Caiyi continued to speak of Tian Yi and his legendary feats that were overly exaggerated.
"Rumor has it when His Highness found a near-dead swan near his Celestial Palace, His Highness, out of the loving and kindness in his heart, patted the swan on its head, blessing it with eternal karma, allowing the swan to fully recover, eventually transcending into a God!"
Tian Yi's eyes widened at her words. 'How did they find out that I had patted that swan on that day? And what's this about giving it eternal karma? I only healed its wounds!' he wondered.
"Another rumor has it that on one night when His Highness decided to watch the moon, His Highness casually smiled at the moon, and the moon gave birth to a Moon Princess one year later who eventually became the current Goddess of the Moon!"
"Huh? Is that even possible? The moon giving birth?" Tian Yi asked her with wide eyes.
"Of course! There is nothing impossible when it comes to His Highness!" Caiyi said proudly. "Even the sun can be impregnated if His Highness wishes!"
"Uhhh…" Because of his lack of common sense, something his parents had forgotten to teach him, Tian Yi actually believed her nonsense, that the moon and sun had the ability to give birth. "How does it give birth?" he asked with curiosity.
"It's rude to ask a young maiden such as myself such an indecent question!" Caiyi frowned.
"Don't ever do that again!" she reprimanded him.
"Is that so? I had no idea; but that is no excuse, so I apologize for being disrespectful," he said with a bow.
Caiyi was quite surprised to see him bow while genuinely apologizing to her. It's rare to see people with his characteristics nowadays.
"You don't have to be so serious; I was only joking," she said. "As for the moon giving birth; it's complicated, so I'll pass the trouble of explaining it."
Tian Yi was dumbfounded. She tells him that after he truly felt sorry for being disrespectful?
"Anyway, after all that, do you understand the brilliance of His Highness? Or do you need to hear more?" Caiyi asked, her eyes showing hope that he'd ask for more since she could go on days without rest.
"I-I am fine…" he said awkwardly. "But what is the purpose of this Sacred Heaven's Temple?"
Caiyi's eyes sparkled like one giant star after hearing his question. "Great question! I am glad you asked! The purpose of this Sacred Heaven's Temple, you see, is to spread happiness across all Nine Heavens by making everybody feel a connection towards each other, and of course, His Highness! Although we lowly ones will never have a chance to witness His Highness's expressions or hear his heavenly voice, as long as we have this painting, we believe there will be a connection— no, we already have a connection with His Highness."
If Caiyi or any of the followers here today had any idea that they have already seen their God with their bare eyes, especially Caiyi, who knew what kind of reaction they'd show.
"I see…" Tian Yi mumbled with a soft smile, his gaze turning gentle with approval. "To spread happiness, huh?"
"In short, you'd all like to meet with him face to face, I assume?" he asked her with a hidden purpose behind it.
Showing a beautiful smile, one that made imaginary flowers bloom behind her, Caiyi nodded. "Yes!" she said in a clear voice.
"He will see you all one day, I'm sure of it," said Tian Yi, his voice sounding more like he was telling her instead of just saying it for encouragement.
Caiyi, who somehow understood his tone, made a weird expression. "Meeting His Highness is a dream inside a dream. Although I somehow managed to peek a glance at his face during His Highness's 15th birthday, I will never be able to stand in front of him; I am unworthy—"
Tian Yi suddenly took a step closer to Caiyi, interrupting her by surprise.
"Although one's dream may seem far at first; it may be closer to them than they think." Tian Yi said, his voice filled with encouragement. "I was like that at first, believing my dream that seemed to be so far away at that time to be impossible to fulfill. But you know what? I took my chances and strived for that dream, achieving that dream in the end. If you do not strive for it, a dream is nothing more than just a dream."
"....."
His words caused Caiyi to be speechless.
"Trying to sound profound when you didn't even know of His Highness's existence a moment ago, what an oddball." Caiyi smiled at his silliness, but in her mind, she was thinking of the words he had just spoken.
'If you do not strive for it, a dream is nothing more than just a dream. Maybe I should request for His Highness's audience once they find him.' Caiyi thought, resolution slowly being built in her heart.
"I get it, so stop standing so close to me."
