Above Destiny

Chapter 513: Behind the Undercurrent
Something has changed.

Not the same.

During these days, many believers in the East District Central City have felt, more or less, that something is not right.

It’s like, after returning from a long business trip, I suddenly don’t understand the atmosphere of the company, or after returning to school after a serious illness, I can’t figure out the relationships in the class…

Although everything on the street remained the same, and the hymns in the church were still loud, sensitive people could faintly sense that there was a subtle difference...

Obviously, everyone is still warm and polite when they meet each other, and they are still courteous when they talk. But why is it that there is a kind of indescribable alienation and alienation in the smiles and eyes of some people? Even when they occasionally look at others, there is more or less happiness and relaxation, or even... relief and sympathy?

So strange, like something good happened?
Only I was kept in the dark.

"It's so strange. I feel like everyone is avoiding me lately."

"What? What an outrageous idea."

"Last night, I felt like your tone was weird when you answered the phone."

"I was listening to the sermon in the church. I have a cold. I'm sorry."

"Where's Joanna?"

"She was there too. We were attending a lecture together in the mutual aid group. After the lecture, we all went running together to exercise. It's normal to be out of breath, after all, you'll sweat."

"A mutual aid group. I haven't participated in one yet. Can you take me with you?"

"Ah, ah? Well, um, maybe there will be a chance in the future. By the way, how is your work recently? Are you still envious?"

The hesitant girl was evasive and took the initiative to change the subject. The naive young man immediately smiled foolishly, took out the opera ticket he had snatched with great difficulty, made an invitation, and walked down the steps of the church side by side with the girl.

The good times are about to begin.

Unfortunately, a voice came from behind.

"Don't forget to pray in the afternoon."

The kind priest at the gate smiled and reminded the girl, which made her react immediately. She looked apologetic and said, "I'm sorry, I might..."

"No, it's okay. I'll do the same next time!"

The young man forced a smile and stood there dejectedly, watching the girl and the priest walk into the church and disappear around the corner.

For a long time, I was reluctant to leave.

Such scenes, more or less, are happening everywhere. There are more or less strange things, but if we understand them with an open and honest mind, what's the problem?

Everything gets better, doesn't it?
Everyone has become more pious, there are more smiling faces on the streets, and the whole city is filled with an atmosphere of joy.

Even those who had previously been lazy in attending to the sacraments began to listen to the priest's instructions.

However, for some reason, there were many more people doing nothing in the streets and alleys. They looked around furtively, with ambiguous and strange smiles, waiting for a confidant. They walked into the deserted alleys together, and tacitly bought a thick stack of indulgences and a small package of things, stuffed them into their pockets, and went home impatiently.

In this peaceful daily life, few people notice that an invisible tide is rising, spreading and spreading in the dark.

When everyone guarding the gate releases a little more water, thinking they are exercising restraint, the water that gathers downstream will form a terrifying torrent...

"——Our sacrament is flourishing!"

At the end of the month, at the summary meeting of the Eastern Diocese, the Archbishop could not help but dance with joy as he looked at the data compiled from various churches and even the final report.

"It's a miracle. It's really a miracle."

The archbishop, who was in his eighties, had a flushed face and rapid breathing due to excitement, making people worry that he would faint in the conference room in the next moment - but when faced with such exaggerated progress and achievements, who could control himself?

Over the years, as the oldest diocese, the original Eastern Diocese's faith growth has become conservative, and has even declined occasionally, ranking last among the four major dioceses for many years.

Who would have thought that in just one month, the increase in faith would break the record and set a new high!

Even though the growth of each temple was not exaggerated, when combined together, the increase compared to last month's faith contribution reached an incredible 89%!
Increase rapidly! Increase rapidly! Increase as much as possible! Pray, pray, pray, pray!

The archbishop laughed loudly, his face flushed: With such a terrifying growth, who can resist it and win the battle?
If I can keep up this momentum, it won’t be a dream to surpass other dioceses by the end of the month! By then, won’t I be able to rank first and enjoy the honor of the Holy Spirit’s blessing? !
However, in the midst of his wild laughter, he suddenly felt something was wrong. When he came to his senses, he found that the conference room was unexpectedly silent and everyone was stunned.

"Huh? Why is everyone silent?"

"..."

In the awkward and stiff silence, the chief priests stared blankly at the report on the wall. The reserved and complacent smiles with a hint of superiority, as if they were sure of victory, were all frozen on their faces.

incredible.

Especially the six chief priests whose growth was the most exaggerated. After a moment of surprise and shock, they seemed to suddenly understand something and could no longer hold back their glares at each other...

——【Fuck, you opened it too?! 】

In the instant of eye contact, the colors of faces changed continuously, from red to blue, like a traffic light - how come you are involved too!
There is no way. If everyone opens it, it is the same as if no one opens it.

And when everyone packs their bags and leaves their hometown, they will be stuck on the highway, in a dilemma... I originally thought I could be the only one to win the award, and even prepared my acceptance speech, but when I got to the podium, I found that everyone had a share. I had been working for half a month, but I was just standing still!

On the contrary, the old chief priest, who usually had the most obvious advantage, was completely left behind this time and became like everyone else.

At this moment, I was stunned and couldn't believe it.

Looking at those faces that looked like they were constipated, his old face turned red and his teeth were almost broken.

After finally waiting until the meeting was over and the archbishop left humming a song, the old priest slammed the table in anger and said through gritted teeth: "Although I don't understand what you two are doing in secret, it's better to understand that relying on crooked ways is not enough to serve the saint!"

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about." The accused officiant's face suddenly changed, and he refuted flatly: "I don't know any crooked ways, I only see talent and sweat!"

"What? You can't accept seeing others living a good life? Do you know what it means to accumulate strength for a great success?"

