Chapter 108 I am the Archbishop of the East Ring (Request for Full Subscription)

Lu Luo’s breakfast was some kind of animal sashimi he’d snagged from a waiter while passing a clubhouse. He wasn’t usually fond of raw food, but after trying it, he was surprised to find it quite good. And thanks to being a Devourer, viruses and such weren’t much of a concern. Despite having over 30,000 in funds, Lu Luo still opted for the rail transit. If he weren’t truly poor, who would do such a thing!When he arrived at Han Shiyu’s dormitory, he happened to run into Qi Xinzhu at the doorway. At this moment, Qi Xinzhu was wearing a striking Church warrior uniform, tight around the waist, perfectly accentuating her impressive curves. Lu Luo couldn’t help but look twice. Hmm, this is much more interesting than those loose believer robes she’d worn before. Looking at Qi Xinzhu’s long, well-proportioned legs, Lu Luo couldn’t help but compare them to Li Qinglian’s from the night before. She’s a Transcendent, after all. Her strength and constitution should be much greater. "What are you looking at? Strength and constitution?" Qi Xinzhu furrowed her brow, interrupting Lu Luo’s train of thought. As they drew closer, she detected a mixed scent on Lu Luo. It was a blend of male and female sweat mixed with perfume, along with other scents she couldn’t quite identify. This combination of smells, however, somehow soured Qi Xinzhu’s mood slightly, making her attitude toward Lu Luo a bit unfriendly. "Uh, I was checking to see if you wore the Church warrior uniform properly. It’s a serious matter, after all." Lu Luo marveled at his own quick wit; he couldn’t very well say he was staring at her legs! Qi Xinzhu glanced at Lu Luo. Seeing that his expression didn’t seem feigned, she softened her slightly harsh demeanor and even apologized. "Sorry for being a bit rude just now. So, how do I look today? I don’t want to be disrespectful when I meet Archbishop Qiao Xing." Feeling even more embarrassed by Qi Xinzhu’s words, Lu Luo carefully examined her attire and affirmed, "You’re dressed very appropriately. It perfectly showcases your excellent qualities and temperament. There shouldn’t be any issues." What Lu Luo referred to as excellent qualities and temperament were Qi Xinzhu’s alluring figure and ample bust. Qi Xinzhu, however, simply thought Lu Luo was complimenting her proper attire and smiled. "That’s good. Thank you for your compliments." After the two entered Han Shiyu’s room, the first thing Han Shiyu did upon seeing Lu Luo was to furrow her brow and sniff the air. Seeing her do this, Lu Luo instantly felt a sense of unease. Do all these women have the noses of hounds? Are they really that sensitive? Han Shiyu gave Lu Luo a somewhat stern glare but said nothing, instead turning to retrieve an introductory letter and handing it to Qi Xinzhu. "You can go with this letter of introduction. Although Archbishop Qiao Xing is quite a stubborn man, he’ll still show me enough respect to allow you entry. In the East Ring’s Church district, the main problem you’ll face will be being targeted by other Church members, especially you, Lu Luo. You aren’t even a Church member, so there will undoubtedly be members who challenge you. When that time comes, how you handle it will be up to you." "I understand, Professor Han. Don’t worry." Han Shiyu nodded. "I have considerable confidence in how Lu Luo handles things. Xinzhu, if there are things in your training that you can’t figure out, you can actually ask Lu Luo." "Me? Ask him for advice? But he doesn’t even have Holy Radiance, and he hasn’t learned any Church Martial Arts!" Qi Xinzhu was somewhat puzzled by Han Shiyu’s suggestion, but Han Shiyu didn’t plan on explaining. "When you truly find yourself at a loss, you’ll understand Lu Luo’s abilities. Alright, Xinzhu, you go out first. Lu Luo, stay behind; I have something to discuss with you alone." "Oh, got it." Qi Xinzhu was curious about what Han Shiyu wanted to say to Lu Luo, but respecting others’ secrets was also one of the doctrines. After Qi Xinzhu left, a playful expression immediately crossed Han Shiyu’s face. "Seems like you had quite a blast last night." "What are you talking about, Professor Han? I was home asleep all night." Confess and be lenient? More like confess and rot in jail. Resist and be strict? More like resist and go home for New Year’s. There was no way I was admitting anything, not in this lifetime. As