Chapter 171

Chapter 143: I Just Want to Keep These Moments

The strong man’s body twitched several times before rapidly withering away, dead.

A few sparks floated towards the sky and dissipated in the air. I stared at them, lost in thought.

When I turned back, Teresa had quietly walked away, leaving only a faint, ethereal silhouette behind.

My brows furrowed slightly.

In that moment, many thoughts flashed through my mind… I almost called out to her, but ultimately shook my head and quickened my pace to catch up.

We walked one after the other, returning to the old building where the goods were traded.

The flames here were still burning, though much smaller. Monks from the church, along with a Canri Sword of the Order of Water, were working hard to extinguish the fire. Near the truck, the deputy captain and the hook-nosed man were nearing the end of their inventory check. Seeing us approach, they asked, “Is he dead?”

“Dead.”

Teresa nodded in response, then asked, “How is the situation here?”

The deputy captain kicked a pile of crates beside him.

“Look at this.”

She pointed to the top crate. I looked over and saw that the crate had been opened. Several rough linen garments clearly meant for children were thrown haphazardly on the lid. One of the pockets was open, spilling out withered grass leaves.

“In each piece of clothing in this box, there are dried water chestnut leaves. Based on the amount, I estimate there are around five hundred to seven hundred grams… we haven’t checked the other boxes yet.”

But things were indeed as expected.

I slowly walked over, picked up a dried leaf, and examined it closely. I then sniffed it—it smelled like grass. It was a bit sour and had an unusual odor, but otherwise, there was nothing special about it.

“Dried water chestnut leaves have no effect if not ignited.”

Teresa was watching my actions. Hearing her say this, I couldn’t help but look at the few clusters of lingering flames a dozen meters away.

“…Don’t have any strange ideas,” Teresa said again. “Once addicted, it’s very hard to quit!”

Of course, I knew this.

“Sister, you know a lot about this?”

“I don’t know much. I just have a friend who is very interested in water chestnut leaves. His name is Chris.”

Chris… oh, that bird-beaked doctor. Are he and Teresa acquainted?

I casually threw the dried leaf aside, clapped my hands, and turned to look at the merchants standing trembling nearby. “They… perhaps some are unaware. Sister, we need to investigate thoroughly.”

“Mm, I understand.”

Her gentle and trustworthy voice sounded reassuring.

At this moment, Charles looked up.

Seeing Sister Teresa, he seemed to have grabbed onto the last hope, glaring and shouting, “Dean Teresa!”

I saw Teresa’s figure move slightly, her face showing a pained expression, but she did not respond to him.

“Dean, listen to me! I know nothing about heretics! I have nothing to do with them! Really! Save me, Dean Teresa! Considering all the effort I’ve put into serving you over the years, you must believe me! Save me—!”

He still referred to himself as ‘this humble person,’ but his words and demeanor had long lost their grace, nearly turning into a scream.

After a while, Teresa finally responded to him.

“With evidence right before your eyes, you still try to argue… Charles, you disappoint me too much.”

This sentence pushed Charles to the brink of collapse; he began to cry uncontrollably.

“No! It’s not true! I’m not a heretic, what water chestnut leaves… I don’t know! You know me! You know I would never do such a thing… you know… someone is framing me!”

Teresa remained silent.

After a moment, she sighed lightly.

“I just… thought I knew you well.”

“You’re… not believing this humble person?”

“Yes… I am not a heretic… Dean Theresa…”

Charles shed tears and muttered softly before starting to confess.

“This matter… I am guilty! Using my position, these years, I have been secretly diverting some of the supplies donated to CataLoma behind your back… selling them at a discount to local merchants for personal gain… I have been hiding this from you, I have wronged you… but that’s all there is! Today when the merchant changed, I found it strange, but they offered more than usual by a tenth… It was my greed! I have an elderly mother to support… how could I know about the Door of Truth or the Lotus Grass… What is happening…”

“Dean Theresa, I still have a child! Little Charlie! You’ve seen him, you even said you liked him… For Charlie’s sake, please save me! I am willing to return all the profits I made… No, double—”

“Charles, don’t you understand yet!”

Theresa interrupted him sharply.

As if to calm herself, she took a deep breath.

“At this point, it’s not just a matter of what I say. Right and wrong, whether it’s a setup… you can explain everything in the underground prison.”

With that, Theresa turned away from him and looked at the deputy captain.

“Tanis. Next… how do you plan to handle the matter of the Sword of Kanli?”

The woman named Tanis smiled lightly.

“We will investigate thoroughly. We’ll see who dares to openly bring someone into the city.”

Theresa nodded slightly.

“Mm, thank you for your hard work… The Lotus Grass will be handled by you. As for the remaining goods… can they be moved back to CataLoma?”

Tanis raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you afraid of raising suspicion?”

Theresa laughed upon hearing this. “I am… but these new clothes, the children have been looking forward to them for a long time.”

“You are truly compassionate.”

“Not at all… just fond of them.”

Suddenly, I remembered the two children I had saved earlier, so I looked up at the entrance of the alley, only to find they were already gone.

They must have escaped… never mind, as long as they’re not hurt.

“I’m not a heretic, I don’t want to go to the underground prison… I’m not a heretic…”

The top-hat wearing Charles continued to mutter to himself on the other side.

The fire was almost completely extinguished, leaving only a small flame nearby. While gently rubbing my lower abdomen, I walked over and released Frost Mist, extinguishing it.

“How convenient, Sylvia,” Theresa’s voice came from behind, “your frost order is too powerful; it’s almost like a natural restraint against the Door of Truth.”

I fell silent for a moment.

“Theresa sister.”

“Hmm?”

“Earlier, in the dean’s office, I saw that book, ‘Love’s Sorrow’… did you write it?”

“Oh, yes! You saw it! How embarrassing… don’t laugh at me.”

Shaking my head, I turned around.

“It’s well-written.”

My gaze fixed on her eyes, vast like the stars.

“I saw those words. The world’s suffering is merely due to the machinations of the human heart… Do you think so, sister?”

“Mm…” Theresa thought for a moment after hearing this, “I could say I once… believed that.”

“Sister… did something happen?”

“There were some things.”

“…Can’t you tell me?”

“I can’t.”

“Then, sister, now… do you still believe that?”

“Now?…”

Theresa lifted her head.

Above the blue sky, there were only white clouds and sunlight.

“In this world… the lakes and mountains, the beautiful scenery, there are too many sights worth appreciating. I just want to keep these.”