Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 699 - 368: The Vicissitudes of Fate

Chapter 699: Chapter 368: The Vicissitudes of Fate

The rainy season’s sky was always unpredictable. Moments before, the sun shone brilliantly; then, suddenly, it was overcast with dense clouds. The dark clouds overshadowed the sun, casting gloom on the land and leaving shadows in people’s hearts.

As Ozoma shouted, Bertade instantly raised his bronze sword, shielding His Highness. Toltec drew his war club, guarding behind His Highness. Keka’s hand was on his war club at his waist. He intended to draw his weapon to guard the Great Chief. But after glancing at the vigilant Black Wolf General, he lowered his hand and just stood there, motionless.

Xiulote looked puzzled. He turned his head, glanced indifferently at the old Priest Teya, and then looked toward Arno who lay on the ground.

"What’s going on here?"

Facing the sudden turn of events, the old Priest Teya was at a loss. He knelt down in fear, kowtowing vigorously while crying out anxiously.

"Ah! Your Majesty, Arno, he has been diligent and hardworking in the spring plowing for months, faithfully believing in the Chief Divine... He is not an assassin!"

Caught off guard by the sudden change, Axolotl was in a dazed state. He struggled to endure the pain from a kick to his abdomen, stammering.

"Your Majesty, I’m not..."

"He’s the real Red-haired Hunter!"

Ozoma was resolute. He lightly lifted his arm, pointing his war club at Axolotl’s red hair.

"Chief Divine witness! Your Majesty, look at this hair color, it’s the genuine wilderness dye! Keka can surely tell!... He’s a Red-haired Hunter who has concealed his identity, feigned stupidity, and infiltrated your side with ill intentions!"

"Hmm? Keka, you say."

With empty hands, Keka stepped forward. He widened his eyes, took a glance at Axolotl’s hair, then closed his eyes, shook his head, took another step forward, and looked again closely.

"Uh... respected Great Chief, this indeed is wilderness dye."

Following that, Keka grabbed Axolotl’s right hand and observed the thick calluses formed at the index and middle fingers from long-term archery, confidently reporting back.

"Great Chief, he is an elite Red-haired Hunter!"

Axolotl suddenly trembled all over, his face ashen. He said shakily.

"Your Majesty, I am a Red-haired Hunter, but I’m not an assassin..."

Xiulote furrowed his brow, staring at the dusty and dirty figure of Chichika Chieftain before him. He asked in a deep voice.

"Arno, who exactly are you?"

"I... I’m a captive of the eastern Canine Descendants, scattered on the night of the celestial fire, then captured by Your Majesty’s army. Since then, I was integrated into the flag team and headed south, crossed the great river, and was settled here..."

Axolotl narrated the facts, omitting the beginning and the end, his expression exceedingly sincere, almost on the verge of tears.

"I... I fled from Your Majesty’s conscription because I didn’t want to hold a bow and go to war again; I just wanted to peacefully farm until the end of my days... I’ve always been honest and upright; I had no prior knowledge of Priest Teya’s recommendation... Your Majesty, I truly am not an assassin! I... I don’t even have a dagger on me!"

Moved by Axolotl’s genuine plea, Xiulote looked calm. He glanced at the Black Wolf, who then took a step forward, thoroughly frisking Axolotl. Afterwards, the Black Wolf respectfully replied.

"Your Highness, indeed, there are no weapons on him."

The King then slowly nodded. He observed Axolotl’s expression, finding no trace of lying, seeing only a face full of grievance and fear. The King sighed softly.

"Arno, you were defeated and captured, feared war, and fled conscription, according to the law, should be executed!... But considering your excellent performance and devout faith in the Chief Divine, your punishment can be appropriately reduced... Come, bind him and whip him 30 times!"

Axolotl lowered his head, breathing a sigh of relief. He didn’t resist and was compliantly tied up by the Personal Guard Warriors. Next, a warrior took out a whip, his expression solemn, and lashed fiercely.

"Ooh..."

Accompanied by the snapping sound of the air, intense pain emanated from his back. Axolotl clenched his teeth, not screaming, but making a low, painful moan, like a wounded coyote of the wilderness.

"Hmm, he’s a man."

