You're my wife, don't doubt it!

Chapter 57 Loreto

2022-12-29

Xiao Yao has lost count of how many times he has visited the Sacred Heart Church across from St. Francis Secondary School.

But a nighttime visit? To his recollection, this was the first time.

In Shen Jie's eyes, who had been an exchange student in Spain, this church could only be described as "old, dilapidated, and small."

As always, the wooden staircase groaned softly under Xiao Yao's footsteps.

At the corner on the second floor, there is a crash barrier mirror that is taller than a person, and in the upper right corner of the mirror, there is a line of text that is neither too big nor too small, arranged vertically.

“You are the image of God.”

"Oh, really?" Xiao Yao couldn't help but make this comment every time he saw this line of text.

He reached out and touched the mirror.

There doesn't seem to be any open passage here.

"Shen Jie." Xiao Yao tilted his head, gesturing for Shen Jie to try as well.

"What are you two doing?" Father Yu poked his head out of his office and urged, "Come in."

The man had already set up a whiteboard in the corner of the office, with a few lines of text written on it.

“The situation is urgent, let’s get straight to the point.” Father Yu circled a few keywords with his pen: “Although it’s not clear why Qian Gui KTV and the school are connected in the target’s cognitive world, we have reason to assume that through the mirror of your school, one can also enter that cognitive school.”

Xiao Yao and Shen Jie nodded in understanding, since the KTV was crowded at night and it would be inconvenient for Shen Jie to go into the men's restroom.

"Our objective is to rescue Yu Luying and Xiong... Xiong..."

“Xiong Ji,” Xiao Yao reminded him.

"Oh well, whatever."

"?"

“The limit is to rescue Zhou Qi, whom you mentioned,” Father Yu tapped the whiteboard. “But based on my deduction, so much time has passed, you should be prepared that she might become your enemy.”

"Why?" Shen Jie asked, "Were you assimilated by that world?"

"The means of escape," Father Yu didn't answer the question, but just rolled his eyes: "The Holy Medal of Our Lady of Loreto in your hands."

Shen Jie looked down at the "holy tablet" in her hand—it looked like an antique that had been around for quite some time.

“I found this on eBay, it wasn’t cheap, so don’t lose it!” Father Yu thought for a moment and added.

"Then how do you use this?" Xiao Yao took the Holy Token from Shen Jie's hand and turned it over: "There are no buttons or switches on it."

A parchment-like scroll—actually made of paper—was tossed onto the table.

"Oh, a return scroll?" Xiao Yao reached out and picked it up.

"The method of use is to read the above scripture correctly."

"This... how am I supposed to read this!" Xiao Yao unfolded the scroll, dumbfounded.

“Latin is not easy to learn, but it’s easy to pronounce. You just need to master the pronunciation rules. Repeat after me first,” Father Yu instructed.

Shen Jie, who hadn't said much, reached out and took the scroll, then began to read it aloud with some hesitation.

"Xiao Shen has studied Latin?" Father Yu was a little surprised.

“Spanish. I was an exchange student in Spain, and the pronunciation rules seem to be similar?” Shen Jie confirmed.

“There are still some differences, mainly here and here…” Father Yu stood up, walked to Shen Jie’s side, and carefully pointed out the differences.

"So the plan is to find Yu Luying, Xiaoxiong, and Zhou Qi, and then use this scroll and the holy token to teleport everyone home, right?" Xiao Yao shifted his position somewhat anxiously.

“You must try your best to follow the rules set by this so-called St. Francis Xavier’s School and integrate into it as students,” Father Yu solemnly instructed. “Avoid provoking the shadows within and try to avoid any conflict.”

"Shadow?" Xiao Yao asked, puzzled.

“For example, that idiot Sekir you mentioned,” Father Yu explained. “These are all products of the perception of the masters of that world—some people also think they are the embodiment of distorted desires. We usually call them shadows. When you were trapped in the hotel room, the green-eyed guy arguing with you was very likely your shadow as well.”

"You call yourself the Shadows? And who are you?" Shen Jie tilted her head.

"Ensuring your own safety is always the top priority—I don't have the manpower to send anyone else to rescue you." Father Yu ignored Shen Jie's question again: "Did you understand?"

"Don't worry, Father." Shen Jie confidently clenched her little fist, making a "slap slap" sound: "I've studied karate."

