Paintings of Terror

"This silver tree is the silver tree of the Mongolian court, that is to say, we are in the palace now?" Wu You seemed to have just realized this.

As the silver spots completely dissipated, the two of them could already see their surroundings clearly.

The majestic Mongolian-style buildings and spacious courtyards are enough to prove that this is definitely not a place for ordinary people.

"Maybe, what you need for the cowhide pocket is in the court of the Great Khan of Mongolia." Gu Qingqing said, looking at the house deep in the courtyard—it should be called a palace to be more accurate, "There seems to be no one else here. "

The two girls came out from under the huge silver tree, without the shadow of the tree, they realized that it seemed to be very sunny outside.

"Let's go, let's go to the palace over there to try our luck." Wu You was a straightforward person, and he was ready to do it when he thought about it.

"Wait," Gu Qingqing slowed down, "Wu You, look, there are a few big black dots on that brick floor, which seem to be still moving."

Wu You looked over there, and there were indeed a few big dots, the color was very thick and black: "That can't be the horse gourd cover of the sewer, can it?"

Gu Qingqing was speechless for a while: I have never heard of such advanced facilities in the Mongolian court.

Wu You boldly pulled Gu Qingqing towards those big black spots. The black spots were moving, rather than trembling, as if being blown by the wind. What was even more bizarre was that, upon careful observation, one could see There are some thin black filaments pulled out next to some black spots, like... hair?

"My God!!" Wu You exclaimed, pointing to the distance with trembling fingers, only to see a few big black spots over there quickly moving towards this side. If you look carefully, there seem to be limbs around these black spots. Like sticking out.

The two hurriedly took several steps back, who knew that these black dots also moved with the two, and finally surrounded them.

The two girls didn't dare to make a sound for a while, Wu You tightly covered the cowhide pocket on his chest.

Gu Qingqing looked at these slowly gathering black spots, seemed to think of something, looked up at the big sun hanging above his head in the sky, and then looked at his feet, his expression was a little puzzled for a while.

Wu You's heart was in her throat, and she clearly saw that these irregular black spots scattered on the ground stretched out "thorns", and each black spot stretched out a "thorn" towards the two of them. A "thorn" like a sharp knife point.

Wu You boldly said: "We are willing to go with you, as long as you don't hurt us."

For a while, all the black spots stopped their forward thrusts, and then slowly retracted their "thorns", and quickly "arranged their troops" again, changing the circled team into a neat one. A vertical row, move forward.

Gu Qingqing and Wu You could only follow behind.

"Qingqing, what exactly are you talking about?" Wu You asked his companion in a low voice.

"I think it might be a shadow."

"Shadow?" Wu You looked at his feet subconsciously, because it was noon at this time, so his shadow was only a small group under his feet, the area was similar to those big black spots, but the color was much lighter.

"It's so strange, our shadow is as shallow as a watermark." Wu You expressed his doubts, "How can those people's shadows be so dark and thick? I have never seen such a dark shadow before. It's like spilling a big puddle of thick ink on the ground."

"I can't figure this out either. I speculate that the owners of these shadows should be the guards of the Mongolian court, but for some reason, we can't see their entities." Gu Qingqing was very puzzled.

If these big black spots are the shadows of people, they do look more and more like them, and even the clues of the clothes of these "guards" can be seen from the edge of the shadows-they should all be wearing armor and equipped with sharp weapons.

But these shadows are silent and unnaturally dark, as if all the blackness in the world is concentrated here.

After a while, the two were led by the shadows of these guards to a courtyard. The building inside was a typical yurt-style palace with a golden roof.

"This place should be the golden tent of the Great Khan of Mongolia." Although very nervous, Gu Qingqing couldn't hide her excitement.

As soon as you walk into the yard, you can hear the voices talking inside.

It turns out that this world is not completely silent, but these sounds are like the music played by the silver angel on the silver tree, with a strange sense of distortion.

The shadows of the guards stopped in the courtyard and stood in front of the palace gate in two neat rows, as if guarding the place.

"Do they mean to let us in?" Wu You's mouth was a little dry because of nervousness, so he cleared his throat unnaturally.

Gu Qingqing's situation is not much better, her forehead is sweating all the time, the current situation has no choice between the two, so they can only bite the bullet and go in.

The one in the golden tent should be the Mongolian Khan, right?

Who are those people who talk so much?Although the emotions of these people could be heard, the two girls could not understand what they said.

"Why do I hear those people speak so strangely? Especially the accent, it sounds a bit like a foreigner..." Wu You dawdled forward with small steps.

Gu Qingqing also listened carefully to the words of those people inside, it seemed that those people were arguing about something, and it was very intense, Gu Qingqing seemed to have heard a word - Saracens.

"Wu You, I seem to know who these people are..." Gu Qingqing's voice was extremely low, and Wu You walked into the gate of the palace, and the two of them used the "cover" of the pillars to stay in a clever position - here Not only got rid of the shadows of those guards, but also didn't fully expose his figure in the palace.

