Seeing how sincere and polite Zhao Xun was, the man with the long beard smiled approvingly. "Good, good. There aren't many young people as sensible as you these days."
Zhao Xun showed nothing on his face, but something felt slightly odd to him.
Judging by the bearded man's tone, he seemed to consider people who willingly became believers "sensible," while the many young people who refused were behaving insensibly in his eyes.
It was as though faith was not a matter of personal choice, but something everyone ought to embrace.
He could already imagine several ways things might unfold next.
Unaware of what Zhao Xun was thinking, the bearded man eagerly explained, "Becoming a believer is actually very simple. Someone who is already a believer needs to introduce you to the priest. Then you must sincerely express your devotion. If the priest is satisfied, he'll baptize you. Once the ceremony is over, you're a believer."
"Baptize me?" Zhao Xun asked the question that concerned him most. "May I ask what the baptism involves first?"
"It's very simple," the bearded man said. "The priest drips purified water onto the forehead of the person being baptized, and that completes the baptism."
Zhao Xun nodded.
He would not have to strip naked and soak in a wooden barrel, nor did it go as far as circumcision. He could accept that.
Then he gave the bearded man a warm smile. "Aren't you a believer yourself? Sorry for the trouble, but could you introduce me?"
"Of course!" The bearded man readily agreed. Judging by his expression, he was quite pleased.
Without concealing anything, he volunteered, "Whenever one of us believers brings in a new believer, we receive a reward from the Lord. So I should be thanking you for letting me introduce you!"
"What kind