Chapter 45: The Pope’s Delayed Arrival and a Hidden Agenda

In the quietude of the dormitory living room, Ouyang Xiyue sat poised upon the plush sofa, his gaze fixed intently on the wall clock, an amalgam of anticipation and anxiety swirling in his eyes.

The minute hand ticked, each faint sound reverberating like a drumbeat against his heart.

‘Why haven’t they arrived yet? Could His Holiness the Pope truly be planning to stand me up?’ he mused inwardly.

Upon closer consideration, this possibility was not entirely unfounded. After all, His Holiness the Pope commanded such venerated status; what an eminent figure! An occasional whimsical act, a single instance of standing someone up, seemed almost excusable.

‘May the heavens forbid I’ve waited in vain,’ he silently prayed.

Yet, time flowed on unbidden, another hour swiftly slipping away. By now, Ouyang Xiyue had grown drowsy, slumped on the sofa, but the eagerly awaited knock at the door remained conspicuously absent.

A tide of vexation surged within him, leaving him profoundly agitated, as though a thousand wild horses galloped unchecked through his mind.

‘I was merely thinking aloud just now. As the Pope, a figure of such profound virtue and prestige, he ought to set an example, demonstrating honesty and trustworthiness. Could he truly stand me up? If word of this were to spread, where would I put my face?’ The more Ouyang Xiyue pondered, the angrier he grew, his brows furrowing tightly into a ‘川’ shape.

He mused to himself that, by all rights, he was also the Third Princess of the Saint Spirit Continent, a public figure drawing considerable attention. Even if his counterpart was the Pope, acting in such a manner would be a grave disrespect to the Saint Spirit Continent itself.

‘Brother Yu mentioned to the Pope that I wished to meet His Holiness, and I have already agreed. Surely, this old man wouldn’t disrespect me to such an extent? Ah, well, my reputation isn’t worth much anyway; let them say what they will, it won’t affect me.’ He sought to console himself, attempting to quell the rising indignation within his heart.

Ten minutes elapsed, then half an hour, before another full hour silently slipped away.

“Damn it!” Ouyang Xiyue could no longer suppress the vexation churning within him, letting slip a profanity. He scratched at his head, then abruptly sprung from the sofa, stomping his foot with considerable force.

By this point, Ouyang Xiyue had abandoned all hope regarding the meeting, intending instead to continue poring over documents at the library. He had just reached the doorway, about to slip on his shoes.

“Knock, knock, knock,” a sudden rapping at the door shattered the profound silence.

“Who is it now? So annoying!” Ouyang Xiyue grumbled impatiently, opening the door with an irritable sigh.

Before him stood an elderly man with a venerable cascade of white hair, his countenance radiating a benevolent sanctity, and an otherworldly aura emanating from his entire being.

‘Could this be the Pope? Oh, thank heavens, the old man finally arrived; I’ve been waiting terribly!’ he exclaimed inwardly.

“Please, His Holiness, do come in,” Ouyang Xiyue said with warmth, not waiting for the man to state his identity.

Returning to the living room, Ouyang Xiyue’s face was wreathed in smiles as he gently poured a cup of tea for the Pope.

In that moment, he secretly congratulated himself for his enduring patience, having waited a full two hours. Any other person might have long since stormed off in a huff. Who would have thought the old man would actually show up?

The Pope had arrived a full two hours past their appointed time. Most ordinary people would have undoubtedly assumed they had been stood up.

‘It’s a good thing I didn’t rush off; otherwise, if I had been the one to stand him up, that would have been truly laughable,’ Ouyang Xiyue mused, a wave of relief washing over him.

“You are Ouyang Xiyue, correct, young lady? Won’t you first inquire about my identity? Inviting me in so readily is quite unsafe, you know,” the Pope remarked with a gentle smile, leisurely sipping his tea on the sofa.

“His Holiness jesting, surely. From your bearing and demeanor, I recognized your identity instantly. Even if it were a stranger, do you truly believe I, with my capabilities, would be afraid? Thus, I remain unconcerned,” Ouyang Xiyue replied with an air of nonchalance, his face alight with confidence and composure.

“Hahaha, it is commendable for a young person to possess such spirit. Ouyang Xiyue, a fine name indeed.” The Pope regarded Ouyang Xiyue, who, even seated on the sofa, remained half a head shorter than himself, his eyes brimming with benevolence and admiration.

“Yes, Your Holiness, I am Ouyang Xiyue.”

Ouyang Xiyue looked up at the white-haired old man, who towered over him, secretly marveling that he could not detect even a wisp of magical aura emanating from him.

‘Such a phenomenon I’ve only witnessed in my master. Unless one never cultivates, how could they possess no magic? Yet, it seems even those who don’t cultivate typically have a faint trace of magic, albeit negligible. Truly befitting His Holiness the Pope; his power is indeed unfathomable,’ he pondered, his gaze filled with curiosity as he scrutinized the Pope before him.

“Indeed, a splendid name. My child, you need not be so reserved; relax a little. I am not as rigid as I might appear on the surface,” the Pope said kindly, a benevolent smile gracing his lips.

“Alas, how time flies; in the blink of an eye, you’ve grown so tall. Hehehe, my child, your silver hair reminds me irresistibly of an old friend. Seeing it fills this old man’s heart with profound nostalgia,” the Pope murmured, letting out a soft sigh. A complex emotion flickered in his eyes, but it swiftly receded, leaving his expression serene once more.

