Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Reminiscing about the past and fondling the present is always sad
Segolena's right index finger pressed against Lucia Maku's throat, and with just a little effort, he was able to pierce through and kill him.Rao is the hermit's amazing martial arts, and he can't stop it in time.The hermit frowned and said, "Sage, isn't it ridiculous that you threaten me with your own companions?" Segolena said, "The deacon and I are not friends, but we cannot join forces because of Osman's military might. Now that the army has retreated, he is worthless to me, killing him like nothing; but in terms of respect, his life is probably worth more?" The hermit said: "Bogdan's whereabouts, Aya Alexandru also knows it. If you kill the deacon, I will kill you, and then I will ask the Grand Duke, so it doesn't matter."
Segolena laughed loudly: "If you could have asked the question from the mouth of the Grand Duke, you would have asked it a long time ago. Why bother to capture this deacon at night?" How?" The tone changed from the kindness just now, and murderous intent emerged.Segolena knew that this was the only way for these people on his side to survive, so he didn't dare to be careless. He didn't take his eyes off Lucia Maku for a moment, and said, "You bring Zio and Augustine here first."
Hearing his tone, the hermit was very rude, and said angrily, "How dare you order me?" Segolena said, "Whatever you think, but hurry up." His finger stuck into his throat a little more.The hermit snorted coldly, turned around and jumped up the valley slope lightly, lifting one in one hand. Both Zio and Augustine weighed more than one hundred and forty pounds, but they were picked up like wild pheasants.With a flick of his arm, the two flew flat behind Segolena and landed on the ground with two plops.Segolena was reluctantly relieved when he heard the groans of the two, and that their lives were not in danger.Just now the hermit wanted to subdue Segolena, so he didn't hit his two companions hard, otherwise they would be dead even if they had nine lives.Segolena took out the Bergen Tzu Chi pills from his bosom, threw the last two pills to Zio and Augustine, and then shouted to the hermit: "I just told you to bring them here, why are you throwing them like a javelin?" Come here? How rude."
The hermit was furious. In his capacity, his actions just now were condescending, but Segolena treated him like a reprimand to a servant. It was intolerable!Segolena intentionally disturbed his mind, and said: "Don't lean over here, stand a little away, the stench of corpses is so bad." The hermit stared at him, as if trying to cut his heart out.
Zio and Augustine took the Bergen Tzu Chi pills, and their spirits were lessened, but their throats were still burning, and the pain was unbearable.They got up from the ground, their eyes were extremely afraid of the hermit.Segolena knew that he couldn't hide the ears of the hermit, so he didn't lower his voice, and said to them loudly: "I threatened the deacon's life, so that I let the deacon fight the mouse. For the current plan, the three of us have to drag the deacon away, sorry He didn't dare to chase."
The hermit said coldly at the side: "He has my zodiac attack in his body, and the pain will be severe, and he will die of pain within a few hours. How far can you go?" Segolena said with a smile: " You reminded me, come quickly and help the deacon dissipate the inner strength in your body." The hermit said: "Why should I do this?" Segolena said: "If you have solved the twelve attacks, you still have a chance to ask to Bogdan's whereabouts; if you don't understand, even if you tear us into pieces, it won't help."
The hermit sighed: "What a glib boy! Your sharp mouth is more powerful than martial arts. If you can't use it for my holy alliance, it will cause great harm sooner or later!" step.Segolena shouted: "What are you going to do?" The hermit said: "I don't get close, how can I attack him?" Segolena said: "Don't you know how to shoot air through the air?" The hermit said: "Blowing air through the air is just a straight line, how can it resolve the thousands of twists and turns of the twelve attacks." Segolena said "Oh", "It turns out that your kung fu is not good, you can only go straight and straight. "The hermit knew that he was trying to find fault, so he ignored him, secretly counting the time in his heart.
Luxiu Maku suddenly let out an indistinct groan from his mouth, his eyes suddenly widened, and his whole body shook violently.Segolena could hardly control the old man, so he hurriedly asked Zio and Augustine to come over and hold his hands and feet. He still pressed his hand against the throat to prevent the hermit from suddenly attacking him, and reached out to his knees and calves with the other hand.This probe doesn't matter, a strong infuriating energy rushes aggressively from the Pisces Palace with both feet into the Capricorn Palace, recklessly, like a bull breaking into a porcelain shop, everywhere it goes, the four fluids are disordered, and the blood and energy are messy.Segolena could feel the qi throbbing under the skin just by the palm of his calf, and the pain of Lucius Maku himself could be imagined.
Segolena didn't know the principle of the circulation of the twelve attacks, and was afraid that injecting the inner power of the proverb rashly would only add to the chaos, so he was at a loss what to do for a while.It took six or seven minutes for this whole commotion to stop, and the genuine energy destroyed the Capricorn Palace, slowly followed the blood flow to join the body fluid circulation, and then walked away.Lu Xiumaku's eyes were bloodshot from the pain, and his body was covered with sweat. In addition, the hermit broke his spine just now, so it can be said that half of his life was gone.The hermit didn't take the opportunity to make a move. Seeing that the second attack had subsided, he calmly said: "This is just the beginning. After an hour, I will ascend to the Aquarius Palace. I'm afraid this old man can't bear it anymore."
Segolena had no choice but to sit up Lucius Maku with his back facing the hermit, facing himself, between the two, still holding his throat with his fingers, and said to the hermit: "Okay, come and help him Xie Gong, if I find out you have any tricks, I will kill him immediately." The hermit taunted: "Being good is like a stream, and there is nothing good about it." He stepped forward and stroked Luxiumaku's back with his withered fingers.As soon as the finger was strong, Lucius Maku exhaled a long breath from his mouth, as if he was relieved.
The hermit suddenly changed his fingering again, and tapped the three sixteen star points on Luxiu Maku's back like lightning, and Lu Xiumaku's body fell forward involuntarily.Segolena didn't dare to leave his throat with one finger, and pinched his wrist with the other hand, feeling that the momentum of the true energy was a little weaker, knowing that the hermit was indeed attacking, so he relaxed a little bit.
At this moment, Segolena suddenly felt a surge of breath in Luxiu Maku's body. At first, he thought it was an effective solution to the attack, but the breath quickly gathered into a torrent, gushing out from the throat and wrist, vigorously He shook his hands away.A thought flashed through his mind, and he yelled in his heart that it was terrible, Lucius Maku never had such a cultivation level, the hermit must have used a profound method to use his internal strength to beat the cow through the old man's body to attack him.
Thinking of this, Segolena reacted very quickly, and immediately poked Lucius Maku's throat with his finger.Unexpectedly, the Taurus and Gemini wombs of Luxiumaku were already filled with the hermit's inner strength, and the cortex was bulging.
In this momentary miss, the hermit had already pulled Lu Xiu Maku's shoulders, Pheidippides froze, Segolena's eyes blurred, the two of them had already stood more than ten steps away, and the opportunity came to an end lose.Segolena has calculated thousands of times, but she still hasn't calculated that the hermit can see through his luck.This person's strange tricks emerge one after another, it is really unpredictable.
