"Holy grace..." Lun Xi prayed compassionately, "This is a tragedy."
"The story is not over yet," Qi Ji said without pausing, "A few weeks later, she found out from somewhere that I was the one who informed on her. She almost went crazy, and together with her family, she launched a crazy revenge against me."
"Ah? What happens next?!" Lunxi shuddered.
"They went to my workplace and made a scene, threw paint and sprayed graffiti at my door, and spread the word about my viciousness to the people around me..." Qi Ji said calmly:
"As expected, I lost my job, my rental apartment, and many friends. In order to survive, I left my hometown where I had lived for a long time and went to a faraway unfamiliar city to start my life from scratch."
At this point she laughed self-deprecatingly: "Fortunately I have no parents and no children, so I don't have many concerns. Otherwise I would definitely not be able to stand such harassment and would probably commit suicide."
Lunxi didn't know what to say. After a moment of silence, he came over and gave Qi Ji a tight hug to comfort him.
Qi Ji pushed her away, his face suddenly serious: "That's roughly what happened. Tell me, where did I go wrong?"
"What's wrong?" Lunxi was slightly stunned.
This is a very strange question. Shouldn't most people subconsciously defend their actions and express similar ideas in a more tactful tone such as "Did I do the right thing?"
Before the other party could answer, Qi Ji spoke first: "My mistake was that I actually had such a naive, self-touching fantasy."
"What do you mean?" Lunxi couldn't understand.
"I feel so wronged! They were the ones who deceived me first, and I was just trying to uphold justice! I am the one who is right and righteous! How could you treat me like this? How can the world be like this? It's so unfair!"
Qi Ji suddenly spoke in an exaggerated and funny tone, and then returned to normal:
“——This is what I thought when I was fired by my boss, kicked out by my landlord, and abandoned by my friends.”
"Well... it's normal to have such thoughts, right?" Lun Xi was amused by the humorous tone and couldn't help but curl his lips slightly, but soon tilted his head in confusion, "Isn't this human nature?"
"No, this is totally wrong. It is not right at all, neither emotionally nor logically." Qi Ji said very accurately:
"Since you think you are upholding justice, you must be fully prepared to bear all the consequences. If your actions satisfy some people, you will almost certainly offend others and be rejected by them.
"This is the price you have to pay for exercising so-called 'justice'."
"There is a price to pay for upholding justice, whether it is universally recognized justice or what you think is justice." Her words were powerful:
“Otherwise, this so-called ‘justice’ is hypocritical and a wishful childish fantasy.
"Imagine that you can get food to fill your sense of satisfaction 'for free', imagine that there is an absolutely fair and just 'judge' standing behind everyone, and it should clarify the injustice you have suffered for free - the 'injustice' you think you have suffered...
"How can there be such a good thing in the world?"
"What Xiao Qi Ji means is..." Suddenly, a flash of inspiration came into Lunxi's mind, as if he was enlightened.
"Don't have any illusions, my friend," Qi Ji's eyes had never been so serious, repeating word for word, "Don't have any illusions."
=========================
A set of update rules may be uploaded later, so please pay attention to the [Work Related] and comment sections.
Chapter 90: Storm is Coming (Part )
The night was deep and the full moon was low in the sky.
The two girls standing quietly in front of the ruins fell into complete silence at the same time.
Only the occasional crow's cry across the sky gives this painting-like scene a touch of dynamic vitality.
A long time, a long time...
"I... understand what you mean..." Lun Xi raised his right hand and rubbed his brows, his deep green eyes closed tightly, "But I need time, time to think..."
"Of course, you have plenty of time."
Qi Ji turned his head and looked towards the southwest meaningfully.
It was as if he could penetrate through the layers of residential buildings in the East District, through the tall and luxurious aristocratic mansions in the Central District, and reach the stinking, dilapidated and dirty South District, looking directly at all the pain and disasters that happened along the way, and looking directly at the darkness that created all this behind the scenes:
"Much more time than anyone else."
Time, back to the present.
The scorching sun at noon passed over the zenith and gradually sank to the west.
In the spacious and flat Iris Manor, the main stone house with gray and white as the main color stands in the center of the lawn, casting a very short shadow on the ground.