“I can achieve what I have today thanks to my own hard work!”

"Oh, in my opinion, you are too proud of your achievements to neglect the holy work, right?!"

"That's right, please watch your face. Do you think you can have the Holy Grace all to yourself? You look ugly!"

The chief priests, who originally had their own ulterior motives, instantly united as one, as if they were united in criticism, as if they had secretly formed an alliance at some point and were united against the outside world.

In the end, after some quarrel, everyone left unhappily.

When the high priest who first cooperated with the resistance camp rushed back to the temple and started to contact Ji Jue for a meeting, he could no longer control his anger: "What's going on with the other temples?!

Why did this happen? " "Oh, I thought you knew... Sales blind spot, I didn't notice it..."

Ji Jue was lying in his chair, savoring his delicious food and wine. After a nonchalant excuse, he actually turned the tables and said, "In the final analysis, it's because you bought too little, right, Officiant?
We in the camp have to support our families, and we are all trying our best to live!"

"What on earth do you want to do!?"

The officiating priest's expression was distorted, and he squeezed out a voice from between his teeth: "I'm warning you, if things get out of hand, it will be bad for everyone!"

"Then go and tell the court."

Ji Jue grinned and laughed mockingly: "Let's see whether the court believes you or not. Let's not talk about others for now, but don't forget to calculate first, how many times our friendship is enough to send you to prison?"

"you you……"

The chief priest froze in place, feeling cold all over. Looking at the face that still had a gentle smile on it, he felt as if he had fallen into an icy cave. His vision went dark and he could hardly breathe.

"Don't worry, don't worry, Master Priest, we can talk. We also want to turn from darkness to light. Aren't we in a hurry to show our own value?"

Ji Jue's tone suddenly changed. He spoke gently and considerately, supporting the chief priest and carrying him to the gorgeous armchair. The chair, which used to be so soft that it could wrap the whole person up, now turned into a huge mouth of the abyss that almost swallowed him completely.

In the dizziness, he hesitated several times and finally could only squeeze out a weak voice: "You guys have done something too big!

If the Holy Seal continues to spread like this and alarms Heavenly City, no one will survive!"

"We want it to overflow, Priest."

Behind him, Ji Jue gently pressed his shoulder, smiling even brighter: "Not only should it spread, but it should also spread to other churches and parishes. We should let everyone get used to the convenience of the new holy seal, so that everyone can pray anytime and anywhere, and get closer to the gods...

Don’t you think that’s a beautiful sight?”

"..."

The chief priest seemed to be petrified, stunned. He raised his head and stared at the reflection in the gorgeous silver mirror. It was as if he saw Ji Jue behind him, as if he saw a real devil.

At this moment, listening to the beautiful scene described by Ji Jue, she could no longer control her trembling and fear and screamed.

Finally, I realized it.

"You, you...are you trying to...dig up the roots of the sect!!!"

"Hmm? Digging roots? What's the point of that? We are just helping the cult, a little bit, to improve its efficiency, right?"

Ji Jue asked in confusion, "Besides, if you're talking about digging up roots, haven't you been doing this since the beginning?

When you support those resistance camps and even provide them with secret funding for the honor of reporting and eradicating heresy and to overthrow your opponents, aren't you endangering the foundation of the cult?
If you really calculate it carefully, the harm you have caused is greater than that of one or two resistance camps, right?"

"Then let's die! Let's die together!!!"

The chief priest was furious: "We will all be imprisoned in the prison and burned for eternity anyway. Even if I die, I will drag you down with me!"

He struggled hard, wanting to stand up and scold, but it was of no avail. He only felt that the pair of hands pressing on his shoulders suddenly turned into iron clamps.

No matter how hard you resist, once you fall into those hands, it will be hard to break free...

Then, I heard some casual words behind me.

"Death? How can you say that?"

Ji Jue chuckled and moved closer, whispering in his ear: "You are our most precious partner in the camp, and we hope that you can rise step by step, take charge of the first district, and become the archbishop.

Now that you have secured victory, you don't want to give up, do you? "

The officiant's face was frozen with anger, and he was confused and unsure, "What... do you mean?"

"Haven't you been doing well?"

Ji Jue complimented considerately, “Use the Holy Seal on a small scale, and concentrate it on a few believers. Even if it is completely consumed, find a place to bury it and it won’t be known.

But your colleagues don't seem to be so cautious - well, maybe it has something to do with not knowing who we are?

Just before I arrived, one after another, people came to place orders, and it seemed that they were about to make a big move in their own temple.

There were even several chief priests who were secretly looking for channels.

You said...if someone is secretly fanning the flames and spreading the news..."

The chief priest was silent and dazed, with only expression and twitching from time to time. He finally understood what Ji Jue meant. He felt fear from the bottom of his heart, yet he couldn't suppress the impulse of excitement.

"You...you want me to report them?"

He trembled instinctively and shook his head: "No, no, it's too big a scene. If the Heavenly City gets angry, I'm afraid even the Archbishop won't be able to withstand it..."

"Then don't you have a chance?"

Behind him, the devil's laughter became more cheerful: "Besides, why bother pretending? Isn't this the same as what you did before?

It's just that you changed your target from the resistance camp to your colleagues... You are clearing up the cult's roots, so why hesitate?"

"me……"

The chief priest was almost speechless and sweating profusely.

"Choose, Priest, choose."

Ji Jue sighed softly, and finally patted his shoulder, "You don't have much time left."

——Either, burn with them forever, or, step on their ashes, step by step, to reach the highest peak!

In the dead silence, I don’t know when, the person behind me left silently.

Only the chief priest was left, gasping for breath.

A long time, a long time.

In those dark eyes, a hungry flame ignited silently.

I am eager to try.

(End of this chapter)