Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 947 - 64 The Cunning of the Clergy

Chapter 947: Chapter 64 The Cunning of the Clergy

"Everyone, quiet down, quiet down." Archbishop Cain raised his hand and quelled the miscellaneous voices of several hundred people whispering together, raising his voice to say, "Although much time has passed, among the parishioners present, there should be some who still remember these two children, sisters Helena and Betty, my only two students. Recently, many parishioners who have been transferred back here from other districts in the past few years have, during private conversations with me, brought up the matter of establishing a successor for the Archbishop, intentionally or not. I understand everyone’s good intentions; for a large-scale church, it is very important to have a clear successor when the Archbishop reaches my age, to avoid many unnecessary conflicts. However, understanding is one thing, but I have not accepted it, for a reason that those who have worked in the Holy Sanctuary for over ten years should be well aware of—it’s because I have long had a candidate for successor in mind. Ah, now you should be able to easily guess who it is—these two children."

A buzzing murmur rose again in the dining hall, and it showed signs of growing louder. The Earth Church’s banquet arrangements seemed quite interesting, seeming to differ from the banquet style of most of the Yarran World. In most places, these large banquets often didn’t have fixed seating arrangements; food was centrally placed, and some chairs were set up in the corners along the walls. Those who wanted to have a formal meal would pick their food from the center and then head to the quietly placed corners to eat, while most of those who had no intention of eating simply held drinks, moving around mingling and having brief exchanges with people they knew or wanted to meet. For the hosts, this style of banquet could save a lot of trouble, such as not having to fret over whether the seating and hierarchy matched, nor needing to consider the relationship between neighboring guests, whether good or poor, or the disparity in their statuses. Therefore, it was well-liked by hosts and also provided attendees—who were there not so much for the food—more opportunities, whether that was seeking potential collaborations, wooing allies, or even just chasing after a whiff of perfume for a romantic dalliance. As a result, over the past three hundred years, it had gradually become the standard in the social upper echelons of the Yarran World, with even some churches preferring to use this format in their banquets.

But the Earth Church had not followed this custom for the simple reason that their objective was different. The goal of most banquets wasn’t the banquet itself, but rather the other participants; however, the Earth Church was different. Their primary purpose for hosting this banquet was for everyone to come together and have a good meal. As for the establishment of successors, the return of the Sage, and other such trivial matters, they could wait until after everyone was comfortably fed. Therefore, today’s banquet employed a very traditional setup, with a large table in the center of the dining hall reserved for the Archbishop, church leaders, and several high-ranking church officials. Betty and Lina naturally sat by the Archbishop’s side, as they were the main characters of the banquet, well, aside from the food. Surrounding the central seating were about twenty long tables where all the attendees sat, with chefs having already distributed the sumptuous food onto plates in front of each person for their enjoyment. According to Margaret’s arrangements, today’s food was to be eaten freely to ensure everyone’s satisfaction. Thus, the young people attending the banquet felt as if they had entered the Divine Kingdom, full of bliss, and were brimming with gratitude for the banquet’s main characters, Lina and Betty.

Those absorbed in eating were mainly the younger parishioners; it was the older congregation members, no longer young, who whispered amongst themselves. They held positions within the church and naturally had their own incomes, living better on average than the apprentices residing in the church, and thus were not as glued to the food. Hearing Archbishop Cain’s words, they pondered more on the potential changes that could arise following the establishment of a successor, while also discussing the hidden meanings and truths behind such an abrupt presentation of the two individuals. However, the very few who knew a portion of the truth did not blab it about; those who had been privileged to know the genuine clergy over ten years ago were now at least qualified to enter the high ranks of the church, and with their advanced age, these people were not foolish enough to blab the truth everywhere. Each of them, with narrowed eyes and smug grins like an old fox that sneaked a chicken, pretended to know nothing, engaging in lively discussions with those around who indeed knew nothing.

"Alright, alright, let’s have a little quiet," Cain tapped the table and cheerfully silenced the low hum, patting the two girls’ shoulders and said, "Fourteen years ago, they both disappeared rather abruptly from our sight, and most who knew them found it very strange. Some even asked me about it, intentionally or inadvertently. But I never clarified the truth to everyone, so here I must apologize. It’s not that I don’t trust you, my fellow parishioners; it’s mainly because I didn’t want to disturb their self-cultivation."

"Yes, self-cultivation, especially the perfection and refinement of the spirit. From the beginning, their talent and unwavering faith made me plan to train them as the next Archbishop. However, during our daily studies and life together, we discovered many flaws in their spirit. Although they were sufficient to become the new Archbishop given the circumstances at the time, it was somewhat lacking if they wished to spread The Glory of the Lord more broadly. Thus, these two children volunteered to undertake rigorous self-cultivation, to ensure their spirits had no more deficiencies and could better bask in the Earth’s compassionate love," Cain said, a serious expression on his face as he told lies that sounded like truths. Strictly speaking, they couldn’t be called lies, but rather the truth told from a different angle—perhaps this ambiguity was a unique trait of clergymen, honesty interwoven with countless traps. Clearly, however, the old Archbishop saw no issue with his manner of speaking, and with a chuckle, he continued, "Both of them are geniuses; they don’t need our worries. They each chose the self-cultivation method that suited their future roles best. Some of you are already aware of their methods. Betty joined the Ascetic Order, using asceticism to refine her heart to become even more devoted to the Goddess’s faith, while Helena secluded herself in the library, perceiving the divinity of The Lord in solitude and darkness." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to leave us a recommendation or a monthly vote at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users can read at