A Believer's Duty

"Don't chase too closely, Angela."

Leaning against a boulder on the hillside, Li Lin watched the two people below desperately fleeing, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Don't worry, Master. I've played the cat-and-mouse game countless times."

Facing Li Lin's reminder, Angela smiled confidently, then extended her finger and lightly traced a line in the air. Soon, at Angela's command, the undead creatures pursuing the two began to disperse, attempting to encircle them from all sides using a net-like approach. However, Geligao Li clearly saw through their scheme. He led the priestess into a narrow mountain path and then quickly ran downhill. Behind them, a dozen wolves relentlessly pursued them, following them until they disappeared into the dark shadows.

Is that alright?

"Very nice."

Li Lin patted Angela's head in approval, then stood up. As magical light flashed around him, a portal quickly appeared in front of the two of them.

"Then, I'll leave the rest to Catherine. It's time for us to head back... After all, there are still some troublesome matters that require my personal decision."

As Li Lin spoke, he turned and walked into the teleportation portal. When he stood on the deck of the airship again, a steaming cup of black tea was already placed in front of him.

"You've worked hard, Master."

"It's just a boring game to me."

Li Lin Suoxiate after taking the teacup.

"What's the situation in Ringwraith City?"

"Nothing special has happened with Nia. She's been focusing on training another Arcane Mage and should have made some progress. As for Kalin and Anna, Nia has sent them out to search for any remaining relics of the Empire, to prevent them from falling into enemy hands and causing us harm. The entire Ringwraith City is functioning normally, including the barrier; there haven't been any problems."

Suoxiate gave a detailed answer almost immediately after Li Lin finished asking his question.

"Well, I guess there's nothing else to do."

As he spoke, Li Lin took another look at the airship in front of him.

"Go home."

The airship slowly changed direction, gradually becoming blurry in the clear sky. Soon, dark clouds enveloped the ship, and then it drifted eastward.

For Li Lin, this trip was indeed fruitful. The alliance with the Chromatic Dragons was formed, and the Metallic Dragon clearly demonstrated their non-interference stance. The problem with Catherine was successfully resolved; neither the Temple nor Dideyasi realized that Li Lin had planted a malignant tumor in their hearts. When the war begins, Catherine, with the Saintess's prestige, should be able to effectively restrain the Temple's power. Although she explicitly told Li Lin that due to her special status, she had no authority to manage the Paladin Order under the command of the Holy Knight Commander, Li Lin valued not the Temple's military strength, but its foundation of faith. If Catherine could undermine this foundation, then with the decrease in believers, the power of the God of Justice would be greatly weakened—precisely what Li Lin hoped for.

Of course, there were dangers involved in Catherine's actions. Before leaving, Li Lin had crafted several pieces of magical equipment for her to defend herself, just in case. After all, she was a valuable pawn, and it would be quite troublesome if she died before her usefulness was exhausted.

However, once her usefulness is gone, Catherine's life or death will no longer be of concern to Li Lin.

As for Geligao Li, Li Lin's decision was purely impulsive. If Angela hadn't mentioned it with a mocking tone, he would have had no idea that such a past existed deep within this man's memories. But that's for the best; a person's childhood can determine their entire life. Since Geligao Li had experienced such a thing, he certainly didn't have much affection for the Temple. Although calmness and rationality were his strengths, humans are, after all, humans—animals that survive on emotions.

The next step is to see to what extent Catherine can force him to become an enemy of the Temple.

Catherine, of course, wouldn't let any opportunity to please Li Lin slip by.

Looking at the two disheveled figures before her, especially the "unharmed" female pastor, she understood Li Lin's intentions. At the same time, deep down, Catherine couldn't help but feel worried. In fact, her desire for Li Lin to seduce the pastor stemmed somewhat from a "if we're going to die, we'll all die together" mentality. Although Li Lin had only said half a word about it, his actions had already shown Catherine his stance. While there were no explicit threats, Catherine understood that if something like this happened again, everything she had would be completely destroyed by Li Lin.

That's why she needs to do her best in the present task to win her master's favor.

In a short time, Catherine, using the act of reading letters to conceal her emotions, had made her decision. She was inherently a clever and capable woman, and although she had been utterly corrupted, both physically and mentally, into Li Lin's slave, her wisdom and abilities remained unchanged. On the contrary, after deciding to pledge allegiance to her master, Catherine felt her life was becoming increasingly meaningful. During her Catherine to the God of Justice, although she possessed unwavering faith, she often felt a sense of powerlessness. The God of Justice desired a world of harmony and peace, free from conflict. But Catherine knew very well that this was impossible. She was intelligent and understood that even with the Temple's current power, achieving lasting peace across the entire continent was an impossible task. Struggles between individuals and between nations were ever-present. Even within the Temple itself, such factional infighting never ceased. Catherine felt she had embarked on a path of no return, and perhaps, like the other saintesses, she would ultimately sacrifice everything for an impossible task.

