Emerging from the gates of Thebes, step by step moving away from the direction of the crowd, sand grains would inadvertently jump into his shoes when he lifted his heels. This stretch of road was not very far, but as Xin Hexue walked, many scenes flashed through his mind.
He had even imagined that after lifting the tent flap, as the curtain fell, a figure would instantly rush out and press a silent, sharp blade against his neck in the blind spot of the tent where the outside world couldn’t see.
Of course, Xin Hexue had a life-saving trump card; otherwise, he wouldn’t have so rashly come to the enemy’s side. Even in a desperate situation, he could still turn into a cat when others were off guard.
This kind of nimble and flexible creature could easily evade human capture, escape control, and with sharp claws, even counterattack.
What he never expected was that they would simply bag him up and carry him away?
Huowen could feel the struggling force on his back, but to him, it was just a playful scratching that couldn’t even tear his clothes.
The north wind rustled, and the war banners with blue lotus embroideries flapped. Under the golden sun, the flags waved toward Lower Egypt.
“Retreat!”
Huowen showed no embarrassment of retreating without fighting on the battlefield; his commands were clear and loud.
Less than a kilometer away, the archers standing on the city towers of Thebes noticed that the midfield tent remained motionless, while someone in the desert behind was suddenly running farther away carrying a sack.
Something immediately flashed through the archer captain’s mind on the city tower, and he shouted loudly, “Pursue! We must not let them escape!”
The Divine Envoy was still in their hands! These despicable thieves!!!
The situation instantly reversed. The vast array on the sand dunes, which seemed endless from a distance, looked like dense ants from a high altitude, retreating like an ant colony moving home before the rain came.
And from within the wide-open gates of Thebes, several teams of soldiers in camouflage and lying in ambush, grabbed their weapons, and chased after them.
The scene looked somewhat comical for a moment; probably even the most eloquent historian or scribe would find it hard to depict such a scene in epic terms for future generations.
Xin Hexue, who was slung over Huowen’s shoulder and back, was constantly jolted. Due to the linen cloth over him, he couldn’t see outside, but he could clearly hear Huowen’s orderly loud commands, “Release the arrows!”
The archer formation, originally at the front of the large formation during the advance, was now at the rear during retreat. They drew their bows and crossbows in unison, and hundreds upon thousands of arrow clusters were released in an instant!
“Horus protect us!”
Three thousand flint arrowheads soaked in poison fell like rain, causing the pursuing soldiers from Thebes to fall and stop the pursuit.
After this, Xin Hexue realized that the person carrying him truly held unquestionable command authority in the Lower Egyptian army. This was Lower Egypt’s high-ranking general…
But such a rogue like general, and such a rogue like army…
Huowen, who was carrying a person with one hand without hindrance, leaped up and climbed onto a high-speed retreating chariot, laughing heartily up at the sky, “Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission!”
Xin Hexue felt his vision go dark and fainted.
……
The shadow on the sundial shifted. The Upper Egyptian army returned, just three hours late.
The White King rarely flew into a rage after inheriting the throne. He slammed the secret correspondence handed to him by the Vizier on behalf of the Divine Envoy onto the administrative palace desk. The ebony desk, unable to withstand the force of his anger, silently cracked with several fissures.
Although the old priest who once served under the god of fertility was recovered during this absurd battle, he was immediately beheaded for rebellion. His other confidants were demoted to slaves and exiled to the Aswan quarries. Many nobles and ministers with close ties to the old priest group were also imprisoned one by one, awaiting punishment.
The nobles and ministers in the palace prostrated themselves on the ground, not daring to lift their heads, cold sweat already soaking their garments.
They were very grateful that they had not challenged the Divine Envoy’s authority on the night the news from Coptos arrived,…
Some finally realized that this was a trap set by the Pharaoh and the Divine Envoy using Amra and Lower Egypt. It’s just that Lower Egypt’s actions were beyond what ordinary people could predict, even for Pharaoh Rahotep, the elder brother of the Red King…
The lightly equipped scouts returned to Thebes and knelt before the Pharaoh, “The Lower Egyptian general has already boarded a warship at Kina.”
Kina bordered Coptos, not far to the northwest, located at a gorge where the Nile flows north. The currents are turbulent and once they boarded the warship, it would be difficult to pursue them.
The warship would definitely take Xin Hexue to Buto, the capital of Lower Egypt, nestled in the wetland city deep in the Nile Delta.
The Vizier stepped forward with a grave expression, advising, “Pharaoh, now is not the time to formally declare war on Lower Egypt.”
Even though Libya to the west had already experienced the golden lion army of Upper Egypt in the past half month, the threats from Nubia and scattered tribes to the south were not yet pacified. That day had also shown them Lower Egypt’s numerous cavalry and chariot units.
Lower Egypt had lush water and grass, and through trade route advantages, it had expanded its sources of horses from the north.
Rahotep’s chest heaved. As air filled his chest, the veins at his temples throbbed wildly, and he finally closed his eyes in pain.
He could only hope that his royal brother was merely attracted by the content of the giant stone prophecy and wanted to win the Divine Envoy’s support.
Due to the giant stone prophecy and popular sentiment, Shamule should not casually kill the Divine Envoy.
But, Shamule…
Rahotep thought of his incorrigible royal brother and rubbed his brow.
