Chapter 608: Conversion (Early Month, Requesting Monthly Tickets)

At eight in the morning, inside the prayer room on the third deck of the ship.

Lu Jianuo entered and saw Father Montserrat, dressed in a brown clerical robe, delivering a sermon; a few rows of chairs in front of the Life Holy Symbol held five or six scattered worshippers.

He did not disrupt the sacred atmosphere, choosing a seat at the very front, near one of the worshippers.

Time passed second by second until Father Montserrat finally finished his sermon and closed the holy scripture in his hands.

All the worshippers rose to their feet, feet slightly apart, palms raised high, and chanted in unison:

"Praise the Earth, praise the Mother of All Things!"

Lu Jianuo instinctively turned his head, glancing at the worshipper beside him, noticing the man's eyes were brownish, his complexion poor, wearing a wool coat but not tightly wrapped.

This was clearly the special patient Enio, who had lost his internal organs.

He—he's still alive? Didn't that evil wizard Lin Pinuo already die? How is this special patient still alive? Lu Jianuo was startled, thinking he had encountered a ghost.

As a Sequence 8 of the "Farmer" Path, he had absolutely no ability to deal with ghosts!

The next moment, Lu Jianuo noticed Enio's complexion was no longer as pale as last night, his eyes had regained some luster, and his overall life force had noticeably strengthened.

This… Lu Jianuo instinctively raised his hand and lightly tapped his forehead, activating "Spirit Sight."

He immediately saw Enio's etheric body was no longer so dark; the yellow representing the digestive system, the orange for detoxification and excretion organs, and other colors had all returned to relatively normal states—though still dim and thin.

Can this even happen? Didn't he lose his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, intestines, stomach, and kidneys? Lu Jianuo stared at Enio as if he were a monster, when Enio turned around and spotted him in delight.

"Doctor, your treatment worked wonders—I feel myself recovering!" Enio said, ecstatic.

This was preliminary treatment without even identifying the root cause!

Lu Jianuo's face stiffened as he twitched his lips:

"That's good, that's good."

"You're also a follower of the Mother Goddess?" Enio's mood was excellent, his face filled with surprise.

I'm not—I don't want to hear about the Mother or Mother Goddess… As an Intisian, how could I possibly worship the "Earth Mother Goddess"? Lu Jianuo pointed at Montserrat without directly answering:

"I need to speak with the priest."

Enio nodded:

"When can I come to you for further treatment this morning?"

You don't need treatment anymore—rest and recuperation are all that's left… Lu Jianuo thought to himself, then forced a smile and said:

"An hour from now."

"Thank you, Doctor!" Enio waved and walked out of the prayer room.

When only he and Father Montserrat remained, Lu Jianuo lowered his voice and pointed toward the door:

"How… how was he cured?"

The relatively young, clean-faced Father Montserrat smiled and said:

"Praise the Earth Mother—his luck was sufficient.

"You're also a 'Physician'—you know internal organs can be transplanted, as long as they retain some vitality. Lin Pinuo used his own extraordinary abilities to maintain the vitality of those organs, and moreover, the organs he used were all taken from Enio himself, so there was no risk of rejection.

"Also, Enio himself is still alive, his life force still sustained by mystical forces—that's a crucial factor."

"Last night you performed surgery and transplanted all his organs back?" Lu Jianuo suddenly understood.

Father Montserrat nodded:

"For ordinary surgeons, this would be nearly impossible—even if successful, sustaining life afterward and helping the patient survive the most dangerous phase would be extremely difficult. But for us, it's well within our capabilities."

Yes… compared to ordinary surgeons, we extraordinary "Physicians" are like miracle-makers… Lu Jianuo sighed, then set aside his concern for Enio and said, with growing worry:

"Father, I heard the baby crying again.

"Is that so-called divine child targeting me?"

Father Montserrat replied gently:

"Don't worry—it's a necessary aftereffect of contamination. It will fade gradually over time. If you're concerned about unexpected complications, I can remove it for you right now."

Is that so? You're only a Sequence 8 "Physician"—you can really remove residual contamination? Set up an altar and pray to the Earth Mother Goddess for help? Lu Jianuo said, unconvinced:

"Thank you, Father!"

Father Montserrat pointed to the seat Lu Jianuo had occupied earlier:

"Like those worshippers just now, close your eyes, listen to my sermon, and pray to the Earth Mother—remember, to the Earth Mother, not any other deity."

"Alright." Lu Jianuo sat back down, crossed his arms over his chest, and closed his eyes.

He silently repeated the scripture's words along with Father Montserrat's sermon; his thoughts gradually drifted, becoming ever more hazy.

