Rachel stood up, looked at the rushing river in front of her, shook off the water stains on her hands, and said calmly: "Unfortunately, we can never step into the same river at different times."
Looking at her back walking towards the temple, Sabrina's vision gradually lost focus, a worried expression appeared on her face, and her thoughts flew to an unreachable distance.
Under the strange eyes of Mother Goddess believers, Rachel walked through the corridor of the temple and stood at the door of Elder Eliade's room.
She took a deep breath, composed herself, and stretched out her hand to knock on the door.
"Come in, the door is open."
The old voice in the room made Rachel pause.
Lowering her head, Rachel gently opened the door and said softly: "Sorry, I'm coming in."
Eliade, wearing a gray robe, sat on his favorite root-carved wooden chair, with his white beard almost hanging to the ground.
He put down the "Compendium of Microorganisms" in his hand and looked at Rachel with a smile: "Compared to the past, you are more polite. I remember that when you were young, you would always kick you when you entered the door."
Rachel laughed twice and looked at the book in the old man's hand: "Are you reading the book written by Terrence?"
Eliade shook the book in his hand: "That old guy, his problem with writing books has not changed at all. He insists on writing a long paragraph of supporting evidence and analysis when he can clearly explain the principle in two or three sentences. Look,
It’s a headache.”
"Every lecture given by Master Terrence at Muxi University is always overcrowded. In order to listen to his lectures, some people are even willing to climb onto the rafters, holding on to the wooden rafters while taking notes."
Rachel's exaggerated expressions and lifelike movements made Eliade laugh.
"That old guy's favorite thing is to write books and give lectures. The more people praise him, the happier he is, haha! Even if he is seriously ill, as long as someone invites him to give a lecture, he will definitely outrun the rabbit.
It’s fast!”
The happy, child-like old man in front of her made Rachel look nostalgic.
"You have been very close to Master Terrence a long time ago."
Eliade laughed and shook his head: "No, no, no! It's not that we have a good relationship, but in the Jade Alliance, he is the guy who likes to argue with me the most."
Rachel nodded: "I heard you talk about the Jade Alliance, four young scholars who traveled around in search of the truth."
"More than forty years ago, Theodore and I were still stewards in the Presbyterian Church. In order to study academically and stay away from the internal turmoil at that time, the two of us found an excuse to travel together across the mainland.
On the way, we met two students from Tyrone Royal Academy - Yarbrough and Terrence."
"After getting along for a few days, the four of us discovered that we all had the same pursuits and hobbies. So, four young people who didn't know the heights of the world formed a nondescript fan club - the Jade Alliance."
"When I was young, I called that guy Terrence a rock. He had a bad temper and could argue with you for a whole day over a word or a sentence. If you refused to surrender, he would even argue with you in your sleep.
, will keep nagging in your ears.”
"Yarbrough is obviously the youngest among the four of us, but his calm character and thoughtful mind make him look like the eldest among us. Sometimes, he doesn't speak a lot in a day.
There will be more than three sentences; but sometimes, a sentence he occasionally says can make you think for three days."
"And...Theodore, oh, that old bastard. When he was young, he was outspoken, reckless and aggressive. He once fought with a gang of gangsters for a homeless man, and almost lost his life. He also fought with
A crown prince was so jealous that he actually went to someone else's bedside in the middle of the night and peed on the latter's mouth... However, when it comes to academics and the study of truth, his enthusiasm is not inferior to any of us...
His death is such a pity..."
Seeing Eliade immersed in grief, Rachel said nothing, but quietly waited for him to recover.
After the old man's mood stabilized a little, Rachel said: "When I was a child, I heard you mention the Jade Alliance more than once. However, you might as well look at it now. Among the four people, only Tai Lun
Sri Lanka has achieved true academic freedom."
Eliade glanced at Rachel sharply, waiting for the other party's next words.
