With God's Birthday approaching, Holy Land City had entered the festive warm-up early. Besides decorating the city, shops throughout the city held events every day. Unlike the other satellite cities, this place was full of children laughing and playing.
Xu Huo had slept well. After going downstairs in the morning and briefly crossing paths with the players from the night before, he headed to the temple.
Today was the Goddess Procession. Two teams, twenty people in all, had to walk around the enormous temple at least three times. As they made their circuit, they sang songs written especially for the Goddess. Xu Huo didn't know if the songs had been composed in an invented language, but he couldn't understand the words. The melody was lovely, though, and had a calming, mind-clearing effect.
Xu Huo didn't reenter the temple until the Saintesses' procession had passed.
He'd made some bold threats here yesterday, so the moment he walked in today, he found himself under close scrutiny. Several players dressed as temple worshippers followed him at every step. They didn't interfere with his freedom, but they were clearly on guard.
The players weren't the only ones active in the temple. Quite a few Saintesses were moving about, occasionally speaking with worshippers who came in or joining in with a song sung by the Saintesses outside as they circled the temple.
A Hai had already changed into a temple worshipper's clothes. He was following a Saintess as she explained the day's work assignments inside the temple.
This Saintess wore no veil like the others. Her androgynous features suggested a temperament unlike the gentle tone in which the Saintesses spoke. Instead, she had an edge that seemed at odds with her status. They really were as full of strength as A Hai had said.
Full