However, Li Lin's appearance changed Catherine's life. He not only brought Catherine physical pleasure but also pointed her towards a spiritual goal. Catherine no longer had to live the life she had before, racking her brains over vague pronouncements from the gods, completely clueless about her future and what she should do, and unsure whether her actions would please the gods. She now had clear life goals; she knew how to please Li Lin and how to make herself feel happy.

This is the most important thing.

"So, Mr. Li Lin did this to cover for you..."

Catherine put down the letter in her hand, lowered her head, and her expression was somewhat sad and heavy. Finally, Catherine sighed softly.

"I imagine you two must be quite exhausted after returning to the capital and experiencing such an adventure, Mr. Geligao Li. I have prepared rooms for you; please go and rest... As for her, I would like to speak with her privately. This concerns matters within our Temple, and I hope you can understand."

"... certainly."

Hearing Catherine say this, Geligao Li stood up somewhat unwillingly, glanced at the priestess, and then turned and left the room.

After Geligao Li left the room, Catherine walked over to the priestess, who was still bowing her head, and gently pressed her shoulder.

Have you made a decision yet?

"... Yes, Lady Catherine."

The pastor raised her head, her eyes clear and transparent, filled with unwavering fervor.

"I have made my decision. I will always be the most faithful subject of God, and I will dedicate my life to the great God."

"It's good that you understand."

Catherine's expression softened slightly; at that moment, the pastor felt that her smile was so gentle, beautiful, and so reassuring.

"I've always been worried... After all, although you've become a clergyman, you haven't yet realized just how powerful you are. If you can't control your mind and let other things distract you, you'll never be able to break through this barrier..." Catherine paused here before continuing, "... Of course, perhaps I shouldn't do this. After all, the future I envision isn't necessarily the future you envision. I know that possessing power doesn't necessarily mean you have to use it. You can also find your own happiness in your current state."

"I understand what you mean, Lady Catherine."

Hearing Catherine's words, the pastor felt even more warmth and peace of mind.

"I understand that I don't necessarily have to walk this path. However, the continent is facing an unprecedented crisis, and I cannot allow others to be plunged into danger and suffering for my own happiness. The gods have always taught us to sacrifice ourselves to protect others. I will not run away, I will not give up, and I will not refuse... Lady Catherine, I have made my decision."

I'm truly pleased that you have such determination.

Catherine gently hugged the female priest, then smiled and said to her.

"Then I will write a letter to the Temple, telling them that you will become my personal attendant. I will teach you more knowledge and master greater power so that you may serve our great god. How about that?"

"I am very honored!"

Upon hearing this, the pastor's face flushed with excitement. The lingering reluctance she felt for Geligao Li's departure had completely vanished, replaced by excitement, exhilaration, glory, and pride.

She made the right choice.

"Well then, you've come all this way, you must be tired. As a reward..."

As she spoke, Catherine took out a small bottle and a book from her clothes, which were also left to her by Li Lin before he left.

"This is the purest holy water. Drink it; it will wash away your fatigue and bring you divine glory and blessings."

"This..."

The pastor carefully took the small bottle from Catherine's hand. Bathed in sunlight, the liquid inside shimmered with beautiful, iridescent light; it was so beautiful and pure, almost like a work of art. The pastor slowly opened the cap, and instantly, an unforgettable, delicate fragrance wafted out, far exceeding her expectations. She was even reluctant to drink the liquid. However, upon seeing Catherine's gentle, encouraging smile, the pastor couldn't utter a word of refusal. She gazed at it for a moment, then finally closed her eyes and drank the liquid.

A sweet and comforting sensation immediately spread through the pastor's body, making her feel as if she had completely left the mortal world and arrived in Heaven. The pastor opened her eyes and gazed at Catherine. That originally beautiful and charming smile was now filled with a sacred and solemn feeling. The pastor even wanted to kneel down in front of her immediately and kiss her feet to show her respect. Beside Catherine, a sacred light clearly appeared. That warm and reassuring light made the pastor completely intoxicated and unable to extricate herself.

The pastor felt as if she had entered a Heaven world, living freely without any constraints or restrictions. However, this feeling did not last long. Soon, she felt all the comfortable and pleasant sensations disappear, as if she were an angel whose wings had been bound and who could not fly, falling to earth. All beautiful things left her and never appeared again.

"Lady Catherine..."

