A day later, Luo Qi glowered at the Chief Knight who had come to report.
"You mean you still haven't found that dead woman?"
"Y-Yes." The Chief Knight looked ashamed. "I'm sorry, Bishop Luo Qi."
"What the fuck is an apology good for?! That woman was already hurt that badly, and you still couldn't catch her! Useless! You're all fucking useless!"
The more Luo Qi spoke, the angrier he became. He instinctively wanted to grab the medicine bottle to his right and smash it over this stupid Knight's head, but halfway through reaching for it, he realized something was wrong.
He only had one finger left. He couldn't pick up anything at all.
That made him even angrier. "Useless! You're all fucking useless... Cough, cough, cough..."
"B-Bishop, please take care of yourself. You've only just recovered..."
"Shut up! Cough, cough..."
Luo Qi covered his mouth and coughed violently. When he finished, he saw blackish-red blood in his palm, and his whole body trembled with rage.
He had never been hurt this badly before. Never.
If he had not always been cautious enough to bring a whole group of priests wherever he went, he would have lost his life to the cost of the triple disturbance last night.
But now, he had merely avoided losing his life. The price of the Corpse Pieces was not something a priest's spells could heal. That battle last night had shaved at least a decade off his lifespan, perhaps even cut it in half.
Paying such a price would have been one thing. What enraged him even more was that after paying it, he had gained nothing. He had only barely managed to keep his life.
Fuck! He was the mighty Bishop of Rhine, a holder of Corpse Pieces. When had he ever suffered such humiliation?!
The last time he had felt this way was when he first slept with someone for money!
It was back. The feeling from his youth was back.
Luo Qi nearly ground his teeth to pieces, while the Chief Knight could only force himself to explain. "Bishop, we simply don't have enough manpower to search every household. We also asked Mr. Fenris from the Eternal Nightmare Church for help, but they said they couldn't find that person either..."
"Don't mention that guy!" Luo Qi roared. "He's a damned liar!"
The Chief Knight immediately shut his mouth, not daring to provoke Luo Qi any further.
But at that moment, Fenris's voice sounded behind him.
"I know you're furious, Bishop Luo Qi." Fenris walked up before Luo Qi, still looking half-asleep. "But please believe me, we have not deceived you in any way. At least, we know absolutely nothing about the woman you mentioned."
Logically speaking, Fenris and Luo Qi were of equal rank, so he had no need to address Luo Qi respectfully.
But, well, seeing Luo Qi's current state and the bare thumb remaining on his right hand, Fenris could not help using an honorific.
"Also, after last night's battle ended, Ai De Wen immediately put away that knowledge," Fenris said. "So we have reason to suspect that Ai De Wen released that knowledge to lure us in, while that woman was the thug he hired. This was a trap!"
Fenris spoke the latter half with utter certainty, as though it were a conclusion reached after a night of deep consideration.
But Luo Qi clearly was not buying it. He roared, "I'm already like this, and you still need to tell me it was a trap?! Instead of this bullshit, can't you do something useful instead of just standing there?!"
"Of course. We have been doing useful things all along," Fenris said. "But everything requires careful thought before action. After what happened last night, we must first figure out what exactly is going on. For example, who exactly is the woman you keep mentioning?"
Luo Qi narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Even if it was a trap, there are very few people in this world who could ambush and injure you," Fenris said. "And you said she was a woman. Honestly, when I first heard you say that, I found it hard to believe."
Luo Qi looked at Fenris coldly. "You think I'm lying to you?"
"Of course not. You certainly would not make a fuss over something like this." Fenris shook his head. "I simply want to know what kind of person she is, and whether you know her."
Luo Qi did not answer immediately, because that was not an easy question to answer.
Naturally, he knew who she was.
"Tongue."
But he could not reveal that information. Otherwise, he would have trouble explaining himself. After a brief silence, he said quietly, "I only know that she used Holy Sound spells."
