Chapter 1533: Chapter 171: The Spy Appears_4
Tears continuously dripped from Luo Shui’s face onto Ballon, soaking his Deputy Judge’s robe, as she shook her head vigorously, choking on her words: "You’re so silly, you’re so silly! I said those things because I didn’t want to implicate you and Not Yi! Initially, I joined with you because I was following the Sect Hierarch’s orders, and at first, I didn’t really like you. But you treated me so well, day after day, for decades. How could I not be moved? Besides, we even have a child together. The reason I always treated you poorly was because I was afraid you’d fall too deeply in love. From the moment I married you, I knew that a day like today would come eventually. But you, you were still so persistent, Ballon, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Ballon, I love you, I truly love you!"
Ballon’s body began to tremble violently, "Enough... this... is... enough... I, Ballon... have no regrets... in dying... A- Shui, if... I could... choose again... even if... I knew... you were... part of the Dark Forces, I... would still... choose you... A- Shui, I... I... am... leaving... take... care..." With his head tilted to the side, wearing a satisfied smile, Ballon passed away in Luo Shui’s arms.
Luo Shui was stunned, Bao Bu Yi was also stunned, and everyone around fell into silence. Bao Bu Yi’s heartfelt emotions moved everyone present, including Quan Yi. The Pope spoke with some difficulty, "Luo Shui, go ahead, take Ballon and Bao Bu Yi with you. In recognition of Ballon’s sacrifice, on behalf of the Sky God and the church, I forgive you for all you’ve done."
Luo Shui laughed, a sorrowful smile, and said faintly, "Forgive me, huh? The church forgives me, but I can’t forgive myself. It’s all my fault, all my fault." Gently caressing Ballon’s face with a lingering smile, Luo Shui murmured, "Ballon, you’re so silly, why are you so silly! I’m not worthy of your love, not worthy of you doing this." As if making a decision, the sorrow on Luo Shui’s face suddenly vanished; she looked at the Pope calmly and said, "Your Holiness, I can tell you that the Church of the Dark Saint is exceptionally powerful, even the church might not be able to handle it. I’ve been part of the Church of the Dark Saint since I was young, and my status is almost on par with the Twelve Kings of Heaven, yet I’ve never seen the Hierarch. After nearly a thousand years of recuperation and recovery, the Dark Forces have grown beyond your imagination. If you wish to stop the Dark Forces from ruling the continent, you must completely eliminate the Church of the Dark Saint, who rules over all the Dark Forces, before the millennium of the sacred calendar, or they will be unstoppable."
"Mom—" Bao Bu Yi screamed in anguish. Luo Shui’s body slowly collapsed onto the freshly deceased Ballon; her eyes were full of tenderness, blood continuously seeped from her chest, where a short blade with a blue glow now protruded. Turning to look at her son, she muttered, "Silly child, don’t cry, death is the best release for mom. Mom will go underground to be with your dad; rest assured, I’ll make it up to him in all the ways I neglected over the years, and make him feel a warmth he never experienced before." Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Luo Shui desperately said to the Pope, "The... headquarters... of the... Dark Forces... might be... in the... Death... Mountains..." Holding Ballon’s body tightly, Luo Shui’s eyes had turned hazy, "Ballon, wait... for me... I’m coming... let us... be husband... and wife... in another... world... I will... take good... care of you... forever... and... ever..." With a final shudder, Luo Shui fell onto Ballon, devoid of any sign of life.
"No, don’t!" Bao Bu Yi screamed grievously, throwing himself onto his parents, crying uncontrollably. In one day, he had suffered the loss of his fiancée and now his parents; his spirit had completely collapsed. "Mom, Dad, don’t die, don’t die! Bao Bu Yi can’t live without you. Dad, you haven’t seen me become a Deputy Judge, have you? Mom, you haven’t seen me marry and have children yet! How can you leave just like that?" Bao Bu Yi suddenly stood up, his body trembling violently, and his once clear eyes had become cloudy. Gently holding his parents’ bodies in his arms, he deliriously shouted at Xuan Yue, "Yue Yue, look, Dad and Mom are sleeping, see! They’re sleeping so soundly, let’s not disturb them, okay? Yue Yue, look at how well Dad treats Mom! I’ll be like him to you; come, let’s enter the bridal chamber."
Xuan Yue cried uncontrollably, "Brother Not Yi, don’t be like this; it’s all Yue Yue’s fault, it’s Yue Yue who ruined your family, it’s Yue Yue’s fault, Brother Not Yi, you..."
Bao Bu Yi laughed, an excited laugh, "No, no, what did you do wrong? You’re wonderful! Do you know that? I’m really happy you agreed to marry me! Uh—" Under Chief Judge Xuan Yuan’s palm, Bao Bu Yi slowly crumbled to the ground, collapsing beside his parents’ bodies. Xuan Yuan sighed and shook his head, "Why, why did it come to this? Your Holiness, Bao Bu Yi is mad from grief; please allow me to care for him. Perhaps, there is still hope for recovery." Watching his longtime subordinate Ballon and his wife die like this, Xuan Yuan’s heart ached intensely.
The Pope nodded wearily, "As you said, let it be. Bao Bu Yi is overwhelmed with grief; you must take good care of him. If you need any medicinal aid, feel free to take it from the church’s storeroom. The burial for Ballon and his wife must still follow the church’s protocols, and no one must reveal that Luo Shui came from the Dark Forces." Xuan Ye stepped forward to support his slightly trembling father and said somberly, "Your Holiness, please take comfort; no one could have anticipated such events."
The Pope sighed, "I’m fine, you go arrange for accommodations for the guests. Sect Leader Xi Wen, Ah Dai will rely on your care; I’m a bit tired and will return to the Temple to rest."
The excitement Xuan Yue felt from Ah Dai’s timely arrival had vanished completely, she watched sorrowfully as Xuan Yuan and others carried away Ballon’s family. Looking at Ah Dai in Xi Wen’s arms, her tears flowed even more fiercely; she was confused, not knowing if choosing Ah Dai was truly right.
After an uncertain amount of time, Ah Dai gradually regained consciousness, the waves of pain from his meridians causing his body to spasm involuntarily. Focusing inward to check his body’s condition, he found his Golden Body had dimmed considerably, and his meridians seemed somewhat blocked. With his consciousness reviving, he slowly recalled all that had happened before. His last memory was of Xuan Yue giving him an elixir, and then losing awareness enveloped in a warm energy. It seemed he hadn’t died yet! Yue Yue wouldn’t marry that Bao Bu Yi now, would she? Thinking of this, Ah Dai eagerly wanted to know Xuan Yue’s earlier situation. After several efforts, he finally forced his eyes open. He discovered he was in a luxurious room, the soft and comfortable bed emitting a faint fragrance; everything around was decorated in white, appearing exceptionally elegant and giving a sense of tranquility and warmth. Forcing a look to the side, he saw someone lying beside his bed, it was Yan Shi. "Big Brother, Big Brother." Due to concern about Xuan Yue’s situation, Ah Dai couldn’t help but call out to Yan Shi.
