Rain

Feeling the not-so-strong but exceptionally persistent tug on the corner of his coat from behind, Liao Ji was forced to stop in his tracks and turn back around.

In truth, he had a hundred reasons to ignore her and simply walk away.

But alas.

The other party had struck exactly the one reason that might force him to pause.

After all, he had once known a homeless nun who had said similar things to him.

But Liao Ji remembered clearly that the little nun back then had been in a much more miserable state than this one—her clothes were in tatters, she was skin and bones, and she was so starved she had only one breath left. The reason was that on the road while fleeing from monsters, she had given all her food to others, constantly overdrawing her own strength to heal them with her abilities.

As a result, those "others" had indeed successfully escaped to the shelter of a big city, while she could only stumble and collapse, dying on the side of the road, right at the entrance of some newly established, dilapidated settlement.

It brought back some memories.

Liao Ji pulled his thoughts back to reality.

He didn't refuse or give an answer immediately, but instead scanned the nun sleeping next to the trash can from head to toe, re-evaluating her.

Although her nun's habit was dirty and wet, it was at least intact, without even a trace of a patch.

Her small face looked pitiful and helpless, but her actual complexion wasn't bad at all. If the dust and mud stuck to it were washed away, Liao Ji believed it would reveal fair, delicate skin.

Life five hundred years later had indeed improved, but not to this extent.

Liao Ji's assessment was that if he had Irin come over to play this role, she would look more like a scavenger eating trash than this nun did.

"What is your name?"

"Ma-Maria," the nun answered weakly.

"If you really are a nun, why have you ended up like this? Why not go to The Church? In the Black Cave—no, even across the entire Holy Kingdom, being a nun should be one of the best-compensated professions, right?"

Faced with Liao Ji's immediate interrogation, Maria seemed a bit frightened and shrank her neck pitifully, though this tactic didn't seem to have any effect on Liao Ji.

Seeing that the young man was about to turn and leave if she didn't speak up, Maria hurriedly explained in a panic:

"It's because I... I have a different faith than The Church."

"I..."

"I do not believe in that so-called Saintess."

As she spoke, Maria pressed her lips together and lowered her gaze, but the stubbornness and persistence on her face did not waver.

It was as if she were a lone warrior swimming against the current, insisting on not associating with the corrupt Church or believing in that "hypocritical" Saintess, even if she had fallen to such a wretched state.

She believed that after the young man had already investigated so many "insider secrets," he must feel the same way, right?

To this.

Liao Ji nodded, indicating he understood perfectly, and then said:

"Sorry, I can't take you in."

"I... I can do many things! Washing dishes, cooking, ironing, cleaning... even if there's something I don't know, I will learn it! No matter what you require, I... I can do it! And I have a very small appetite! Just a little bit of food is enough, I don't need a bed, just give me a tiny bit of floor space, I..."

Seeming to have anticipated that it wouldn't be easy to get Liao Ji to take her in, Maria began to plead desperately.

But unfortunately, the young man's next words were completely beyond her expectations, leaving the caught-off-guard nun stunned, her prepared arguments stuck in her throat as she was rendered speechless.

She only heard:

"No, no, no, it has nothing to do with those things; it's a matter of principle."

"Simply put."

"You don't believe in the Saintess, but I do, and I am the most loyal and devout believer of Stia."

As he spoke, fearing that Maria wouldn't believe him, Liao Ji took a silver cross from his pocket and waved it in front of her like a trophy as proof.

One could see that in the rainy night, the faint silver glow emanating from the cross was even more prominent. This was something a cheap imitation couldn't achieve; only an authentic cross issued by The Church, containing the holy power of the Saintess, could do this.

After all.

If it were a fake cross, the people of Kalleva wouldn't have handed them out to the members of the Zhuo'e Factory to use as "protective gear."

Yes, this was a byproduct he and Irin had received just a few hours ago when they infiltrated the Zhuo'e Factory disguised as gang members.

But regardless of where it came from.