"Holy Sound?" Fenris was greatly surprised. "Are you certain?"
"What do you think?"
"Ah, sorry. I did not mean to question you. It is simply truly surprising," Fenris said. "We all know what Holy Sound is like now. Fewer than one in ten of its once-powerful Players remain, and someone capable of fighting you... I can only think of the Seven Sound Player currently being hunted by the Holy Sound Church."
Other than old scholars detached from worldly affairs like Ai De Wen, the higher-ups of the other churches could not possibly be unaware of Holy Sound's situation.
"It was indeed that person." Luo Qi did not hide this, since otherwise he could not explain who had crippled him. "I took a Seven Sound spell head-on, so this is what happened to me."
Fenris immediately showed an astonished expression. "A Seven Sound spell? That is a legendary spell. You actually took it head-on?"
"Mm." Luo Qi put on an expression that said, "That's right." "She could not have beaten me in the first place. If I had not wanted to see how powerful the legendary Seven Sound spell really was, I would not have been injured by her."
That was all Luo Qi could say. Was he supposed to admit that the moment he saw the enhanced Seven Sound spell, he had been so frightened that he turned and ran? That if her body had not given out first, he would have died on the spot? That all his injuries came from the price of this finger?
How could he possibly say that?!
Still, his current explanation was not much better. Once Fenris heard that Luo Qi had taken a Seven Sound spell with his bare body, his expression became strange. His gaze no longer looked at Luo Qi as though he were a normal person, which naturally made Luo Qi even more furious.
Before he could vent his anger, however, a Knight hurried over. "Bishop, a representative from the Star Relic Church has arrived to provide support."
"The Star Relic Church?"
Luo Qi froze for a moment before remembering that such a matter had indeed been arranged. The Contract Land's envoy had said that someone from Star Relic would come to assist.
In other words, three churches had gathered together?
Then what would happen to the Three Corpse Pieces?
Luo Qi's expression turned complicated, but he said nothing. He merely suppressed his displeasure and nodded. "Bring them in."
Not long afterward, a middle-aged woman in a star-patterned robe was brought before Luo Qi. She was Mina, Isaiah's student.
Upon seeing Luo Qi and Fenris, Mina first gave a slight bow. Just as she was about to speak, her eyes caught sight of Luo Qi's upright right thumb, as though it were giving itself a thumbs-up. Looking closer, she realized that it was the only finger left on Luo Qi's right hand, and she froze.
This instantly shattered Luo Qi's hard-won calm again. He almost blurted out, "What the fuck are you looking at?" But remembering her identity, he held it in.
"You are Isaiah's teach... Hm?" Luo Qi frowned, noticing something was wrong. "Why is it another woman?!"
Why had he used the word "another"?
Mina was somewhat puzzled. She could sense an indescribable wariness and disgust in Luo Qi's words, but it was not directed at her personally. It was directed at women.
Although she had long heard that Rhine preferred interacting with those of the same sex, Mina had not expected it to be this extreme.
"Mr. Isaiah is my teacher." Regardless, basic courtesy still had to be maintained. "We also received the Contract Land's summons, but my teacher believed that since the two major figures from Rhine and Eternal Nightmare were already here, there was no need for him..."
She could not finish her sentence.
Because at that moment, she realized Luo Qi was clearly injured, and severely so. After all, even his fingers had been torn off.
In other words, they had already fought the Forbidden Scholar, and they had lost?
"Old Mr. Isaiah did not come personally?" Fenris said. "A very troublesome helper has appeared beside that Forbidden Scholar. If Old Mr. Isaiah could come, we might have a better chance."
Fenris then told Mina about what had happened last night.
After listening carefully, Mina's brows furrowed slightly as well.
Even the Seven Sound Player who had turned Holy Sound upside down had arrived, and had joined forces with that Forbidden Scholar.
Two dangerous people joining hands really was troublesome. No wonder Luo Qi had been beaten into this state, with even his fingers torn off.
