Chapter 76

The prince with a lame leg glared angrily at the priest for a moment, then
turned away, leaning on his cane.

Arrogance was his nature, but he wasn’t foolish.

Yet, the priest walked out of the room. The prince asked, “Where are
you going?”

“Going outside to see the situation.”

“Hope you can see.”

The situation outside was dire. Mo Yin couldn’t see it, but he could feel
countless energies floating in the air, similar to Jean’s, as if souls were
seeping out of bodies and wandering everywhere.

The priest always cared deeply for the poor, often distributing free food.
Some people saw the priest in white and shouted for help, “Father, save
us, oh God, please save us…”

The priest bent down, reaching out to shake hands with people. Although his
blind eyes were diverted from their gaze due to his blindness, they still
emanated a soft glow. “Do not fear, do not give up, this is not the end. I
will pray devoutly, beseeching God to bless us and help us through this
ordeal.”

The prince took off the clothes of several people and set them on fire.
Seeing people kneeling around the priest, he couldn’t help but feel furious
again. He followed the priest’s words not because he agreed with these ignorant
and unhelpful actions but because what the priest said was right.

“Listen up.”

The prince came out leaning on his cane. His terrifying visage and
magnificent attire elicited murmurs of surprise from those praying with the
priest.

The prince was used to the discussions his appearance provoked. He raised
his cane, ordering people to destroy the clothes and used instruments of the
patients, just as he would command the Turners.

The people stared blankly at the unfamiliar prince. The priest explained,
“This is Prince Oss, a nobleman willing to stay here and fight with us.
Please follow his instructions.”

The priest’s assurance had an effect. The people quickly got up and went to
work.

Randes leaned on his cane, gazing at the priest. “A nobleman?”

“The clergy are always good at lying,” the priest said.
“Isn’t that what you think, Your Highness?”

For the first time, Randes felt somewhat speechless.

The priest continued, “Your Highness, I believe you have more insight
into infectious diseases than I do. For the next two days, everything here will
be under your command.”

Randes sneered, “Including you?”

“Including me.”

Randes felt strange. Undoubtedly, he hated the priest. He harbored no
goodwill toward any clergy. The death of the Cardinal was declared an accident,
but rumors suggested it was because Randes, a prince rejected by God, was
punished. However, Randes knew neither was the truth. He had executed the
bishop, insisting it was an execution.

Randes wouldn’t feel guilty about killing any clergy. No matter how kind and
pure they appeared, he could always find a reason for their execution.

The fact that this priest knew his ambitions and attempted to blackmail him
meant he deserved to die.

But since their first meeting, Randes had been tolerating the priest’s
actions.

Perhaps to others, it seemed like the priest was tolerating his rudeness,
but from Randes’ perspective, he wouldn’t say another word to a hypocrite — all
the letters were managed by Haren; Randes couldn’t be bothered.

The patients in the room kept moaning. They all called for the priest,
longing for his gentle care. They even forgot about God.

“I’ll go in and pray for them,” the priest drew a cross on his
chest. “Your Highness, I hope we both fulfill our duties.”

Randes felt like he should be angry, but in fact, he wasn’t. Instead, he
found the priest’s sharp way of speaking intriguing and amusing.

Before leaving the capital, Randes was often offended by others. Likewise,
he would offend back, even more intensely, offending until they begged for
forgiveness.

The priest’s provocations and ambitions ignited his fighting spirit, but
they didn’t repel him.

It’s strange. He had already admitted in his heart that he didn’t actually
dislike the priest.

— He is truly beautiful.

Randes was startled by the sudden thought in his mind and immediately picked
up his cane, walking out.

Oss’s lord was no slouch. Randes, using his usual tough methods, ordered the
people in the Colby district as he pleased. Because of the priest’s presence
and his noble status, they obediently followed Randes’s commands. Randes had a
keen eye for people. He called upon several strong-looking young men to assist
him. Then, leaning on his cane, he approached the sealed fence and shouted to
the security chief with authority, “We need coal, food, water, and clean
clothes here.”

The security chief kept his head bowed, not saying anything.

“I know you’re being instructed by someone. I don’t ask you to defy
that person’s orders and let me go. But you better follow my orders as well.
I’ll tell you, I’m not a forgiving person. Don’t force me to come out and
settle scores with all of you.”

The prince’s voice was so noble and commanding that the security chief
couldn’t help but feel fear and pressure. He turned around and said softly,
“Please wait.”

The priest went door to door, inspecting and inquiring. He found that the
epidemic had broken out in the past two days, and some people had already died
Jean’s symptoms were relatively mild.

The young men divided the city into three zones as instructed by the prince.
They concentrated the patients in the square and tried to separate them from
the healthy people. Some who felt symptomatic were placed in another area.

At first, people weren’t very cooperative. But then the prince shouted at
them, waving his cane without any noble demeanor, and threatened that if they
didn’t listen to him, he would immediately go to the security chief and get
guns to execute them all. People were terrified. The priest arrived in time and
explained to everyone that the prince had experienced the epidemic himself.
Following his advice, they could get through this crisis.

The priest’s gentle and moving tone comforted everyone, and the situation
became orderly.

The security chief quietly threw in the things the prince needed from
outside. It was already dark. The square’s stoves were lit, boiling water, and
the coal crackled. It was reassuring. Adequate food and drinking water calmed
everyone’s emotions.