Rachel faced the opponent's gaze bravely and continued: "Yarbrough chose to seek refuge in the church and is now under house arrest. Although you are one of the three elders of the Presbyterian Church, the people around you only covet the strength and power.
, scornful of academics; and Theodore..."
Eliade waved his hand and said: "What you want to say is that of the original Jade Alliance, only Terrence is now the most prosperous, and all of this is thanks to Mu Xicheng. So, you want to persuade me and Mu Xicheng
cooperate?"
Rachel looked at the book on the table and whispered: "Elder Eliade, this is not a question of beauty or not, but the matter that you value most. Only Muxi City can help you complete it."
Eliade frowned: "What is the most important thing to me?"
Rachel took out a document from her arms and gently placed it on the table: "This is a king's order signed by the Holy King of Muxi City."
Eliade picked up the document and read the title of the document: "Trial methods and relevant regulations regarding the popularization of heterogeneous species?"
"I grew up under your protection, and the thing I heard the most was how the alien race was discriminated against and persecuted in this world. Therefore, your greatest wish is to use what you have learned throughout your life to realize the freedom of the alien race.
And dignity." Rachel's eyes sparkled: "This document is the answer I found."
After reading the entire king's order, Eliad focused on Todd's autograph. After a long time, he suddenly raised his head and said to Rachel: "I once received a letter from Theodore. In the letter, he
He praised Todd Fisher lavishly, and he also said that he planned to go back to the Presbyterian Church and talk to me in detail about what he had seen. However, before he could return, the messenger brought bad news."
"Theodore is a proud man, you can even say he is a bit arrogant. If it weren't for his personality that offended too many people, it would not have been my turn to take up the position of elder in the Presbyterian Church.
.However, such a person can actually spend most of the letter praising one person, which makes me very interested."
Rachel's eyes lit up and she said hopefully: "So, are you willing to...?"
"Wait a minute, don't worry, listen to what I have to say." Eliade said in a deep voice: "The Holy King of Muxi City may be an outstanding person, and under his leadership, Muxi City may become a prosperous place with a different species.
A starting point for prosperity. But how long can this prosperity last?”
Rachel was stunned: "How long will it last?"
"I believe anyone with a discerning eye can see what's going on with the situation in Muxi City. The Southern Empire will soon launch an offensive, and the Eastern Church is also eyeing it. Muxi City's use of alien species is not so much a decision as a helpless choice.
.”
"Faced with enemies who are better equipped and more numerous than ourselves, alien species will become the most useful war tool." Iliad said earnestly: "But how will alien species be treated after the war is over?
?”
Rachel pointed at the king's order anxiously and said to Eliade: "However, the king has personally signed the document, stating that he will encourage and increase the popularization of alien species; and, you have to know, the Holy King of Muxi City, he
He is a heterogeneous species himself..."
Eliade looked at the other person's expression and sighed deeply: "Rachel, you have misunderstood the point of the matter. The reason why alien species are oppressed is not because this race is different from normal people, but because of the power of alien species.
, which frightened those in power.”
"If it's just ordinary people who are dissatisfied with those in power, the most they can do is pick up pitchforks and sickles and start a riot; but if the opponent is a mutant, it is entirely possible for those in power to lose their heads while they are sleeping. So,
Any person or organization that obtains power, regardless of whether he is a heterogeneous species, will inevitably suppress the heterogeneous group after the political environment is stable, because the heterogeneous group will cause greater harm to those in power than normal people.
threats."
Seeing Rachel deep in thought, Iliad patted the document with his finger: "If, I guessed correctly, the popularization of alien species mentioned by the Holy King will only open up a limited number of superpowers, and the power of alien species will be limited.
There will also be corresponding restrictions. This approach just illustrates his fear of alien species."
Rachel shook her head firmly: "Todd is not that kind of person."
Eliade closed his eyes: "Maybe he is not, but what about his designated heir? In other words, will the future ruling class of this kingdom allow a group of powerful ethnic groups to exist in the country that can overthrow themselves at any time?"