Several masked figures leaped from the ground, cupping their fists in solemn salute, "Your Majesty, the Heavenly Empress."
Mazu's expression was stern as she whispered, "Go quickly and find out what happened!"
The various images of Earth Gods swiftly burrowed back underground and disappeared. Lin Xiang immediately grasped the thread of faith from Zhao Di, attempting to trace the cause and understand the origin of the matter.
In a daze, the image of Zhao Di leaving the temple fair with her daughters quietly appeared. The girls were sensible and did not fuss about their mother buying them toys. Holding the sweet dumplings that Lin Xiang had given them before they left, the mother and daughters left the crowded temple fair. On their way home, they encountered a woman in white, squatting in a corner and weeping.
Kind-hearted Zhao Di, seeing no one else around, stepped forward and asked, "Miss, are you waiting for someone?"
The weeping woman did not respond. Sobbing, she stood up and pointed towards the darkness behind her. The quiet alley at night was still dangerous. Zhao Di hesitated, but the woman then walked several steps into the darkness of the deep alley.
By the time Zhao Di reacted, the woman's figure had already vanished into the darkness. Zhao Di naturally would not risk her own safety. She turned to call her daughters to leave quickly, only to see that all three of her daughters had disappeared, and the white sweet dumplings had rolled onto the ground.
Emerging from the illusion, Lin Xiang quickly pinpointed the abnormal woman in white. Appearing in a dark alley in the dead of night was strange enough, let alone sensing a deathly aura from the woman even through memory!
Several familiar neighbors comforted the anxious Zhao Di. The old temple priest, highly respected in Chinatown, even organized the remaining devotees to help search. Zhao Di, sobbing uncontrollably, regained some composure under everyone's comfort and quickly grabbed the old priest, recounting her encounter with the strange woman in white on the road.
The old priest immediately turned to look at Mazu and Lin Xiang. At this moment, the Earth Gods also returned with their report. Combined with Lin Xiang's findings, Mazu immediately concluded that the woman in white was undeniably involved.
"Did you see which direction she went?"
Mazu hid her anger behind a calm expression, but the killing intent in her eyes could not be concealed.
The Earth Gods hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "She went towards the port in the west."
Lin Xiang immediately thought of Lorelei, the Rhine nymph, who had told her about Giselle. This drowned ghost often searched for prey at the port, and this matter might be related to Giselle's disappearance!
Upon hearing that the woman in white had gone to the port, Mazu couldn't help but frown. Seeing this, Lin Xiang volunteered to go to the port to gather information. "They don't know my identity. Once I find out the woman in white's whereabouts, I'll retreat immediately. As long as I disguise myself well and remain vigilant, there won't be any danger."
Seeing Lin Xiang's confidence, Mazu thought for a moment and then decisively agreed to Lin Xiang's plan.
"I will gather the gods to support you outside. While we don't wish to provoke conflict, we are not to be trifled with!" The woman in white broke the unwritten rules. Even if the infiltration failed and conflict arose, Mazu was not afraid.
Lin Xiang was not boasting. Lorelei, who was associated with Giselle, would surely be well aware of the intricacies of the port. With this local guide's help, things would be much simpler.
Lin Xiang found Lorelei in the forest by the canal. The blonde nymph carelessly revealed the location of the evil god hiding in the port.
"I know who you are looking for," Lorelei said, giving the answer immediately after hearing Lin Xiang's description. "It was La Llorona who took your followers. She only arrived nearby recently."
The story of La Llorona was prevalent in the Americas, and Lin Xiang was naturally aware of it.
A native indigenous woman named Maria fell in love with and married a Spanish colonist, having children with him. However, her husband later abandoned Maria to marry a white woman from Europe for social status and tried to take their son away from Maria. Driven by grief and rage, and to prevent her husband from succeeding, Maria, having lost her mind, drowned her three children. After regaining her senses, she regretted her actions immensely and finally jumped into the river to commit suicide with her resentment.
After her death, Maria still worried about her drowned children and wanted to take them with her. Thus, she wandered the human world, constantly searching for her children. However, consumed by hatred, she had lost her humanity and thus snatched other people's children, drowning them in water. After Maria's death, people could always hear her weeping, and gradually, everyone began to call her La Llorona, meaning "the weeping woman."
Lin Xiang's heart skipped a beat. This meant the three girls would become La Llorona's sacrifices.
"Where would she hide the children she abducted?"
Lorelei shook her head. "They are not in danger for the time being. La Llorona fears that other evil gods will snatch her sacrifices, so she will protect them and only drown them as offerings when the tide rises."
"As for where she hides the abducted children, I'm afraid only she knows."
Lin Xiang was relieved, but then she remembered that the night of the high tide was not far off, and the trip to the port was unavoidable.
Lorelei, being pragmatic, told Lin Xiang everything she knew. "Most of the evil gods gather in an Irish pub called 'Heart of the Night.' Balor of the Evil Eye is the owner of the pub."
"However, this pub does not welcome benevolent gods like you. Both sides have an unspoken understanding and do not intrude upon each other's territory."
Lin Xiang's eyes were filled with ferocity. "Since they dare to extend their claws, they must accept the consequence of having them chopped off."
Lin Xiang was no stranger to Balor. Like the Lady of the Lake, Vivian, he originated from Celtic mythology. Legend had it that his eyes could kill anyone or any god within his sight. Even though he had weakened due to the loss of faith, he was still not a character to be underestimated.
With a turn of her eyes, Lin Xiang immediately thought of a solution.
Arriving outside the 'Heart of the Night' pub, Lin Xiang transformed herself, taking on Vivian's form. Although also recorded in Celtic mythology, Vivian and Balor actually had little interaction. Her divine nature, similar to that of the Lady of the Lake, was sufficient for Lin Xiang to impersonate Vivian without Balor noticing.
The ogre acting as the pub's guard stepped forward to block the unknown goddess. Lin Xiang cast a cold glance at them, and her ominous dark red divine power branded the ogres with the mark of misfortune.
The pained ogres fearfully moved aside, bowing to allow the goddess of misfortune to enter. A river ogre sensed the goddess's powerful water divinity and eagerly opened the door for her, begging the goddess to withdraw the misfortune.
The arrival of the strange deity instantly drew the attention of all the patrons in the pub. Lin Xiang's eyes remained unfazed as she walked through the crowd and sat down at the bar.
The short bartender was a rare Irish leprechaun. These luck-bringing sprites did not possess great power and were often used by deities as servants to guard treasures. The leprechaun knew the terrifying power this goddess possessed better than any of the evil gods in the pub. Trembling, he dared not approach.