The hermit hugged Lucius Maku, and smiled at Segolena: "It's too clever to calculate the organ, what else do you have to say now?" Segolena's face was ashen. To control them one by one can be said to be a crushing defeat.He stood up, Zio and Augustine said: "I can stop him for a while, you two hurry back to Suceava City, teach Bishop Joseph and the Grand Duke to take precautions." Zio said angrily: "I am gentle The Toveites never abandon their friends and escape!" Augustine couldn't speak, he could only ah ah a few times, making a gesture of not leaving.Segolena's heart became hot, and she couldn't help shouting loudly: "That's fine! You and I come together, and we will fight him to the death!"
The hermit over there smiled and said: "Now, are you still thinking about luck?" After speaking, his eyes narrowed, showing a fierce look, and he was about to set up a killer.Lucius Maku opened his eyes at this moment, and said in a low voice, "Mystery Hermit, let them go back to the city, or I won't spare you." Suddenly stunned in place.It turned out that Lucius Maku took advantage of the moment when the hermit was unguarded, barely raised his right middle finger, and tapped on the Second Palace Corridor on his chest.This is the intersection of the Cancer Palace in the chest cavity and the Leo Palace in the heart. Each of them has a star point that overlaps here, so it is called the "Second Palace Corridor". A dead end.
The hermit naturally knew this point well, but he didn't take it seriously: "How much finger strength can you have? I can easily force it away with a little bit of internal strength. It's ridiculous to shake a tree." Luxiu Maku said: "If I use a point Where's the golden finger?" The hermit was startled, and immediately said: "How can you get out of your half-crippled body, a dying person?" Lucius Marcus said: "It didn't exist originally, but you just passed me through it." Going to attack Segolena, it also instilled in me some internal strength, which is enough to use." The hermit laughed and said, "You have to lie to a three-year-old child." Luxiu Maku pointed at Duojia With a bit of strength, he said, "Then Majesty might as well give it a try."
The hermit said in a deep voice: "Think about it clearly, you have already used your golden finger once yesterday, and if you use it again today, you will be exhausted. At that time, your body will be empty, and the internal strength of the twelve attacks will not be restricted, and you will walk faster. , the attack was several times more painful than usual. Even if I die, there will be no one to relieve your attack." Lucius Maku didn't know where the strength came from, and laughed loudly: "Who wants you to relieve it! The situation of the old man, rather than It is better to live than to die quickly. Fortunately, the foreign enemies have retreated, and I can die in peace." After speaking, he shouted at Segolena and Zio Gao: "Leave quickly and tell the Grand Duke what happened tonight. , let him take precautions early. I will stop here, and he will not dare to chase." The hermit said: "After an hour, the third attack will occur, and you will die. When the time comes, I will chase after them. How far can you escape?" Luxiu Maku trembled and said, "Didn't you hear what he said? Hurry up and go!!" After speaking, he was gasping for breath, already extremely weak.
Segolena frowned, knowing that this was not a show of strength, she turned her head and shouted at Zio and Augustine, "Let's go!" Zio glanced at the deacon with a complicated expression, turned his head and left.The hermit's voice sounded unhurriedly from behind: "There will be a period later." The meaning was full of malice.
The three of them stretched their legs, quickly left the hills, and hurried back to the abandoned mill all the way.When they arrived at the mill, the three of them took their luggage and got on the horses. They didn't dare to stop short, and immediately crossed the stream, picked the wild country road, and headed for the thoroughfare.Along the way, the horseshoes were pounding and the bumps were constant. The three of them bowed their waists and stepped on the pedals, keeping their buttocks on the saddle.
They ran all the way for a long time, Segolena suddenly reined in the reins, the horse neighed, and turned back.Zio and Augustine were startled, and immediately reined in their horses. Zio asked, "What?" Segolena looked at the direction he came from, and said in a calm tone, "It's been an hour, and the third attack must have occurred." Zio was silent, and they all knew what this meant.
Zio grabbed the saddle, leaned forward, and asked suddenly: "There is just one thing I really don't want to understand. Since the deacon has strangled the hermit's vitals, why didn't he kill him immediately to avoid future troubles?" Calling the name of Luxiu Maku, and using his official title, he has no more hostility towards the old man in his heart.Segolena said dejectedly: "The deacon was severely wounded, how could he use his golden fingers? It is true that the hermit used his body to attack me, but with his broken body, his internal force would only flow like a mirror of water. Not a single drop. The deacon is just bluffing to cover us from fleeing. Although the hermit has doubts, he is a life-saving person after all. He dare not try it himself, but he followed the deacon's way." Zio said in shock. : "Then when the third attack occurs, won't it be revealed immediately?" Segolena said: "Yes, now we can only pray to God, and may the deacon's soul go to heaven as soon as possible."
After saying that, he jumped off his horse, knelt down on his knees, and bowed his head in prayer.Zio pulled out his sawtooth sword, pointed at the black clouds in the distance, his eyes were excited and wet, and said loudly: "Master Deacon, I despised you as a soft bone. I never thought that you are so strong and strong. Good man. From now on, Sventovite respects and loves you, and no blasphemy will be tolerated. Wiftaran Srleko Zio hereby swears to protect Moldova on your behalf, except for death!" On the ground, kneel down and pray with Segolena.Augustine found some small stones on the side of the road, crushed them into fine powder, and sprinkled them around the horses. His mouth whined, and his legs leaped from side to side from time to time. It seemed to be Zimbabwe's ceremony to pay homage to the brave spirits.Unknowingly, the night wind blew quietly, sending these powders into the air, flying like snow rolls and frost, and soon drifted into the night.
After praying, the three got on their horses again and galloped away.I don't know whether it was the horses' quick feet or the hermit had given up. They ran for two consecutive days, and there was no movement behind them.When they rushed to the city gate, it happened to be noon, the two city gates were wide open, business travelers and civilians were bustling with people, coming in and out like a tide, it was really lively.
The guards at the gate recognized Zio. Although they saw the black man next to him suspicious, they didn't dare to talk to him. After asking a few words, they let the three of them pass.Segolena couldn't help but sigh when he thought of the scene of Luciu Maku respectfully accompanying him when he entered Suceava City for the first time.The three of them entered the city and went straight to St. Cyril's Cathedral.A patrol sent by Sventovite had already reported it, and Archbishop Joseph, Yulinia, and Sventovite sent everyone out of the church to welcome them, all of them with joyful faces.This trip touched many hearts.
Yulinia stood on the rock in front of the church, looking up, seeing that Zio who was walking in front was safe, she let out a cry of joy, ran to the horse in three steps at a time, and called Zio name.Zio couldn't help being elated, jumped off the horse, put his hands around her slender waist and spun around a few times, smelling the scent of orchid musk, his whole body was as light as walking on cotton.Yulinia panicked for a moment, blushing, and then let Zio hold her, but stared at Segolena, her eyes sparkled, and she wanted to say nothing.Segolena smiled, and before he could say anything, he was hit by Archbishop Joseph with an Occam truth punch in the chest, and thunderous laughter came: "Wow ha ha ha, I thought you little brats Died in the wilderness!" The rest of the Sventovite faction surrounded Augustine, staring at his skin in admiration, Augustine must have been used to this kind of treatment, calm and composed, his eyes never leaving his blond master.
