63. Within the Holy Land
"You're a saint?" Lei Sen couldn't help but be stunned, and quickly took out the photo of himself and Su Ling from his arms.
"What about the woman in the photo? Not in your holy place? β
The black-robed woman looked at Su Ling on the photo carefully: "Oh, she." She's also a saint, but not yet. She must be in the Holy Land now, with the Sect Master. β
Rayson frowned: "What do you mean?" β
"She is a third-generation saint and I am a second-generation. After the festival is held, the sect leader performs a purification ritual for her, and she will become a true saint. Now, I am the saint of the church. Speaking of which, the festival must be held in the next two days. β
During the conversation, it was learned that the black-robed woman's name was Becky. He grew up in the congregation of saints. Originally, she was a pampered saint and was heavily protected. But five days ago, not long after Becky arrived at the Holy Land with a large group of men, she was suddenly informed that a new saint would take her place, and Becky would be sent to the Blood Wolf Plains to preach and absorb new believers. The order came so suddenly that Becky didn't even have time to meet his successor.
When Rayson learns that Becky was sent out alone and without any transportation or weapons, it becomes clear that he is preaching, but in fact he has exiled Becky in disguise and left her to fend for herself.
But Becky clearly didn't think of this, and all she had in her head was infinite loyalty to the Saints' Guild and great respect for the so-called 'Sun God'. As for the cruelty of this world......
She doesn't know anything!
What made Rayson feel even more troublesome was that through further communication with Becky, Rayson realized that the so-called 'purification' ceremony was actually the meeting of the leader of the Holy Church and the Holy Maiden at the festival in front of many believers! And Becky herself has been 'purified' countless times by the leader of the Church of Saints. But she didn't see anything wrong with it, on the contrary, she regarded it as her responsibility as a saint of the Church of Saints, and a supreme honor.
But fortunately, Rayson also asked that before the first public 'purification' ceremony of the Holy Maiden, the leader of the Holy Church would not touch the Holy Maiden. This relieved Rayson slightly.
It's just that Becky also said that the festival was held in the past two days, and Lei Sen knew that if he wanted to rescue Su Ling, there was not much time left for himself.
"I advise you, this lost one, not to think about seeing the new saint." The black-robed female Becky looked at Lei Sen, and said with a serious face: "Only our sect members can go to the festival to watch the ceremony, unless you are like us and follow the great sun god, you can't enter the holy land." And I've heard that the third saintess is very disobedient and always wants to run away, but the sect leader has made many people look at her. She had no idea what a great and glorious mission it was to be made a saint! β
Hearing this, Rayson almost couldn't hold back a punch in Becky's face. What saint? That's Lao Tzu's woman!
Becky couldn't understand the anger hidden in Rayson's eyes, and suddenly slapped his head, looking like a trance: "Oops! I can't tell you anymore, I've been delayed for days! Hurry up and preach and save more of the lost. Otherwise, the sun god will be angry! β
With that, Becky really got up to leave, and Rayson hurriedly pulled her back. He can't let Becky leave now, cultists like this have a different way of thinking, and their gathering place must be different from the norm, he needs to use someone like Becky who is familiar with the situation inside to help him enter the holy land of the Saints' Guild. Then find Su Ling.
Becky looked puzzled, "Is there anything else you need?" β
Rayson thought for a moment before he said, "I'...... An old friend of your new holy woman, I would love to see her again, and I can join your church as well. But I don't know what your church is like yet, can you take me to your holy place first? β
"But......" Becky looked puzzled, "But, I still have to preach!" The sect leader said, this is the will of the sun god to me, God wants to bring more light to the world, so let me hurry up and preach, save at least a hundred lost people like you, and lead them all to believe in the great sun god! β
Rayson thought for a moment, and then said, "Then did your sun god give you a time limit?" How long do you want it to be done? β
Becky was stunned for a moment, recalled it carefully, and then shook his head: "This ...... The sect leader doesn't seem to have mentioned it, so it shouldn't be, right? β
"Isn't that all there is to it?" Lei Sen smiled slightly: "In this way, you listen to me, you take me to your holy place first." I know a lot of friends, so if you can help me meet the new saints, then how about I introduce all my friends to you and let them all join your Saints' Society? β
"It's not to join us, it's to worship the great sun god together!" Becky corrected Rayson's statement very seriously, and then asked, "Is what you said true?" β
"Don't worry, I've saved you once, will I still lie to you?" Rayson nodded firmly. But only he knows, where did he get any friends? Even if they had, they would definitely not join a cult like the Society of Saints.
"If so, I will soon be able to fulfill the will of the sun god!" Becky immediately looked excited and expectant, and took Raisen's hand: "Then let's go now, I'll take you to the Holy Land to see!" β
Rayson secretly rejoiced, fortunately, Becky was brainwashed and not very smart, so he didn't doubt what he said, so he persuaded her so easily. I really don't know whether to say that she is stupid or naΓ―ve, but I can imagine that she must have been well protected in her previous life to have such a ...... Weird mind.