"I've thought about it."
In the simple and spacious bedroom, Lunxi was wearing formal attire, with a delicate and small hairpin in his hair, and his face was solemn.
"You look like you're going to a battlefield even though you're dressed so beautifully."
Qi Ji put on the cloak that he had simply cleaned, looked at her, and joked with a smile.
"Well, you're really ruining the atmosphere..." Lunxi curled his lips.
"Are you sure you want to go to the East Woshu Church alone?" Qi Ji tilted his head and looked at her. "You are indeed courageous, but bravery and recklessness are two different things."
The so-called "East Woshu" is an administrative region located in the eastern part of the Holy Temple, covering more than 20 towns and cities including Stio.
The "East Woshu Church" is the cathedral that governs this large area and is the superior of the Stio Church.
Lunxi wanted to run away from home and go to the East Woshu Church alone to expose the darkness hidden by Stio to the clergy there.
"Well, this is a decision I made after thinking about it all night. It's not because of anger or anger." Lun Xi explained seriously:
"First of all, I can be sure that if my father knew the truth, he would definitely not agree to my intervening in this matter."
Qi Ji raised his eyebrows and asked knowingly, "What do you mean?"
"Although it is unethical to evaluate one's own father in this way, I still have to say," Lunxi sighed, "I also have a good understanding of his character. Baron Lionsmith is a crucial part of his 'cause' of reviving the family's glory, and he will never allow any mistakes to happen."
"Has he never thought that if he reported Augustus to the church in his own name, he would not only weaken his biggest competitor in the city, but also improve his reputation in the church?" Qi Ji said with his hands on his chest:
"Augustus is not only corrupt, but also has a good relationship with the church priest Rosago. It is very likely that he bribed and corrupted him. This is definitely trying to steal the church's support, and it violates the bottom line of the church as a ruler. I think if he really reported Augustus, the church would definitely stand on his side."
He wanted to withhold the antidote from the supply and resell it on the market with great fanfare, but how could that be possible with the priest?
Rosago must have had a big problem, at least he turned a blind eye to Augustus's corruption and abuse of power. As an "envoy" sent by the church, such dereliction of duty is by no means a trivial matter.
If the top leaders of the Grace Holy Church knew about this, they would definitely be furious.
"Of course he could think of it, but his traditional aristocratic thinking has caused him to never try to 'report'. The effectiveness and consequences of this behavior are unknown to him." Lunxi smiled bitterly:
"And my father... never likes the 'unknown'. He is always more willing to choose a plan with low risk and clear reward than a plan with risk and unknown reward."
"I understand," Qi Ji nodded, "I just don't dare to step out of my comfort zone."
"In short, if my father knew about these things, not only would he not provide me with any help, but he would also most likely put me under house arrest." Lun Xi concluded.
"So you have no one to turn to and have to fight alone?"
"You can put it that way. I will hire a few trustworthy adventurers to escort me, so I don't have to worry about my safety on the road."
"Wow, the suspense and mystery drama is going to become a road movie." Qi Ji blurted out.
"what?"
"Let me see. I won't talk about the robbers who block the road." Qi Ji changed the subject and kindly listed the various risks that might be encountered on this trip:
"Once your father finds out that you left without saying goodbye, he will definitely send someone to look for you. You can't guarantee that he won't find you and tie you back."
She counted on her fingers and said:
"After finally reaching the destination, the other party may ignore your accusation. Even if everything goes well, if the news leaks out and Augustus knows about it, he will definitely take revenge on you in a rage... Well, there are many more. Since you have been thinking about it all night, you must have considered them all."
"You said that justice must be served at a price." Lun Xi just smiled calmly, "This is a risk I am willing to take. If I really encounter it... I will not back down."
"Very good, you finally recognize the facts of the current stage." Qi Ji nodded to her approvingly.
"At this stage?" This adjective made Lunxi stunned.
"...Nothing." Qi Ji put away his smile and shook his head, "--Have you taken care of everything?"
"Well, I have written the note and prepared the money, so we can set off now."
As he spoke, Lunxi picked up a dagger emitting a green glow from the bedside table beside him, and gestured with his eyes to the table where a piece of paper with beautiful handwriting was pressed down by a vase.
