Chapter 306

Sure, it feels like being caught red‑handed, but Ji Ming's thick skin lets him stay completely unfazed—he's even bold and self‑assured.

Translation: Although it really feels like being caught as a thief…… Ji Ming's thick skin is enough to suppress any embarrassment, so he remains completely unfazed, even righteous and confident!

We need to keep tone: "Although it really feels like being caught as a thief…… Ji Ming's thick skin is enough to suppress any embarrassment, so he remains completely unfazed, even righteous and confident!" Ensure no extra info.

Exactly, Lady Archbishop—we've had a good chat; we're all straightforward folks, so the conversation flows easily.

Translation: "Yes, Archbishop Lady, we've chatted a lot, after all we're all open-hearted people, conversation flows freely."

Too bad the old guys are just as thick‑skinned—one thicker than the next—so Tennith could barely get a word in edgewise.

Translation: Unfortunately, the old fogies' skins are thicker than each other; Te Ni Si basically blocked him with a sentence.

For example?

Translation: "For example?"

For example...

Translation: "For example……"

Ji Ming pulled the interrogation notes he'd just written from his ring, gave them a quick tidy, and handed them over.

Translation: Ji Ming simply took out the interrogation record he had just written from his ring, tidied it up a bit, and handed it over.

Based on the analysis, the prisoner was probably a holy knight in life, so I was curious why, after becoming a death knight, his ability turned into a death light that mirrors holy light but works oppositely. I spoke with him privately, trying to use my personal charm to get any crucial intel.

Translation: "According to analysis, the prisoner was likely a Holy Knight in life, so I wondered why, after turning into a Death Knight, he used Death Light similar in nature to Holy Light but opposite in effect, so I spoke with him alone, trying to use my personal charm to extract any key information."

If you'd spent a little more time in the church library you'd know why—long ago there was a death god whose faith has been our sworn enemy, and this all goes back to before our Lord even became a deity.

Translation: "If you came to the church library a few more times you'd know the reason; actually, long ago there was a God of Death, and He and His Death Church are our arch-enemies, and all this originates from before our Lord became a god……"

Tennith started flipping through the text, instinctively launching into a lecture on Holy Light history, but after only a few pages she abruptly stopped talking.

Translation: Te Ni Si was flipping through the text, subconsciously starting to explain Holy Light Church history, but after just a few pages she suddenly fell silent.

The interrogation record is written so well that just reading it lets her picture the scene and the two people's expressions—but it's almost too perfect; without years of immersion in this world and having weathered countless trials, she could never have produced such a polished report.

Translation: Because this interrogation record…… is written quite beautifully, she could even imagine the atmosphere and the two people's demeanor just by reading it, but the problem is it's too perfect; if she hadn't been immersed in this circle for years, if she hadn't gone through great storms and been tempered a hundred times, she absolutely couldn't have written such a fine document.

She then closed the record and exhaled slowly.

Translation: So she closed the record and slowly exhaled.

Ji Ming, God's Chosen, I doubt I'll get any answers if I keep trying to play riddles with you.

Translation: "Ji Ming, God's Chosen, I think if I keep playing riddles with you, I probably won't get any answers."

This time Ji Ming gave a half‑smile and turned his head aside.

Translation: This time Ji Ming gave a half-smile, turning his head away.

I don't know.

Translation: "I don't know."

Hmm, very good.

Translation: "Hmm, very good."

Tennith shifted her posture; being a succubus she's naturally tall, and her purple robes give her an imposing air.

Translation: Te Ni Si adjusted her stance; as a succubus, her naturally tall figure in the purple robe actually gave off a hint of oppression.

Let's talk straight, Ji Ming—besides being a doctor and God's Chosen, do you have any other role?

Translation: "Then let's speak plainly, Ji Ming, besides being a doctor and God's Chosen, do you have any other identity?"

Ji Ming looked up, met her gaze for three seconds, and only spoke after Tennith deliberately looked away.

Translation: Ji Ming raised his head upon hearing that and locked eyes with her for three seconds, until Te Ni Si voluntarily looked away before he spoke.