“In that kind of world, force may not be effective,” Father Yu said, rubbing his forehead. “Even if you want to fight, you have to use the power of the mind, which is too complicated for you.”

"Let's go then, it's getting late." Xiao Yao glanced at the wall clock and stood up.

“If possible,” Father Yu thought for a moment, “help me find some clues, such as who the master of this world is, and why this world came into being. But don’t force me.”

"Understood." Xiao Yao nodded and carefully put the holy token into his pocket.

Then, his fingertips touched something hard.

“This is…” Xiao Yao took the thing out.

A knight's helmet, a goatee, and a pattern on the back that resembles a chess piece.

"This is unbelievable," Xiao Yao muttered to himself, "How could they possibly bring the things inside out?"

"What is this?" Father Yu's gaze fell on Xiao Yao's palm, and the latter briefly explained the origin of the badge to him.

"Let me be healthy."

He handed over the badge, but it seemed to be stuck to his hand, and he couldn't give it to anyone else.

Xiao Yao was dumbfounded again.

“It must be the medium for the spiritual fortress, there’s no mistake.” Father Yu gave Xiao Yao an approving look: “I didn’t expect you to…”

New terms kept emerging, and Xiao Yao and Shen Jie were too lazy to ask anymore.

"In short, you'll know how to use it when you're really in danger." Father Yu waved his hand and turned around. "Although I hope you won't need it, but... with this, your mission will be much safer. Remember, don't be reckless."

After saying goodbye to the priest, the two left the church and walked towards the school across the street.

"Why don't you give me the sacred tablet? After all, I'll be the one reciting the scriptures later." Shen Jie suddenly thought of something.

"Ah good."

“This priest is unlike any I’ve met abroad,” Shen Jie continued. “And he’s clearly hiding a lot from us.”

"Maybe," Xiao Yao replied vaguely, "At least he should want to save her just like us—she's his own niece!"

Luckily, the doorman on duty today is Grandpa Qin.

“This old man is very easy to talk to,” Xiao Yao explained to Shen Jie.

He wouldn't tell her that when he skipped class to go to the internet cafe, he bought cigarettes for Grandpa Qin.

"Did you forget your homework in the classroom?" It was still early, and Grandpa Qin hadn't gone to sleep yet. "Come on in. Is this student also from our school?"

"Yes," Shen Jie replied without batting an eye.

Grandpa Qin adjusted his reading glasses with a puzzled look, but ultimately said nothing. He waved and went back into the gatehouse.

"Your school is a bit... tiny." Shen Jie looked around as she walked across the playground.

"See if you can help me put it in the mirror later," Xiao Yao said, walking with his head down. "Then you can wait for me outside—you can go back first if you want."

The girl stopped in her tracks, and Xiao Yao looked up to meet her questioning gaze.

"I...I don't want you to be in danger..." Xiao Yao said hesitantly.

This is a mess I've made, already dragging Yu Luying and Xiaoxiong into it. How can I implicate more people? Besides, this person is mine, my own…

Shen Jie smiled. This was the first time Xiao Yao had seen her smile so genuinely since he found her at "Shui Mu Nian Shui".

“Then, me too.” Shen Jie’s eyes sparkled.

"Huh? Huh?" Xiao Yao was stunned.

"Alright, stop showing off." The girl took a few quick steps, swung her arms, spun halfway around, and faced Xiao Yao: "Without me, you wouldn't even be able to read that scroll that came out, would you?"

Starting tomorrow, we'll be entering the dungeon again. Posting separately in the morning and afternoon seems a bit fragmented, so let's just post the long chapters together at 3 PM.

Chapter 58 Love Hotel II

2022-12-30

Xiao Yao hesitated for a moment, then accepted Shen Jie's suggestion.

“Then, please take good care of me,” he said.

"Speaking of which, your school may not be very big, but it's not as dilapidated as you say." As they spoke, the two walked into the teaching building.

Xiao Yao shrugged: "Compared to your school, it's definitely small and run-down, and... I always feel like there's a filter in the mirror world."

Shen Jie laughed and said, "It's much bigger than I imagined, and there are some incredible things about it."

"What, your sharp eyes have already spotted that our school is full of incredible talents? Like...?"

"For example, in our school, you can't get in without alerting the principal."

Xiao Yao didn't know what to say, so he just chuckled twice.