After describing the feeling of bathing in the "Divine Breath," Li Zhe, dressed in a fiery red robe, looked at the two visitors before him and asked:
"What brings you here?"
Behind him, on the altar representing the divine, was depicted a black iron furnace with a glowing red door.
This was the sacred emblem of their cult, the symbol of the Year Star, "Scorching Gate."
Jiang Baimian winked at Shang Jianyao, signaling him to take out the letter written by Miennes, and then introduced herself:
"We are relic hunters from out of town. On the way, we encountered Miennes and his group from the Ten Directions Trading Company being attacked by the 'Mountain Fox' bandit gang, and we helped them escape their predicament.
"This is a letter he wrote to you."
Li Zhe had a sudden realization, and his body twitched as if burned, breaking into a short dance.
"May the Divine Breath bathe them," he said as a blessing at the end of the dance.
Then, as if improvising, he performed a tap-dancing routine to express his gratitude to Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao:
"I offer you this dance."
Shang Jianyao imitated his earlier movements, responding:
"May the Divine Breath also bathe you."
Li Zhe was taken aback:
"Are you also a member of the cult?"
"That's what I think, but I haven't received your permission yet," Shang Jianyao answered candidly.
"Uh?" Li Zhe was a bit confused by what he meant.
Jiang Baimian, already used to this, reminded him:
"Read the letter first."
"Okay." Li Zhe unfolded the letter and began reading the contents written in a familiar handwriting.
After reading it, he smiled and said to Shang Jianyao:
"So, you also revere the Year Star and want to join our cult."
"Yes, yes, yes," Shang Jianyao responded without the slightest hesitation.
Li Zhe composed himself and asked seriously:
"I officially ask you, are you sure you want to join our 'Furnace Cult'? Although our rules aren't too many, it also means that you will abide by certain things and can no longer be as unrestrained as before."
Shang Jianyao was silent for a moment, then asked in return:
"Will this affect my saving all of humanity?"
"Ah?" Li Zhe once again couldn't keep up with Shang Jianyao's train of thought, and Jiang Baimian didn't help explain.
The "Devotee" hesitated for a moment and said:
"It shouldn't..."
Anyway, there was no rule in the cult's scriptures prohibiting believers from saving the world.
- In the scriptures, this part was reserved for the Year Stars, especially the "Scorching Gate."
Shang Jianyao pressed on:
"Will it affect my investigation into the cause of the Old World's destruction?"
More sweat appeared on Li Zhe's forehead:
"Theoretically, no. We don't interfere with the work of believers. Even if you are a bandit, as long as you don't kill innocent people indiscriminately, you can believe in the 'Scorching Gate'."
As he spoke, a thought popped into Li Zhe's head:
What kind of person is this?
Having joined the cult and become a clergyman for so many years, this was the first time he had encountered such indescribably strange questions at this stage.
Before, the most frustrating times were when he was asked, "Devotee, does joining the cult include food?" "Devotee, does the cult provide a wife (husband)?" "Devotee, is cremation after death required to comply with the dogma?" "Devotee, if I dance well enough, will I receive the grace of the Year Star?"
After listening to his answer, Shang Jianyao nodded:
"I have no questions. I'm sure I want to join."
Li Zhe breathed a sigh of relief for no apparent reason.
At this time, Jiang Baimian asked curiously:
"I heard that the belief in the same Year Star often develops into several cults due to differences in missionary areas, lack of contact between them, differences in the characteristics of the mainstream culture in the corresponding places, and different interpretations of divine prophecies and scriptures.
"Does the group that worships the 'Scorching Gate' have this situation?"
Hearing this, Li Zhe slowly sighed and said:
"Yes, and originally they were one family."
"Then why did they split?" Jiang Baimian asked further.
On the one hand, she was driven by interest, and on the other hand, she wanted to show Shang Jianyao the possible problems of joining a cult.
Li Zhe said with a solemn expression:
"They had deviations in their understanding of the Year Star's teachings.
"We believe that the focus is on 'scorching' and 'fire', which make up the concept of 'furnace', and then extend to 'dance' and 'hot pot'. Within our cult, August is a sacred season, and the heat of August is another aura of the divine.
"They think that 'dance' is more important than 'fire' and is a way to please the Year Star even more.
"Moreover, they also accused us of deviating from the right path."
Shang Jianyao asked curiously:
"How did you deviate?"
"They believe that food must be processed directly with fire to show piety. Hot pot, which is separated by a utensil, is a secondary choice and cannot be used as a Eucharist. It is heresy!" As he spoke, Li Zhe became a little excited, looking like he wanted to blow up the heretics' heads and maintain the true path of hot pot.
Jiang Baimian's expression was slightly strange:
"So, what is their Eucharist?"
"It's barbecue." Li Zhe controlled his emotions and answered.
Although Jiang Baimian had expected it, she couldn't help but twitch her facial muscles.