Yeah, what else? Do you really think a destitute outer‑city doctor who doesn't know where his next meal is coming from could, in just a couple of months, stand before you and speak up so boldly?

Translation: "Exactly, otherwise? Do you think a quack doctor from the outer city who doesn't even have enough for tomorrow's meal could, in just over two months, stand before you and speak loudly?"

Weakness and ignorance aren't barriers to survival; arrogance is. Ji Ming doesn't see himself as a clueless overpowered hero, so he'd long expected people to question his past—and he was ready for it—only he didn't expect it to happen now, right in front of this succubus archbishop.

Translation: Weakness and ignorance are not obstacles to survival; arrogance is. Ji Ming does not consider himself a dragon-slaying heaven-defying protagonist with a halo of stupidity, so he had long anticipated this and prepared himself for everyone questioning his past—only he didn't expect it to happen now, before this succubus archbishop.

Before, Ji Ming might have tried to be careful and play it safe with her, but now he's prepared to lay all his cards on the table—so let's just do it.

Translation: If it were before, Ji Ming might still have to hesitate and play Tai Chi with her, but now he's ready to let the players out of the cage, so laying cards on the table is just laying cards on the table.

—Come on, which card in my hand do you want to see? Wine, the ancient dagger, or fire kill?

Translation: ——Come, which would you like to see in my hand: wine, the ancient ingot knife, or fire kill?

Although Tennith had urged plain speaking, she didn't expect Ji Ming to be so blunt—his frankness left her momentarily lost for words.

Translation: And although Te Ni Si herself had emphasized speaking plainly, she didn't expect Ji Ming to answer so bluntly; instead, she was choked by his frankness.

So… what's your connection to the Sovereign of Souls? Are you one of his followers?

Translation: "So…… what's your relationship with the Lord of All Living Beings? Are you His follower?"

Ji Ming shook his head, his expression turning ever more smug.

Translation: Ji Ming shook his head, his expression becoming increasingly smug.

My ties to the Sovereign of Souls are much closer than you think—I'm his envoy, or rather, I'm also his God's Chosen.

Translation: "My relationship with the Lord of All Living Beings is far closer than you imagine; I am His emissary, or rather, I am also His God's Chosen."

You!

Translation: "You!"

Tennith's face first flared with anger, then shifted into a wavering, uncertain look; after thinking it over, she settled on caution, her brows knitting.

Translation: Te Ni Si's face first turned angry, but soon shifted into an uncertain, changing expression; after pondering for a long time, it finally settled on caution, her brows furrowed.

Ji Ming, God's Chosen, I'm sure our Lord wouldn't be so foolish as to let an unknown deity steal his power, but I need to check your holy light.

Translation: "Ji Ming, God's Chosen, I believe our Lord would not be so foolish as to have His power usurped by an undocumented god, but I need to examine your Holy Light!"

You mean this?

Translation: "You mean this?"

Ji Ming is a hunk who converses with the old sun daily, receiving divine revelations more often than the current pope; his eyes glow gold, and the fingertips of his outstretched hands flicker with tiny holy lights, pulsing in rhythm as if he's playing a music game.

Translation: Ji Ming is a burly man who chats with the old sun day after day, hearing divine revelations more often than the current pope; not only do his eyes glow gold, but the tips of his outstretched hands also flicker with specks of Holy Light, rhythmically as if playing some music game.

Tennith is now utterly speechless, though the embarrassment lasted only a heartbeat before she regained her solemn composure.

Translation: Now Te Ni Si is completely speechless, though the awkwardness only lasted a moment before she returned to solemnity.

True, I shouldn't doubt our Lord's choice, but I must answer for the entire church—I can't let other churches' members advance unimpeded in our ranks just because of your one‑sided testimony.

Translation: "Indeed, I shouldn't question our Lord's choice, but I must be responsible for the whole Church; at the very least, I cannot allow members of other churches to rise smoothly in our group just because of your one-sided words."

