Chapter 66: People Should Burn and Roar at Dusk
"Are you certain this is the place?"
"Hmm."
"However, this is clearly…"
It is a church.
From west to east, the continent of Europa, the Far East, the Divine Land, and in the vast center of the ocean, there are only a few scattered archipelagos.
As one of the two dominant powers of the continent Europa, the ecclesiastical nation has never forsaken the idea of overseas expeditions and the exploration of new territories for the expansion of religious authority.
In order to propagate their foreign beliefs, there have been more than three crimson-clad Cardinal Secretaries who have served in Yingzhou.
However, when the ecclesiastical nation attempted to use this as a springboard to enter the Divine Land, they encountered the unmoving barriers of the Ming Country.
The ecclesiastical nation boasts a history and civilization of over two thousand years, which they take pride in. However, the Ming Country, as early as five thousand years ago, had individuals of both humans and deities walking the earth, with religious beliefs already integrated with ancestral worship, and immortal and divine practices forming a self-contained system. Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism harmoniously coexisted without the possibility of any external proselytization…
In addition to being adjacent to the Ming Country, there is also Goryeo, a peninsula nation with believers scattered throughout. The ecclesiastical nation's attempts to proselytize resulted in significant loss of expeditionary forces. Faced with the formidable opponent of the evil deities, it seems that the supreme will cannot effectively protect its followers across the ocean.
From the outcome perspective, two hundred years ago, the ecclesiastical nation abandoned external expansion and opted for a path of frenzied internal entanglement with allied countries.
However, within Yingzhou, there still remains a significant number of churches, even though countless ones have been abandoned and lay desolate, lacking personnel. Nevertheless, remnants of the ecclesiastical nation's attempt to expand their faith can still be glimpsed throughout various locations in Yingzhou.
All the properties and clergy within the Holy Church receive the protection and blessings from the ecclesiastical nation. Although they don't hold the legal effects of a temporary diplomatic territory like an embassy, unauthorized intrusion will inevitably face pressure and accountability from the diplomatic personnel of the ecclesiastical nation.
From this perspective, this actually becomes an excellent hiding place.
Bai Wei is extremely certain that this is the lair of fanatic followers of the evil deity, naturally because he has been here before.
Kichyō is concerned that if captured, it would be difficult for her to escape, rendering her powerless to resist and depriving her of even the chance to choose self-destruction.
She also lacks the confidence to withstand the interrogation and psychological contamination methods employed by the fanatic followers of the evil deity, which is why she hasn't willingly surrendered and ventured deeper into enemy territory.
However, Bai Wei is an exception.
He can actively sense it, but it's not an easy task. The minds of the followers of the evil deity in the spiritual world are tainted, making it impossible to directly connect consciousness through the ocean of the spiritual realm. Instead, one must incessantly interrogate and induce with words to uncover subtle clues.
In the end, he pinpointed this location.
Arriving at the entrance of the church, a clergyman intercepted him and said, "Hello, this is a holy church, only believers are allowed to enter."
"Why do you believe that I am not a believer?" Bai Wei countered.
"You are not wearing the badge issued by the holy church."
"Does having a badge imply being a believer?" Bai Wei asked again.
"I don't mean it that way, I'm just seeking proof of identity, please don't be unreasonable."
"There is a path ahead, with a gate wide open, radiating boundless brightness. But if God isn't inside, whom are you kneeling before? A heap of stone statues?"
"What are you saying…?"
"It is cited from Chapter 10, Page 9 of the 'Old Gospel Sermons'."
"…"
"The missionary of this nation has never even heard this phrase. What kind of missionary is that?" Bai Wei gazed at the clergyman in white robes. "Or is it that the scripture you chant is not derived from here?"
He asked, "Whom are you kneeling before?"
The clergyman's expression turned unsightly as he said, "I must ask you to leave!"
Bai Wei shrugged and turned to Jingūji, saying, "You see, this place has long been their stronghold."
The middle-aged man in the white robe abruptly dashed forward, his hood falling off, his expression transitioning from calm to contorted. He brandished a dagger and thrust it towards Bai Wei's back…
He thought he had a chance to succeed.
However, in an instant, he was already airborne, a wooden sword pressed against his chest. With a sudden thrust, a violent surge of impact force was unleashed.
However, even more deadly was the subsequent light and ethereal kick that followed. It appeared to lack much force, seemingly just an ordinary flick to send a can flying. Yet, in reality, it was a shot akin to Hinata Kojiro's fierce tiger-kicking technique.
His body was kicked away like a football, crashing into the door frame of the church. The towering main entrance, reaching a height of five meters, resounded with a thunderous impact as the door panels struck the pillars. The top floor of the church trembled, causing dust to float down.
Inside the church, a large group of believers was seated, engaged in silent prayers.
This sudden turn of events disrupted their prayers and blessings.
