Just as the dawn sun pierced through the clouds, the escort convoy finally arrived safe and sound in Limbo. After a night of high tension, many were exhausted to the point of collapse. Priests and believers stood in lines along the streets to welcome their bishop's return.
“Your Eminence... it seems we have passed the danger.” A personal guard opened the carriage door for “Meng Lan.” The door, carved with dark gold cuckoo flowers, exuded a faint air of nobility. Though a chilling aura permeated the interior, everything appeared normal on the surface.
“Indeed... I am quite relieved,” Li Yue replied casually. She was somewhat surprised; very few people knew about the assassination attempt, which explained why Meng Lan seemed so prepared. There were no Royal Court nobles, merchants, or common believers in the convoy as reported—only elite Holy Knights, each at the level of a Great Mage. They had set out silently in the night, seemingly intent on avoiding notice.
Excluding the possibility of a mole, there was only one explanation: someone had known of her movements in advance through other means.
Did “I” know... that a disaster was about to befall me?
Fate magic? It was rare in this era, but that didn't mean it didn't exist. Regardless, this information could be useful.
“I am weary... but this does not mean we are entirely safe,” Li Yue said, mimicking Meng Lan's tone. “Do not let your guard down. I will be attending to important matters for a while. Once you have finished the handover, instruct the reinforcements to handle the patrols outside the cathedral.”
“Yes, Your Eminence.” The knight in silver armor knelt in salute, then flanked Li Yue to escort her into the cathedral. Li Yue maintained a smile, waving to the citizens gathered along the streets.
“Bishop, we still have no leads regarding the recent incident in Lobilance. That assassin might have already reached Limbo. Should we coordinate to strengthen our inspections?” a black-robed believer whispered beside Li Yue. Judging by his fluency, he had likely rehearsed this conversation many times in his head.
“I may face a threat to my life soon. For now, focus on reinforcing the cathedral's security and reducing the frequency of the believers' activities,” Li Yue said after some thought. Her identity could be easily exposed, and Meng Lan's death or disappearance would cause a massive uproar. For now, she had to maintain the facade as long as possible to buy some peaceful time.
“So that is the reason... no wonder...” the black-robed believer muttered. A Holy Knight leaned in and whispered a few words to him. The man's body trembled slightly, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. This reaction confirmed Li Yue's suspicions.
“I wish to see a certain soul; I have a great use for it,” Li Yue coughed lightly. “The former principal of Lobilance—his powerful soul will be very beneficial to me right now.”
“Ah... I understand.”
“Provide me with a quiet environment. No one is allowed to disturb me until I come out,” Li Yue said softly. “If anyone does, you understand the consequences.”
The red crown on her head made walking feel awkward, but for the sake of the bishop's authority, she had to take every step with careful gravity.
The design of Limbo's main cathedral leaned more toward a castle style. Its colors were darker, and its scale was far larger than the one in Lobilance. The magic formations inscribed within were significantly more complex. If an assassination were to take place here, a silent infiltration would likely require slaughtering one's way from the front gate to the back courtyard.
If “assassination” meant sneaking past guards and formations to reach the bishop's private prayer room, Li Yue lacked the patience for it. She might have done that under the harsh conditions of Yakutsk, but now she preferred an assassination where no one would ever realize what had happened.
It was a silent assassination either way.
The deeper she went, the more obvious the torrent of souls became. This was different from the small pale blue box Meng Lan—or rather, Li Yue—wore around her neck. The box contained a mass of chaotic spirits swimming in a highly compressed state, whereas this place was filled with the collective grief of countless dead souls. Shards of broken spirits drifted everywhere, reminiscent of the view from the Stygian Beach looking toward the River of the Dead.
These things... had He ever done them? No... He hadn't. He had originally managed the Underworld for me. He would talk with the deceased, especially those poor souls who had no one left by their side when they died. At their final moment, He would ease their worries and pain, allowing them to end their lives without regret or sorrow...
As for what happened later... later, it had nothing to do with Them. It was all the fault of this world, the fault of that polluted World Tree...
Li Yue's fingers trembled slightly. She realized her violent and frenzied subconscious was beginning to stir again, but she had to suppress the urge for now.
Stay calm... stay calm...
She took a soft, deep breath.
“Bishop?”
“I was under a lot of pressure last night. I am merely tired,” Li Yue said, lightly touching her forehead. The leading deacon did not dare say more. He stopped before a door engraved with sealing incantations, bowed slightly, and hurried away.
Li Yue pushed the heavy door open. Countless chains pierced through a shattered soul. The soul bore the marks of soul magic incantations—signs of either agonizing torture or experiments targeting the spirit.
Li Yue frowned. This was true contempt for death—a desecration of her very being.
She stepped inside, and her physical form began to shift. The divine raiment of “Death” manifested upon her once more. A boundless, transparent black tide flooded the room, and the walls seemed to vanish. In the far distance, a red moon resembling a planetary body became visible.
The blood crystal on her chest emitted a faint red glow. She revealed her true form; a massive pitch-black snake rose from the depths of the abyss, its jaws snapping every chain.
“What exactly... is faith?”
Li Yue walked up to him and gazed at the shattered soul. She brought not only salvation but also her own questions.
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