Chapter 196 Chapter 197 The Awakening of the Saintess
“Calm down, calm down. The saintess of the hall is kind-hearted and has the heart of a healer. Marlin City is like a sick giant right now; she will surely lend a helping hand.” Young Master Is couldn’t help but smile, feeling a sense of relief, as if he had just won a breath-holding contest.
He looked at Jima and continued, “I believe that as the saintess’s good friend, even as a demon, you will be able to heed Jenna’s advice, right?”
The members of the Extraordinary Council present began to understand the situation in a new light. Everyone knows that Saint Jenna is kind, and she will definitely help Marlin City out of the turmoil. In contrast, the threat posed by the succubus Jima felt somewhat diminished.
More than one sword had already been pointed at Is.
“I will not watch my friend go astray,” Jima continued to threaten, “even if it requires more bloodshed.”
“Even if more innocents are involved, you are unwilling to stop your bloodied hands?”
“Well said, then why don’t you stop?”
“I can stop at any time,” Young Master Is said. “But I believe that Jenna is a good girl; she surely wouldn’t want to hurt those she has let down again. Whether the truth from back then is revealed will depend on her willingness.”
What difference does that make from coercion?
“I’ll say it again: I will not watch my friend walk down the wrong path.” She glared at the lower half of Is’s face.
Even though she could only see his lower face, Jima seemed to sense the prideful smirk at the corners of his mouth.
Did he think he could turn the tables? It seemed like he needed to be put in his place to relieve some of her own frustrations.
With a flick of her eye, Jima said, “Most importantly, as the fiancée of the hero George, who will one day marry him openly, it’s my unshirkable duty to protect the second wife from being taken to bed by other men.”
With that, her tail shivered with unpleasantness. What was even more uncomfortable was that when the men present shot her surprised, disbelieving looks, she still had to maintain a happy expression to avoid showing any flaws.
While polygamy is not particularly shocking, having a man with two extraordinary wives is indeed enviable. Although Jima had previously spread that she was George’s fiancée, it had become city-wide gossip.
But everyone had tacitly accepted that she was the mistress—an ordinary husband-and-wife model with multiple lovers was a common sight.
The smile on Young Master Is’s face disappeared as he said, “You are talking nonsense.”
“What nonsense? We’ve already chosen our wedding dress, planning to do things like this at the wedding…” Jima displayed a “happy” smile, her lips curling to reveal her small, white fangs, and she pretended to link arms with someone. “Just like this, walking towards the groom, wrapping him up on both sides, walking to the bridal chamber, to the wedding bed, and pressing down from above. Don’t get the wrong idea; it’s just what you all think it is.”
Young Master Is’s hands trembled with rage.
The disgust in Jima’s heart was suppressed by her happiness; as long as her joy could be built on the suffering of others, what did it matter if she took some verbal advantage over George? After all, it wouldn’t cost her a piece of flesh.
“Shut up! You slut, whore, the one who rides a thousand men!”
Jima didn’t take the other party’s slut-shaming to heart and continued to hit back at his sensitive spots: “I have rich experience in bed and will teach Jenna, hand-in-hand, how to please her husband. After all, that is also the responsibility of the first wife.”
Jima had to admire that the natural acting skills of a succubus were indeed strong; she could say such shameful things without blushing, effortlessly.
“You say that again?!” Young Master Is, surprisingly furious, drew his sword, losing his usual composure.
Vanhyssen pulled him back, saying, “Calm down, calm down! Marlin City is in turmoil right now; we must think of the bigger picture, Young Master Is.”
“Let go of me!”
“If you don’t calm down, I’ll break your legs!” Vanhyssen shouted, “I’m keeping my cool here; you better behave yourself, kid!”
Jima looked around; this farce had significantly eased the tense atmosphere.
Most people’s positions were ambiguous. They would help whoever seemed to win, but Jima’s goal was already halfway achieved. As long as she could get many people to watch from the sidelines, she had already won a significant portion.
Because she couldn’t stop the turmoil at all, just as someone who sets fire to a mountain cannot extinguish it.
“If that’s the case, and we can’t come to an agreement,” she looked at the extraordinary beings around and said, “I can only take action against Is’s family first, as my treasure has been confiscated by Young Master Is, hidden deep within his estate—at least that’s what the rumors say.”
Young Master Is laughed instead of getting angry: “You want to rob my house?”
“I also want to turn you to dust, kid.”
The High Chanting Priest stepped forward, saying, “Succubus! Don’t think you can harm the devout believers of Sigma again.”
Jima couldn’t decide; was the other party expressing observation, or did they stand with Young Master Is? As far as she knew, Young Master Is had many titles, but “devout believer of Sigma” was not one of them.
“When we meet again, swords will surely clash, and I will dance on your corpse.”
With that, Jima’s figure gradually faded away.
After both sides had exchanged some unending verbal volleys.
In the basement of the Sigma Church not far away.
With the help of an elderly extraordinary being, Jenna finally freed herself from the ropes binding her, revealing her silver robe dusted with dirt.
Her first question was, “Did I harm anyone?”
“No,” said the elderly man with a face as dry as an old tree. “You merely burned the outside racetrack, which can be considered a good deed. However, tonight is chaotic; your succubus friend has stirred up a riot. Damn it, may Sigma drop his hammer and crush her.”