After exchanging pleasantries, Archbishop Joseph let them into the church, ordered the priest to lock the door, and only called Segolena and Zio to the confessional.Yulinia wanted to follow her life and death, saying that she was the chief female disciple of the Sventovite sect and had the right to listen in. The archbishop couldn't hold her back, so he had to agree.
The four of them sat down in the confession room, and Zio gave a detailed account of what happened in the past few days in Moldovan, and Segolena filled in the details in Greek.This lecture lasted for a long time, and after listening to the speech, the Archbishop and Yulinia were stunned, unable to speak for a long time, and even forgot to drink the milk tea they had made.The mighty hermit who appeared out of nowhere was terrifying, but Deacon Luxiu Maku's magnanimous actions made them even more astonished, admired and ashamed.Archbishop Joseph opened his mouth several times to say something, but he didn't know how to find the words. Finally, he punched the wooden door with his fist, coughed heavily, and said, "This Lu Xiu...cough, this deacon is unexpected, but he is a tough guy. I really blamed him before!" Yulinia hurriedly asked: "Since this is the case with Luxiu Maku, does the elder brother also have some difficulties?" She still couldn't let go of Maraud's betrayal, and only hoped that Svento Werther sent clarification.Zio's expression sank and he said: "Maraud also worked for the hermit behind the deacon's back, why do you still call him senior brother?!" Yulinia bowed her head in silence, Zio knew that his little junior sister was the most important. The sect Qingyu couldn't bear it, and persuaded softly: "Maloud was deceived by beauty and murdered his master. He is no longer a disciple of my Sventovite sect. You don't have to worry about it, sister. There are bishop grandfather and Young Hero Segolena is here, catch him sooner or later." Yulinia raised her eyes to look at the blond boy, her eyes intertwined, and Segolena nodded slightly in greeting, which made her heart pound.
Archbishop Joseph touched his bald head, frowned and said, "Listen to you, this Ottoman army is actually the hermit maharaja who attracted Suceava, trying to force out that Bogdan?" Segolena Said: "Exactly, he sent Sha Lehua to be Alexandru's concubine, and also in order to find out the whereabouts of Bogdan." Archbishop Joseph said: "Bogdan is a name, although it is not popular , There are quite a few people who use it, and there are probably more than a hundred people in the city of Suceava, is it possible to copy one by one?" Segolena said: "Before I left, the deacon sent a letter to , there are words of persuasion to leave early, maybe it was written to Bogdan, I wonder if the bishop has any clues?" Archbishop Joseph patted his head violently, and said repeatedly: "Oh, I forgot about this!" He took out the letter from his arms, and said: "I have carefully considered what the deacon said when he delivered the letter, and I can only hear that it was sent to a monastery in the west of the city. As for who it was delivered to, it is really impossible to know." Already." Segolena said happily, "Then what's the problem? Since you know it's in the monastery, you just need to check it out?" He was a little surprised when he saw the other three with wry smiles on their faces.Zio said: "Young man, you don't know something. Most of the people in Moldova believe in God. There are countless monasteries in the west of the city, and there are a lot of monks and monks among them. Searching for nothing like this is tantamount to finding a needle in a haystack."
Archbishop Joseph clapped his hands and said: "It seems that if we want to solve this matter, we must discuss it with the Grand Duke! First capture the two spies, Mallord and Salerva!" The other three also agreed.Archbishop Joseph suddenly got up: "This matter must be done by me. Zio, Segolena, let Yulinia take the two of you and rest for a while, these few days are enough for you to work hard." Na and Zio were indeed exhausted, let alone refusing, and wanted to leave when they stood up. Archbishop Joseph said again: "Yulinia, you took my handbook and went to the chief minister and the chief of the city defense to teach them to be vigilant. Don't let suspicious people in." Yulinia agreed.
Archbishop Joseph changed his crown and clothes, washed his hands, stepped into the carriage and rumbled all the way to the Grand Duke's Castle.Yulinia took Zio, Segolena, and Augustine away from St. Cyril's Church and went to the Sventovite camp in the east of the city.This is a large courtyard. The fences are sharpened with solid wood and hardened by fire. They stand side by side and are quite solid.The front yard is a training ground, with a radius of more than one hundred steps and a few wooden houses standing behind it, simple and simple, without much decoration, and there are watchtowers at the four corners of the yard.On weekdays, the disciples of the Sventovit Sect practice martial arts and gather here to discuss matters.
It was almost evening at this time, and most of the Sventovite disciples had been dispatched to strengthen the city defense, so the courtyard was quite quiet.Zio was familiar with the road, and went to rest in his usual room. Augustine strictly abided by the way of a servant, and refused to enter the house, and only lay down on the ground in a secluded place in the school grounds.Yulinia took Segolena to her room. The room was cleaned very cleanly. There was only one bed and one curtain, both of which were plain white. There was a bunch of pale yellow daisies placed obliquely beside the bed, which gave off a faint fragrance.
After Segolena entered the room, she twitched her nose and said with a smile, "It smells so good." Yulinia said, "I've always disliked those overseas spices. The smell is too strong. This flower is my flower today. I just picked it, and only the faint smell of fresh wild flowers smells good, like hyacinth, cornflower, acacia, yellow catkins, etc., each has its own smell. Daisy has a calming effect, wait for you You can have a good night's sleep." She uttered a string of flower names in one breath, her voice was crisp and crisp, which was really nice.Segolena sniffed at her neck, raised her head and said, "You also have a fragrance, which is a little different from the fragrance of wild flowers." Yulinia turned away in fright, and said in embarrassment, "You, what are you doing? Why did you get so close all of a sudden!" Segolena felt itchy when the girl's long hair brushed his nose, and there was a few wisps of fragrance, which was quite beneficial. He rubbed his nose and said, "That day Salova came to me. The room is also so close, the fragrance is so strong that it makes me faint. Your smell is much better than hers." He said that he had no intention, Yulinia turned red when she heard the powder, Embarrassed and furious: "How can you compare me to that naughty... that bad woman!" She raised her hand and was about to hit her.
On weekdays, the brothers and sisters all love Yulinia, and they are tolerant everywhere, and occasionally enjoy her fists a few times.Unexpectedly, Segolena didn't know this, when she saw the fist swung, she suddenly flipped her five fingers, and pinched her slender wrist, feeling soft and delicate at the touch of her fingers.Yulinia struggled a few times and couldn't break free. She became very anxious and said angrily: "You bully me! You bully me!" Segolena said in a daze: "Obviously you are going to hit me, how can it be me? Bullying you?" Yulinia slipped out a string of Moldovan words in a hurry, and waved her hands wildly. Segolena couldn't understand the words and wanted to let go of her hands, but she felt a little bit reluctant after all. .While the two were pushing and pulling, Yulinia's feet tilted and she let out a small scream, and Segolena took advantage of the opportunity to embrace her with a fragrant jade.
Yulinia didn't dare to struggle immediately, and her whole body froze there, letting him wrap her arms around her.Segolena was quite surprised, these few grabs were not difficult to disassemble, why did she throw herself into the trap instead?His mind was fluttering, and he was unwilling to let go, and gradually realized that the delicate body in his arms had softened, and he was not as tense as before.The girl lay in his arms, and suddenly sighed softly: "I thought that after the death of the second senior brother, no one would treat me like this again. I didn't expect you to be as bad as him." Segolena said: " Augustine's big catcher in Zimbabwe is just such a cuddling technique, could it be that the Swiched brothers will also do it?"