To be honest, outsiders may see the Holy Light Church as a rigid, doctrine‑clutching order of priests and steadfast nuns, but inside it's not tense—we allow diverse voices. When I get back to the Holy See I'll file a re‑evaluation with the pope to reassess your God's Chosen status; I hope you understand.

Translation: "Therefore…… let me be frank: perhaps in outside rumors the Holy Light Church is an organization where clerics adhere to doctrine, nuns have steadfast faith, and it's utterly stubborn and outdated, but actually the Church's interior isn't tense; we allow various voices to exist, so when I return to the Holy See I will submit a re-evaluation application to the pope, reassessing your God's Chosen status, hoping you can understand."

After delivering that lengthy speech, Tennith fell silent—yet she saw no trace of anger on Ji Ming's face; in fact, his expression was blank, just a silent gaze.

Translation: After saying that long speech, Te Ni Si fell silent, yet unexpectedly she saw not even a hint of anger on Ji Ming's face, in fact she had no expression at all, only a silent stare.

As the greatest alchemist of all time, Ji Ming's charm is already enough to make a succubus sweat; if he weren't battle‑hardened and possessed of iron‑clad self‑control, anyone—high or low—would have to shift their perspective to see this story.

Translation: As the highest-ranking alchemist in history, Ji Ming's charm is already high enough to make a succubus break a sweat; if it weren't for his battle-hardened experience and heavenly self-control, everyone high and low would have to change their viewpoint to see this story.

Thus, meeting his gaze is a challenge for anyone—even Tennith—who can't sustain a dominant presence for long; she'll end up flustered, blushing, and feeling inadequate.

Translation: Therefore, staring directly at him is a challenge for anyone, including Te Ni Si; she simply cannot maintain a long-lasting aura of suppression, and will fail due to embarrassment, blushing, and feeling inferior.

—Damn, he really knows how to play to his strengths!

Translation: ——Damn, this guy really knows how to exploit his advantages!

—Sorry, with a charm score near seventy he can basically do as he pleases.

Translation: ——Sorry, with nearly seventy charm he can do as he pleases.

Thus Ji Ming regained the conversation, picking up on Tennith's slightly odd hint and offering his own reply.

Translation: Thus Ji Ming regained the floor once more, naturally also picking up on Te Ni Si's somewhat twisted hint, and gave his own answer.

So, Lady Archbishop, how many letters questioning me have you received altogether?

Translation: "So Archbishop Lady, how many letters questioning me have you received in total?"

Tennith pressed her lips together and sighed.

Translation: Te Ni Si pressed her lips together, then sighed.

Well, uh… I'll need a big box to hold them all, Ji Ming—everyone from the Holy See to regional bishops, from the capital to local nobles, they're all asking me about this.

Translation: "Well, uh…… I need a big box to hold them, Ji Ming; everyone, whether from the Holy See or regional bishops, whether from the Royal Capital or local nobles, they're all asking me about this."

In a church where even rulers serve the divine, a God‑chosen one signifies not just favor but also major privileges comparable to those of a wall‑facer; though not explicitly written, as many as eighty percent of past cardinals have been God's Chosen, and the pope must pick his successor from the four current cardinals…

Translation: As a church organization where even rulers must serve the gods, the divinely appointed God's Chosen naturally means not only favor but also many privileges comparable to those of a wall-facing cultivator; especially although not explicitly stipulated, about eighty percent of past cardinals have been God's Chosen, and the pope must be chosen from the four incumbent cardinals……

So if a nobody from the civilized outskirts, crawling out of a trash pile within a trash pile, suddenly rises, he could become the big boss under the old Holy Light's 'golden character' banner—and maybe even the next generation's imperial uncle.

Translation: Therefore, if a nobody crawling out of a trash heap within a trash heap from the barbaric outskirts of civilization suddenly transforms, he becomes the big boss of the old Holy Light's "metal" radical, and perhaps even the next generation's emperor father……

Tsk, you gotta know your limits—even Ji Ming would think this kid is cheating life—just forget it, it's boring.