Ouyang Xiyue paused, slightly taken aback by the Pope’s words. ‘I have a distinct feeling that His Holiness is speaking in riddles. An old friend? Since I can remember, I’ve never seen anyone with hair the same color as mine, save for myself. I recall Father once saying Mother also had silver hair. Could the old friend the Pope speaks of… be Mother?’ A ripple of emotion stirred within his heart, and a peculiar sense of anticipation silently began to bloom.

“Your Holiness, if I may be so bold as to ask, is the old friend you mentioned still alive today?” Ouyang Xiyue inquired, summoning his courage, his heart thumping like a trapped rabbit.

The Pope gently closed his eyes, let out a soft sigh, and slowly articulated, “Alive… dead… alive… dead… I cannot say for certain. It is like a coin tossed into the air, its outcome unknown.”

Though facing Ouyang Xiyue, the Pope’s eyes remained tightly shut, his breathing steady and tranquil. Ouyang Xiyue found himself utterly unable to glean any useful information from his expression, discerning only a profound sorrow woven into his words.

‘Forget it, perhaps I’m overthinking. How could my mother possibly be connected to the Pope of the Holy Light Church? A man as seasoned and worldly as the Pope has seen countless people and events. The world is so vast; perhaps there truly are others with hair the same color as mine. My limited experience makes my ignorance entirely understandable,’ he reasoned, attempting to dispel the doubts swirling in his mind.

“Very well, my child. You summoned me here; now, tell me the purpose of your visit,” the Pope said, opening his eyes, which twinkled with amusement.

“It concerns your granddaughter, and other matters as well, of course. However, let us first discuss the proposed marriage alliance,” Ouyang Xiyue murmured, lowering his head, his voice soft and tinged with shyness.

“Ah, my good child, I understand this matter may be somewhat awkward for you. You are both young ladies, yet my granddaughter… I truly don’t know what to do with her. She is wonderful in every way, but her sexual orientation… Alas. I will not force you; such a lifelong decision must ultimately rest upon your own youthful desires. We, the older generation, merely aim to offer guidance,” the Pope admitted, a hint of awkwardness in his tone.

Upon hearing the Pope’s words, Ouyang Xiyue felt his cheeks flush, a mix of embarrassment and irritation bubbling within him.

‘What “young ladies”? What “sexual orientation”? What “force”?’ he inwardly lamented. Yet, what frustrated him more was the undeniable fact that he was clearly a boy!

‘Important things must be said three times: I am a boy! A boy! A boy!’ But he could only vent his frustration and helplessness silently within his heart.

Observing Ouyang Xiyue’s endearing yet flustered demeanor, the Pope found himself filled with a myriad of emotions.

“This lass, she truly resembles her so much. It seems my granddaughter has good taste. My granddaughter once mentioned wanting to meet her in person, and seeing her today transports me back over a decade. Back then, she was also this innocent… Alas, everything happened too suddenly…” A flicker of melancholy crossed the Pope’s eyes.

“No matter, no matter, my child. I can wait until you both come of age. As for your choice, I will never force it upon you. I solemnly tell you, my granddaughter will one day inherit my position as Pope, becoming the next Pontiff. As long as you are together, your latter half of life will be free from want. By then, you will be second only to one, and above thousands,” the Pope’s tone held a hint of enticement.

“No, that is absolutely unacceptable. My future, I must strive for it through my own efforts; I must walk the path I aspire to. I have no desire to be labeled a kept man. Since I have already given my word, I will not go back on it; I have considered this matter thoroughly,” Ouyang Xiyue declared, his gaze resolute and his voice unwavering.

“Very well, very well. Since you are so insistent, I shall not press the matter further. In that case, my task is accomplished. How about this: tell me when you are free, and I will arrange for you two to meet,” the Pope said with a smile.

‘A task? What task?’ Ouyang Xiyue couldn’t help but murmur inwardly, feeling as though the Pope’s words carried a hidden meaning.

“Tomor… tomorrow, perhaps? Would that suit you?” the Pope asked softly, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

Observing his somewhat reluctant demeanor, the Pope asked with concern, “What is it, Xiyue? Do you have plans for tomorrow? If it’s something important, there’s no need to rush; we’ll have plenty of time later.”

“No… no, it’s nothing. I have no plans; I’m free,” Ouyang Xiyue hastily replied.

“That is excellent then. I will give you my granddaughter’s phone number, and you can contact each other directly. Should you need anything, do not hesitate to tell me. The number is 186…999. Now, this old man still has matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave,” the Pope announced, preparing to rise and depart.

“Wait, Your Holiness! Xiyue has a private matter he wishes to consult you about. Would you be so kind as to spare a moment?” Ouyang Xiyue quickly stood up, a hint of awkwardness gracing his features.

“Oh? Xiyue, what else do you wish to ask me? Speak freely; it is, after all, our duty as elders to alleviate the worries of the younger generation,” the Pope said with a smile, settling back onto the sofa.

“Esteemed Elder, please forgive my presumption in disturbing you. In truth, this junior has long been engrossed in the study of resurrection divine arts, consulting numerous ancient texts and资料, yet with meager results. Some time ago, a friend informed me of an ancient scroll, from which I had hoped to find crucial clues. Alas, the resurrection methods recorded therein were fragmented and incomplete, and the fundamental theories lacked any solid foundation. Having heard that the Elder is profoundly versed in this art, I have boldly come to seek your guidance, hoping you will not hesitate to impart your wisdom.” Ouyang Xiyue took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and finally voiced the question that had long lingered in his heart.