The goddess's appearance was vastly different from the splendor of the idols. Her simple attire made her resemble an ordinary housewife.
Lin Xiang secretly assessed the goddess's power level, only to discover that this goddess, whose aura was no weaker than a deity of medium divine power, possessed no divinity! Yet, her oceanic divinity, similar to Lin Xiang's own, was clear and vast. The prayers of fishermen and seafarers echoed around her, and the divine power, filled with protective intent, undoubtedly proclaimed her divine nature!
What was going on? In Lin Xiang's long existence as a deity of Tyche, she had never encountered a situation where a deity lacked divinity but possessed divinity and divine power!
The goddess waited quietly for Lin Xiang's reply. As her thoughts turned, Lin Xiang chose the most cautious answer, "I come from across the sea."
The goddess sighed and said softly, "I rarely see visitors from my homeland anymore."
As she spoke, the seemingly oblivious old temple keeper and woman bid farewell, preparing to take Lin Xiang to a room in the back hall to stay. Lin Xiang, seizing this opportunity, moved away from the goddess. After navigating a few turns, Lin Xiang tentatively asked, "Old sir, which goddess is worshipped in this temple?"
"We worship the Heavenly Queen, the sea goddess who protects peace," the old temple keeper replied without suspicion, instructing, "Remember to add oil to the ever-burning lamps on the altar every morning and evening. These lamps must not go out. If the devotees who have made vows see their lamps extinguished, they might think that the Mazu Empress is displeased with them."
Lin Xiang was familiar with the name Mazu. This sea goddess was one of the most influential goddesses among the common people, especially in coastal areas. Sailors and fishermen would offer sacrifices to Mazu before setting out to sea. She was often mentioned alongside Bixia Yuanjun to the north, her roots deeply embedded in the people's faith, enduring through time.
Perhaps sensing Lin Xiang's concern, Mazu thoughtfully left her with some privacy. The old temple keeper led Lin Xiang to the room and departed. Lin Xiang surveyed the small room. Though modest, it was well-equipped. The furniture, while old and simple, was kept very clean and tidy.
Knowing she had no room to be picky, especially since she was penniless, Lin Xiang lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling in a daze.
Later, the old temple keeper, who had returned, brought Lin Xiang dinner: fried rice with sweet and sour pork, a classic Chinatown dish. What caught Lin Xiang's attention the most was the bubbling drink in her cup. Only then did Lin Xiang emerge from her low mood and begin to enjoy her first meal in this world.
After eating her fill, Lin Xiang attempted to peer into the threads of fate to understand the laws of this world. Her previously unfailing authority over destiny encountered a roadblock for the first time.
Mazu, not far away, was entwined with dense threads of karma, their sheer number astonishing Lin Xiang. Being enveloped by such a degree of karmic threads was no trivial matter. If these karmas were to erupt simultaneously, the Heavenly Queen might not escape the fate of falling.
Mazu also seemed to sense something, and in the next moment, she appeared before Lin Xiang.
Lin Xiang instinctively assumed the Heavenly Queen had come to reprimand her and immediately tensed, preparing for a confrontation.
Mazu smiled and reassured Lin Xiang, "Don't worry, I know you mean no harm."
"It's just that you seem to have forgotten many things. Is it because you have undergone rebirth?"
Seeing Lin Xiang did not reply, the Heavenly Queen did not get angry and asked thoughtfully, "Where are the followers who brought you from your homeland to this foreign land?"
Lin Xiang slightly lowered her guard and replied, "I have no followers."
Under Mazu's knowing gaze, Lin Xiang tentatively asked, "Are there any hidden dangers in this?"
"If you lose all your followers in this land, you will not be able to return from faith after death," the Heavenly Queen asked with concern, "Do you still remember your title?"
Unable to recall a goddess title that suited her divinity, Lin Xiang remained silent for a moment before deciding to tell the truth, "I have no title across the sea."
"In the long history, many deities have been forgotten. Some have been given the opportunity to be unearthed from fragmented records, allowing ancient deities to be reborn."
"Perhaps you are like this, your former title lost in time, now returning from mere fragments."
Mazu comforted her, "We cannot exist without faith. The immediate priority is to find a group of followers for you to sustain your existence. Without the replenishment of faith, you will gradually grow old and weak, perhaps even be completely forgotten and lose everything as a deity!"
Lin Xiang had intended to refuse the offer of faith, as bearing so much karma was not an easy task. However, upon hearing Mazu's words, she immediately changed her mind. The immediate threat was more pressing than a future one. She immediately expressed her gratitude, "Thank you for being willing to help me."
"Ancient old gods are inherently at a disadvantage. If we don't unite, our situation will only become more difficult."
Mazu explained her actions and then said with difficulty, "However, your legends have been lost. I fear you can only appear before followers in a new identity to receive worship."
Lin Xiang raised an eyebrow and smiled. Amidst the faint waves surrounding her, a golden light of opportunity appeared. "I will bring good fortune to adventurers at sea. I don't think anyone would refuse money, would they?"
The Heavenly Queen nodded, "I can protect the followers who make their living at sea. We can cooperate to expand our faith."
Looking at the Ruyi Niangniang, who was a co-worshipped deity in the Heavenly Queen's temple, Mazu's expression shifted. "From now on, we will address each other as sisters. You can use the identity of Ruyi when you go out."
This was a win-win choice. Mazu could gain more faith, and Lin Xiang could obtain an identity that would serve as a perfect disguise.
Mazu's followers were widespread, with boatmen, sailors, travelers, merchants, and fishermen all worshipping her. Even a sliver of faith leaking from the Heavenly Queen's fingers was enough for Lin Xiang to subsist on. Ruyi Niangniang, originating from the same source of faith as Mazu, would naturally not lack followers.
At Mazu's instruction, the old temple keeper announced to all the believers that a statue of Ruyi Niangniang had been invited from their homeland and would be worshipped alongside Mazu.
Many older immigrants, upon hearing that Ruyi Niangniang had been invited to the Heavenly Queen's Palace, came to the temple to pay their respects. These elders, separated from their families, had not been assimilated by American culture and still retained their simple faith. On the first day the statue was moved into the Heavenly Queen's temple, Lin Xiang received a large number of prayers.
The faith of Ruyi Niangniang was born from fishermen's prayers for peace and abundance, overlapping partly with Mazu's. Many people regarded them as sister deities, so they found nothing amiss with the two deities being worshipped side by side.
The believers prayed for the safety of their distant relatives and hoped for the opportunity to reunite with them. Devout followers would visit the Heavenly Queen's temple to offer incense and worship on the first and fifteenth day of each lunar month. With the ample replenishment of faith, Lin Xiang rapidly grew stronger, recovering to the equivalent of weak divine power within just two to three months.
After recovering, Lin Xiang also had the leisure to bestow her divine power of opportunity upon her followers. Devout believers caught precious catches on every voyage, occasionally even finding pearls and ancient gold coins from shipwrecks. For a time, the Heavenly Queen's temple was bustling with visitors, coming and going incessantly.