Chapter 23: Embrace The Holy Light! Starting With 4 Days Of Annual Leave
Walking to City Second Hospital, this is an 18-story high-rise building with a white exterior paint job, its style completely at odds with the surrounding dark steampunk industrial vibe.
In front of the medical building, there is an open garden with a fountain, and the outermost is a bustling door with crowds surging. It looks like business is booming.
He even saw a tall and burly brown orc, head lowered carefully queuing to enter, trying hard to retract his severed tusks, afraid of touching anyone nearby.
Hmm… it really has the flavor of the 1950s American civil rights movement. A mere orc actually has money to come to the humans’ hospital to see a doctor?!
Sure enough, upon closer observation, one could spot pointy-eared, finer-skinned half-elf hybrids mixed in the crowd. Unfortunately, their appearance is quite average, not much different from ordinary people.
Congcong ah, four hundred years really fly by! The descendants of the first-generation ancestral old elves have long integrated into this planet, becoming brand new ‘Crystal Wall native residents’.
“If you’re not entering the door, please don’t block the way, thank you!”
A slight ache in his calf, a childish voice rang out behind him. He turned to look, seeing nothing at first glance. Only after lowering his head did he discover it was a cat-eared little girl in a white nurse outfit, hugging a small wooden box and glaring displeased at him for blocking the path.
“Eh? You look so strange, so cute.”
For this kind of little cat girl, it was his first time encountering one, feeling extremely novel. Just like a life-sized doll suddenly speaking. His cat-petting soul instantly ignited.
The cat-eared nurse rolled her eyes in anger: “If you can’t compliment properly, don’t compliment at all, thank you! Also, please move aside!”
Yuan Zhu stepped aside, making way for this strange cat girl little nurse: “Um, are you an adult? No, I mean, how do I get to the Holy Light Department?”
The little cat girl huffed and stomped off with big steps, thud thud thud… her pace was fast, but her legs too short, still walking slowly: “This lady is an adult! Holy Light Department is on the third floor, left after the stairs exit, there’s a sign on the wall, look for yourself.”
“Thanks.” Yuan Zhu, not knowing where he offended her, suppressed his cat-petting soul, reluctantly watching the little cat girl leave.
The game sprite suddenly jumped out, regretting: “I really want to rua her hard!”
…
Smoothly arriving on the third floor, Yuan Zhu observed along the way and found Running’s hospital not much different from Earth’s hometown, except besides the main traditional Chinese and Western medicine systems, there were additional non-obscure systems like [Holy Light Department, Witch Doctor Department, Inner Zen Department, Spirit Medium Department, Alchemy Department].
Because this world has deities, these departments all have real skills. They can treat evil spirit possession, soul loss syndrome, pollution infection… and so on, from different domains.
For tricky comprehensive difficult miscellaneous diseases, there would be multi-department joint diagnosis and treatment, acupuncture, surgical knife, shamanic rituals… multi-dimensional three-dimensional strikes, eradicating the demon of disease in the operating room.
Showing his medical card to the nurse, Yuan Zhu was led by an ordinary-looking auntie to a consultation room.
On the desk in the center of the room was an incense burner with a stick of calming incense inserted. Additionally, against the wall on the desk was a rosewood shrine containing a white jade Bodhisattva statue.
The attending doctor across the desk was a blond, blue-eyed white coat wearer with gold-rimmed glasses, holding a cup of fragrant tea, a white person.
???
What the hell kind of mishmash style is this, Yuan Zhu was momentarily stunned, forgetting to speak.
“Please sit, I am your attending physician Lucius, the dispatched steward from the east of the New Continent. Because I graduated from medical academy, I sit consultations at City Second Hospital, part-time spreading faith for my lord. May I ask, where do you feel unwell? This medical card of yours was issued through cooperation between our Holy Church and Security Bureau, ordinary people can’t hold it.” Lucius spoke flawless local dialect, perfectly authentic.
“I…” Yuan Zhu opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
“No need to worry, I’ve seen too many patients whose bodies are polluted with unspeakable afflictions. And I, not only graduated from medical school with professional medical training; I’ve also studied for years at the Holy Church, with rich Holy Light expulsion experience. Finally, professional ethics make me keep patient privacy confidential, no need to worry about me leaking your situation.”
Lucius had a face full of kindness and amiability, his smiling countenance seemingly emanating human light, involuntarily drawing closeness.
[Beep beep beep! Detected spirit erosion, blocked.]
Sure enough!
Yuan Zhu, already accustomed to all this, showed no abnormality in expression, smiled politely and responded: “Due to certain reasons, I got involved in an anomaly case. Previously underwent Security Bureau checks, they all said I was very healthy. Finally, they gave me this medical card to receive Holy Light treatment, treat any hidden issues, or just for prevention if none.”
Lucius raised an eyebrow: “I understand. So, proceed directly to treatment next, or chat first to sort out your mind and spirit? By the way, do you drink tea?” He pointed to his teacup, asking Yuan Zhu.
Yuan Zhu, who had no tea-drinking habit in past or present life, curiously asked: “Does your country also popularize tea drinking?”
“When in Running, do as the locals do, this is a hobby I picked up after coming to Running, introduced by a monk friend. Once habitual, the taste is quite nice.” Lucius recommended enthusiastically.
Yuan Zhu waved his hand in refusal, then looked at the white jade Bodhisattva on the desk: “Is this also a gift from that friend of yours? Can Holy Church stewards believe in other religions’ outer gods?”
Lucius puzzledly retorted: “Faith is free, why not? Per New Federation regulations, one person can declare 11 legal faiths per year. Though I am a Holy Church steward mastering [Holy Light], living and working in Running, I can similarly believe in outer gods beyond religion. Like this [Great Joy Bodhisattva].”
