I Like This Dream!

Samelo County is a small county adjacent to the Wenjialuo Defense Line. The entire county's habitable area is not as big as a Thunder Castle. There are no rare specialties there. The people and lords used to be poorer than Wen Jialuo, but now the gap has become even wider. The only thing worthy of praise is probably its piety. After all, it is closer to the holy city of Alinggu.

This may be exactly the problem.

As the Wengara Defense Line and Spring City grew, the new church also continued to grow. A monastery and a cathedral stood at the place Esther circled on the map, and the town centered on it was constantly expanding. Unlike the wealthy Holy See, the New Church does not have the ability to directly build a holy city using superpowers and craftsmen. Most of the buildings are built by civilian believers.

In the eyes of the priests and upper-class nobles from Alinggu, these buildings were full of the vulgarity of country people, and were far inferior to the magnificence and exquisiteness of the papal properties elsewhere. The nobles and the Holy See who inquired about the information were not impressed by this and quickly withdrew their prying eyes, while the civilians did the opposite. The tall church awes them, but the relatively low buildings of the new church make them feel friendly, not to mention that many of them were built with their own hands.

The first group of believers who accompanied them became the most devout defenders. Although the first batch of converts who came the next spring did not have as many people asking for conversion when the saints left, they were all sure of what they wanted. You won't regret it later. The saints of the new church continued to hear confessions, exhort people to do good, pray for people, and preach publicly to the common people after mass every Sunday. The focus of their sermons was not the wrath of God and man's sin, but a happy future and the gospel. Therefore, the new church was called the Gospel Church, and the new town was called the Gospel City.

Along with the reputation of the Gospel City has grown the membership of evangelical churches. They "spread" too fast. If a thoughtful person can make a statistics in this era, they will find that the new church priests do not spread around the Gospel City. These people are like seeds after the spring rain, sprouting and blooming everywhere in Amonam.

The thirty or so saints who are famous in Wengaro are undoubtedly the elites who agree with Esther's philosophy. But they are not all.

Some secret missionaries are hidden among ordinary priests, and they have been quietly spreading ideas that are different from those of the Holy See for several years. They may be saints from Alinggu, they may be priests of a small church in a remote country, they may be ascetics who travel around and practice, or they may even be just converts... There are many saints, but they are not limited to saints. It might even surprise Esther herself. It can only be said that people are more willing to believe that humans are equally pitied by God than to say that humans live to atone for sins and that God hates humans.

The missionaries who believed in the gospel silently wore the guise of the orthodox church. It was not until their leaders established a firm foothold and had a well-known base that they emerged from the soil and began to openly preach the scriptures of the gospel church. This is legal in the Holy See: after performing a holy act (which can be going to the wilderness to build a new church, enshrining sacred objects worth thousands of gold, killing wizards and blasphemers, etc.), a priest born in Alinggu can be compared with his own. There are semi-official churches established in places where the spheres of influence of the churches do not overlap. Priests elsewhere can also work in the name of this local church.

It was such an evangelical missionary who was now condemned and executed in Samelo.

"What? Say it again?" An Xu asked in disbelief, "What is the reason for the conviction?"

"Seducing and hurting an alpha, and..." Karina pursed her lips, "Losing her virginity."

"What the hell kind of crime is this?" An Xu stared and cursed in disbelief.

"The body and mind of the saint belong to God." Karina shook her head and skipped the question, "But sir, I know the suffering brother. He serves the gods wholeheartedly and is by no means a frivolous person."

"Even if he is frivolous, should he be burned to death?" An Xu frowned.

"Our compatriot Hosea, he is not a frivolous person!" Karina emphasized, her lips pursed in offense.

An Xu knocked his head and realized that it was not the time to dwell on this issue. She asked: "Where is the other person involved? Is he going to be burned to death too?"

"As a victim..."

"What the hell?" An Xu almost laughed, "Victim?"

"He claimed that he was tempted by the omega's scent and naked face before committing the big mistake. Moreover, he was also injured...he will not be punished."

"Injured." An Xu repeated mechanically.

This is absolutely hilarious.

An alpha raped an omega and was injured when the omega resisted. However, the verdict was that the former was not guilty and the latter was burned to death. The omega's relatives and friends defended him, and the defense was that "he is not a frivolous person."

To show your face, you have to use the word naked # ?

"That is the illegitimate son of the lord of Samelo County." Charlotte whispered in Anxu's ear. "He accidentally entered the monastery and bumped into the holy man who was in the heat of the moment. He was broken into and broken by someone shortly thereafter. This is very strange. There may be some leftover conspiracy that wants you to take drastic actions. There may also be opposition to evangelical fundamentalism..."

