Chapter 524: Church Assembly

Chicago, the Catholic archdiocese cathedral—St. Name Cathedral.

Night enveloped this Gothic Revival-style grand building.

The twin towers pierced the clouds, the spires shed a cold glow in the moonlight, and the stained‑glass windows let out a few strands of dim yellow candlelight, like the few eyes still lit in this sleeping city.

The rose window on the façade lost its daytime colors in the darkness, leaving only the shadows traced by the stone tracery.

Inside the church, the lights were bright.

Tall Corinthian columns supported the dome, rows of pews neatly arranged toward the distant altar.

Above the altar, on the huge crucifix, the image of the crucified Jesus bowed its head, as if gazing down on the faithful gathered tonight.

Grand Archbishop Weimu Xun stood on the steps before the altar, holding a list and checking its items carefully in the light.

He was nearly seventy, his hair white as snow, wearing a red cardinal's robe, with a cross hanging on his chest.

"Tomorrow at seven, baptism at St. Yana Hall, presided over by Father Ruo Se."

He raised his head and looked at the middle‑aged priest standing in the front row: "Ruo Se, get ready—twenty‑three new baptisms, twelve of them adults, who need to hear confession beforehand."

Father Ruo Se nodded in agreement.

Weimu Xun's gaze returned to the list: "Nine thirty, Mass at the Immaculate Original Sin Church, celebrated by me, followed by an outdoor procession; the route has been filed, security…"

He glanced over to the deacon in charge of affairs on the other side.

The deacon stepped forward at once: "We've coordinated with the police; they'll send people to keep order at the intersections."

"All right." Weimu Xun continued reading: "Two p. m., Benediction at St. De Lan Hall, handled by the parish priest. Four p. m., children's catechism class… By the way, has next week's duty roster been adjusted?"

A young priest handed over a document: "It's ready; please review it."

Weimu Xun took it, glanced briefly, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Finally," he lifted his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, his voice gentle:

"In seven days, we will pray for the citizens in Mass and afterwards distribute food and clothing."

"Are the supplies in the warehouse enough? We must make sure every wanderer who comes here receives a share."

"Enough, Grand Archbishop." The deacon in charge of logistics replied: "A shipment arrived just last week, enough to last through the end of the month."

Weimu Xun closed the list in his hand and let out a long sigh.

He raised his head, looked at the cross on the altar, and made the sign of the cross.

"The Lord is with us." He said.

"From now until forever." The crowd replied in unison.

"May the Lord grant you peace." Weimu Xun gave a slight nod:

"Dismissed. Get some rest early; tomorrow there's still plenty to do."

The people began to turn, chatting softly as they walked toward the door.

Just then——

A figure walked in from the darkness.

He stepped against the dim yellow streetlamp outside the door, his outline blurred, but his pace was calm and unhurried.

He simply walked inside, then stopped, exactly blocking the open doorway, barring everyone's exit.

Some frowned, others whispered.

Weimu Xun lifted his head, about to ask what business this uninvited guest had——

His words caught in his throat.

That face, that face gradually becoming clear in the interplay of candlelight and shadow, that face he had gazed upon countless times in photos and on screens——

Weimu Xun's pupils contracted sharply, then dilated, like a window suddenly flung open.

The fatigue and reserve on his face vanished like receding tidewater, replaced by an almost ecstatic, incredulous agitation.

His lips trembled.

Years ago, when Yu Lin made that historic visit to the Vatican, he was present as the Grand Archbishop representing the Chicago region.

He had personally witnessed how this Eastern presence caused the Pope to greet him in person, and how the whole Vatican was shaken.

Even earlier than that.

At the friendly exchange meet between Xia Guo and America, when the Divine Miracle descended, those lights, those powers, those manifestations beyond human comprehension—he had personally witnessed them, right on Yu Lin himself!

And now, that person stood before him.

Weimu Xun almost instinctively stepped forward, striding quickly; his speed made the young priest beside him startle.

He stopped before Yu Lin, bowed deeply, made a cross over his chest with his right hand, then lowered his head in a respectful salute.

His voice trembled slightly from excitement, yet each word was clear and strong:

"The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are with you."

"Respect…… Saint Yu Lin."

Behind him, the priests, deacons, and nuns who had been about to leave, after a brief stunned pause, almost instinctively followed suit in paying respect.

Some knelt, some made the sign of the cross, some pressed their palms together, murmuring prayers under their breath.

Yu Lin stood there, waiting for their gestures and prayers to finish, then gave a slight nod.

"Hmm."

He spoke, his tone flat.

"I've come here to have you do some things."

Weimu Xun almost immediately replied: "Your word."

That haste, as if fearing that a second's delay would make this being change its mind.

Yu Lin glanced at him, then swept his gaze past him onto the crowd behind—each face different, yet all filled with awe.

"Get in touch with the other churches and have all the Grand Archbishops and Bishops come over."

Weimu Xun was startled for a moment.

All? The whole Chicago? But he doesn't need to know why.

He only needs to obey.

He immediately nodded, his tone firm: "Yes, please wait a moment."

He turned around, looked at the group of worshippers still frozen in place behind him, and said:

"Did you all hear that?"

He waved his hand.

"All go do it! Move quickly!"

As the words fell, the priests, deacons, and nuns, as if waking from a dream, nodded in agreement one after another, then hurried out toward the doors.

Footsteps were hurried and chaotic, and figure after figure vanished swiftly into the night.

Yu Lin said nothing further.

He strode deeper into the Church, passing the rows of empty pews, and walked all the way to the front, stopping at the first row directly opposite the altar and the massive cross.

Then he sat down.

His back straight, his hands resting naturally on his knees, as if waiting for someone, yet also as if pondering something.

Weimu Xun stood where he was, neither advancing nor retreating.

He opened his mouth, wanting to ask something—perhaps what you intend to do, what had happened, why it was tonight, why it was here.

But the words reached his lips and were swallowed back.

Finally, he silently moved to a spot three steps behind Yu Lin, standing with his hands lowered like a devout statue, suppressing the surge of curiosity and confusion in his heart, and waited quietly.

The Church was silent.

Candlelight flickered, casting shadows on the lofty dome.

Upon the massive cross, the suffering Jesus hung his head, as if also waiting for something.

Time passed second by second.

It was unclear how long had passed—perhaps half an hour, perhaps longer.

At last, footsteps sounded outside the doors.

The footsteps came from afar, growing nearer, chaotic and hurried, clearly more than one person.

The first figure appeared at the doorway, a Bishop from North City Saint Shelter Church, panting heavily.

The second, a Grand Archbishop from East City Saint Galadina Church.

The third, the fourth… figure after figure surged into the Church, soon filling the hallway at the entrance.

They exchanged puzzled glances, but upon seeing Weimu Xun's reverent, upright stance and Yu Lin's profile, all doubt turned to awe.

No one dared to speak a question, no one dared to whisper to each other.

Until the last person entered, and the door behind them closed gently.

"It seems everyone has arrived," Yu Lin rose, his gaze falling upon them:

"Step forward."

"I have some questions for you."