Chapter 360 The Priest and the Wooden Stick

Xia Nan certainly recognized the holy symbol before him.

His experiences in Kalanfor and Nym City had forced him to crash-course his knowledge of this other world, pushing information about its deities to the highest possible priority.

And the "holy symbol"—the visual bond connecting mortals to the divine, the stylized emblem of a god—was an absolutely crucial part of that curriculum.

He might not be able to recite the evolutionary history of every holy symbol, the specific symbolic meanings of their patterns, or the hidden tales behind them.

But when it came to simply identifying the great beings these symbols represented, Xia Nan was confident he wouldn't misidentify any of the mainstream deities across the Aifala Continent.

Right now, the holy symbol carved into the closed doors of the Church ahead—a budding rose encircled by the rising sun—fell well within his scope of knowledge.

—The [Goddess of Agriculture], Chantier.

Her divine domains included "Agriculture," "Crops," "Gardeners," and "Summer."

Depending on the region and its local legends and customs, she was also known as the [Mother of the Earth], the [Guardian of the Wilderness], and the [Grain Goddess].

She was a powerful deity with an incredibly vast domain of faith.

To some extent, from the Frost Tundra in the north to the Maritime Archipelago in the south, as long as one needed to grow crops and attempted to sow seeds, they would inevitably brush against her divine authority.

Almost every farmer on the Aifala Continent could be considered a casual believer in her.

After all, who wouldn't want their hard-tended fields to yield a bountiful harvest the following year?

Perhaps influenced by the nature of their godhood, the personalities of deities often corresponded to the domains they ruled.

Much like the bright, fickle, and playful [Goddess of Luck], Tymora, or the passionate, optimistic, and vibrant [Lord of Morning], Lathander.

As the Goddess of Agriculture presiding over sowing and reaping, Chantier's domains also touched upon "Family" and "Hearth." She was a great deity whose believers fondly appended the title of "Mother" to her name.

Her own personality, as seen in her rare divine manifestations, trended toward charity and tranquility.

Her widely spread image, commonly found in various tales and Epics, was that of a kind, gentle, and virtuous middle-aged woman brimming with life experience.

Under these circumstances, the conduct of her Church and the clerics who worshipped her mirrored the Great Mother they served. They were endlessly patient, willing to give selflessly to the land, and always ready to help those who sowed.

Clerics in small, remote churches would even head into the fields alongside the local farmers, using their divine spells to help crops grow and increase yields. They would also freely teach the farmers the highly efficient agricultural techniques and crop knowledge they had learned from the Church.

Their reputation was excellent.

Armed with this knowledge, Xia Nan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief after realizing which deity the church in Sheep Horn Town represented.

He didn't know why a malicious item like the Pastel Gemstone—which clearly possessed mind-charming effects—could circulate so widely in the town when a church and a priest were stationed here.

But regardless, since the town's priest was a believer of the [Goddess of Agriculture], Chantier, the situation couldn't possibly get any worse.

He might even be able to get some help from the man.

Of course, he hadn't ruled out more extreme possibilities, and had even mentally prepared for the worst.

But before things reached that point, Xia Nan felt he needed to gather more information about this town and the gemstones currently circulating within it.

Sweeping his gaze over the church's firmly shut doors, he frowned slightly.

Just then, the idle chatter of several peasant women by the square drifted into his ears on the wind.

His mind stirred, thinking he could ask them for a few details.

Then he remembered his earlier thought that "Intimidation" might prove more useful than "Persuasion."

He paused, his aura instantly growing a few shades darker. Paired with his fully armed, dark-toned armor and his naturally sharp, cold features, he genuinely gave off an intensely oppressive and suffocating presence.

But after taking just one step toward those simple, smiling, and chatting women, Xia Nan couldn't help but hesitate.

Ultimately, he silently withdrew his radiating pressure.

'Forget it. I'll just go look for some street thugs or gang members later and try "Intimidation" or "physical persuasion" on them,' he thought.

