Chapter 1445: Chapter 152 Expelling Evil and Eliminating Misfortune_5
Lu Wen smiled and said, "There’s no need to be so formal with me. With your relationship with Ah Dai, we’re practically family. The Pope truly knows how to make the most of people’s abilities! You being in charge of mediating between the church and our Tian Gang Sword Sect couldn’t be more appropriate. Xuan Yue, now that we’ve discussed the serious matters, I think it’s time we talk about the issue with Ah Dai. Be honest with your elder. Are you truly angry with Ah Dai?"
As soon as Lu Wen mentioned Ah Dai, Xuan Yue’s heart trembled, and she gently shook her head, saying, "Elder, I... I don’t know."
Lu Wen smiled kindly and said, "Child, how could you not know? You simply don’t want to admit it. In truth, from Yan Shi’s description of how you acted before, I already knew you didn’t truly hate Ah Dai. You were only upset with him for being so cowardly. When you told him to find you at the church within a year, you’d already left yourself an opening. Your heart still worries for him. Am I right?"
Xuan Yue blushed, refusing to acknowledge or deny the claim, her hands playing with the hem of her clothing incessantly.
Lu Wen sighed softly and said, "Child, I hope you can calm yourself and listen to your elder’s words. Can you do that? Whether or not I’m right is something you’ll have to figure out for yourself."
Xuan Yue nodded. Faced with this kind-hearted old man, how could she possibly refuse? "Elder, please speak. I will think about your words seriously."
Lu Wen said, "I haven’t spent much time with Ah Dai. Although he stayed for half a year on Tian Gang Mountain, most of that time he spent with our late elder master. Even in this brief period of contact, I’ve come to deeply understand his character. To be frank, Ah Dai thinking he’s unworthy of you is entirely natural. I fear there’s not a single person on this continent bold enough to claim they are fully worthy of you! Your beauty, your family background—everything about you is so extraordinary. Ah Dai is just a normal person. Though he is a disciple of our Tian Gang Sword Sect, when he stands before you, how could he not feel inferior? It’s not just him—any man, upon meeting you, would feel their flaws magnified and their self-worth shrink. The Sacred Aura that surrounds you is so overwhelming that when I first saw you, I thought a Goddess had descended from the heavens. You spent far more time with Ah Dai than I did. You should know him better than me. He grew up in hardship, and though it didn’t shape him into a withdrawn person, it inevitably led to an overwhelming sense of inferiority. Even as his martial arts skills steadily improve, his deeply rooted feelings of inadequacy remain unchanged. Ah Dai is kind-hearted and pure. He doesn’t scheme or calculate. Anyone could easily deceive him if they wished. I know you’ve been in pain because of his sudden departure, but if my guess is correct, the pain inside his heart may be even greater than yours. Perhaps he is now lost in despair, so much so that he might even choose self-destruction as a way to escape from this anguish."
Xuan Yue leapt from the bed with a start, crying out in alarm, "What? What did you say? Self-destruction? No, no, it’s impossible. Ah Dai would never do something like that. He still has so much left to accomplish. He wouldn’t die. He definitely wouldn’t!" Her heart was in chaos; the frozen wall sealing her emotions had shattered completely. In her distress, her delicate body began to tremble lightly.
Lu Wen sighed and said, "What will happen to Ah Dai, no one can say for sure right now. Xuan Yue, sit down first and let me finish what I’m saying. You’re right; Ah Dai still has many unresolved matters, and he shouldn’t resort to extremes easily. But what if, this time, he has nothing holding him back? What would he do then? Have you ever thought of that? Child, in relationships, both sides need to show understanding and tolerance. He is suffering so deeply because he genuinely loves you. Forgive him. It will be a good thing for both you and him. If you both can withstand this trial, the path ahead will be much smoother. You understand what I mean, don’t you?"
Xuan Yue tightly gripped the armrests of her wicker chair. The words that moved her most were Lu Wen’s suggestion that Ah Dai might choose self-destruction. Her emotions, sealed away in ice, surged forth like a tide. She stood up once more, crying out impulsively, "I must go find him. Only by finding him will I be at peace. Elder, rest assured—I understand now. You’re right; he is so kind that he’s easily deceived. I will definitely bring him back."
"Wait a moment." Lu Wen rose gracefully, blocking the doorway, and smiled. "Child, it’s enough that you understand. There’s no need to rush to find him right now."
Xuan Yue froze, saying, "But—but what if something happens to him? I think... he must be in the Empire of Sunset City right now. No matter how challenging it may be, I will definitely find him."