You have to admit it's a genuine cross!

"Since our faiths differ, out of respect for freedom of belief, I won't be hostile toward you, but you want me to take you in..."

Liao Ji shook his head firmly.

Then, with an uncompromising tone, he said: "I will not be friends with someone who does not believe in the Saintess."

After dropping this line, Liao Ji ruthlessly pulled his coat hem from Maria's grip and turned to leave, leaving the nun standing there in a daze.

A Maria who seemed a bit dizzy, as if she hadn't quite recovered from "some kind of feeling."

Fortunately, seeing that the young man was about to disappear, Maria hurriedly patted her face and rubbed it hard several times, until the corners of her mouth finally stopped twitching upward.

Tap, tap, tap.

A sound of rapid footsteps splashing through the rain came from behind; Liao Ji didn't need to look back to know who it was.

Just as he began to frown, feeling a bit impatient.

"Sir! A-actually, there is another reason why I am begging you to take me in. Regardless of whether you accept me or not, I implore you to hear what I have to say next!"

"I am actually a Corrupted, and the ability I awakened is Divination. I can, to a certain extent, glimpse the future path of others. It is precisely because of this that I wanted to stay with you."

Maria took a deep breath. Seeing that her words had successfully made the young man stop in his tracks and turn back to look at her, she said each word with earnestness:

"I saw a bad future for you!"

"A bad future?"

"Yes. I am very sorry for prying into your affairs without permission, but if my ability is correct, you are on your way to save someone right now, aren't you?"

"."

Interesting.

Liao Ji did not hide his reaction and nodded at Maria, gesturing for her to continue: "Go on."

"B-because it was quite rushed, I didn't see the specifics clearly, but I can be certain that the person you are going to save is currently safe for the time being. However, if you act rashly, it will only be counterproductive and end up harming her instead!"

Maria emphasized the last sentence, specifically using "her" instead of "him."

"So, you want me to take you in to stop me from saving her and change this bad future?"

"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm!" Maria nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

Then, she lowered her head in embarrassment, looking like a child who had told a lie to sneak a piece of candy, twisting her fingers together as she whispered:

"Also, t-the real reason I couldn't go to The Church is because I am a Corrupted, not because of the Saintess. I-I actually like the Saintess too; I admire the Saintess very much."

The rain was still falling all around them. In the dead of night, Liao Ji hadn't expected this turn of events.

After hesitating for a long moment, he finally asked:

"How should I believe you?"

"I-I used my ability in a rush just now. If you don't mind, y-you can take me to your residence! Give me something related to the person you are trying to save—daily necessities, clothes, pants, shoes, anything like that will do. It doesn't necessarily have to be from the person herself; a blood relative works too! But the closer the relationship, the better. That way, I can rely on them to better activate my ability and divine more results!"

"Once you hear them, I believe you will know that I am absolutely not lying to you!"

Divination requires a medium; that is indeed a common trope.

And if one were to talk about a place with the most media, it would undoubtedly be Irin's home. Plus, since the girl had just been sent to Brian by him, Irin's house was currently empty.

Liao Ji made his decision.

"Give me the umbrella."

After taking the umbrella from the nun's hand, Liao Ji opened it up again.

He changed direction, no longer heading toward The Church, but toward the slums. Fortunately, he had once let Irin take him to her home, so with the map unlocked, Liao Ji didn't have to worry about finding his way.

"Let's go, keep up."

The young man shifted the umbrella half a step to the side, and Maria naturally ducked under it, as if she had practiced this movement in her mind countless times.

The nun then tried a few times to act nonchalant, but ultimately suppressed the desire in her heart. She settled for second best, refraining from grabbing Liao Ji's hand and instead reaching out to clutch the corner of his coat.

It was strange to say.

As the two walked away under the umbrella in the night rain, the rain in that area began to taper off suddenly shortly after they left. In less than a few breaths' time, it stopped completely.

(PS: Let me see who is working early on a weekend morning—oh, it's me!)