Strangers

The first group of people to arrive at Sweetness City was Duryodhana. When he arrived outside the city with Hastinapura's convoy, he found that there was no welcoming ceremony as expected. No one stood on the city wall and threw flowers. After entering, Duryodhana felt even more uncomfortable.

Why are these people not afraid of me?

Duryodhana sensed something strange. There were still some people on the streets of Sweetness City, but none of them showed the same fear towards him as the people of Hastinapura.

This sense of unfamiliarity made Duryodhana uncomfortable. Suddenly finding himself in a completely unknown environment made him feel uneasy. A carriage drove past him, and Duryodhana became even more displeased, saying:

"You lackey, how dare you follow my lead?"

In Duryodhana's view, since he had come, this road belonged to him today, and no one else was allowed to step onto it. This road could only carry his carriage today.

"That's a strange thing to say. I helped build this road, so why can't I walk on it? Besides, who are you? I've never seen you before."

Duryodhana clenched his fists tightly. Shakuni comforted Duryodhana, saying, "You see, this is what happens in the kingdom of the coachman's son. Give these lowly people some status, and they'll immediately become arrogant and forget who they are."

My dear Duryodhana, don't forget that you are a noble Kshatriya.

Duryodhana nodded. What he didn't know was that because Dhritarashtra disliked Karna, he hadn't arranged for this to happen. Vidura, who was usually supposed to do this, was too preoccupied with the unknown fate of the Pandavas.

Moreover, in Vidura's view, since Duryodhana didn't even want to do such a superficial thing, he was too lazy to help. He had already done his best to persuade Bhishma not to imitate Rama with the Axe.

Therefore, Duryodhana's actions at this moment were actually uninvited.

He had no idea.

And so, enduring his Duryodhana, he arrived at the palace. The first thing he saw made his lips twitch uncontrollably. Was this a palace? How could it be so small? It was almost the same size as the houses of the wealthy families in Hastinapura.

"Are you... Prince Duryodhana?"

A somewhat familiar voice came from behind. Karna was driving a carriage, and a pretty young woman was standing in the carriage.

Duryodhana sighed inwardly, realizing that relying on marriage to win over Karna was no longer the best option.

"It's me, Che... Karna. I've come with the aid from Hastinapura. Look at you, how could you be so poor? How can this kind of house be considered a palace?"

Karna smiled, then used Maya's illusion magic, and in an instant, the dilapidated house was transformed into a magnificent palace.

"Appearances are just appearances. It goes without saying which woman is more suitable to marry: a woman who is beautiful on the outside but evil on the inside, or a woman who is plain on the outside but kind on the inside."

A magnificent palace, in the end, is just a place to live, only some people adorn it with vanity and power. And I've always been curious, Dhritarashtra know what his palace looks like?

Duryodhana's expression immediately fell, while Shakuni smiled. He had never had the slightest approval for his sister Gandhari's marriage to the Dhritarashtra.

"Then how will you discuss this matter?"

"I usually go directly to the square to listen to the people's opinions. We often discuss things until very late. We don't have outstanding wise men to assist us, but we have enough minds to think together, and we are no less intelligent than Vidura."

Karna spoke of this with obvious pride.

The group was ushered inside, and upon entering, they were Duryodhana awestruck by the sight. But when they remembered that it was all an illusion, they felt it was nothing special.

Soon, several women approached. It wasn't exactly walking, because their lower bodies were snakes. Without exception, they were all beautiful and incredibly alluring, adorned with gold and silver, making Duryodhana's eyes widen in disbelief.

Karna scratched his head somewhat awkwardly and said, "These are from the Takshaka. They said they were sinful members of their tribe, and then the god Kama turned them into these half-human, half-snake beings."

"This Kama god is too honest, isn't he? Is there Kama god temple in Hastinapura?"

"No." Shakuni's words sent a chill down Duryodhana's spine.

Afterwards, Duryodhana enjoyed a good meal and drinks at Karna's place, and for a moment he felt Karna life there wasn't as bad as he had imagined. Not long after, footsteps approached, and a snake woman came to report:

"Your Majesty, your master has returned. He has brought back the friendship of Panchala, and even Guru Drona wishes to visit this place."

