Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Looking at the bonfire burning before me, I downed a mouthful of wine with a heavy heart.
Tonight, the starry sky was completely obscured by dark clouds, giving off an ominous feeling of an impending storm.
The Sacred Ram blessing ceremony was scheduled for tomorrow morning.
Damn it, this wait is agonizing!
Over the past few days, Mr. A and I racked our brains to devise several plans, but with too few cards in hand, we were constantly restricted.
Mr. A had originally brought a backpack with many of his belongings.
With those items, our actions would have been greatly aided. But who could have imagined that just one night after Mr. A came to see me, he would be hunted by the High Priest's men?
At this sensitive juncture, I’ve stayed away from the temple during the day for these past two days, remaining in the temple guards' camp for safety. Naturally, I couldn't go retrieve Mr. A's backpack.
Under these circumstances, we couldn't contact Pan Lili. However, I did go to find Ada later and told him everything about the High Priest.
Ada, upon hearing this, was filled with righteous indignation and, showing great loyalty, intended to speak with Hu Tu. He left in the morning, and in the afternoon, I heard from Ada's subordinate that Ada was ill and recuperating in his tent, refusing to see anyone.
Come on, Ada, a burly man over two meters tall, wouldn't get sick even if he went shirtless in the dead of winter. How could he possibly be bedridden after just half a day?
Needless to say, Hu Tu must have placed Ada under house arrest.
"Batu, come inside and sleep."
Mr. A called out to me from inside the tent, interrupting my thoughts.
"Okay."
I finished the last of the wine, turned, and walked into the tent.
"Tonight is the last peaceful night. Tomorrow, we will confront the High Priest directly."
Mr. A looked at me calmly as I entered.
Among the plans discussed by Mr. A and me, the most feasible was for him to sneak into the ranks of my temple guards tomorrow, during the Sacred Ram blessing ceremony, and seize an opportunity to retrieve his backpack.
According to Mr. A, his backpack contained a handgun. Although the ammunition was limited, it would be enough to be useful at a critical moment.
With one of us inside and the other outside, we would have the confidence to either proceed with the plan to completely eliminate the High Priest or create chaos and escape.
"Alright, let's sleep."
At this point, any rousing speeches or words of encouragement were superfluous. I didn't need to offer each other psychological comfort with Mr. A.
I took off my clothes, lay down on the bed, and pulled the covers over my head.
For some reason, as darkness completely enveloped me, the unease I had felt earlier vanished without a trace.
I had never fallen asleep so quickly, yet I was simultaneously extraordinarily clear-headed.
This feeling was quite peculiar. If I had to describe it, it was as if my soul had detached from my body.
I was like a third-person observer, watching myself lying on the bed, devoid of joy or sorrow.
A black mist gradually enveloped me. I expected to feel fear, but I couldn't muster even a shred of tension, as if it had nothing to do with me.
"You crave power..."
A voice, seemingly familiar, emerged from the black mist, accompanied by a probing gaze hidden behind it.
Damn it, has the Sacred Ram been sealed so badly that it can't even properly use its own power!
After just a few days of being the Mother of All Creation, now it can interfere with my mind through dreams?!
Cautiously, I remained silent. Facing something beyond my comprehension, ignoring it was the best response.
"Hehehe... I sense the craving for power in your heart. Don't refuse, you will eventually agree..."
To my surprise, I had expected the Mother of All Creation to be like a diligent telemarketer, trying every means to tempt me into accepting Her power.
But instead, after saying just one sentence, and seeing my lack of response, She gave up, leaving behind a cryptic remark.
If telemarketers worked like you, they'd starve to death!
Regardless, the Mother of All Creation is sealed and cannot do anything to me, so I didn't hesitate to criticize Her in my mind.
However, after this mental critique, the crisis I would face tomorrow still remained.
The sudden appearance of the Mother of All Creation did present me with an option, though it was a desperate one.
If, faced with death, I were forced to accept the Mother of All Creation's power as a last resort, it wouldn't be impossible.
Slowly, the black mist dissipated at some point. I couldn't perceive the passage of time in my dream, and it was only in a sudden moment that I snapped my eyes open.
Outside the tent, a familiar male voice was calling my name.
"Commander, it's time."