Chapter 236: Rescuing the Holy Child
Chen Ran was silent for a while, then continued, “Sometimes, escape is a way. Finding a place with no one and living a peaceful life is indeed not impossible. But ask yourself, even if you live like that, what is the meaning of living? Life is an endless exploration. You can only feel that you have lived when you do more things that move you in a limited time. I don’t want to be a rabbit hiding in a hole, so I just want to keep moving forward until the end of the world…”
The Holy Maiden tidied up the scattered cards on the ground, a smile with an unknown meaning appearing on her lips.
“Thank you, Lord Chen Ran, for solving my confusion, letting me, who has lived in the palace for a long time, understand many things I didn’t know before, the so-called value of life…” The Holy Maiden put the cards back into the small box and smiled. “Alright, that’s all for inviting Lord Chen Ran over today. By the way, I just felt that something happened in the church. You can go ask Miss Nicole now. Maybe they need your help.”
“Then I won’t disturb you. Thank you, Your Highness the Holy Maiden, for your divination. I have learned a lot…” Chen Ran nodded and turned to leave without hesitation.
Chen Ran had just come out of the Holy Maiden’s Palace.
He was deeply moved by the conversation with the Holy Maiden Tianji. The so-called Eye of the Future really had its uniqueness. Seeing through his past life, having such a special existence as the Holy Maiden, could indeed guarantee the prosperity of the Holy Church for a long time.
As soon as he returned to the Holy Palace, a Templar Knight respectfully found Chen Ran. After bowing, he asked politely, “Lord Chen Ran? The Pope has ordered that all those above the rank of Grand High Priest go to the Hall of Saints to discuss matters. Something urgent has happened.”
“I understand.”
Chen Ran nodded. It seemed that the affairs of the Holy Church really couldn’t escape the eyes of the Holy Maiden. That mysterious girl who always kept her eyes closed, when he was with her, Chen Ran had a feeling of expecting her to open her eyes…
The Hall of Saints was the most important hall of the Holy Church. The feeling here was just like the halls of statues Chen Ran had entered before. But the statues here were not those of gods, but statues of sages who had made great contributions to the Holy Church over the years. Being carved in the hall itself meant supreme glory.
At this time, the vast majority of the high-level officials of the Holy Church had gathered here. Chen Ran finally saw all the upper-level figures of the Holy Church at once. Including the Pope, the three Cardinals, the commander of the Templar Knights, and some incumbent bishops and grand high priests, dozens of people had gathered.
Seeing Chen Ran enter, the Pope made a “please go ahead” gesture to Chen Ran. Chen Ran slipped into the team of Holy Priests and exchanged a look with Nicole from the Discipline Department on the other side. At the same time, Chen Ran felt a gaze and looked over. The bishop of the Holy Priests in red was looking at him with a peaceful expression.
Chen Ran knew that this Cardinal was his superior, the leader of the Holy Priests, Lord Damas. But seeing that this person was obviously old, with a gray beard and a wrinkled face, holding a withered light staff, he gave people an incredibly friendly feeling. In fact, his image was more in line with Chen Ran’s initial description of the Pope. And this lord seemed to be born in the same era as the Pope.
Chen Ran nodded and returned the greeting, nodding respectfully to him. Speaking of which, because his position was still being implemented, Chen Ran hadn’t visited this lord as the Pope had initially said.
In front of the Saints’ platform, the “young” Pope began to announce the major event for which everyone was called.
“Everyone knows that not long ago, I asked the Holy Child Livens and a team to go to the Blackwater Swamp to complete a mission. They successfully completed the church’s mission and returned, but they were unexpectedly obstructed by the local Witch Clan, and the team collapsed. Here, I received news from there, asking for our help.”
Mentioning the Witch Clan of the Blackwater Swamp, the expressions of the people present changed one by one, obviously knowing the danger of this tribe.
“I think everyone also knows the danger of the Blackwater Swamp. Besides the poisonous mist that lingers all year round, it is full of various powerful creatures, hydras, poison dragons, corpse demons, and even the snake woman Medusa. It is the most common place for the Witch Clan or necromancers. Originally, the route the Holy Child passed should not have provoked the existence of the Witch Clan. But this time they took the initiative to attack, defeated the team, and even wanted to kidnap the Holy Child. Fortunately, the Holy Child broke out of the encirclement and successfully escaped, but he was trapped in the Blackwater Swamp.”
Rescue missions were generally the responsibility of the Discipline Department. Hearing the Pope’s order, several Discipline Grand High Priests who had been carrying out missions for years took the initiative to walk over, bowed, and said, “This subordinate is willing to go personally to rescue His Highness the Holy Child.”
On the other side, several high-level Templar Knights also walked out at the same time, knelt on one knee, performed a knight’s salute, and said, “This subordinate is also willing to go to the rescue.”
The Pope smiled without speaking, waved the Light Scepter in front of him, and a interwoven holy light gradually turned into a magic array under his feet.