"Okay, then I wish you a safe journey... um!" Qi Ji had just uttered half of the blessing when he suddenly widened his eyes and looked out the window.
"What's wrong?!" It was the first time that Lun Xi saw Qi Ji showing such a shocked expression. He asked hurriedly, and at the same time subconsciously followed her gaze to look outside, "You found out...ah! What is that!?"
Similarly, she was only halfway through her speech when she was stuck in great shock.
A column of purple-black smoke, so thick that it seemed substantial, rushed straight up to the sky from the ground in the distance, pierced through the thin white clouds and spread out in all directions, instantly covering half of the sky!
The sunlight suddenly dimmed. In the dim sky, the wind blew violently, and the branches and leaves of the trees were swept to one side, like a flag fluttering in the wind.
In this cold and gloomy wind, there were faint whispers floating in the air:
“…the source of all things, the origin of heaven and earth;
“The Supreme Holy Spirit, the omniscient and almighty Lord;
"——The One who shines with billions of radiances, and all things are one!"
At the same moment when the last syllable disappeared in the strong wind, a shout full of expectation and enthusiasm exploded from the ceiling like thunder, almost shattering the window glass.
"We offer everything in this city as a gift, begging for your divine gaze, calling for your ethereal attention!"
"Strike fear upon my enemies, and grant new life to my sons!"
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Updated the update rules, please go to [Work Related] for details. Note the title complaints, I added some points that I accidentally missed there.
Chapter 91 The Storm is Coming (Part )
The majestic and towering church stands majestically in the center of the central area.
A large group of excited people gathered in front of the double doors engraved with intricate patterns.
They gathered in front of the church of the Holy Church of Grace, but they were not believers of the Goddess of Grace, and their purpose of coming was not to pray.
It's to vent the dissatisfaction that's accumulated in my heart...
"If you don't give us an explanation today, we're not done!"
"Where's your pastor? Tell him to get out!"
"Six lives are so insignificant in the eyes of you guys!"
"..."
Amid the increasingly uncontrollable roars, a row of clergymen in pure white monastic robes stood in front of the dark crowd, blocking the path leading to the interior of the church.
They did not hold weapons in their hands, but instead held a palm-sized golden badge engraved with the holy emblem of the "Left Hand of the Law" representing the Goddess of Grace.
"Be quiet! Here, heretic! This is the goddess's pure land, you are not allowed to make noise or blaspheme!"
These clergymen roared with grim faces, trying to drive the angry crowd back, but this did nothing except make them even angrier.
Behind this row of white-robed monks stood three tall and burly figures. They had heavy swords engraved with mysterious runes on their waists, and they exuded an aura far stronger than that of the white-robed monks.
"Church Knights", clergymen with the power of "Prayers of Mercy", are the backbone of the church responsible for ensuring its safety.
The knight who had quarreled with Frion's caravan yesterday was also there, but he showed no reaction to the growing anger of the crowd.
He and the other two knights were not wearing armor at this time, but only wore white suits with gold accessories. Rather than holy and noble clergy, they looked more like luxurious and arrogant nobles.
"Please be patient," the knight in the middle said calmly and arrogantly, "The Reverend is currently busy with important matters and cannot take the time to explain to you. Once the Reverend has completed the necessary matters, he will naturally give you a satisfactory answer."
"What's the fucking 'important business'?! We've been waiting since eight o'clock, and you keep saying the same thing. Don't try to fool us!"
"That's right, do you really think we're easy to fool?"
"This trick can only scare children."
The crowd obviously didn't buy it, and the overwhelming roar didn't diminish at all.
The caravan members who came to seek explanation were not so aggressive at the beginning.
They knew that Grace Holy Church would gather all clergy for routine prayers at 8 o'clock every morning, so they would visit after the prayers were over.
However, Pastor Rosago, who is also the deacon of the church, refused to see them, and these monks and knights only talked in the same old way, which was of no help in resolving the conflict.
No matter how kindly everyone pleaded, Rosago was nowhere to be seen, and the rest of the staff kept delaying their requests...
After more than four hours, even the best patience would be exhausted.
"Your Excellency the Reverend has important matters to attend to and cannot come out..." The knight still mechanically repeated those clichés.