Upon hearing this, Karna went directly to see Bai Mo, while Duryodhana and Shakuni also went, wanting to meet this incredible person. Later, Karna found Bai Mo at the shrine, where he was discussing something with the priest.

"Master, you've returned all alone? Did Kama finally give up on your indifference?"

"She went to the other side and said she wanted to build a temple to Cupid. As long as it doesn't bother anyone else, so be it. Also, am I that cold-hearted?"

"After I met Vrishali, I realized how cold and indifferent you were, Master."

"You've made great progress." Bai Mo shrugged and patted the person next to him, saying, "This guy is the chief priest of the Kingdom of Panchala. You can entrust the sacrificial rites to him from now on."

Bai Mo deeply despised the existence of gods, but the gods in India were at least willing to work honestly. At least they performed sacrifices, and Indra really did return to bring rain. Moreover, all that was needed was a fire sacrifice. Compared to the gods in Greece mythology who would demand princesses as human sacrifices at the drop of a hat, they were far too civilized.

As for these Brahmin priests, if it were before the Bai Mo, he would not hesitate to throw these unproductive fellows into the fields.

But we must be realistic. If there really is a god in this godforsaken place, and these Brahmins can really summon the god to bring rain and blessings through rituals and shamanistic dances, then we should still support these people.

Bai Mo can't stay here forever, and he'll leave sooner or later, taking these Magnetic Field Power with him.

Of course, this is on the premise that they can still work normally.

"Oh, Indra of the Brahmins, I have not yet thanked you for saving my mother!"

Duryodhana spoke up, Bai Mo shook his head and said, "Your mother has suffered enough in her life. She deserves to experience happiness, not to die at the hands of arrows."

Upon hearing this, Shakuni's goodwill towards Bai Mo increased considerably.

"What are you saying? Did my mother suffer when she married my father?"

"Then try blindfolding yourself, and I can let you experience the life of a blind person. Duryodhana the most pitiful are those who have never seen the light, not those who have seen the light but have to endure darkness in the end."

"This was a very underhanded thing for Bhishma to do. Even if Dhritarashtra and Bhishma were standing in front of me, I would still say the same thing."

Bai Mo glanced at Shakuni and asked, "Didn't your uncle ever tell you?"

Duryodhana looked at Shakuni, Shakuni reacted and flicked his finger, saying, "The grudges of the older generation have nothing to do with you."

Seeing Duryodhana, Nandi temporarily suppressed the matter in his heart. He then extended an olive branch to Bai Mo and Karna, indicating that as long as the two were willing to assist him, he would share the kingdom with Karna.

"The last person to say that was just beaten up by Drona and almost crushed to death," Bai Mo said, Duryodhana remembered the King Drupada.

What's wrong with me today? Why is it that even drinking water gets stuck in my teeth?

"I understand what you mean, Duryodhana Di. Then I want to ask you something: can you accept everything in Sweetness City? Can you accept that ordinary people don't kneel before kings and princes, and don't give way to carriages? Can you accept that the wealth of the hardworking among them surpasses yours, and that the wisdom of the diligent among them surpasses yours?"

"That's absolutely impossible. We are nobles, and it's only right that these lowly people show us respect. We don't need to listen to their words. If we can't survive, why don't we reflect on the sins we committed in our past lives?"

Karna, the Great One, you did not acquire this skill to associate with these lowly people; they should serve you, offer you their wealth, and do everything in their power to please you.

At this point, Shakuni kept kicking Duryodhana's legs, signaling him to shut up, but it was clear that the cripple's kicks weren't very powerful. Hearing this, Bai Mo shook his head and said to Duryodhana:

"So, you want Karna's power, rather than being willing to work towards the same goal as him?"

"Of course, what right do these lowly people have to sit on equal footing with us?"

Upon hearing this, Karna nodded, somewhat regretfully saying:

"I understand, Duryodhana Di. Leave. My goal will not be limited to this small Sweetness City, but to the entire Daichi. This is the oath I made to the one who taught me my experience and martial arts."

It seems we can only be enemies now. But since you've come as a friend today, I'm willing to give you some wealth; take it with you as a token of my goodwill."