No one knew what that madman would do.
……
From Kina to Buto, going north with the current, it would take ten days to half a month.
However, this Lower Egyptian warship team seemed unaware of fatigue. The rowers rotated endlessly, sailing day and night and shortening the time to just 7 days.
The reason Xin Hexue knew this so clearly was that he was on the warship. Apart from being able to go on deck every night to look at the moon, he had almost no other diversions.
Huowen was like a soldier guarding a treasure for a giant dragon. If Xin Hexue hadn’t said that staying long in the cabin made him seasick, he wouldn’t have even let Xin Hexue leave the cabin.
On the evening of the seventh day.
Cloaked in fiery red sunset, the warship finally docked at Buto’s harbor. This place was already very close to the ocean; sailing less than half a day more would take it into the Mediterranean Sea.
Vast wetlands and shallow lakes dotted this fertile delta land. Waterbirds skimmed low over the water, and the soldiers disembarking from the warship startled several herons, causing strings of fine ripples in the nearby shallow lakes. The roar of hippos came from the depths of the distant lakes.
The reed beds in the countryside were illuminated into large expanses of golden yellow, and even more extreme gold and red colors were found in the palace at the center of Buto.
Entering through the long royal path at the entrance, both sides of the road were planted with rare spice trees and trees from various countries. Several flamingos paced elegantly. The end of this road was a broad columned hall, with stone columns carved with lotus capitals supporting the towering ceiling. Magnificent murals covered the entire palace, their colors dazzling and vibrant.
The Divine Envoy, who had been escorted back here, was pushed onto a lion skin carpet.
His knees pressed against the carpet, but fortunately, the lion skin was soft and didn’t cause abrasions. Xin Hexue frowned; he didn’t like the militaristic demeanor of someone like Huowen.
Golden gauze curtains billowed in waves in the breeze.
Servants walked barefoot, afraid to make extra noise in the palace that might disturb the Red King resting on the golden throne.
A voice came from behind the curtains; its owner seemed to have just awakened from a light sleep, and it was hoarse and low, “How dare you treat a guest so rudely, Huowen.”
Servants knelt on the ground in salute.
The figure on the throne, his sharp eyes like beast pupils, opened a narrow slit, looking at the outsider through the golden curtains.
“I didn’t mean to…”
Huowen, who was standing behind Xin Hexue, practically raised his hands to prove himself. He just wanted to push the Divine Envoy forward to the position, but didn’t expect that such a light force for him would make the Divine Envoy fall.
Before he could finish speaking, the golden gauze curtains had already been lifted by servants from both sides.
Slow, heavy footsteps descended step by step from the throne. The exquisitely crafted shoes made of thin gold sheets were inlaid with countless carnelians and lapis lazuli. Leather straps wound around powerful, distinct ankles, fastened together.
“I heard the White King brought someone back from the Aswan quarries and revered him as the high priest.”
The soles of those shoes were engraved with images of conquered enemies and lands, and each step forward seemed as if he was trampling on rebels.
“With him, the land of Upper Egypt has abundant harvests year after year, and granaries overflow with wheat.”
One sound, then another.
“The people of Upper Egypt respectfully call him the Divine Envoy from heaven, and…”
The man finally stopped before Xin Hexue.
An arm, adorned with several layers of ivory bracelets and arm rings, lifted the Divine Envoy’s chin, naturally also lifting the hood of this mysterious messenger of the gods.
“The pearl of the golden sands.”
… truly lived up to the reputation.
Shamule’s brows slightly lowered as he looked at the other party, his eyes deep and heavy.
The Divine Envoy who had received courteous treatment in Upper Egypt probably never had such a terrible experience before.
Being forcibly abducted and brought back, then having his chin lifted frivolously while being stared at in the face.
The color of snow that could only be seen on the highest peaks of the Sinai Peninsula was actually gathered on a mortal body.
No, it was already different from a mortal body. This Divine Envoy’s body was as white as mother-of-pearl, like the milky mussel meat that can only be glimpsed after prying open a river clam.
Not only the skin, his hair was white, and even the eyelashes.
Everything inside and outside this palace, whether the Red King’s collections or artists’ paintings, all paled into insignificance before him.
Those astonishingly beautiful eyes were now looking at him warily, the slender figure appearing resilient.
“Why is it that my elder brother always finds the treasures first?”
Shamule examined this person who had cost him so much time and money, even mobilizing a large army to abduct and bring back. He lowered his voice and leaned forward, pressing his body closer, “I am also curious about the truth of a rumor. It is said that the White King and the Divine Envoy are inseparable, even sleeping side by side at night.”
“Is this rumor true or false?” Shamule bent down and asked, “What means did you use to make him favor you?”
His sharp wolf-like eyes came close to Xin Hexue’s face, so near that their breaths almost intertwined, his tone condescending, “Now, like how you pleased him…”
“Pleasure me.”
As soon as the voice, an exceptionally sharp crisp sound rang out.
The palace fell into dead silence.
Huowen and the other servants dropped to their knees almost simultaneously, not daring to look at the bright red slap mark on the Red King’s face.
Xin Hexue stared coldly.
But Shamule’s chest trembled, and he laughed out loud with great pleasure, “You succeeded.”