??? What did you say? Where is she big? Where is the joy?
Yuan Zhu turned his head to look at the dignified and solemn white jade Guanyin, only the tentacles peeking from under her robes seeming a bit different from orthodox Guanyin. And you tell me this TM is ‘Great Joy Bodhisattva’?
“Is that friend of yours okay?”
Lucius shook his head: “Sigh, already two years without contact. He was reported and wanted during the last round of anti-Buddhist movement for personally seducing believers and explaining the dharma. Fled south. There were letters a few years ago, then cut off. Not talking about him, you choosing to come to Holy Light Department for hidden issue check means you inwardly recognize [Holy Church] and Holy Light. So, interested in learning more about [Holy Church], adding it to your legal faith list?”
Yuan Zhu recalled that Du Ling Star, due to rampant deities, formed a pattern of coexisting deity systems in modern times.
Because the history of supernatural powers is only over 400 years, ‘monotheism’ has little survival space, not developing to regional monopoly.
Once a deity civilization secluded cultivation and monopolized in a region, it would face righteous beatdown from other righteous and evil deities, so commoners simultaneously believing in multiple deities is default common sense, even religions don’t stop it.
In the Running and Taixi area, citizens can declare up to 11 legal faiths. Actually, commoners believing in however many deities doesn’t matter, this declaration mainly targets in-service employees, those with jobs.
Because ‘declaring legal faith’ directly relates to an employee’s ‘annual holiday’, and it’s paid leave.
Different deities hold festivals corresponding to their functions. Once someone fancies a festival’s theme or timing, they can reverse lookup the deity info, then add it to this year’s legal faiths, completing declaration.
Then next year’s ‘XX Festival’, not only enjoy the corresponding holiday, but during ‘festival carnival’ participation, extra gain deity blessing. Finally, it’s paid leave, god arranged! Maximum perks.
For example, a deity codenamed [IIII], the singles god, holds Frenzied Shopping Carnival on 1111 every year. Those wanting to join add [IIII God] to their ‘annual faith list’ to enjoy legal holiday that day, go carnival shopping, and enjoy a divine buff of ‘rationality -90%, discount ×0.98’.
Running’s citizens all have the right to select 3-11 legal deities based on personal needs, forming their annual faith list. Faith concerns not just holiday distribution, but extra deity blessing buffs.
For example, those with fertility needs choose deities managing healthy pregnancy, but abandon them after the newborn arrives.
Farm Owners prefer Deities who long-term love Protection of Seeds, or whips that increase Orc work efficiency. Once this Faith is chosen, it’s for life, no regrets even in death.
Parents like to choose ‘Intelligence-boosting, Guaranteed Pass, Zhang Xianzhong’ type hardship Festivals for their children, often lasting the entire student era.
Afterwards, graduates will pick: Singlehood-Ending Deity, Contraception Deity, Rotten Peach Blossom, Beer Deity… for vengeful Faith, until the little brother loses its vigor; only then returning to the embrace of Fishing Deity, Liuwei Emperor Deity, Anti-Hair Loss Deity…
Lucius: “Faith in Holy Church, per Running’s ‘Holiday Law’, guarantees at least 3 days New Year’s Holiday, plus Light Festival in July. Legal annual leave alone starts at 4 days. Additionally, as long as you believe in Holy Church, one free Holy Light Physical Examination per year. If you persist in Holy Church Faith for over 3 years, you can attend one internal secret sermon per month, with extra Consumption at 9-fold discount. Persist for 9 years, convert to formal Believer, one free Physical Examination per month, plus some Holy Water, one annual family Holy Light Physical Examination gift package. Persist over 20 years, self or descendants can directly participate in [Holy Light Trial], contact and master Power of Holy Light.”
A series of VIP membership annual packages, consecutive annual packages, enterprise loyalty user déjà vu floated before Yuan Zhu. This World’s Deities and Faith are truly too flexible, just like membership services launched by major websites on the internet.
Believing in a certain Deity not only lets you participate in corresponding Festivals, but also Festival Benefits, Deity Blessing. Such Blessing effects usually exist for a very short Time.
But if you become a loyal Believer user, persist continuously for many years, constantly accumulating Faith Points. Then the Deity’s blessing buff will gradually solidify, transforming into long-term passive effects.
As long as you don’t switch to other Deities, your account Points won’t be cleared.
If placed on Earth, Yuan Zhu felt his QQ account could at least bring one Supernatural buff, and solidify into a passive state similar to ‘Entry’, always accompanying him. (So many years of Wealth from recharging in Games, really transformed into another form, accompanying him.)
One major Benefit of Faith in Holy Church is that ordinary Believers over 9 years, without paying much, can condense the weakest ‘Holy Light Protection buff’ on themselves, making other Evil Spirits, when they have a choice, prioritize targeting others first.
Just this one item attracts many potential Believers. Additionally, persisting 20 years in Holy Church Faith gives a chance to contact [Holy Light]. So hanging a ‘Holy Church Faith’ on a newborn baby, letting him be influenced from childhood to be close to Holy Church, and at 20 years old, have a chance to soar to the heavens, join Holy Church to contact and master [Holy Light].
Yuan Zhu sighed, how come he didn’t have such luck? He and his Brother’s Faith changed every few years, all aimed at taking cheap Benefits and freeloading Goodies. No one told him, persist in believing in [Holy Church] and you’ll get the Supernatural System for free to learn.
Recommendation, Monthly Ticket, collection, comments, melon seeds, Peanut, beer…