Translation: Tsk, one should know oneself; even Ji Ming would think this kid is too much of a life cheat, forget it, boring!

I never expected Tennith's grandmother to be so upright—she's been bearing this pressure for ages because she's a student of her old sister, and she's even ready to step in personally, using her reputation to stage a 'justice over family' move to back me up.

Translation: Just didn't expect Te Ni Si's grandmother to be so righteous, stubbornly enduring all that pressure because she was a student of her old sister, and even preparing to personally intervene, using her credit to back him up in a "righteousness over kin" act.

Returning a favor is a virtue; Ji Ming lowered his head slightly and spoke solemnly.

Translation: Returning a peach for a plum is a virtue; Ji Ming slightly lowered his head, speaking solemnly.

Lady Archbishop, I can assure you again that I am truly a Holy Light God's Chosen; the Sovereign of Souls is an unprecedentedly close ally of the Holy Light God, and while I can't say all the Pioneers, at least the vast majority are trustworthy.

Translation: "Archbishop Lady, I can once again assure you that I am truly and certainly a Holy Light God's Chosen, the Lord of All Living Beings is an unprecedentedly close ally of the Holy Light God, and as for the Pioneers, I dare not say all of them, but at least the vast majority are trustworthy."

So if you have any church foes you want to handle, or wish to deepen your influence, feel free to use me—employ the Soul Spirit Holy Seat to make it happen; you can do whatever you like.

Translation: "Therefore, if you have any church enemies you want to resolve, or wish to further deepen your influence, you can freely use me, use the Soul Spirit Holy Seat to make articles, no problem—you can do whatever you want."

……

Translation: ……

Ha.

Translation: "Ha."

They exchanged a knowing smile, like night‑time sneaks who slipped into Cai Family Village and stole a chicken—everything was understood without a word.

Translation: The two exchanged a knowing smile, like forest wolves who had sneaked into Cai Family Village at midnight and stolen a chicken; everything went without words.

Having reached a verbal agreement and mutual understanding, Tennith changed tack and moved on to the next topic.

Translation: And after reaching a verbal agreement and mutual understanding on this matter, Te Ni Si shifted her tone and opened the next topic.

Actually, I came to see you privately for another reason: Qixia City may be headed for a major upheaval; Elinor's special status means she needs to go back, and as Archbishop I also need to escort the important prisoner, the Death Knight, back to the Holy See while reporting on my duties.

Translation: "Actually, I came to see you privately this time for another matter as well: Qixia City is likely to undergo a major upheaval, Ailin Nuo needs to go back due to her special status, and as Archbishop I also need to escort this important prisoner, the Death Knight, back to the Holy See, and briefly report on my duties."

She said this and gave a wry smile.

Translation: She said this and gave a bitter smile.

The uproar here is enormous; by tomorrow at the latest I'll likely be swamped with letters again, and even if I don't want to go, I'll have to.

Translation: "The commotion here is really too great; at the latest tomorrow I'm afraid I'll once again be drowned in letters, and then even if I don't want to leave I'll have to."

Qixia City has had an incident… could it be that my never‑met, but notoriously hated old king has finally kicked the bucket?

Translation: Qixia City has had an upheaval…… could it be that my never-met, but notoriously terrible old king finally kicked the bucket?

Ji Ming was still thinking when he heard his own name again from the Archbishop's mouth.

Translation: Ji Ming was still pondering, yet once again he heard his own name from the Archbishop's mouth.

Ji Ming, as the new generation's Divine Chosen, you really should go to the Holy Mountain at least once, and have your name taboo carved onto the Wall of Light, listed among the past popes and Divine Chosen; this can be considered to legally reaffirm your identity once more.

"So if you have no plans for the upcoming period, you can travel with our convoy to Guanghui Capital; then we can look out for each other and silence many voices that shouldn't exist. Understand?"

Seeing a hint of ruthlessness flash in Te Nisi's eyes, Ji Ming raised an eyebrow, and the first thought that sprang to mind was.

