Chapter Ninety-Two: Waiting for Life to Change

After resting at the inn for a while and waiting for his resurrection count to refresh, Zhou Tian set out once more.

Leaving the inn, he changed into a fresh white robe. White was the most common color in Saylor City; he stopped a passerby on the street, praised the Lord a couple of times, and asked where the sons and daughters of the faith who had arrived over the past two days were staying.

Zhou Tian headed in that direction. He planned to find Musu and ask about Zhang Yi’s whereabouts. The younger brother would probably tell him, he thought.

The place was near the great cathedral at the city’s center.

“Oh merciful Lord, friend, you stepped on me.”

“Oh mighty Lord, I’m sorry, friend. In witness of the Lord, I offer you my apology.”

“Oh all-loving Lord, I accept your apology. Let us go to pray together!”

“Oh holy Lord, all right.”

“...”

Zhou Tian’s mouth twitched as he watched two ostentatious men in the distance walking hand in hand toward the central cathedral, utterly speechless.

The central cathedral was the largest place of prayer in Saylor City, and also its heart. The grounds were vast; dozens of milky-white stone columns rose on all sides to support the entire structure. Its roof was a golden dome, engraved with intricate runes and images. From just the portion Zhou Tian could see, there were already more than ten holy messengers with six pairs of wings flying about, and several white-robed saints as well, proof of its ancient and formidable majesty. At the center was a mass of light, impossible to see through.

This disappointed Zhou Tian greatly. He had even hoped to glimpse the appearance of that so-called Lord, so he could enrich and flesh out his own creations.

The bishop of the central cathedral, who was also the pope of the Holy Divine Church, was the one who had received the Lord’s revelation during the prayer of the former abbot of the monastery.

As for what statue was enshrined inside, Zhou Tian was not terribly interested. He did not follow the stream of people toward the cathedral, but changed direction at an intersection instead.

After walking a little farther, Zhou Tian arrived outside a complex of buildings.

It was a large courtyard whose walls were covered with carvings of mandala flowers.

Zhou Tian looked at the patterns on the wall, then at the flower embroidered on his white robe, and nodded.

This was the place.

The mandala flower was the emblem of the Holy Divine Church. It was said that in ancient times, when that Lord was born into the world, such flowers bloomed for thousands of miles around. The blossom was something like a fusion of a lotus and a mandala.

Four guards in white-and-gold armor stood at the gate, long spears in hand, their gazes cold as they stared at Zhou Tian approaching.

“This is restricted ground. Unrelated people may not come near!”

Their spears glimmered faintly, white patterns surfacing along the shafts.

Zhou Tian pondered for a moment, then said, “Merciful Lord, I have come here in obedience to Your will. Could all I see before me be the revelation You have bestowed upon me?”

The expressions of the four guards stiffened. They looked as though they had swallowed something foul. The Lord had gone countless years without answering anyone’s prayers, and only just now had His Holiness the Pope received a sacred oracle. And you claim that the moment you arrived, you received the Lord’s will? Was that appropriate?

But they could not openly question him. It would be easy for someone to seize upon it and make an issue of it: were they doubting a devout believer, or doubting the almighty Lord? Those zealots in the Inquisition would show no mercy, not even to their own.

One of the guards frowned and asked, “What revelation did the Lord give you?”

A pious look appeared on Zhou Tian’s face.

“The Lord told me to come here and find someone named Musu.”

If you came to find someone, just say so. Why all this nonsense? The four guards felt irritated inwardly.

“Musu? Is he one of the sons or daughters of the faith?”

“No, he was brought over by the guardian saint.”

“Do you know which saint it was? With only a name, it will be hard for us to find him.”

Zhou Tian thought for a moment before saying, “It seems to have been Saintess Bena.”

“Saintess Bena? I understand. Wait here.”

One of the guards went inside, apparently to notify someone.

So it was that simple. Zhou Tian had thought they would be much stricter.

Not long after, two figures emerged from the gate: the guard who had gone in, and Musu.

Musu, too, stared blankly when he saw him. He had heard that someone was looking for him, and had been puzzled. He did not even know many people in Saylor City. He had never expected it to be that troublemaker Zhou Tian.

After bringing him out, the four guards returned to their posts with serene composure.

Musu and Zhou Tian left side by side.

“The guarding here doesn’t seem all that strict,” Zhou Tian said on the way.

Musu was not wearing his helmet today. His blond hair spilled down his back, and paired with his stern features, he actually looked rather handsome. Hearing Zhou Tian, he replied, “Strict? Why would it need to be strict? Everyone inside is a son or daughter of the faith, not followers of some evil god.”

Zhou Tian nodded in realization, then heard Musu continue, “What do you want with me? Didn’t you say you were going back to your Hammer City or whatever it was?”

“I stayed behind to help you.”

Zhou Tian laughed.

Musu’s gaze turned cold. “Don’t play mysterious with me!”

Zhou Tian smiled without care. “Don’t be angry. Let’s find somewhere and talk properly.”

Musu frowned, but said no more.

The two found a tavern. Saylor City was not made up entirely of members of the Holy Divine Church; it also had people of other sects. Most were ancient allies who had huddled together for warmth since old times, and a place like a tavern still had its use.

Inside, they went up to the second floor and entered a private room.

As soon as they sat down, Musu said coldly, “What exactly is it?”

Zhou Tian grinned and said, “Didn’t I tell you before that among the people who survived that explosion, I had a great enemy? To be honest, I lied to you. There wasn’t just one enemy. There were two.”

“Do I look like an idiot?”

Musu’s face remained expressionless, his look clearly saying he was staring at one.

“One enemy escaped, but another was captured. He and I have an irreconcilable blood feud!”

Ignoring Musu, Zhou Tian went on, “So, can you tell me where those captured people are being held now?”

A gleam flashed in Musu’s eyes. “What do you want to do?”

“Of course I want to kill him myself. If a deep hatred cannot be avenged by one’s own hand, then what is the point of living?”

Zhou Tian looked righteous and indignant, clenching his fist.

Musu wore an expression that plainly said, If I believe you, I’m an idiot. “Why should I help you?”

Zhou Tian smiled strangely and said slowly, “Why is it that your Lord has not answered your prayers for so many years, and why has He suddenly sent down divine revelation? And what do you think will become of those chosen as vessels for holy messengers, sons, or daughters of the faith?”

“Also, what do you think faith is supposed to be? Devoting everything you have to a ball of light? That’s called brainwashing!”

“Don’t you ever look forward to something changing in your life?”

Zhou Tian patted Musu on the shoulder, his words all but laying everything bare.

Musu was slightly dazed. Since childhood, everyone around him had been a devout believer in the Holy Divine Church. No one had ever told him such things; they had only told him to believe in the Lord.

Yet for some reason, there was a faint stirring in his heart. Perhaps, deep down, he really did look forward to something happening in his life.

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