long as I don’t admit it, it’s as if it never happened. "Come on, you reek so strongly of a woman’s scent that anyone with a working nose could smell it." "Uh..." Han Shiyu tapped the desk and gave Lu Luo a provocative tilt of her chin. "Besides, if you want to relieve some stress, it’s not that you can’t. And clearly, there’s a better woman right beside you. Her abilities, combat prowess, healing... surely those would be helpful to you, right? So why are you indifferent?" Better? Combat, healing? Is Professor Han talking about herself? Lu Luo looked surprised, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards Han Shiyu’s chest badge. "You rascal." Even though Lu Luo’s answer was completely off-topic, why did it sound so pleasant? "What are you thinking? I’m your teacher; we’re not of the same generation. I’m talking about Qi Xinzhu. I think you should focus more on her. Isn’t she pretty enough for you?" "Huh?" This wasn’t a hint; it was an outright, blatant declaration! What on earth is Han Shiyu thinking? Pushing Qi Xinzhu onto me? Romance is about feelings. I just want a free ride; isn’t this pushing her into a fiery pit? Pfft, how could *I* be considered a fiery pit? "Professor Han, I honestly think you’re much better than Qi Xinzhu." Han Shiyu’s expression changed. She initially wanted to get angry, but then inexplicably blushed and finally could only say with a sigh, "Fine, just go." "Alright, I’m off then, Professor Han." After Lu Luo left, Han Shiyu took out a diary and began writing in it with Holy Radiance. [In its years of acting with impunity, the Church has deviated from the Holy Light. We can no longer stop the Judgment Chief’s ambitions; not even His Holiness the Pope can. Fortunately, I’ve discovered a second Dawn Disc outside the Church. It’s about to awaken and lead us toward a new light.] After she finished writing, the diary vanished mysteriously. Han Shiyu’s gaze shifted towards where Qi Xinzhu had left. Xinzhu, men are impatient. You need to step up your game! ... In a room within the church district, Bai Yuetong lay on the bed, utterly bewildered. She hadn’t expected to be beaten, nor to cry so miserably! Only later did it dawn on her, and she mentally cursed Lu Luo’s entire lineage. That bastard! One punch made me throw up everything I ate, and he even took 500 yuan from Yan Danqin! He’s truly despicable! Bai Yuetong lay on the bed, rubbing her stomach, where the fist-shaped bruise stood out starkly on her fair skin. No, I can’t let anyone else know about this. Sigh, without a Priest’s healing, who knows how long it will take to fade? I hope it doesn’t leave a scar. As Bai Yuetong examined her injury, a very cheerful little girl’s voice came from her doorway. "Sister Yuetong, Mom’s calling you for dinner." "Got it, Xiao Mi. Tell your mom I’ll be right there." Quickly putting on her clothes and shoes, Bai Yuetong prepared to go out for dinner. Because of her special status and somewhat willful personality, Bai Yuetong’s accommodations had already been arranged before she came to the Fourth Ring. She could go to the Fourth Ring, but her safety had to be ensured. So, her lodgings were arranged at the home of Archbishop Qiao Xing in the East Ring. The little girl who had just called her to dinner was Archbishop Qiao Xing’s daughter, Qiao Xiao Mi. The little girl’s mother, Li Lan, was an ordinary housewife from the Fourth Ring. As the residence of the East Ring’s Archbishop, it was arguably the safest place in the entire East Ring. What surprised Bai Yuetong, however, was how remarkably humble the place was, with wooden furnishings, a few simple handicrafts, and the little girl’s doodles. Beyond that, the house contained almost nothing remarkable or valuable. If one were to tell a stranger that this was the home of the East Ring’s Archbishop, many would not believe it. Marrying an ordinary woman from the Fourth Ring, living in an ordinary residence in the Fourth Ring—Archbishop Qiao Xing was indeed a remarkably modest and unconventional Believer. After descending the stairs and taking a seat at the dining table, Bai Yuetong found herself staring at the rather meager dishes, somewhat lost in thought. It wasn’t that she looked down on them; she was purely curious about the unfamiliar. These were dishes Li Lan had meticulously prepared for her, yet they were still very simple. Bai Yuetong, for instance, had never tasted anything like Fourth Ring grain