I'm in Mota, and they all want me to confess my feelings!

The atmosphere inside the church was even more solemn, sacred, and inviolable.

Chang Li slowly looked around, his eyes revealing approval and admiration.

At that moment, she truly resembled a visitor from afar, deeply drawn by a distant culture.

Phoebe quietly followed beside Duanmu Yan, secretly watching Chang Li's profile, a subtle ripple stirring in her heart.

"She's so beautiful..."

"He doesn't look like someone from Laguna."

"Wait, why would I care about Mr. Duanmu's interpersonal relationships?"

"No, no, Phoebe, don't make wild guesses!"

"Mr. Duanmu, you're just Mr. Duanmu... I can't overstep my bounds!"

Seemingly noticing the girl's scrutinizing gaze, Chang Li turned around and smiled gently at her: "Hello, my name is Chang Li, and I am a traveler from Huanglong."

“Oh, Huang… Huanglong?” Phoebe was slightly surprised to hear the name, but she quickly composed herself and replied softly, “I… I am Phoebe, a priest of the Hidden Sea Order.”

"Are you surprised?" Changli asked softly.

Phoebe explained somewhat awkwardly, “Because in Laguna, it’s rare to see travelers from such a far place—especially in the churches. Most visitors come from other cities in Lina Shitta.”

"However, I have read about Huanglong in a book... I heard that it is a vast and resource-rich place with many good things. Although it is separated from Laguna by ocean, I would love to go and see it for myself if I have the chance in the future."

Changli smiled slightly upon hearing this: "I understand your feelings. Before coming to Laguna, I also had the same expectations. If Priest Phoebe ever has the opportunity to visit Huanglong in the future, you are welcome to come to Jinzhou to find me anytime."

"Really?" Phoebe's eyes sparkled with excitement as she nodded vigorously. "Yes, definitely!"

As she spoke, she turned to look at Duanmu Yan beside her, a sweet smile blooming on her face: "By the way, Mr. Duanmu. I really have to thank you for what happened at the dessert shop earlier. If it weren't for your timely help, the children would probably have been disappointed."

"It was nothing," Duanmu Yan said with a calm smile. "If you need anything else, just let me know."

"How could I possibly accept that?" Phoebe quickly shook her head. "I can't keep troubling you... In that case, how about I show you both around the church?"

As she spoke, she took out her terminal and glanced at the time.

"Oh, and today happens to be the day of the choir's performance." Phoebe's eyes lit up, and she enthusiastically suggested, "It's a rare opportunity, Miss Changli and Mr. Duanmu, would you like to go and listen together?"

The girl clasped her hands together, waiting expectantly for their response.

Chang Li lightly nodded: "I'm extremely happy."

As for Duanmu Yan—he had already promised Phoebe he would come to see the choir's performance.

Since we've come across this opportunity today, there's no reason for us to miss it.

“Okay,” Duanmu Yan said.

Seeing that the two agreed, Phoebe's face immediately lit up with a smile, and she enthusiastically suggested, "However, there's still some time before the performance starts. How about we take this opportunity to try our order's special communion?"

Upon hearing the words "Holy Communion," Duanmu Yan's smile instantly froze.

Chang Li showed some interest: "Holy Communion? What is that?"

“It’s a meal that the order provides for free,” Phoebe explained. “It’s called laurel salad.”

“Salad? Sounds worth a try,” Changli nodded.

Duanmu Yan couldn't help but speak up to dissuade him: "I suggest... it's better not to go."

"Why?" Changli looked at him, puzzled. "Huanglong has an old saying: 'Since we're already here, what's so special about a salad?'"

after a while.

Chang Li savored the communion he had received, carefully considering his assessment: "Hmm... the taste is indeed on the sour and astringent side, making it rather difficult to swallow. But if some chili peppers were added as a condiment to mask some of the sourness, I believe the flavor would be much better. Uh, why are you all looking at me like that?"

……

……

at the same time.

The second young lady of Motari is busy with work.

Volume 1: Chapter 38 Ma Jiaqi Arrives

In Duanmu Yan's memory, religious choirs were usually composed of children.

Most of them come from orphanages and have clear, pure voices. As they grow older and their voices change, they leave the choir and become novice priests.

“I was also a member of the choir when I was a child,” Phoebe said softly as she led Changli and Duanmu Yan toward the choir’s performance area. “Later, my voice was no longer suitable, so I became a novice priest.”

The area was already filled with people, including priests from religious orders and travelers from all over the world.

The candlelight flickered inside the sanctuary, creating a solemn and tranquil atmosphere.

Duanmu Yan looked at Phoebe's serious profile and suddenly revealed a mischievous smile: "But I think Phoebe's voice is still very cute. How about... you sing a couple of lines for us?"

"C-Cute?" Phoebe paused, her fair cheeks flushing instantly. She turned her face away in a fluster. "Mr. Duanmu, please, please don't joke around... I'm a priest now, how can I go back to singing in the choir?"

She's still as shy as ever.

She blushes bright red if you tease her even slightly.

If it were the second young lady who played a trick on me, I'd probably lose my entire year's salary.

Florona is a landmine—you absolutely cannot touch it.

So if you're looking for some fun, there seems to be no one more suitable than Phoebe.

Chang Li stood quietly to one side, watching them talk and laugh, a faint smile in her eyes, remaining silent throughout.

