Church

Of course, Lu Yuan needed to eat first.

The port of Grim was already bustling with people in the early morning. Many laborers in gray shirts had taken to the streets, chatting with their friends while munching on brownish-black bread.

I came out of Mrs. Green's bakery.

Lu Yuan now had two freshly baked loaves of bread and a small bottle of milk in his hands.

"To church." Lu Yuan flagged down a light blue rickshaw.

The driver was a dark-skinned young man who was squatting by the roadside eating a dark bread.

His eyes lit up when he heard the word "church".

He swallowed the bread in a few bites, wiped his mouth, and said, "Sir, that's the central area, it's far away, it'll cost fifteen copper coins."

Lu Yuan didn't haggle and got into the car.

The rickshaws passed through the crowded and noisy slums, and the fishy and musty smells in the air gradually faded away.

As the uneven bluestone pavement transformed into a neat black avenue, the surrounding landscape underwent a dramatic change.

The low shacks have disappeared, replaced by detached villas with private gardens.

The streets are lined with neatly trimmed sycamore trees, making even the sunlight seem brighter.

"Sir, the road ahead is only accessible on foot." The driver stopped at an intersection and pointed ahead.

"The church stipulates that, in order to show piety, everyone must walk the last mile."

"But it's very close. Sir, just walk along this road and you'll see the church." The driver pointed in a direction; it was the middle road of the three roads.

Lu Yuan nodded, paid the money, and stepped alone onto the wide, white avenue made of marble.

At the end of the avenue, a magnificent Gothic spire pierces the sky.

The gray-white exterior walls reflect a holy glow in the sunlight, and the huge stained-glass windows are covered with intricate religious patterns.

Beneath that sacred aura, Lu Yuan felt a faint sense of repulsion.

"Is the Dream Sect rejecting the Church? Or is it...?"

Lu Yuan continued forward expressionlessly, and as he got closer, he realized that quite a few people were already waiting at the church entrance.

Before Lu Yuan could even step through the gate...

A nun dressed in white robes walked out, holding a huge horn.

"Ugh-"

As the nun played her flute, a low growl, like that of some giant beast, immediately spread out.

People who were queuing in the square stopped what they were doing and bowed their heads in devout prayer.

Lu Yuan suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, and a nauseating feeling surged up.

"So obvious?" Lu Yuan's expression changed slightly. He forcibly suppressed his physical discomfort and approached a man who was in line.

"Friend, do you know what this is all about?" Lu Yuan approached a man not far away and struck up a conversation.

"Huh? You don't know?" The man was somewhat surprised when he heard Lu Yuan's question.

But when she looked up at the black-haired, black-eyed man in front of her, she immediately understood something.

"Brother, you've just arrived in Grim Harbor? That's normal, you don't know." the man continued.

"The church stationed in Grimm is the kind of people who believe in angels. They play this every day when they open their doors," the man said, pointing to the huge horn in the nun's hand.

"It's kind of a routine prayer. After that, just queue up as usual to go in. But bro, you don't look like a local. Are you here for a medical checkup too?"

The man looked at Lu Yuan and asked in return.

"I just arrived recently and I'm planning to buy some holy water and medicinal herbs." Lu Yuan frowned as he looked at the long queue that had already formed in front of him.

"Go that way, that's where they sell medicine and holy water."

The man pointed out a path to Lu Yuan, but then stood at the very back of the line.

"I'm here for a medical checkup, and I'd also like to pick up my monthly dose of holy water."

Lu Yuan thanked him and walked in the direction the man pointed.

After walking a short distance to the left, I saw a small door that was already open.

Upon entering, one sees a wooden cabinet.

A nun dressed in white robes sat upright in a chair, her head bowed as she flipped through a scripture, her lips slightly parted as if in prayer.

Hearing footsteps, the nun raised her head, her eyes filled with confusion.

"Lost sheep, what do you need?"

"I need some medicinal herbs and holy water," Lu Yuan said, taking out a piece of paper. "This lists the types and quantities of medicinal herbs I need."

The nun stepped forward, took the medicine, glanced at it, and looked up, saying, "This medicinal herb is uncommon, doctor?"

"Yes, Leisen's friend, here to take over for a while," Lu Yuan said, delivering his prepared statement.

"Dr. Lyssen?" The nun's smile froze for a moment, her eyes becoming somewhat enigmatic. "He hasn't come to confess to the angels in a long time. I hope... he's doing well."

"You know Leisen?" A sense of unease rose in Lu Yuan's heart.

If he really is Leisen's friend, I have to be very careful with my words. If I slip up, my identity may be exposed.

I guess so.

The nun seemed unwilling to discuss these matters and took the initiative to end the conversation.

"However, now that you've taken over Lysen's clinic, you're considered a doctor in Grimport. According to regulations, you can purchase different grades of holy water."

"So what level of holy water do you need?"

"What are the different levels?" Lu Yuan asked.

"Beginner, intermediate, advanced." The nun flipped through the manual on the counter, then added, "You can buy unlimited beginner holy water, you can buy three more intermediate holy waters this month, and you can buy one more advanced holy water within six months."

"What about the price?" Lu Yuan asked, immediately becoming interested.

Holy water was indeed divided into different types, but I don't know the specific differences between them.

Of course, if the price was right, Lu Yuan would love to bring back a bottle of each kind to take a look.

"One silver shield, ten silver shields, one gold shield," the nun announced the prices.

"Two bottles of basic holy water, two bottles of intermediate holy water, and no need for advanced holy water for now."

Lu Yuan decisively abandoned his plan to buy high-grade holy water, as he had very limited Imperial Shields in his pocket.

Unless you give up buying other medicinal herbs, but those herbs are for upgrading skill levels, you can only temporarily give up high-level holy water.

After a quick calculation, the nun quoted the final price.

"Eighty silver shields."

Lu Yuan handed over the golden shield he was carrying.

"Thank you for your generosity."

The nun took the golden shield and then led Lu Yuan into a deep, dark corridor.

The interior of the church is far more open than it appears from the outside.

Straight Roman columns stand regularly on the perimeter, and the stained glass windows, illuminated by sunlight, give the corridor a dreamlike quality.

The smiling angels carved on the walls appeared somewhat sacred under the colorful light.

Lu Yuan followed the nun until they reached a room where they stopped. It was then that Lu Yuan learned what the holy water actually was.

"Holy water must be drawn from the holy spring by believers themselves in order to receive the blessings of the angels," the nun whispered behind Lu Yuan.