Lin Xiang experienced the weight of faith for the first time. When the little girl of the past grew old and recalled all the hardships and struggles of her life, and when the deity she believed in finally appeared before her, taking away her soul ravaged by the years, the beauty was so moving it was chilling. Perhaps suffering and torment truly could imbue a weary soul with an ineffable charm.
All things have their归处 (guī chù - place of return). A believer's soul reaches the other shore sooner than the deity; this is the sacred covenant between deity and believer.
Lin Xiang had always maintained a guarded stance towards faith. Spreading faith at Mazu's suggestion was merely a temporary measure. After all, a deity that had just returned was a great tonic for all those struggling on the brink of loss. Sacrificing a deity to oneself would result in immense replenishment.
But having truly experienced the earth-shattering power of faith, Lin Xiang could not help but change her perspective. Faith truly protected the souls of believers, rather than solely extracting power from them! Accepting faith meant bearing its corresponding karma; otherwise, disaster would surely befall the deity.
The shore-blooming flowers, emitting a soft red glow, quietly dispersed after the soul embarked on its journey home, leaving behind a faint, dim fragrance that vanished with the night wind.
Lin Xiang fell silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "I saw a very special person. He might be the key to this war between new gods and old gods."
Mazu still wore her gentle smile. "Do what you must."
Lin Xiang nodded, turned, and disappeared into the night.
Another uninvited guest arrived at the antique shop. A tall, slender woman with golden hair and deep eyes. The divinity of the river made Lin Xiang subconsciously think of her sisters in the distant Greek world. But upon closer inspection, Lin Xiang immediately dismissed any similarity to the Ocean Goddesses.
The first impression of this goddess was like a nymph born from water. However, when Lin Xiang saw the indifferent ruthlessness in her eyes, like one looking down on ants, this impression was instantly shattered!
Lin Xiang guessed she might be a siren-like existence. The moment their divinities touched, a primal sense of revulsion arose in her heart.
The power of fate quietly peeked at this goddess and found her origin in a splash of waves and the sound of water.
In the illusion, the goddess combed her golden hair with a golden comb. Her wet white dress was faintly visible as she leaned against a reef, singing a mesmerizing melody. All the boatmen who heard her song were driven to madness, desperately trying to get closer to her, only to crash their ships against the hidden reefs beneath the river and perish in the water.
The origin of this goddess was not difficult to guess. Lin Xiang smiled and said, "Daughter of the Black Forest, mistress of the Rhine, why have you come to the territory of my sister and me?"
This goddess was none other than the siren Lorelei from Germanic mythology!
As a deity who lured boatmen to their doom, Lorelei was naturally opposed to Lin Xiang and Mazu, who protected sailors and ensured their safe return! Lin Xiang was not only perplexed by her unsolicited visit but also curious about her intentions.
"I have no intention of being your enemy," Lorelei said, looking at Lin Xiang, who opened the door. "In fact, I wish to ask for your help."
Lin Xiang raised her eyebrows in surprise and gestured for the goddess to come in for a more detailed discussion. The golden-haired goddess showed no hesitation. Upon entering, she politely presented a bag of gold coins as a token of introduction. The Rhine did indeed have legends of treasures hidden at its bottom, so Lorelei's generosity was understandable. Lin Xiang accepted the gift and served the goddess a cup of tea.
"It seems you've done your homework. In our culture, politeness is always welcome," Lin Xiang said, displaying the ancient gold coins on the display cabinet and inviting Lorelei to try the new tea.
Lorelei seemed to have no interest in further meaningless probing. She took a sip of the tea reluctantly, then immediately put down the cup. "I want you to help me save Giselle!"
Giselle was also a goddess from German folklore. Legend had it that she died of sorrow after being betrayed by her lover and was often associated with the Wilis, the spirits of the mist. The spirits of the mist would lure unfaithful men who had abandoned women to dance before their graves until the men died of exhaustion. This story was even adapted for the stage, becoming an enduring ballet. Thanks to this, Giselle never had to worry about being forgotten.
These two goddesses also hailed from the Black Forest. Their songs and dances were perfectly suited to each other, and it was not difficult to understand their mutual support under these circumstances.
"Every year, I bring prey to Giselle's dance with my songs, but this spring, I haven't seen her."
The Rhine siren said anxiously, "I've asked all the nearby deities, and none of them know what happened to Giselle."
"I sympathize with Giselle's plight, but we also don't know her whereabouts," Lin Xiang said, her expression turning serious. Giselle was not a powerful deity and lacked the strength to protect herself! Based on the current situation, she was likely in grave danger.
"Where was she last seen?" Lin Xiang asked.
"At the mouth of the canal! Giselle often operated near the port, and the wandering sailors always satisfied her need for revenge." Lorelei no longer cared about concealing Giselle's truth, revealing her methods of operation at the risk of angering the sea gods.
What Lin Xiang focused on first was not Giselle targeting sailors, but the genuine affection between the two goddesses.
"I will have my believers keep an eye out for Giselle's whereabouts, but that's all," Lin Xiang was even more convinced that Giselle had encountered a deity who had lost her faith.
Ports were always turbulent places, frequented by all sorts of people, with believers and deities from various civilizations coming and going. It was possible that Giselle had already been turned into a sacrificial offering for recovery by some desperate deities.
Out of consideration for the mutual support between the two goddesses, Lin Xiang was willing to offer limited help. However, it was impossible to antagonize ancient gods for the sake of Giselle, with whom she had no connection, and a deity who was no longer bound by any rules.
Lorelei had expected to be disappointed again. Lin Xiang's willingness to help investigate Giselle's whereabouts already made her very satisfied. After repeatedly thanking her, she set off again in search of Giselle.
Out of curiosity, Lin Xiang inquired with Mazu about the situation near the port, only to be sternly warned not to approach it.
"Those deities on the verge of being forgotten have abandoned their dignity and are hunting each other! Not to mention the evil beings born from terrifying legends are also gathered there! We have an unspoken agreement: they cannot harm our believers, and we cannot actively invade their territories!"
"Whoever breaks this unwritten rule will face expulsion and hostility from both sides!"
Mazu's warning revealed a dark corner of this world to Lin Xiang. The horror stories spread through the internet had also given birth to entities in faith. The monsters parents used to scare their children had become deities by drawing faith from the children's fear. The waters of this world ran much deeper than imagined!