One month later, in front of the water well at Black Earth Square.
Nearing midnight, twenty-odd people dressed in grey and white robes stood surrounding the well, men and women of various ages, each holding a torch in hand, all standing in silence, with no one speaking.
Around them, over a hundred others of different attires and ages watched the scene, whispering to each other from time to time.
Before long, Hu Ji, clad in a luminous white robe, emerged from the shadows. He did not hold a torch, yet his garment emitted a soft glow that illuminated the surroundings.
The people in grey and white robes all looked up at Hu Ji and instinctively parted to form a path, silently watching as he passed by them and walked up to the well, whereupon the path closed behind him.
The believers formed an inner circle around Hu Ji, their gazes filled with fervor and hope, while the others also ceased their chatter, subconsciously moving closer, forming an even larger circle on the outside.
