Chapter 602 – Nothing but Darkness before the Eyes (2/2)

”Since it is impossible to repair this tear, the suspicions Martial Uncle and the Divine Empress have against each other will eventually become hostility.”

”Yes, once there is hostility, once one discovers the other side's hostility, then when they come to stand on opposite sides, they will be enemies.”

”Isn't this saying that Master is using the compassion Martial Uncle showed for him back then to force Martial Uncle into standing at his side?”

Chen Changsheng gazed at the Pope's back and realized that it seemed more and more stooped, more and more like that of a tired old man. As a result, his voice subconsciously became more downcast, just like his current mood.

But the Pope's voice was still its customary calm. ”As I said before, your master is the true schemer. In his view, anything can be sacrificed in order to reach his goal.”

Chen Changsheng felt even more depressed at these words. ”Why does it have to be this way?” he asked.

The Pope released the wooden ladle and took up the dry towel by the pot to wipe his hands. ”Back then, I and your master were at odds because we had different views of the world. Today, your master has used all his methods to force me to stand by his side, but I can calmly accept this because time has changed many things and my and Tianhai's views of the world are already different.”

Chen Changsheng recalled the conversation he had in this dark palace after returning from the Mausoleum of Books.

”I also now believe that Tianhai should abdicate.”

Although the volume of the Pope's voice in this dark palace hall was not great, a clap of thunder seemed to ring out from high up in the night sky.

There was no sound in the hall other than the water trickling down from the wooden ladle suspended in the air.

After quite some time had passed, Chen Changsheng once more opened his mouth and asked, ”Then what about me? What sort of role am I playing? Just why did Martial Uncle and Mei Lisha watch over me for these past two years?”

”I can only speculate at your master's motives while Mei Lisha probably knew a little more, but you must have faith that this elder that has already returned to the sea of stars would not have any thoughts of harming you. His thoughts and your master's are not necessarily one and the same. He firmly believed that you would be greatly harmed, but that you would also obtain many benefits.”

”Benefits?”

”Mei Lisha believed that only through this method could your illness be cured.”

”Can my illness be cured?” Chen Changsheng's voice trembled as he spoke.

The Pope walked in front of the wheelchair, the eyes gazing at him as serene as the water. ”Even fate can be changed, so why not an illness?”

Chen Changsheng quickly calmed back down. He looked back at the Pope and seriously asked, ”Martial Uncle has long known that I am ill.”

The Pope replied, ”Correct.”

Chen Changsheng turned even more serious, asking, ”Then does Martial Uncle also know of this matter?”

This was the deepest and most secluded part of the Li Palace, so it was gloomy, only a little starlight spilling in from the colored glass at the roof of the hall.

He sat on a wheelchair, the woolen blanket folded into a square on his thighs, his clothes thin.

The stars moved with time, and at some point, the brightest star in the night sky, the Dragon Soaring Star, appeared above the dark palace hall, its starlight passing through the colored glass and descending upon his body.

Starlight was even softer and gentler than snowflakes, and so it descended without a noise. Yet for some reason, there was a tiny whoosh like something was being set alight.

Chen Changsheng was borrowing the starlight to ignite that scant remaining star radiance in his body.

His meridians were all ruptured, and so the true essence, whether in his Ethereal Palace or the snowy plain outside it, had nowhere to be released and crashed about inside his body.

His body very quickly became hotter. His face and neck, as well as his two hands, all became somewhat red.

Examining with the eyes would reveal a dull pink color, but within his body, it was a blood red color, because it was a sign that he was bleeding within his body.

As his body's temperature rose, his skin turned redder, turning from an illusion of health to a bewitchingly strange monster. At the same time, an extremely faint Qi began to issue from his countless pores and face. Carried along by the night wind, it was brought to the Pope.

The Pope's expression instantly changed, the endless sea of stars within his eyes instantly transforming into a surging river of stars.

In those two eyes, no kindness remained, only a powerful apathy and a cruel will.