There are local churches throughout Armonan that are similar in nature to Bible reading groups. Such small churches have no actual power and are only obliged to collect offerings and hand over part of them. The Holy See acquiesces to small churches adapting to local conditions and using some unseemly methods to facilitate management and make money from locals. Among a bunch of small churches that are trying to impress people, the concept of the evangelical church is not yet eye-catching. But what caused it to receive a lot of criticism was its clothing.

Clothes of the Holy One.

The saints of the evangelical church wore modified garments of convenience, and they wore no veils—which was enough to shock many people.

Many clergymen think this is a big failure. It is eye-catching enough, but it makes traditional people feel resentful. Why make a fuss about the attire of a holy person? Wearing a veil can silence the fierce opponents and win the trust of believers. It has no harm at all. Even those who consider themselves neutral and objective still feel that the saints who have earned enough fame after the veil incident should wear the white veil. Put it back on again. Even the evangelical church was not without its differences. Some people felt that Esther was too radical.

"Brothers and sisters, it is best to shape everything when it is first born." Esther responded, "We are making a clay pot, and it is time to knead the clay to shape it. If we don't separate the dregs from it at the beginning, how much will it cost in the future? Do you have the strength to take it out again?"

radical? In Anxu's view, the saint's simple clothing was still sloppy, with only half of his palm exposed from the cuffs. The loose robe covered up the curves of his body, and the hat on his head tightly covered his hair underneath. If you show your face, it is "going too far", it is the so-called radicalization that "will lead to backlash" and "brings danger". Could it be that the "reason" in the hearts of these people is to maintain the same status quo?

Don't be stupid, slaves who want to stand up are bound to offend their masters. Those who jump up and down to take off the white veil will change their expressions when they see the holy man showing his hands.

"Excessive move?" An Xu repeated Charlotte's words, showing a weird smile.

"Please think twice before you act!" The alarm bells rang in Charlotte's mind. "As the owner of the territory where the Evangelical Church is located, you have the right to ask Samelo County to repatriate that holy man and deal with it! At that time, whatever you want How to..."

"Disposal?" An Xu sneered, "What mistake did he make?"

"Of course he is not wrong." The mayor's lady softened her tone and moved her emotions with reason. "But sir, you don't need to be angry about this. The clerk has already drafted the letter. As long as you read it and sign it, A handwritten letter can make them surrender. Our trade roads pass through Samelo County, and conflicts can easily backlog goods and cause unnecessary economic losses. Moreover, merchants coming and going must pay to the lord of Samelo. Many of our nobles have invested in Spring City, and I don’t think they want to break up with us and insist on holding people captive.”

"Oh." An Xu said, "So you came to me to ask me to sign my name quickly?"

"Please do it as soon as possible." Karina said, "Tomorrow at noon is the execution time."

The clerk brought the letter. An Xu glanced at it but did not take it. "No need to bother," she said, "I'll go there myself."

The alarm in Charlotte's head was deafening. Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, and she finally said calmly: "Samelo County is a small place, and there is only a small object teleportation array. If you don't teleport there, even if you ride a fast horse, There is no way we can arrive before the execution."

"Then you send the letter." An Xu said.

She suddenly grew a lot taller, and when the count's feet wearing moccasin boots appeared in front of Charlotte, the alderman realized that the other person had already taken off. Count Anna rose into the air in a few blinks, her face facing exactly in the direction of Samelo.

"And I," the lord's voice came from afar, "I still have to go there by myself."

=====

The main city of Samelo County was bustling with activity for the first time in a long time.

The last time it was so lively was when the road was first opened. A large group of merchants passed by the main road beside the main city like a tide, carrying all kinds of goods. In the past, the merchants who came for the beast tide didn't stop much and only made deals with the Wengaro defense line. The residents of Samelo didn't need them much. Anyway, it wasn't as cold as Wengaro. And after the road was opened, merchants brought goods that would make the most stingy or pious people excited, and the Samelo people who had not changed for a hundred years also handed over their savings.

The money was not wasted. People in Samelo County have changed tremendously compared to the past. Rich nobles obtained luxuries that they had to travel long distances in the past through convenient transactions, and people with flexible minds embarked on the road, but the vast majority of people still stayed here. Most of the people are traditional and old-fashioned, and they are all devout believers.

Therefore, at this moment, the sun is still far away from the top of the head, and these devout believers have surrounded the burning platform. They prayed, talked, and looked forward to the arrival of noon.

