Be a lord in the world of Indian mythology

Chapter 78 Vannu Feet

The morning mist enveloped Harappa like a veil, and as dawn broke, the city remained immersed in a tranquil atmosphere.

A few rooster crows could be faintly heard in the distance. Most of the shops along the street had their doors and windows closed. Only a few early-rising vendors began to organize their goods. Occasionally, a few soft noises broke the tranquility of the early morning.

Vijay got up early and stood by the window of the inn.

Yesterday, the preliminary arrangements for the purchase of slaves were finalized. Today, a dedicated person needs to be assigned to handle the details. The trip to the temple is of utmost importance, as not only will the ceremony of recognizing the master be held, but we also need to find a way to contact the Brahma priests.

He took a deep breath, gathered his thoughts, and turned to leave the room.

In the courtyard of the inn, the servants were already lined up neatly, each one full of energy, waiting for Vijay's instructions. The morning light shone through the thin mist onto everyone, illuminating their serious and earnest faces.

Vijay's gaze swept over the crowd, his tone calm and clear: "Today we will split into two groups. Gantan and Kara, you two will go to the slave market in the south of the city immediately, find the merchant from yesterday, and carefully verify his identity."

He paused, deliberately slowing his speech, and emphasized key points: "The five thousand Dalits must be equal in number of men and women, and they must come from different regions. The handover time and procedures must be finalized one by one, and a detailed roster must be kept. There must be no omissions."

Upon hearing this, Gantan and Kara immediately stepped forward, bowed, and accepted the order: "Brahma above, Master, rest assured, we will carefully check every item to ensure that nothing goes wrong, and we will never fail in your trust!"

The remaining servants stood respectfully to one side, their posture upright. Vijay turned his gaze to them: "The rest of you, come with me to the temple."

Everyone responded in unison, "Yes, sir!"

Once the assignments are completed, head out immediately.

The temple district of Harappa is dotted with temple buildings, their stone palaces towering majestically with spires reaching into the sky. In the morning mist, they gleam with a cool, greyish-white luster, solemn and awe-inspiring.

Vijay and his group walked slowly along the smooth stone path and soon arrived near the temple area, which was different from the private entrance they had seen yesterday.

This area is open to the general public and contains a huge temple where dozens of Brahmin priests come every morning to bless the people of the city.

Several Brahmin servants stood guard at the entrance. They were dressed in uniform plain-colored outfits, with serious expressions and equally sharp eyes, but they seemed to be a few levels below the guards who guarded the private gate.

After passing through layers of sal trees, they entered the front hall of the temple.

The front hall is spacious and tall, with an extremely high dome. Looking up, you can see a giant mural with exquisite paintings. The mural depicts ancient creation myths and legendary stories of the gods descending to earth. Although the colors have survived for thousands of years, they are still bright and dazzling. The figures are lifelike and exude a sacred and magnificent atmosphere.

In the center of the hall, a tall black stone altar stands majestically, upon which is enshrined a stone statue of a deity. The statue has a compassionate face, slightly closed eyes, and a solemn and dignified expression. The air is filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, creating a serene and sacred atmosphere.

The surrounding area was bustling with people, but surprisingly no one made a sound. Instead, they moved quietly, as if afraid that any extra noise would anger the gods and bring divine punishment upon them.

Directly in front of the altar, a middle-aged Brahmin priest sat reciting scriptures, undisturbed by many believers.

He wore a pristine white robe, its fabric soft and delicate, with exquisite dark patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs. He wore a simple yet dignified cloth crown, his face thin and fair, his eyebrows and eyes narrow and long, his gaze indifferent and aloof, carrying an innate arrogance and condescending attitude.

A faint sandalwood scent lingered around him, his expression calm and undisturbed, as if nothing in the world could catch his eye, exuding a sacred and aloof nobility.

Putting everything else aside, her demeanor was impeccable, and she seemed to be on par with the pomp and circumstance of a Brahma priest.

Vijay walked forward slowly, his attitude respectful and proper, and gestured to the servants behind him to neatly place the ten offerings he had prepared on the sandalwood table in front of the altar.

The ten offerings were neatly arranged, their fragrances mingling, and the sandalwood incense added to the solemnity and piety.

After the offerings were made, Vijay bowed deeply to the altar and the priest, his tone sincere and respectful: "May Shiva bless me! High Priest, I am Vijay of the Mithril family. Today I have prepared ten offerings of devotion and humbly request that you preside over the ceremony of acknowledgment of my Lordship and establish the bond of subordination."

The middle-aged Brahmin priest slowly opened his narrow eyes, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the ten offerings on the table, his expression completely calm, as if these exquisite items were utterly insignificant.