Yulinia's complexion changed, she threw off Segolena's arm, hurriedly brushed the messy hair on her forehead, turned her head and walked out of the room.Segolena went in without knowing it, and didn't chase it out, and just lay down on the bed.The bed seemed to be freshly dried, and there was a soft fragrance of the sun. As soon as his head touched the pillow, he fell asleep immediately.Outside, Yulinia waited for him to come after him, and when she heard the snoring inside, she couldn't help cursing "idiot" in a low voice, and then left angrily, and she couldn't tell whether she hoped he would be smarter or stay longer.
Since Segolena left the city, she spent most of her time on the road, and had no bed to lie on until today. She slept very soundly, from evening to noon the next day.After he got up, he rubbed his sleepy eyes, and found that there was a pot of oatmeal and a piece of pine nut pastry beside the bed. You can see a lot of thought went into it.Segolena picked up the pastry and ate it a few times, and drank the oatmeal porridge in one gulp. He felt that the four fluids in his body were calm and his true energy was surging. He couldn't help but sit cross-legged on the bed and adjust his breathing for a while, allowing the true energy to circulate in the Zodiac Palace for a week , I feel extremely comfortable.
After eating and drinking, Segolena strolled through the door and saw Augustine standing outside.When the black man saw his master woke up, he was very happy. He went over and prostrated himself on the ground, offering a set of clean coarse clothes with both hands.Segolena asked where the clothes came from, and Augustine pointed to the distance, making long hair with his hands.Segolena said "Oh" and changed her clothes. The size of the shirt fits well. The cuffs are embroidered with a word of Moldova and a bell flower with red thread. The spelling of the word is similar to Svechd, maybe It's his old stuff.
Zio happened to come from the side, his beard had been shaved clean, and seeing that Segolena had stood up, he took his hand and said in a low voice, "Archbishop Joseph has arrived, tell us to go there." Segolena saw him With a serious expression on his face, he knew that there must be something important, so he followed him without asking any further questions.The two walked along the corridor, all the way to the meeting hall of the Sventovite faction.This is the largest room in the entire courtyard. There are a spear, a sword and a shield in the center of the hall, as well as three bundles of white horse mane. On the wall facing the gate is a miniature painting, which depicts the god of war, Sventovitri, and the wind god, Sterry. Borg's story.
Archbishop Joseph had been waiting in the hall for a long time, chatting with Yulinia, when he saw Segolena and Zio coming in, he swung his sleeves and greeted them.As the patriarch of the country Joseph, he would wait for Segolena to wake up, and he really favored this young man.Seeing Segolena come in, Yulinia raised her chin and turned her gaze elsewhere.
Segolena did not exchange many greetings, and asked straightforwardly: "You went to see the Grand Duke, what happened?" Archbishop Joseph said angrily: "The Grand Duke is really confused. I exposed the details of Mallord and Salova in person, and he He actually said that Xiaosha should not be that kind of person, there must be a misunderstanding, and then asked me who Maraud was, he really couldn’t remember, it really pissed me off! The Grand Duke was so shrewd when he was young, how could he become so stupid now! "Zio sighed: "That vicious woman is really amazing, she fascinated both Mallord and Alexandru." Yulinia snorted coldly, and glared at Segolena again.
Archbishop Joseph said again: "It's ridiculous that the Grand Duke didn't know it, and he called for Lucius Maku to argue with me. I was really angry, so I told him that the deacon was dead, and briefly talked about the hermit. Then he remained silent, his expression flustered, and he was talking about the death of the deacon. I asked him who Bogdan was, and the Grand Duke's eyes flickered. He avoided talking about it several times, and was forced to panic , and even summoned the guards to drive me out." Segolena said: "It can be seen that the Grand Duke must know something!" Archbishop Joseph said proudly: "Yes, this seat is angry, who cares about him. Those few The guards were so frightened by this seat that their muscles and bones were weak, and they immediately collapsed on the ground and did not dare to move. This seat said to the Grand Duke that now a strong enemy is approaching in an instant, whether it is Suceava, Bogdan or you Alexandru Ju is in an unpredictable situation, so concealing it, you can only sit and wait for death! The Grand Duke saw that he couldn't hide, so he had to tell the truth vaguely, that Bogdan was actually his son."
Everyone present was startled when they heard this, and Zio said in surprise: "How is this possible? The Grand Duke had three sons after marriage. The eldest son, Ilya, has been stationed on the northern Polish border for many years, and the second son, Stefan, is from the port of Kilia in the south. The city lord, the third son Peter is accompanying his mother to recuperate in Iasi at this time, and he is not in Suceava." Archbishop Joseph squinted at him and said with disdain: "You have grown up so big that you don't even know how to understand the world. What does giving birth to a baby have to do with getting married?" Zio blushed and dared not answer.Archbishop Joseph said again: "When I first heard this, I was very surprised. I didn't expect that he had an illegitimate child. But the Grand Duke never said that these things were related to the palace. I am a person from outside the country, so it is not good. I pressed him again. I asked him where Bogdan is now, and the Grand Duke said that he had never seen him before, and the deacon contacted him on his behalf." Yulinia said: "No wonder Lucius Maku called himself 'in the letter. Servant, it seems that the person who received the letter is undoubtedly Bogdan, who is also his young master." Archbishop Joseph praised her sensitivity, and sighed: "Luciu Maku was tortured by the hermit, but still He refuses to confess, the deacon is really loyal to the Grand Duke and this illegitimate son, and would rather die than let the scandal of the Grand Duke be exposed." Segolena doubted: "I'm afraid it's not that simple, the illegitimate son once taught Lu Xiuma Ku points golden finger, the power is so strong that even the hermits are afraid of it, it can be seen that his martial arts are very deep, and he is by no means as simple as an illegitimate son of a nobleman." Zio said from the side: "This matter can only be captured by Maraud and Salova. , I just understood."
Archbishop Joseph patted the back of the chair angrily and said: "I came out of the Grand Duke's room and immediately sent someone to arrest the adulterer and adulterer, but neither of them was in the room. I called the guards to go up and down the castle. I searched again, but there was no trace of them. I think I smelled something wrong and ran away. I have already told the city guards to strictly investigate and not to teach a suspicious person to leave the city." Zio said angrily: "The Grand Duke is confused and made a mistake. I really don’t know how the deacon has been serving you all these years!” He had called Lucia Maku a Turkish dog a few days ago, but now he must call him your lord.
Segolena said: "Then what should we do now?" Archbishop Joseph stroked his beard and said: "I have already made up my mind. Since the letter was sent to a monastery in the west of the city, I arranged for a few secret sentries to hide in the west gate. Once you see a suspicious person coming out of the castle, you will follow them. The words of the Grand Duke may not be true. After he is kicked out by me, he may be eager to contact Bogdan. At that time, we will follow , we will find it naturally.” The other three clapped their hands and praised it, saying it was a good strategy.Archbishop Joseph nodded, then shook his head again and said: "This old Alexandru, we have to do things in such a sneaky way for his own good, it's really unpleasant." Yulinia persuaded: "The bishop's grandfather is wholeheartedly for the country. , the city of Suceava knows about it. The Grand Duke doesn’t understand, how can we ordinary people not understand the painstaking efforts of the bishop’s grandfather.”
