Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

Because this scene was so dreamlike and beautiful, he could hardly believe it was real. Instead, it reminded him of ghost stories he had heard as a child—in the desolate mountains, a fairy cave suddenly appeared, only to be discovered the next day to be a monster's illusion. In the worst cases, the monster would even eat his heart and liver.

He dismounted, gently holding the reins, wanting to get a closer look at what the people in this town were doing.

Just as he was about to step forward, a withered hand gently touched his heart.

……

"Wait a minute, young man, wait a minute."

An elderly man, dressed in a linen robe and with white hair and beard, reached out to stop him, squinting as he carefully examined his face.

"You look... you're not from Heron Town, are you?"

After a long while, he raised his hand, pointed to the wooden pole not far away, and called out, "The horse can't be led in; tie it there."

“…” Zhang Renfeng’s pupils dilated slightly.

This was one of the few times since he came to this country that he was not harassed in public because of his skin color.

"Heron Town?"

The town is not large and is not connected by rail, so it was not even marked on the map found at Pike Place train station.

But it truly exists, right here.

Following the old man's instructions, he tied the old horse to the wooden pole at the entrance. When he tried to go in again, he received a cup of wine and a piece of bread from the old man. The wine cup was just an ordinary wooden cup, and the bread was just a simple milk and oat biscuit. Zhang Renfeng noticed that everyone who came to the celebration received this cup of wine and a piece of bread.

The pastry had gone cold when I held it to my nose, but the rich aroma of milk lingered.

Zhang Renfeng suddenly remembered what the merchant had said: that a grand cathedral had been built in his town, and the whole town was celebrating it.

Following the layout of Heron Town, at the end of a row of wooden houses, there is indeed a brand-new sanctuary, standing majestically at the highest point of the myriad lights.

Chapter 846: Meeting an Old Friend in a Foreign Land

A single oatmeal pancake can be a bit dry, so pairing it with a glass of red wine to soothe the throat would be just right.

Interestingly, the glass contained not rye wine, but more expensive wine. Zhang Renfeng had already eaten dinner, but the lively scene before him whetted his appetite.

With a sip of slightly sweet wine, he finished the oat cookie in just a few bites. The perfect aroma of the cookie was very satisfying, and he even felt like having a second one.

But, like everyone else here, Zhang Renfeng could only receive a pancake and a cup of wine, nothing more.

As an observer, he wandered aimlessly down the street, looking here and there, the jubilant celebrations of the people becoming mere accompaniments to his observations.

He suddenly realized that since setting foot on this land, he had spent most of his time far removed from normal society. It had been a very long time since he had enjoyed the warmth and joy of a celebration created by ordinary people.

Here, he is no longer the red center, nor the white board, but simply one of the many crowded beings.

The sounds of dice rolling, dominoes scraping, and cards being slammed onto the table mingled with the cheers of the crowd.

Zhang Renfeng walked through the crowd and saw a long table lined up on both sides, covered with red tablecloths, where he saw snacks served in bowls and plates. There were mainly biscuits, cakes, and long loaves of bread, as well as thinly sliced ​​meat and several large barrels of rye wine.

After looking around, Zhang Renfeng didn't see any particularly expensive side dishes, and even the meat was just seasoned with some simple spices. Just like the small town, it was surprisingly simple, yet it still managed to make a grand impression.

Not far away, a traveling band was playing celebratory music. The surrounding noise was so loud it almost drowned out the music. But the musicians remained unmoved, continuing to play their own tune. The melody was initially crisp, melodious, and resolute, then gradually grew grander after a certain point, and finally became sacred halfway through.

From beginning to end, Zhang Renfeng only heard one line of lyrics, sung in different ways, sometimes low, sometimes high, and sometimes filled with a kind of fearless spirit.

Kyrie Eleison...

Kyrie Eleison,

Kyrie Eleison.

Kyrie Eleison—!

……

The sanctuary was located in the very center of the town. As Zhang Renfeng walked, he was unconsciously drawn to it and began to walk towards it.

