236 Paying Respects to the Pope

Confused, Chen Changsheng asked Luoluo, “What do you mean by softhearted?” Luoluo sighed. “Xu Yourong is a disciple of the Holy Maiden Peak and she isdoted upon by the empress, so much that even her father benefits from it. Inaddition, after the Grand Examination, everyone knows that teacher wasspecially chosen by His Holiness. In the current state of affairs, you and herare rivals.” Chen Changsheng still did not understand. When he was leaving the Mausoleum ofBooks, Gou Hanshi had even told him that being rivals did not mean that theycould not support each other, then what about being softhearted? Luoluo continued, “Regardless of if the Garden of Zhou contains Zhou Dufu’slegacy or some other magical powers, in the end, who ends up with what willdepend who is faster and stronger.” Chen Changsheng felt that if Tang Thirty-Six were here, he would probably say,“Don’t tell me it won’t be the virtuous?”. Thinking about that guy’sexpression, Chen Changsheng could not help but smile. Luoluo maintained her solemnity. “Teacher, can’t you be more serious? I’m notjoking around.” Chen Changsheng hurriedly apologized, then asked, “Are you saying that we cansteal from each other in the Garden of Zhou?” Luoluo replied, “As long as there’s no loss of life, nobody can object. Thisis why I said you can’t be softhearted.” After a moment of silence, Chen Changsheng asked, “And then?” “Teacher is very willing to do things for old time’s sake, and whenever youmeet girls, you end up at a loss for what to do.” Luoluo cautioned him, “Theyoung lady has an old relationship with Teacher, and she is so beautiful. I’mjust worried that if you two meet in the Garden of Zhou, she won’t need to doanything except say a few soft words, and then you will be completely bewitchedby her.” He did not even know what Xu Yourong looked like, Chen Changsheng thought tohimself, so what ‘old times’ were there to be sentimental over for? Not takingthis lying down, he responded, “The person you describe seems really annoying,how can that be me?” Luoluo thought to herself, ‘when I was throwing a tantrum, you said that youcould not do anything, but this time you respond.’ It was only out of respectfor her teacher’s dignity that she had not directly pierced through ChenChangsheng’s fragile guard. She said with heartfelt words, “At the very least,teacher must remember, the more pretty the girl, the more they will attempt todeceive others.” Chen Changsheng looked at her and smiled, “Then, why is it that this prettygirl has never tried to deceive me before?” Luoluo was somewhat startled, then she began to giggle and playfully hit him.She happily said, “Teacher, you’ve been with Tang Tang for too long. You’regetting better and better with your words.” She seemed very happy, but in truth, she felt somewhat guilty. She thought toherself, if teacher knew that I was the same age as him, would he think that Iwas deceiving him? Because of her guilt, she inevitably lost some control over the power of herpunch. Coupled with the tree being slippery from the rain, Chen Changshengalmost fell off. Luoluo quickly grabbed him, her eyeballs flitted about, searching for a newtopic. Adopting an aggrieved expression, she said, “Teacher, I also want toenter Ethereal Opening.” Chen Changsheng was least able to handle this sort of situation. In somewhatof a panic, he immediately began to console her. “As I said before, there aremany people at Ethereal Opening that are no match for you, like me.” Luoluo thought about how Chen Changsheng would soon be going far away. In avery short time, she would no longer be able to hear such warm and comfortingwords. Now, her expression truly seemed aggrieved as she said, “The problem issince I can’t enter Ethereal Opening, I can’t go with teacher to the Garden ofZhou.” Chen Changsheng thought it over, then said, “Even if you were at EtherealOpening, would the Divine Empress or His Holiness allow you to go to such adangerous place as the Garden of Zhou? Guardian Jin wouldn’t allow it either.” Luoluo sighed, “Teacher’s words really aren’t very comforting.” Chen Changsheng felt somewhat ashamed. “I really am no good at this.” “Teacher, if you aren’t going to see the young lady, then why is teacher goingto the Garden of Zhou.” Luoluo suddenly sincerely asked. She knew that Chen Changsheng was someonethat valued his time. Yet, he