Chapter 2416: The Love of the Evil God's Faith 21

The clamor faded, and the night grew deep.

Bu Lanwen returned to the luxurious guest room the Holy See had arranged for him.

"Get out! All of you, get out!" He grabbed the vase on the table and smashed it violently onto the floor like a madman.

Several attending servants turned deathly pale, huddled in the corner, and dared not breathe.

"Get out! Can you hear me?" Bu Lanwen shrieked hysterically, his handsome face contorted with rage.

The servants, as if pardoned, scrambled out and slammed the door shut.

Outside the door, several people exchanged terrified glances, seeing deep fear and bewilderment in each other's eyes.

They were all priests from the Holy City; this Priest Bu Lanwen… was simply too terrifying!

The room was in utter disarray.

Bu Lanwen's chest heaved as he breathed heavily.

He staggered to the center of the room and collapsed onto the cold carpet.

As he had done countless times before, he clasped his hands before his forehead, trying to pour out his grievances to the supreme existence.

But this time, Zephyros was destined not to answer Bu Lanwen.

The room fell into dead silence.

That faint yet clear feeling he used to have vanished completely.

No matter how Bu Lanwen focused his spirit or how devoutly he called out, it was like throwing a stone into the sea—he received not the slightest response.

Bu Lanwen's heart sank sharply.

Father God no longer answered him.

After that night, the Holy See carried out an unprecedented purge.

The vice bishop's death was labeled a product of the darkness festering within the Holy See; all clergy closely associated with him underwent strict interrogation and torture, and everyone felt endangered.

The search for the Dark Evil God's traces never ceased; the Holy Temple Knight Corps patrolled day and night, high-ranking priests took turns casting spells, but all efforts were like throwing a stone into the sea.

At the same time, the entire continent's Light Faith System was undergoing drastic change.

Above the clouds, Jin Chen temporarily took charge of the Temple of Light, staring at the mountain‑high piles of diocesan documents from all over, his temples throbbing.

Ling Gun Gun looked with him, shaking his head more and more, 【"Black, too black."】

"The Southern Border Holy See is privately selling indulgences; ordinary folk must buy the papers at exorbitant prices from the Holy See, or else be branded heretics."

"Western Border…"

"The Eastern Border Holy See's Judgment Office abuses private punishment, framing innocent beast‑folk as heretics and burning them to death."

Every time Jin Chen flipped through a document, his head throbbed.

What is all this supposed to be?

How has this continent not finished playing yet?

He issued decrees swiftly, reshuffled personnel, and made sweeping reforms.

And, whenever he had free time, he would go beat Zephyros.

Dealing with these trivial matters annoyed Jin Chen to no end; only by appearing beside Samuel, roughly pulling him into his embrace, could his inner irritation be soothed a little.

Of course, Jin Chen also never gave up exploring the secret of his own primordial spiritual power.

Occasionally, he would return to the Northern Fortress, coldly gazing at the listless Zephyros.

Zephyros curled up in the corner of the cage, his golden eyes dull and lifeless, his lips pressed shut.

He would not say it even if beaten to death.

Besides, you can't beat him to death.

Jin Chen had tried using harsher means to coerce him.

But whenever his power touched Zephyros's heart, Jin Chen felt as if he were fighting himself.

Jin Chen was furious; he made Zephyros undergo every torture device for gods stored in the welfare depot.

Time flowed; the Holy City's convoy ended its long journey and set out on the return road.

Supreme Bishop Cyril, advanced in years, this year will choose from his two most outstanding adopted sons, Samuel and Bu Lanwen, the successor to the bishopric after returning from abroad.

Now, whether inside the Holy City or among the foreign envoys accompanying the procession, everyone already has a clear answer in mind.

Samuel bears the halo of the Divine Favored One, beyond dispute.

And the returning Samuel must go back to Border City to deliver the good news.

He must tell them that he has personally slain all his former enemies, that Father God has seen them and will save them, and, by the way, bring survival supplies for the residents of Border City.

——

"Samuel."

When Samuel returned, Dove‑crow was the first to greet him.

He is the only one here who knows Samuel's dual identity.

Dove‑crow's heart was troubled; he softly asked Samuel, "I've heard… that the Light God has frequently descended upon you along the way?"

When Father God was mentioned, Samuel's heart rippled with a near‑sweet warmth.

"Yes. Dove‑crow, I'm very happy."

Dove‑crow hesitated, opening his mouth, his Adam's apple rolling a few times: "Samuel, we've known each other since childhood, struggling to survive together here, I……

He stepped forward half a pace, his gaze blazing: "I…… for you……

"Dove‑crow."

Samuel promptly interrupted him, his blood‑red eyes reflecting Dove‑crow's tense expression.

"I belong to Father God. Only to Father God, forever and ever."

Samuel drew a clear line, leaving no room for compromise: "Dove‑crow, you are my important friend, my indispensable right and left hand."

Du Ya's body stiffened, and he retreated heavily half a step.

Yes, leader. I... understood.

The atmosphere was a bit stagnant.

Saimuer seemed not to notice Du Ya's loss, ordered a cup of the strongest liquor, his gaze sweeping over the noisy crowd and locking onto a certain corner.

It was that man again.

Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, he sat alone in the shadows, seeming out of place amid the surrounding bustle.

The moment Saimuer looked over, he suddenly stood up and hurriedly left the tavern.

Saimuer's blood-red eyes narrowed slightly, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the rim of the wine cup.

Jin Chen had only wanted to come see what Saimuer was doing in Edge City, and, well, see if he missed him.

But as soon as he sat down, he sensed a strange summons.

Again, it was an aura sharing the same source as his Spiritual Power.

Even the summons from the believers was not calling Zefiluosi, but himself.

Jin Chen followed that strange fluctuation out.

His speed was extreme; in just a few breaths he had darted past the ruined streets to the end of a dead-end alley.

The sight before him left him slightly stunned.

On the wall at the alley's end, an extremely fine spatial crack was slowly closing.

On the ground before the crack sat a boy who looked only about eighteen or nineteen.

His clothes were stained with dirt and green leaves, and beneath his messy light-brown short hair, startled green eyes were revealed.

The boy seemed to have fallen hard, struggling to get up.

And his right hand was tightly clutching something...

How come it's a ring again.

Jin Chen frowned, feeling quite strange in his heart.

Unlike the ring from the beastman tribe, this one showed a warm, moist green that seemed to contain vitality.

Jin Chen stepped forward slowly, his tall figure casting a shadow in the narrow alley as he looked down at the panicked boy on the ground.

Are you the one calling me?