Want a blessing?

Meanwhile, in the palace, Bhishma stormed into Dhritarashtra's room, his face contorted with rage.

"Dhritarashtra, come out here! What have you done? What do you mean Karna won't get any land? He protected your child in this war!"

The true ruler of Hastinapura was sternly questioning the acting Hastinapura. Dhritarashtra, before Bhishma, was like a child who had done something wrong, and he said somewhat guiltily:

"But what I promised you was that all the land Karna conquered this time would belong to him. He did not kill a single soldier of the Kingdom of Panchala; those who died at his hands were all Rakshasa."

So he really didn't acquire a single piece of land. Besides, was anyone forcing him to do it?

Bhishma took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to slap him across the face, and kept telling himself: I can't do that, he is the king, I can't humiliate Dhritarashtra like Karna did.

"In that case, let's earn Karna some merit in battle."

"Vidura said from the side, "Bhishma said, and upon hearing this, he also realized what was going on. "That's right, since that's the case, let's just give him a fiefdom. We might meet again in the future. Going abroad is too much trouble."

And so, after a long grumbling, Dhritarashtra, facing Bhishma's fist the size of a sandbag, ultimately succumbed to force. After the two left, Dhritarashtra, feeling dejected, opened the map in his hand that night and soon discovered a place.

A place that is extremely remote, deserted, and uninhabited.

Khandava Forest.

A day later, when Bai Mo arrived in Hastinapura, he learned that Karna had already been granted a fief and left. When he asked him further, he was stunned.

What does it mean that Karna was granted the Khandava Forest?

Khandava Forest, a very important region in the Mahabharata, is a forbidden area for humans in the Hastinapura, where the serpent king Takshaka settled. Historically, the Pandavas also established the magnificent Indraprastha here.

But didn't Karna go to Kingdom of Panchala?

Helpless, Bai Mo had no choice but to activate some of his power and lead Kama and the others to Khandava Forest. Before them lay a desolate wasteland. Because of the alliance between Takshaka and Indra, this area received almost no rain.

It's easy to spot Karna sitting on the edge of the cliff, lost in thought.

So what exactly is going on?

Bai Mo came to his side and asked, "I was wondering where Karna could get a well here... Hey, Master, you're back. Who are those people behind you?"

"Some guys with nowhere to go."

Bai Mo informed Yao Lian of the situation, and Karna's expression also turned serious. He picked up his bow, as if he had made up his mind.

What are you doing?

"I cannot let these people live in such a place. I have decided to undergo ascetic practices to please Shiva or Brahma, and then challenge Indra to make him send rain to this place."

Upon hearing this, Bai Mo was both amused and exasperated; he had indeed found a shortcut to India mythology for this kid. Meanwhile, far away, Indra suddenly shivered, spilling the Soma wine in his hand.

"Good, good, you've finally found the right way, Karna. I'm so glad." Kama encouraged Karna, as if his silly son had finally figured things out.

"Forget about Shiva, that guy sometimes adds conditions. Go find Brahma, that old man is much easier to talk to."

"Since even Kama says so... let's forget about it then. I have a feeling that any plan coming out of your mouth is bound to be terrible."

What do you mean by that, kid?

"After all, wasn't your last plan to shoot arrows at Shiva? Judging from the results, the plan you agreed with didn't have a high success rate, and the consequences..."

Veins bulged on Kama's head, then Bai Mo ruffled her hair to prevent her from grabbing the Jingang and smashing it down. He turned to look at the Khandava Forest in the distance and said to the two of them:

"I'll go and talk to Takshaka. There aren't many people here, and if it's just a small area, we can still have a chat. Besides, I have some personal matters that concern him."

Then, Bai Mo picked up Kama from behind and moved her away from Karna.

In the Khandava Forest, several snakes were watching the group of people in the distance with eerie eyes. The group wasn't large, but initially, Takshaka had already sent some of his men to attack Karna.

Karna easily dealt with them, throwing them back.

Deep within the dense forest, a monster with a scaly body, a snake's head, and a scepter in hand watched the two approaching figures. Turning to a richly dressed Asura behind him, he asked:

"Maya, prepare your illusion. I'm going to make these two leave empty-handed, just like that arrogant young brat."

The Asura behind him was named Maya, who was extremely skilled in illusion magic and also had considerable knowledge of architecture.

"Your Majesty, I am prepared, but... forgive my bluntness, but that woman..."

Maya looked at Kama with a puzzled expression, feeling that she was somewhat familiar, but she couldn't quite place her. Meanwhile, outside, Bai Mo and Kama also stepped into the forest, and as soon as they entered, the entrance disappeared.

"Another illusion, huh? I really like this kind of trick."

"It's just an illusion without protection, nothing to brag about. But honestly, don't you really want to let that guy undergo some rigorous training? Or... you could try asking for a blessing."

"No, let Indra sit in that position. Also, what do you mean I can try to ask for a blessing?"

Bai Mo was somewhat puzzled, while Kama shrugged and said, "You probably don't know, but the Power of Austerity. There were no rules of the India Age of Gods in the Ooku before."

But now that you're here, the Power of Austerity will be enough to grant you any of those three blessings, plus an immense amount of merit... So if you have any needs, just shout them directly at the sky."

Bai Mo took it as a joke from Kama and shook his head, saying, "How could that be? Isn't this something that only appears when a certain level has been reached? And to shout it out like that, do you think you're a hotel receptionist?"

"Does that mean if I call upon Great Brahma now, he will...?"

Before the words were finished, a golden light descended from the sky. The golden light stung the eyes of the observer Takshaka was watching from the shadows, and he cried out in pain. Then, an old man slowly emerged from the light.

He rode a swan, and as the swan landed, it cried out towards the illusion, instantly shattering the renowned Maya Illusion. This swan was named Hamsa, possessing the ability to discern truth from falsehood, and was Brahma's mount.

The old man had four heads and four arms, holding a rosary, a lotus flower, a water jug, and the Vedas.

It is Brahma, one of the Trimurti.

At that moment, in the distance, Takshaka covered his eyes, waved his hands wildly, and said, "What's going on? What's that light?"

"Great... Great King, it's Brahma! Brahma has really come! I saw it clearly, that woman is Kama!" Maya, who was beside Takshaka, pulled Takshaka, who had fallen to the ground, back to safety.

"What? Why would someone of this status come to my Khandava Forest?"

Bai Mo's expression was even more interesting. The ordinary Kama looked at him subtly, then greeted Brahma:

"Long time no see, Grandfather! Come and see, this is my Master, isn't he nice?"

(Kama was born from Brahma's heart, and since Brahma is the creator god and the progenitor of all beings, Kama calls Brahma "grandfather.")

Kama grabbed Bai Mo's arm and leaned close to him affectionately, while Bai Mo watched this absurd scene with a twitching mouth. He hadn't even formally said anything, and Brahma had just appeared like that.

It seems to confirm Kama's words.

And what's going on here? What's causing this sense of déjà vu?