Floey weakly rose to her feet.
She began by looking around her, realizing she was in darkness, and reached out to touch the strips of linen wrapped around her face.
Then she fell silent.
Chen Lun slowly walked up to her and waved his hand in front of her face.
"Can't see anymore, huh... Well, your eyes were damaged after all."
He propped his elbow on his knee and cupped his chin, thoughtfully observing the nun sitting at the edge of the bed.
Although young and wearing a baggy robe, she already had the makings of the authoritative figure from her previous life.
Given Floey's current affection for me, I guess doing something shouldn't cause any trouble...
"Are you staring at me because you want to do something shameful?"
Floey shook her head and raised her face towards Chen Lun, staring straight at him.
"Uh... I thought you couldn't see?"
Chen Lun was startled. Could it be that she had seen through his thoughts?
"I'm only blind, not completely sightless."
Floey sorted out her hair, tucking the messy light golden strands behind her ear.
"It has given me heightened senses; I can't see, but I can feel."
The "it" Floey mentioned clearly referred to the Sun-avoiding Potted Plant.
Chen Lun rolled his eyes.
"You should have said so earlier. I was planning to buy you a new set of clothes. You can go buy it yourself later."
"New clothes...?"
Floey looked puzzled. Was he staring at her just to buy clothes?
Chen Lun pulled a chair over and sat down by the bed.
"Would you like to keep wandering around in the robe of the Red Apple Church? I'm really afraid they won't be able to find us then!"
He grabbed his own linen garment and sniffed it; a strong scent of sweat almost overwhelmed him.
"My clothes need changing too.
The inn offers bathing services. I'll take you there after we eat something."
Floey quietly "watched" him, and after a while, she said softly,
"Thank you."
...
The food provided by the innkeeper was quite good.
Perhaps because Chen Lun was quite generous, they were served not just bread and water, but also two large pieces of roast lamb and a pot of stewed meat.
After eating and drinking their fill, Chen Lun took Floey downstairs.
The bathhouse was a separate single-story building on the side of the inn.
He did have a bit of a gentleman's demeanor after all and didn't make the blind girl go buy clothes by herself.
After sending Floey into the bathhouse, Chen Lun went shopping nearby.
He bought several ready-made outfits at the tailor's shop, as well as shoes, a backpack, and some other miscellaneous items that might be needed.
He neatly folded Floey's clothes and placed them outside the door, secured by a pair of lady's leather shoes, and then he went to enjoy a refreshing bath himself.
Upon exiting the bathhouse, Chen Lun saw Floey, dressed in a long black dress, waiting for him outside.
Under the setting sun, her light golden hair fluttered with the wind, and a black silk ribbon was wrapped around her face.
That was something Chen Lun had secretly taken from the tailor's shop while the proprietress was not looking.
"Not bad, looks good," Chen Lun commented.
It wasn't just good-looking, it was impressive.
He had underestimated Floey's ability. He was at fault.
Floey seemed a little surprised.
"Really?"
Since being sold to the Red Apple Church, she had never worn attractive clothes, always donned in a nun's robe.
But soon her tone dimmed a bit.
"Too bad I can't see it."
Chen Lun sighed silently.
"You might have a chance to recover in the future...
Since you know about the Transcendents, you must realize that the Mystic Realm offers many possibilities.
Restoring your sight is not entirely out of reach."
Floey seemed convinced by Chen Lun's words, and a smile appeared on her pristine face.
"It's okay; I already know from it that I may not live long..."
She slowly spread her arms, letting the breeze pass through her.
Chen Lun could see, her joy was from the heart.
"But even if it's just a month or two of freedom, I'm happy, and whether I can see or not doesn't matter much anymore."
Chen Lun shook his head.
"Don't worry, I won't let you die."
Floey paused for a moment, lowered her hands, and slowly approached Chen Lun.
"Why... why are you so good to me?"
"I don't seem to have done anything to deserve your sacrifices."
"Uh..."
Chen Lun was at a loss for words.
He could hardly say it was because he had seen her tragic future,
to prevent her from becoming the villainous boss who would later be sent by the Red Apple Church to hunt him down, he had no choice but to rewrite her destiny.
Of course, Chen Lun had another ulterior motive.
That was because Floey was extremely popular, perhaps she could serve as his "poster girl" after the players arrived.
In any case, it could never be because of the rewards of a Grade-A hidden serial quest...
I, Chen Lun, am a simple, kind-hearted, and just person!
"Floey... because you remind me of my own sister,"
Chen Lun said earnestly.
Floey was slightly stunned, seemingly convinced.
She lowered her head, pursing her lips, and whispered in an ethereal voice:
"Thank you... Other than my brother, no one has been so kind to me."
...
Late at night, the Purple Moon hung high.
A monk from Sturton hurried to an inconspicuous apartment.
He hesitated, pacing a few steps, continually wiping sweat from his brow.
"Although I've already reported the situation to the bishop, the bishop is far in Amber City... It will take a while for him to arrive."
The stout monk looked around.
This was the central area of Emerald Town, the environment relatively better, with guards carrying lanterns occasionally seen patrolling the empty streets.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he stuffed a letter into the mailbox outside the fence, then turned and left.
"Just to be safe, I should notify the Shelter as well, and have them start a manhunt around the town."
Sturton walked briskly, as if something terrifying was chasing him.
"That guy who killed Father Carter and destroyed the apple orchard prison is probably hiding in town.
Rose above, please don't let me run into him."
On the surface, there were only three Transcendent powers in Emerald Town.
The Red Apple Church, Moon Church, and the Empire's official organization, the Shelter.
Because the relations between the churches were not good, in the absence of his own bishop, Sturton chose to seek help from the neutral Shelter.
Reporting on his fellow monks might be embarrassing, but Sturton didn't care.
Even if it was the face of the Red Apple Church at stake, it was nothing compared to his own precious life.
Sturton walked through several blocks and returned to the front of the Red Apple Church on the west side of town.
He suddenly noticed a figure stumbling and falling at the church doors.
"Huff... Huff..."
The figure collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily, apparently in great pain.
Sturton cautiously approached.
He soon realized it was just a drunken drunkard.
Relieved, he cursed under his breath.
Just as he was about to step over the man to enter the church, the drunkard suddenly called out to him.
"Wait... wait a minute!"
"If you wish to receive Rose's aid, listen to the lady's gospel, please come early tomorrow and line up,"
said Sturton impatiently, turning to leave.
"Don't go!"
The drunkard grabbed hold of Sturton's robe.
The stout monk immediately frowned and shook him off in disgust.
"Get away! Damned drunkard! Watch it, or I'll immediately call the church guards to lock you up!"
"Monk, sir! I... I have to denounce someone!"
The drunkard lifted his head; it was old Ham, who had caused trouble at the Crescent Inn during the day.
He was now sweating profusely, his face turned black, speaking tremulously as if he had contracted some bizarre illness.
"He... He has kidnapped a nun from your church... right in..."
Before he could finish, Ham suddenly screamed.
Immediately thereafter, he collapsed to the ground, spitting black bile, and died on the spot.
Sturton was startled, and after examining him closely, he realized that the man had been poisoned!
"Could this be a warning from that Transcendent to me!?"
The stout monk was horrified by his own speculation.
"I must call back all the church guards outside!"
He immediately turned and ran towards the church.
Stumbling along the way, he almost slammed his head into the Great Gate.