Watching Axolotl’s resilient performance, Xiulote nodded quietly to himself, feeling a surge of admiration for talent.

By the time the solid thirty lashes were finished, Axolotl was drenched in sweat and blood, nearly collapsed on the ground, unable to even move his fingers.

Xiulote stepped forward and looked into Axolotl’s eyes, speaking in a deep voice.

"Arno, these thirty lashes were your punishment for evading military service. But the light of the Chief Divine shines upon every devout believer, offering them the chance for salvation! My promise still stands. You will be demoted by one level but will still serve the Chief Divine. From today, you will serve as the First Level Preaching Priest for the nearby village of Guajili! Keep the teachings of the Chief Divine at heart and, with a devout spirit, guide more of the Guajili people into the embrace of the Chief Divine!"

"Ah! Your Majesty, thank you for your generosity and mercy! Arno, you must carry a heart of guilt, comply with the King’s decree, and spread the glory of the Chief Divine!"

Priest Teya saw a turning point, hurriedly pulled Arno forward, and together they bowed deeply to the King.

"...Thank you for your generosity and mercy... I will comply with your decree and spread the glory of the Chief Divine... Praise the Chief Divine!"

Axolotl was weak and listless, propped up by Teya to bow. He endured the severe pain throughout his body and tremblingly repeated the words. This ordeal had nearly cost him his life, but luckily, he was finally out of danger. Damn, life was unbearable now. Once the God of Death Great Chief left, he would heal his wounds and immediately get a small boat to flee across the big river!

"Hmm. Praise the Chief Divine! That will conclude today’s inspection."

Xiulote nodded his head. Encountering this ordeal, he had lost his mood to stay any longer. Before departing, the King cast one last glance at the injured Arno. A sense of compassion arose within him, and he spoke to the Head Warrior.

"Bertade, clean his wound and apply the Royal Family’s medicine. There probably aren’t any herbs in the village. It’s the rainy season now, and if the wound is not well cared for, infection and pus formation will be deadly."

"Your Highness is merciful!"

Bertade deeply bowed out of genuine respect. Then, the Head Warrior ordered someone to fetch two buckets of well water and poured them directly over Axolotl to his horrified gaze!

"No..."

The rushing water washed over the immobile Arno, cleaning his face, which was covered in Wilderness dust, to squeaky-clean purity. Ozoma watched the scene with great interest and then suddenly widened his eyes.

"Ah?!"

Ozoma’s mouth fell open in surprise like a monkey, shaping into a big "O". He looked at Arno’s face, utterly shocked and even a bit flustered. This was a person he had never expected to see here!

"...Is it really you?!"

It only took a moment for Ozoma to recover, and realizing the great opportunity. He immediately raised his War Club, pointing at the pale-faced Arno and shouted excitedly.

"Ha-ha! What Arno, you are Axolotl! You are the Red Salamander Chieftain! You are indeed an assassin!...Speak! Were you planning to get close to His Majesty to avenge Chichika?"

"No...I’m not..."

Axolotl, wanting to cry but having no tears, weakly defended himself.

"You are! I would recognize that face even if it were burned to ashes!"

Ozoma was visibly excited, what could be more pleasurable than personally catching an old nemesis? He immediately knelt before the King and reported.

"Your Majesty! This is the missing Red Salamander Chieftain, second in command to the Canine Descendants in the east, only subordinate to Chichika, Axolotl!"

"Axolotl!"

Xiulote shuddered. In the Nava language, "Axolotl" means a salamander capable of regenerating its limbs, while "Xiulote" means death and rebirth. These two names were closely related and even symbolically similar in religion. Thus, he always remembered this missing Red Salamander Chieftain.

"Keka, is he really the Red Salamander Chieftain?"

Chieftain Red Frog Keka came forward again, scrutinizing Axolotl’s face repeatedly. Since last year’s successful invasion from the south and the separation of the eastern and western Canine Descendants, he hadn’t seen the Red Salamander Chieftain. Fate is always unpredictable! Unexpectedly, they met again more than a year later, in the south, far from the Wilderness, under such circumstances!

Keka stared for a while, feeling emotional. He sighed deeply and lowered his head to report to the Great Chief.

"Great Chief, he is indeed the famous Red Salamander leader from the Wilderness, the undying and clever Axolotl!"