What she said made Archbishop Joseph laugh out loud. After laughing, he flicked his sleeves and said, "Come on, you guys go on resting. If there is any news, I will come to inform you." Turning around, he strode away.
After Archbishop Joseph left, Yulinia got up to clean up the bowls, but Zio grabbed her and said, "Junior Sister, I have a few words to tell you." Yulinia froze, Segolena saw this , Immediately said: "You talk to yourself, I will go to Augustine to play fist." After speaking, he walked out of the lobby.
Augustine was waiting in the hall, and was very happy to see his master coming.Segolena said: "Your Zimbabwean big catcher is quite interesting, but you are too self-confident in your strength, and you can still fight against those who practice outsiders; You have your heart. Come, come, you and I will take a closer look, I will teach you some methods of luck, and you will also teach me some methods of capture."
So the two started their moves on the school field, moving extremely slowly, not seeking to defeat the enemy, but only seeking to see the origin and direction of the punches and kicks.After dismantling for about an hour, Augustine was already dripping with sweat, but Segolena didn't feel tired at all.A few disciples of the Sventovit Sect found it interesting, and they also came over to watch. At first, they thought that this kind of slow boxing was nothing more than a joke. Later, they found out that there are many mysteries in it, and they all practiced like them.Segolena gave advice from time to time, just like a teacher.
Segolena glanced casually, and suddenly saw Yulinia walking out of the lobby.There was a layer of confusion on her fair face, and although her steps were steady, they were a little more sluggish.When the disciples of Sventovite saw her, they all stopped to say hello to her, but Yulinia went straight to Segolena as if she had never heard of her.Segolena also stopped dismantling, and asked with her hips on her hips, "Are you done talking?" Yulinia said "Hmm".Segolena said "oh".The girl stared at his eyes, seeing that he was silent for a long time, she couldn't help frowning and asked, "Don't you want to know what we are talking about?" Segolena said, "I, an outsider, can't do anything about your affairs." Let me hear it." Yulinia shook her body, burst into tears, stomped her feet and said loudly, "He asked me to marry you!" Segolena said in amazement, "Why did Brother Zio say that?"
It turned out that just after Segolena left the lobby, Zio took the opportunity to confess his feelings to Yulinia.He said that he had admired her since the beginning, and had to bury it in his heart because of his second senior brother, Swid.After Switch's death, he thought he had a chance, but he killed a Segolena on the way.Zio could actually see clearly what the two of them did in Yulinia's room yesterday. He was inferior to Segolena in terms of martial arts and prestige. After thinking twice, he persuaded Yulinia to marry Sego Reiner, recruit him into the Sventovite faction, so that this faction can flourish.
