Chapter 213: The Prayer Chamber

“Achoo!”

Bai Yueling rubbed her nose and muttered, “I keep feeling like someone’s plotting against me…”

Huilian, beside her, comforted her. “Probably just your imagination?”

“I hope so…”

The two girls sat inside the carriage as it rolled slowly toward the Forest Church.

Bai Yueling sneaked glances at Huilian. She had assumed that after witnessing that fallen-corruption scene, Huilian would say something—but unexpectedly, she said nothing at all.

‘What on earth is this princess thinking?’

Huilian watched the trees flicker past outside the window, her gaze shimmering slightly. Suddenly she asked, “Xiaobai, these past two days I’ve been very curious—what exactly is your relationship with Lady Sistana?”

“Mm… well…” Bai Yueling thought for a moment, then said seriously, “She’s my mama.”

“Lady Sistana agreed?”

“Mm-hm.”

‘Even though she didn’t show it normally, that night she leaned close to my ear and called me “daughter” several times herself. How could that count as not agreeing? If she still didn’t agree after that, then she’d be a heartless skirt-lifting bad woman!’

“I see…” Huilian pondered briefly, then continued, “No wonder after Lady Sistana returned, she accepted His Majesty’s invitation and became the kingdom’s priestess.”

Bai Yueling tilted her head in confusion. “Is becoming a priestess something strange?”

“Of course.” Huilian nodded and explained, “Generally speaking, archbishops do not actively interfere in a nation’s internal affairs. Because archbishops represent the goddess’s will, and the goddess has churches in every country and does not favor any one side. So archbishops rarely choose to take a political stance.”

Bai Yueling said, “But that Archbishop of Order, Yajian, is the Grand General of the Iris Theocracy.”

“The Iris Theocracy is an exception,” Huilian said solemnly. “That Pontiff is unquestionably the foremost being beneath the goddess. During the divine war era, she served as the link among the forces of Light. She belongs to no single church, yet has deep ties with them all. Even archbishops must give her respect; those close to her are even willing to follow her direct command… Archbishop Yajian is one such example.”

“But our kingdom has no Pontiff, and naturally the Goddess of Nature would not openly favor the kingdom.”

Bai Yueling suddenly realized. “So… Mama Sistana became a priestess because of her own will?”

“No.” Huilian shook her head and gazed at her with clear eyes. “Because of you, isn’t it?”

Bai Yueling froze slightly. “Me?”

‘She suddenly realized that Sistana was already one hundred percent fallen. In her heart now, my position might be just a tiny bit higher than even the Goddess of Nature. But I still don’t quite understand. I’m just a traveler from another world; I won’t be permanently bound to the kingdom. She shouldn’t choose a side for my sake alone, right?’

“I told Lady Sistana that you can heal His Majesty,” Huilian said. “It might be related to that.”

“Oh~” Bai Yueling nodded in sudden understanding. “Then I get it.”

‘Sistana has probably already figured out that the method to heal Qingjin is “falling into corruption.” She hopes Qingjin can also reach one hundred percent corruption value, just like she has now. So Sistana isn’t taking sides—she’s deliberately pushing Qingjin onto Bai Yueling’s ship of corruption, binding them tightly together…’

Bai Yueling clasped her hands and silently thanked her mother in her heart.

‘Sistana… you’ve truly exhausted yourself for your child.’

The carriage creaked onward, passing through bustling streets until it arrived at the entrance of the Forest Church.

At the gate, Cuinifu had already been waiting for quite some time.

She still wore that green-based, silver-lined priestess robe. Smiling brightly, she bowed. “Xiaobai, Your Highness Huilian, Lady Sistana has been waiting in the prayer chamber at the top floor for quite a while.”

“Thank you for your effort,” Huilian nodded. Yet an inexplicable awkward feeling rose in her heart.

‘Cuinifu is my childhood friend. Although she has always called me “Your Highness Huilian,” when placed next to “Xiaobai,” it somehow feels a bit distant.’

She looked up at the vine-covered Forest Church. Unbidden, the scene from a few days ago surfaced in her mind—when she came here and saw Bai Yueling and Cuinifu sharing the same bed.

‘At that time my heart felt heavy, somewhat despondent. I felt like a defeated dog—how could a dignified childhood sweetheart be completely outshone by some suddenly-appearing big-chested girl? But looking back now… I feel relieved. I used to think Bai Yueling was just a cute, lewd big-chested girl. Later I realized that wasn’t the case.’

She clearly remembered that night when Bai Yueling had declared right in front of her that she would use a certain power to gather all the big sisters of every major faction into her harem—and then world peace would be achieved…

Thinking of this, Huilian turned and stared at Bai Yueling, her starry eyes full of expectation and curiosity.

‘Xiaobai… can that dark and fallen power of yours truly fulfill my wish as the Sage of Peace? Let me witness it with my own eyes.’

The three girls climbed the steps. Along the way they encountered many nuns, all of whom respectfully saluted Bai Yueling, their attitude even more enthusiastic than last time.

Hearing repeated cries of “Lady Xiaobai” along the way, Bai Yueling was left stunned again and again.

‘Has my prestige in the Church of Nature risen even more?’

They reached the top floor and pushed open the great doors. What came into view was a massive and beautiful statue of the Goddess of Nature, wrapped entirely in vines and flowers. Rather than a lofty deity, she looked more like a fairy emerging from the forest.

Beside the statue, Sistana had already been waiting. Her full, graceful figure was wrapped in magnificent robes, radiating the gentle aura unique to a mature beauty.

Sistana smiled faintly at Bai Yueling. “Xiaobai, long time no see.”

“It’s only been one and a half days…”

Muttering, Bai Yueling walked to her side. Just as she was about to say something, she was pulled straight into an embrace.

“Even one day feels very long,” Sistana held her gently and whispered, “If possible, I’d like to stay by your side every day.”

“Mm…” Warm breath brushed Bai Yueling’s ear, turning it bright red; her cheeks flushed as well, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Sistana said softly, “All right, there are outsiders watching. Mama will chat with you later.”

“Okay…”

Under the intense gazes of Huilian and Cuinifu, Bai Yueling and Sistana finally separated slowly.

Huilian frowned slightly and muttered, “This doesn’t feel like a simple mother-daughter relationship…”

Cuinifu also bit her lip lightly. “Lady Sistana… when did your relationship with Xiaobai become so close?”

No one could answer them. The secret between Bai Yueling and Sistana was known only to the two of them.

“So what should I do?” Bai Yueling tilted her head. “Just pray to the goddess statue?”

“Not just ordinary prayer,” Sistana smiled. “You need to take off your clothes.”

“…Huh?”