Ark Heroine Development Plan

"Just because you have a bad expression when talking about someone doesn't mean you hate her."

"That expression of yours, instead of saying you hate her, it's more like saying..."

The nun blinked and smiled meaningfully.

"'Why are you such a person?'"

Chen was stunned.

"That's not disgust, kid."

The nun gently stroked Chen Weiliang's hand. "That's frustration, that's reluctance. To be more precise, you sincerely hope that person will become a better person. You hope that person... will become the perfect person in your mind."

"No, I... I haven't thought about it that way!" Chen shook his head vigorously. "What happens to her is her business. What does it have to do with me? I—"

"Well, little girl, can you answer me in the affirmative? Have you really never thought about this?"

The nun stared into Chen's eyes seriously and said, "Have you really never thought about or expected her to become a better person?"

Chen was a little dazed as he looked into the eyes of the nun.

She thought of the orphanage, of many mornings, noons, and afternoons.

That was the only place where she and I had any intersection, and the only place where we didn't quarrel when we were together.

The woman named Guan Yueli always played with the children with a patience that she could not understand, or watched them from afar with a tenderness that she could not imagine. She would sit alone in a rocking chair, enjoying the sunshine, with one or two children taking a nap lying on her body. Everything was peaceful and good.

She recalled the words Guan Yueli had spoken to her as they walked down the street, holding the sleeping girl. This woman, who could split the world in two with a single blow, was seriously considering all the orphans in an orphanage, considering their lives and futures. Her far-sightedness and wisdom were genuine.

She is obviously a very good person, and she could have become a very good person if she could change her bad character and faults.

Did Chen really never think so?

"It seems you already have the answer in your heart." The nun did not look at Chen again. She turned her head to look at the moon in the sky and said softly, "Little girl, when you are young, don't deceive yourself in love, otherwise you will regret it for the rest of your life."

"You obviously like her, why do you force yourself to hate her?"

Chen's heart skipped a beat.

She jumped up suddenly, and Chi Xiao in her windbreaker almost fell to the ground. Blood rushed from her chest to her neck in an instant, dyeing her cheeks crimson.

I don’t know how many elements are mixed in, but generally speaking, it is mostly shock and anger.

"How could I possibly like her?!"

Hearing Chen's suddenly raised voice, the nun covered her mouth and laughed, "Okay, okay, you don't like her."

This obviously perfunctory tone made Chen even more unhappy: "No matter who I like, I can never like her, absolutely!"

"You child..." The nun shook her head, pulled Chen's sleeve, and motioned her to sit down. "Is it shameful to like your own mother?"

"So I—"

"..."

"..."

Chen stood there staring at the nun.

The nun was also stunned when she saw Chen's abnormal behavior, and then she immediately reacted.

If the previous expression was subtle, then the current expression can be said to be wonderful.

Quite wonderful.

"Well, little girl, you--" the nun hesitated to speak.

This… clearly sounded like a rebellious child complaining about an unreliable parent, characterized by lax behavior and corrupt ways. But judging by her appearance, this parent must have had some shining points, which was why the girl retained a certain amount of attachment. Furthermore, the nun was more inclined to believe that, due to her rebellious period, the girl had deliberately exaggerated some of her mother's minor flaws.

But judging from the child's reaction, it seemed as if the person she was talking about was not her mother, or even a member of her family at all?

Adding to her reaction just now, this might not be...

The nun hadn't had a car accident for a long time. She thought about it for a long time but didn't know how to start the conversation, because the girl was like a balloon that would burst if poked.

Regardless of whether she actually liked the woman she was talking about or not, based on her behavior just now, even if I spoke up to confirm it, it wouldn't comfort her. On the contrary, it would most likely make her roll on the ground in shame...

But that look of shock and anger really doesn't look like what he likes at the moment.

"I made a mistake accidentally. I'm sorry." After a long time, the nun finally apologized.

"……It doesn't matter."

Chen sat back on the bench and turned up his collar to cover most of his face.

"Then, let's not talk about her identity, but why you hate her and why you want her to become a better person, okay?" The nun tried to make up for her mistake.

Chen nodded silently.

The nun said softly, "You think she has many flaws, but you already hope she can get better. This means she can be saved, or in other words, she has some strengths that you can recognize."