"Oh, right…" He took a step back.
"So? Do you feel enlightened after learning of His Highness's existence?" she suddenly asked him.
He nodded, feeling somewhat ashamed of himself for listening to her speak of his mightiness without letting her know it was really him that she was talking about.
"Good, then here's your medallion."
Caiyi handed him a wooden medallion with the words 'Heaven's Follower,' carved onto it.
Puzzled of what the use of this medallion was, he asked her: "What is this for?"
Caiyi gave him a 'are you serious' look. "It is obviously used to identify yourself as a follower of the Sacred Heaven's Temple… There are other places like this that require the medallion to enter."
"Eh?" Tian Yi was dumbfounded. "When did I become a follower?" he asked, sounding somewhat dazed.
To join a cult that revered himself as a God; it felt weird even if he did not understand the place or its true meaning.
Caiyi tiredly rubbed her temples. "I just spent all this time to enlighten you when I could've been staring— praying to His Highness, and you want to leave without becoming a follower? That is really disrespectful, and I really mean it this time around."
"Uhhh…"
Tian Yi stared at her blankly. That's how it worked?!
"Are you saying that His Highness is not impressive enough for you to become his follower?" Caiyi's gaze narrowed, turning somewhat terrifying to look at.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
"Ahhh… I am disappointed… Truly disappointed…" Caiyi touched her forehead with the back of her palms, looking like she was about to faint.
"I-I will become a follower…" Tian Yi mumbled, feeling like there was something wrong here but couldn't pinpoint it no matter how much he pondered.
"Really?! I knew my eyesight was right! You have a lot of talent as a follower and will surely become someone big within this following! I noticed it the moment I saw your face!" Caiyi's attitude did a 180-degree turn, becoming cheerful.
Tian Yi's jaw dropped at her change. Speechless, he could only silently accept the medallion Caiyi shoved into his hands.
"Welcome, Shuyi, to the Sacred Heaven's Temple! May His Highness's blessing be with you for an eternity to come!" Caiyi welcomed him with a face full of smiles.
"U-Un…" he slowly nodded with a baffled look.
Caiyi continued to speak of Tian Yi and his legendary feats that were overly exaggerated.
"Rumor has it when His Highness found a near-dead swan near his Celestial Palace, His Highness, out of the loving and kindness in his heart, patted the swan on its head, blessing it with eternal karma, allowing the swan to fully recover, eventually transcending into a God!"
Tian Yi's eyes widened at her words. 'How did they find out that I had patted that swan on that day? And what's this about giving it eternal karma? I only healed its wounds!' he wondered.
"Another rumor has it that on one night when His Highness decided to watch the moon, His Highness casually smiled at the moon, and the moon gave birth to a Moon Princess one year later who eventually became the current Goddess of the Moon!"
"Huh? Is that even possible? The moon giving birth?" Tian Yi asked her with wide eyes.
"Of course! There is nothing impossible when it comes to His Highness!" Caiyi said proudly. "Even the sun can be impregnated if His Highness wishes!"
"Uhhh…" Because of his lack of common sense, something his parents had forgotten to teach him, Tian Yi actually believed her nonsense, that the moon and sun had the ability to give birth. "How does it give birth?" he asked with curiosity.
"It's rude to ask a young maiden such as myself such an indecent question!" Caiyi frowned.
"Don't ever do that again!" she reprimanded him.
"Is that so? I had no idea; but that is no excuse, so I apologize for being disrespectful," he said with a bow.
Caiyi was quite surprised to see him bow while genuinely apologizing to her. It's rare to see people with his characteristics nowadays.
"You don't have to be so serious; I was only joking," she said. "As for the moon giving birth; it's complicated, so I'll pass the trouble of explaining it."
Tian Yi was dumbfounded. She tells him that after he truly felt sorry for being disrespectful?
"Anyway, after all that, do you understand the brilliance of His Highness? Or do you need to hear more?" Caiyi asked, her eyes showing hope that he'd ask for more since she could go on days without rest.
"I-I am fine…" he said awkwardly. "But what is the purpose of this Sacred Heaven's Temple?"
