Chapter 245: Audience with His Holiness the Pope
Chen Changsheng looked at Luoluo, puzzled, and asked, "What do you mean by soft-hearted?"
Luoluo looked at him and sighed. "Xu Yourong is a descendant of the Holy Maiden Peak, deeply favored by Her Holiness, to the point where even her father benefits from it. After the Grand Examination, everyone knows you are the one chosen by His Holiness the Pope. In the current situation, you two are naturally opponents."
Chen Changsheng still didn't understand. He thought back to when they left the Mausoleum of Books, Gou Hanshi had said that opponents could still look out for each other. How did soft-heartedness come into this?
Luoluo continued, "In the Garden of Zhou, whether or not there is the legacy of Zhou Dufu or any other divine weapons or techniques, in the end, it comes down to who acts faster and who is stronger."
Chen Changsheng thought that if Tang Thirty-Six were here, he might retort, "Shouldn't it go to the one with virtue?" Imagining that guy's expression, he couldn't help but laugh.
Luoluo's small face turned serious. "Master, could you please take this seriously? I'm not joking."
Chen Changsheng quickly apologized and asked, "So, in the Garden of Zhou, can people actually snatch things from each other?"
Luoluo said, "As long as no one dies, no one can say anything. That's why you can't be soft-hearted."
Chen Changsheng was silent for a moment, then asked, "And then?"
"Master, you're very sentimental, and you get flustered when you meet girls." Luoluo looked at him earnestly. "Senior Sister has a history with you, and she's so beautiful. I'm worried that in the Garden of Zhou, when you meet her, she won't even need to do anything—just a soft word from her, and you'll do whatever she says."
Chen Changsheng thought to himself that he didn't even know what Xu Yourong looked like, and what history was there? He protested reluctantly, "The kind of man you're describing is so infuriating. How could that be me?"
Luoluo thought back to how she had merely acted a little spoiled, and he had been completely helpless. Now he was being stubborn. But mindful of the dignity of a master, she didn't directly expose Chen Changsheng's fragile defenses. Instead, she said earnestly, "Anyway, just remember this: the prettier the girl, the better she is at lying."
Chen Changsheng looked at her and smiled. "You're a pretty girl, but you've never lied to me, have you?"
Luoluo was momentarily stunned, then giggled and punched him lightly. "Master, you've been spending too much time with Tang Tang. You're getting better at talking."
She looked happy, but inside she felt a bit guilty. She wondered if he would think she had been lying to him all along if he found out they were actually the same age.
Because of this guilt, her playful punch was a bit too strong. The tree branch, wet from the rain, was slippery, and Chen Changsheng nearly fell off.
Luoluo quickly grabbed him. Her eyes darted around, and she quickly changed the subject, putting on a pitiful expression. "Master, I want to reach the Ethereal Opening realm too."
Chen Changsheng couldn't handle this kind of situation. Flustered, he quickly tried to console her. "Didn't I say earlier? Many people in the Ethereal Opening realm might not be able to beat you. Take me, for example."
Luoluo thought about how he was about to leave on a long journey, and she wouldn't be able to hear such warm reassurances for a while. She actually felt genuinely wronged. "The problem is, if I can't reach the Ethereal Opening realm, I can't go to the Garden of Zhou with you."
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, "Even if you did reach the Ethereal Opening realm, would Her Holiness the Empress and His Holiness the Pope allow you to take such a risk in the Garden of Zhou? Chief Historian Jin wouldn't agree either."
Luoluo sighed. "Master, that really doesn't sound like comfort."
Chen Changsheng felt a bit ashamed. "I'm really not good at this."
"Master, if it's not to see Senior Sister, then why do you want to go to the Garden of Zhou?"
Luoluo suddenly asked seriously. She knew Chen Changsheng was someone who valued time, but he always followed his heart. Leaving the Mausoleum of Books to go to the Garden of Zhou—this choice seemed to carry an air of urgency.
Chen Changsheng was silent for a moment, then reached out and patted her head, offering no explanation.
Luoluo didn't ask again.
The spring rain fell like threads, blown askew by the lake breeze, landing on their faces and clothes. They were slightly damp but not disheveled. Chen Changsheng reached out and brushed a strand of wet hair from her eyes.
Luoluo looked at him and smiled.
Chen Changsheng smiled back.
Luoluo said, "Master, come back to the Papal Palace with me in a little while. His Holiness the Pope wants to see you."
The smile on Chen Changsheng's face instantly vanished.
At dusk, a carriage drove out of Hundred Flowers Lane and arrived before the Papal Palace.
Under the protection of over a dozen powerful members of the Demon race and priests of the State Religion, Luoluo continued by carriage along the sacred path beside the Ancestral Temple and the annex of the Papal Palace, heading toward the Hall of Pure Virtue.
Chen Changsheng, guided by two bishops, walked along a sacred path he had never set foot on before, heading toward the main hall of the Papal Palace.
The setting sun was like blood, but it carried no martial undertones—only solemnity.
The priests and scholars walking on the sacred path recognized him and stepped aside one after another.
By now, the entire continent knew that this freshman of the National Academy, who had caused such a stir in the capital last year, was the one chosen by His Holiness the Pope.
Of course, he was already famous in his own right. As Xu Yourong's fiancé and the top scorer of the Grand Examination, either title alone was enough to command the world's attention. Not to mention that not long ago, he had read all the front tablets of the Mausoleum of Books in a single day, and last night, he had bathed the entire capital in starlight.
Hundreds of eyes watched Chen Changsheng on the sacred path, their gazes filled with complex emotions—shock, admiration, envy, and even awe.
Yes, now he had finally earned the right to be feared.
It wasn't about his cultivation level or strength, but about the talent and background he had displayed.
Chen Changsheng's mood was equally complex.
Ever since the Grand Examination results were announced, he knew that the day would come when His Holiness the Pope would summon him.
He just hadn't expected it to come so soon. He had barely left the Mausoleum of Books before arriving at the Papal Palace, leaving him unprepared. He nervously wondered what questions he should ask to ensure he got answers without being beaten to death by the papal staff.
Walking under countless gazes made the sacred path feel endless. At first, he was uncomfortable, but now he was grateful, as it gave him enough time to organize his questions.
But no matter how long the sacred path was, it always came to an end. One by one, the doors were pushed open. The twilight deepened, and the Papal Palace grew deeper, until they reached the magnificent main hall.
Standing among the dozens of statues of past saints and knights, feeling the solemn radiance of the light, Chen Changsheng was speechless with awe.
But before he could take in more, he was led to a side hall beside the main hall. The eaves here extended much farther forward than ordinary halls, blocking out much of the daylight. Even now, at dusk, it was dim, and he imagined it would be quite secluded even at noon.
The two bishops silently withdrew, leaving Chen Changsheng standing alone before the stone steps.
There was no one else in this papal hall, so he immediately saw His Holiness the Pope.
The Pope was an old man. He wore no crown and held no staff, dressed in a simple linen robe, watering a pot of green leaves.
This tall, thin old man could not be described with words like "powerful" or "high-ranking," for he had long since transcended such worldly concepts.
(Next chapter before 10:30 PM.)