Chapter Twenty-Six: The Gathering of the Cult

Liu Yunfei sat in the car as they sped down the road, ignoring red lights and traffic police. The young aristocrats prowling the streets of Riyadh seemed utterly brazen.

“Who are all these people?” Liu Yunfei asked.

“The one in the yellow Ferrari is my cousin, the prince’s grandson. The guy in the latest Bentley is the oil minister’s youngest son, and that one over there…” Awari introduced each person one by one.

Listening to the introductions, Liu Yunfei realized what the old prince had said was true—many around him had become followers of the Temple of the Sun, and danger lurked everywhere. The racing convoy included the sons and daughters of every major branch of the Saudi royal family and prominent ministers.

Soon they left the Natoliye district and arrived before a modern villa. The young aristocrats parked their cars and, arm in arm with their women, walked right in, as if this place were familiar and required no formalities.

To avoid attention, Liu Yunfei wore an Arab robe and a headscarf. The villa was three stories high, surrounded by tall walls. Instead of heading upstairs, the young men crossed the hall and entered the backyard—a vast lawn with a large swimming pool to one side. Long tables covered in colorful Arabic delicacies were arranged on the grass.

Liu Yunfei followed them in and found a seat at random. The Arab women walked to the poolside, removed their black robes, revealing themselves to be white women beneath, clad only in various bikinis.

“They’re not Arab women?” Liu Yunfei asked.

“No, Arab women are very conservative and rarely show themselves. These are high-class prostitutes from impoverished Central European countries,” Awari explained.

As they spoke, a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a white robe and bearing a conspicuous scar on his face, walked in from the depths of the courtyard.

“That’s Hadina?” Liu Yunfei remembered seeing him board the helicopter on the Star Cluster.

“You actually know him?” Awari seemed surprised.

“Of course. I told you before, you wouldn’t believe it—he’s the one who kidnapped your uncle. Why is his robe different from yours?” Liu Yunfei had noticed the distinction before.

“He was originally from Oman. Omani robes differ from ours—there’s a prominent tassel near the collar,” Awari replied, refusing to argue about his faith’s leader being a kidnapper.

Hadina walked to the end of the long table, smiled, and waved for silence. Liu Yunfei thought the scar made his smile even more sinister.

Once everyone quieted down, Hadina opened a bottle of champagne, filled the glasses arranged in a pyramid, raised the topmost glass and said, “Every time I see our young brethren, my heart fills with vigor. Each time we welcome new members, I see the day when the Arab people will be reborn. Let us raise our glasses—long live the Temple of the Sun!”

His words stirred the crowd, and the young aristocrats stood in formation, each taking a glass from Hadina, shouting, “Long live the Temple of the Sun!” and downing the champagne in one gulp. Liu Yunfei thought the scene resembled those television depictions of the White Lotus cult, where they drank and shouted “invulnerable to weapons.”

Liu Yunfei moved forward with the others, understanding only a few words but grasping the general meaning. He thought to himself: hoping these idle, incompetent nobles—who squander their inherited wealth and aimlessly chase grandeur—to revive the Arab world was pure fantasy. He shook his head as he approached Hadina.

Hadina looked at the unfamiliar young Arab before him and handed over a glass. “Is this your first time here, brother? Do you have a different perspective?”

“I came with Awari. I don’t understand Arabic too well, sorry—I was thinking about something at home,” Liu Yunfei replied in English, taking the glass.

“Oh, welcome, my friend. I hope you have a wonderful afternoon here. Long live the Temple of the Sun!” Hadina answered in English.

After handing out all the glasses, Hadina said, “Now, let’s have some fun. Ladies, please come and line up here.” The Central European prostitutes laughed and gathered by the long table, creating a lively scene.

Hadina slapped one girl on the backside. “Start running!” The women swayed and ran onto the lawn, their bodies rippling provocatively. Hadina laughed, “Go hunting! Whoever catches one, she’s yours.” Liu Yunfei felt a rush as the young nobles charged out like hungry wolves, pouncing on the women.

Soon, the prizes were claimed. The prostitutes who reached the front doubled back, and those who caught up stripped off their robes and what little clothing remained, indulging right there on the grass. The lawn quickly became a writhing mass, filled with the sounds of lust.

“This is your so-called revival of the Arab nation?” Liu Yunfei asked mockingly, stunned by the scene. No answer came from Awari; turning, Liu Yunfei found him gone. Alarmed, he noticed Hadina, his attendants, and several others had disappeared as well. He hurriedly set down his glass and began searching.

At the edge of the lawn was a dense row of trees—a rare sight in Riyadh except in the royal palaces, suggesting Hadina’s wealth. There was a stone path among the trees. Liu Yunfei followed it, winding through several turns, and arrived at an open square. In the center stood a building resembling a mosque, but not quite—a mosque’s dome is usually topped with a spire, while this one was round and bare.

Since the entrance wasn’t on his side, Liu Yunfei skirted the wall to reach the front. He found a gate in the outer wall; the building seemed like a chapel, open to outsiders for worship. Liu Yunfei entered, where two of Hadina’s attendants stood by the door, next to a small fountain.

Everyone who entered was given a silver cup of water from the fountain by the attendants, which they had to drink before entering the chapel. Liu Yunfei took a cup and drank. He instantly felt a brief dizziness, but his body was immune to all toxins, so he quickly recovered. Still, he sensed something was wrong and secretly preserved a small sample of the fountain water in his jade slip.

Inside, the chapel floor was crowded with kneeling worshippers; Awari was among them. Liu Yunfei knelt beside him and glanced around. The chapel was small and packed, making it feel cramped. On the front wall was a relief that seemed ancient: a basin of fire flanked by two bulls. Against the wall stood a stone table with burning wood crackling atop it.

A shirtless man circled the fire, chanting, gesticulating wildly, and occasionally spitting fire from his mouth. Liu Yunfei thought the ritual resembled a Chinese shamanistic dance, yet also looked like a circus act.