Only God-Chapter 587 - 498: What Is Xilan’s Arrival For?
Helong Mountain Range.
In this borderland between Kaelonde and Golan Kingdom, a strange and fantastical legend quietly spread.
It is said that there was an old man who would often knock on doors in the dead of night, asking the occupants for food and warmth. If you were generous and kind and fulfilled his requests, this old man would, in turn, fulfill one of your wishes.
One person wished for the resurrection of a lover, and the next day, their beloved indeed returned to life; another wished for an inexhaustible fortune, and the next day, they unearthed three large chests of gold; someone wished for the love of their heart’s desire, and the next day, their beloved truly appeared before them after having abandoned their family......
All sorts of strange rumors connected together, slowly weaving into the image of that old man. People called him the Wish-Granting Sage, and it was said that whoever made a wish to him would surely see it come true.
As the rumors about the Wish-Granting Sage grew more and more intense, within the Helong Mountain Range, many mortals began to lose their ambition. As soon as they heard new rumors about the Wish-Granting Sage, they would stay at home all day, daring not to step outside for fear of missing out on him. Even worse, some started underground dealings, profiting from selling news of the Wish-Granting Sage or items he had inadvertently left behind.
This Wish-Granting Sage truly stirred the entire Helong Mountain Range.
Until...
"My wish is that people will never be able to make wishes to you."
The Earl of the borderlands, Maxwell, spoke.
"That is truly... an interesting wish."
The old man was silent for a while, then slowly said,
"No one has ever made such a wish to me before. People seek love, wealth, power from me... but never such a wish. It’s like this kind of wish is spoiled."
Maxwell sipped the wine from his silver cup, the fireplace crackling next to them, warming the entire room comfortably.
"But this is my wish."
Maxwell repeated:
"My wish is that people will never be able to make wishes to you."
The old man looked at Maxwell and asked,
"Oh, why is that? You know, a wish is a kind of power, and yet you wish to me to give up this power."
After contemplating for a moment, Maxwell calmly said,
"People are gradually going insane because of you. Those legends, each wish fulfilled, are like kindling piled high on a bonfire. People can see the grandeur of the bonfire but may not realize that a wildfire is on the verge of coming, set to destroy our world before our eyes.
I am an Earl, the lord over every inch of this land; the gods gaze upon me, and I carry the glory of generations and the trust of the King. It is my absolute duty to protect this land until my death. Thus, I would rather make this wish to you—that no one can make wishes to you."
After hearing Maxwell’s statement, the old man lifted his gaze, appraising the Earl who had once fought life-and-death battles for the King. The Earl was close to sixty, with white hair, the word "young" no longer associated with him. For his age, wishing for a return to youth would not have been a bad wish, yet he did not choose that. His choice was far nobler than that.
"Very well, Lord Earl, under divine witness, I shall fulfill your wish."
The old man slowly stood up and bowed to the Earl.
Maxwell nodded in acknowledgment, amiably returning the gesture, and then said,
"I hope you can stay. We have yet to properly entertain you, and you have not yet met my youngest son, whom I love dearly. I have not yet fulfilled my duties as a host and if I let you leave just like this, I believe the gods would not be pleased."
Maxwell was clearly worried that the old man would not keep his word, and while Slaier could clearly see through this concern, he chose not to insist on leaving, instead saying,
"If that is the case, then I must respectfully comply."
Thus, Slaier stayed there for quite some time.
And Maxwell entertained the mysterious old man with great enthusiasm. He took him to meet his several children, attend various lavish parties, and even introduced the old man to his lover. It was a joyous time—the old man’s witty speech and extensive knowledge easily won over Maxwell. The Earl of the borderlands might have been wary of the old man at first, but after a long time together, they became close friends.
And Slaier gradually came to understand what kind of man Maxwell truly was.
Maxwell had once followed the former King into life-and-death battles, creating a legacy that would go down in history. Consequently, their family rose from Barons to Earls and were endowed with the Helong Mountain Range, guarding the frontier for the Golan Kingdom.
This old General was passionate, patient, and acted with great wisdom and rationality. There was a smoothness in his manner, but he always maintained his principles. Even approaching sixty, he never neglected the military affairs of his territory, inspecting his standing troops personally twice a year. Peace did not dull his edges.
Since his family was ennobled and granted the Helong Mountain Range, rather than having lived there through generations, they did not worship the Mountain and Craftsman God Hiris as the locals of the Helong Mountain Range did. Instead, they venerated the Gods of the Seasons, among other divinities.
For the Golan Kingdom, Slaier saw, this old General was indispensable, but the current King of Golan seemed not to realize this. Those of the Royal Family and Nobles seemed to think the old General was no longer in keeping with the times.
