Be a lord in the world of Indian mythology

Chapter 13 Equivalent Exchange

A gust of wind blew by, causing the oil lamp to flicker and cast shadows, while the crackling sound of the stove filled the quiet of the room.

A hint of curiosity appeared in Bodhidharma's eyes. He carefully examined Vijay's face, lingering for a moment, especially at the center of his brow: "Shiva, please protect me! Saints are not so easy to meet... Even I don't have the authority to send you before a saint!"

His words seemed to reveal a hint of weariness and powerlessness. For the noble Brahmin to utter such words, muscle memory surged, pressing down on Vijay, who hurriedly lowered his head again.

"This junior is foolish!"

"Get up!" Daruma showed no sign of anger, and after a moment's thought, asked, "Did you come because of the curse upon you?"

Upon hearing this, Vijay was immediately taken aback.

He never mentioned the curse on him! Is it really that obvious to a Brahmin?

"Come closer!" Damo waved to Vijay, gesturing for him to sit down.

This is somewhat different from Vijay's plans...

At present, there is no way to directly acquire the resources to fight against the Kshatriyas.

But curses were also a major concern for him, so it was a lucky accident that he received some guidance from Bodhidharma!

Vijay obediently moved closer.

Bodhidharma squinted his eyes, began chanting Sanskrit, gently touched Vijaya with one hand, and picked up an old Rigveda manuscript that he never parted from, which was placed beside him with the other.

The next second, a faint golden light emanated from the Rigveda, making Bodhidharma look like a god.

A faint warmth swept over his entire body, and Vijay clearly felt the small black dot representing the curse in his lower abdomen's navel chakra tremble again, then seemed to be washed away by the warm current, shrinking a tiny bit.

The light quickly dissipated, and the divine feeling vanished from Bodhidharma.

"Shiva above!" came the devout voice of the old servant beside him.

Bodhidharma opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them, as if deep in thought: "Brahma, my disciple, the curse upon you is quite peculiar!"

Vijay had a lot of questions, but he didn't interrupt.

"It will subject you to the worst suffering in Avici Hell, but it won't kill you!"

"My divine power is insufficient to lift this curse for you," Bodhidharma kindly comforted you, "but I will arrange an audience with the Brahma priest for you."

"You must purify yourself beforehand and bring appropriate offerings!"

Vijay was deeply moved by Bodhidharma's teachings and bowed his head deeply to the ground.

In this city, the title of Brahmin priest belongs only to one noble Brahmin: the purification priest who is responsible for the city's rituals, caste purification, and the execution of sacrificial ceremonies.

He held the third most powerful position among the Brahmins in the city.

If we could establish a connection with this person, it would be more than enough to keep Roshman in check.

"My disciple, you still seem to have doubts?" Bodhidharma saw the unease beneath Vijaya's outward appearance of submission and spoke up.

Perhaps he felt that Vijay was still worthy of good fortune, or perhaps the mandala Vijay offered suited his taste perfectly, which is why he was willing to offer him some pointers.

Taking the initiative was exactly what Vijay wanted. He paused for a moment, then immediately revealed everything with a hint of anticipation: "Guru, it's about Kshatriya Roshman..."

"The rights of Kshatriyas and Brahmins overlap; you shouldn't be asking me about Kshatriya matters!"

Darma interrupted Vijay, though his tone remained gentle, but Vijay clearly sensed the strict division within it.

Vijay immediately stopped the conversation and could only express his deepest gratitude again with great tact.

Darmo waved his hand and said nothing more. The old servant then saw Vijay out the door.

"Bim, let's find a place to rest!" Vijay was also somewhat helpless. Although this trip wasn't entirely fruitless, it didn't provide any help in dealing with Roshman.

The next morning, Vijay got up early and cleansed himself.

He called Bim to get the oxcart ready; he was prepared to deliver the goods to their doorstep today!

Roshman naturally had his own residence in the city, but as one of the military commanders, he had to spend most of his time at the military camp outside the city.

Vijay's destination was there; without evasion or delay, the oxcart headed straight for the military camp on the outskirts of the city.

Harappa was peaceful in the early morning, with the river flowing quietly beside the city.

Although it was the hot, dry season, the waters of the great river, blessed by the gods, still nourished this sacred city.

Those who had received permission from the Kshatriyas could draw water from the river and bathe in it. Squads of soldiers patrolled the river and sacrificed those who had drawn water without permission to the great river.

Along the riverbank, there were low shops made of stone and adobe, with goods displayed on the eaves platforms. The air was filled with the strong aroma of pepper, turmeric, and sandalwood, mixed with the subtle sweetness of baked bean cakes and ghee.

Brahmins carrying alms bowls walked slowly, Vaishya merchants set up their stalls, barefoot Shudra laborers thronged the crowds, and untouchables swept away filth.

The ox with its tumor, the monkey darting about on the treetops and rooftops, and the shouts and scoldings all blended together, presenting a vibrant scene to Vijay.

Mittal village was once just as bustling...

Vijay shook his head, tossing aside the resurrected fragments of memory.

After struggling through the bustling streets, the oxcart quickly arrived at the military camp.

In this vast wilderness, military camps stretched out in a continuous line, with coarse cloth tents arranged according to the terrain, and the camps surrounded by sharp wooden fences for defense. Soldiers in armor patrolled back and forth, their bronze shoulder guards gleaming coldly in the sunlight, and various colored spears and shields were neatly displayed in front of the camps.

"Halt!" The guards raised their spears, aiming them at Vijay and the oxcart. "This is military territory. Trespassers will be killed!"

Vijay jumped off the oxcart, gently clasped his hands together in front of his chest, fingertips lightly touching his brow, and bowed slightly: "May the sun shine upon you, and may you be well today!"

A standard greeting eased the soldier's guard slightly, and he verbally returned the greeting: "Good health, and all things going well!"

"I am Tamir Vijay, invited by Lord Roshman. Please announce my arrival."

Upon hearing this, the soldier's expression turned serious. After looking him over, he put away his spear: "May Brahma protect you, please wait here for a moment."

Immediately, someone jogged into the tent, clearly to deliver the message.

Vijay already knew some information about this important figure when he was studying at the academy. As one of the officers of the city's army, Roshman was considered to be in the first echelon under the commander. In addition, as the younger brother of the city lord, he was definitely one of the most powerful people in the city's Kshatriyas.

Moreover, he was arrogant and self-willed, and not a very easy person to deal with.

After recalling the various rumors surrounding this person once again, Vijay took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

Amidst the clatter of armor, the messenger soldier trotted back, delivering the message to the captain of the guard. The captain, spear in hand, looked at Vijay, his expression completely relaxed, and nodded: "Come in!"