Chapter 76: This Time, I’ll Protect You

“In my eyes, you are nothing but a murderous demon.”

Xino bowed his head, kneeling on the ground with blood soaking his knees. He closed his eyes and said, “Kill me. Let me go see Alena.”

A wave of bitterness churned within Chloe.

What was she supposed to do? If she yielded at every turn, she would be treated like a pawn. But if she fought back, she would be cursed and condemned.

And he kept saying Alena, Alena. What had Alena even done?

It was because of Alena that Alice had come to know her, and Wuna also saw her as Alena.

She was like a shadow hovering over Chloe, a lingering ghost that refused to dissipate.

Chloe pressed a hand to her wrist. The Sirena Ring hanging there emitted a faint glow.

She could feel Alena watching her.

Chloe reached out, touched Xino’s cheek, and said flatly, “I am not as kind as Alena.”

Xino knew the meaning of those words. He puffed out his chest, ready to meet his end.

“So I won’t let you die easily.”

Chloe dropped that sentence and turned away.

She understood that living with a goal to bear was harder than death. That was how Xia Ni was—he had set his heart on sending his sister to university.

Xino still knelt on the ground, staring blankly at Chloe’s retreating figure.

“Hang in there.”

Wuna patted Xino on the head.

Alice let out a long sigh. Her weary eyes followed Chloe as she murmured, “This is just the beginning, Chloe.”

Chloe lifted her head and gazed at the gray sky.

“I know.”

She still had much to learn. Besides, there were people waiting for her to save them.

A moment later, they arrived at Andrew’s residence: a luxurious, magnificent estate surrounded by high walls, with many guards patrolling back and forth.

Chloe crouched in the tall grass on a height, overlooking the entire estate.

Fresh grape trellises hung from the beams. Beneath them, a fat man lounged in an armchair, letting a scantily clad maid fan him.

The man watched the scene with relish: several young beauties were crushing grapes with their feet, their jade-like soles stained purple with juice.

One girl lifted her leg, and the man leaned in, licking her grape-juice-covered toes.

Chloe blushed furiously. What were they doing?

“Bishop Andrew certainly has refined tastes,” Alice said mockingly.

“These girls are all heretics or witches captured from all over the country. So that’s why I never saw them in the prison—they were brought to this place.”

Wuna frowned, anger flickering in her eyes.

“Wuna, instead of burning innocent heretics, shouldn’t we be burning scum like this?” Chloe said indignantly.

“Give it a rest. If we really burned them, the Central Church would have to set up a barbecue stall,” Alice said with a dismissive wave.

“Where’s Anna? Anna… Anna…”

Chloe placed a hand to her forehead and looked around.

A tall, brown-haired woman caught Chloe’s eye. She was quietly scrubbing clothes in a corner of the mansion.

“Anna!”

Wuna exclaimed in surprise, and Alice quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.

Anna seemed to hear Wuna’s call. She turned around, looking bewildered.

Chloe felt relieved. Anna didn’t appear to have been tortured.

But how to rescue her?

“How do we get in?” Chloe asked.

“We can’t storm it. Andrew’s guards are not weak, and we don’t have strong combat power on our side.”

Alice thought for a moment, then her gaze slid to Chloe, making her feel uneasy.

“What are you looking at me for?”

“We’ll have to use our wits, Chloe.”

“Hey!!!!!!!”

So why did she have to be the bait!

Alice had already transformed into a priest. She took Chloe’s hand and led her to the mansion gate.

Two guards blocked Alice at the entrance.

“What business do you have with Bishop Andrew?”

“I’ve come to present a gift to the Bishop.”

Alice gripped Chloe’s shoulders and pushed her forward so the guards could see her clearly: silver hair cascading to her waist, crimson eyes, delicate features, fair skin, a petite figure, and the faint blush on her cheeks heightening her cuteness to the extreme.

“This heretical girl wishes the Bishop to instruct her in converting to the right path.”

“Oh, oh, this is prime quality.”

The guards drooled, but they stepped aside.

“Hurry and deliver her to the Bishop. This heretical girl will surely receive sweet dew under the Bishop’s protection.”

“Sweet dew? I call it life essence!” the guard beside him chuckled.

Damn it, I’ll suck you dry! Chloe thought angrily.

Alice led Chloe into the estate and quickly ducked into an empty side path.

“Where did you see Anna just now?”

“Near here. Hey, it’s her!”

Anna came around the corner, looking haggard, carrying a basin full of clothes.

“Anna!” Chloe whispered.

Anna’s face changed when she saw Chloe. She dropped the basin and ran toward her.

“Chloe~”

Her face broke into a smile, but when she saw the priest behind Chloe, she warily assumed a fighting stance.

“It’s me.”

Alice snapped her fingers and reverted to her original form. Anna stared at her in surprise.

“Alice? What are you doing here?”

“Just magic. More importantly, did Andrew do anything to you?”

“Yeah, yeah! Did he lay a hand on you?”

Chloe cracked her knuckles, ready to break Andrew’s ribs.

Anna sighed and said, “No. Andrew thought I was too ugly, so he made me a laundress.”

“T-t-t-t-t-too ugly?”

Chloe’s eyes widened. She looked Anna up and down. Though not as beautiful as Chloe, Anna was still a great beauty.

“Is Andrew blind?” Alice said bluntly.

“I’m too tall. That old pervert prefers young, petite girls, like Chloe.”

Chloe nearly spat blood.

“Let’s go! This place makes me sick.”

“Wuna is waiting for us outside the wall. Let’s just climb over.”

Alice knocked on the wall, and it echoed back. Then a rope flew over the wall, landing beside Chloe.

But Anna hesitated. “There are still many girls here who have suffered Andrew’s abuse…”

“Don’t worry. Someone has already gone to take down the Central Church’s nest. Rescuing them is only a matter of time.”

Alice handed the rope to Anna. “You go first. I’ll keep watch.”

Anna nodded. She skillfully climbed the rope and over the wall—easy for someone accustomed to forest life.

But this was Chloe’s first time climbing a rope. She was slow, and guards were about to round the corner. Alice was frantic.

“Can you hurry up!”

“I’m trying.”

Chloe fumbled and finally reached the top of the wall, where Anna and Wuna were waiting.

But just as Chloe was about to jump down, a guard on patrol happened to glance up and spot her.

Alice stared at the guard in shock. She raised her finger, but it was too late.

“Someone’s escaping!”

A crisp snap of fingers put the guard to sleep, but they had already been exposed.

“They’re coming!”

Wuna pointed at the figures approaching in the distance, swords in hand.

Alice vaulted over too, but guards surrounded them from all sides.

“Forget it. You run. I’ll hold them off.”

Alice pushed Chloe away and began chanting a spell.

Chloe’s heart churned. She was always being protected by all kinds of people: Alena, Lucia, Alice, Wuxu, Anjie…

She made up her mind. She pressed her finger to Alice’s lips, stopping her chant. Alice looked at her in surprise.

Chloe blinked her crimson eyes, her lips parting slightly. “This time, let me protect you.”

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