The Priest

Emerging from the private room, Yue Junyang looked completely crestfallen.

After transferring the red envelope for the successful deal to Chen Miemie, he left in a hurry.

Once Yue Junyang was gone, Cassan dropped her disguise, revealing a hint of weakness.

Divination was no easy task; the fact that others could offer such a high price meant it certainly came with a cost.

"Mistress, what are you doing? Why are you cleaning up the private room?"

"These candles have gone through the divination ritual and carry a fraction of my [Mystery]. They must be destroyed. Some that haven't burned much can still be taken home to use as lighting tools during [Sunless Days]."

"You really know how to manage a household, Mistress. Master is lucky to have you."

"Don't be glib. One candle costs 1 year; no family would waste that."

Chen Miemie completely hadn't expected candles to be so expensive.

"Are these candles made of gold? No wonder I don't have any at home."

"You, of course you don't feel it since you have moonlight. In reality, anything that can provide light, even if it can't dispel the fog, is a treasure."

"By that logic, the kitchen stove can also light up with a pale blue flame, right?"

"The stove won't ignite during [Sunless Days]."

Cassan had just made a fortune and was in a very good mood.

However, she was indeed very tired. Chen Miemie quickly escorted her home, back to Dawn's house.

After dropping Cassan off, Chen Miemie waved his hand, letting the palanquin leave on its own.

"Well then, it's time for my [Huangyi] to make an appearance."

With his words, the figure of yellow light particles appeared once again.

Chen Miemie walked out of the alley and passed a small puddle; during the day, this was probably a fountain.

Looking at his reflection in the water, he saw his form made entirely of light particles and was slightly dissatisfied.

"No wonder those people who saw me in this state before instantly knew I was a big shot. So this is the 'completely inhuman' form of [Mystery] above level 6. Since I'm called [Huangyi], I should probably wear some clothes."

Under the Eternal Moon, Chen Miemie's [Mystery] and his control over the moonlight were entirely incomparable to normal days.

With a mere thought, the moonlight of the Eternal Moon transformed directly into silk threads, automatically wrapping around his body to take shape. In just a few minutes, it wove into a well-fitting outfit.

It was an ancient yellow robe, its material like the finest silk—soft but not limp, old but not dirty. After pulling up the attached hood, Chen Miemie only revealed a pair of glowing eyes.

"Good, it's not so eye-catching now."

With a flash of moonlight, the figure by the puddle vanished.

Tonight, Chen Miemie's schedule was fully packed.

First stop: the church.

The Church of the Sun and the Church of the Moon were massive organizations spanning across 100 cities.

The religious atmosphere in Sixiang City was not very strong, and correspondingly, the influence of the two major churches was not considered powerful.

But no matter how weak they were, no one would dare to suppress the privileges and standards the churches were entitled to.

Take, for example, this church located in the northern part of the city.

All the buildings in Sixiang City were square and tightly sealed.

But this church was the sole exception.

This was the first time Chen Miemie had seen a building with a styled exterior facade.

The church as a whole looked like a castle, with pointed twin towers piercing the sky, and its outer walls covered in carvings of suns and moons.

The twin towers had different colors. The left one was gold and silver, housing the Church of the Sun;

The right one was red, white, and yellow, housing the Church of the Moon.

In some cities where the churches were prosperous and dominant, both the Church of the Sun and the Church of the Moon would station a bishop, adopting a dual-core management system.

Sixiang City was on the fringes of the churches' influence. Between the two major churches, only the Church of the Moon had a bishop, who oversaw all the affairs of the Sun and Moon Church.

The bishop of Sixiang City was Father Jing of the Church of the Moon.

When Chen Miemie quietly arrived, Father Jing was working.

An old woman was asking Father Jing for help.

"Father, my old man unfortunately encountered an anomaly from afar and is now unconscious. Could you please lend a helping hand?"

Father Jing's face showed no pity, but the arrangement he provided was very heartwarming:

"Church healers will accompany you home shortly to attempt a rescue."

"Thank you, thank you," the old woman bowed repeatedly.

The second person was a middle-aged man.

His face was filled with sorrow: "Father, my child died during the graduation exam, leaving no remains. I have pain and hatred in my heart, and now I can't sleep at night."

Father Jing's tone remained flat: "The pain of losing a child is human nature, but where does the hatred come from?"

"My child had originally chosen to graduate normally, but the municipal officials came to our door and repeatedly lobbied, even indirectly threatening my child's future job. Only then did my child change their mind and take the exam. I hate them!"

"You should know that this is misdirected anger. People without talent couldn't take the exam even if they wanted to. You eventually agreed, and your child eventually chose to go, not because of lobbying or coercion, but because there was still a glimmer of hope in your hearts."

"I understand, and I don't deny that, but they were the ones who pushed us in the end."

"Do you know how many of those who choose to graduate normally and temporarily escape end up choosing to rush into the fog on a [Sunless Day]?"

"I don't know."

"Within three years, 50%. Stretched to ten years, over 80%."

"How is that possible? So many?!"

"Who could truly give up the hope of becoming extraordinary when they had the chance? Even if they temporarily settle for mediocrity, after encountering life's hardships countless times, they will eventually take that path one day."

"But, I... I..."

"It's normal to have hatred; there are many with such hatred every year. The lobbying officials you mentioned, the prerequisite for their position is that they also send their own children into the fog this year. The first person they convinced was themselves."

"Then I'm even more lost."

"It doesn't matter. My words are powerless; time is the best medicine. If you feel you have nothing to rely on, why not have another child while it's not too late."

"I don't dare. I'm afraid this will happen again."

"Whether to send the child to school is a choice in your own hands, isn't it? If you choose mediocrity, you must be content with mediocrity. Only by challenging the extraordinary will you bear the risks."

"Thank you, Father. I understand."

The third person was a young boy.

"Father, my father is receiving treatment at the clinic, but without his income, my family can no longer afford the medical expenses. I beg for your help."

Father Jing said nothing, quietly looking at the boy.

After a long time, he finally spoke: "There is no such thing as getting something for nothing in this world. What can you offer?"

The boy clenched his fists: "Everything! Everything I have."

Father Jing shook his head: "Your future may be worth a fortune, or it may be worthless. The uncertainty is too great. As of now, it is not equivalent to what you want."

"I am willing to offer my faith."

"Faith is not a commodity for exchange."

"Father, you must want something from me to ask that. Whatever you want, I will give it to you."

"Hehe, smart child. I know your mother is a cook, currently responsible for delivering meals to a certain municipal project?"

"Yes, my mother is a wonderful cook. All the uncles say it's amazing when they try it."

"Very well. Our city is currently in need of all the strength it can muster. I am willing to help your father."

"Really? Thank you, Father!" The little boy immediately dropped to his knees in gratitude.

"Stand up! There is no need for such formalities."

"I must. We finally have a way to pay for my father's medical bills."

"Just having the money for the bills isn't enough. There are many medical resources that time alone cannot buy."

"Father, what do you mean?"

"Your father will be granted a spot in our medical assistance program."