"Which sinner will be burned to death?" someone asked quietly. The old woman didn't know who was going to be purified today, but she came early every time and always had a good seat. She could ask about the details of the purification later.

"A saint who has lost his virginity!" the alpha next to him immediately replied, giving the old woman a reproachful look, as if blaming her for not knowing anything about this appalling sin, "He used the filthy smell of being loved by the devil. He seduced an alpha and wanted to drag innocent people to hell with him!"

"Scared!" the old woman exclaimed, "Guilty, guilty, a serious crime!"

"Isn't that true?" A young beta asked, "That's a cousin who calls himself the New Church. I heard that the saints of the New Church all show their faces and just walk out on the street like this!"

Her speech was met with a small amount of exclamation, and people shook their heads, said outrageous words, and crossed themselves. The beta was encouraged and showed off his knowledge endlessly.

"That evangelical church is not a good thing. The holy ones in it have their faces and arms exposed, and they preach to people every Sunday. Let me see, there are such holy people talking in it, where are the alphas? Listening to the scriptures with your mind?” She sighed meaningfully, “Every week, I lecture on the scriptures to everyone without charging a penny, but they still eat well and go shopping openly. , buy a comb! And buy... buy that kind of warm toasted bread! Buy a beautiful bracelet! "

She listed the things she wanted but had no money to buy as "the arrogant and extravagant deeds of the holy ones", and every time she mentioned them, people grunted angrily. "They deserve to be burned to death!" shouted a seven or eight-year-old child. People's eyes focused on him, and the child smiled shyly and hid behind his mother. People began to praise him for being a young believer and for his sensible mother. The omega puffed out his chest and smiled with pride.

The square before the burning was already overcrowded, and there was always something to pass the time before noon. Some people recounted in detail the ways in which those promiscuous false saints who deserved to be burned to death got their money, some recounted in detail the good things these false saints bought with their flesh and blood money, and others repeated the same Details of their punishment in purgatory. Their faces shone with hatred, curiosity and envy, and all dissatisfaction could be soothed by the words "He will be burned to death."

People frequently looked towards the simple hut near the burning platform, wanting to see through the shack and see the sinner inside. Ever since a sinner who was tied to the stake and awaiting execution was stoned to death, sinners awaiting execution have been put in this small wooden shed to prevent the sinner from sinking into hell without being purified. They looked and looked, as if they couldn't bear the gaze, and the wooden shed collapsed.

That's not quite right. The wooden shed fell apart, but it didn't collapse. The wood was scattered in the air. A man in ragged clothes rose from the wooden shed while maintaining the posture of bowing in prayer, and floated gently into the air. The onlookers raised their heads blankly, followed the shackled sinner with their eyes, and saw another person in the sky.

A woman wearing a pair of deerskin boots and a red dress, with light blond curly hair hanging on her shoulders.

"I am Anna Sullivan, the lord of Wengaro." Her voice was quiet, but it reached everyone's ears. "I am also a supporter of the Evangelical Church. I came here to take away the innocent people."

People who were frightened by the sudden scene in the sky calmed down after hearing her confession. It's not a miracle, it's just a lord or a superpower. They all breathed a sigh of relief and started to think about other things.

The lord of Samelo hurriedly walked out. This man who was also a count in name nodded towards Anna, trying to maintain the dignity of the lord. "Count Anna!" She said as reservedly as she could. Considering that she could only shout at such a distance, she really couldn't put on much airs. "I am the lord of Samelo County..."

"Shut up." An Xu said.

The lord of Samelo turned pale with anger at this extremely rude remark. She shouted "You..." and was drowned out by the voice that reached everyone's ears.

"I can guess what you want to say, saying that you are lord so-and-so, what is your family like, this holy man is guilty because he showed his face and seduced your son. I have already heard it just now." An Xu said , "I've heard enough."

Anxu's spiritual realm has expanded much more than before, and her spiritual power came earlier than she did. Before arriving at the main city of Samelo, Anxu's spiritual power had already heard enough disgusting remarks.

Not one or two, not a certain category, but every one.

From the nobles to the common people. From an old man to a child who can just walk. The radical believers wanted to run to the stage immediately and burn the filthy sinner to death themselves. The gentle and compassionate believers wait with expectation for the former to light the torch.

The only reason Anxu did not allow these believers to immediately experience the "doomsday falling from the sky" in the scriptures was the sound in the wooden shed.

She heard the Holy One praying, saying the Gospel of humanity and the mercy of God. In a hoarse voice, the holy Hosea prayed to God to forgive himself for suffering misfortune, and also prayed to God to forgive those who persecute the innocent because of their ignorance.

