Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 675 The Church of Agus (Third update! 9,500 words today!)
Argus, the church.

In the early morning, the church was already filled with devout believers outside its main entrance.

Many believers dressed in plain robes stood quietly on both sides of the pilgrimage path. They gathered in small groups around the sacred statues and fountains, offering devout praises. The sound of chanting mingled with the organ music flowing from the church.

The church doors were now open, and a dozen or so clergymen emerged from the church, guiding the faithful who had been waiting outside for a long time through Mass and hymns, and orderly leading those who wished to enter the church for worship and pilgrimage.

One carriage after another drove from outside the church and down the wide street; they were devout nobles and their families, coming to perform their morning prayers as scheduled.

Among the clergy of the church, there were several novice priests who were specifically tasked with receiving and guiding these pious nobles.

Among the nobles who arrived by carriage, a young nobleman with black hair and golden eyes, dressed in a solemn white robe, also arrived at the church gate accompanied by a personal maid.

Luo Xiu had already arrived here by carriage, accompanied by Head Maid Caroline.

He gazed at the solemn and magnificent sacred church before him, its white spire gilded with a golden glow; he watched the morning light flow like gilded light across the church doors and the long, rounded pillars, and a smile appeared on his face. Then he looked at the novice priest in front of him, who looked to be only sixteen years old.

The young novice priest still had a somewhat youthful face, but his expression was full of piety. He was explaining the steps of the praise to the believers with enthusiasm and patience, guiding them in their devout praise.

Looking at this young apprentice priest, Luo Xiu seemed to see his former self, recalling his time back in Dawn Town.

"Hello... are you also here at church to give praises?"

The young priest saw Luo Xiu and came up to him, asking him questions warmly.

The young priest's eyes gleamed. Luo Xiu nodded and smiled, saying:
"Ah."

“I don’t think I’ve ever met you before, but, well, I can sense your devotion. In that case, we are all comrades walking in glory.”

The young priest gently raised his right hand, placed it lightly on his left chest, and bowed slightly to offer a sacramental greeting to Luo Xiu. Luo Xiu's head maid, Caroline, responded on his behalf and said to the young priest:
“My master, young master Roland Florence, has just arrived here from the Golden Country and is here today to attend a ceremony at the Church of Agus.”

“I am honored.” After the head maid Caroline introduced him, Luo Xiu smiled and nodded in response to the young priest.

The young priest nodded. He seemed unaware of the significance of the surname "Florenza," but he remembered the name "Roland Florenza." Then, he spoke reverently to Luo Xiu:

"Please join us, and may the sun bless you for a moment."

Then, Luo Xiu, along with the young priest, joined the believers who arrived at the church at dawn, and together with several devout commoners, nobles, and ladies, they all performed a hymn of praise with equal devotion, regardless of social status.

During this process, Luo Xiu was also observing the believers who came to the Church of Agus City, as well as the clergy of the church.

Afterwards, Luo Xiu and the young priest conducted a "charity" – it was a procession of food prepared in the morning by the larger churches, such as white porridge, buckwheat cakes and other vegetarian dishes, which were distributed to the poor people in the city.

The church in Sina had such a ritual at the time, but the church in Red Maple City did not—because the church in Red Maple City was initially defined as a "wartime church," but after the war ended, such a ritual of giving alms was added in the morning.

After the almsgiving was finished, Luo Xiu returned to the church entrance. The young priest once again offered Luo Xiu the sacrament, speaking in a devout voice:
"May you find peace in this tribute."

"Then please make yourself at home, Your Excellency Roland Florence. If you wish to enter the church, you can find me at the third holy spring. I am always there and can serve as your guide for your 'pilgrimage'."

“Okay.” Luo Xiu smiled and nodded.

He then reached out to the head maid, Caroline, who was standing nearby, and she handed Luo Xiu a white cloth bag. Luo Xiu then presented the bag to the young priest before him with both hands, saying:

"This is our token of appreciation. Please accept it, and thank you for your patience in guiding me."

The young priest seemed to hesitate for a moment, but still accepted the wallet from Luo Xiu. Then, he reverently performed a holy salute to Luo Xiu again and said:

"You are a devout comrade. May the sun protect you for a moment, and may the holy light dispel your confusion and guide your path."

Then, the young priest turned and left. Luo Xiu watched as he placed the wallet in front of a statue of Saint Leron without opening it, and then turned and left to guide the next devout believer.

"..."

Luo Xiu gazed at the young priest's retreating figure, then looked at the Church of Agus City, the gathered believers, and the clergy responsible for guiding them.

Wandering in the solemn and sacred atmosphere, Luo Xiu didn't sense anything unusual. The panel also showed the same; the Church of Agus City appeared to be a radiant church operating normally.

But Luo Xiu wasn't in a hurry to discover anything. He and Head Maid Caroline strolled around in front of the church. On the other side of a lake, diagonally opposite the main entrance of the church, there was a lakeside café. Luo Xiu took Caroline there.

After ordering a coffee and sitting down, Luo Xiu gazed at the Church of Agus City from afar, watching the believers and clergy coming and going.

While observing, he was waiting for someone—

From the moment Head Maid Caroline introduced herself as "Roland Florence" to the young priest, Luo Xiu sensed two pairs of gazes directed at him from two directions in front of the church.

Although the surge of spiritual energy was not obvious, both gazes were completely fixed on him—and to have such a reaction upon hearing the name "Roland Florence"...

"..."

As Luo Xiu was thinking about these things, his vision suddenly darkened, and a tall figure appeared in front of him.

The man was dressed in plain, commoner's clothes, but they couldn't hide his strong muscles. Although he wore a cloth hat from the Golden Kingdom and had a thick beard, his expression was resolute and determined...

That's Prandell, the vice-commander of the "Godhunter" Templar Knights!

"……is it you?"

Prandell asked Luo Xiu in as low a voice as possible.

Luo Xiu gazed into Prandell's deep eyes, which shone with a fiery golden light.

A smile appeared on his face, and he nodded.

"it's me."

……

(End of this chapter)