Pfft!!!!
The meat pig exploded like fragile tofu hitting a rock in front of this punch.
Blood splattered everywhere, on him, and on the old man.
Under that punch, the meat pig was missing half its head, slumped in a pool of blood.
"Father York?" Archibald looked at York, who was also splattered with blood on his body and face, and unconsciously blurted out, stunned.
He still hadn't figured out what was going on.
York didn't respond. Instead, he pulled out another crucifix from somewhere and placed it on Marlon's forehead, who was slumped on the bed, and magic automatically flowed into it.
"No prompts, no smoke, no heat…" York let out a light breath and looked at Marlon. He was opening his bewildered eyes, seemingly not yet recovered, and appeared to have returned to normal.
"Child, the demon is gone. Go get some good sleep."
Demonic possession is not a feeling that ordinary people can experience. Just his bloodshot eyes showed that he hadn't slept for a very long time.
Marlon seemed to clear up for a moment, his bloodshot eyes fixed on York, a look of both grievance and gratitude on his face.
"It's okay, sleep." York's expression remained unchanged, and he kept his catchphrase on his lips.
"The Lord be with you."
...In front of a bonfire, a refreshed Archibald took a sip of homemade wine given to him by the old man, glanced at the bustling pig slaughtering scene behind him, and then looked at Father York, who was constantly poking the fire beside him.
"Father York, may I ask you a question?"
He finally couldn't suppress the doubts in his heart.
York raised an eyebrow and looked at Archibald.
"What question?"
"Why did you think the demon would listen to you and possess that meat pig?"
Recalling the trainee priest's constant furrowed brow in thought, York smiled.
"I didn't think that. I just wanted to try."
Archibald frowned, still somewhat confused.
Seeing this, York looked at the endlessly burning bonfire in front of him, poking it with the wooden stick in his hand as he spoke.
"How much do you know about demons?"
Archibald thought for a moment and said seriously.
"They are fallen angels. They have a hierarchical system, one serving another. They are brutal, cunning, evil…"
Archibald attributed all negative words to demons, as if demons themselves were darkness.
York smiled dismissively.
"Your basic knowledge is solid, but every demon also has its own personality, just like us humans who live in the light.
That demon just now kept babbling that it was our bane, our nightmare, and even accepted the title of king of hell that I gave it. Do you think it was inferiority or arrogance?"
York said, looking at Archibald and asking in return.
"From a human perspective, if I didn't believe what it said, didn't believe it was the king of hell, do you think it would want to prove its ability?"
Archibald fell silent, recalling all of Father York's exorcism processes.
He suddenly realized that Father York had laid a trap from the very beginning, constantly provoking and guiding him throughout the entire process… Seeing Archibald deep in thought, York threw the burning wooden stick into the bonfire, stood up, and patted his shoulder.
"Demons, apart from some special abilities and special bodies, are actually no different from us humans. The higher the rank of the demon, the more channels it can invade, and the more comprehensive its intelligence. As for lower-level demons, they are as stupid as the one just now…"
After speaking in one breath, York left Archibald's side, greeted the old man and his family, and then entered the house to take out his phone and dial Gabriel's number.
As the person who would decide whether Archibald's trainee priesthood would become official, he should give Gabriel a reply now that the exorcism was over.
A few seconds later, the call was connected. Sure enough, the old man had been waiting for news.
"York, what's the result?"
York lay on the sofa, turned his head, and looked through the French window at Archibald, who was still sitting in front of the bonfire, saying.
"What happened with Yvette? The demon used that name to break through his mental defenses and corrode his sanity. If it weren't for me, he probably…"
"Yvette, huh…" There was a moment of silence on the phone before Gabriel's voice came through.
"Yvette was Archibald's wife. Because of a certain demon, she died in front of Archibald, which is why Archibald joined the church…"
Upon hearing this, York looked at Archibald's back and could only give his approval for the promotion.
"Alright, I don't want to be the bad guy, Gabriel. I approve his promotion."
"Heh heh." Gabriel on the phone chuckled.
"When are you coming back?"
"Not coming back." York said, retracting his gaze, and picking up his backpack.
"If there's nothing important, don't call this number. I'm very busy…"
The next second, far away in the Vatican, the old man with temples streaked with gray sighed in his heart as he listened to the hang-up tone on his phone.
After making this final call, York didn't stay long. He politely declined the old man Marlon's family's attempts to keep him and had Archibald drive him directly back to the church.
They didn't speak much on the way. Just as he was about to get out of the car, Archibald, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.
"Father York."
"Hmm?"
York paused his action of opening the car door and looked back at Archibald.
Archibald showed a slight smile and said, "Thank you for your guidance and protection on this journey. I will remember it always."
York glanced at Archibald, feeling that the young man was sincere.
"Congratulations on your promotion, but remember, if it's not necessary, don't talk to anyone about my affairs. It won't do you any good."
After saying that, York left Archibald in thought, got out of the car with his backpack, and slowly walked towards the church.
Sitting in the driver's seat, Archibald watched Father York enter the ancient church and disappear until he pursed his lips and took out his phone from his pocket.
The call came at a very opportune moment, just when he was alone.
"Godfather."
At the same time, the old man, who seemed to have timed his call, closed the Bible on the table and spoke.
"Archibald, are you alright? I heard from York that your mental defenses were breached by a demon?"
"Thank you for your concern, Godfather. I'm fine." Archibald's face showed a hint of fatigue. Having his mental defenses breached by a demon was like running dozens of kilometers. He thought of something and spoke.
"Godfather, I have a question for you. Can you tell me the answer?"
Gabriel's calm voice rang out.
"What question?"
"Why do you all think Father York is a heretic? Is it just because of his unconventional exorcism knowledge?"
Hearing this question from the phone, Gabriel was silent for a few seconds before speaking.
"Child, forgive me, I cannot answer you. This is not something you should know. The church has its own considerations…"