Rewards from the Church

"Ms. Angela, if you came here to discuss medical techniques, I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. I haven't slept for a day and a night, and I've just been through a trial. I'm exhausted now and only want to go back and get some proper sleep."

After a night of communicating through the wall, Ning Xiuyuan knew all too well how passionate this plain-looking girl was about medicine.

So he hurried to give her fair warning.

"Ah?"

Angela's face showed a trace of disappointment and embarrassment.

She really had come to seek his guidance on medicine!

Her discussion with Arthur last night had benefited her immensely, while also leaving her deeply regretful.

It was a shame that Arthur's medical knowledge was about to be lost.

So when she heard that the Judgement Assembly had declared Arthur innocent, she was overjoyed and rushed over impatiently, hoping to resolve the doubts in her heart. Yet she had completely overlooked Arthur's mental state, which left her feeling somewhat guilty.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you. I'll come visit another day!"

Angela's face was full of apology.

After speaking, she was just about to turn and leave when she suddenly remembered something. "By the way, have you made any arrangements for the Ascetic Physician's supernatural ritual?"

Ning Xiuyuan's heart stirred, and he probed, "What do you mean?"

Angela said, "I think using your medical skills only within the Church would be a waste. Why not take up a position at the Church Hospital? That way, you could save lives and heal the wounded, while also rapidly fusing supernatural characteristics and even advancing your supernatural power further."

Ning Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow. "Can I?"

Angela looked completely certain. "Of course! If even you aren't qualified, I don't know who else could be a Church Physician."

Ning Xiuyuan said, "I'm the Church's Lamp Keeper. I'll ask Your Excellency the Bishop for permission first."

Angela smiled. "The bishop will agree. I'll wait for you at the Church Hospital. I won't disturb your rest any longer. Bye-bye!"

With that, Angela left with light footsteps. Her departing figure was filled with the youthful vigor unique to a girl, making it impossible to tell that she was a supernatural being.

Ning Xiuyuan watched Angela leave, a trace of excitement flashing in his eyes.

The supernatural rituals of the Disease Deceiver and the Ascetic Physician were highly similar. Both required extensive medical practice to complete the fusion with supernatural characteristics.

The difference was that after the fusion, the ritual's core underwent a subtle change when one sought to further increase one's supernatural power.

For the Ascetic Physician, it lay in self-sacrifice; for the Disease Deceiver, it lay in the physician's reputation!

If he could enter the Church Hospital, it would undoubtedly be highly beneficial to Ning Xiuyuan's efforts to spread his reputation.

Although the Disease Deceiver seemed rather useless, after experiencing the Orlando loss of control incident, Ning Xiuyuan no longer dared underestimate any supernatural power.

In fact, he had several speculative ways to use the Disease Deceiver and was in urgent need of experiments.

If the experiments proved feasible, the Disease Deceiver might become a deceptive sorcery!

Meanwhile, after the Judgement Assembly ended, Bishop Byron also returned to his own office and began handling the core affairs of the diocese.

After an unknown amount of time, a knock suddenly sounded at the office door.

"Come in!"

A male priest wearing sackcloth and walking barefoot entered.

"Your Excellency the Bishop, the medical theories Arthur described last night have basically been proven effective."

He lowered his head and respectfully reported the experimental results of Arthur's medical theories to Bishop Byron.

Ning Xiuyuan had guessed correctly. He had been under surveillance the entire night.

But aside from ordinary priests and monks, the force monitoring him also included a special group—a force controlled only by bishops: the ascetics.

"No wonder he chose the Disease Deceiver. It turns out he was a physician to begin with, and his medical skills even surpass ours. Is this the fundamental reason our Lord sent him here?"

Facing this result, Bishop Byron murmured to himself.

The ascetic remained silent.

Buzz!

Just then, a bronze door suddenly appeared beside Bishop Byron.

"Click!"