“A riot?” Jenna’s heart tightened, saying, “No, this is not her fault; I dragged her into this. I need to persuade her to stop.”
“I only know that many have died because of her,” the old man said. “Your Grace, do you need anything?”
Jenna sat on a stone bed, adjusting her golden hair behind her, and asked, “Is there a restroom here?”
“Of course.”
After Jenna took care of her small physiological needs and used divine magic to clean the dirt from her body.
She climbed the layered stone staircase of the basement, reaching the end at the feet of the statue of Sigma.
Unlike the formless God of Dawn, Sigma had an actual statue. A three-meter-high statue of Sigma stood in the church, depicting a muscular human warrior clad in chainmail, wielding a war hammer, exuding a barbaric aura.
When he ascended to godhood, human civilization was still in the tribal era. He united various human tribes to form an empire, crowned as king.
Now, at the feet of this empire’s first emperor, a crowd of citizens seeking refuge had gathered. The church benches had been moved outside to accommodate more turning to the faithful for help.
The worshippers wept softly, or knelt before the statue, praying for Sigma’s protection from the curse of evil.
Saint Jenna’s heart ached as she looked around the crying church; she touched the luminous “Perfect Goodness Necklace” at her neck, clasped her hands, and softly prayed to Sigma for Jima’s forgiveness.
Although she knew it wouldn’t be of any use, at least it could provide her some comfort.
An elderly man in a monk’s robe, thin and frail, led the way; the worshippers parted to make a path, and Saint Jenna followed behind.
A woman carrying an infant crawled on the ground, her head bowed toward the statue of Sigma, crying out, “Sigma above, lord of the empire, please heal my daughter.”
Saint Jenna’s gaze lingered on her, and she couldn’t help but stop.
The woman’s dull skirt had several patches, and there were stains of deep red blood on the hem, with a wooden board strapped to her calf.
Jenna asked the old man ahead, “What happened to her?”
The old man turned his head, his ancient face peeking out from beneath his hood, and said, “On the road, a group of ruffians struck her with swords; it is a miracle she made it to the church. We gave her some simple treatment and blessings, hoping Sigma can bless her to survive.”
Feeling guilt, Jenna said, “I can heal her.”
“Go ahead.”
Jenna squatted down, matching the woman’s height. A gentle smile appeared on her oval face as she said, “Do you need help with your injuries?”
“Milady, are you an… angel?” The woman, seeing Jenna shining with silver light, stammered as she clearly shrunk back but still summoned the courage to say, “Yes, very much so.”
Jenna extended her right hand glowing with white light: “Crouch down so my hand can touch your wounds.”
“Can you first heal my precious little darling?” The woman, still on her knees, revealed the baby tightly wrapped in layers of cloth. A strong smell of blood wafted from it.
“Of course, she is so cute; you must be an incredible mother.”
The woman couldn’t help but tear up, saying, “Thank you; you are such a kind person.”
As Jenna extended her hand, she touched the baby’s warm little face. With such thick clothing, and in summer, the baby couldn’t possibly be so cool. She reached deeper, feeling the fabric soaked with sticky blood.
Jenna’s green eyes instantly moistened; the white light in her right hand didn’t disappear because she could not heal the dead.
“I’m sorry,” Jenna said, “she has already died.”
“No, no! You’re lying,” the woman shouted, continuing to crawl toward the statue of Sigma, her forehead banging on the ground as she pleaded, “Sigma above, please save your devout servant.”
Hoping for Sigma to perform a miracle and bring her daughter back to life. She was so fervent that she failed to realize Jenna had healed her own wounds.
The elderly man’s voice held no emotion: “She was clutching the infant, and when the ruffians struck her, she instinctively blocked with whatever she could. A spark from the battle of great figures falling upon ordinary people is like a mountain.”
Jenna wiped her reddened eyes with her sleeve at this moment; the “Perfect Goodness Necklace” trembled slightly, and a stream of questions filled her heart.
“I will end this disaster,” Jenna murmured as she walked, “it must be fast, it must be fast.”
The church’s large doors shut behind her, and the weeping of the faithful ceased.
A horse-drawn carriage stained with blood stopped in front of her, and sitting atop was Vanhyssen. Upon seeing Jenna, he whistled: “Look, Is, you’ve really made a mess of the whole city for her. If anyone is unhappy, just bring them over to admire this girl’s face.”
“That’s nonsense; the culprit is Jima,” the car door opened, revealing Is inside with the High Chanting Priest, who extended his hand to Jenna and said, “Jenna, you are still as beautiful as ever. Now, shall we return together to see the truth from years ago? If you can heal my wounds, I’d be even more grateful.”
“Can you end this riot?”
“Of course, as long as you are willing to help.”
Jenna hesitated for a moment.
“Just right, I can too; I have a good plan.” A familiar voice rang out, and Vanhyssen on the carriage’s roof immediately raised the silver crossbow.
There, a black-haired girl in a red cloak walked toward the carriage confidently, her face wearing a playful smile. The distant flames illuminated her profile; she spread her arms and said to Jenna, “Sister Jenna, are you interested in a little contest between Is and me?”
———
Kaven, Kaven, Kaven; it feels like my brain cells are severely injured, and I haven’t recovered yet.
