Chapter 584: Kindness!

From Yuanban Shichen's viewpoint looking back, he could only see his back and those hands—those hands were twisted in a strange pose, as if something had forced them into that shape.

"Yan Feng?" Yuanban Shichen tentatively called out.

No response.

He took a few steps forward, went around the benches, and finally saw the priest's face.

That face was terrifyingly pale, eye sockets sunken, lips purplish, a streak of black blood at the corner of the mouth.

The most horrifying were the eyes— they were wide open, pupils completely dilated, but the whites were covered with fine black lines, as if something was roaming inside him.

Yuanban Shichen's pupils narrowed slightly.

This is a person controlled by Insect Technique.

He was about to retreat when a shrill laugh suddenly came from behind.

"Hahaha—!"

The laugh was sharp and shrill, echoing in the empty church, sending chills down the spine.

Yuanban Shichen turned and saw, behind a massive cross, a figure slowly emerging.

No, not emerging, but drifting out.

It was an image projected by some kind of Magic, a twisted humanoid, limbs bent at bizarre angles, facial features blurred, only a pair of eyes burning with mad light could be seen.

"Yuanban Shichen—!"

The image opened its mouth and emitted a piercing screech.

"Do you still remember me?! Do you still remember my grandfather?!"

Yuanban Shichen stared at the image, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

That voice… is Jiantong Shen'er!

That guy hasn't died yet?

"A child of the Jiantong family."

Yuanban Shichen's voice remained calm, "What exactly do you want?"

The image twisted wildly, as if dancing, as if convulsing.

"What do I want?! I want to ask you! You hypocrites! You murderers! By what right did you kill my grandfather?!"

Yuanban Shichen's brows furrowed.

"Your grandfather? Jiantong Zangyan?"

"Yes! My grandfather!"

The image's voice rose higher, "He was so good! He was so kind! He taught me so many things! By what right did you kill him?!"

Yuanban Shichen was silent for a few seconds.

He searched his mind for Memory of Jiantong Zangyan—the five‑hundred‑year‑old monster, the evil Magus who tormented countless people with Insect Technique, the mastermind who sent Sakura into the Insect Warehouse, the guy who plunged the entire Dongmu City into chaos.

"Kindness?"

He couldn't help but repeat the word.

"Yes! Kindness!"

The image nodded wildly, "My grandfather has always fought for justice! He has always purified this world's filth! He only wanted to create a perfect world! By what right do you not understand him?!"

Yuanban Shichen's mouth twitched even more.

A spot on his butt even began to throb faintly.

This child's thought process… how on earth did it develop?

"Your grandfather."

Yuanban Shichen slowly began, "He did many… unforgivable things."

"You fart!"

The image screamed, "Everything my grandfather did was right! It was you people! It was you hypocrites! You envied him! You feared him! So you killed him!"

Yuanban Shichen fell silent.

He suddenly realized that reasoning with this kind of person was a total waste of time.

The image continued to twist wildly:

"Do you think killing my grandfather ends it?! I tell you! I am the true Justice Messenger! I will inherit my grandfather's will! I will eliminate all you false beings!"

Yuanban Shichen looked around, his gaze sweeping over the benches, the pillars, the shadows.

He did not see Jiantong Shen'er's true form.

That guy dared not come out.

"You don't dare appear in person?"

He asked, his tone tinged with a hint of contempt.

The image froze abruptly, then emitted an even sharper laugh:

"Hahahahaha! Why would I come out?! You aren't worthy to see me in person!"

Yuanban Shichen sneered.

As expected, just as he thought.

That guy was heavily wounded by Bai Hang's arrow, now can only hide in the shadows, relying on these Insect‑controlled puppets and images to bluff.

At that moment, the priest lying on the podium suddenly moved.

He slowly stood, his neck twisting at a bizarre angle, producing a series of "click‑click" sounds.

On that pale face, the corner of his mouth slowly stretched into a stiff grin.

Then he lunged at Yuanban Shichen!

Yuanban Shichen stepped back one step, and instantly gathered several gems in his hand.

He flicked his wrist, and those gems turned into several Flames that struck the priest straight in the chest!

"Boom!"

The priest was engulfed by the Flame, let out a horrible scream, fell to the ground, twitched a few times, then went still.

But more figures emerged from every corner of the church.

Those controlled by Insect Technique—priests, nuns, believers—stepped out of the shadows one by one, surrounding Yuanban Shichen.

Their gait was grotesquely twisted: some had heads tilted to one side, some arms bent at reverse joints, some even crawled on the ground like a single huge insect.

At the same time, black Insect Tide began surging from the ground.

The Engraved Insects swarmed out of the floor cracks, making a rustling sound, pouring toward Yuanban Shichen.

Yuanban Shichen inhaled deeply, and gathered several gems in his hand again.

He did not panic.

Because he had prepared in advance.

He gently lifted his hand and pressed the small device at his ear.

A faint voice came through the earpiece.

"Found him, father. He's in the cemetery behind the church, and he's... dancing?"

Perspective shift.

Ying lay on the rooftop of the building, body pressed against the cold concrete, eyes glued to the sniper rifle's scope.

The night wind blew, stirring her long hair and the hem of her clothes, yet she remained motionless.

She had been waiting here for a long time.

From the moment her father entered the church, she began waiting.

Waiting for the chance to fire that shot.

This sniper rifle was taught to her by Weigong Qiesi.

Ten years ago, after the Fourth Holy Grail War ended, her father finally let go of his stubborn Magus notions and allowed her to learn some "unorthodox" self‑defense methods.

Weigong Qiesi taught her how to use firearms, how to stalk, and how to locate targets.

She studied earnestly.

Because she knew she could not perform Magic, and this was the only way to protect herself.

And now, that training finally came into use.

Through the scope, everything around the church was clearly visible.

Those controlled by Insect Technique emerged from every corner, the black Insect Tide roiled on the ground, and the twisted figure writhed wildly.

Then, she saw him.

Between the tombstones on the side of the church, a figure was dancing wildly.

The figure wore tattered clothes, limbs contorting in a bizarre posture, looking like a mad flea hopping about.

His face was grotesquely distorted, eyes bulging out of their sockets, drool dripping from his mouth, emitting a silent maniacal laugh.

Jiantong Shen'er.

Ying's finger rested on the trigger, her breathing became extremely slow.

The crosshair in the scope locked steadily on the mad figure.

She recalled her father's words:

"That guy is a lunatic. He thinks he's delivering justice, but he's merely venting his twisted desires. Dealing with someone like that requires no mercy."

Ying inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly.

Her hand was steady.

Her finger joints whitened slightly from the pressure, yet the crosshair remained unmoved.

Through the earpiece came her father's voice:

"Ying, it's ready."

Ying's pupils contracted slightly.

She pulled the trigger.

"Bang—!!!"