—No way, I was just worrying about how to spread the Fourth Day Disaster to the civilized world, and you're my pillow wholesaler?

But the public beta is imminent, with too many variables, and he didn't answer directly. In any case, the heavily guarded escort team will depart in seven days, and he still has time to decide; wanting to go along is just a matter of saying something.

And as Ji Ming set off, Te Nisi behind him suddenly asked.

"I'm curious, why did you choose the persona you have now?"

Ji Ming rubbed his eyes, which had just taken the eye‑clearing elixir and were still in a post‑star syndrome state.

"Well… because that's just the kind of person I am. Oh my, I'm so damn cute."

He walked far outward, and only when no one was around did Ji Ming grin as if his teeth ached.

Damn, why can't I transmigrate to a world full of idiots? Doing business with smart people is easy, but probing each other is exhausting.

And…

He started rubbing his eyes again, repeatedly, so fiercely as if trying to squeeze the eyeballs out.

When you show the Saint's Judgment again, make sure you don't aim it at people. My bad, my bad—Grandma Te Nisi, I really didn't mean it. Forget it, forget it!

But upon close examination, as the saying goes, the heroine's father is a brave man; even the Super Little Lion, which will become a five‑star card a thousand years later, desperately protects that nightmare Bophir. Could it be that, as the histories claim, he is a villain deserving ten‑thousand deaths, a disaster‑bringing demon who almost ruined the entire Deep Forest?

……

【I don't know, Savior, I don't know; I was terrified and ran away when I saw him set the Great Cedar Forest on fire.】

Fine, let the things you can't understand go; deal with the matter at hand first.

The heavy snow had stopped sometime unknown, and after missing today's sunrise, Ji Ming left the chapel. Looking around, unlike the near‑carnival bustle of last night, only a few people were active in the square, and even those passersby hurried along as if they had endless tasks to attend to.

The fact is indeed so: supplies need gathering, wealth needs oversight, rescue operations for survivors and cleanup of the undead continue, but the tangled environment and chaotic mess make progress painfully slow.

Moreover, the massive Inner City has become a ghost town; the untrustworthy Outer City folk dare not be let in lightly, so post‑disaster reconstruction suffers a severe manpower shortage, and with the current few people it is almost impossible to accomplish such a complex task.

However, this pessimism only spreads among the natives, because for the players the public beta is about to launch, and the number of players will surely be more than enough; rebuilding the Inner City is a breeze, let alone creating an entirely new otherworldly metropolis—so it's no problem at all.

Yet it is precisely this highly anticipated public beta that gave them an excuse not to enjoy the game on the last day of the closed test, keeping them busy running around.

After a month of the closed test, players from all corners have gradually formed numerous small and large groups of their own, and just as the closed test completely reshaped the power structure from the open test, the many changes that accompany the public beta will inevitably reshuffle the player community once more.

It could be that top guilds fall to second‑tier status, or that star players become ordinary, leading some online to say that "Code: Sun Moon" is like a MOBA game—only each new version brings cycles of rise and fall, nerfs and buffs, and the thing that changes is not the game characters but the players themselves.

Therefore, whether the public beta launches directly or a second test is proposed, every player tries to amass as much capital as possible before the next game start, lest they become the unlucky one crushed by the tide of the era on the beach.

Besides, if you head to the City Lord's Mansion now, you'll find it already filled with temporary workshacks, with players and church staff brandishing all sorts of cleaning and repair tools, eager to clear out the manor that was once the enemy's crystal tonight, sweeping away the snow stained with blood.

Since the players have decided that future affairs of Sunshine City will be governed under the banner of the High Tower Community, every Tribe and every guild must set up an office here, and discussions of all matters must theoretically grant equal rights and equal voice to everyone.

Of course, players who have lived on Earth all their lives understand this too well; just like the Adhesive Nation, it is the great Tribes and top guilds that grant power to the High Tower, not the other way around. Hence players all want prime spots for their guilds, ideally to forever sit on the throne that inevitably belongs to a tiny few—the true eternal imperial seat.

"Tsk, this world is almost too real."