my pokemon player.

'Your choice'

Karina stared at Li Xiang's face in a daze, her eyes, which had just been filled with tears, were now filled with complex emotions.

She seemed to want to refute, to emphasize once again the horror and evil of the Shadow Church, and to paint a beautiful picture of free life.

But the determination in Li Xiang's eyes and the desire to control her own destiny made her unable to say the words.

She understood this desire all too well because she had felt similarly.

When she was struggling to survive on Blood Prison Island, when she was climbing up the Shadow Church by stepping on corpses, and even when she was sinking in countless nightmares, she had experienced this suffocating feeling of having no control over her fate.

So she could understand Li Xiang's thoughts, but even though she understood, she still didn't want Li Xiang to stay in the Shadow Church.

"Have you ever thought about this?" Karina's voice was a little dry, with a barely perceptible tremor, "Your choice may be a road of no return."

"If you stay in the Shadow Church, every step you take in the future may lead to eternal damnation. Even a priest like me cannot control my own destiny. Your situation will only be more dangerous than mine."

Although Karina still fought back, Li Xiang could hear some hesitation in her words.

Sure enough, the experts in the analysis group were right - if you really can't find a suitable reason, then just attribute it to dreams and fate.

These two reasons may not be very useful in modern society, but they are perfect for a game world with a medieval background.

Seeing that Karina was hesitant, Li Xiang struck while the iron was hot:

"Yes, it is indeed dangerous to stay in the Shadow Church. Through the Blood Hell Trial and your description, I also know how dark and cruel it is there."

"But it is precisely because I know this that I want to go. There is nothing wrong with the law of the jungle. At least it can provide us with a plan to become stronger and a ladder to control our destiny."

He paused, looking directly at Karina, as if he could penetrate her heart:
"Lady Karina, you are a priest of the Shadow Church, so you should know the place very well."

"Can you tell me, other than becoming stronger there and climbing to a higher position, is there any way to truly escape its shadow?"

"Hide your identity? Flee far away? This is just escaping. It is handing our fate over to the unknown fear. As long as the Shadow Church exists, we will never have peace!"

“Only by going deep into it, understanding it, using it, and finally controlling it, or destroying it, can you truly gain the freedom you desire and see the mountains and rivers with peace of mind.”

Karina's eyes widened instantly when she heard this, as if she had heard a fairy tale: "Control it? Destroy it?"

"Xiao Yu'er, are you really not injured?" She glanced at Li Xiang's head with some concern, "I heard that some injuries cannot be seen."

As she spoke, she subconsciously raised her hand, as if she wanted to touch Li Xiang's forehead to check if his head was injured.

Li Xiang dodged Karina's outstretched hand and said helplessly: "I am not injured, and there is nothing wrong with my brain. This is what I really think."

Karina frowned upon seeing this and retorted in a low voice: "Then you are too arrogant. You don't understand the horror of the church at all!"

"Forget about destroying the Shadow Church. You'll be lucky if you don't get swallowed by the darkness in the church. You'll most likely die there!"

"Maybe." Li Xiang did not argue, but just pulled the corners of his mouth and revealed a resolute smile.

"But this is the path I have chosen. No matter what the final outcome is, I will accept it. At least this is the first step I have taken."

He looked at Karina and said sincerely, "You chose to sink in the Shadow Church because you gave up on yourself and had no other choice."

"Fate has pressed you into the mud, not allowing you to struggle, but are you really willing?"

Without waiting for Karina to answer, Li Xiang spoke first: "Anyway, I am unwilling to give up. I want to try to break it, even if it means being shattered to pieces, to see how far I can go."

"Staying in the church is the first step for me to break my fate. I need power, status, and a foothold. The Shadow Church is the quickest way I can find."

Karina murmured to herself: "Shortcut?"

She was silent, as if she was having a fierce ideological struggle.

Li Xiang's words were like a stone thrown into the lake of her heart, causing ripples.

Fear, worry, confusion, and a hint of shock at his determination all surged in Karina's heart.

She had just decided to seize the new life brought by Li Xiang, but now she had to watch him walk towards a dark and unknown future?

Karina opened her mouth and wanted to dissuade him again, but in the end all the words were stuck in her throat.

