In this enclosed space, surrounded by the warm glow of hundreds of lamps, the priests intoned prayers over the kneeling prince. Next they purified him with incense, then they anointed him with oil. Finally, they knelt and kowtowed with him on the floor in front of Guanyin and silently implored her to accept him as her dedicant.
Bai Ruyi was supposed to be doing the same. He was supposed to be asking the Goddess’ presence to come down to him so that he may embody her here on the mortal plane.
Instead, he prayed for her mercy and compassion to be bestowed upon him and the man by his side. In exchange for her eternal protection of Qing Xue, Bai Ruyi was willingly offering her not just his life but his very soul as well.
In an ironic twist, when it was time for Bai Ruyi to take his vow of