Yulinia is just a young girl in love, who has never experienced such a thing. After hearing Zio's words, she was at a loss, wandered out of the lobby alone, and came to look for Segolena.Unexpectedly, Segolena was talented and intelligent, but he didn't understand this aspect at all.Seeing his indifferent face, she said that it was intentional and ruthless. For a while, the pain of losing a teacher, the sorrow of losing a spouse, the merciless resentment, frustration, annoyance, resentment and other emotions rushed out, and she rushed to Sai Ge Lena burst into tears.
Seeing the young junior sister's situation, the surrounding disciples of the Sventovit sent some ignorant ones to go forward to comfort her, but they were smartly dragged away and said, "This kind of thing, we don't allow us to talk about it!" They all found excuses and left.Segolena didn't expect Yulinia to make such a move, and she stood still and let her tears wet Svechid's lapel.He suddenly saw Zio walking out of the lobby slowly, with a distraught expression on his face, he couldn't bear it, and called out: "Brother Zio." But Qio suddenly knelt down on the ground, resisting the pain and pleadingly: "Young Xia, my junior sister Sincerely to you, please agree to her!"
尤利妮娅猛抬起头来，泪眼朦胧冲齐奥大叫道：“我不要你求他！我不要求他！”扭头就跑，却被奥古斯丁拦在面前。尤利妮娅咬牙道：“滚开！”扬拳打去，奥古斯丁用出津巴布韦擒拿手周旋，既不让她离开，也伤她不着。尤利妮娅只觉眼前臂影重重，连续冲了数次均被挡回，她擦擦眼泪，扭头对赛戈莱纳恨恨道：“你想留我在这里，还是让我走？”
赛戈莱纳还未及回答，远处突然一名骑士冲入校场，马匹一直冲到众人跟前才收住脚。骑士对赛戈莱纳与齐奥大声道：“约瑟夫大主教传话，城西有了动静，叫你们尽快去西边城门集合！”赛戈莱纳与齐奥对视一眼，齐奥上前一步劝道：“师妹，先以国事为重。”尤利妮娅亦知道轻重缓急，她跺了跺脚，扭头飞奔回自己屋子。
赛戈莱纳心有歉疚，走过去拍了齐奥的肩膀道：“齐奥兄弟，有件事如今不好瞒着你。”齐奥怪他不接受尤利妮娅，沉声道：“什么？”赛戈莱纳扯开上衣，露出胸口、双肩上的三个斑点，连同额头一共四个，齐奥面露不解，赛戈莱纳道：“我其实是护廷十二使徒中马太福音在这一代的传人，这十字斑点就是凭证。”齐奥惊道：“那你不是……”赛戈莱纳道：“不错，护廷使徒也属修士，须专心侍奉上帝，是不能婚配的。”齐奥一听，也不知该为自己欣喜还是该为师妹难过，百感交集，竟说不出来话。赛戈莱纳重新把衣服扣好，笑道：“回头了结了此事，你与尤利妮娅说说罢。”
这时尤利妮娅收拾停当返回校场，她把长发束起，脸上泪痕洗净，仍是英姿飒爽的清丽模样，只是殊无表情。她快步走到二人面前，只望着齐奥道：“我们走吧。”齐奥与赛戈莱纳谁也不敢多言，三人各自上马，朝着城西飞奔而去。奥古斯丁拽着赛戈莱纳马尾，一路赤足跟跑。
到了苏恰瓦城西门，约瑟夫大主教已等候多时，见他们才到，大不耐烦：“你们来的好迟！人都快要跑光了！”赛戈莱纳纵马过去，问道：“大公有动静了？”约瑟夫大主教颇为自得道：“感谢上帝，本座亲自安排的暗哨，如何能错——只是没想到，大公没有派人，而是亲身前往。”
三人均是一楞，齐奥道：“大公他亲自出城了？莫非是看错了，他已数十年不曾离开苏恰瓦。”约瑟夫大主教道：“大公带了十几名亲兵，也不打旗号仪仗，穿着便服出了西门，只说是去狩猎。如今正朝着城西的达干山而去，已有我们的人在后面悄悄跟过去了。”尤利妮娅问道：“达干山中，有三间修道院，他会去哪一家呢？”约瑟夫大主教道：“跟上去便知！”他瞥了尤利西娅一眼，觉得她神情有些古怪，不过大事当前，不容他分神细想。
于是四人也不多带人手，只教奥古斯丁随行，拍马疾驰而去。苏恰瓦城西乃是一大片密林，有一条小路蜿蜒伸入。这里是苏恰瓦贵族游猎之地，寻常百姓俱不得入内，是以鸟鸣狐蹿、獾走枭飞，大是热闹。
只是这五人无心欣赏两侧美景，排成一列埋头赶路，他们循着跟踪者留下的印记走了半日有余，约瑟夫大主教忽然皱起眉头道：“这便怪了，达干山中三个修道院我都去过，都不曾要走这条偏僻小路的。”齐奥和尤利妮娅想了一回，也没甚么头绪，四人只好继续向前走去。林子愈加阴翳，两侧山势倾来，狭窄处甚至天空只留有一线之隙，全无人迹，惟有覆在路面的叶子上依稀可见马蹄散乱，可见是大公的马队踏过。
忽然路旁灌木丛被拨去两边，从中闪出一个人来。齐奥一惊，“唰”地抽出长剑，却被约瑟夫止住。这是个身材瘦小的汉子，脸膛黝黑，一双硕大的赤足满是泥土。他见了约瑟夫大主教，先行跪倒亲吻脚面，然后说道：“尊主，大公的队伍就在前面一处谷口停住了。”约瑟夫大主教道：“他们为何停住？”那汉子道：“小人看到大公只身朝谷内走去，那十几名亲兵却留在谷口看守，小的不好跟进。”约瑟夫大主教道：“你干的不错，快快从原路返回罢，免得到了夜里有狼豹出来伤人。”汉子又亲吻一遍脚背，向身后三人鞠躬致意，然后匆匆离开。
约瑟夫大主教笑道：“来罢！今日教你们这些小辈看看甚么叫单骑闯营。”一抖缰绳，双腿猛一夹马肚子，朝前面冲去。那守谷口的十几个亲兵见这里深入山坳，偏僻无人，本来漫不经心，忽然听到隆隆马蹄声响，见那赫赫有名的霹雳火大主教突然催马冲将过来，无不骇异。约瑟夫大主教冲到谷口，几乎踏倒几个马前的守卫，他也不下马，直接对那些亲兵喝问道：“大公是往里去了么？”其中一个亲兵上前拱手道：“正是，大公说他心绪不宁，要进谷静修祈祷，不可让闲人打扰。”约瑟夫怒道：“放你娘的屁！本座乃是摩尔多瓦的大主教，大公若要祈祷，怎少得了本座，快让开！”他这一吼如黄钟大吕，亲兵平日里对主教敬若天神，如今他作狮子怒吼，全都噤若寒蝉，哪个敢拦，纷纷放下武器，让开一条路来。