Caiyi's eyes sparkled like one giant star after hearing his question. "Great question! I am glad you asked! The purpose of this Sacred Heaven's Temple, you see, is to spread happiness across all Nine Heavens by making everybody feel a connection towards each other, and of course, His Highness! Although we lowly ones will never have a chance to witness His Highness's expressions or hear his heavenly voice, as long as we have this painting, we believe there will be a connection— no, we already have a connection with His Highness."
If Caiyi or any of the followers here today had any idea that they have already seen their God with their bare eyes, especially Caiyi, who knew what kind of reaction they'd show.
"I see…" Tian Yi mumbled with a soft smile, his gaze turning gentle with approval. "To spread happiness, huh?"
"In short, you'd all like to meet with him face to face, I assume?" he asked her with a hidden purpose behind it.
Showing a beautiful smile, one that made imaginary flowers bloom behind her, Caiyi nodded. "Yes!" she said in a clear voice.
"He will see you all one day, I'm sure of it," said Tian Yi, his voice sounding more like he was telling her instead of just saying it for encouragement.
Caiyi, who somehow understood his tone, made a weird expression. "Meeting His Highness is a dream inside a dream. Although I somehow managed to peek a glance at his face during His Highness's 15th birthday, I will never be able to stand in front of him; I am unworthy—"
Tian Yi suddenly took a step closer to Caiyi, interrupting her by surprise.
"Although one's dream may seem far at first; it may be closer to them than they think." Tian Yi said, his voice filled with encouragement. "I was like that at first, believing my dream that seemed to be so far away at that time to be impossible to fulfill. But you know what? I took my chances and strived for that dream, achieving that dream in the end. If you do not strive for it, a dream is nothing more than just a dream."
"....."
His words caused Caiyi to be speechless.
"Trying to sound profound when you didn't even know of His Highness's existence a moment ago, what an oddball." Caiyi smiled at his silliness, but in her mind, she was thinking of the words he had just spoken.
'If you do not strive for it, a dream is nothing more than just a dream. Maybe I should request for His Highness's audience once they find him.' Caiyi thought, resolution slowly being built in her heart.
"I get it, so stop standing so close to me."
"Oh, right…" He took a step back.
"So? Do you feel enlightened after learning of His Highness's existence?" she suddenly asked him.
He nodded, feeling somewhat ashamed of himself for listening to her speak of his mightiness without letting her know it was really him that she was talking about.
"Good, then here's your medallion."
Caiyi handed him a wooden medallion with the words 'Heaven's Follower,' carved onto it.
Puzzled of what the use of this medallion was, he asked her: "What is this for?"
Caiyi gave him a 'are you serious' look. "It is obviously used to identify yourself as a follower of the Sacred Heaven's Temple… There are other places like this that require the medallion to enter."
"Eh?" Tian Yi was dumbfounded. "When did I become a follower?" he asked, sounding somewhat dazed.
To join a cult that revered himself as a God; it felt weird even if he did not understand the place or its true meaning.
Caiyi tiredly rubbed her temples. "I just spent all this time to enlighten you when I could've been staring— praying to His Highness, and you want to leave without becoming a follower? That is really disrespectful, and I really mean it this time around."
"Uhhh…"
Tian Yi stared at her blankly. That's how it worked?!
"Are you saying that His Highness is not impressive enough for you to become his follower?" Caiyi's gaze narrowed, turning somewhat terrifying to look at.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
"Ahhh… I am disappointed… Truly disappointed…" Caiyi touched her forehead with the back of her palms, looking like she was about to faint.
"I-I will become a follower…" Tian Yi mumbled, feeling like there was something wrong here but couldn't pinpoint it no matter how much he pondered.
"Really?! I knew my eyesight was right! You have a lot of talent as a follower and will surely become someone big within this following! I noticed it the moment I saw your face!" Caiyi's attitude did a 180-degree turn, becoming cheerful.
Tian Yi's jaw dropped at her change. Speechless, he could only silently accept the medallion Caiyi shoved into his hands.
"Welcome, Shuyi, to the Sacred Heaven's Temple! May His Highness's blessing be with you for an eternity to come!" Caiyi welcomed him with a face full of smiles.
"U-Un…" he slowly nodded with a baffled look.
