Chapter 383: Chapter 82 Leaving the Courtroom_1
Hearing Xuan Ye’s icy voice, Ah Dai felt a chill in his heart. Nonetheless, he gathered up the courage to ask: "Xuan Ye... Priest, I wanted to ask, is Yue Yue okay now?"
Xuan Ye’s brows furrowed, swiftly turning around, his eyes releasing a sharp glimmer. Under his domineering gaze, Ah Dai couldn’t help but lower his head. Xuan Ye said with contempt: "My daughter is fine, she doesn’t need your concern. Ah Dai, remember this, my daughter is different from you. She’s now focused on cultivating Holy Magic. I don’t want her disturbed. Once your injuries are healed, please leave the Pope’s court as soon as possible. Rest assured, I haven’t forgotten the five-year agreement set by the Sword Saint of the Tian Gang. When the time comes, we’ll see if you can actually defeat me." Finished speaking, he walked away without turning his head.
Ah Dai’s heart fell into an icy state, his body slightly trembling. He knew that Yue Yue was within the Pope’s court, possibly only a few rooms apart from him. However, Xuan Ye’s words had completely shattered his heart. Xuan Ye made it clear that he and Yue Yue were not of the same kind. Yue Yue was the daughter of a Red Robe Priest of the court. But what was he? What did he amount to? He wallowed in self-pity, his heart throbbing in pain as images of his time together with Yue Yue constantly flashed before his eyes. Yue Yue, I really miss you... I wish I could find you! But can I really find you? I can’t! We belong to two different worlds, we’re just not compatible. Ah Dai clenched the bedside in anguish, unable to console himself for a long time.
The next morning, Xuan Ye again brought Ah Dai and the others to the Prayer Temple, where the Pope and Chief Judge Xuan Yuan were waiting for them.
Seeing Ah Dai and the others arrive, the Pope revealed a warm smile. "A sleep has restored everyone’s spirits as expected. Ah Dai, I have called you here today primarily for two matters and I hope you consider them seriously. Firstly, I would like to hear your opinions on whether or not you would like to join the court. Although what you practice isn’t the method of our court, I admire you all and hope you can join our faction of light. Here in the court, you’ll have better opportunities for cultivation."
The five of them were momentarily stunned. Impulsively, Zhuo Yun responded: " Apologies, Your Holiness, but we, the Elf Clan, do not join any organization. Only the Elf Forest is suitable for us." In her heart, the Pope’s court held no weight. Where were these self-proclaimed godly people when she and her tribesmen suffered? Even if there were gods, it wouldn’t matter to their Elf Clan. At the moment, she simply wished to escort Princess Xing Er back to the Elf Clan as soon as possible.
The Pope nodded and turned to Ah Dai and the Yan Shi brothers, asking, "And you?"
Ah Dai was at continuous struggle within. Xuan Ye’s words from the previous day had done colossal damage to him, filling his heart with inferiority. Now hearing the Pope offering to let him join the court, his heart stirred involuntarily. Once he became a member of the court, his status would naturally change and he could entertain the prospect of being with Xuan Yue. The thought of seeing Yue Yue again set his heart aflame. But at the same time, he was fully aware that he was a member of the Tian Gang Sword Sect. How could he also join the court? Recalling the instances from the Empire of Sunset City, he realized that without the protection of the court, the dark forces in the Empire of Sunset City wouldn’t have dared to be so rampant. He lifted his head, glanced at the emotionless Xuan Ye and shook his head, saying: "Apologies, Your Holiness, I cannot join the court. Princess Xing Er’s Bloodline of the Elf King has grown very weak; we must hurry and take her back to the Elf Forest. We came here to bid you farewell and to express our thanks for saving our lives."
Upon seeing Ah Dai’s dejected expression, the Pope knit his brows and sighed, "Everyone has their own ambitions, and I will not force you. I only hope that you can become a friend of the court."
Before Ah Dai had a chance to reply, Yan Li spoke hastily, "As long as your court doesn’t protect those damned dark forces, how can we be your enemies?"
Yan Shi gave his brother a tug and said to the Pope, "Sorry, Your Holiness, my brother is too impulsive. Please forgive him." Regardless of this being the court’s territory, the three influential figures in the Prayer Temple alone were not ones they could challenge. The court’s ambiguous stand on various forces around the mainland stirred apprehensions in Yan Shi’s heart.
A faint smile surfaced in Xuan Yuan’s eyes when he heard Yan Li’s words. Nothing thrilled him more than seeing his elder brother at a disadvantage, especially since he too loathed the scums of the Empire of Sunset City.
The Pope didn’t lose his temper at Yan Li’s words, he simply let out a sigh, saying, "There’s indeed a mistake on the court’s part in this issue. The ancestors of the Empire of Sunset City have deep ties with the court. So, naturally, we extend some protection to them. However, they have indeed caused too much trouble these past years. I’ll handle it. So, this means you too, will not join the court."
With neither servility nor overbearing, Yan Shi confirmed, "Yes, we, the brothers, are people of the Pu Yan tribe. Maybe others don’t know the history of the Pu Yan tribe, but I think you should be well aware of it."
A glimmer of surprise flashed in the Pope’s eyes and even Xuan Yuan’s expression turned serious. The history of the Pu Yan tribe was very mysterious. The Pope had only heard about them from Xuan Yue recently and then he found records about them among the ancient books of the court. He was well aware that the hardships Pu Yan tribe had faced over the millennia could not be ameliorated by a few words. With a hint of apology in his voice, the Pope said:"I know about the Pu Yan tribe. However, the situation at the time was sensitive and getting rid of the evil forces did not come easy. Emperor God Feather was worried about further complications so, unfortunately, the Pu Yan tribe had to be inconvenienced."