约瑟夫大主教大摇大摆闯进谷来，赛戈莱纳、奥古斯丁、齐奥与尤利妮娅尾随鱼贯而入。甫一进谷，便有一股古怪的药味传来，愈往深里走，味道愈加浓烈。尤利妮娅蹙着眉头，一手握缰，一手掩鼻，似是难以忍受。齐奥递了自己手帕过去，她犹豫了一下，还是接过来。大主教用力嗅了嗅，沉吟了片刻方道：“古怪，古怪，我只能嗅出曼德拉草与金链花的味道，其余闻不出来的药料不下十几味，难道这山谷里藏了一个药房不成？”赛戈莱纳只学得几味疗伤的野草，于医道一无所知，接不了话茬，只得埋头朝前走去，同时闭住一半气息，免得苦味入鼻。
这山谷入谷颇窄，碎石遍地，两边山岭郁壁对倾，怪石嶙峋，如两扇未曾合缝的顶盖，只余头顶一线天色。地面上锥石极多，如宗教审讯所里用钉板一般，个个耸尖立锋，状如恶魔指爪。马匹唯恐被扎了四蹄，一步一顿，前行极难。他们看到一匹枣红色骏马立在前头不动，一看鎏金辔头便知是大公的坐骑，只得也学大公放开马匹，改为步行，在这些凸起的尖锥之间七绕八绕。行出不到百步，忽然眼前豁然开朗，原来这条锥谷的尽头竟是一片开阔的谷中盆地。约瑟夫大主教作了个噤声的手势，与赛戈莱纳悄无生息地贴了过去。奥古斯丁、齐奥与尤利妮娅功力不足，只能远远在后面跟着，生怕弄出什么动静。
这片盆地中间塌陷，四外环山隆起，除去一个入口，并无别的出路，其余三面山壁皆平整如镜，全无攀爬借力的地方，俨然是一个牢笼模样。盆地正中架起了一个硕大无朋的漆黑圆腹坩锅，锅边烙着一轮弯月，底下积薪熊熊，锅内熬着不知是甚么的黄绿液体，咕嘟咕嘟翻腾不已，原来那异味就是从这里飘出来的。坩锅四周散乱搁着各色药材、矿石、铁锭铅块以及一些兽骨残渣。那三面平整山壁之上，不知被谁用炭柴写满了许多数字与图形，极为凌乱潦草，难以辨认。在盆地一角还有一铺稻草，其上条石作枕，枕旁堆放着数十本古旧厚实的书籍。对角处还有一个小小的土包，似是个坟墓模样，前面立有一块石碑，其上无字，只刻着一朵鸢尾花。
整个盆地俨如一个露天的小型修道院，至此众人方知信中“修道院”之意。
亚历山德鲁正站在坩锅之前，埚中鼎沸之声颇大，是以他根本没听到约瑟夫等人靠近的声音。这垂垂老者吃力地举起一把搅拌用的圆头木勺，敲了敲坩埚边缘，大声道：“我儿，出来见见你可怜的父亲罢。”坩埚沸腾依旧，不见有甚么响动。
约瑟夫大主教掰掰手指关节，发出嘎巴嘎巴的声响，低声怒道：“呸，原来竟是个下贱的炼金术士！”赛戈莱纳也曾听修士提及，炼金术士乃是欧罗巴的一个邪派，行事诡秘乖戾，擅于物质融汇、元素化合，毕生孜孜以求“点石成金”及“长生不老”。因为这个门派亵渎造物主，为历代教廷所不容，只是诸国国王明里反对，暗中却无不心往，是以多年以来势力不消反涨，已成了欧洲武林人人头疼的一个公害。
大公举棒又敲了三下，锅中沸腾噶然而止，一个嘶哑人声自锅中传来道：“父亲你不在苏恰瓦城安享天伦之乐，跑来我这陋居是何用意？”竟是用法语说的，赛戈莱纳听到精神一振。大公苦笑着亦用法语作答：“人说父子无世仇，何苦连一面都不得相见呢？”沉默片刻，只见水声相击，一个全身赤裸的人“唰”地从药液中跃出，平平落到大公跟前。这人长年泡在药液之中，头发、胡须、眉头已然掉尽，一张青森森的面孔满是褶皱病容，看上去竟比大公还老上几分。他身材极瘦，胸前肋骨条条可见，唯独小腹高高鼓起，望之极不协调。赛戈莱纳心想，这想来便是亚力山德鲁大公的私生子博格丹了。
博格丹眼皮一翻，也不理睬大公，径自走回到稻草床铺旁捡起一条破烂毛巾擦了擦身体，用一件黑丝袍把自己罩了起来，方转身道：“父亲，您可以说了。”大公觉得坩埚热力实在难耐，遂走开几步，擦擦额头汗水，才缓缓说道：“卢修马库他前日被人杀死了。”博格丹动作停了一瞬，随即淡淡道：“执事于我有恩，亦是我的好友，你不必开口相求，我自会为他报仇的。”大公忍不住问道：“倘若是我被人杀死，儿子你可会出手？”博格丹嘲讽道：“父亲您已有三子，又是一国之君，哪里轮到我这卑贱之人尽孝呢。”大公还欲分辨，博格丹截断他的话道：“父亲您万金之躯，区区一个执事之死，怎能劳动您亲自来找我，一定还有别的事罢？”
大公顾不得恼他讥讽，说道：“你可知是谁杀的卢修马库？”博格丹道：“执事行事一向实际，自然有那假仁假义的人恨他无德，仇家可是不少。”约瑟夫大主教与齐奥、尤利妮娅在旁边听到，心中俱是一惭。大公走到他身前，放下搅勺，长叹一声道：“是隐者，他回来了。”博格丹一听隐者之名，眼神一凛，不由得凶光毕露：“这老匹夫真是贼心不死！”大公将近期发生之事说了一遍，只是细节上与实情稍有不同，在他口中变成是卢修马库带着随从前去奥斯曼军中，被隐者偷袭，最后力战而死，随从逃回苏恰瓦城报信云云。
博格丹一面听着，一面从一个口袋里拿出几粒不知甚么炼出来的澄黄药丸，放到嘴里嘎巴嘎巴嚼了，面上青色稍褪。大公见状，连忙关切道：“这么多年来，你的伤势恢复如何，如今战他可有胜算？”博格丹咧开嘴嘎嘎笑道，笑声如铜锉铁磨：“我蜗居此地已有十五年，父亲您一直到今日，才肯问候我的病情，实在是令我感动莫名。”大公大为尴尬，搓着手不知如何回应。博格丹又道：“亏得卢修马库每月按时送来柴薪药料，这十五年来我每日以药液洗髓，加上炼金术中的秘方，外伤已好了七成，只是……”他话未说完，突然一拍坩埚，埚体纹丝未动，锅中黄绿液体却骤然扬起，朝着赛戈莱纳他们潜伏的石锥泼来。
约瑟夫大主教大吃一惊，击锅振水他自信也能轻易作到，但这等驾驭锅中沸水如臂使指一般，却是极难。他见急机变，双臂一晃，把一面法袍挥起挡在五人面前，恰好被那药液泼了个正着。尤利妮娅和齐奥吓得不轻，这沸水倘若泼溅到脸上，轻则毁容，重则烫死，还不知那黄澄澄、绿油油的水液里到底藏着甚么毒物呢。
博格丹冷冷道：“偷听的都给我滚出来罢！”五人知道身形已露，便纷纷起身踏入盆地。大公见到约瑟夫大主教，先是一阵惊慌，随即怒道：“主教你竟偷偷跟踪我，太放肆了！”约瑟夫大主教把法袍抖了抖水，依然披在身上，以希腊语叱道：“大公你言谈举止不尽不实，还想瞒过本座么？本座也不是要与你作对，只是为苏恰瓦城上下着想，岂能因你的颟顸而坏了全城百姓的性命。天主有德，老天有眼，你还不悟么？”这一番话大义凛然，说得大公哑口无言，约瑟夫大主教又冲博格丹说道：“你便是大公的私生子？本座是摩尔多瓦大主教。”他知道此人是炼金术士，是以语气殊无好感。博格丹毫不理睬，把这四人来回端详了一遍，仍旧对大公用法语道：“这五人已经知道我的行藏，须得杀掉，父亲你看如何？”大公颇有些踌躇：“约瑟夫是本国大主教，那一男一女都是斯文托维特派的弟子，都不可……”博格丹道：“如此，先杀掉那金发小子，以儆效尤罢！”
他本对着大公讲话，却猝然横里一指，点向赛戈莱纳。赛戈莱纳怎能想到这人性子如此乖戾，不问情由便要施下杀手，心中大是气恼，更不躲闪，也伸出一指迎冲而去。二指相抵，稍触即退，两人俱是一惊。赛戈莱纳惊的是此人招数高明至极，内力却十分古怪，刚才那一触他已感到博格丹的内劲浮虚，虽强横无匹，却是雄而不厚，倘若碰到相等的敌手以内力对冲，厚势便会崩溃；博格丹本以为这等黄头小童可一击杀之，却没料到对方内力极为充沛，正是自己最不愿对敌的那类对手，急忙一指错开，免得跟他比拼内力，腹部鼓起的肚子一阵颤巍巍。