sticks. "Miss Bai, please eat." Qiao Xing was a very handsome middle-aged man with neatly groomed hair. He wore only a simple Priest’s robe, but it was impeccably clean. Though he spoke with great politeness, Bai Yuetong still sensed a certain cold detachment from him, a distance that kept others at arm’s length. "Please, don’t call me Miss Bai anymore, Archbishop Qiao Xing. You can call me Xiao Bai, or Yuetong. Compared to you, Your Eminence, I’m just an ordinary person." Bai Yuetong was very humble in Archbishop Qiao Xing’s presence, yet he showed no intention of changing how he addressed her, rigidly stating, "You’re being too modest, Miss Bai. I’m aware you’re a genius mechanic from the Inner Ring." Li Lan, noticing the surprise on Bai Yuetong’s face as she looked at the dishes, felt a little embarrassed. "Miss Bai, you haven’t eaten Fourth Ring food before, have you? It’s a bit plain, but I hope the taste is alright." "There’s no need to be so formal, Auntie Li Lan. This is fine for me." "Sister Yuetong is so pretty!" Qiao Xiao Mi said with a giggle, munching on a grain stick. Hearing the child compliment her, Bai Yuetong naturally felt pleased and patted Qiao Xiao Mi’s head. "Xiao Mi is very pretty too!" The family ate together in harmony. Although the meal was simple and rustic, there was an air of domestic bliss that filled Bai Yuetong with a touch of unexpected envy. "Honey, you’re starting to teach today, aren’t you? Are you not leading prayers anymore?" Li Lan, also a Believer, had some understanding of her husband’s work. "Yes, I need to conduct some training for people from the Inner Ring and some outstanding students from other church districts." "Such training happens every year! Those people are so troublesome! Because of them, you can’t even pray on time." Bai Yuetong had expected Archbishop Qiao Xing to say something about it being for the Church, a duty he couldn’t shirk. However, what he said next was something she never anticipated. "Don’t say that; after all, it’s a chance to earn a bit more money." This wasn’t the most surprising thing to Bai Yuetong, as the conversation that followed was even more astonishing. "That makes sense. Honey, with your current income, how many years would it take to buy a house in the Inner Ring?" "Around ten years, I suppose." "That long!" "Yes, houses in the Inner Ring are very expensive." Archbishop Qiao Xing took a sip from his thermos, revealing the faint red of goji berries inside. "Then, what if we both worked hard? How long would it take then?" As they discussed this, Bai Yuetong felt a subtle tension fill the room. Archbishop Qiao Xing slowly put down his teacup, sighed, and said in an inscrutable tone, "With your income included, it would take about thirty years." Li Lan: "?" Qiao Xiao Mi: "??" Bai Yuetong: "???" Just when Bai Yuetong thought the conversation was over, Archbishop Qiao Xing unexpectedly added, "Thirty years, and that would barely cover the down payment." "Honey, do you find yourself very amusing?" Li Lan was somewhat displeased. "Never mind, I’m off to work. I still don’t know what this year’s students are like. It’s getting late; I should go see." Archbishop Qiao Xing gazed into the distance, exuding an air of profound wisdom, but only Li Lan, who knew him well, understood he was trying to escape. But being an old married couple, she naturally didn’t expose him. "Alright, alright, hurry along. Those students are waiting for you." Watching this family from the sidelines, Bai Yuetong found it hard to imagine that the household of an Archbishop could be so ordinary. She had met other Archbishops, but Qiao Xing gave her an entirely different impression. "Xiao Bai, just leave the dishes there!" "No need, I can help." Bai Yuetong helped Li Lan with the dishes. Although she had many character flaws and was prone to putting on airs, she knew this wasn’t the place for such behavior. Qiao Xing, Li Lan, and Qiao Xiao Mi were all genuinely good people. "Looks like it’s going to rain! I wonder when we’ll see a clear sky again," Li Lan murmured, gazing at the gloomy sky. "Xiao Mi, go take an umbrella to your dad so he doesn’t get caught in the rain later." "Alright, I’m on it!" Qiao Xiao Mi chirped. Bai Yuetong was also interested in Archbishop Qiao Xing’s instruction and spoke up, "Let me go with Xiao Mi to take the umbrella to Archbishop Qiao Xing. It’s too cumbersome for her to carry such a large umbrella alone."