In the eyes of the common people, the Pope's trust and love towards Chen Chang Sheng was at its peak, even somewhat baffling. Logically speaking, Chen Chang Sheng should naturally act according to the Pope's will, but in reality, from the military stronghold to Xun Yang City, Chen Chang Sheng had done many things that went against the Pope's will. No matter how one looked at it, the Pope should have been very disappointed, or at least asked for a reason.
The Pope did not ask, he calmly looked at Chen Chang Sheng and said, "It's really hard to imagine that my senior brother would raise a student like you."
Chen Chang Sheng was stunned, he suddenly realized that his impression of his master was actually very vague. Just what sort of person was his master? In the Pope's view, what sort of student should he raise? He did not know the answer, but he was very sure that the Pope's words were correct, because he had never been raised by his master, he had been raised by his senior brother …
Thinking of Xining Village's old temple, the fog behind the mountain and those voices within the fog, and his senior brother and the wildflowers, he was somewhat entranced.
The Pope looked at him and calmly smiled, thinking to himself, at this sort of time, anyone would be nervous, but this little fellow actually had the leisure to think of other things, truly extraordinary.
"Sit," he said to Chen Chang Sheng.
Chen Chang Sheng grunted, very obediently sitting on the chair, not leaning against the back of the chair, nor deliberately only touching his buttocks. In short, he was truly obedient, without any deliberate actions.
The Pope pointed at the teapot.
Chen Chang Sheng understood, picked up the teapot and filled the teacup in front of the Pope, thought a little, then filled the teacup in front of him, then began to wander again.
Because he thought of those two nights in the Hundred Herb Garden, that little table, that woman who sat across from him and drank tea without saying a word.
The Pope put down the teacup and casually said, "Tell me about the Garden of Zhou."
He spoke casually, and what he wanted to hear was also casually said, because one thing was certain: the Garden of Zhou did not have Su Li.
"In the Garden of Zhou … I met a girl," Chen Chang Sheng subconsciously said.
The Pope was startled and asked, "Hm?"
Only then did Chen Changsheng wake up from his stupor. He felt his face heat up, and hurriedly recounted the events of the Garden of Zhou in detail. From the moment he obtained the Yellow Paper Umbrella from the Wenshui Tangs, all the way to Zhou Dufu's mausoleum, he basically left nothing out. Only a few details that had nothing to do with the major events, such as the girl, he naturally did not mention them. Furthermore, for some unknown reason, he did not mention the Halving Blade Style in the Mausoleum of Zhou or those lost Heavenly Tome Monoliths …
Sunlight seeped through the eaves of the hall and fell on the smooth, jade-like floor, illuminating the floor into many squares, like a chessboard.
The Pope sat in his chair and looked at the ground in silence for a long time.
The Mausoleum of Zhou, the Heaven Shrouding Sword, the Yellow Paper Umbrella, Mount Li, the Sword Pool, the Monster Tide — this story that spanned several hundred years, the destiny between the two worlds, even he could not help but sigh ruefully.
"So … the Sword Pool is the Sword Sea, the Plains of the Unsetting Sun. That person's grave is also inside."
The Pope's voice resounded in the quiet hall.
As the supreme Saint of the human world, his grasp of this world far surpassed the imagination of ordinary people, but only today did he realize that the plains he had once seen many years ago actually concealed so many secrets.
"The Black Nightmare Sarcophagus in the Mausoleum of Zhou is empty." Chen Changsheng naturally would not forget this very important detail.
The Pope smiled in silence. That person's life and death were a mystery to many people, but time was still the most powerful thing in the world. At this point in time, he no longer cared much about it.
In comparison, the Pope was more concerned about other matters. "In that case, those swords are all in your hands?"
Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Changsheng took the dagger from his waist and offered it up with both hands.
Back in the Plum Garden Inn, Tang Thirty-Six had wanted to take his dagger but had been refused, but now he could not refuse, because the Pope was the Pope and also his martial uncle.
The fact that the swords in the Sword Pool were in his hands was also impossible to conceal. Back in the wilderness when he fought with Divine General Xue He, those swords had already appeared.
"Do you know what this sheath is?" The Pope did not take the dagger, but looked at him and asked.
Chen Changsheng shook his head.
The Pope was somewhat sorrowful, saying, "This was the Orthodox Academy's cornerstone treasure. Later on, it disappeared amidst that blood and fire. As it turns out, it was taken away by your master."
Chen Changsheng didn't know what to say.
"Senior and I were schoolmates, and also from the same sect. Now that I think about it, his talent in cultivation and intelligence have always been far above mine, but in the end, it was I who inherited the position of Pope and he who went to the Orthodox Academy to become Principal."
The Pope gazed at the sky outside the hall, the sea of stars in his eyes slowly appearing and disappearing, like clouds and time. "Because his obsession was too strong. Don't learn from him."
Chen Changsheng still didn't know what to say. Even today, he still did not know the true inside story of the Orthodox Academy. Even if he knew, he still had no right to speak.
"What about those swords in the Sword Pool?"
"The Li Palace will send out an edict to the world. Those sects that still have descendants, first register them and then return the swords to them. As for those sects whose lineage has already been severed, those swords will be for your own safekeeping."