Because she saw the unquestionable determination in Li Xiang's eyes, which meant that Li Xiang had made up his mind.

So where should she go from here?
Karina simply thought about it for a moment and came up with the answer.

This was not a difficult problem. From the moment she woke up and saw Li Xiang, she secretly vowed that she would hold Li Xiang's hand tightly for the rest of her life and the two would never be separated.

So Karina did not dissuade him any further, but asked softly, "Have you made up your mind to stay in the Shadow Church?"

Li Xiang did not avoid her gaze and nodded slowly: "Yes, I must go back."

Karina stared into Li Xiang's eyes and suddenly smiled with relief: "Okay, I will stay with you in the Shadow Church and go on with you."

Although Li Xiang was confident that he could convince Karina, he was still stunned when he heard Karina agreed so quickly.

Seeing this, Karina chuckled and said, "Why? Do you think I would abandon you and run away alone? Who do you think I am!"

"I said, I will never let go this time. Even if there is an endless abyss ahead, as long as you are by my side, I will jump in without hesitation!"

Li Xiang looked at Karina's bright smile, feeling her undisguised passionate emotions, and his heart was inevitably touched.

He turned his head unconsciously, unwilling to look directly into those eyes full of tenderness and trust, and asked:
"Have you really thought it through? Just like you said, we might die!"

"So what? If you can sacrifice your life for me, then I can too!"

Karina said firmly, her eyes becoming increasingly fiery.

"Even if I want to take action against the guardians of the church, will you join me?" Li Xiang asked.

"Protector Ram? I've disliked him for a long time!" Karina answered nonchalantly.

"In fact, even if you don't do anything to him, I will find a way to get rid of him. After all, you killed his confidant. If you don't get rid of him, he will always be a hidden danger."

Her tone was cold and her eyes flashed with murderous intent. She would kill anyone who might hurt Li Xiang!
"But."

Li Xiang wanted to say something else, but was interrupted by Karina.

"Well, we've been here long enough, it's time to go meet Monroe and the others."

"Since they are on the same boat with you, I will spare them for now and train them as my confidants in the future."

Li Xiang also quickly adjusted his mood and responded with a smile: "Then I will thank Lady Karina on their behalf."

"What did you call me?" Karina looked at Li Xiang with dissatisfaction, with a hint of resentment in her eyes.

Li Xiang was puzzled and asked, "Lady Karina, didn't you ask me to call you that?"

"That was in the past. Now that we have such a close relationship, do you still want to call me Sir?"

Karina bit her lower lip and said, her charm was mixed with a bit of pity, which made people want to pity her. Li Xiang raised his eyebrows and thought, is this the so-called pure desire style?

He had only seen it online before, and the ones he met in real life were all pure Prison Wind. He didn't expect to see it with his own eyes in the game.

I have to admit that this look is indeed very lethal, but it's a pity that it is useless against Li Xiang.

But in order to complete the task, Li Xiang still followed her words and said:
"Then what should I call you? Should I just call you Karina? Isn't that a bit rude?"

"We are not nobles, so we don't need to follow any etiquette. Besides, I like you."

Having said that, Karina deliberately paused, wanting to observe Li Xiang's reaction.

However, Li Xiang still had a calm expression, which made Karina a little discouraged. Has her charm weakened?
Karina pouted and continued, "I like you to call me Karina, so don't call me Sir anymore, otherwise I will punish you severely!"

Hearing this, Li Xiang subconsciously glanced at Karina's feet. Could her punishment be licking feet again?

Damn it! A gentleman can be killed but not humiliated!
He is not the porridge guy and has no interest in jade feet!

Karina naturally noticed Li Xiang's gaze. For some reason, even though she was considered a veteran, she still felt shy when Li Xiang looked at her like that.

"What are you looking at! Did you hear what I just said?" Karina said angrily.

"As you command, my Karina."

Li Xiang withdrew his gaze and deliberately lowered his voice, with a hint of intimacy in his tone.

Karina then hummed in satisfaction, and the resentment in her eyes was instantly replaced by a smile.

"That's more like it. Remember, in front of you, I'm just Karina, not a priest in the church!"

"Okay, let's go and meet your future subordinates."

She turned around and left first, with brisk steps and humming an unknown song.

