Chapter 1318: Chapter 1317: Two Choices
The body of Akumal lay peacefully on the golden coffin. His disciples cleaned his body and dressed him in a moon-white robe; he looked as though he were just sleeping.
Surrounded by people in tears, his disciples were on the verge of breathlessness from crying!
Though Akumal was not old, the wisdom and spirit he left behind surpassed many people.
The words of the Saint Sage Master were not mere flattery but a description of facts!
Sorrow was swiftly spreading.
In a place like Nagariel, akin to hell, people indeed needed some spiritual support!
"We should take revenge!" Akumal’s youngest disciple said, wiping away his tears.
He looked at the others, saying words that visibly changed most people’s expressions.
Everyone knew Akumal’s spirit opposed achieving goals through violent means, and obviously, revenge was a violent method.
He never advocated for revenge, nor did he talk about it because revenge was unfavorable.
Revenge perpetuates an endless cycle of pain. Even if you achieve revenge, the children, relatives, and friends of those you killed will fall into sorrow.
Some of them might rise to seek revenge too, turning victims into you and those around you!
Such a cycle of revenge ensures that hatred and pain never cease; revenge only brings destruction, just like violence.
However, despite the young disciple mentioning "revenge," no voices of opposition were raised.
People were contemplating the matter of revenge, anger and hatred burning their rationality until Akumal’s eldest disciple shook his head, saying, "If the Saint Sage Master were alive, he’d definitely oppose me taking revenge for him."
The young disciple merely looked at him and said, "He is already dead; if we don’t avenge him, our enemy will only mock us."
"Revenge is also a continuation of spirit!"
The young disciple, being young, had yet to have his edges smoothed by time and experience.
The eldest disciple remained silent, and others seemed somewhat swayed.
While Akumal was alive, they simply followed in his footsteps, but now that he was gone, they too felt lost.
He was killed by his own kind, underlying conflicts within were now unavoidable, just like now, when someone proposed revenge, the eldest disciple, who was supposed to uphold Akumal’s ideologies, said nothing.
Seeing no one stopping him, the young disciple turned to leave, followed by a group of others.
"Why didn’t you stop him?" a disciple asked the eldest, who was supposed to lead this group after Akumal’s death.
He should’ve been the one to fully embody Akumal’s spirit; he shouldn’t have let the young disciple leave, he should have prevented it.
The eldest disciple retorted, "What’s the use of stopping him?"
"Once he has this thought, even if I stop him now, he’ll find a time and place where I can’t stop him, and leave us."
"When he’s consumed by the flames of revenge, he is no longer one of us!"
This perspective of the eldest disciple... garnered some support from others.
If his heart could truly be as peaceful as the Saint Sage Master Akumal’s, even half as much, he wouldn’t propose revenge at this time...
Perhaps, this is his fate?
People believed in this theory, especially since Akumal had foreseen the day of his death some time ago, further convincing the remaining people that everything had its reasons.
They could not yet see those reasons and results because they hadn’t, like Akumal, pierced through the veil masking the true world.
But as long as they continued their practice, one day they could achieve it too.
Perhaps, seeking revenge is the young disciple’s destiny!
"Let’s first send the Saint Sage Master off..."
The eldest disciple began to conduct the next steps, and according to the Nagariel religious rites, the golden coffin would be cast into the deep sea, travel through an undersea channel, and return to the Divine Kingdom.
He was not the High Priest, so he didn’t need to be cast into the sea while alive.
The believers had swiftly gathered enough gold, forming a finely crafted coffin.
People followed the golden coffin carrying Akumal’s body to the seaside, watching as it was placed onto a small boat.
A few believers willing to accompany Saint Sage Master Akumal to the Divine Kingdom boarded the boat. These were zealots who didn’t fear death but were instead excited by it.
Because soon, led by the Saint Sage Master, they would break through the undersea channel, heading to the eternal Divine Kingdom.
There, they would return to the best moments of their lives, young and full of strength.
They would be free from disease, aging, and all negative pains, achieving eternity!