"Those flaws aren't the core of what's bothering you so much. Little girl, you're hiding something, just like you're lying to yourself, lying to yourself that you hate her."

"There's something that made you decide to distance yourself from her, right?"

The nun herself might not have expected that her words would gradually make Chen's originally confused eyes clearer and finally become extremely firm.

Yes, as long as Guan Yueli is still the unjust person who does not care about the rules of Longmen, acts purely according to her own preferences, and does whatever she wants, then I will never be able to stand on the same side with her.

This is the bottom line, this is the boundary, the boundary she must draw with Guan Yueli.

Chapter 94 - In-depth

I have to say that this nun's level is really extraordinary.

On the topic of Guan Yueli, Chen made up her mind not to continue because of the nun's unintentional words. The nun also saw Chen's thoughts, so she talked to her about something else that would relax her.

If Chen hadn't had something important to do, he would have sat here and chatted with the nun all night.

But now... she had to find a way to indirectly get some important information about the mysterious mercenary.

At first, Chen thought this wouldn't be a particularly difficult task. The difficulty lay in the mysterious enemy that might appear at any time. But now she realized that getting information from the nun was the most difficult part.

If her intentions were even slightly obvious, they would likely be seen through, forcing her to reveal her true identity. If possible, she really didn't want to involve this kind-hearted nun in this case. An enemy who could manipulate her will... was simply too dangerous.

Chen had been thinking about how to conduct the conversation while chatting with the nun, and only now did he come up with a plan.

"Speaking of which, Sister Sister, your church is so far away from the city, isn't it dangerous?"

Chen tightened his windbreaker and whispered, "I didn't even see the security guard when I came in."

Although Chen knew that someone was protecting this church in a gray area, she chose to start from this aspect in order to open the topic.

"Is it a safety issue? Although the location is a bit remote, it's actually quite safe. We've always kept dogs." The nun smiled. "There haven't been any thugs over the years. Of course, maybe we're just lucky."

"I thought it would be something like in the movies..." Chen looked a little regretful.

"A plot from a movie?" The nun raised an eyebrow. "You mean... the one where a mysterious person runs into a church covered in wounds on a rainy night and is then treated by a priest or nun?"

This...how do you, a nun, know so much?

Facing Chen's complicated gaze, the nun smiled brightly and said, "Don't always imagine nuns as old-fashioned old ladies. Besides, our church doesn't really believe in any religion. We just simply want to help others."

"I actually just returned to Longmen yesterday, and I'm officially back here today." Turning to look at the church gate, the nun's expression was filled with nostalgia. "Before, I had been traveling around Yan Country, improving myself and helping those in need. Only after I felt I had grown did I return here, back to where I started."

Just came back?

Chen's heart sank. This was not good news. He wouldn't be able to get any useful information from this.

We must go into the church or find other clergymen to get clues.

Chen's thoughts raced, and she immediately overturned her previous plan. She followed the nun's nostalgic gaze towards the church gate and asked directly:

"Can I go in and have a look?"

"Of course you can." The nun stood up with a smile. "I shouldn't have asked you to sit here with me in the wind. Even for psychological counseling, we need a better environment. Come on, follow me--"

Her words suddenly stopped.

Chen looked at the nun strangely: "What's wrong?"

"...I'm sorry." The nun replied somewhat awkwardly, "I just accidentally went back in time. Little girl, it might be... inconvenient for you to come in now."

Chen narrowed his eyes slightly: "Why?"

"Because my brother, the priest," the nun explained, "has been running the church for decades. I came back today wanting to help him, but the church has changed a lot... I can't help right away."

"Especially at the evening party..."

The nun's expression became somewhat distressed. "We've never had anything like this before. I just told you, we don't really believe in any gods. It's just that many desperate people pin everything on intangible hope, so we choose to materialize hope into gods to strengthen their faith and courage to continue their efforts."

"So we never have any gatherings, but when I told the priest he told me not to go to church tonight because a lot of people were coming to the gathering."

The nun rubbed her brows. "If I didn't know the priest well enough to know he wasn't the type to start a cult and harm others, I would have dug into his details. But he's dedicated his entire life to this church. I have no right to question him. Perhaps he... just wanted to try something new to help others?"

