At the edge of the enormous brazier, one old and one young, their handshake was icy, and the atmosphere had frozen over. Liu Jia, standing slightly behind them, said nothing. He looked at Ronan, then at Bai Hao, making no move to interfere.
Soon, Bai Hao withdrew his hand. Maintaining a gentleman's composed demeanor, he smiled. "Sure. Of course I'll help if I can."
The moment he finished speaking, the weak flames in the enormous brazier, which had nearly gone out, suddenly surged up, casting bright tails of fire. The crackling explosions in the air were exceptionally clear, even stirring echoes through the spacious courtyard.
Bai Hao smiled again. "Bat Master is inviting us in."
Ronan nodded. "We should meet the host."
Bai Hao extended a hand in invitation. Ronan gave a slight nod, but then turned to look at the surrounding water, its surface flickering hazily in the jumping firelight, and at the shadows swaying across the more distant building walls.
It was clearly daytime, yet the play of light and shadow was so vivid.
He looked up at the sky again. Dark clouds blotted out the sun, but that was all.
Bai Hao asked from ahead, "Mister Luo?"
"Mm. This temple really absorbs light... Bat Master hasn't been eating properly lately, has he?"
"Well..."
Amid their erratic and unreliable conversation, Ronan, Bai Hao, and Liu Jia left the central pool and brazier and arrived at the core area of the temple sanctuary, where the main tower and main hall stood. The main tower was directly above the "Womb Chamber," a spired structure second only to the extravagantly ornate main gate. To enter the main tower, they first had to pass through the main hall, known here as the "Pillar Hall," where believers usually conducted religious activities.
The Ancient