This disagreement was beyond her imagination.
- At "Pangu Biology," "Security Department" employees occasionally brought back a few Old World computers, and some of the data on them could be recovered, and some could not.
Jiang Baimian had read some of these recovered materials, and felt that some of the things recorded in them were absurd and incomprehensible.
This included the dispute between the sweet tofu pudding party, the salty tofu pudding party, and the spicy tofu pudding party.
She originally thought that these might just be some jokes on the Old World's internet, but who knew that today, in the real world, she would actually encounter a living example!
After hesitating for a moment, she asked with great interest:
"So, is your cult allowed to eat barbecue?"
"It's allowed, but try not to." Li Zhe expressed his attitude euphemistically. "I know that in the wild, barbecue may be the most convenient way to process food, so choices made during adventures are not forced."
Hearing this, Jiang Baimian turned her head to look at Shang Jianyao and found that he seemed a little hesitant.
Jiang Baimian chuckled inwardly and then asked:
"What is that cult called, and are their believers allowed to eat hot pot?"
"They are called 'Dance of Madness'. The dogma stipulates that unless there is no other choice, they cannot eat hot pot." Li Zhe was unwilling to say more about the heretics' situation and looked at Shang Jianyao, saying, "You won't be leaving Tarnan recently, will you?"
"At least not within a week," Jiang Baimian answered for Shang Jianyao.
Li Zhe "ummed" and said:
"In three days, at two o'clock in the afternoon, we will have a baptism ceremony. If you come to participate, you will be officially a member of the cult.
"Hehe, remember, two o'clock in the afternoon is the cult's sacred hour. Try to arrange your daily prayers during this time period.
"Our ordinary Mass ceremonies have no time limit, but Great Mass and baptism ceremonies can only be held between two and three o'clock in the afternoon."
"What is the baptism ceremony like?" Shang Jianyao asked with great interest.
Li Zhe pointed to the door of the Mass room:
"It's similar to an ordinary Mass, but those being baptized cannot wear their own clothes. They must take them off and wrap themselves in the red bath towels in the church.
"Whoever can stay in the Mass room longer will receive more grace from the Year Star."
Jiang Baimian listened with relish and interjected:
"Then what's different about the Great Mass?"
"It's only once a month. In addition to the ordinary Mass, there's a hot bath and a collective dance praising the divine," Li Zhe explained simply.
After discussing the issue of joining the cult, Jiang Baimian spoke about the Old Task Force's purpose in coming to Tarnan:
"We have some things we want to see 'Source Brain' about and ask it directly. I wonder if you, 'Devotee,' have a way to move 'Mechanical Paradise' to allow us to do so?"
Li Zhe listened quietly and sighed:
"I've been in Tarnan for so many years..."
Saying this, he pointed outside the church:
"The people in town have been here even longer, and the caravans that come and go each represent a certain power, but no one has ever seen 'Source Brain'. Most of them don't even know 'Source Brain' exists."
Li Zhe's implication was:
I have no way either.
Seeing this, Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao had no way to force it. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they took their leave.
As a prospective member of the "Furnace Cult," Shang Jianyao offered a dance to the sacred emblem representing the "Scorching Gate" before turning around.
Li Zhe was quite satisfied with this.
...
The Tarnan Hunter's Guild was also located on the busiest "Riverside Avenue," in the middle zone.
The layout inside was very similar to the Hunter's Guild in Weed City, with the same multiple tables and corresponding electronic products to help hunters accept and submit tasks.
The only difference was that the Hunter's Guild here was not too big, with not many clerks, only three, and because machines were used to help, they seemed quite relaxed and could even daydream.
Long Yuehong and Bai Chen walked to a round-faced female staff member and looked inside through the empty glass partition below.
"Hello," Long Yuehong took the initiative to speak.
The staff member raised her head with a start, her eyes still showing confusion.
"What's the matter?" she asked in Ashlands language after a while.
She was not using a dialect, but a language similar to that spoken near Redstone Town.
Long Yuehong had already discussed it with Bai Chen and said straightforwardly:
"We would like to visit Guild Leader Gu Bo."
"Ah, let me ask for you." The staff member picked up a black telephone in a slightly flustered manner and dialed a number.
After the call was connected, she said a few words, "ummed" twice, and then raised her head and said to Long Yuehong and Bai Chen:
"Guild Leader Gu said you can go over. Room 201 on the second floor."
Uh... is that it? So simple? Long Yuehong was a little surprised.
He still remembered that in Weed City, there had to be a good reason to meet the higher-ups of the Hunter's Guild.
Perhaps the guild here was not large, with not so many rules and divisions of interest? Long Yuehong was becoming more and more accustomed to thinking about the information hidden in these differences, although he often couldn't figure out the answer.
After exchanging glances with Bai Chen, they stepped towards the staircase.