The weather by the sea was ever-changing. A moment ago, dark clouds had brought a sudden downpour; now the rain had passed and the sky was clear again. A beam of golden sunlight pierced the scattered clouds and fell upon the white-stone temple, like a blessing bestowed by the Sun God. On the temple walls, the reliefs of the Snake God flashed with golden light, lifelike, as if they were swimming, revealing a divine strangeness.
The Totonac in the city all bowed their heads devoutly when they passed the edge of the temple, saluting the towering shrine. Beneath the temple pyramid, the prosperous market bustled with life, with stalls and bamboo sheds selling goods everywhere. Shouts in all sorts of accents rose and fell, and foreign merchants in every kind of dress came and went through this vast city-state market—at least several thousand people in scale!
"Whoa! Now that's a great big city!"
Chiwako climbed ashore and gazed at the scene within the city. His eyes widened, and he was rather astonished. Such prosperity reminded him of the kingdom's Royal Capital, Tzintzuntzan. Yet on the buildings and murals of this city-state were carved many deities he had never seen before, leaving him wary even as he marveled.
"So many carvings of gods. And it feels different from that Feathered Serpent City. Over there was one huge snake. Here, it's a whole nest of snakes."
Tikalo nodded with a smile. Looking at the familiar scenery, recalling the many trades he had conducted here in the past, he answered at ease.
"Haaha! Captain Qi really is sharp. Hidden Snake City is famous for snakes. It worships many Snake Gods and also has a tradition of keeping snakes as pets. This place believes not only in the Feathered Serpent, Quetzalcoatl, but also in