This was almost like slamming the words "there's something fishy" in Chen's face. No matter what, Chen had to go in.

"But I really want to go in and take a look." Chen's face was full of longing. "This is my first time in a church. It would be a shame to just stand at the door and go back."

Every word she said was true, she wasn't lying at all, she just didn't reveal her true intentions.

The nun didn't have to speculate about Chen's inner thoughts all the time. She thought for a moment, then whispered, "Then I'll take you through a small path that will take you directly into the church without disturbing the priest and the people gathered... Actually, I also want to see what they are doing."

Chen refused almost reflexively: "Auntie Sister, please don't come."

"what?"

"Because...because if we were discovered, wouldn't the priest be unhappy?"

"It's okay. He's my brother after all." The nun patted Chen's shoulder generously. "Besides, if he keeps doing this, he'll have to let me in sooner or later. So I'll just consider it as my early participation."

Judging from the situation, even if Chen suggested not going into the church, she would go in herself.

"...Damn it." Chen cursed inwardly. She was still too impatient. She should have adopted a more tactful and gentle attitude, or simply pretended to leave and then find her own way into the church.

In the eyes of the nun, the priest had maintained the church for so many years, so it didn't matter even if he made some reforms; but in Chen's eyes, it was a sudden change in a person's temperament - originally had nothing to do with religion, and was just trying to help others, but now he suddenly adopted a religious gathering, and the most crucial thing... the intelligence didn't mention this at all!

How could it be possible that with the intelligence resources available to the task force set up by the Guard Bureau, they could not discover that a church that had never held gatherings suddenly started holding them?

There was no doubt that she caught the joker.

Therefore...what happens next may be very dangerous. She must protect this kind nun and, more importantly, protect the innocent people in the church.

Chen touched the long sword hidden under his windbreaker, and a sharp look flashed in his eyes.

"Then I'll trouble you, Sister."

Chapter 95——The classic villain makes his grand appearance!

In the narrow path, which was only wide enough for one person to pass, the nun walking in front explained to Chen, "This secret passage was originally built because of the safety issues you worried about earlier. If there are any thugs, we can lead the others to escape quietly through here."

“So I was still worried about safety issues…”

"Of course, otherwise I wouldn't have a dog." The nun smiled. "It's just that I was a little worried in the first few years. Later, the environment got better and better, and even though the location is a bit remote, I feel very safe."

Perhaps it is because those who have received favors from the church have taken the initiative to repay the church in secret. It is a good thing that good people will be rewarded for their kindness.

"It's just that Fantuan and Mili are still in the veterinary hospital because they ate something wrong." The nun sighed softly, "Father, you're such a fool! They were fine when we spoke last month."

This sentence made Chen's uneasiness worse. In fact, she had already sensed a slightly eerie atmosphere outside the church, but the nun's presence had dispelled it. Now, following the nun into the church, coupled with her words, that eerie feeling swept over her again.

As an ordinary nun, she didn't seem to notice. Chen Xin thought and asked in a low voice:

"Sister, from what you said... the priest seems to have changed a lot. Do you feel that way?"

The nun frowned, thought about it carefully, and then shook her head.

"Aside from a bit of lethargy, he's been unlucky in other ways. He's always like this, overworked and making people worry."

no change?

Chen knew the nun's abilities very well. If the priest's consciousness was really manipulated by someone, he would definitely not be able to escape the nun's eyes and would definitely be discovered. So... could it be that the priest is normal?

The mysteries became more numerous, and Chen found herself as if she had plunged into a fog with no visible end. A shuddering chill was enveloping her.

Reaching out and touching Chi Xiao inside the windbreaker, the fierce and fiery sword intent instantly woke Chen up, and also made her more certain of the trick inside this church.

"Now that we're here, turn left and you'll come out of the confessional—at first we thought we'd need this kind of room, but we found that communicating with everyone face to face was most effective. However, since the secret passage was built here, we didn't tear it down."

The nun explained, quietly pushing open the door and poking her head into the church.

"That's exactly what it is," she muttered.

Chen didn't see the scene, but the moment she walked out of the secret passage, she smelled a scent.