Unknown Intrusion

Chapter 21 Xu Cheng (Bonus chapter for the Alliance Leader's Dream of Becoming an Immortal)
Under the old priest's gaze, sweat gradually appeared on the young man's forehead.

"I... I just hope to pray for the goddess's blessing and have better luck." He almost blurted out his true intentions.

"Hmph, the goddess is merciful, but only if you're not one of those people she dislikes... Do you even know what the goddess dislikes?"

“Disgusting, disgusting… hurting children,” the young man said, bowing his head.

“Very good, it seems you still remember the oath you took here... Our Lord never abandons any believer, provided they are not truly beyond redemption.”

“Xu Cheng, I heard that you have been living a very successful and impressive life these past few years. I haven’t seen you come to pay your respects for a long time. I thought you had forgotten about it.”

The old priest's gaze carried a palpable pressure.

"No, I dare not. I will never forget the goddess's grace." Unable to bear it any longer, Xu Cheng knelt down with a thud.

“Then remember your words!” The old priest suddenly stood up and rebuked him sternly.

"You walk on the edge of the shadows, feeling that you haven't crossed any lines and have made money. Aren't you very proud of yourself?"

His tone became more stern: "Do you think you're happy doing this?"

"No, I don't dare..."

"Do you know that you're not far from falling into depravity?"

“If this continues, you can’t even be called a human being… If you don’t understand, I’ll just say it directly!”

“Your grandfather was a gentleman and served as a city councilor. He even submitted the family crest to the council for review.”

“But your grandfather wasn’t a gentleman, and neither are you… Do you know why?”

"..." Xu Cheng's facial muscles twitched, and he remained silent without responding.

But they failed to see the deep sorrow and grief in the old priest's eyes.

"It was because your grandfather fell into depravity, was dismissed, and punished that a rising gentlemanly family was destroyed—how are you any different from him now?"

"This is the last time I'll give you this advice, for the sake of your deceased mother... Don't say I didn't warn you beforehand!"

"Yes...yes..." Seeing his hesitant and timid manner, the old priest's eyes revealed even more helplessness.

"You can go now." In the end, he just looked at him deeply and waved his hand weakly.

"and many more!"

"What on earth are you here for?"

The young man fell silent for a moment.

"What, you still don't want to repent?"

"I...I just came to see what he's doing here." He stammered, leaving those words behind, and then ran away as if fleeing.

Although he left long ago, he did not resign from his position at the temple for various reasons.

It's called a job, but it's really just a menial job.

But this is already a legacy left by our ancestors and mother.

Just like the forecast this morning, it started to drizzle after 4 p.m., and it seems the rain won't stop before nightfall.

Xu Cheng slowly raised his head, gazing at the dim sunlight filtering through the distant sky.

It felt like a fire was burning inside me.

There was anger, and there was also guilt.

Returning to the temple after so long, memories of my time here resurfaced.

"Looking back on it this way, my life has been nothing but disaster."

I walked alone in the drizzling rain.

"Forget it. One person lamenting here won't change anything."

By the time he finished speaking, he had already reached the back of the school.

The area around the forest campus is filled with all kinds of houses and streets teeming with people.

The station is brand new. Although it's just a small rural town, it has finally benefited from technological advancements.

A locomotive slowly drove along the street, trailing a dozen or so carriages behind it.

Through the carriage, you can see the passengers sitting inside.

This has only been around for the last ten years.

Whenever he sees these things, he always thinks of something to sigh about.

For some reason, I seem to be particularly emotional today.

He suddenly turned around, his eyes searching.

In that instant, I felt like I saw someone in a corner of my field of vision.

But looking around, all he saw was emptiness, just trees. "—Huff." Xu Cheng heard his own breathing heavy and hot, a tiny, insignificant trait he had inherited from his mother.

My mother was a nun at the Temple of Tides and once had the potential to become a priestess, but unfortunately, my grandfather's affair came to light, and everything was lost.

Xu Cheng composed himself and stopped thinking about those things.

A chill still lingered on my back.

This has been happening quite often lately, and it has indeed become more and more frequent.

Let's just leave it at that.

It was as if nothing had happened...

But the words the old priest had said earlier echoed in his mind once again.

"I don't believe it..."

He figured it was just another scare tactic, clenched his fist, and headed down his usual path.

If you leave it like this, the chill in your back will disappear.

Many years ago, this place consisted only of fields and forests. As development gradually progressed, buildings began to be constructed in front of the station, and the number of houses with two or more stories in the residential area also increased.

The idyllic train station of the past is gone forever, but various shops have gradually become more convenient.

Even so, remnants of the past still remain in the city.

The school, as always, exists within the forest, with the asphalt road stretching out before being quickly covered by the dense woods.

Stepping onto the road, which resembled a mountain path, he walked in the middle of it, as if he were walking on the dividing line between the city and the forest.

Soon, an old iron fence appeared before us.

A haunted house situated on a nearby hill.

He pushed the rusty iron fence, and the heavy iron gate opened silently.

Insert the brass key into the lock, twist it forcefully, and enter the house.

The hall inside the house was shrouded in gloom, just like the weather outside.

"you are late."

There was a person sitting on the sofa inside the room, looking at him in a cold tone.

"You're back so late, what have you been doing?"

He's the boss.

“Boss, Wu Lang was detained by the school police, and after being released, he died in a fire. I was therefore responsible for tracking Su Yu. I discovered that the young lady of the noble family took him in the same carriage, and afterwards he went to the temple.”

Xu Cheng bowed his head and reported everything one by one.

"Riding in the same vehicle? And then going to the temple?"

The boss's voice sounded like that of a middle-aged man, his features blurred in the dim light, and his tone sounded confused.

“Strange, as far as I know, the Song family and the Su family have no relation whatsoever... The Song family’s daughter has very high standards and rarely gets this close to anyone.”

"Could it be that you're attracted to his talent? What exactly is his talent like? Never mind, I know you're incapable of finding out."

"What is he doing at the temple again?"

"..."

"Never mind, judging from your expression, I knew I didn't get anything out of you."

"Keep a close eye on him. Don't let any of his movements slip by. If necessary, I'll allow you to use more methods."

"But remember, be careful and keep things clean. He's still a student and protected by the school. I don't need to remind you of that."

Hearing this, and sensing the boss's hints or even explicit statements, Xu Cheng fell silent. If Su Yu were here, he would recognize this person as the boss who later cheated Su Yu for ten years.

"..." Xu Cheng's silence made the boss frown. Strangely, as soon as the boss frowned, Xu Cheng immediately felt a bone-chilling pressure coming down on him, and his heart shrank into a ball.

"I...I met the high priest, and he said..."

The boss immediately raised his voice, his tone filled with disgust.

"Yes, he must have told you again that you have to walk the right path and not to lay a hand on the child, right?"

"Yes."

Xu Cheng responded palely.

"You're talking nonsense to fool children. How old are you? Do you still believe that kind of stuff? What do you mean by doing bad things leading to moral decay? Do you see me as morally corrupt?"

"If this matter from last night had been handled well, both of us would have had a bright future. Wouldn't that be better than you hanging out on the streets?"

"But, sir, we might really be punished by God. I think we should... have some conscience."

He was interrupted before he could finish his sentence!
(End of this chapter)