Chapter 2401: Love of the Evil God's Faith 06

The garden outside the Prayer Hall bathed in the warm afternoon sun.

Samuel and Brandon walked one after the other on the gravel path, an intangible tension lingering between them.

Suddenly, a rose caught their eyes.

It grew at the center of the carefully tended flower bed, its petals an extremely deep crimson, edges flowing with a molten-gold sheen.

Both of their steps halted at once.

The rose's divine light power was so familiar that, almost in unison, Samuel and Brandon regarded it as a blessing bestowed by the Father God.

Brandon's heart gave a sudden jump.

Why, why does all favor fall upon Samuel's head?

This flower, he must obtain it.

As the thought arose, Brandon stepped forward first, with a hint of urgency, reaching out toward that blazing rose.

However, his fingertips, at a distance of about an inch from the petals, felt as if they had touched an invisible, supple barrier, unable to advance even a fraction.

The few Temple Warriors passing by and attendants holding holy artifacts, drawn by the scene, all cast surprised glances.

Brandon stiffened in place, the shame and embarrassment of having his pretense stripped away in public quickly flushed his cheeks, making his ears burn.

Samuel slowly stepped forward, not looking at the flustered Brandon, his eyes filled with devout moisture as he gazed upon the rose burning like flame.

He reached out, his fingertips trembling slightly, encountering no obstruction, touching the stem, and the rose symbolizing divine grace fell into his palm.

Just as his fingertips touched the petals.

A pure, warm golden halo condensed beside Samuel, quickly outlining the silhouette of a tall, strapping, hazy figure.

"Father God!"

The warriors and attendants nearby who witnessed this all at once lowered their heads in shock, daring not to look directly at the holy radiance, dropping to one knee, their hearts pounding with awe.

Jin Chen's illusory figure gazed at Samuel within the halo.

He reached out, plucked the rose from Samuel's palm, and lightly placed it upon Samuel's fair ear.

The crimson petals set against his soft golden hair, as if a deity personally crowned him.

His icy, jade-like fingertip gently brushed over Samuel's cheeks, which flushed slightly from excitement.

"My follower, Samuel."

"I permit you, in my presence, no need to kneel."

"You are one of a kind."

Samuel could hardly believe his own ears.

This shook his heart and soul more than any blessing.

"One of a kind…" the Father God himself said he was one of a kind.

Scorching tears slid down his cheeks, striking the gravel beneath his feet.

Obsession and happiness nearly overwhelmed Samuel, his cheeks staining a crimson more vivid than the rose.

"Father God…" his voice choked, "Do you… do you… love me?"

And this was under the gaze of everyone.

Such satisfaction filled his innermost possessive desire, nearly overflowing.

Jin Chen's illusory figure leaned forward slightly, as if to respond to this fervent confession, to answer that silent plea for a kiss.

"Father God!"

A shout full of grievance and sorrow caused Jin Chen's kissing motion to stall.

Brandon fell heavily to his knees on the icy stone at the garden's edge, head raised, tears streaming, filled with resentment and accusation.

"Father God! I too am your devout follower, your priest beneath you; my holy power… is purer than Samuel's."

"Why can't you look at me? Why can't you… also bestow a blessing upon me?"

As long as there is a blessing from the Father God, even just a hint, Brandon thought, he could, relying on his holy power, secure the Archbishop's position after the Archbishop retires.

But time and again, the Father God only doted on Samuel.

This left Brandon overly heartbroken and unwilling to accept.

Jin Chen gave him a somewhat complex glance.

Zephyros can't see you; what's that got to do with me, this evil god?

Not devout enough, huh.

Jin Chen certainly wouldn't respond, yet he sensed a change in Samuel's aura beside him.

Deep within those eyes once brimming with happy obsession, a trace of extremely dark blood surged.

Jealousy, possessiveness.

Samuel's dark magic, due to these emotions, faintly showed signs of losing control.

Samuel himself immediately sensed this terrifying fluctuation.

A sudden wave of overwhelming panic eclipsed all emotions; he snapped his gaze toward Jin Chen's illusory form, his face instantly paling, like a child who has done wrong and is about to be abandoned.

"Father God… I repent, I have had wicked thoughts."

Jin Chen's expression subtly shifted, a faint smile appearing; he hoped more than anyone that Samuel would develop possessive thoughts.

He gently brushed the back of his hand over Samuel's cold cheek and sensitive neck.

"It's all right, my follower." Jin Chen's coaxing voice softly sounded in Samuel's ear, "Tell me, what were you just thinking?"

Samuel's body went slightly limp under the deity's caress.

He closed his eyes, more tears streaming down, as if finally unable to bear the inner burden, lightly pressing his forehead against the shoulder of the Father God's illusory form.

"Father God… I am jealous."

"I want to possess you alone."

He finished speaking, trembling, and was immediately engulfed by deeper despair.

The deity is benevolent, a being like the Father God—how could He allow believers to harbor such treasonous possessiveness?

Sai Miu Er felt he was utterly finished, like a criminal about to be judged.

However, the anticipated divine punishment did not descend.

The Father God's soft laugh carried a scorching breath, brushing past his ear like the sweetest poison.

"It's all right, my Sai Miu Er, I allow you to think this way."

In that instant, a dizzying sweetness washed over his mind.

Sai Miu Er experienced for the first time what it meant to have his heart flutter.

It was a feeling more stirring than faith, yet also more embarrassing.

Sai Miu Er dared not raise his head, affectionately rubbing against the shoulder of Jin Chen's illusory form; his blond hair cascaded down with the motion of lowering his head, then was lifted by Jin Chen and gently stroked.

That day, everyone who personally witnessed the descent of the golden light illusion, as well as those who saw the rose that bloomed solely for Sai Miu Er, became the most devout witnesses.

The rumor that Sai Miu Er was the true favorite chosen by the Father God spread like wildfire, quickly sweeping through the entire Holy City.

Four days later.

The auspicious day when the prince's twins received baptism and blessing.

The resplendent royal carriage, drawn by the finest pure-white heavenly horse, with an emblem inlaid with holy stones shining in the sunlight, came to a steady stop beneath the majestic steps of the Temple of Light.

Such specifications were no more than what was due when receiving an Archbishop.

The successive miracles that descended upon Sai Miu Er made the royal family dare not be the slightest bit negligent.

The Temple's Main Gate slowly opened.

Supreme Archbishop Xi Li Er, clad in the most solemn holy robe, holding the golden scepter symbolizing authority, stepped out slowly.

But this time, he slightly turned sideways, actually gesturing for Sai Miu Er to stand at a position slightly behind his side.

That was a place reserved only for highly esteemed, high-ranking priests of exalted status.

Xi Li Er gazed at the adoptive son beside him, whose peerless visage filled his aged eyes with indescribable satisfaction and glory.

Only Sai Miu Er himself knew that beneath the holy robe lay a magical artifact about to kill a certain noble.

He remained so holy, nodding to the Holy Knight who came to greet him, his thin lips curling slightly.