always spoke of the following his heart’s desire.However, no matter how she viewed the choice to leave the Mausoleum of Booksfor the Garden of Zhou, it seemed to carry with it a sense of urgency. Chen Changsheng said nothing. He used his hand to rub her hair, but gave noexplanation. Luoluo did not ask again. The spring rain was like many lines blown about in all directions by the lakewind. It fell upon their faces and bodies. They got a little wet, but they werenot in too sorry of a state. Chen Changsheng used his hand to push a strand ofwet hair covering Luoluo’s eyes to the side. Luoluo looked at him and giggled. Chen Changsheng also laughed. Luoluo said, “Teacher, in a moment, come with me to the Li Palace. HisHoliness wants to see you.” The smile on Chen Changsheng’s face immediately disappeared. In the evening, a carriage emerged from Hundred Flowers Lane and arrived atthe Li Palace. Guarded by more than a dozen demi-human experts and priests of the Orthodoxy,Luoluo continued on the carriage along that Divine Avenue to the Hall of PureVirtue, passing the Temple Seminary and the Li Palace Academy. Under the guidance of two bishops, Chen Changsheng followed anever-before-walked Divine Avenue to the main hall of the Li Palace. In the blood-red light of the sunset, there was no sense of powerful armies,only gravitas and solemnity. The priests and students walking on this Divine Avenue realized who he was andmade way for him. At this point, it was known throughout the continent that this student fromthe Orthodoxy Academy, who had made the capital buzz with his disturbance, wasspecially selected by the Pope. Of course, he had been famous before that. No matter what title he carried,such as Xu Yourong’s husband-to-be or the first place upon the First Banner inthe Grand Examination, they were all worthy to attract the gazes of thepopulace. Not to mention that not long ago, he had viewed the entire frontmausoleum of the Mausoleum of Books in one day, causing the capital to bebathed in starlight last night. Several hundred gazes followed Chen Changsheng on the Divine Avenue. Thosegazes were complex… shock, admiration, envy, and even reverence. Yes, the present him was finally worthy of being revered by others. It had nothing to do with his level of cultivation or strength. It lay in histalent as well as the powerful figures behind him. Chen Changsheng’s mood at the moment was also very complex. From the announcement of the rankings in the Grand Examination, he had knownthat there would be a day when he would be summoned by the Pope. It was just that he had not imagined that the day would come so fast. He hadjust come out of the Mausoleum of Books and now, he was at the Li Palace. Hefelt somewhat unprepared. He nervously thought to himself, in a little while Ishould ask those questions to ensure I get answers for them, then the Pope willnot use his staff to beat me to death. The numerous gazes that followed him made the Divine Avenue seem endless.Before, he felt somewhat out of place. However, he now was thankful for it,because it gave him enough time to organize those questions in his mind. Even a longer Divine Avenue eventually had an end. Gates were pushed open oneafter another. The twilight gave way to darkness, and the Li Palace also grewdark. At last, they finally had arrived in front of the incomparably vast mainhall of the Li Palace. Standing amidst the dozens of sculptures of previous Saints and knights,taking in the solemn and radiant atmosphere, Chen Changsheng was speechlessfrom shock. Without time to appreciate any more of the atmosphere, he was taken to a sidehall. The eaves of this hall extended out much further than normal palacehalls, blocking out much of the light from the sky. Not even speaking of thefact that it was the time where twilight gave way to the night, even if it washigh noon, this place would still be dark and quiet. The two bishops retreated without a sound, leaving Chen Changsheng to stand onthe stone steps. This hall had no one else, so it only took a glance for him to see the Pope. The Pope was an elderly man. He had no crown or staff and he wore a coarserobe made of hemp. At the moment, he was watering a pot that held a green leaf. This tall and thin old man was impossible to describe in terms of power andprestige, because he had long surpassed a secular concept like authority.