Chapter 84: You wait, I

Night.

The television is broadcasting the evening news program:

【Recently, our country uncovered a major illegal smuggling case in Shennongjia, involving a number of persons.............】

【Our station's news reporter continues to follow up the report】

He turned off the television.

Yu Lin set down the remote, turned his head toward An Yu, who was sitting quietly reading, and said:

"An Yu, I want to go to sleep early today; you can go back."

Hearing this, An Yu immediately stood up:

"Yes, good night."

The door opened and then closed.

Yu Lin only then got up.

The Dragon Lord, who had already finished his game, rushed straight into the Ding Pattern:

"Go, go, go, let's set out!"

"Mm."

As a flash of WhiteLight streaked by, Yu Lin vanished instantly.

1887, London, afternoon.

【7】 The afternoon sun pierced the heavy industrial smog, casting mottled shadows on the Thames River.

The afternoon sun pierces the heavy industrial smog, casting mottled light and shadow on the Thames River.

On the river, a steamship exhaled black smoke and drifted slowly, its stern leaving a murky wake.

On the shore, gentlemen wearing bowler hats hurried by with canes, their leather shoes clicking crisply on the wet cobblestones.

On both sides of the street, rows of Victorian red‑brick buildings stood shoulder to shoulder, iron railings coated with coal ash; a paperboy waved the *Times* newspaper, shouting the latest parliamentary news; an elderly flower seller huddled in a corner, the roses in her basket already wilting.

In the distance, Zhong Lou's bells droned through the air, startling a flock of pigeons resting on the rooftops.

The air was filled with the acrid smell of burning coal, mingled with the malted wine aroma drifting from a tavern.

A few rag‑clad child laborers slipped out of the factory back door, coal dust still on their faces, secretly sharing a moldy piece of bread.

In an alley of the White Church district, faint accordion music and the ramblings of drunkards could be heard.

"Sir, where are you from?"

"Would you like to buy some flowers? To give to your dearest."

Carrying a basket filled with assorted flowers, a blonde girl in a floral dress stopped Yu Lin, her pitifully large eyes pleading for him to be soft‑hearted and buy a few.

"Of course, I'm from the East," Yu Lin gave her a slight smile and casually brushed his pocket.

Uh, he didn't have money for this era.

At this time the currency system was pounds‑shillings‑pence.

But the shilling was abolished in 1971; since 1960 the pound bore the Yingguo queen's portrait, and the penny also has old and new versions.

Still, gold was fashionable then; Yu Lin owned a heap of gold, but giving gold to this little girl …… was no different from sending her to her death, unless he could protect her forever.

So.

Yu Lin stroked his chin, pondered, and his gaze fell on a group of people in the distance.

Hey, I've got it.

He lowered his gaze at the little girl and smiled, "I happen to just…"

"I won't let you wait in vain; I'll give you double the money."

"How about that?"

The little girl's eyes lit up instantly at his words:

"Great! Thank you, sir!"

Then.

She walked to the stone steps beside her, sat down, watching Yu Lin walk forward and vanish into the crowd.

Though it was their first meeting, she felt Yu Lin was a reliable person.

He probably won't cheat her, right?

She thought.

As a laid‑off worker, Yuese did not, like those guys, waste his days in taverns; instead, relying on his towering stature and bold spirit, he rose to become a Small Leader of a gang.

Managing this area, collecting protection fees, and even eating for free, he had already saved some deposits.

But recently, he set his eyes on a woman, a very beautiful prostitute; he wanted to take her as a wife, but ……… his savings were insufficient.

So, he turned his attention to some newly arrived believers; after all, these believers don't mind money as long as they serve their lord, right?

Since they don't care, give them what he cares about!

John thought.

He tightened the newly bought coat on his body, his rough fingers rubbing the iron staff at his waist.

He stood at the alley entrance, squinting at the few foreigners in black Clergy robes—inside they stood, some solemn, some fearful, some bewildered, looking at them.

He could not afford to provoke the Yingguo national church, nor dare to, but these newcomers, Catholics who came from that part of Rome…

He wasn't afraid.

"Gentlemen," Yuese grinned, showing a few yellowed teeth:

"Didn't you know this is our territory?"

He deliberately tapped the brick wall with the iron staff, producing a dull sound.

Three of his subordinates behind immediately spread out, blocking the alley's retreat.

The leading missionary, about forty years old, explained in English with a thick Italian accent: "Sorry, we didn't know this was your territory."

But we are just here to spread the Lord's gospel......

"Gospel?" Yuese exaggeratedly dug his ears: "On this street, my rules are the gospel."

He suddenly wiped off his smile, and the iron rod "clang" struck the nearby iron tub,

"One pound per person as toll, or hand over the silver on you! Otherwise, get lost back to your Rome!"

The clergy looked at each other.

They had spent almost all their money to come here, but pawning the silver on them could also scrape together a dozen pounds.

However, these silver ornaments are their Blessing instruments, used for Exorcism; they absolutely cannot be given away!

"Kind sir," an old missionary stepped forward and said: "We indeed have no money...... coming here has already spent all our money."

"As for the silver ornaments."

He carefully held up the silver cross on his chest: "These Holy Relics have been Blessed by the Lord, they are instruments for Exorcism......"

His voice grew lower and lower, finally almost turning into a plea: "Please let us go this once; next time we will surely bring enough money......"

"If you really take it, you will surely suffer the Lord's punishment!"

John scoffed: "The Lord's punishment?"

"When I lost my job before, I prayed day and night to the Lord you speak of, hoping He would give me a job."

"Let me support my family, let me fill my stomach—did He answer me?! He is just like those Vampires and Werewolves, fundamentally nonexistent; that's why you still foolishly believe!"

"Everything I have today is earned by my own damn self! Cut the crap with me."

"Either pay up, or get lost!"

He impatiently struck the ground with the iron rod, the clang of metal on stone echoing in the narrow alley.

A lackey behind him suddenly stepped forward, roughly grabbing the old missionary's collar:

"Old man, cut the crap! Either pay up, or —"

"Hey, excuse me, could you attend to my business first?"