Chapter 61: Inviting Ye Guyi (Part 2)
Shi Meng led Ye Guyi through several immaculate streets before finally halting before a building of considerable scale. The structure's exterior was clean and dignified, the distinctive water-blue emblem of the Church of the Water God hanging above its lintel.
"This is the reception hall of our Church of the Water God." Shi Meng pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped aside to let Ye Guyi enter first. "Miss Ye, please rest here for a short while. I'll go report to Her Holiness at once."
Ye Guyi inclined her head slightly and stepped inside. The reception room was spacious and bright, the afternoon sunlight streaming through several carved wooden windows and casting dappled patterns of light and shadow across the floor. Murals depicting the Church of the Water God aiding commoners hung upon the walls, and a few potted emerald-green plants stood in the corners. The entire space was dignified without sacrificing warmth.
Shi Meng was just about to turn and leave when he suddenly remembered something and doubled back. Scratching his head, he added, "If Miss Ye is hungry, please feel free to ask the attendants to prepare some refreshments. They're all complimentary—it's simply our church's way of treating guests." He had originally intended to add a note about the prohibition against taking food to go, but on second thought, someone of Ye Guyi's character would never do such a thing. He swallowed the rest of his words.
"Thank you," Ye Guyi said softly.
"You're far too polite." Shi Meng waved his hands repeatedly. "You saved my life—what's a little hospitality compared to that? Besides, this is simply our church's custom. It has little to do with me personally. I'll take my leave now."
After seeing Shi Meng off, Ye Guyi seated herself in a soft chair by the window. Her gaze drifted absently across the furnishings. A heavy oak table stood at the center of the room, chairs neatly arranged around it. On the bookshelf in the corner were promotional booklets for the Church of the Water God, their covers neatly inscribed with the church's tenets and purpose. The entire environment gave her—a complete stranger here—an inexplicable sense of peace.
At the same time, within the training chamber of the church's inner sanctum, Furina sat with her eyes closed in deep focus, faint halos of water-blue light coiling around her. Ever since she'd completed the missing portions of the Water God Tome, her cultivation speed had markedly accelerated, her soul power flowing through her meridians with ever greater fluidity and ease.
"At this rate, breaking through to rank forty-five before heading to Shrek Academy shouldn't be a problem." Furina slowly withdrew from her meditation and opened her eyes, a keen glint flashing through them. She understood deeply that in this world, strength was the ultimate foundation—especially for someone like her, a self-proclaimed "Pope" who claimed to be the reincarnation of the Water God.
She carefully calculated the plans ahead. Given her current age—not much older than Huo Yuhao—along with her soul power and the natural talent of twin martial souls, enrolling in Shrek Academy would naturally pose no challenge. Moreover, she had four city lord protectors under her command; any one of them could secure her a recommendation slot.
"Though Shrek's teaching standards leave much to be desired, their fierce protectiveness of their own is beyond doubt," Furina murmured, lightly stroking her chin. "And when it comes to opposing the ever-more-rampant evil soul masters, Shrek truly is an excellent platform."
Thinking of Shrek Academy, several familiar names surfaced unbidden in her mind. That girl Xiao Xiao, who had so recklessly attached a hundred-year soul ring to her second martial soul just to catch the academy's attention—sheer, wanton waste of heaven-sent talent. And the Shrek Seven Monsters, led by Ma Xiaotao, most of whom would eventually fall under the guidance of a certain Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult... Though she herself wasn't particularly fond of Ma Xiaotao, and Dai Yueheng's father and younger brother had grievances with Huo Yuhao, the others were decent enough—especially those four like Gong Yangmo.
"So many promising seedlings—if I let their talents go to waste, it would be such a pity." The corner of Furina's lips curved upward. "In that case, why not recruit them all under my banner? I can strengthen the Church of the Water God while altering their fated tragedies."
The thought stirred a flutter of excitement in her, particularly when she imagined possibly encountering "Wang Dong"—the disguised Wang Dong'er.
Meddling in Tang San's schemes certainly carried no small risk. But compared to unknown variables, she far preferred to work with the established course of the plot she already knew.
"Having Tang San's daughter join my faction—that should prove quite entertaining, no?" Furina couldn't suppress a light laugh. "I'm rather looking forward to seeing that touching scene of fatherly love and filial devotion."
She even indulged in a mischievous flight of imagination: if Wang Dong'er still ended up together with Huo Yuhao, then in Tang San's eyes, Huo Yuhao would be nothing but a delinquent punk on a flame-decal motorcycle. That image made her laugh despite herself.
Just as she was lost in these reveries, a knock at the door pulled her back.
"Your Holiness, are you within?" Shi Meng's respectful voice came from outside.
Furina straightened her robes and called out, "The door's unlocked. Come in."
Shi Meng pushed open the door and entered, bowing respectfully. "Your Holiness."
"Ah, Shi Meng. What brings you to me?" Furina asked warmly. She knew well that unless a matter was truly important, the congregation rarely came to her directly—most church affairs were handled by Neuvillette and the various department heads.
Thinking of that tirelessly diligent Water God's Envoy, Furina silently offered her thanks: Neuvillette, you truly work too hard.
"The matter is this..." Shi Meng recounted in full detail his encounter with the young evil soul master and how Ye Guyi had saved his life, placing particular emphasis on the Sacred Angel martial soul's innate ability to counter evil soul masters.
"Shi Meng, you've rendered a great service!" Furina beamed with delight and raised a thumbs-up. "We are in sore need of talent like this."
Though inwardly she was puzzled—why would Ye Guyi, who in the original story should have appeared in the Sun Moon Empire, come to the Star Luo Empire instead?—she quickly set the thought aside. This was likely a new opportunity brought by the shifting worldline, allowing the church to recruit this future angelic soul master ahead of schedule.
"This works out perfectly," Furina mused silently. "The Angel martial soul can advance its cultivation by slaying evil soul masters. In this era where evil soul masters run rampant, it's an ideal match. If properly cultivated, within just a few years Ye Guyi could grow into a Titled Douluo—perhaps even... re-condense the Angel divine seat."
At this thought, her gaze toward Shi Meng grew even more approving. "You've rendered no small merit this time. The church will certainly grant you a fitting reward."
Shi Meng hastily waved his hands. "Your Holiness has already shown me the grace of recognition and opportunity. To contribute to the church is simply my duty."
"Be that as it may, our Church of the Water God has always been clear in its rewards and punishments. I won't let your efforts go unrecognized," Furina insisted. "Tell me—what reward would you like?"
Shi Meng hesitated a moment, then said, "If Your Holiness insists on rewarding me, a hundred contribution points would be enough. I'd like to save up and exchange for something useful on the board later."
"A hundred is far too little. I'll give you three hundred." Furina made the decision with a sweep of her hand.
"Thank you, Your Holiness!" Shi Meng bowed in delighted surprise.
"It's what you've earned. No need for formalities." Furina nodded with a smile. "Now, go and rest. I'll go meet this Miss Ye Guyi myself. I'm already impatient to see this inheritor of the Sacred Angel martial soul."
"Thank you, Your Holiness."