers kneel on the ground.

What about the right to asylum

"The bishop, greedy as a pig, can enjoy a lifetime of tenderloin and fine wine with the wealth I have donated." Every meal, Norsen would push the beans around on his plate and mutter these words.

Was I overthinking?" Norsen muttered, but the panic was still uncontrollable, that feeling of impending disaster filled his mind, lingering and refusing to dissipate

Inspector Lime shrugged, "Unfortunately, this is not the church's carriage"

As long as you don't spill the soup and dirty the carriage, you can smoke marijuana without any issue. Bopan impatiently raised the whip, and the two sluggish horses snorted softly as they slowly pulled the carriage forward

Many priests in monasteries often take turns in this demanding position by drawing lots every six months

I am all ears

Bai Pan glanced at Norsen's waist and said, "You old rascal, it's been two months since you last sneaked out, hasn't it? I thought you had run out of money."

"It is my duty to serve every believer," said Ig with a kind demeanor

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Norsen Philip lived in the hermitage behind the Holy Tomb for twenty years. Approaching sixty, his face was heavily lined with wrinkles. A long-term diet of plain water and beans had left him so thin that he resembled a skeleton, and the hard dry beans had severely worn down his enamel. Whenever this old man opened his mouth, his sharpened, deformed teeth made him appear like a monster from hell

This is nothing; God is forgiving towards every believer

Upon entering the patrol office once again, Fulan noticed that the attitude of the patrol officers towards him had improved. At the very least, everyone who recognized him would greet him with a smile