"Looks like they ran away as a group, dragging the floor behind them," the captain said.
"That wasn't running away." At last, one of the Saints could no longer hold it in. His expression darkened as he said, "That was moving house."
The Saints burst into a round of loud laughter.
Calvin felt as if his face had been set on fire, his ears burning hot.
"Next location!"
He could no longer maintain that calm, composed image. "Next location!"
Calvin had never been so angry. He summoned his horse, swung himself into the saddle, and whipped it as if venting his fury.
The horse let out a pained neigh and charged wildly into the distance.
In short, he snapped.
He swore that he would vent this rage on those Esoteric Cultists, and even on those hateful sacrificial children!
Those lowborn wretches should never have existed in this world!
An hour later.
Nothing.
Two hours later.
Nothing.
At six in the morning, the blood moon had gradually faded away, and a faint sliver of dawn appeared at the edge of the sky.
"Haha, nothing again. What a wasted trip."
"His Father is a priest, and yet he fooled us like this?"
"What Radiant One? What a joke."
"If you ask me, he's not even as good as that Child of Curse."
"Indeed. That kid is diligent and eager to learn, and he's generous too. I heard he donated a full sixty gold coins last time."
Facing the empty cave and the spotless altar, the Saints lowered their voices and murmured in agreement.
Which one of them wasn't a prodigy who had passed the Saint Trial?
Yet today, they had been fooled again and again.
They had come along today not only to curry favor with that priest, but also because of those six strongholds. They had hoped to claim a share of the spoils while eliminating the Esoteric Cultists and earn some Faith Points as well.
But instead, they had been fooled repeatedly and wasted most of the night. Since the priest had humiliated them like this, there was no need to keep flattering this Young Master.
Seeing the atmosphere around them grow increasingly tense, the captain decided to give Calvin a way out.
"Perhaps..." The captain considered her wording and said to Calvin with great tact, "Your Excellency Calvin, perhaps the Esoteric Cultists took compensatory leave today."
Her expression was profoundly inscrutable.
"As everyone knows, the blood moon is the day Mother Goddess of Life was born and descended. It is equivalent to the birthday of a holy figure in the Church. We also call this day New Year, so without a doubt..."
The captain delivered her conclusion decisively. "They all went on annual leave."
Esoteric cultists who performed sacrifices got holidays too?
She had never heard of such a thing!
Veins bulged on Calvin's fair forehead. He felt as though he was about to bite through his gums. Slowly, he took a breath and tried to suppress the gloom in his heart.
"But..."
He forced a smile. "On the Day of the Blood Moon, the effectiveness of sacrifices increases by thirty percent. I don't think they would take leave. No scripture has ever recorded that Esoteric Cultists take holidays."
"Wrong. That only confirms my guess." The captain spoke earnestly. "Holiday overtime pay is tripled."
Which evil god was so humane that it even paid you overtime pay!
Calvin felt as though his organs were being scorched to a boil. He could no longer maintain his smile. Having been respected since childhood, he had never suffered such humiliation. He roared at the captain,
"Shut your mouth."
The smile at the corner of the captain's lips froze.
She did indeed shut her mouth, but her expression darkened. The smile remained on her lips, yet it had become dangerous and strange.
It carried killing intent.
This woman changed her face faster than turning a page.
"Young Master." She stared at Calvin. "I played your game with you for most of the night. I gave you a way out, and you refused to take it. Isn't that a little inappropriate?"
At the same time, the dozen or so holy knights under her command drew their swords in unison. Flashing blades instantly lit up the cold cave.
Icy killing intent mixed with the chill morning mist, pressing onto Calvin's shoulders like something tangible.
The pressure was too overwhelming. Calvin's shoulders trembled, and his lips quivered slightly, leaving him unable to speak.
"Your Father wouldn't want this either, would he?"
She gave a cold smile. "Deceiving holy knights goes against the Goddess's teachings. Perhaps in next year's election, he will no longer be a priest?"
The annual Blood Moon Hunt was one of the Border City's most important festivals. Delaying the Blood Moon Day would leave an indelible stain.
"I didn't deceive you!"
Calvin glared fiercely at the female knight. "Someone must have cleared out the Heresy Strongholds in advance!"
"Who was it? That Child of Curse?" The captain sneered. "Are you trying to make him take the blame again?"
"That useless trash?"
Calvin shook his head in contempt and anger. "No. That cowardly piece of trash has never been on a battlefield! How would he dare eliminate Esoteric Cultists? He couldn't kill even one of them. He doesn't have that ability!"
"Maybe one of his lackeys, or someone else."
"Someone secretly stole our information and took our prey."
The captain watched him. "So?"
"I'll deal with him."
Calvin clenched his teeth. "There are still two days until the blood moon. In these last two days, I'll find that person and defeat him fair and square! Like a knight!"
"You're truly insane."
The captain spoke helplessly. She had her subordinates sheath their swords, put on their cloaks, walked out of the cave, and mounted her horse.
"Young Master, we won't be accompanying you any longer. Go back by yourself."
With that, she rode away.
When Calvin returned to the Church alone, dawn had already broken. The church's ethereal bells echoed through the small city, and the chapel had opened its doors. Many believers had already begun their Morning Prayer.
When Calvin entered the Church, everyone turned to look at him.
They had long known that Calvin, the young and promising Radiant One, had gone hunting Esoteric Cultists last night. They were waiting to hear his good news.
"The great Radiant One has returned in triumph!"
Father Danny approached at the entrance, calling out in a Chant Melody. His face crumpled into a smile as he asked ingratiatingly, "I wonder how last night's battle went?"
"You must have returned with a full harvest!"
Seeing Calvin's dark expression and silence, Father Danny assumed the young man was merely being modest. Grinning, he continued flattering him, imitating Calvin's tone from the night before.
"'Tonight's honor belongs to you, my Saintess'—I still remember your promise. How romantic and sacred it was, a thousand times nobler than that Child of Curse."
"By coincidence, Venerable Saintess came to the Church early this morning. She must be waiting for you."
Yet Father Danny's self-satisfied praise sounded as piercing as thorns to Calvin.
I can't do anything to the holy knight captain, but can't I handle a gatekeeper like you?
He clenched his teeth, his shoulders trembling slightly.
As if things were not bad enough, Luojia was actually still waiting for him.
Calvin spotted Luojia from afar. She was walking toward him, the bright early-morning sunlight draped over her silvery white hair like a pure white wedding dress.
Calvin silently considered how he should explain this.
His throat bobbed, and he put on his perfect smile before taking the initiative to explain. "About today's—"
Yet Luojia passed right by him and addressed the boy behind him with imposing authority.
"Ansu, come here."
She spoke softly.
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