A soft, intoxicating light suffused the air, where light and shadow intertwined.
The twilight street flowed with a tranquil warmth.
At its end stood the church, nestled in a maple forest, silhouetted against the dusk horizon.
The church could be considered the most magnificent and ancient of buildings. The prayer hall was elegant and solemn, with mottled shadows dancing upon the mysterious stained-glass, and the essence of divinity overflowing from the holy grail…
The interior was vast and reverent. A towering statue of a deity stood like a high tower thrusting toward the dome, exuding a solemnity within its silence.
Here, faith and hope intertwined, and sanctity blossomed.
In this space, serenity flowed like poetry. And in the corner, by the confessional, a sacred aura leisurely diffused.
The heretic, the pink-haired elven lady, had just finished her confession here.
Having received a personal baptism from God himself, Elysia's upper body was still dressed in a pure white sailor uniform, neat and clean.
But her pair of long, elegant legs were slick with sweat.
Elysia's legs were as smooth as jade, flawless and white. At this moment, they gleamed as if coated in a lustrous oil, shimmering in the mottled light of the church.
Her slender feet rested on the ground, the curve of her arches as graceful as a beautiful fish in the sea. The thickness of her instep could only be described as perfect—a fraction more would be plump, a fraction less would be gaunt, like a thin layer of ice on a lake.
A moist ring had formed on the floor around the soles of her feet.
Ye Feng said earnestly, "I really think Elysia is well-suited to be a White Tiger Priestess."
Elysia flushed with annoyance. "…After hearing Mr. Ye Feng's explanation just now, could you please not add the word 'White Tiger' anymore…"
"But it's true. I always thought that if Elysia had any… it would surely be pink down there."
"Mr. Ye Feng!"
Elysia puffed up her pale cheeks, glaring at him irritably.
"Hmm…?"
Ye Feng looked at Elysia with surprise.
"What is Mr. Ye Feng 'hmm'-ing about?"
"I was just thinking that the old Elysia would surely not have gotten angry. She was always so transcendent, no matter what she faced."
"Eh?"
Elysia tilted her head, then broke into a radiant smile.
Though she had been a little angry just a moment ago, now it was as if flowers were blooming behind the elven lady in tandem with her smile.
"So my evaluation in Mr. Ye Feng's heart is actually that high?"
"Is this the first you're hearing of it?"
Ye Feng said seriously, "Elysia has always been ranked T0 on my [Bleep] List."
The elven lady's face fell again. "If possible, please don't put me on that kind of list."
Hm? Wait a minute. Elysia realized something. Didn't Kiana say that Big Duck Duck was Ye Feng's favorite?
No… what am I thinking! Is that even important!
Elysia shook her head, and her steps became unsteady.
Her legs were already trembling, shaking slightly as if all their strength had been drained. Now, she was even more unstable.
But the elven lady could not fall, because if she did, she would surely tumble into Mr. Ye Feng's embrace.
It would be just like throwing herself at him.
Elysia steadied her trembling legs and heart… Mr. Ye Feng's performance just now had been too vigorous.
Even now, crystalline beads of sweat were still trickling down her pale thighs, defiling the sacred floor of the church.
Ye Feng said, "So, will you do it?"
"What?"
Elysia's head shot up.
Again?
In a daze, Elysia felt Ye Feng's gaze drift back to her legs. Her delicate, crystalline toes curled instinctively as if startled.
She tried to cover one foot with the other, but the snowy-white, smooth arch could not be completely hidden. Through the delicate, translucent skin of her instep, the faint blue of her veins could be seen.
She seemed to grow even shyer. The pale, damp soles of her feet took on a faint pink hue, refracting a shimmering light in the sunset.
"Mr. Ye Feng… can I rest for a bit?"
Not only were her legs trembling, but after reciting the confessional prayer for so long, her mouth and throat were also parched.
After all, with her upper body inside the wall, she hadn't been able to get any moisture.
Ye Feng looked at Elysia and said, "What are you thinking about? I was asking if you would be the priestess."
"Huh?"
"They all say you are the daughter of the stars and moon sent by God. I'm very much looking forward to Elysia becoming the White Tiger Priestess."
"…"
Elysia was stunned for a moment, first feeling ashamed, then immediately sizing up Ye Feng with a strange look.
Ye Feng was God, and he was calling her God's daughter…
"Mr. Ye Feng's interests… are so strange. No wonder you dote on Mobius so much. Mobius would surely be up to the task."
"No, she won't do. The position of White Tiger Priestess is so sacred; in my heart, only Elysia can fill it. If you don't agree…"
"If I don't agree?"
Ye Feng smiled. "I will keep a close watch on you, always, until Elysia agrees."
"Isn't that just forcing me?"
"You can't put it that way. I still respect Elysia's wishes very much. You can refuse, you know."
"…"
So thick-skinned.
"As expected of Mr. Ye Feng."
Elysia thought for a moment, then asked, "Then if I serve as the priestess…"
"The White Tiger Priestess."
"Mmm… In any case, if I take the position, are there any benefits for me?"
"Hehe."
The smile on Ye Feng's lips widened. "To hear Elysia bargain with me is truly an honor. So, what does Elysia want?"
"Promise me three things."
"Oh?"
That was truly unexpected.
Ye Feng said, "I thought Elysia would ask for more Authority."
Elysia's hair swayed in the sunset glow as she smiled. "Mmm, I want that very much too, but after thinking about it, having Mr. Ye Feng promise me three things would be better."
"Why three things?"
"I'm afraid you wouldn't agree to more, and I'd be unwilling to settle for less. I remember Mr. Ye Feng once used three as a number for a promise before, right?"
"Mmm… I'd almost forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it."
Indeed, he had played a similar game with Ji Lin.
"Alright, I agree. And by the way, I can promise you anything~~ Anything! Elysia should make good use of this."
"Of course, I will make very good use of it."
Elysia returned his smile.
"Here, take this."
A thick, leather-bound book materialized in Ye Feng's palm.
The book's cover was hard and pitch-black, etched with strange, bewitching patterns. In the center were the white words "HOLY BIBLE".
"What is this?"
"The Dark Holy Scrip… no, the 'Holy Canon'."
Ye Feng said.
Elysia took it and opened the book. Inside, it was written—
Without baptism, hatred will never cease;
Without baptism, what divides the strong and weak;
Without baptism, all sentiment is sin;
Without baptism, dreams are but empty, fleeting bubbles;
Without baptism, fear and sorrow ebb and flow without reason;
Without baptism, beauty is but a fleeting moment;
Without baptism, one can never be freed from suffering;
Without baptism; all endeavors are devoid of meaning.