Lin Xiang understood that these Jesuses truly acted according to the doctrines of the Bible. They would not care what happened between the New Gods and the Old Gods, and even if there were significant casualties, they would only comfort their followers, as the Bible recorded that these disasters were tests for believers before ascending to heaven.
The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, struck by heavenly fire, were almost wiped out, with angels themselves carrying out the destruction. If believers were to be held to biblical standards, it would be a miracle if even one out of a hundred thousand believers survived.
"At least they won't stand by and watch the Goddess of Easter disappear. That's also why I can play both sides between the New Gods and the Old Gods," Ostara said with a self-deprecating smile.
"It's just the cycle of karma, retribution is inevitable," Lin Xiang took the wine glass from Ostara's hand and said seriously, "They took away the Easter that belonged to you. Isn't it only right that they provide you with shelter?"
The Goddess of Spring bloomed with a smile again, enthusiastically holding Lin Xiang's arm as she introduced the deities who had arrived.
The grand party was disrupted by an old rogue. The appearance of Odin and Shadow caused Ostara's expression to become somewhat awkward. She got up and left the villa for the garden, with Odin and Shadow following her.
Ostara paid little attention to Odin but was very enthusiastic towards Shadow.
The goddess held Shadow's forearm, warmly inquiring about his well-being. Lin Xiang walked beside Ostara, lost in thought, and once again confirmed that Shadow's identity held a great secret.
Strolling by the lake, Odin was not surprised by Lin Xiang's arrival. He lowered his voice and said, "Wise goddess, your origin is clearly more ancient than I anticipated."
Not long ago, the two deities were in a confrontational state. Odin had already believed he had a clear enough understanding of this goddess. Upon seeing Lin Xiang again, he was still surprised by her suddenly enhanced strength.
Lin Xiang's eyes were fixed on Shadow walking ahead. She turned her head and said softly, "Do you want to know my origin? Then exchange it with Shadow's secret."
Odin immediately fell silent.
At this moment, the Jesuses gathered around, wanting to greet the new guests. Odin, however, stole the spotlight and began his speech: "You shameless thieves! You stole Ostara's festival! Believers once held grand celebrations for her on her festival, exchanging gifts in her name."
"But now the protagonist has become a thief who resurrected on this day! You stole her traditions, and no one remembers the ancient name of Ostara..."
Odin raised his voice, scolding the Jesuses present for shamelessly snatching someone else's festival and then showing off in front of the original owner, causing chaos.
Sensing the situation was deteriorating, Ostara immediately calmed the Jesuses and led Odin and Shadow into an empty room.
"Odin, I don't recall sending you an invitation." Ostara had every reason to be angry. Odin's ostentatious arrival, placing her at the center of the storm, was seen by the New Gods as proof that the goddess was no longer maintaining her neutrality.
"Am I not speaking the truth?" Odin's words were full of conviction. "A large part of the reason we are forgotten is due to the aggression of Christianity. Our altars were toppled, and believers were forced by force to abandon their faith in us."
Ostara turned her head and remained silent, clearly not having come to terms with the fact of being forgotten.
Odin seized the moment to reveal the news of the death of Vulcan, the god of forging, but his words implied that it was the work of the New Gods. Ostara, in panic, clutched her chest, her face turning pale.
Lin Xiang, however, noticed Shadow's somewhat unnatural expression at this moment. Queen of Sheba had said that Odin was responsible for Vulcan's death, which meant Odin was trying to scare Ostara.
Odin immediately noticed Shadow's strange expression as well. Maintaining a calm demeanor, he used the excuse of a private conversation to send both Shadow and Lin Xiang out.
Shadow looked around and found that only Lin Xiang, whom he had met before, was present. He quickly followed Lin Xiang towards the main hall.
Shadow attempted to strike up a conversation with Lin Xiang, but he had little understanding of Eastern culture and couldn't find any topics of mutual interest.
Lin Xiang noticed Shadow's awkwardness and handed him a glass of wine, "Don't be nervous. Today is Ostara's festival, and you are her guest, just like us."
Shadow cleared his throat, took the wine glass, and inquired of Lin Xiang, "Goddess from the East, why did you choose to believe Mr. Wednesday?"
"You don't believe he is a deity? Even though he has displayed divine power before you multiple times." Lin Xiang was now certain that Shadow did not know she was a descendant of a god.
Shadow opened his mouth but made no sound. After being recruited by Odin as a bodyguard, he had witnessed the strangeness of Cernobog, the Slavic god of darkness, and the three sisters of the night stars along the way. However, it would take time for Shadow, who had no prior faith, to accept this world-view-shattering information.
"You will believe, after all, your body flows with the blood of a deity, at least half of it."
Lin Xiang turned her head towards the room where Odin was, "Don't underestimate yourself. You can do far more than this."
Ostara rushed out of the room, pulling Shadow with her and hiding him inside.
"Ostara, another guest has arrived."
Lin Xiang smelled a scent of decay and instinctively thought it was some god of death arriving uninvited.
Ostara smiled wryly and walked through the bustling crowd of gods, intercepting the newcomers before they opened the door.
These uninvited guests turned out to be Sweeney and a pale woman. It was unexpected for Ostara, from Germanic mythology, to be an old acquaintance of Lugh from Celtic mythology.
Ostara led them into another empty room to inquire about Sweeney's intentions, "Don't tell me you're here to give a speech too."
In Ostara's opinion, Sweeney, who followed Odin, had the same purpose as Odin. She couldn't help but sigh, resting her forehead, "I don't want to go through that again."
Sweeney looked confused. Before he could ask what was going on, the pale woman suddenly spoke, "Sweeney said you can solve my problem."
Lin Xiang and Ostara both turned their gaze towards the pale woman emitting a foul odor, their brows furrowed as they examined her.
"You are already dead," Lin Xiang said, looking at the golden light on the woman's chest. "But a power is keeping this body alive, leaving your soul behind."
Ostara breathed a sigh of relief and leaned closer to examine her eyes, "What is your name?"
"Laura."
The last scene Laura saw when she died remained in her eyes. Ostara, looking through her somewhat cloudy eyes, saw the cause of her death.
"I cannot help you. Your death was the act of a deity, and my power cannot reverse this process."