Faintly, Lu Jianuo heard his mother's whisper, felt the warmth of her embrace.

It relaxed the tension in his heart, evoking the feeling of childhood—when he'd been bullied and ran to his mother for comfort.

It was dependence. It was refuge. It was the homeland of his soul.

Unconsciously, tears slipped down Lu Jianuo's cheeks; his body and mind seemed cleansed.

His emotions slowly grew calm, no longer so fearful or uneasy.

"That's enough." Father Montserrat's voice drifted in like a whisper from afar, reaching Lu Jianuo's ears.

Lu Jianuo opened his eyes, raised his right hand, and wiped the dampness from his face.

He then stood, raised both hands high:

"Praise the Earth, praise the Mother of All Things!"

It was an almost instinctive reaction.

At that moment, sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the prayer room in a soft golden hue—as if foretelling a bountiful harvest.

Father Montserrat nodded, satisfied:

"The Earth Mother has cleansed the contamination from you. Tonight, pay attention—see if you still hear the baby's cries."

"Yes, Father!" Lu Jianuo replied, his body and mind utterly at ease.

The next morning, he woke up happily.

That entire night, he had not dreamed of his mother calling, nor heard the so-called divine child's cries.

This filled Lu Jianuo with great joy; after helping Ludwig finish breakfast, he hurried straight to the prayer room to tell Father Montserrat the good news.

Father Montserrat studied him for a few seconds, then smiled and asked:

"Would you be interested in following the Earth Mother?"

"Me?" Lu Jianuo hesitated. "Would your church accept the conversion of a heretic?"

Father Montserrat smiled:

"In the Mother's eyes, there are no heretics—only children who choose whether or not to come home."

Lu Jianuo thought of how, since childhood, he had only attended church, listened to sermons, and participated in masses out of habit—not from genuine belief—and how the church had never offered him any real help. His spirit wavered.

Besides, if he truly became a follower of the Earth Mother Goddess, perhaps he could buy the next-tier Physician's potion recipes and extraordinary materials from the church or the three orders… Even if that failed, there would surely be mystical guidance available… Lu Jianuo hesitated long, searching for reasons to convince himself.

Father Montserrat did not rush him—only smiled, patiently waiting for his answer.

Finally, Lu Jianuo raised both hands high:

"Praise the Earth, praise the Mother of All Things!"

He answered Father Montserrat's preaching in this way.

Father Montserrat's smile widened as he opened his arms wide:

"Welcome home."

These words warmed Lu Jianuo unexpectedly, giving him the feeling of having wandered and adventured for years, finally returning to his homeland, to his family.

His weariness was soothed; his feet once again touched the earth.

"Praise the Earth Mother," Lu Jianuo said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Father Montserrat nodded and began the true sermon:

"You worship the source of life, the Mother of All Things, the fertile Earth that bears abundance, the symbol of the Crimson Moon and reproduction, and the end and beginning of all things…"

Lu Jianuo listened intently, memorizing carefully.

Though he was not yet devout, this might become his future sanctuary—he must always present his best self.

…………

Back in the first-class suite, Lu Jianuo glanced at Lu Mi, who was diligently studying the Southern Continent's Dutan language, and said nervously:

"I—I've converted to the Earth Mother Goddess."

As another Intisian, will he look down on me? Disdain me?

Lu Mi lifted his head and chuckled:

"Then show the radiance of motherhood properly—Ludwig's waiting for you to get him some fresh sea fish."

He doesn't mind at all… Lu Jianuo muttered, unwilling to let Ludwig go hungry, and began his busy day.

That night, after tending to Ludwig's sleep, Lu Jianuo thought for a moment and decided to visit the prayer room.

If the door was still open, he planned to pray once before returning to bed.

One must make a good first impression!

Following the dimly lit staircase, stepping on the creaking floorboards, Lu Jianuo approached the prayer room.

His footsteps grew lighter, afraid of disturbing others' prayers, disturbing Father Montserrat's practice of the Earth Mother's teachings, or interrupting some female worshipper engaged in the act of procreation.

Arriving quietly at the door, Lu Jianuo extended his right hand and gently pushed the wooden door.

The door slowly swung open, revealing a narrow gap without a sound.

"The door's not locked… Is she really procreating?" Lu Jianuo peered cautiously through the crack.

He saw the crimson moonlight casting a gauzy veil over the prayer room; Father Montserrat, in his brown clerical robe, stood before the Life Holy Symbol, arms bent, gently swaying—as if cradling a newborn child.

Yet between his arms, there was nothing.

PS: Beginning of the month, requesting monthly votes~

(End of chapter)