The pool was clear and still, reflecting Yu Xing's figure.
He looked at the old nun's deep, serene eyes, which seemed able to see through people. He knew she must have had a reason for seeking him out, and offered a polite smile that was just the right amount of puzzled.
"Of course. The angels are carved so lifelike, and they're filled with... a sacred beauty. The Mother Goddess's teachings and blessings are always so reassuring."
The old nun's smile seemed to deepen slightly. She walked slowly to the pool and reached out a hand marked with fine wrinkles, gently brushing the clear water. Yet her gaze remained on the angel statue, and her voice carried a distant wistfulness.
"Yes, so perfect, so pure. It's as if they could wash away all the world's filth and suffering. People are always easily drawn to such appearances, seeking comfort, aren't they?"
Her tone shifted almost imperceptibly, like a breeze passing over the water and raising a faint ripple. "Much like the tragedy in that house on Rose Avenue... I've already heard about your achievement, Mr. Investigator. Your abilities are admirable."
"I witnessed that horrifying incident myself. It's been thirty years, and it's like a wound that will never heal, hidden beneath the town's polished surface. The Mother Goddess's mercy seems to be everywhere, yet in the end... it failed to illuminate that corner or avert the madness and destruction that had long been inevitable."
Her tone was calm, as if she were merely stating a widely known fact. But the implication was unmistakable: she was suggesting that when faced with certain real threats, threats born of a deeper darkness, the Church had been powerless.
Yu Xing understood, but let just the right hint of confusion show on his face. He furrowed his