Chapter 2398: Love of the Evil God's Faith 03

Enveloped in golden light.

Jin Chen's phantom held Samuel, clearly sensing within the youth's body in his embrace a faint repulsion and discomfort toward the overwhelming light.

This discovery filled Jin Chen with quiet pride—indeed, his Samuel's soul remained more attuned to him.

He stifled his pleasure, keeping the posture befitting the Light God, and a low, divine voice echoed in Samuel's ear.

"Samuel, my follower."

It unexpectedly grew tender.

Familiar scent, familiar embrace.

Samuel's heart was instantly flooded with ecstasy, bathed in warm, holy golden light.

He struggled to widen his eyes, and Jin Chen's visage seemed a touch clearer than last night.

It was a beauty beyond mortal comprehension, gathering the world's strongest elven magical power, yet unable to depict even one ten‑thousandth of it.

Samuel was so excited he could hardly speak coherently, his voice tinged with a slight sob and utter dependence.

"Father God, you've come to see me again…… I'm so happy……"

That throbbing deep in his soul was intense enough to almost tear Samuel apart, thousands of times stronger than when facing the cold idol.

A devout prayer slipped from his lips: "I believe in you, I love you……"

【Detected villain triggering Heartbeat Value, Heartbeat Value +10, total 10!】

Jin Chen's heart felt as if it had been harshly struck by those words.

He suppressed the urge to crush the person into his bones and blood, yet he did not forget what still needed to be done.

Going again into the prayer hall with the Light God's statue would be of no use to Samuel; better to return and rest.

Jin Chen raised his hand again, his fingertip carrying soothing power, and lightly touched Samuel's scorching brow.

The golden light receded like a tide, vanishing without trace.

The hall's original light was restored.

Samuel stood where he was, his cheeks flushed with a lovely crimson, his dense silver lashes still damp, his eyes glistening with moisture.

"Child!" Bishop Cyril strode forward, his voice still tinged with unrestrained excitement, "Just now…… just now was that the Father God's grace descending?"

Samuel lowered his head slightly, seeming a bit embarrassed to meet the bishop's fervent gaze, and gave a slight nod.

He savored the temperature and breath of that illusory embrace, feeling somewhat softened from excessive indulgence.

"Father God said, let me…… go rest."

"No…… no, how could that be." Brandon shouted inwardly, yet dared not show it, fearing the Light God would hear.

His light power was purer and stronger than Samuel's; why did the Father God descend…… and favor only Samuel?

——

Room.

Samuel did not immediately rest.

He sat on the bed's edge, spine straight, hands clasped devoutly before his upright nose,

eyelids lowered, lips moving silently, obviously immersed in prayer again.

His blond hair fell softly over his shoulders, appearing especially focused in the shadow.

Each silent recitation of the prayer felt like offering his entire devotion to the supreme being.

Just as Samuel's mind was about to fully sink in, a soul‑shuddering aura descended without warning.

Immediately, a faint cool pressure lightly pressed upon his silently chanting lips.

Samuel's body stiffened, and he tremulously lifted his eyelids.

It was the Father God.

Jin Chen lowered his gaze to the warm, plump lips beneath his fingertip, feeling the slight gap that opened from surprise.

Truly zealous faith, Jin Chen thought with a sour taste.

His follower, his Samuel, every bit of faith power ought to belong to him.

He would not let Zephyros reap the benefit for nothing.

"Mm……"

Samuel's soul trembled, a faint whimper escaping his throat, startled by the sudden "divine touch" and at a loss.

In his clear silver eyes, a misty moisture gathered.

He dared not move a muscle, only able to tilt his head back and gaze upon the deity before him with utter trust.

Seeing his fragile, delicate appearance, Jin Chen felt his heart tighten; his fingertip pressure eased involuntarily, shifting from press to a lingering caress.

The feel of his lips was softer than the finest elven silk, warm with body heat, pressing against his cool fingertip.

Samuel possessed a pair of exceptionally beautiful hands, joints even, fingers long and slender, yet now he could only helplessly clasp them on his knees, fingertips slightly curled, unable to make a rejecting gesture.

He passively received this grace, brimming with undisguised affection and reliance.

Jin Chen was softened beyond measure by his gaze, and could not bear to let resentment cloud those eyes.

His fingertip moved from the warm lips to gently cover Samuel's overly clear eyes.

Samuel's vision suddenly fell into a soft darkness.

"Samuel, my follower," Jin Chen's low voice flowed into his ear, "You need not pray any longer; you may rest."

As his words faded, an invisible force gently lifted Samuel's body, as if cradled by the warmest spring, slowly laying him back.

The soft mattress welcomed him.

That force, like an intimate warm current, seeped into his limbs and bones, dispelling the latent ache from excess light magic during the day.

Under this tranquility bestowed by the deity himself, Samuel's dense lashes trembled lightly beneath Jin Chen's palm, finally settling into calm.

His breathing grew long and even, his tightly pressed lips relaxed, revealing unguarded serenity.

Jin Chen lowered himself, placing an extremely light, extremely light kiss on his brow.

"Have a good dream." The whisper dissipated in the silent air.

——

The night was thick as ink; moonlight was shrouded by heavy clouds, only grudgingly seeping through a few faint rays.

Samuel, asleep on the bed, slowly opened his eyes.

The eyes that opened in the darkness were no longer pure and flawless white.

but deep and bottomless, like the dark crimson of the thickest blood.

Meanwhile, his seaweed‑like thick, curly gold hair hanging by the pillow began at the roots, spreading pure black at an eerie speed and instantly devouring all its brilliance.

Samuel's holy and tranquil aura vanished, replaced by a wickedness and lawlessness that made his heart race.

It seemed as if the gentle façade had finally been torn open.

He sat up soundlessly, his cold fingers stroking his now‑black long hair.

"Father," Samuel whispered.

The agitation from the day's grand blessing had not yet fully faded; now he felt the ravens' call, and was about to do something evil.

Samuel raised his hand and pressed it against his left chest.

His heart beat heavily in his chest, thump after thump, with a dull ache, an anguish that almost tore him apart.

The god he believed in, the god he had promised… could not stop the inevitable fall deep in his soul.

Samuel, like a phantom merging into the night, silently dressed, walked to the window, and the icy night wind rushed in.

His black hair traced a smooth arc behind him, like the most agile night owl, as he turned and melted into the deep darkness outside the window, vanishing.