Xia Nan stood in place and adjusted his breathing. As he reined in his aura, he tried his best to look less aggressive, as if he were truly just an ordinary adventurer passing through.

Putting on a polite smile, he stepped forward.

"Good day, ladies," he said, stopping a few paces away and offering them a slight nod. "The weather today is truly cool and comfortable."

The women looked up at the black-haired adventurer who had suddenly come over to chat. A trace of scrutiny toward the stranger flashed in their eyes, but seeing his amiable attitude, they relaxed a little.

The older one among them, whose face bore the marks of wind and frost, took the initiative to reply.

"Good day, sir."

"You are right about that. After all, with the Goddess's protection here, not only are our crop yields excellent every year, but we also rarely see dangers like monsters."

"That is exactly why we can sit here so leisurely."

"Praise be to the merciful Lady Chantier."

Seeing that they seemed quite chatty, Xia Nan took the opportunity to sit down on the stone steps a short distance away, maintaining an appropriate space.

"Are you believers of the Goddess of Agriculture?"

Drawing on his two previous failed attempts at persuasion, he wisely avoided mentioning anything that might relate to the gemstones, simply following their topic like casual small talk.

"Of course!" When faith was mentioned, the slightly younger woman beside her—whose expression had been somewhat stiff from a stranger's approach—came to life, nodding repeatedly.

"It is all thanks to Grandpa Moin's guidance. Otherwise, we probably would have never realized how generous and merciful the Goddess is in our entire lives."

"Grandpa Moin?" Xia Nan displayed an appropriate hint of confusion.

"Oh, he is the only priest here in Sheep Horn Town."

Xia Nan's mind stirred. He subconsciously shot a glance toward the Church and feigned curiosity. "Judging by your tone, this priest... must be a deeply beloved elder, right?"

Hearing this, the older peasant woman revealed a look of sincere, unfeigned respect on her face.

"Yes! Priest Moin has been in our town for almost forty years. Many of us grew up under his watch. He is a truly kind and wise gentleman, like the patriarch to all of us."

"During the years when the harvest wasn't so good, he was the one who organized everyone to help each other, and he even distributed the Church's grain reserves to us," the young woman added, her tone brimming with gratitude. "If it weren't for Grandpa Moin, many people probably wouldn't have survived those winters."

Xia Nan's Perception was outstanding. He could clearly sense that when discussing the old priest, the sincere emotion in the two women's praises was absolutely genuine, not at all a forced or hollow act.

It seemed this devout priest who worshipped Chantier held considerable prestige in the town.

Given that, if he wanted to dig deeper into the information surrounding the gemstones, this man was definitely a figure he couldn't bypass.

However, was the priest aware of the Pastel Gemstones' circulation and their mind-charming effects? Or was he kept in the dark as well?

Or perhaps...

Xia Nan felt he ought to make contact with the man.

And so, he smoothly steered the conversation toward the Church itself.

He looked up, vaguely pointing his left hand toward the Church, and asked in a casual tone.

"Having a priest like him is indeed a good thing for the town."

"But I see the doors to the Church by your square are closed. I was actually thinking of going inside to pray."

Somewhat surprisingly, even though the question was only about the Church and completely unrelated to the gemstones...

...the moment Xia Nan mentioned the "closed doors of the Church," the two peasant women who had just been chatting passionately with him simultaneously displayed an instinctive resistance and aversion—strikingly similar to the reactions of the tavern owner and the blacksmith earlier.

The young woman, who had only just shed her initial shyness as the conversation deepened, unconsciously lowered her head. She gripped the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands and sealed her mouth shut.

The older woman's eyes darted around, no longer daring to look at Xia Nan. She spoke quickly, using a dry, stiff tone as if reciting from memory.

"The Church... the inside of the Church requires repairs and maintenance lately. Priest Moin has ordered that it be temporarily closed to the public. Yes, that's it."

Xia Nan naturally caught their unnatural behavior.

Their respect for the old priest was real, and their evasiveness regarding the reason for the Church's closure was equally genuine.

He might not be able to extract any key information from the reactions of the town's residents or the other details he had discovered so far.