Men, women, young, and old, all turned their heads as dozens of pairs of eyes fixed upon the unflinching, meteoric stride of the uninvited guest entering the church.
"What scent is this?" the sword witch exclaimed, covering her mouth and nose with her hand. "Such a potent and peculiar aroma…"
Since awakening to the Fairy Principle, her sense of smell has become increasingly acute, especially when it comes to unclean odors.
Foxes belong to the canidae family, which is reasonable.
"The lair of the wild beasts naturally carries the scent of savagery. Most people tainted by the venom of the dark gods also exhibit such an aroma," Bai Wei calmly inquired, "Are you afraid?"
"Who is afraid!" Jingūji straightened his chest, brandishing the newly acquired wooden sword, encouraging himself.
She is a bit timid, as a sword witch, she hasn't experienced many actual battles yet, with dozens of devotees of the dark gods, a dense mass, naturally causing apprehension.
Who knows if this group of people would rush forward, clutching her limbs and exploding?
However, although we may lose the battle, we shall not lose our determination. At the very least, the two of us can join forces and fight back-to-back if necessary.
Bai Wei, unexpectedly raised his hand and betrayed his teammate, saying, "Then I leave this place in your hands~"
"Ah?"
"You're so bold, I'll give you some room to show off, hey hey~"
Bai Wei cleared his throat and shouted loudly at the church, "Listen carefully, everyone. This individual here is the sword witch of the shrine. She has already discerned your true identities and knows of your wicked intentions. Surrender promptly!"
Swish, swish, swish-!
Upon these words being spoken, regardless of gender or age, the fanatical followers of the evil deity rose one by one, their gazes filled with ill intentions. In an instant, they transformed into a pack of crowous wolves. Even the preacher at the very top closed their book and removed their spectacles, revealing their mutated fangs.
Saki Jingūji widened her eyes in astonishment, "!!"
"I have pulled the monsters for you." Bai Wei thumbs up, saying, "Go ahead!"
Wait for me!
Saki Jingūji clenched her fist, her smile strained as she asked, "And what about you?"
"I am just a commoner, do you expect me to deal with this group?" Bai Wei shook his head repeatedly, "It's impossible, it doesn't exist, it's simply a fairy tale."
…Why do you have to provoke their hostility? And now you've even activated a raging buff!
"I don't want to be in this situation either. Who made me just a passing handsome young man, responsible for explaining and guiding the plot? Don't expect me to handle every problem. If I could do it alone, why would I bring you along?" Bai Wei shrugged and continued, "Taking on half of a cultist's lair as a single person is a rare achievement. Others haven't even had the chance to attempt this dungeon."
"Then I must thank you!" Jingūji truly wanted to give him a whack, making him dizzy, and then grab him and run.
"You're welcome!" Bai Wei took two steps back. "They are running out of patience, so be careful on your own."
"I-I-I…" Saki Jingūji suddenly spoke in a fragile and helpless tone. "Can I run?"
With so many people, I feel frightened.
"Where are you running off to when the troops are here? Are you going to the jungle to gather Lingzhi mushrooms?"
"Who understands this?" Jingūji stepped back.
"You see this crowd standing there like a backdrop, just listening to the two of us performing cross-talk, motionless. What do you think it's for? We've said so much nonsense, yet that person maintains a polite smile, despite wearing a facial expression that suggests a desperate urge to devour someone. However, their footsteps moved forward by a mere two centimeters. What do you call that?" Bai Wei pondered, stroking his chin, analyzing the situation.
"What do you call that?" Jingūji asked.
"Disturbing the grass and startling the snake," Bai Wei explained eloquently. "They have already sent people in advance to block the escape route. Now, running is already a step too late."
Saki Jingūji turned around and saw that the outer layer of the Holy Cathedral had been shrouded in darkness, though she couldn't tell when it happened.
"Oh dear, Oh my, what a predicament!" she exclaimed in frustration. "This is a magic barrier, we're trapped, we're in trouble!"
Finally, the followers of the evil deity who surrounded the two of them began to move. Their eyes flickered, maintaining a malevolent, yet seemingly friendly, smile.
At this point, running is futile. It seems that we can only fight with our backs against the wall.
Jingūji sniffed and cast aside any unnecessary thoughts. The courage to take desperate measures surged through her veins. She uttered a curse towards Bai Wei, saying, "If I die, in the next life, I will definitely come to your home and empty your rice jar!"
Bai Wei chuckled and said, "Your temperament is too indolent. How can you progress without a little pressure?"
"I…"
Bai Wei lightly patted her back and said, "Alright, enough talking. Be careful not to bite your tongue. You have been strengthened, so let's proceed."
Jingūji's body tensed up instead, and this sudden physical contact made her feel shy and flushed with heat all over her body.
…No, wait, it's actually truly scorching hot!
The cherry blossom-colored light soared into the sky, but quickly became obscured by a hazy shadow.
[Fairy Principle: Blossom of Life Taker, unleash!]
