Chapter 1520: Chapter 168 Love Declaration_3
Feeling the overwhelming pressure emanating from Ah Dai, the Pope was secretly alarmed. Although this pressure wasn’t enough to make him retreat, it was the first time since meeting the Sword Saint of the Tian Gang that he felt a power capable of threatening him. The Pope said coldly, "So, it seems, you truly intend to stand against the Church."
Ah Dai shook his head and said, "No, I do not intend to oppose the Church. I came here only to fight for my true love. I grew up in loneliness and hardship. As a child, I was nothing but a thief in an icy, remote town in the far northern reaches of the Empire of Tian Jing. Back then, I was hungry and cold, living each day with starvation and frostbite as my companions. Perhaps, Your Holiness, you cannot even imagine such a life. Born into such circumstances, my humble status was that of the lowest commoner; I couldn’t even compare to the most ordinary Sacred Knight of the Church. Later, I met Uncle Owen, Teacher Goris, and my grandmaster, the Sword Saint of the Tian Gang. It was they who changed my life entirely. Before, I always believed I was unworthy of Yue Yue. She is your granddaughter and could be considered the lady of the entire Church. And me? I was nothing. But now I understand that status doesn’t define everything. No matter how vast the gap between our stations may be, it cannot stop me from loving Yue Yue. I truly love her. The person I am today is absolutely worthy of Yue Yue. I trust in my own strength to protect her, care for her, and give her a happy life." Turning to face the fiery-eyed Ballon, Ah Dai raised his right arm, pointing a finger at his face. He said icily, "Ballon, that day, you lied to me. You tricked me, saying Yue Yue had no feelings for me. I don’t blame you. If I must blame someone, I can only blame myself for not trusting Yue Yue enough. All of this is my fault. But today, you will not take Yue Yue from me in my presence. Yue Yue is mine and will forever be mine. I will no longer wallow in self-pity. I will prove to all of you that only I am truly worthy of Yue Yue. Esteemed clergy of the Church, honored guests attending this wedding, I am willing to prove everything I’ve said to you here and now. For Yue Yue, I will defy the entire Church if I must. Your Holiness, I am prepared to endure any punishment you or the Sky God decree upon me, but I beg of you to honor my love for Yue Yue."
Ah Dai’s heartfelt speech not only moved the Pope but also swayed the priests and Judges below the altar. Although his sudden interruption of the wedding was a grave insult to the Church, the sincerity in his words allowed everyone to feel his profound love for Xuan Yue. For a moment, the Pope found himself at a loss for words. As the supreme leader of the Church, he now didn’t know how to resolve the situation. If Ah Dai had arrived months earlier, or even before the wedding was held, and declared his love for Xuan Yue, the Pope would have supported him without hesitation. But now, with so many people present, so many guests watching, how could he find a way to save face? The plaza in front of the Temple of Light fell into a deep silence, as everyone waited for the Pope’s decision.
Xuan Yue looked at Ah Dai with a dazed expression, her tears streaming down uncontrollably. In her heart, she murmured to herself, "He understands now. He has finally understood. Ah Dai, you have not let down my love for you. You’ve come, how could Yue Yue ever marry anyone else?"
Ballon’s heart burned with anger, but from that single exchange with Ah Dai a moment ago, he knew that neither he nor his son’s strength could rival this young man before him. He stepped forward, not sparing Ah Dai a single glance, and said coldly to the Pope, "Your Holiness, the marriage between my son and Yue Yue was moments away from completion when this man interrupted. This is an unprecedented humiliation in the Church’s thousands of years of history. As a clergy member of the Church, and as the father of the groom, I demand you give the Ba Family a reasonable explanation. This man must not be let off lightly, and the wedding must continue. The sacredness of the Light Altar must never be tainted in the slightest." This was the first time Ballon had used such a forceful tone when addressing the Pope. For his son, he did not hesitate to invoke the entire Ba Family.
The Pope frowned deeply, just about to speak, when a loud voice rose from below the platform, "Your Holiness, may I be allowed a word?" The Pope was taken aback and turned toward the source of the voice beneath the Light Altar. A figure dressed in flaming red Magic Robes emerged from the crowd—it was Larthas, who solemnly made his way to the front of the Light Altar.
Although Larthas’s magical prowess wasn’t impressive in the eyes of the Pope, the Pope couldn’t ignore the Empire of Tian Jing standing behind him. The Pope nodded slightly and said, "State Preceptor, please speak."
Larthas inclined his head respectfully and said, "First of all, I am deeply shocked and angered at this stranger’s sudden disruption of today’s wedding. The Church is composed of the Sky God’s most faithful believers, and to violate the Church’s authority is tantamount to desecrating the dignity of the Sky God. Therefore, I urge Your Holiness to severely punish this man."
The Pope sighed inwardly. For the sake of the Church’s dignity, he had no choice but to make a decision. He nodded in agreement and was about to issue a command when Larthas interrupted him. "Your Holiness, I have another matter to report. This stranger is not entirely unknown. He is a member of the Mage Guild under the banner of the Empire of Tian Jing, one of our Guild’s esteemed elders. His name is Ah Dai, and in the Guild, he holds a significant position. Your Holiness, please do not misunderstand me; I have no intention of being partial to him simply because he is one of us. However, I recall Ah Dai once confided in me about something. Based on that, I believe his actions today in disrupting this wedding are not entirely without reason."
