fantasy novels Chapter 12 The Brahmins Next to the School
Chapter 12 The Brahmins Next to the School
Although it wasn't very late, it seemed impolite to disturb them at this hour, but Vijay wasn't going to leave the problem until tomorrow.
The oxcart stopped in front of the city lord's mansion.
In front of this enormous stone palace, supported by pillars covered in gold leaf, stands a tall staircase.
Squads of fully armed guards stood ramrod straight, highlighting the city lord's majesty.
The empty square had long been off-limits to unauthorized personnel, making this creaking oxcart seem utterly out of place.
Before Vijay could even get out of the car, a squad of guards surrounded him, spears raised.
"By Brahma, I am Vijay of House Mittal!" Vijay stood up, revealing his three-colored stripes. His Vaishya identity, coupled with his words, gave the guards a reason not to act immediately. "I request an audience with the Lord of the city!"
"The city lord has already rested!" The guard's answer was as expected.
Vijay looked up at the huge stone pillar; not a single ray of light could see through the doors and windows.
Even though Bim had rushed to catch the carriage at top speed, it was already high in the sky, and the city lord had long since ended the military and political meeting.
Even the banquet among close friends and family seems to have ended...
Vijay originally wanted to make it to the end of the banquet and use the last bit of face his Mittal family had left to ask for an audience with the city lord. Even if he didn't get the city lord's complete protection, he at least wanted to offer a gift and rekindle that little bit of connection.
If the city lord is willing to restore the protection of the Mittal family, then I will gladly offer up some of the secrets of the trade route...
This way, I can at least have some trump cards up my sleeve and have more room to maneuver when facing Roshman!
Unfortunately, it seems that this opportunity will not come!
Vijay wasn't upset. Since he couldn't meet the city lord, he could only try other methods.
"Bim, let's go, don't disturb the city lord's rest!" With this thought in mind, Vijay instructed.
Bim lowered his head, then drove the oxcart away from the city lord's mansion. "Master, where to now?"
"Let's go to the school!"
Paying respects to the city lord first, then to one's religious leader—even the most discerning person wouldn't find fault with this order.
Anghira Dharma was Vijaya's tutor and headmaster at the temple school, and a noble Brahmin.
Vijay studied at the academy for 10 years, and Angye Lo Dharma also taught at the academy for 10 years, during which time they did not hold any other positions.
When I was still a student, I naturally didn't think there was anything wrong with this, but now that I think about it, maybe my status as a "Guru" wasn't highly regarded among the Brahmin class!
That's not the key point. The key point is that Anghira Dharma might be the only Brahmin he can meet right now!
Moreover, having been his student for 10 years, I know that this Brahmin has a very good temper.
He might not be able to use his power and status to help him fend off a powerful Kshatriya.
But perhaps I can learn some high-level secrets from him, so that I won't be running around like a headless fly. That would be enough!
The oxcart moved slowly forward, leaving the bustling area and arriving at the very edge of the Brahmin residential area.
Angyira Darma's residence was just outside the school, a small, independent courtyard, next to low earthen walls and weeds, far from temples and altars.
There were no guards at the entrance. Through the earthen wall, one could see that inside the not-so-large stone house, oil lamps flickered and soft chanting of Buddhist hymns rang out.
Vijay got out of the car, picked up his gift, and gestured for Bim to wait where he was.
He stepped forward, straightened his appearance, and then gently knocked on the door.
"Tap tap," the knocking sound carried far in the darkness.
The chanting paused slightly, and the door opened.
"Who?" an old voice reached Vijay's ears.
This must be the old Vaishya servant beside Bodhidharma!
"By Brahma, Vijay of the Mithril family has come to pay homage to the Guru."
There was no verification process; the door creaked open.
The oil lamp he was carrying illuminated the old man who opened the door. He was hunched over, his face weathered and worn. He looked up at Vijay and nodded. "I remember you."
After a moment of silence, until the chanting inside the room stopped, the old servant slowly said, "Come in!"
Vijay followed the old servant back to the old place. The courtyard was fenced with dead wood, and two withered Ashoka trees were planted inside. Under the trees were a rough stone table and a ceramic water basin. Vijay had also visited Bodhidharma here before.
As the old servant approached, the furnishings inside the room were not as simple as they appeared.
The room was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood. A huge bookshelf on the wall opposite the door was filled with scriptures, and a thick wool blanket covered a simple wooden bed in the northwest corner of the main room.
In the center of the main room, there is a large wooden table, polished smooth, covered with a complete deerskin. On the table are a ceramic oil lamp, several neatly arranged birch bark scriptures, a charcoal pencil, a ceramic inkstone, and a finely ground ink stick. The objects are arranged in an orderly manner.
In the northeast corner of the main house, in front of a neat brick table, there is an exquisite copper fire bowl, a small jar of pure ghee, neatly arranged firewood, and a small copper spoon. The owner of the house is kneeling there at this moment.
"Master, the guests have arrived!" The Brahmin turned around at the sound of the old servant's voice.
Vijay followed basic etiquette, immediately kneeling down, curling up, not daring to look directly at the Brahmin's face, and holding the gifts he was carrying high on his head.
"May Shiva bless you, revered Guru, your Vijaya offers you this gift."
"Vijay, I remember you!" Daruma walked lightly to him, took the gift he was holding, and said, "Raise your head and speak..."
Daruma's voice was gentle and full of patience, like that of a wise and venerable elder.
Vijay looked up, and a thin but bright face came into view.
"This is a datura flower from the East!" Bodhidharma picked up a string of purple petals, gently crushed them in front of his nose, and his expression immediately changed. He couldn't help but exclaim, "This is the most precious offering given to the gods!"
This was something Vijay had taken from his treasure vault. Although he didn't know what it was, he vaguely remembered that his father had given it as a gift to a Brahmin, so he brought some with him. He hadn't expected it to be so effective.
"Shiva, protect you, my disciple. Why have you come to me in the dead of night, and why have you offered me such a precious treasure?"
It was clear that Bodhidharma hesitated for a moment, seemingly reluctant to accept the gift, but also genuinely unwilling to part with it.
Seeing how gentle her mentor was and how much he valued the treasure she had presented, she was overjoyed.
Vijay immediately abandoned his previous idea of building connections and taking things slowly, instead stating his intentions directly: "Guru, I humbly request your help. I am willing to use your Brahmin name to build a bridge with the Holy One!"