Li Xiang looked at her back with complicated eyes, sighed silently, and then followed her.

Soon, Karina met Monroe and others.

The moment Monroe and other members saw Karina, they immediately bowed respectfully:

"Meet the priest!"

Karina waved her hand, motioning them to stand up, and then said in a cold tone:
"I know everything that happened before. First, you knelt down and surrendered to Viscount Ryan, and then you killed the Morde secret guards."

As she spoke, she glanced at Monroe and the others one by one, and the powerful aura of the Shadow Church priest returned to her.

Monroe and the others quickly lowered their heads, not daring to look at Karina, waiting for the judgment of fate.

"According to the rules of the Shadow Church, you are all guilty and must be sacrificed to the Demon Lord."

"But Xiaoyuer pleads for you, let me spare your lives."

Karina turned her head to look at Li Xiang who followed her. Her eyes suddenly became gentle, and even her tone softened.

"It's a rare opportunity for him to ask me for help, so I will eventually agree. Therefore, I can forgive your sins this time."

Monroe and the others heaved a sigh of relief when they heard this, and hurriedly thanked Karina:

"Thank you, Lord Priest!"

Karina shook her head: "Don't thank me, thank Xiao Yu'er instead. You all owe him your life."

When Monroe heard this, he knew that Karina was helping Li Xiang win people's hearts, and he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

It seems that Karina has fallen completely in love with Li Xiang, so their safety in the Shadow Church is initially guaranteed.

So Monroe sincerely thanked Li Xiang: "Thank you, Mr. Xianyu!"

"Thank you, Mr. Xianyu!" Seeing this, the other members also bowed and thanked Li Xiang.

In fact, Karina's move was a bit redundant. No matter what these members really thought, Li Xiang's fate was tied to theirs.

This kind of relationship is much more solid than that between superiors and subordinates. Compared to Kalina, who has not appeared since Ryan raided Blood Prison Island, they are still close to Li Xiang, with whom they have experienced life and death together.

"Xianyu. This name sounds worse and worse, but they don't deserve to call you Xiaoyu'er."

Karina waved her hand and said, "Why not? I'll appoint you as the new secret guard."

After that, she didn't care about Li Xiang's reaction and turned to Monroe and others and gave an order:

"From now on, Xiao Yu'er will be the new secret guard. You will all be under his command. His orders are my orders. Do you understand?"

When these members saw that Karina trusted Li Xiang so much, they were somewhat surprised.

Li Xiang has only been on board for a few days, and he's already a secret guard? This speed is even faster than riding a Dragonite!

However, Monroe and others did not feel jealous. On the one hand, it was because they saw everything Li Xiang did.

This guy was willing to gamble his own life in exchange for Kalina's chance of survival, so being able to become a secret guard is a well-deserved reward for him.

On the other hand, as I said before, they and Li Xiang are in the same boat. The higher Li Xiang's status in the church, the safer their small group will be.

So they all hoped that Li would move up, preferably to replace Karina's position.

So Monroe and others immediately accepted the appointment and saluted respectfully to Li Xiang:

"As you command, I'm here to meet you, Master Dark Guard!"

Li Xiang was also shocked by Karina's sudden appointment. He became a secret guard now?
Although he is still a minor character in the Shadow Church, he has already embarked on a career path!

Li Xiang quickly adapted to his new identity and was about to thank Karina when she gave him a warning look.

It was as if she was saying, "If you dare to be polite to me, I will punish you by making you lick my feet!"

Li Xiang immediately gave up the idea of ​​thanking him and said to Monroe and others:

"No need to be so polite. We are one family. We all prosper together and suffer together."

"So, put away your little thoughts, and from now on, we must work together to face the threats in the church."

These members of the Shadow Church are not stupid since they have survived until now. They immediately understood who the "threat" Li Xiang was talking about was.

If the guardian Ram knew that they had killed Mord together, he would probably make them wish they were dead.

The only way they can survive in the Shadow Church is to hold on to Li Xiang's thighs tightly.

Therefore, as soon as Li Xiang finished speaking, they all responded in unison: "Yes, Master Secret Guard!"

"We will do our best and swear to be loyal to you till death!" (End of this chapter)