The bronze door slowly opened a crack. A rotten hand holding a letter carefully extended it out.

Bishop Byron reached out and took it. The rotten hand immediately withdrew, and the bronze door shut with a rumble before sinking into the earth and vanishing without a trace.

Bishop Byron took the letter and carefully examined it. Only after confirming that the wax seal bearing the Pope's private seal was intact did he open it using a specific method.

There was only one sheet of paper inside the letter. In powerful handwriting, it bore a single sentence.

For the Orlando loss of control incident, Arthur is to be rewarded with the White Curse!

The White Curse?

Bishop Byron's pupils contracted slightly. His gaze lingered on those four words for a long time before he slowly exhaled.

"Notify Arthur. I want to see him!"

"Yes!"

The barefoot ascetic lowered his head and bowed, then turned and left the bishop's office.

About ten minutes later, Ning Xiuyuan hurried over.

"Your Excellency the Bishop, you sent for me?"

At that moment, Ning Xiuyuan's eyes were bloodshot, his face was weary, and he wore a hint of drowsiness.

Heaven be thanked, after finally setting down a great weight in his heart, he had returned to his dormitory after seeing Angela off and fallen sound asleep.

Unexpectedly, just as he was sleeping deeply, his spiritual intuition woke him.

Only then did he discover an ascetic standing outside his door, saying that Bishop Byron wished to see him. Ning Xiuyuan had no choice but to force his eyes open and hurry over.

"Hmm, it seems I chose an inconvenient time to summon you?" Bishop Byron teased with a smile.

Ning Xiuyuan's expression stiffened awkwardly, and he did not know how to answer.

"These past two days have been hard on you. I hope you won't bear a grudge. Father Rhodes's hatred of evil wasn't directed at you! Remember, aside from heretics, just as you forgive others, so will our Lord forgive you." Bishop Byron delivered the admonition earnestly.

"Yes, I understand." Ning Xiuyuan lowered his head respectfully.

"I summoned you this time because the reward approvals for Lynn and the Orlando loss of control incident have come through. I'll issue them to you all at once."

As he spoke, Bishop Byron rose to his feet.

He walked around the desk and came before Ning Xiuyuan. A medal quietly appeared in his hand, and he gently fastened it to Ning Xiuyuan's chest.

"This is the Medal of Holy Sanctuary, a reward for your achievement in stopping Lynn's loss of control! It contains our Lord's radiance. With devout faith, it can protect your safety." Bishop Byron introduced it.

Ning Xiuyuan gently stroked the medal on his chest. His spiritual intuition sensed an indescribable force within it!

A supernatural item?

Ning Xiuyuan formed a few guesses.

"All right, concentrate and repeat after me."

Bishop Byron suddenly began reciting an obscure incantation. Ning Xiuyuan hurriedly focused his mind and, relying on the mental agility brought by fusing with the Disease Deceiver's supernatural characteristics, barely managed to recite it after him.

The moment he finished, he discovered that the strange syllables had been deeply engraved in his mind, like muscle memory.

"Very good. There's one more sentence."

Bishop Byron nodded and recited another sentence, which Ning Xiuyuan repeated.

"Remember, this is the Ilidheam language. The order of the two sentences I taught you is reversed—the second sentence is actually the first. Do not try to chant them, or it will bring about unpredictable consequences."

Bishop Byron's tone was solemn, and his expression was grave.

"This incantation is a prayer to the Old One, the White Worm. If it is chanted correctly, it will attract its attention, and you will be devoured."

"It will transform the bodies of its believers to adapt to harsh living environments, using them as food when it grows hungry. Therefore, we also call this prayer the White Curse."

Ning Xiuyuan was stunned speechless when he heard this! Such a terrifying incantation, and you just casually taught it to me?

However, when Bishop Byron spoke his next sentence, Ning Xiuyuan was even too shocked to complain!

This prayer was actually the reward for stopping the spread of the Orlando loss of control incident?