But at this moment, the similar behavior between the two women, the blacksmith, and the tavern owner sparked a few theories in his mind.

'Could it be... there is some connection between the Church and the gemstones?' he thought.

Just as he planned to change the subject before the two fully processed his question—hoping to return their chat to its previous relaxed atmosphere so he could find another opening to gather intel—

—the sudden sound of a noisy argument erupted from the square a short distance away.

Three children, about six or seven years old, had gathered together, shoving each other over a straight wooden stick.

"I saw it first!"

"But I was the first one to pick it up off the ground!"

"No! This stick belongs to me!"

Children argued all the time. Furthermore, Xia Nan acutely noted that the wooden stick was indeed long, straight, and free of extra branches—a prize truly worth fighting your friends over when you were that age. Therefore, he didn't intend to pay it much mind.

But right then, an elderly figure drawn over by the noise caught his attention.

Like an old tree growing in the shadows, it was a white-haired old man. Yet, his back was ramrod straight, and his footsteps were steady.

His thick white hair was neatly combed, resting rigidly and stubbornly atop his head. His beard was equally well-trimmed, lacking any hint of dishevelment. His coarse skin was coated in a bronze hue forged by years of outdoor labor in the sun and rain, and his face was filled with the deep furrows of time.

Compared to his appearance—which resembled that of a hardworking farmer who had toiled in the fields for years—his attire gave off a completely different sense of solemn holiness.

He wore a spotless brownish-green linen robe with a loose fit that entirely draped over his aged, gaunt frame.

His right hand gripped a White Waxwood Staff with fine grains and a warm texture. A dagger seemed to be tied at his waist, its warm, delicate caramel-colored tangerine wood hilt exposed, while its blade remained hidden away in its leather sheath.

But the most eye-catching thing on his person was the tangerine wood holy symbol hung firmly over his chest by a leather cord, swaying side to side with his steps. The symbol's pattern was identical to the one on the Church doors: a budding rose encircled by the rising sun.

"Children, under the gaze of the Mother of All Things, sharing Her gifts enriches the soul far more than monopolizing them."

The old man's words held not a trace of reprimand. His tone was peaceful as he slowly crouched down, bringing his light brown eyes level with the children.

"Look," he said, reaching out with a large hand covered in calluses and old scars. He gently tapped his fingertip against the wooden stick the children were fighting over. At the same time, the staff in his right hand lifted slightly off the ground.

Hum—

Guided by the staff, a soft emerald-green light burst from his fingertip, rippling through the air and seeping into the core of the wooden stick.

Visibly, the brownish stick sprouted new buds, gradually regaining its vitality.

"Gifts bestowed by the earth will only hurt you if you grip them too tightly in your palm."

"But if you bury it in fertile soil and water it with care, it might just nurture an unexpected patch of green. When that time comes, every one of you will be able to share its shade."

The old man's words seemed plain, but if one truly pondered them, they contained the teachings of the Goddess Chantier.

Naturally, the six- and seven-year-old children didn't understand. They just looked on in ignorance.

Yet, the old man's voice seemed to carry a certain magic that unconsciously quieted them down. The anger that had hung on their faces from the dispute quickly melted away.

Children's curiosity often came and went in a flash.

In truth, he didn't even need to say much. The moment that emerald light flared at the old man's fingertip, it had already captured all three children's attention.

They stopped fighting and exchanged glances. As if truly believing that planting this revitalized stick into the dirt would grow a towering tree bearing sweet fruits by next year, they gave the old man a respectful bow, held the stick high, and ran off laughing.

Reflecting the children's retreating backs in his slightly clouded eyes, the white-haired old man slowly stood up. His gaze fell naturally upon Xia Nan, who had been watching quietly from the side.

His furrowed face broke into a deeper smile formed entirely of wrinkles.

"A new face."

"May the nourishment of the Mother of All Things be with you, friend from a foreign land."

"I am Moin, a devout believer of the Goddess Chantier, and the only priest in this small town."

"You... seem to harbor some doubts in your heart?"