The journey to the holy pool was far too short for Song Zhuyu's liking, as they only needed to ride the elevator to the underground floor. As the two of them walked to the elevator, Song Zhuyu was still racking his brain to think of a way out.
Should he pretend to faint, or rush to the bathroom claiming that he had a sudden stomachache?
No, that wouldn't do. With Chief Song's no-nonsense temperament, the older man would most likely slap him awake or follow him straight into the bathroom rather than letting him out of sight. He didn't have his phone with him so he couldn't even pretend to receive any emergency calls. Jumping out of the window was not an option either, for it would only confirm Song Juwei's suspicions that something was wrong.
Every escape route was closed off, leaving him at a loss of what to do.
To think that the thing he wanted to avoid the most was finally going to happen… augh, how infuriating!
The elevator slid open with a soft 'ding' and Song Juwei stepped in. Upon seeing the crimson-haired man dawdling on the spot, he arched a brow, urging him to hurry, "What are you dilly-dallying for? Come on. Father Ning has been waiting for you."
"...What an honor," Song Zhuyu forced out a smile on his face despite feeling as if his head was about to explode. Under Song Juwei's fierce glare, he had no choice but to step into the elevator, thus sealing his own fate.
As the elevator descended, Song Zhuyu leaned against the wall and released a long sigh, feeling drained all of a sudden.
"What is it?" Chief Song frowned and scrutinized him from head to toe. "Your complexion looks a little off."
"If I could still be energetic after spending a whole night in that isolation room, that would be weird, wouldn't it?" Unable to help himself, a trace of sarcasm seeped into Song Zhuyu's tone, but Song Juwei acted as though he noticed nothing at all and nodded seriously.
"Well, you're right about that."
Song Zhuyu: "..."
Rather than being infuriated to death, he chose to fix his gaze on the descending number, feeling like it was the countdown to his execution, both figuratively and literally. He had never heard anyone bearing a demon's mark except for the fanatics who made a deal with the demons out of their own will. Those people were typically obsessive, unhinged, and a nutjob through and through, as they wouldn't mind sacrificing their souls in order to fulfill their desires.
But how could Song Zhuyu explain his case? He had not struck any deal with demons, nor had he ever encountered a demon in his whole life! Fuck, exactly why had this accursed mark been placed on his body?!
The more Song Zhuyu dwelled on this matter, the more his rage simmered, and oddly, the turbulence in his heart also calmed down. Forget it… what did he have to be afraid of at this point? He had lost his job, his reputation, his credibility, and he was on the verge of being exiled. It did not seem like his situation could get any worse than this.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened on the underground floor, and a wave of serenity washed over Song Zhuyu, unraveling the tension coiled on his body.
Before him lay a spacious area that resembled a church, with rows of benches leading towards a large statue of Jesus Christ at the center. Further inside would be the holy pool, its waters illuminated by the bright lights, casting an ethereal glow upon the statue.
Perhaps due to the sacred atmosphere, Song Zhuyu always found himself calming down whenever he stepped into this place. It was as though the very air in this floor carried a solemn and tranquil aura that was akin to a cooling balm on frayed nerves.
Exiting the elevator, they made their way down the aisle, pausing to clasp their hands in prayer before proceeding to the holy pool where Father Ning had been waiting. The senior priest had foregone his usual cassock in lieu of a white long flowing robe, with a black stole draped around his neck and hanging down the front – the color of mourning and penance.
"Father Ning," Song Zhuyu bowed his head politely.
Offering a nod of acknowledgement, Father Ning did not beat around the bush and directly issued his instructions, "Take off your clothes and get into the holy pool."
This is it, Song Zhuyu thought, bracing himself for what was to come.
With a calm and resigned expression of someone who was prepared to receive the worst, Song Zhuyu swiftly removed his cassock and handed it to Song Juwei's waiting hand. After the earlier shower, he had no change of underwear nor was he willing to wear the ones provided in the resting lounge, so he was entirely naked beneath.