A small group of people stood on the stone steps, close to the church doors, raising their glasses in celebration. However, their attitude and atmosphere seemed different from those below, more reserved. The town's administrators were also present at the celebration, joining the ordinary townspeople in commemorating the building's completion.

Among them, Zhang Renfeng seemed to see a familiar figure—he was wearing a wide linen robe, just like the other residents of the town, and he almost didn't recognize him.

"Reed?"

----

"Oh, Mr. Zhang, it's you!"

Zhang Renfeng's appearance and attire gave him a strong sense of being an outsider in this town. Reed recognized him from the crowd with just a glance.

After that, his expression immediately changed, and surprise, disbelief, and joy rushed into his mind at the same time. He didn't care about talking to the others and rushed down the stone steps in a few steps to shake hands with him tightly.

Several months have passed since I left Dover Hill.

Judging from the stonemason's spirit and energy, he's doing quite well and is no longer the rigid sculptor he used to be.

Experiences can reshape a person. Even Zhang Renfeng found everything he experienced in Dover Hill unbelievable, let alone an ordinary person. After witnessing so many incredible things, his worldview was reshaped, his thinking was broadened, and Reed suddenly realized that all the problems that had troubled him before seemed so insignificant.

His sculptures are no longer perfect replicas of reality, but incorporate many elements of imagination. They begin to resemble clouds in the sky, elusive and unpredictable; you never know which cloud will bring rain.

Coincidentally, this is also something that an excellent artist must possess.

……

"You... I mean, how did you get here?"

After shaking hands for a long time, Reed still couldn't hide his excitement—as one of the few people who had closely observed Zhang Renfeng's strength, in his eyes, this was a living god who could walk on the ground.

The United States of America, a land so vast and open, happens to be the first state in the North, happens to be a remote town without even a train, happens to be tonight, happens to be during a celebration, and the two meet.

Zhang Renfeng opened his mouth slightly, wanting to explain his origins, but he didn't know where to begin.

Where to begin? Pike Place? White Torch? Or even earlier?

Finally, he just chuckled, shook his head, and sighed, "It was just a coincidence, a coincidence that I came here. It's so lively here, so I thought I'd come in and take a look..."

"What about you?"

Reed's purpose was simpler and clearer, and there was no element of coincidence—he was hired to build this grand cathedral, essentially as its artistic director. After months of hard work, the cathedral was finally completed, and as its director, he naturally had to attend the celebration banquet.

"Art Director..."

Zhang Renfeng looked up at the sanctuary. Although its size wasn't extravagant, the sacred aura it conveyed within its compact structure was unique. The colors, layout, and proportions of all the doors and windows were perfectly integrated into the stone sanctuary, creating a harmonious whole.

The power of art lies in this: even with different cultures, Zhang Renfeng felt very comfortable looking at it, without any sense of disconnect.

As the saying goes, "A scholar should be viewed with new eyes after three days of separation." His old friends from the past are also constantly growing in their respective fields.

"Its full name is the Great Sanctuary of Barbara, but some people in town just call it the 'Great Sanctuary of the Sun.' Above the main entrance of the sanctuary, I hung a gilded circular laurel wreath, which looks a lot like the sun, doesn't it?"

Reed introduced his creation with pride in his eyes. Any man, when talking about his career, will always be very talkative, and he was no exception.

"The vast majority of the townspeople were miners who migrated from other places. St. Barbara is their patron saint. Therefore, the church they are building is no longer just for prayer; they have a strong sense of belonging to this name."

"This sanctuary is also fundamentally different from other churches."

"If you don't mind, would you like to..."

Reed hesitated for a moment, but couldn't resist extending the invitation, "Shall we go in and take a look?"

Chapter 847: Guardian God

It's clear that Reed holds considerable influence in this town, and everyone is quite satisfied with the St. Barbara Church he oversaw the construction of.

After introducing Zhang Renfeng to several high-ranking officials in Lusi Town, the heavy door opened for the two of them with just a greeting.

The candlelight was very soft, like a light source that had been immersed in water and was then diffused.

Judging from the various arrangements for the celebration, it's not hard to see that this town isn't particularly wealthy. The funds for building the church couldn't have been plentiful either. Under these circumstances, Reed's answer was still small but complete.