博格丹面色煞青，问大公道：“摩尔多瓦几曾出了这么一号人物？”大公哪里知道赛戈莱纳底细，嗫嚅难言，约瑟夫大主教划了一个十字，得意道：“他乃是教廷弟子，虽与我希腊正教门庭不合，侍奉天主之心却是一体的。”尤利妮娅不明所以，齐奥听了这话，却忽然想到赛戈莱纳的使徒身份，不免多看了自己小师妹一眼。博格丹换了摩尔多瓦语对主教道：“原来是教廷的人，你们是来审判炼金术士的么？”
约瑟夫大主教道：“若是平时，见了你这种邪徒，本座必不会坐视不理。只是今日情况特殊，暂不与你计较。这位赛戈莱纳兄弟，乃是卢修马库临终托付之人，亦是从隐者手下逃生出来的。他的话，可比大公可信多了。”博格丹听到隐者的名字，不禁打量了一番赛戈莱纳，疑惑道：“你年纪轻轻，竟能从隐者手中逃生？莫不是在吹牛。”赛戈莱纳自出谷以来，终于有机会练习法文，便把隐者相貌、声音与作派略作描述，博格丹颌首道：“不错，果然就是他，这十五年来他竟没变过。他武功如今怎样？”赛戈莱纳又把隐者如何掳走卢修马库、自己如何追赶、隐者如何擒住众人、卢修马库如何牺牲细细说了一遍，末了苦笑道：“莫说测他的武功深浅，我便是迫他用出双手都不能。若非有执事，只怕都要死在那里。”
博格丹似乎不愿与他用法文多讲，换回摩尔多瓦语淡淡道：“你这话倒也实在，你小子内力虽然古怪，还欠缺些磨砺，要跟他交手，还差了许多。执事有我教他的点金指，倒可以与之一搏。”尤利妮娅气不过插嘴道：“你刚才连赛戈莱纳一指都不敢接，还这么大话炎炎，好不羞臊！”博格丹指甲一弹，一缕绿液飞到尤利妮娅脖颈处，她本来细腻柔白的脖子登时变得乌青一片，奇痒无比，吓得尖叫起来。齐奥、赛戈莱纳与约瑟夫主教俱是大怒，以为他用了甚么奇毒，博格丹道：“小姑娘胡乱插嘴，该教训一下才是。”指甲又是一弹，这次却是一缕白液，仍旧溅在脖颈，痒痛稍减，只是乌青还在。博格丹道：“你们谁助她用内力活活双子宫的血脉，把渗入皮肤的药液行至肾脏天平宫化掉就是。这不过是我疗伤的药渣，没有毒性。”齐奥不敢多问，当下把尤利妮娅按坐在地上，盘腿用双手抵住她双手，运功逼液。约瑟夫大主教双拳一捏，瞪眼喝道：“你好大胆子，竟然爱本座面前用这种邪魔之法！”博格丹傲然道：“什么邪法，不过是物质相合的规律运用罢了。我炼金之妙，岂是你们这些俗人所能领会的。”
约瑟夫大主教见尤利妮娅没甚么危险了，转向大公道：“大公你最好把这人的来历一五一十讲出来，否则等隐者杀来，后果堪忧。”亚历山德鲁面色骤变，逐渐背靠山壁，似乎极是痛苦。博格丹见状不禁仰天长笑道：“父亲呐父亲，想不到你薄情一世，到现在倒坚贞起来。”他把黑罩袍子裹紧，嘶哑着嗓子对众人道：“我这父亲一贯懦弱，也罢，便让我说与外人知道，这个素称'好人'的大公曾作出过何等事情。”他改换了希腊语，好教在场之人都能听懂，大公听了他儿子言辞，索性闭上眼睛，如在刑架上静等屠戮。
博格丹又吞下一枚药丸，徐徐道：“我娘亲本名唤作凯瑟琳·德·瓦卢瓦，乃是法兰西瓦卢瓦皇室的旁裔普瓦图侯爵的女儿、疯子查理的表姐。耶历一千三百八十二年，铅锤党于巴黎作乱，宫廷倾轧，我外祖父为暴民所杀。娘亲连夜逃出巴黎，一路东奔，决意避祸东欧以了残生。三年之后，我娘亲终于到了摩尔多瓦，恰好碰到穆沙特家族的一个贵族青年亚历山得鲁，便是我父亲了。承蒙他多方照顾，我娘亲由是感激，遂以身相许。我父亲哄骗我娘亲，只说恪于身份，不便立刻明媒正娶，只消等些时日。一年之后，她诞下一子，便是我了。我父亲到了那时，仍然推搪……”
这时大公插嘴道：“非我不愿意娶凯瑟琳，实在是时势逼迫。”博格丹怒道：“闭嘴！不然我便毒哑了你。”大公只好仍旧缩在角落，博格丹又继续道：“这一推搪，便推了足足十四年光景。我那时年已及弱冠，尚且晓得我父亲只是空言哄骗，我娘亲犹不自省。到了耶历一千四百年，摩尔多瓦大公身死，我父亲兄弟五人争权不休，我娘亲为助我父亲登上王位，可谓是殚精竭虑，只盼他登基以后，我母子就有了倚靠。”
约瑟夫大主教道：“你母亲又有甚么能耐，可以左右摩尔多瓦政局？”博格丹冷笑道：“炼金术本来就流行于诸国宫廷，我娘亲天资聪颖，在法国时已学了一身奇术，如何不能？她先毒杀我父亲的两个兄弟，又前往邻国瓦拉几亚，甘心以身相诱，让那瓦拉几亚大公米恰尔出兵相助，攻灭了其余两个兄弟，终于助我父亲坐上了王位。她原以为从此可以与他相宿相栖，终老一生，想不到那薄幸忘恩之人竟嫌弃我娘亲身事二夫！可怜我娘亲一怒之下，还是不忍伤他性命，就离开苏恰瓦，携着我在附近一处修道院中隐居，平日里只一心教我些武功与炼金术，盼着哪一日父亲回心转意，我好有能力效忠于他。”
说到这里，博格丹长长叹息一声，那青森森的脸上也显出些许哀伤：“倘若如此终了一生，还则罢了。却不料我父亲又给她惹来一身滔天祸事，以至我有今日之境地。当年我娘亲离开法兰西之时，身上还带着一件至宝，乃是圣路易的王冠。这王冠与寻常的不同，乃是路易九世当年之用，路易九世是御封的圣人，他的王冠号称三圣，由耶路撒冷十字架残片、耶稣受难时所戴荆棘王冠的棘刺与黄金打造的金百合花拼成，无比珍贵。此事我父亲自然谙熟于心，其时奥斯曼土耳其有大军压境，他去找瓦拉几亚借兵，开口便允诺以圣路易王冠相酬。事后他来找我娘亲索要，我娘亲自然不肯给，此事不了了之。没想到这个消息却不胫而走，竟被一个魔头得知了。”赛戈莱纳动容道：“是隐者？”
博格丹道：“隐者只是他的名号，究竟姓甚名谁，没人知道——你们可听过塔罗血盟么？”众人都摇了摇头，约瑟夫大主教道：“塔罗牌我倒知道，似是魔女巫婆所施行的邪术道具，计有大阿尔克那二十二张，各有图案寓意，可是那个？”博格丹道：“不错。外人虽视炼金术士为一个门派，其实术士之间多各自为政，颇为松散。其中有二十二个出类拔萃的高手，深感孤军作战不若群策群力，遂歃血为盟，约以塔罗为号。塔罗血盟中人平日并不来往，每十五年一聚，倘有空缺，则另外推举一人递补，是以人数常常都有二十二人不变。那'隐者'便是其中一名了；而我娘亲亦身在其中，号为'月亮'。”说罢一指坩埚侧烙着的弯月标志，众人只道那无非是寻常装饰，原来还有这等寓意。
博格丹继续道：“隐者不知如何知道了我娘亲拥有圣路易王冠，起了觊觎之心，数次索要未果，怀恨在心。恰是十五年前，隐者会同几个甘与他同流合污的血盟成员，大举进犯。我与母亲拼死抵抗，仍旧是寡不敌众，母亲向我父亲求援。那无耻之徒竟说只消拿圣路易王冠来换，便发兵去救。只有卢修马库见我母子可怜，私自调动了斯文托维特派的一批门徒来援，可惜为时已晚。母亲空等援军不来，被隐者打至重伤，我亦中了隐者的典伊寒掌，一身功力尽废。我娘亲拼得一死，用血盟誓约逼迫隐者发下誓言，须等到十五年后新月继任，才可再回摩尔多瓦夺取王冠。隐者料我已成废人，不以为意，说日后自会来取，威胁说倘若我就此逃走，他便要屠尽苏恰瓦全城。母亲叮嘱我不可因私而害了一城性命，亦不可找我父亲报仇。于是这十五年来，我便在卢修马库的帮助下，在这达干山的隐谷之中伴着母亲遗骸慢慢疗伤，不问世事。而我那父亲，嘿嘿，却在苏恰瓦城里颐养天年，享尽清福，好不舒服。”
这一篇故事讲下来，博格丹以手按胸，忆起母亲音容笑貌，眼中竟隐有泪光。听众亦是嗟叹不已，始知为何博格丹跟他父亲只用法语交谈，实在是为了追忆亡母。再看那负心大公已经是面如死灰，瘫坐在地，喘着阵阵粗气，仿佛那旧事压在胸口重逾千金，艰于呼吸。博格丹一指道：“父亲如今你瘫坐之地，恰好就是我娘亲凯瑟琳埋骨的所在”。大公听罢低头一看，竟是一个小小的坟包，骇得连忙挣扎着要起身避开，双腿却全不听使唤，只是连连蹬踹，样子极其狼狈。
赛戈莱纳道：“难怪隐者又是派人卧底，又是游说奥斯曼人来攻，全都是