The small boat drifted further out on the sea until it suddenly vanished from sight!
People knelt on the ground, crying as they sent the Saint Sage Master back to the Divine Kingdom!
The eldest disciple who returned to the hotel was still a bit upset. He had followed Akumal for the longest time and had the deepest feelings for him.
He was also the most pained.
After sending off the others, he sat in a chair, looking at a photo of himself and Akumal, smiling broadly. Back then, he never thought tragedy would strike so quickly.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
The knock made him frown briefly, but he didn’t vent his frustration on the person outside for interrupting him.
He got up to open the door, somewhat surprised to see two... foreigners standing outside. "Sorry, you are...?"
He was very polite. Akumal had mentioned during idle chats that during his visit to the Federation, he discovered it was a very civilized society.
People were polite and cultured, the ground was clean and orderly, everything in the society was efficient and civilized.
He said this is the transformation Nagariel will undergo in the future; when people have the motivation to sustain their lives, they will actively and diligently participate in changing society.
Eventually, people will achieve all their aspirations, and this place will become a civilized and clean place!
Thinking of Akumal, the eldest disciple felt sad again, turning to wipe away his tears and apologized for his behavior, "I apologize, I’m just too sad..."
The Federation man at the door smiled and asked, "Can we come in and chat?"
"Ah! Of course, please come in!"
The eldest disciple stepped aside, making way and leading the visitors into the living room.
"I don’t know you two..."
He had traveled to other countries with Akumal, and often received visitors from around the world who admired Akumal back home; he had no trouble with the accent, and knew how to communicate with these foreigners.
One of them first comforted him, expressing sorrow over the unexpected assassination of Saint Sage Master Akumal, then talked about their purpose here.
"I represent the Federation United Development Company, this is my deputy..." the other person greeted the eldest disciple, but his expression gradually became solemn.
"I don’t understand what you mean!" he said bluntly, "Rumors outside say you hired those people to kill Saint Sage Master Akumal. Before we have thoroughly investigated, it’s best we keep some distance!"
As he spoke, the eldest disciple stood up, intending to ask them to leave, "I haven’t calmed down yet; we can reschedule."
Though the two Federation men stood up, they showed no intention of leaving. One took out a document and placed it in front of the eldest disciple.
"Here are the assassin’s details. In fact, we are more eager than you to have the matter investigated thoroughly."
"I can assure you, we definitely did not interfere in this matter."
The Federation man’s assurance was worthless, yet the eldest disciple still took the documents.
When he saw the mastermind was actually the Eldest Prince, his mind froze at that moment!
Eldest Prince... wasn’t he in the Royal Palace?
He didn’t immediately choose to trust these files, but neither did he express disbelief.
"I will investigate through my own channels. Thank you for providing the information..."
The Federation Special Envoy smiled in response, "That’s right, none of us want such things to happen. If you need assistance from us, you can call this number."
"For going abroad, or some financial and material aid..."
The envoy handed a business card to the eldest disciple, and the meaning behind his words was already very clear, the eldest disciple also understood.
An instant discomfort grew in his heart but was quickly suppressed, acting as if he hadn’t heard that implication!
After seeing off the two Federation men, and just about to return inside, he paused at the door.
Could the Federation have approached others as they did him?
He wanted to check the rooms of the others, but then thought it might not be appropriate, it would make others feel his distrust.
There were already enough issues, so he ultimately closed the door.
As the eldest disciple suspected, in each of Akumal’s disciples’ rooms, there were two Federation people.
They offered everything that only Nagariel’s dreams could afford!
Opportunities to change nationality, uncountable money, support from the United Development Company, all kinds of material support...
Their intent was simple—to make these newly formed beliefs safe and controllable!
Akumal couldn’t be bribed or coerced, but what about his disciples?
In the evening, during a group dinner, everyone gathered around the table.
Akumal liked everyone eating together, as it gave a sense of ’family,’ this habit was carried on.
While eating, the eldest disciple suddenly said, "Federation people approached me, I turned them down..."
Some looked at the eldest disciple in surprise, while others pretended they knew nothing!