Wu You's eyes lit up after hearing Gu Qingqing's words: "Who is it?"

"This indeed happened during the period described in Lubrook's "Journey to the East". Mengge Khan was a king who advocated freedom of belief, because missionaries of various sects came to the land of the victor of the grassland. preaching in the palace, so Mengge Khan simply gathered these missionaries together and let them have a debate about theology." There seemed to be light in Gu Qingqing's voice, which came from the content of her words, illuminating It illuminates this spacious palace, illuminates this strange era full of killings, but defending a certain kind of freedom.

"All kinds of sects?" Wu You hid behind the big pillar and secretly looked at the center of the palace, where there was a low table inlaid with gold. In addition to fruit and kumiss, there were pens, ink, paper and inkstones on the table.

There was no one around the table, and even the throne on the front seat was empty.

That should belong to Mengge Khan's throne, but it is empty at the moment.

On the table inlaid with gold treasures, there was a western-style silver candlestick. The candles were brightly lit, casting shadows on the four walls of the golden tent.

The shadows are the shadows of people, there are about a dozen of them, some are sitting, some are standing, and some are gesticulating fiercely. The movements of these people and their voices are combined together to form an exceptionally wonderful "shadow play".

Gu Qingqing lowered her head and thought about Wu You's question just now: "Yes, various sects, including the 'Saracens' mentioned just now, which was the European term for Muslims in the 12th century; Christianity; even Nestorianism, the heresy of Christianity at the time; besides these, there were monks of Buddhism, priests of Taoism... Maybe there were other sects, but I don’t remember so clearly.”

Wu You was dumbfounded, and couldn't imagine that there were so many religious people gathered in the tent of a Mongolian Khan!There are Christians, Muslims, monks, and Taoists!

"Is this real? This, this is so much like a painting."

"This is a historical fact." Gu Qingqing said affirmatively, "There is a special record in the "History of Chinese Christians", Meng Ge Dahan ordered no one to speak provocative or abusive words to others, Nor can it stir up chaos, and offenders will be punished with death.

"So, this is bound to be a heated but orderly theological debate."

Although everything experienced here is weird, it has refreshed Wu You's understanding of this world time and time again.

"Qingqing, these people don't understand the language, right? Is there an interpreter here?" Wu You looked at the shadows on the four walls of the tent. Some of them were guards with weapons, while others had different postures. Some sat calmly. Some made fierce gestures, and some even sang a song. They couldn't understand what they were singing, probably it was a song of a certain sect.

"If you listen carefully to what they say, you can still understand a little bit. I think this world probably omits translation, in order to make communication easier for everyone." Gu Qingqing has already found Meng Ge Khan from the shadow, and he did not sit down. On the throne, but standing burly aside, listening attentively to everyone's arguments.

I don't know if it's an illusion or something, but Meng Ge Khan seemed to be beckoning.

That's right, it was a waving gesture, and it was in the direction of the two of them.Although this movement is very light, it has an undoubted deterrent effect.

"It's time for us to pass." Gu Qingqing collected herself, and walked out from behind the pillar - it wouldn't look good to have the guards come over to pull her.

"Isn't there a debate now? What sect do we represent?" Wu You lowered his head and followed behind Gu Qingqing, "What religion do you believe in?"

"..." Gu Qingqing was stopped by Wu You's question, while bowing her head and walking forward in a pious posture, she was thinking about this question - what religion do you believe in?I have always thought that I am a complete atheist, but deep down in my heart I always have faith. What do I believe in?

Meng Ge Khan's tone was calm, and he said something to the two of them in a strange tone.

Although these words were a bit difficult to understand, the two of them still understood most of them. Meng Ge Dahan invited these two new missionaries to express their position and explain their teachings.

Wu You was completely confused. Although his great-grandmother often burned incense and worshiped Buddha, he did not have a clear belief position, and even fantasized about going to church for a wedding when he was a child.

After experiencing the painting these days, I also gradually understood the witchcraft and other things that once really existed. Although I believed it, I was not convinced, so this is not a belief.

Wu You saw the shadows cast by himself and Gu Qingqing on the tent in a trance. The two shadows were actually much darker than those in the yard just now. Although they were much lighter than the people in this world, they seemed to be able to feel the shadows of the two shadows. The personal shadow is slowly deepening, as if infected by other shadows, it will gradually become the same black as them.

Wu You looked at his hands subconsciously, and it turned out to be not so clear, to be precise, he was a little faint, as if he was slowly "transparent".

Could it be that if you stay here for a long time, you will lose your entity and become a complete shadow?

Can you still leave here?

Can I still leave this palace?

Can she still leave this world attracted by the silver tree?

Can I still leave this painting?

"Honorable Mengge Khan, what we advocate is science." Wu You heard Gu Qingqing's voice echoing in the Mongolian golden tent.