His gaze slowly fell back on Vijay, his eyes filled with condescending scrutiny and contempt, his tone arrogant and cold: "By Brahma, the ceremony of recognizing a master is a sacred ritual, concerning divine will, and the process is extremely complicated, by no means an ordinary matter."

He slightly raised his chin, his tone carrying a hint of deliberate arrogance, and slowly explained: "The ceremony requires three days of fasting beforehand, bathing and purifying oneself, worshipping the gods, reciting ancient scriptures a thousand times, performing seven sacred rituals, offering sacrifices, and reciting divine pronouncements. Each step requires a great deal of mental and physical effort. The will of the gods is unpredictable, and the slightest mistake will blaspheme the gods and bring disaster upon oneself."

Having said that, he extended three long, slender, white fingers, his tone leaving no room for argument and clearly indicating that he was asking for an exorbitant price: "Your entourage consists of several people. According to the minimum standard, you will need to pay thirty gold coins. This is the base price. The complexity and expense of the ceremony are far beyond your imagination."

Upon hearing the first half, Vijay didn't feel anything. After all, even the Brahma Eye required some effort, and it also involved the watchful eyes of the gods, so it was naturally not too simple.

The only problem was that the Brahmin priest's arrogant tone was somewhat unpleasant.

But he was ultimately a patient and composed person. He took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the dissatisfaction in his heart.

The ceremony of recognizing the Lord is a minor matter; the proper thing to do is to let him take the opportunity to bring himself before the Brahma priest.

After weighing the pros and cons, Vijay suppressed his anger and remained calm and composed. He spoke in a gentle tone and offered his conditions: "Priest, I am willing to offer five hundred gold coins, only asking that Your Excellency hold a ceremony to recognize me as your master. In addition, I humbly request that Your Excellency introduce me to Priest Brahma or Lord Brahma."

Five hundred gold coins, far exceeding the price the priest demanded, was an extremely generous offer.

Kubera once again demonstrated His divine power.

The middle-aged priest's eyes widened suddenly, and a look of astonishment appeared on his lips.

Even the most knowledgeable Brahmin priests don't always encounter such generous believers.

He couldn't help but look Vijay up and down.

He was somewhat tempted, but then something occurred to him, and as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, a cruel and contemptuous sneer suddenly curled at the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with undisguised disdain and mockery: "You? A mere Vaishya, dares to presume to have an audience with the Brahma High Priest?"

He widened his eyes, his tone sharp and sarcastic, every word laced with condescending disdain: "Brahma priests are busy serving the gods and have no time to argue with you."

"You lowly wretch, how dare you come here to challenge the Lord's holy name!"

After a barrage of sharp sarcasm, his face suddenly darkened, his eyes turned icy, and his tone carried a merciless intent to drive him away: "Leave some gold coins as an offering, and leave this place immediately. Do not desecrate this sacred temple. If you continue to cause trouble, don't blame me for being impolite!"

This guy is really unreasonable!

Vijay didn't argue; he just felt completely baffled!

I only made a small request: to pay in cash and get things done in return.

Why make such a big deal out of it? Are you still holding a grudge? Are you suggesting I leave my money and then you won't do anything in return?

Am I going to end up begging on my knees?

Vijay quietly raised his head and memorized the priest's ugly face.

Making a scene on the spot is certainly not the best approach, but letting it go too easily also makes people feel uneasy.

Vijay forcibly suppressed all his emotions, bowed deeply, and did not reveal the slightest bit of his inner feelings: "Brahma above, I was presumptuous, farewell."

After saying that, he got up and walked out, his steps heavy.

Vijay walked slowly along the deep corridors of the temple. Tall stone pillars stood on both sides of the corridors, providing dense shade and making the sandalwood scent even stronger. The surroundings were so quiet that only the sound of his own footsteps could be heard, creating a dull and oppressive atmosphere.

They hadn't gone far when two familiar voices suddenly rang out from the shadows deep within the corridor, calm and clear: "Master, why the anger?"

Vijay abruptly stopped, a chill running through him, and looked in the direction of the sound.

From the shadows deep within the corridor, a figure slowly emerged, with a human body and a snake tail, and two heads side by side—it was the mysterious two-headed snake-man from before.

How did they get here?

The heretics have arrived in the heart of Brahma's territory?

He neither hid nor avoided the area, but stood openly in the corridor, looking calmly at Vijay, his expression natural and composed, as if he had no problem with being there at all!

Suppressing his surprise and wariness, Vijay composed himself and asked calmly, "Brahma, we meet again!"