Only after everyone was seated did the choir children slowly walk onto the stage. They bowed to the audience, and then the performance began.

The poem's melody flowed melodiously, and when performed by clear children's voices, it sounded exceptionally ethereal and pure.

As for the lyrics, they are still the same old clichés praising the Lord of the Year.

Duanmu Yan wasn't really interested—especially after witnessing the shadows beneath the glamorous surface of the religious order.

But for Phoebe's sake, he was unwilling and unable to show any disgust for the order in front of the young girl.

only……

Ah, forget it.

Hopefully, she'll never know those secrets.

As Duanmu Yan listened to the melodious tunes of the choir, he gradually felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him and unconsciously closed his eyes.

In a daze, the surrounding sounds gradually blurred and distorted, eventually turning into eerie whispers, as if some being was whispering softly in his ear.

He suddenly opened his eyes—only to find himself on an endless sea.

"I am..."

"Where?"

Duanmu Yan muttered to himself, looking around blankly.

He turned to face the vast, breathtaking sky. High above, a magnificent steed riding the wind gazed at him.

what is that?

Is the current leader of England, White?

Before he could think it through, the once calm sea suddenly churned, and the sky darkened in an instant.

A giant, jet-black fish suddenly leaped from the abyss, biting the steed in the sky and dragging it into the bottomless sea.

Duanmu Yan stood frozen in place, almost instinctively reaching out his hand—and at that moment, the whole world came to a sudden halt.

He returned to reality.

The choir's singing continued, and the candlelight flickered slightly.

Changli gently grasped his outstretched hand and asked in a low voice.

"Did you just see something?"

When the music ended, everyone clasped their hands together, bowed their heads in silent prayer, and expressed their respect and blessings to the Lord of the Year.

Only Duanmu Yan and Chang Li sat quietly in place, seemingly out of place in this devout scene.

“I…” Duanmu Yan pursed his lips. The clear scene from before was rapidly blurring, as if it had been quietly erased by some invisible force. “I think I saw… a horse? It seemed to be an Inbra.

"Oh, really?" Changli's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly for a moment—and only for a moment—her tone was perfectly calm. "And then?"

"I can't remember." Duanmu Yan shook his head, somewhat bewildered. "What... happened to me just now?"

“You’ve probably been drawn into Sonora’s world.” Changli turned her gaze to the choir, her voice soft. “All melodies in the world are made up of frequencies. And their poetry became the medium that drew you in.”

"The world of Sonora? What's that?" Duanmu Yan frowned and pressed, "Why haven't the others entered?"

Chang Li tilted her head slightly, her tone ethereal: "Who knows? Perhaps... the Lord of the Year is intentionally conveying something to you."

"Lord of the Year, what message do you wish to convey to me?" Duanmu Yan lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up. "Could I be... a holy envoy?"

“Who knows?” Changli shrugged lightly, his gaze sweeping over the devout believers around him. “But it’s best not to mention this to anyone else.”

"Why?" Duanmu Yan asked, puzzled.

Chang Li leaned closer and whispered in his ear, "—You will be exiled."

……

……

After watching the choir's performance, Phoebe continued to act as their guide, introducing Changli and Duanmu Yan to various details of the church.

—Although it was ostensibly an explanation for the two of them, it was basically to satisfy Phoebe's curiosity.

"I heard that Huanglong seems to have more than one Lord of the Year?" Phoebe couldn't help but ask Changli during the journey.

“Hmm,” Changli nodded slightly and patiently explained to her, “Huanglong has one court and six states, each with a year lord. They may look similar, but they also have differences. It is the place in the world where the year lords coexist the most. It is said that the year lords of Huanglong originated from one source, and when they are united, they can be one, but when they are separated, they each govern a region.”

She paused briefly, then gave an example: "For instance, the current ruler of the state—the Horned One—appears in the form of a dragon."

Phoebe listened intently, almost forgetting that she was the tour guide.

Duanmu Yan followed silently behind them, pondering what Changli had just said.

Why would mentioning this to others lead to exile?

Although the reasons for exile by religious orders are varied and bizarre, surely it's not enough to exile me just because of a dream?

2 Lin Er Yan 1 San Mio Dad Group·Chat uh...

Ok.

Considering the level of fanaticism within the religious order, it is still possible.

He stopped and looked up at the statue of Imbrard beside him—a horse-headed fish-bodied creature, its form bizarre, as if whispers from the deep sea had come to life.

The scene from Sonora reappeared: a colossal black creature leaped from the abyss, tearing at the Pegasus and dragging it into endless darkness.

He stared at the statue, the shattered images looping endlessly in his mind.

So, what exactly is the Lord of the Year...?

What message do you want to convey to him through this?

"Mr. Duanmu?"

Phoebe's voice came from ahead, gently interrupting his thoughts. Duanmu Yan snapped out of his reverie and quickly caught up with the two.

"Sorry, I was a little distracted just now."

“I see. Miss Changli said she was a little tired today and wanted to go back to rest first.” Phoebe looked at him, a hint of expectation in her eyes. “What about Mr. Duanmu? Does he want to continue shopping?”

Duanmu Yan originally intended to politely decline, but when he met Phoebe's expectant eyes, he swallowed back the refusal that was on the tip of his tongue.

"Well... okay, let's shop around a little longer."

……

……

at the same time.

The second young lady of the Motari family is still working.

Book 1: Chapter 39 Phoebe's Invitation