Chapter Eleven: Divine Ancestor on High (Part One)

Guo Kang and Wu Han pushed open the doors and stepped into the main hall of the temple, only to find a plump man dressed in lavish finery, looking around as if no one else existed. Several Greek priests stood nearby, looking flustered and at a loss. Upon seeing Guo Kang emerge, they flocked to him like chicks finding their mother hen.

Regardless of whether one had met "Sun the Hundred Thousand" before, even a stranger could guess the identity of the man behind such a nickname just by looking at his attire.

He was of medium height with a round face. Though his frame was wide, it was evident he was quite sturdy, not the kind of flabby, sedentary build Guo Kang had often seen in his past life. He wore a crown encrusted with pearls and jade, and his body was draped in multiple layers of clothing. The fabrics were shockingly thin; though layered, they did not appear bulky. A closer look revealed that every garment featured multiple colors, with intricate patterns woven into high-quality fine silk. Even a complete layman like Guo Kang could tell the craftsmanship was superb and the value immense.

His belt buckle was made of gold, inlaid with agate and precious stones. From one side of his waist hung a string of warm, high-quality jade pendants, and from the other, a scimitar with a hilt and scabbard of gold and silver filigree—likely the handiwork of a craftsman from Northern India. Even the black casual boots on his feet were embedded with emerald studs in just the right places.

Dressed in such a riot of colors, he looked like a Christmas tree—though that concept had yet to become popular in Europe. He practically had "I am wealthy" written all over his face.

He was followed by several bodyguards. The sight of them made Guo Kang subconsciously want to channel his internal energy. Glancing at Wu Han, he saw his companion’s gaze sharpen as well. It was no wonder; these men were agile and exuded a murderous aura, clearly battle-hardened experts.

This was hardly surprising. The fact that Sun the Hundred Thousand dared to parade through the streets in such an outfit was likely due to these men. They had surely endured many "cordial exchanges" with the unruly Greek locals along the way, so their tension was understandable.

Seeing Guo Kang, Sun the Hundred Thousand approached with a warm expression and offered a bow: "Young Master Guo has arrived as well. I am truly flattered."

"Master Sun is too kind," Guo Kang hurriedly returned the gesture. "Have you enjoyed your tour of our country so far? If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to tell this junior."

"Nothing, nothing at all," Sun the Hundred Thousand said, waving a hand dismissively, though his eyes swept across the altars and icons nearby. "I heard that the 'Lady Suo' of your temple is quite miraculous and that this is the most famous grand temple in Rome, so I brought offerings specifically to pay my respects. Yet, these monks told me there is no Lady Suo here."

"As you know, Young Master, I have spent years trading at sea and cannot help but be mindful of spirits and gods. Therefore, at every famous temple I visit, regardless of the country or faith, I must offer my sincere prayers to ensure the deities are satisfied before continuing my journey."

He shook his sleeves, paused, and turned to Guo Kang. "But why is the Lady absent from her own temple? Are there taboos preventing outsiders from seeing her? Or do the temple authorities find my offerings too meager?"

Though he kept his smile, the implication was clear: he was quite displeased. Guo Kang, however, stood stunned for a moment, realizing he had never even thought about this question. He turned to look at Wu Han and saw the same blank expression. Clearly, he did not know the answer either.

After a brief hesitation, Wu Han took the initiative: "Master Sun, you worry too much. This temple has never worshiped a deity named Lady Suo since its construction."

"This has always been our Roman Temple of Heaven, dedicated to the Heavenly Father, Alaha the Supreme, and this has remained unchanged for a millennium. It is recorded in our archives," he explained.

"As for Lady Suo... she was a minor local folk deity worshipped by the natives in ancient times. Since she was worshipped here, the name lingered as a colloquialism. In reality, the temple dedicated to that 'Lady' was abandoned long ago; only the name remained in common parlance. It is much like how some cities have neighborhoods named after a City God Temple, yet the temple itself no longer exists because it was moved elsewhere."

Guo Kang couldn't help but admire him; as expected of someone personally trained by Lama Wang, he was quick-witted. Had it been him, he certainly couldn't have fabricated such a smooth explanation.

"Is that so?" Sun the Hundred Thousand looked slightly doubtful. "But is Lady Suo no longer worshipped at all?"

"There is no help for it; her efficacy was lacking. Over time, people simply stopped bothering," Wu Han explained. "If she were truly more miraculous, why would everyone have worshipped Alaha the Supreme for all these years instead of her? So, there is no need to worry."

"If you are still uneasy, you may pay your respects to the Supreme Heavenly Father himself," he said, gesturing toward the altar not far away. "You have traveled far and wide and must have seen many Nestorian temples. But this is the largest and most orthodox temple in Rome. The merit earned from worshiping here is incomparable to that of any small, roadside shrine."

"Oh?" Upon hearing that this was the greatest temple of the Supreme, Sun the Hundred Thousand immediately pushed the idea of worshiping the Lady to the back of his mind. "Then please, sir, lead the way. I would like to pay my respects."

"This way, please." Wu Han skillfully guided him toward the altar at the end of the hall.

Sun the Hundred Thousand and his entourage followed without suspicion. As far as the simple concept of "the largest" went, what Wu Han said was indeed the truth.

"This hall is nearly thirty *zhang* long and over twenty *zhang* wide. You see this dome? It is nearly twenty *zhang* high," Wu Han explained as they walked. "When it was designed, the main body was specifically built as a single, uninterrupted space. To build a hall of this size in a temple—there has never been another one like it elsewhere to this day."

"It is truly magnificent," Sun the Hundred Thousand said, gazing at the elaborate decorations and the massive icons on the walls. "Even the palaces of the Song and Yuan dynasties probably lacked a hall of this scale. I imagine only the Great Tang at its peak could have surpassed it."

"Sigh, never mind the Central Plains; we cannot build anything this grand anymore, either. I know not why, but everything seems to be declining day by day. Perhaps this is the Age of Dharma Decline," Wu Han sighed, shaking his head. "Ah, perhaps I am being too pessimistic. If only the Great Tang could rise again to prove me wrong."

The two men reminisced about the Great Tang for a while, sighing with deep emotion. The Greek priests nearby exchanged puzzled glances, unsure whether to step in and offer commentary. Guo Kang told them that the two were simply moved by the sight to reflect on the Justinian era of the Seres, and that they could return to their own duties. Hearing this, the Greeks wore expressions of realization and dispersed.