Lord, if there is a righteous person in this sinful city, please do not send down the fire that will destroy the world.

An Xu couldn't understand this kind of person at all, but she stopped. What made her stop was not mercy and forgiveness, but she remembered that her accuracy might not be very good and could easily hurt the holy person. The God's Favorite took a deep breath and accelerated her flight. When she reached her destination, she calmed down and determined what she wanted to do.

A man rises from the crowd.

"What are you doing!" the lord of Samelo screamed, watching her bastard son struggle in mid-air in panic. An Xu smiled and said, "Is this the rapist?"

"He was the one who seduced me!" the illegitimate son shouted in panic, "He was in love, didn't lock the door, exposed his face and exposed his arms, he did it on purpose!"

"You mean to blame others for showing their faces?"

"Yes, yes!" The person who thought he had found a reason nodded desperately and said in a sharp voice: "Of course someone will steal the jewelry if it is thrown on the street!"

"It's not the impulsive people who are guilty, it's the jewelry on the street!" the lord's staff shouted in unison, "Only by removing the jewelry that induces crime will the world be safe!"

"In fact, there are more convenient and more permanent methods, for example," An Xu said, "destroy the crime tools."

The bastard son of the lord in the sky was stripped naked in an instant, and invisible force tore his clothes to pieces, leaving him shaking in the cold wind. However, this soon ceased to be something he needed to care about.

"Look, you're exposed now. This thing is really ugly, and I think it's also very 'criminal-inducing.'" An Xu said.

Blood spurted out far away.

A scream like a slaughtering pig resounded through the sky, and a piece of fresh meat separated from the bastard's crotch # . Count Anna clucked without sincerity and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't want to kill you. I'll stop your bleeding immediately."

A ball of lightning flashed across the wound, and the smell of burnt flesh wafted far away. The rapist twitched, spit out a stream of foam from his mouth, rolled his eyes, and stopped moving.

"You, you shameless person! You wanton bitch!" The lord jumped up and cursed mercilessly, "Do you want to start a war with Samero!"

"Do you want to start a war with Wen Jia Luo?" An Xu replied with a sneer, "Come on, the road has been repaired, please come faster."

Like a Chihuahua who rushed towards the Tibetan Mastiff but found that its owner was not holding the rope, the leader opened his mouth but said nothing.

The host, who was unwilling to be humiliated and could not say harsh words, was speechless. The civilians who were shocked by this scene were silent, but the kickers in the sky were calm and did not look like they were leaving. For a moment, the square fell into a deathly silence.

"This is blasphemy!" The lord's staff came up with ideas and thought of the lines. "Everyone in Samelo County is blameless. It is written in the Bible that holy people who lose their virginity are unclean and need to be purified! Could it be that Does Count Anna want to stop us from doing what the saint teaches?!”

He shouted this, and the believers recovered from their stiffness and regained their endless confidence. "This is blasphemy!" they shouted in triumph. "It's unethical! It's blasphemy!"

"Do you want to be consistent?" Count Anna asked.

"It must be consistent with the Bible! It must be consistent with what the saints said! It must be consistent with tradition!" Believers shouted one after another.

So An Xu said: "Okay."

Suddenly, nearly half of the people became naked, and their clothes were torn into pieces by invisible forces and fell to the ground.

"The sage said that you are not allowed to wear clothes other than cotton and linen," said the favored one.

Suddenly, half of the houses in the main city made a rumbling sound, and together with the things inside, they turned into ruins.

"The sage said that your door must face the east, so that the first ray of sunshine can be with you." said the favored one.

Suddenly, countless items flew out from the ruins and intact houses, including food that had not been eaten, and goods that had just been bought from merchants. There was a cry from the crowd, and people watched in horror as their belongings flew towards the devil in the sky.

"You shall not wear brightly colored curtains or bedsheets, or use things that do not symbolize piety. You shall not eat living animals that are killed without prayer - the meat of exotic animals exported from Spring City has not been recited before it is slaughtered. You shall not enjoy Blood food - ah, today is still a fast day, right?" The God's Favorite said, "In order not to waste, these will not be destroyed, I will take them away myself."

She lowered her head and scanned the faces that were stunned by the huge stimulation. For the first time, she shook her head with some real pity. I won't kill you, she thought, but I will remember you. You will live to see what you missed.

"From today on, what is in your territory belongs to you, and what is in my territory belongs to me." The God's Favored One said, "The caravan going to Wengara will never pass through Samelo again. , not a penny, a person, or a bit of knowledge will flow into you. Then, please live like the Bible."