The prince continued to walk around the district as if inspecting his own
territory. He had been busy all day, and his shirt, pants, and boots were
splattered with mud, especially his cane, which was so muddy that its original
color was barely visible. But this didn’t affect his proud and dignified
posture. He looked quite satisfied as he nodded at the soon-to-be orderly
place.

The priest moved among the seriously ill crowd, occasionally shaking hands
with them, murmuring softly with his head bowed. Little Jean had regained some
strength and helped the priest pour water for the patients.

“Oh, Jean, my angel, you’re getting better…”

The Turners kept kissing their son’s thin face, and Jean hugged them back as
best he could. “Yes, I feel much better. The priest brought me the
strength of God.”

Randes didn’t understand why the places and arms the priest passed by seemed
to have a different kind of strength. He didn’t believe in God at all; it was a
trick to deceive the poor into willingly suffering in this world, comforting
themselves that they would go to a carefree heaven after death. Some wealthy
people also claimed to believe in God, but it was only a means to absolve
themselves of guilt for their sins. Otherwise, why would they dare to commit so
many wrongdoings? Weren’t they afraid of going to hell?

Randes didn’t expect to go to heaven himself, nor did he think he would go
to hell. He didn’t have any curiosity about what death would be like. He wasn’t
afraid of death. Instead, he cared more about what he could gain in this world.

Luxuries like peace and tranquility had been out of reach for him since he
was burned.

Mo Yin used his spiritual power to create a large net, forcibly locking the
drifting energies here. Even so, he couldn’t guarantee that everyone would
survive. He just gave everyone time and opportunity to save themselves. Those
who could endure the pain would live.

Even so, it was enough to shock those suffering from the illness.

As life slipped away, once they held the priest’s hand, they felt empowered
again.

Almost every patient kissed the priest’s hand, tears streaming down their
faces as they thanked him, thanking God, swearing to dedicate their lives to
faith.

Late into the night, everyone was either in agony or asleep. The priest
still sat quietly in the peaceful square, his white robe dirty, his fair face
smudged with smoke, his emerald eyes shining in the firelight.

The prince sat beside the priest, silently placing a bowl of water in the
priest’s palm.

“Thank you,” the priest said, lifting the bowl to drink.

“How do you recognize people?” the prince asked.

“People have different scents.”

“Is that so? Then what do I smell like?”

The priest cupped the bowl in his hands, lips brushing the rim as he smiled
faintly. “A horse, a strong stallion.”

The prince felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his body’s nerves
suddenly trembling. He turned his face towards the fire in the square.

After the terrifying fire in his childhood, Randes spent a long time
overcoming his fear of fire. He stared at the flames, touched them, experienced
the burning pain, and then overcame it.

“Are you born blind?” the prince deliberately broached a very
touchy subject.

“Yes.”

“Don’t you feel angry about it, that fate has been unfair to you?”

“What do you think, Your Highness?”

Randes smirked coldly. “If you’ve never cursed in your heart, then I
wouldn’t believe it.”

The priest also smiled. “As I said, Your Highness, you’re very
perceptive.”

“I curse the world every day,” the priest calmly said. “If
possible, I wish no one could see.”

Randes froze.

He had entertained similar thoughts.

Perhaps even more extreme. He thought it would be best if everyone had no
legs, then even as a cripple, he would be superior.

“Why did you become a monk then?” the prince asked.

“It wasn’t my choice. I was abandoned in the monastery since I was
young.”

Randes uttered a non-sympathetic “Oh.” “So you’re really a
pitiful person.”

“I didn’t think so. What’s wrong with being a monk? I can earn people’s
respect, my future is bright.”

“So you started dreaming of being pope?”

“What about you? You’re just the prince of Lecy, born disabled, and
ugly. Don’t you also dream of conquering the continent?”

Randes looked at the priest, his breath slightly heavier. “You’re
bold.”

“I believe Your Highness has already noticed that.”

“Do you know what happens to those who offend me?” Randes said
coldly, using the same tone as he did with the security chief and the clamoring
crowd.

He didn’t scare the priest; the priest remained calm. “I believe Your
Highness will forgive me.”

Why? Because of your greedy ambitions, your reckless courage, and your acute
and cunning nature, you saw through many of his thoughts at first sight, and
that beautiful face…

The prince yelled in his mind and turned his face away again.

“Can I have some more water?” the priest handed the bowl to the
prince. “If possible, I’d like some more water to wash my face and
hands.”

The prince felt he had no obligation to serve him, but it was unnecessary to
throw a tantrum at this time. That would only make it seem like he was truly
angered by him. He stood up, his face tense, and brought over a basin of clean
water.

The priest scooped some water and took a few sips, then soaked his hands in
the basin and washed them. His movements were graceful, but not particularly
special. However, Randes couldn’t take his eyes off him, especially when his
golden hair was carelessly dampened, gently touching his face, adding a
dazzling decoration.

“Your Highness, have you eaten or drunk?”

“I’m not someone who needs to be taken care of by others.”

The priest smiled. “Thank you for your care.”

Randes brought over some bread and cheese again, and the priest thanked him
once more.

As the priest focused on eating, the prince suddenly said, “Do you
seduce every prince and duke like this?”

Chewing on bread, the priest turned his face slightly and retorted,
“So, Your Highness, have you been seduced by me?”

Randes’s face instantly flushed. If he hadn’t been sure of his health, he
would have thought he was also infected. That feeling of being struck by
lightning found him again. “You…”

“Your Highness—”

The call interrupted Randes’s response, and he abruptly stood up and turned
his face.

It was Bill who arrived with Brune and the palace guards.