But tearing them off was one thing. Why leave one behind? Was it specifically left so he could give himself a thumbs-up?
That was far too humiliating.
Of course, Mina only entertained that thought internally. She would never say it aloud.
"I understand the general situation now." Mina nodded slightly. "I will report this to my teacher, but I cannot guarantee whether he will come."
"What?" Luo Qi said coldly. "Even now, he is still sitting in Nameless Town watching the show?"
"Of course he is not watching a show," Mina said. "It is simply that my teacher is not in good health. As everyone knows, Star Relic is located at the edge of the continent. The journey here has already placed a great burden on his body. He needs some rest to prepare for the gathering afterward."
After Mina said that, Luo Qi could not continue arguing no matter how dissatisfied he was.
After all, in terms of rank, Isaiah of Star Relic was actually on par with their Pope. As a mere Bishop, Luo Qi naturally had to show some restraint.
Still, if Isaiah did not come, then facing "Tongue" again with only himself and this cult leader beside him who did nothing but sleep, Luo Qi felt he should start figuring out how to run away.
But Mina spoke again. "Although my teacher cannot come personally, he has sent me to assist all of you. Therefore, the Star Relic Sect will also contribute to the coming operation."
"Oh, Miss Mina?" Fenris's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked, "As Old Mr. Isaiah's chief disciple, Miss Mina must be very strong, right?"
Mina shook her head. "No. My teacher's strength is far too extraordinary. Although I have been by his side since childhood and have worked diligently, even now I have only learned thirty percent of his abilities."
Luo Qi was immediately dissatisfied. "Only thirty percent?"
"It cannot be helped. My teacher is simply too powerful. Being able to learn thirty percent already makes me the most outstanding among his students," Mina said seriously. "But please believe me, I can be of help. It would be best, however, if we acted beneath a clear night sky. Only then can I display my full strength."
Fenris nodded slightly. They knew about the traits of the Star Relic Sect.
"Then let us discuss the next plan." Fenris said, "The campaign must continue. We must deal with the Forbidden Scholar. If we let him fully grasp that knowledge, it will be a disaster for all of us. It is just that I do not know whether Bishop Luo Qi can still manage."
Luo Qi's eyes widened. "Fuck, how could I possibly not—"
Before he could finish, his expression suddenly stiffened. The fury in his pupils gradually dispersed.
"Bishop Luo Qi?" Fenris immediately noticed something strange about Luo Qi. "What is wrong?"
Luo Qi did not speak. He slowly fell backward, then with a thud, collapsed into the carriage as though he had fainted.
Fenris turned pale in shock. He had only wanted to provoke Luo Qi a little. He had not actually angered him to death, had he?
Would that count as murder?
Fortunately, the Rhine Fathers waiting nearby also noticed the scene and immediately hurried over.
"Do not worry. The Bishop is tired."
"Yes, please return for now, both of you."
The two Rhine Fathers smoothly carried Luo Qi into the carriage and shut the door in one fluid motion. By the time Fenris and Mina reacted, the carriage door had already been locked.
"What is going on?" Fenris scratched his head in confusion. "Why do they seem completely unsurprised? Does Bishop Luo Qi always have this problem?"
Mina said nothing. She merely stared thoughtfully at the carriage door.
If it were an ordinary fainting spell, it would not mean much. After all, Rhine had always pursued indulgence and freedom, doing everything without restraint. It was perfectly normal for their bodies to develop problems.
But Mina had recently seen this exact situation happen to someone else.
Her teacher, Isaiah.
And the reason her teacher had fallen unconscious was the summons from Peach Blossom Paradise.
Mina narrowed her eyes slightly, deep in thought.
Could Bishop Luo Qi also be a holder of Corpse Pieces?
And within Peach Blossom Paradise, an enraged roar echoed through the entire space.
"Tongue, I'll fuck your mother!"