However, such a person is like a sheep; And now the world is full of jackals, tigers and leopards, if she walks alone, I'm afraid she won't even know how to die.
Seeing Becky drag herself out with excitement on her face, Rayson grabbed her again and admonished, "However, when we enter the Holy Land, we can't be too conspicuous, it's better to keep a low profile and not let your companions find out?" β
"Why?" Becky looked puzzled.
Lei Sen had to think about it again and find a reason: "Haven't you completed the task yet, if you swagger back at this time, let your sect leader misunderstand that you are trying to be lazy, it will not be good." Listen to me, I'll go this time to keep a low profile, it's too public. β
Becky looked like she didn't understand, but nodded anyway.
Rayson let out a sigh of relief before asking, "Then do you know if there is any way to enter the Holy Land without being discovered?" β
Becky thought for a moment and nodded: "I know a way......"
Shortly after, Rayson was taken by Becky to a fence where there was a large piece of rubble in one of its locations. Rayson pushed the rubble away, and a gap appeared in the fence that was just the size of an adult.
Before entering, Rayson draped the black robe he had received from the cannibal boy over his body. Becky was curious about the origin of the black robe, but he was only picked up by Rayson by chance.
Becky enters with Rayson. Only then did Rayson see that this so-called holy place was actually a small city, and it could be seen that even in the old century, this city was not very developed, and there were no high-rise buildings around.
There are not many people living here, and most of them are not wearing complete black robes like them, but robes that are patched together with various clothing patches, which are obviously also made of imitation of black robes.
These people in patched robes would stop when they saw Rayson and Becky in full black robes, and bowed with their hands folded, their faces full of awe. Rayson also noticed that most of the people looked exhausted, and their faces were branded with strange symbols, and they looked like a pocket sun.
In order not to arouse suspicion, Rayson also followed Becky's example, and also folded his hands in return, but did not bow.
On the way, there are also people who are also dressed in full black robes, and the two sides will also salute each other, but they also bow less. It seems that this black robe is not only a feature of the Saints' Order, but also a status symbol internally.
Because everyone's black robes are very large, and there is a hood that covers most of their faces, they can't see each other's faces clearly, and naturally no one finds Becky.
After everyone had walked by, Rayson looked around again, and couldn't help but be curious: "You saints, just living in such a place?" β
"The Holy Land is not a broken place!" Becky is very supportive of the Church of Saints, but he does not forget to explain to Rayson: "The real residence of the church is not here. In normal times, there are members of the church and congregants living here. When there are important ceremonies, the sect leader will come here, such as the purification and coronation ceremony of the new saints, which is also held here. β
It was closer to the tower, and it was easier to see, with its various mechanical parts slowly rotating. The light from the huge light bulb at the top of the tower also illuminates the path beneath the feet of Rayson and Becky.
Rayson stared at the lighthouse and couldn't help but say, "That...... What the hell is it? β
"It was built many years ago, and the Sect Master led people to build it," Becky looked at the tower, his face full of longing, "The Sect Master said, that is also the will of the Sun God." The Holy Land is the Pure Land of God, and the light must always be kept to dispel all darkness. The members and congregants of the church who usually live here are here to protect it. β
Rayson was even more speechless, no matter what was unreasonable, Becky seemed to think only of the will of the sun god, to be carried out unconditionally.
Because there are not many people in the city, many houses are uninhabited. Rayson randomly chose a slightly taller room and walked in. Coming to the top floor, the window here is just right to see the tower.
But at first glance, Rayson's face was extremely gloomy. The mechanical tower was located in a plaza, and the reason why it rotated was because it was powered by human power!
At the bottom of the tower is a huge disc with dozens of poles, which looks like a cog; Each pole is held by a man who is constantly pushing forward, turning the disc and the mechanical tower. As they continued to push the disc to rotate, the glowing ball at the top of the tower illuminated the faces of each of them, all of them looking tired and numb, and each of them was branded with a strange sun symbol.
Around the disc-pushers, they were watched by a number of men in full black robes, all with whips in their hands, which would be whipped mercilessly if any of them slowed down.
Becky saw Rayson staring at those people, and his face was full of pride: "Those people are all members of the sect who have volunteered to work hard for the great God of Light. It is because they have a strong belief in the great God that the light can continue to illuminate us! β
Listening to Becky's unintelligible words, Rayson only secretly muttered: Stupid! What voluntary work is firm in faith, these people are clearly persecuted slaves.
However, Becky's words also revealed a message: the operation of the mechanical tower and the light ball at the top of the tower relied on this continuous human propulsion.
So painstakingly, just to run a giant light bulb? Rayson couldn't help but be suspicious.
But then, Rayson's eyes were drawn to something else.
At the other end of the plaza, where the mechanical tower sits, a group of people appeared; Among them, there was a shirtless man in the middle of the line, who looked very familiar.
Rayson squinted his eyes and took a closer look, and found that the guy was scarred, and it was actually a slave trader who had escaped - Durant!