He had always been suspicious of the two-headed snake-man's identity. Although the snake-man had helped him before, he still didn't know whether he was friend or foe, so he naturally dared not let his guard down at this moment.

"This is the will of the gods!" The two heads moved slightly, speaking in unison with a hint of piety: "It is the gods who have brought us together again!"

Vijay remained silent, his entire body tense, his mind and body on high alert.

"Master, there's no need to worry. We mean you no harm!" the snake-headed creature said gently. "We are simply waiting for the time to return to the East!"

East, that last time...

They had foreseen their failure, yet they believed they would succeed next time?

Vijay was a little confused. What gave them the right?

But Vijay could still sense whether it was good or bad; the two-headed serpent-headed man meant him no harm.

As long as the other party has something to ask for, they will not harm me for no reason, nor will they plot against me in secret. At least for the time being, I don't need to worry about being ambushed before my next trip to the East.

Having figured this out, Vijay's wariness lessened slightly, his tone softened, and he nodded slowly, "I understand."

The two-headed snake-headed man seemed to see right through his thoughts. A calm smile appeared on his lips as he spoke in a gentle tone: "I know what the patriarch is thinking. If the patriarch is in a hurry, I can make an introduction."

Vijay's heart skipped a beat, his eyes flashed with disbelief, and his face was full of shock.

It's one thing for this guy, who's clearly not a Brahma follower, to be here!

Judging from his tone, he actually managed to meet with a Brahma priest?

They looked like complete strangers...

This guy is getting more and more mysterious!

But Vijay did not refuse. He suppressed his shock and said in a deep voice, "Thank you."

The two-headed snake-headed man nodded slightly, indicating that he should wait a moment.

Vijay stood there, his mind a jumble of emotions—curiosity, wariness, and anticipation—and simply waited quietly.

The two-headed snake-headed man did not leave; he simply stood there, gently shaking his head and emitting a low hissing sound.

Not long after, a slight breeze, carrying a strange scent of sulfur and sandalwood, came from afar.

Vijay looked up and gazed toward the source of the sound of the wind. At the end of the corridor, an enormous, dark blue-green tail slowly "floated" toward them. The tail was thick and sturdy, covered with layers upon layers of heavy scales, each scale the size of a palm, gleaming with a cold, eerie green light. The tip of the tail swayed gently, its force steady and its aura astonishing.

Although he had seen the strange form of the Brahma Eye before and knew the majesty of the incarnation of a god, when he saw such a huge tail in person, Vijay still couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat. He subconsciously took half a step back, his heart tightened, and he felt a sense of instinctive fear.

A huge, long tail slowly approached, surrounded by a soft, pale red halo.

"You are Mittal Vijay?" The air vibrated familiarly, and his form appeared familiar.

It is almost identical to the eyes of the Brahman!

"May Shiva bless you, sir. May I ask who you are?" Vijay had a guess in his mind, but still bowed respectfully in greeting.

"You can call me Foot!" The long tail swayed gently.

really!

Judging from their names, he and Fannumu must have been of equal status, both being trusted confidants of the Brahma priests.

Moreover, this form, no matter how you look at it, bears a resemblance to the two-headed snake-man in front of you.

No wonder the two-headed snake-man could speak with such confidence!

Vijay felt he knew everything.

Fan Nu's tone was kind and gentle, without any haughty attitude. He took the initiative to speak, which made him seem exceptionally approachable: "Blessed by Shiva, I have long admired you, and seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary!"

"The patriarch's sincere devotion to the gods is admirable!" He glanced casually across the corridor, clearly aware of what had just happened, and his tone carried a hint of displeasure: "The priest was arrogant and rude, daring to disrespect the patriarch and mock him wantonly; it was truly unacceptable."

As soon as he finished speaking, several servants appeared out of nowhere and led the middle-aged Brahmin priest who had just mocked Vijay into the courtyard.

The middle-aged priest looked terrified. Upon seeing Fan Nu's feet, he turned pale, trembled all over, knelt down, and kowtowed repeatedly, filled with fear.

"The head of the Vijaya family is a distinguished guest of the Brahma priest! He is a companion of Vanumu! And someone I have been watching closely!"

"You don't even bother to deal with devout believers, yet you dare to spout nonsense before the gods! Your sins are utterly unforgivable!"

Vijay stood there, stunned, staring at this outrageous scene.

Regardless, this priest was a noble Brahmin...

To be reprimanded by Fan Nu as if he were a servant was simply too much...

Vijay didn't know how to describe it, only that he seemed to have underestimated the status and position of Fannumu and Fannuzu.