“Don’t argue yet. The matter in the Blackwater Swamp should not involve a large number of troops, causing unfriendly conflicts with the Witch Clan. Regarding this matter, it is better to ask Tianji.”
An image gradually took shape. The image of Tianji staying in the Holy Maiden’s Palace appeared in the Hall of Saints through the Pope’s holy power.
A high priest and a knight bowed to the Holy Maiden. “Greetings, Your Highness the Holy Maiden.”
The Pope asked, “Tianji, what do you think?”
Tianji curtsied to the Pope and said bluntly, “I already know about the matter here. Regarding the people traveling this time, let me think about it.”
Tianji stopped in place, motionless. Perhaps the Holy Maiden’s Palace was casting some special spell. It wasn’t until a quarter of an hour later that she moved. “The people traveling this time must include Nicole and High Priest Chen Ran. This can ensure that the task is completed as much as possible. Furthermore, they will decide who will travel with them.”
Nicole walked out neatly, knelt on one knee, put her hands on her knees, and said, “This subordinate is willing to go personally to rescue His Highness the Holy Child.”
Nicole turned her head and quickly gave Chen Ran a look.
“Uh, I am also willing…”
Chen Ran, who came back to his senses, also hurried over and made a posture like Nicole. But this action immediately made the audience laugh.
Nicole covered her face with her left hand, looking like she was ashamed for him, and whispered, “This is the salute of our Discipline female high priests. You Holy Priests only need to stand and bow.”
Chen Ran was embarrassed. Speaking of which, Nicole was the only one in the field who saluted in this form. It didn’t look like a girl’s coyness. Because he had only been in the Holy Church for a few days, he didn’t understand the details very well. This was embarrassing…
The Pope smiled and said, “It doesn’t matter. Since Tianji said so, you will definitely be more confident in going. I’ll trouble you this time.”
“As you command, we will complete the mission even if we die.”
Chen Ran also responded, indicating that he had received it.
The situation was urgent, so there was not much to say, and they could set off immediately.
After confirming that Chen Ran and Nicole would go to the swamp mission together this time, the Pope also explained the danger level of the Blackwater Swamp to them, asking them to be careful, and then dismissed the meeting, looking forward to their performance later.
Preparation was naturally needed for the trip. Chen Ran had to inform Dongfang first.
Unexpectedly, seeing that Chen Ran and Nicole were on a mission together, the little girl refused to stay alone at Nicole’s house even if she died, and insisted on going out to play together. Nicole, the big sister, tried to persuade her kindly but she wouldn’t listen. But Chen Ran said generously, “Nicole, let the little girl go with us. Her ability is much more useful than you think.”
Hearing Chen Ran’s agreement, Dongfang hung on Chen Ran like a sloth happily, praising her big brother for his righteousness. Nicole looked helpless, shrugged, and didn’t object.
For the convenience of the journey, Chen Ran took out his magic flying saucer, so they could rush there faster.
The three of them sat on it and began to fly in the sky of the Holy City. Because the Holy Mountain was covered by a special magic barrier, Chen Ran couldn’t fly out directly from the sky, so he still had to go through the gate of the Holy City. But not long after he flew down the mountain, a figure below shouted at Chen Ran in mid-air and chased him all the way.
Chen Ran discovered that figure. Who else could it be but the little white Seiya who had come with him?
The magic flying saucer began to land.
“Phew, you finally heard…” Seiya leaned against the wall, panting. “What are you going to do this time?”
Seiya’s gaze suddenly turned to Nicole, looked at her, and said in surprise, “Huh, who is this beauty?”
Dongfang suddenly frowned, raised her eyebrows slightly, blocked in front of Nicole, and said, “Little White, this has nothing to do with you.”
“Tch, I’m not trying to pick her up…” Seiya nudged Chen Ran’s chest with his elbow and said cheaply, “Not bad. You picked up such a beautiful female companion so quickly. You really have some skills.”
Nicole blushed and quickly put on the hood of her cloak. She said to Seiya in a deep voice, “If you talk nonsense again, I’ll break your legs.”
“My buddy has some problems with his EQ. He speaks very directly. Nicole, don’t mind him…” Chen Ran quickly dragged the little white aside. “Hey, what do you want from me? I have serious business to do now. I don’t have time to listen to your nonsense. If there’s nothing, I’m leaving first.”
Chen Ran was about to leave, but Seiya quickly grabbed Chen Ran’s hand and said, “Where are you going? It looks like you’re going to fight?”
“Pretty much,” Chen Ran replied. “We’re going to the Blackwater Swamp to complete a mission this time. Fighting should be indispensable.”
“Blackwater Swamp?” Seiya’s eyes lit up. “Then take me there. How can fighting be done without me!”
After speaking, he flexed his sturdy muscles. “I was born to fight. If you call me over, I will definitely not disappoint you!”
Chen Ran was speechless. Dongfang at the side pulled her eyelids and made a face, teasing, “One little white, one mouth, two eyes, four legs!”
