241: The Secret of the Western Wall

"Sir, where are we going?" Idora asked softly.

"Find a Tavern," Mo Yan replied simply and directly. "Where there are many people, there is much news."

They avoided the lavishly decorated places on the main road, which were clearly for Light Church personnel, and turned into a secluded alley.

In this alley, there was a Tavern with a crooked wooden sign that read, "Mumu Tavern" in faded paint.

Pushing open the creaking wooden door, a mix of cheap ale wafted out.

The Tavern was dimly lit, with a dozen or so customers, mostly commoners doing manual labor and a few bloodthirsty mercenaries.

Like the pedestrians on the street, they silently drank their ale.

Mo Yan's arrival did not attract anyone's attention.

He and Idora found an empty spot in the corner and sat down, ordering two of the cheapest ales.

The bartender was a gaunt middle-aged man; his fingers trembled slightly as he took the copper coins Mo Yan placed on the table, not daring to make eye contact with Mo Yan the entire time.

Mo Yan picked up his wooden cup, pretending to drink.

"Did you hear? Over by the west city wall, another family of heretics was arrested last night," a burly man with a full beard at the next table whispered to his companion.

"Shh! Keep your voice down! Do you have a death wish?" His companion's face turned pale with fright, and he nervously glanced around.

"What's there to be afraid of? There are no white-robed dogs here," the bearded man scoffed, but his voice unconsciously dropped even lower. "A family of five, they didn't even spare a half-grown child. They were dragged away directly by the Judgment Knights."

"The charge was... harboring old items from the Empire era."

"Alas, what a sin."

"Isn't it? Tomorrow is the Saint's descent ceremony, and the Light Church wants to clear out all unclean things before the ceremony. I heard that all the heretics caught this time will be purified tomorrow noon in the Holy Light Plaza."

"Purified? That sounds good, but isn't it just burning them to death?"

"Quiet!"

Mo Yan's eyes flickered slightly.

The Light Church wanted to use the pretext of the Saint's descent to conduct a major purge, eliminating any traces left by the Empire and solidifying its theocratic rule.

And those arrested heretics were, in all likelihood, remnants of the Empire, just like the villagers of God Forsaken Village.

If he could find where these people were being held, perhaps he could follow the clues and find the hidden Empire resistance forces in the imperial city.

Just then, the Tavern door was violently pushed open.

Ding-a-ling—

The wind chimes hanging on the door made a harsh sound, and everyone looked towards the door like startled rabbits.

Four Light Church Knights in silver-white armor, holding long spears, walked in, led by a priest in a white robe with a cross hanging on his chest.

Everyone lowered their heads, wishing they could bury their faces in their cups.

The priest's hawk-like gaze swept across the room and finally landed on Mo Yan's table.

His gaze fell on Idora.

Although Idora had changed into a simple robe, her innate elegance still stood out like a firefly in the dark of this dimly lit Tavern.

"Where are you from?" the priest's voice was cold.

He walked over slowly, and the four Knights behind him also closed in.

Idora's body instantly tensed.

Mo Yan, however, remained calm. He put down his cup, forced a humble smile, and stood up proactively.

"Sir, we are from the countryside, here in the imperial city to admire the Saint's demeanor, hoping to receive the baptism of divine grace."

"From the countryside?" The priest's gaze lingered on Mo Yan and Idora, his suspicion showing no signs of diminishing. "Which countryside? Show me your identification."

Identification?

Mo Yan's heart sank; he had forgotten about that.

The Light Church's rule was so strict, there would certainly be something similar to travel permits.

In an instant, two thoughts flashed through his mind.

Option one: Act violently, kill all five within three seconds, and immediately return to the library. But that would cause too much commotion and lead to a city-wide manhunt.

Option two: Act, and pay to avoid trouble.

Just as the atmosphere froze to an icy point, a rustling sound suddenly came from the wooden basket under Mo Yan.

"Gurgle! Gurgle gurgle!"

Gun Gun seemed to sense danger and let out two anxious cries in the basket.

"Hmm? What's that sound?" The priest frowned, his gaze falling on the inconspicuous wooden basket.

Mo Yan subtly moved the basket behind his feet, while raising his head, his gaze calmly meeting the priest's: "Sir, it's a domestic young beast, shy of strangers. I apologize if it disturbed you."

His tone was neither humble nor arrogant, which made the priest a bit unsure.

A hint of disgust appeared on the priest's face.

Mo Yan seized the opportunity to pull out a small bag of gold coins from his bosom and subtly slipped them into the priest's hand: "Sir, you've worked hard on patrol. This small sum is a token of my respect, just for your brothers to buy some ale."

"My sister and I are new here and don't know the rules. We hope you will be lenient with us."

The priest silently tucked the money bag into his sleeve, and his cold expression softened considerably.

"Hmph, at least you're sensible," he cleared his throat. "The city isn't safe lately; there are heretics who blaspheme God everywhere. You two, don't wander around too much. After the grand ceremony, hurry back to the countryside."

"Yes, yes, thank you for the reminder, sir." Mo Yan repeatedly nodded and bowed.

The priest gave them another cold glance before turning and leaving with the Knights.

It wasn't until they disappeared outside the door that everyone in the Tavern collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sir..." Idora looked at Mo Yan with lingering fear.

"It's nothing." Mo Yan sat back down, his eyes deepening.

That priest had already been sentenced to death in his mind.

Solving it with money this time was just to avoid alerting the enemy.

But this also gave him a reminder.

Without identification, they would be exposed sooner or later.

They had to find a safe place to stay and obtain legal identities as soon as possible.

The crisis was resolved, but Mo Yan's objective had not yet been achieved.

He concentrated his Qi in his ears, continuing to eavesdrop on the surrounding conversations.

Sure enough, the priest's departure was like opening a floodgate for everyone, and complaints and discussions resumed, though more discreetly than before.

..."Again, the west city wall. That place is practically a heretic den."

"Who says it isn't? I heard that the old district there used to be a slum during the Empire era. The sewers are interconnected like a labyrinth. Those remnants of the Empire hide in there like rats."

"The Light Church's lords are also very troubled. They've sent several groups in to clear them out, but what happened? They're like headless flies, they can't even find anyone."

"A few days ago, a team of Judgment Knights even went missing in the sewers and still haven't been found."

"Serves them right! They should all die in there!"

"Shh... keep your voice down! But, I heard that the Light Church is determined this time. If they can't catch the rats, they're preparing to drown them with water."

"A distant cousin of mine who works at the city hall said that the Light Church has already ordered that all exits of the west city wall will be sealed tonight, and then they will pour naphtha into the underground sewers!"

"What? Then... there are not only heretics in there, but also many poor people who can't make a living elsewhere!"

"In the Light Church's eyes, what's the difference between the poor and heretics?"

A sigh plunged the entire Tavern back into silence.

A sharp glint flashed in Mo Yan's eyes.

West city wall, old district, underground sewers!

Found it!

He raised his cup and downed the cheap ale in one gulp.

A cold smile appeared on his face.