Chen Changsheng understood that with this arrangement, after the Mausoleum of Books, he could be considered to have performed a great service for the human world. The criticism brought about by the deaths of Liang Xiaoxiao and Zhuang Huanyu would be greatly alleviated. He said, "Everything will be as Your Holiness has arranged."
He did not respectfully address him as' Your Holiness', did not pull on his sleeve and call him 'Martial Uncle', only softly saying 'Your Holiness' was already some sort of progress, progress that allowed him to finally return to the natural and intimate world of his sect.
The Pope was very satisfied. He said to him, "Go, have a good rest."
Seeing his expression, the Pope understood what he was worried about and said, "Zhexiu will come out very quickly."
From start to finish, the Pope had not asked him a single question about Su Li.
… …
… …
Returning to the capital for the first time, how could he have a good rest? Leaving the Li Palace, he could not return to the Orthodox Academy, nor could he visit Zhexiu, so Chen Changsheng was taken by Priest Xin to the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education.
The row of red maple trees should have been like fire, but in the late spring and early summer, they were a dense green that surpassed jade. It was as if the building behind the maple trees had the dual identity of the Imperial Court's educational institution and the Orthodoxy's Hall of Cultural Glory.
In the deepest part of the hall, in that room filled with plum blossoms, Mei Lisha sat behind a table, his eyes closed as if he was not asleep. The age spots on his face were even more distinct, just like the Rouge Plum on the table. Chen Changsheng stood in front of the table, separated by the Rouge Plum, looking at the archbishop with a rather complex mood.
Compared to the Pope, Archbishop Mei Lisha did not have any relationship with him. Logically, he should have been even more unfamiliar with him, but for some reason, he had always felt that the archbishop had treated him extremely well. Whether it was the Grand Examination or the Garden of Zhou, Archbishop Mei Lisha had provided him with far too much assistance and convenience. Although there were times when these matters would make him feel rather pressured, the true reason for his complex mood was not this, but that the archbishop was growing old.
Chen Changsheng did not know what level of cultivation Archbishop Mei Lisha was at, but based on his qualifications and influence in the Orthodoxy that could rival the Pope, as well as the attitude of Zhu Luo and the others towards him, he should be able to guess that he was not far from the Divine Domain. Priests of this level were the same as other cultivators. It was very common for them to live past eight hundred years. In this endless period of time, even if experts of profound cultivation gradually grew old, they would only have a few wrinkles on their faces and beards. They would definitely not show any signs of weakness or old age. Only at the final stage of their lives would they consider the question of descendants, leave behind a bloodline, and then rapidly age at an unimaginable speed.
Death like the quiet beauty of an autumn leaf? No, it was more like a fruit falling from a fierce gale.
In this one year, the entire continent knew that Archbishop Mei Lisha was growing old.
This signified that the archbishop's days in this world were numbered. At any moment, he could return to the sea of stars.
The Rouge Plum Blossom was so gorgeous. The plum blossoms in the room did not seem to be in the depths of spring, but rather any time of the four seasons, any time of the year when the plum blossoms were in full bloom.
Compared to the room filled with flowers, the archbishop's old age was all the more startling.
Chen Changsheng felt somewhat sad.
Just at this moment, the archbishop opened his eyes, smiled at him, and said, "Come here."
Chen Changsheng obeyed and walked in front of him.
Mei Lisha looked at him and sighed ruefully, "Knowing that you are still alive, I am very happy, but at the same time, I also feel somewhat sad."
Chen Changsheng did not understand these words, but for some reason, he suddenly felt a great deal of unease, even fear.
"Since Su Li is not dead, then I still have to withdraw my gaze and place it on the capital, just like how you still have to return to the capital in the end."
Mei Lisha said, "The Boiling Stone Summit is next year. I don't know if I can still see it, but I can at least finish watching you for this year."
Chen Changsheng wanted to say some words of comfort, but he realized that he was not good at it. Somewhat remorsefully, he lowered his head.
Mei Lisha calmly looked at him and said, "This year is very important to you."
Chen Changsheng said, "I don't understand."
"You have to mature as quickly as possible."
After saying this, Mei Lisha's expression became somewhat heavy, his eyes somewhat gloomy, but then they became as bright as ever. "Believe me, in the end, you and we will obtain victory."
Chen Changsheng truly did not understand. He thought to himself, with whom is this battle? With the Divine Empress? Even if it is, what strength do I have to participate in a battle of this level?
"The problem between the Orthodoxy and the Empress is still that position in the Imperial Palace."
With some difficulty, Mei Lisha stood up and brought Chen Changsheng to the window. Gazing in the direction of the nearby Imperial Palace, he said, "In this battle, you will play an extremely important role."
Chen Changsheng said, "Just because I am … Teacher's student? Because I represent the attitude of supporting the Imperial clan? "
Mei Lisha ruefully said, "Of course it's not just this."
The archbishop did not give a more detailed explanation, because this matter was very difficult to explain, perhaps even impossible to explain. It was also because at this moment, the door to the room was knocked on at just the right time.
After the door was pushed open, a person that Chen Changsheng had not expected to appear appeared.
… …
… …
(Before 8 o'clock in the next chapter.)
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
