[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-holy-church-begins-with-bestowal-of-blessing":3,"chapter-the-holy-church-begins-with-bestowal-of-blessing-the-holy-church-begins-with-bestowal-of-blessing-chapter-20":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Holy Church Begins with Bestowal of Blessings",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1688737,2156,"Chapter 20 : The Lost Honor","the-holy-church-begins-with-bestowal-of-blessing-chapter-20",20,"\u003Cp>Chapter 20: The Lost Honor\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The necromancers had been annihilated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was what Yara, who came to the church for worship, said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were four necromancers who commanded over a thousand corpses to battle against the lord's army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, with several knights and cavalry present, a few charges were enough to break through the corpse lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, the lord's elite, equipped with iron swords, finished off and dismembered the corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The army of over a thousand corpses could not stop the lord's forces; only when facing the necromancers did three knights get killed by their spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, before dying, the four necromancers caused the corpses to explode, resulting in numerous casualties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the twelve members from the Daniels Family who went to battle, only three survived the explosion, and all were injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, these sacrifices were not without reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After spending some gold coins to smooth things over, the lord agreed to let the Daniels Family lead the refugees from the seven destroyed villages to establish a new village, promising to reduce taxes from 80% to 50% within five years and not to assign the village as a fief to any knight within ten years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Yara didn't care much about these two points; after all, who really relied on village taxes to make money? Even the wealthy families in York Territory had their shady dealings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for knights, now the entire York Territory had only three knights left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knight Borien was still imprisoned in Lundex Territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Corleon didn't pay much attention to this information; he was just grateful that Yara had given these refugees a chance to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If these refugees weren't assigned to a village by the lord, their only fate would be to become skeletons by the roadside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, upon hearing Corleon's gratitude, Yara forced a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lord wouldn't release the refugees placed in the town; they were all considered productive labor, while she was deemed worthless trash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, Yara mentioned that the location for the new village had been decided, only half a day's journey from the church, and that she would often come to the church to pray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Corleon felt her purpose wasn't truly for prayer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two knight corpses stored in the church were also retrieved by their families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their faces showed more fear than sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nevertheless, they remembered to donate some gold coins to the church as thanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One family gave ten gold coins, the other twelve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days later, Corleon met Knight Borien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He came on foot, without armor or weapons; though his body still looked strong, he seemed to have lost his soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good morning, Priest Corleon,\" he said, his voice lacking its former vigor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good morning, Knight Borien,\" Corleon greeted with a slight bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I am no longer a knight,\" Borien lowered his head, \"Sir Helvin has stripped me of my knighthood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps once you recover, Sir Helvin will reinstate your title,\" Corleon said, though it was more of a consolation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Knight Borien was released, the accusations of him invading Lundex Territory were so loud that even Corleon could hear them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though both Borien and Corleon knew it was the lord's order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But who cared?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seven villages were destroyed, nearly a third of York Territory's beast resources were wiped out, over two hundred soldiers died, six knights perished, and so on...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone had to take responsibility for these losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the knight Borien, who was ransomed with gold, naturally became the prime candidate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the lord was merciful and generous, merely stripping him of his knighthood...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, upon hearing Corleon's comfort, Borien only managed a forced smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Priest, I am a coward. Stripped of my knighthood, I should have died along with my lost honor, but I didn't.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am afraid; I fear death,\" Borien said, his voice so fragile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Lord says, those who live bravely and kindly are the truly courageous; those who choose to end themselves to escape life are the weak,\" Corleon said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Borien, you are not weak. Though the knight's honor has left you, you still have a battle to fight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You need to protect your family. They shared your honor because you were a knight. When that honor is gone, they too face the hardship of its loss.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They need your protection.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I caused Lain's death. He was only seventeen; he could have continued training, and after I died, he could have inherited my knightly honor,\" Borien's face was filled with sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But because of me, he died on the battlefield.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This was his first battle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His mother hates me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She said, how could someone like me still come back alive?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps she's right. Dying during the attack would have been the best outcome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was filled with pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then, do you hate your family?\" Corleon asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I love my family. I am proud of them,\" Borien answered firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then, do you hate Lain's mother?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I love her deeply. If needed, I would give up my knightly honor for her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then, would you be willing to see your family destroyed by enemies, and Lain's mother humiliated?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I would pierce their hearts with my sword. Without a sword, I would tear them apart with my hands. Without hands, I would bite through their throats with my teeth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn't that the reason you should live?\" Corleon said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Protect your family, protect Lain's mother, let them live better lives. That is the honor you should now pursue.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Borien stood there in a daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Corleon didn't urge him, patiently standing by, observing Borien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no wounds on his body, his linen clothes were still clean, and he wore beast-hide shoes. If he regained his former spirit, Borien could be considered a charming middle-aged man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would probably attract some young ladies' favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a man with a past and still unmarried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think so, Priest Corleon. My family still needs me,\" Borien regained some vitality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very well, the Lord will bless you,\" Corleon said with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Borien slightly bowed his head, then looked past Corleon at George, who was polishing stones and building his own hut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the militia he had conscripted, and the only one who survived the attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before being released, Lord Lundex told him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with his body pierced by arrows and his head struck, this militia didn't die but escaped back. When he reappeared, he had become extremely strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when attacked by hundreds of corpses controlled by necromancers, he could easily slaughter them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them were two knight corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although controlled by necromancers and lacking knightly skills, their physical strength and armor were not just for show.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, such combat power was still fragile before this militia; just a few sweeps, and he dismembered the two knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after a battle, he didn't display any combat skills, all relying purely on physical strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Borien didn't believe it, but seeing the now obviously much stronger George, he had to accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Priest Corleon, during the blessing, you said you would baptize returning warriors, and you also said the Lord loves the world,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am just a defeated man, not hoping to walk the Flower Path or receive baptism, but Priest Corleon, may I enter the church to pray to the Lord?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Corleon was stunned; he didn't expect Borien to have this thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he was stripped of his knight title, Borien's family still existed, and his strength remained, still holding a certain status in York Territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, during the previous blessing, it was evident that Borien didn't have much affection for the church and the Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, noticing Borien's wandering gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Corleon understood; it was again because of George's existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, the Lord loves the world. As long as your heart yearns for kindness and light, you can pray to the Lord,\" Corleon said.\u003C\u002Fp>",1314,"2026-06-06T13:52:13.653Z",1,"novelbin.me","473383328e54fc056311795d4bcae84591b35767145368cc00efe21a139934a6","the-holy-church-begins-with-bestowal-of-blessing-chapter-368","the-holy-church-begins-with-bestowal-of-blessing-chapter-367",373,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-holy-church-begins-with-bestowal-of-blessing-cover.jpg"]