The priestess looked at Catherine with a pleading and puzzled gaze. She wanted to experience it again, to savor that wonderful feeling once more. However, she hesitated to make the request. After opening her mouth, the priestess suppressed her urge to ask. After all, Lady Catherine had just given her holy water; to ask for more would be too greedy.

Don't worry.

Looking at the pastor's expression, how could Catherine not understand what she was thinking? She let out a wry smile and gently stroked the pastor's hair.

"From now on, I will give you a bottle of holy water every day. This will improve your constitution, make it easier for you to sense the divine, and... prepare you for what we are about to do."

"Yes, Lady Catherine."

The pastor bowed her head gratefully and gave Catherine a solemn bow.

That's why she didn't see the hint of smugness hidden in Catherine's eyes.

From that day on, Geligao Li noticed that the pastor had changed.

Her faith had become more fervent... This wasn't surprising; in fact, the pastor had always been devout, but now she spent most of her time praying. She even stopped welcoming Geligao Li's intrusion and spent long periods of time in Catherine's room every day. Geligao Li had asked what the pastor was doing there, but received no answer. The pastor's attitude towards him was growing increasingly cold and abnormal, and Geligao Li couldn't understand why, what had gone wrong. He instinctively felt uneasy, and he always sensed something unsettling hidden in Catherine's smile.

However, he was, after all, just a mercenary. Although he held the title of hero, he was merely an invitee and had no real authority to investigate these matters. Geligao Li, however, knew very well that the priestess had changed. And this change didn't seem to be a good thing for her. Most importantly, the priestess herself seemed completely unaware of this.

What's wrong with you?

Finally, seizing an opportunity, Geligao Li stopped the female priest who was about to return to her room and abruptly asked her questions.

"Mr. Geligao Li, I don't understand what you're saying."

The female pastor looked at him coldly, a hint of displeasure in her eyes. Just moments ago, she had received the holy water from Catherine, and as always, after using it, she was now experiencing a profound sense of loss, a shift from joy to emptiness. She felt annoyed by any disturbance from anyone.

"You've changed. Haven't you noticed? You're not the same person you used to be."

Geligao Li suppressed his anxiety and calmly tried to persuade her. However, the pastor clearly did not see it that way.

"I've changed? Mr. Geligao Li, of course I've changed. I've made my decision and know what I should fight for. You'll never understand this wonderful feeling. Only an almighty God can give me true happiness and joy. I've made my choice about my life. I'm sorry, it's not the path you hoped for. Although it's difficult, even painful, I will still walk it without hesitation."

"You...!"

"Mr. Geligao Li, speaking of goals, shouldn't you return to your mercenary group and lead your comrades? Isn't that the path you've chosen? We all have our own goals; let's move forward towards them."

After saying this, the pastor went into her room, leaving Geligao Li dumbfounded.

Looking at the closed door of the pastor's room, Geligao Li raised his right fist. He wanted to knock, but in the end, he just sighed and turned to leave.

The next day, Geligao Li left the capital.

But he didn't know that this was just the beginning.

"You mean... a religious ceremony?"

Looking at Catherine, the pastor was somewhat puzzled. She had never heard of such a concept before and did not understand what Catherine was talking about.

"Of course, we swore an oath before the gods, didn't we?"

Catherine's smile remained as gentle and persuasive as ever.

"We have dedicated everything to the gods, isn't that our vow? Now is the time to test our vow."

"But, Lady Catherine, what are we supposed to do...?"

"Come with me."

Filled with questions and anticipation, the female priest followed Catherine to a secluded place deep within the royal city. But when Catherine opened the door, the scene inside completely astonished the female priest.

Men and women, their snow-white bodies intertwined, their panting echoed throughout the room. Everywhere were men and women entwined, and even the most ignorant person would understand what kind of scene this was.

"Lady Catherine..."

Look at these paladins.

Catherine placed her hand on the priestess's shoulder, forcing her to turn her head and gaze at the naked male bodies.

"They dedicated their strength, even their lives, to the gods. So, what we need to do is repay their selfless dedication, isn't that right?"

"... selfless... dedication..."

"This is not just about feelings between a man and a woman. Look how happy they are, immersed in the blessings of the gods. This is the mission the gods have given you, and it is also your duty. Make them happy, and you will be happy too. The gods will also value your existence more."

"My... existence..."

"Come... drink the holy water."

As Catherine spoke in a low, murmuring voice, the priestess felt her consciousness gradually blurring. She drank the holy water Catherine offered and soon experienced that incomparably wonderful pleasure once again. Just then, a naked man walked up to her and forced the priestess to the ground. At this moment, the priestess felt no fear or dread; she gazed at the man with expectant eyes.

When that thick, hot object mercilessly tore through the priestess's last line of defense and entered her body, the priestess felt only unprecedented pleasure...