Jessica gasped:
"You’ve thought it over? You won’t... You really have such remarkable experiences? And you truly trust me?"
Wen Xishu nodded:
"Considering my special experiences, I don’t need to be like Wenren Mirror; I can still tell if you’re lying or telling the truth."
"I have such experiences, though there may be risks. But since I’m here, I plan to give it a try."
Although Jessica explained the method to deal with the Priest very seriously... she indeed pinned her hopes on the Tower Climber.
But upon hearing the Tower Climber say this, she still found it hard to believe.
"Are you saying you defeated... someone who could defeat the Priest?"
"No, someone who committed violence, did evil, bullied others. Understand? The weak can actually bully the strong. Just like you may not be as powerful as Wenren Mirror, but you can sleep with him; he suffers a loss, loses his body, which is also a form of violence." Wen Xishu said.
Jessica nodded:
"Sounds... very reasonable."
"Right, our goal is to summon that person, but what specific actions lead to their summoning isn’t up to us to decide," Wen Xishu patiently instructed the Destructor.
Jessica nodded:
"Makes so much sense! You’re right, maybe I should travel far and continually subdue other strong ones!"
"Huh?" Wen Xishu couldn’t believe that’s how Jessica understood it.
"How soon can we start dealing with the Priest?" Wen Xishu asked again.
"We can start now. I’ll take the first step; I’ve already thought of how to attract the Priest’s attention and ensure you successfully step into the realm." Jessica said excitedly.
Wen Xishu nodded:
"By the way, I must tell you one thing, once I defeat the Priest... for everyone, this is a good conclusion. But it also means your cycle will end."
"You won’t enjoy the Destructor’s privileges anymore, even though, do you still want to kill the Priest?"
Jessica sighed:
"Yes, I told you, now I’m a good person. Whether you believe it or not, I truly want to kill that Priest, not for anything else but to uphold justice."
...
...
Four o’clock in the afternoon.
Stone walls were bathed in a warm golden hue. The cross atop the spire stood calmly in the dusk.
Two figures had already appeared inside the church.
Jessica had forgotten how many times she had come here.
The church, the prayer room.
Wooden benches were neatly arranged, with an altar at the front, a cross standing quietly, flanked by several bouquets of fresh white lilies. The scent of flowers mingled with the aroma of incense.
Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows high above, and beneath the cross, a figure slowly spoke:
"Jessica, why are you here?"
The Priest’s expression was calm and kind.
He wore a simple black robe, with a silver cross hanging on his chest. His hair was already gray, neatly combed back.
The Priest’s eyes were light gray, gentle and deep, as if he could see through hearts but carried infinite compassion and solace.
Jessica walked up to the Priest and then stood beneath the cross.
The Priest was puzzled, but his gaze shifted with Jessica’s arrival.
At the same time, Jessica said:
"Your power continually affects those around you; everyone here goes mad because of you. They repeat cycles of evil, getting repeatedly harvested by you."
"You disgusting creature, you don’t really believe you’re some angel of purification, do you?"
"Spit, old man, guess who I recently killed? He spilled all his secrets!"
This set of lines, Jessica had tested multiple times; in past cycles, Jessica discovered that saying this piqued the Priest’s curiosity.
"Jessica, what are you talking about? Who did you meet?" the Priest’s eyes widened.
The kindness vanished instantly, revealing a hint of viciousness.
Jessica said:
"If you have the guts, purify me, old man. You, the source of this town’s malevolence, if you dare, purify me, or I’ll kill you, I’ll boil your flesh and eat it, hehe."
The Priest spread his arms.
He indeed planned to purify Jessica; he wanted to know what evil Jessica had committed, intended to make Jessica kind, and wanted Jessica to reveal why she knew he was the mastermind.
His voice was low:
"Jessica, you are guilty."
"I have your mother’s guilt."
Although her words were fierce, Jessica was already immobile at this moment.
Massive rays of the cross trapped Jessica, and beneath her feet, black rolling liquid appeared.
"Come on, Jessica, confess to me!"
As soon as this was said, Jessica’s eyes immediately grew cloudy. The things in her consciousness seemed to break through the barrier between reality and story, being forcibly pulled out.
Many people would come to confess to the Priest, but those minor sins weren’t even acknowledged by him; people only felt healed by the Priest’s kind smile.
But only Jessica knew that those influenced by malice wouldn’t genuinely feel remorse; most were forced to confess.
The Priest’s "confess to me" seemed to carry some irrefutable meaning.
All of Jessica’s malice seemed to materialize at this moment, instantly adhered to by the black liquid beneath her feet, making her feel a certain desire departing from her body.