Their voices rose together in a low, slow hymn, like a murmur, like a prayer, like a blessing.
"Sir."
A young priest's voice came from beside them.
Emma tilted her head to look at him.
The priest spoke with painstaking formality, his peculiar honorifics tinged with discomfort. "Have you come to seek the Lord's forgiveness? Unfortunately, demons are not welcome here."
Emma's brows knitted, and her eyes widened as she went on the offensive. "What's wrong with you? Nothing decent ever comes out of your mouth! Who are you to stand there judging us?"
The priest closed his eyes briefly and pressed his lips together, looking stern.
"You..."
"Emma." Xie De stopped her. "Go find Xilai and bring back some money. As much as possible."
"All right."
Confusion flickered in Emma's eyes, but she obeyed.
Once she had left, Xie De turned an inquisitive gaze on the priest. "Have I seen you somewhere before? Are you the bishop here?"
"I am."
The priest stood ramrod straight, turning a cross over in his hands, his tone full of pity. "Sir, stop this. Have the deaths of so many still not satisfied your appetite?"
"..."
Xie De thought the priest had gotten the wrong idea.
"I'm here to deal with a demon problem. I heard you have holy water."
The priest shook his head. "No amount of holy water can wash away the blood on your hands or the lives you have taken. Sir, stop this."
"..."
"Do you not understand plain speech?"
He was already irritated.
Xie De stood up. He towered more than a head above the priest, broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, his presence imposing. His tone turned harsher.
"I need holy water and anything else that can exorcise demons. I don't need you preaching about redemption, and I certainly don't