Chapter 52: God's Eyes

When she returned to the temporary residence arranged for the nuns, it was already completely dark. This instance hadn't experienced the ravages of industrialization; the sky was so clear and bright, with few stars and a bright moon.

Collapsing beside the bonfire on the first floor, Su Mian's body finally began to warm up. The nuns saw her sitting on the ground in such a slovenly manner and started gossiping again.

"Goodnight, Yifening."

Sera went upstairs holding the grapes Su Mian had given her. Several nuns were lying by the window, their tone somewhat excited.

"Hey! Look, the Saintess and the priest are standing by the river!"

"Are they praying? They are truly so dedicated."

It could also be a date.

Su Mian was amused by her own thoughts. Her gaze passed over the nuns' shoulders and looked toward the riverbank blocked by the camphor tree.

The priest's figure was tall, completely obscuring the petite Saintess. At first glance, they looked quite a match.

But unexpectedly, the Saintess suddenly turned her head, startling the nuns into quickly retreating.

"Ouch, Amy, you stepped on my foot!"

"Get down, get down quickly."

"Yifening, come over and help me up!"

The nun on the outermost side was standing on a high stool and was almost turned upside down by the crowd evacuating in an emergency.

Su Mian reached out her hand. The nun grabbed it without thinking, but whether it was because her hand slipped, her center of gravity tilted backward, and she fell to the ground on her butt.

The few who were close to the window lost their support and all fell down like an arhat, wailing endlessly.

"What happened over there?"

Cecily clasped her hands together and placed them on her chest, staring at the light in the distance with some worry, and looked up to ask the priest.

"Bishop, I want to go over and take a look."

Cain revealed his distinct knuckles from under his robe, made a "please" gesture, and followed behind Cecily to go together.

"Ahhh, they're coming over!"

"Miller, get off me quickly!"

"Thank God, thank the Goddess of Fate, thank Saint Christopher for letting the priest look at me."

"Are you crazy? How could the priest come in?"

One sentence awakened a group of people. They hurriedly tidied their collars and squeezed to the door to welcome the two.

"Father, Saintess."

"What happened here? I heard quite a commotion."

Cecily poked her head in to look, but saw nothing.

"Ah... nothing, maybe some little ducks or little sheep ran out."

"But I heard you screaming."

After Cecily finished speaking, the nuns fell silent. They couldn't say they were peeping at the two of them and almost fell into a meat pie; that would be too embarrassing.

"Because we were telling ghost stories."

Su Mian's voice came from behind the nuns. Cecily looked over and was attracted by Su Mian's eyes, even saying "Wow" without realizing it herself.

Grandmother said that God's eyes are never a smile with goodwill; it is a very flat, almost indifferent gaze, empty, clean, and profound.

When you gaze into it, you feel attracted, but in fact, it is the subtle dizziness of being seen through by the deity and having your baseness exposed.

Cecily thought that her eyes must be very similar to Cain's. Although she had never seen Cain's face clearly, God's eyes were all like this.

"Ghost stories?"

Cecily murmured, not noticing at all that she had been set up, and answered the topic confusedly.

"Yes, Saintess."

Su Mian slowly stepped forward and leaned against the idle ladder.

"I don't know if you've heard that a pregnant Saintess died at the Anvil Fortress."

"Ah... haha, of course I know, Miss Nun."

Cecily laughed dryly. The purpose of their trip was to dispel the grievances of the old Saintess and her child, so how could she not know?

But this girl's gaze made her feel like she was being seen through.

"So you know. Then aren't you afraid that you will become the next departed soul?"

"Yifening! What are you saying!"

"Shut up, shut up quickly! Do you want to become a blasphemer?"

Sera was shocked and went to cover Su Mian's mouth. The nun beside her was almost scared into screaming.

Su Mian wasn't pushed away by Sera; she stared fixedly at Cecily, observing her expression.

Her pupils trembled slightly, looking into the distance without a fixed point; it wasn't fear.

It was somewhat complicated, which Su Mian couldn't fully understand. Just as Su Mian was about to be dragged away, Cecily smiled, seemingly returning to indifference.

"It's fine if she died. I have no resentment; maybe I can persuade the old Saintess to leave with me."

Su Mian looked deeply into those eyes and shifted her gaze.

No resentment?

The front yard was silent for a while. The priest in the distance stepped forward, and everyone lowered their heads.

"Cecily, it's time to go."

"Yes, Bishop."

Cecily followed the priest's pace. Su Mian never lowered her head from beginning to end.

She saw Cecily crying, and that priest... didn't seem to care, not even handing over a handkerchief.

Just when everyone thought the two were leaving, the priest suddenly stopped, turned his head, and parted his lips. His voice was imposing, low, and thick.

"Since the little ducks and little sheep have run out, catch them and bring them back quickly."

Finally, he paused and looked toward the corner where the ladder was placed. "Once they get a bit of wildness, it will be difficult to train them again."

The nuns looked at each other and could only nod and agree, watching the two leave.

Su Mian was stared at until her whole body trembled, and she went upstairs panting lightly.

How strange.

Where did such an intense gaze come from, and it even carried the taste that demons like.

Possession, domestication, carrying the desire to crush someone.

––

In the morning, the group was told to change into white clothing and gather at the village entrance holding crosses. No one was allowed to bathe or clean themselves before the purification rite, and not even a bit of meat could be seen in the breakfast.

Several monks held rune bells and shook them, spitting out words that couldn't be understood, like a few stinky mosquitoes buzzing in their ears incessantly.

Su Mian only felt it was noisy, and her head was throbbing.

"Stand further away to chant."

The monk accused by Su Mian widened his eyes without exaggeration, pointed at Su Mian, then pointed at himself, and finally walked into the grass with a stifled expression.

A cry of surprise came from the distance.

"This place is indeed a bit evil."

"Isn't it?"

"What should we do now?"

"What happened?"

Cecily stepped forward to ask. She looked a bit tired, and her voice floated in the air, almost not reaching the ears of those soldiers.

The leading soldier saluted with his right hand on his left shoulder. "Saintess, three horses have died."

Once these words were out, the crowd was restless.

"How could healthy horses just die?"

"Oh my, poor horses; I feel sad for their companions."

"Could it be... that evil spirits are really at work?"

The nuns huddled together in fear. Cain's voice came from the very front.

"Just squeeze in, don't delay the journey."

"Yes!"

Once these words were out, no one dared to discuss it anymore. The Saintess turned and sat with several nuns.

One of them covered her mouth excitedly, secretly sizing up Cecily.

The soldiers and monks squeezed together, like civil and military officials at the same table, looking at each other with displeasure. ===== CHAPTER 53 =====