The marble floor was washed until it was spotless. When you stepped on it, you could hardly feel any bumps or protrusions, as if you were walking on a calm, smooth surface of water.

Inside the church, on the left and right, are two radiating chapels, and a choir supported by double-arched flying buttresses. The decorations are exquisite, yet not overly extravagant, showcasing wealth. Bathed in candlelight, everything here is bathed in a warm, golden glow, creating an exceptionally cozy atmosphere.

"Boom——"

The heavy wooden door closed, and the noise and laughter outside immediately subsided, becoming indistinct, only like the soft patter of ocean waves falling into one's ears.

But perhaps because of their proximity, the wandering band's songs still managed to seep through the cracks in the brickwork.

They finally changed the tune.

“Sancta Barbara———”

“Virgo Nicomediae——”

"Ora pro nobis peccatoribus——"

"Ora pro nobis peccatoribus——"

……

Zhang Renfeng listened intently, and it was the same four lines of poetry, repeated over and over, but with varying intonations and rhythms, flowing like water into this miniature palace. The candlelight cast a dazzling, bright, and warm glow, making the meticulously designed interior feel as if one were in the midst of sunrise.

Stained glass windows hang on the walls, adorned with Gothic paintings. Bathed in light, the stained glass sparkles, seemingly reflected on the clear blue lake.

"……What……"

The content depicted on the painting greatly surprised Zhang Renfeng.

He saw a beggar.

Before coming here, he had visited other churches and had never felt any reverence for such places. Wherever the wind blows, there's a church; he hung Colin Chedder's body directly on the cross at the top of the church, and God didn't seem to mind.

After leaving Fengchuisha, he visited many towns, including some large cities, where churches were built with great splendor… Not to mention, his epic battle with Lu Aniu began in a small church, a church that held evidence of Samuel's crimes of extorting money from the people and wreaking havoc in the region. It's easy to see that Zhang Renfeng wasn't particularly fond of churches or sanctuaries.

However, this is the first time that the group of "beggars" has been depicted directly in a painting.

“See, it’s different from other places, isn’t it?” Reed introduced confidently, as if he had expected Zhang Renfeng to be interested. “Many people in Heron Town had a difficult time before they moved here… In those days, if you couldn’t make a living, you had to beg to survive.”

"This sanctuary holds their most authentic past."

……

Zhang Renfeng became interested, his gaze wandering over the stained glass window paintings, which brought him a great visual impact.

The butcher is cutting meat.

Miners are digging for ore.

Loggers are cutting down trees.

The craftsmen are smelting iron.

The tailor was mending the clothes stitch by stitch.

Farmers wield hoes and sow seeds.

The women were washing clothes by the river.

The children ran happily, with a small dog following behind them.

Vendors are hawking their wares.

……

People from all walks of life appeared on the stained glass windows, each finding their place. The stained glass windows of other churches often depicted only the deeds of saints, thus appearing spacious and sacred. But the stained glass windows of this church, because of the sheer number of people and events, became quite crowded. Only a small section was left for the saints.

Interestingly, Zhang Renfeng could actually detect a hint of everyday life in the paintings that were so "crowded" they were almost overflowing the stained glass windows, as if he could already smell the aroma of smoked meat, rye wine, and toast.

He couldn't help but laugh.

The statue of Santa Barbara, not far away, stands in the center of the light. Judging from its shape, it is just a gentle woman with her arms crossed, her eyes downcast, and her expression compassionate.

She was originally the patron saint of miners, but in this sanctuary, illuminated by these stained-glass windows, it seems that what she protects is no longer just "miners." The most primal and pure emotions of people broaden the scope of her protection, no longer confined to a single position.

Rather, it is the hardworking residents of the town.

The statue of St. Barbara, brave, resilient, and compassionate, stands there.

But... the patterns on the dome suddenly made Zhang Renfeng realize the significance of his presence here tonight.

----

red.

White.

emerald.

Three familiar colors, three familiar rabbits—after such a long night, we meet again.