Chapter Eleven: A Midnight Visit to the Priest

Today, the first chapter is dedicated to Little Ant in celebration! Congratulations to Comrade Ant for finally leveling up! Riding the joyful tide of Little Ant’s success, it’s Monday and Pighead urgently needs recommendations and all kinds of review votes—friends, please add the novel to your collections!

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In the dead of night, Lin Qi left the dormitory.

The campus was quiet, save for the occasional muffled chirping of birds on the treetops, frozen and restless. Clumps of snow fell to the ground with a dull thud, the sound strangely piercing in the silence. Lin Qi walked across the snowy terrain without making a single sound. Carefully, he made his way toward the staff dormitory building, skillfully avoiding several patrolling guards along the way.

The darkness and cold provided Lin Qi with the perfect cover; he slipped into the shadowy depths of the teachers’ dormitory without alerting a soul, traversed a polished, spotless corridor with practiced ease, and arrived at the door at the very end. Glancing cautiously to either side, Lin Qi used a piece of wire to pick the lock.

He had learned this trick from Vic, who aspired to become a master thief and possessed a unique talent for such clandestine crafts; Lin Qi and his brothers had picked up a few self-defense skills from him.

Silently pushing the door open, Lin Qi was greeted by a pale, fleshy backside facing him.

Father Barin sat naked on a round stool, muttering as he counted copper coins from his purse. As an assistant priest, he was expected at all times to be impeccably dressed and dignified. Were his superior priests to witness him in such a state, he’d surely be sent to the church’s disciplinary chamber.

Beside him sat a large bottle of wine and a small cup. Chuckling quietly, Barin counted out ten coppers, placed them in a money box, then poured himself a drink, raised his cup in low praise—“God bless me”—and downed the wine in a single gulp.

Drinking was a grave sin within the church, yet Father Barin indulged with relish. His plump, pale face, and swollen, ruddy nose betrayed his drunkenness. He counted his money with joy, taking a small drink for every ten coins, humming a tune, occasionally wriggling his hefty body so that his pale flesh rippled and rolled.

“Praise my God!” When he had finally tucked the last few silver coins and a mountain of coppers into the money box, Father Barin mischievously wiggled his backside and cheerfully released a loud fart. Proudly, he knelt on the floor, hands clasped to his chest, and prayed devoutly: “Honored Lord, my Father. The gods watch over me from the heavens—please bless your faithful servant Barin!”

With a heartfelt sigh, Father Barin proclaimed with utmost devotion, “Just today, your loyal Barin sold three hundred and seventy-five indulgences, bringing more funds to the church, strengthening its power—this is all thanks to faithful Barin. Mighty Lord, gods above, please let the bishop of University City soon ascend to serve you, so that faithful Barin may take his place!”

Rubbing his crimson nose with vigor, Barin lamented, “That greedy, lustful bishop—he is unworthy to be God’s servant. Let him go to hell, and take his cronies with him. Faithful Barin is the best candidate for bishop of University City!”

Kneeling deeply, he kissed the floor with reverence. Half-drunk, Barin concluded his evening prayer.

Lin Qi closed the door behind him, walked up to Barin, and gently tapped him on the shoulder.

Barin shrieked, his flesh quivering as he stumbled to the corner, pulling a heavy battle axe from a large, inconspicuous porcelain jar. Furious, he spun around, and before he could even see Lin Qi clearly, swung the axe at him.

“No one will snatch a single coin from me—this is church property!” Barin’s eyes were bloodshot, like a hungry wolf deprived of its feast, as he lunged at Lin Qi.

Lin Qi raised his right hand, seized the axe handle, and delivered a swift kick that sent Barin tumbling.

“Good heavens, Father, you are a respected priest—how could you attack someone with an axe?” Lin Qi weighed the single-bladed ox horn axe in his hand with disdain, tossed it onto the bed, and his gaze involuntarily drifted to the bronze money box on the table.

Barin, equally passionate about money, detected the flicker of greed in Lin Qi’s eyes and nervously said, “Mr. Lin Qi, if you so much as touch one of my precious coins, I swear I won’t let you off!”

Having known Barin for three years, Lin Qi was well aware of his character. He glanced regretfully at the money box, smacked his lips, and sighed with exaggerated grievance, “Oh come now, what do you take me for? We’re old friends—old friends! How could you doubt my integrity? That’s your money, I won’t touch it!”

Rubbing his hands vigorously, Lin Qi squinted and smiled, “How much did Mr. Grant give you for your services, esteemed Father?”

Barin eyed Lin Qi warily, snatched up a robe and wrapped it around himself. He muttered in a cautious, low voice, “Oh, that’s not your concern, dear Mr. Lin Qi. I am merely an intermediary. Mr. Grant makes a request, I pass it to you, you help him fulfill it—simple, isn’t it? Simply business!”

Raising a finger to his lips, Barin gently shushed him, “I take my rightful share, you have your own profits. We’ve worked together happily these three years, haven’t we?”

Seeing Barin’s tense expression, Lin Qi nodded thoughtfully.

Father Barin, that scoundrel entrenched in the church, was the spokesperson for many high-ranking figures in University City. These important people had all manner of hidden desires, but their noble status forbade direct contact with the lower classes. Thus, Father Barin, this peculiar middleman, emerged. The city's elite discreetly relayed their requirements to Barin, who in turn sought out Lin Qi and his ilk to resolve their problems.

Such shady dealings had their own rules, and Lin Qi really shouldn’t ask how much Barin profited.

Shrugging helplessly, Lin Qi reluctantly tore his gaze from the money box and muttered, “Alright, alright. Lend me a talisman—a real, effective talisman. Once I have the money, I’ll pay you back double.”

Barin’s eyes flickered, his brows arching swiftly. “The price of materials for talismans has risen lately, each one costs three silver more!”

Lin Qi glared at him in annoyance. “Then I’ll pay you six extra silvers! But now—right now—I need a talisman! A powerful, genuine one that can withstand all sorts of attacks. Don’t try to pawn off any of those cheap ones meant for common folk!”

Barin grinned broadly and deftly drew a small, white scroll from his sleeve.