Holding his breath sharply, he counted inside his heart.
One… two… three…
He counted until five, yet there was no hint of shock or horror in the faces of Father Ning or Song Juwei like he had expected to see. Instead, Chief Song wore an increasingly impatient expression, and if it weren't for the sacredness of the pool, he would have kicked this useless son of his down to the water.
"What are you waiting for, young man?" He snapped, impatience evident in his tone. "Do you want us old men to compliment your good and youthful figure?!"
Huh? What was going on here?
Were they… unable to see the mark?
Not receiving the reaction he was waiting for, Song Zhuyu felt a little disoriented. He dropped his gaze to his right hip and— lo and behold, the forsaken mark, which he couldn't remove no matter what, had vanished without a trace, leaving nothing but smooth and firm skin!
Shocked to the core, Song Zhuyu descended into the pool as if he was dreaming, only sobering up slightly when he felt the cool water enveloping his naked form.
Father Ning followed close behind him, holding a rosary in his hands. After drawing a cross on his chest, he murmured a prayer under his breath while reaching out to Song Zhuyu, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We pray for Song Zhuyu, who comes before you today to receive the sacrament of your mercy. Wash away his sins, and fill him with your Holy Spirit…"
Under Father Ning's guide, Song Zhuyu took a deep breath and submerged his entire body underwater, still with question marks inside his mind. Discreetly, he reached for his right hip, finding no trace of the mark.
How could this be possible?
Instead of joy and relief, however, a heavy sense of disbelief and dread settled over him. For he knew very well that the mark wouldn't disappear just like this. It only proved one thing— it could adapt and conceal itself when necessary.
Should he take it as good news as it meant he wouldn't be exposed from now on, or bad news as he had never heard of sentient marks that could react according to the circumstances around it?
The realization sent a chill down Song Zhuyu's spine. The demon behind this mark… must not be taken lightly.
The purifying spell was completed without a hitch, and no peculiar reaction was evoked from Song Zhuyu, eliciting a sigh of relief from both Father Ning and Song Juwei.
On the other hand, Song Zhuyu was feeling anything but. After drying himself off with a towel and donning his cassock once more, he requested, "May I go to the bathroom first?" Without waiting for Song Juwei to react, he told the old man, "You can even follow me inside if you want." He merely wanted to check whether the mark would reappear once he was alone, and it was no problem if Song Juwei were to wait for him outside the stall.
Song Juwei scoffed, rolling his eyes in disdain. "Go, go! I will teach you a lesson if you dare try anything funny!"
With a respectful bow, Song Zhuyu briskly made his way back to the elevator, leaving Song Juwei and Father Ning alone on the entire floor.
Averting his gaze from the direction where Song Zhuyu had gone, Chief Song turned and found the other person removing the stole around his neck.
"How's the seal?" he asked in a low and solemn voice that betrayed a hint of anxiety within.
"Still like usual," Father Ning's reply was steady, reassuring, "I've double-checked. It is as secure as it can be."
Upon sensing the hint of apprehension and uncertainty in the other's expression, he added, "With this, we can confirm that his unusual behavior is indeed due to the aftereffects of crossing over. Please be reassured, Chief Song. As long as I still have this feeble life clinging to my body, I won't let the seal come loose."
"Is that so?" Song Juwei managed a forced smile on his face. "I should be able to rest easy, right? I don't know why, but it's getting harder and harder to maintain an appearance in front of him…" he released a bitter sigh and rubbed his face roughly. "Say, do you think it's the right decision to send him away?"
In contrast to Song Juwei's restlessness, Father Ning remained as cool and composed as ever. "I think you're worrying too much. You should trust in the Lord with all your heart." Gazing at his own reflection rippling through the surface of the holy pool, he added softly,
"Que sera sera. Whatever will happen, shall happen. I believe He has the best plans for all of us."
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