Otherworldly Companions: Every Handsome Man is Extraordinary

Chapter 164 The Pope and the Saintess

"Xiao Yu." The person who was still unconscious suddenly murmured, attracting the attention of everyone surrounding Fan Qingyin.

"Your Holiness, does this signify something?" Jiang Ren had stayed by Fan Qingyin's side the whole time, from the moment they arrived at the Fan family in the Aurora Empire until the Pope's arrival.

The Pope of the Aurora Empire was very old; his beard and hair were long, and his silvery-white hair had lost its luster and was turning pale, but his eyes remained deep and wise.

This pope is not from the Brahma family, but he has a close relationship with them. Three saintesses, including Brahma Qingyin's older sister Brahma Qingyu, grew up by his side from childhood. Brahma Qingyin's talent was also sent to him when she was young.

For the Pope, Fan Qingyin was not only a genius of the Fan family, but also the person most likely to succeed him as the next Pope. The Pope's status was transcendent, just like that of an ordinary emperor, and he would not be restricted by his wife's nationality.

If Fan Qingyin succeeds as Pope, Jiang Yu may need to follow him to live in the Aurora Empire, and even Lin Yi's role may be adjusted and changed as a result.

The Pope had been keeping an eye on this Brahma disciple who had gone to a foreign land after finding a partner, and upon hearing of his misfortune, he quickly went to the Brahma residence in person.

"Thanks to the sacred object of the Yulia family, otherwise Qingyin's life wouldn't have ended up at the card table. But since it was a promise made to God, there's no way to easily go back on it." The Pope sighed, extending a finger from beneath his wide robe and tapping Fan Qingyin's brow.

"He not only sacrificed his own life, but also diverted his spiritual power to protect his wife. He clearly had no intention of saving his own life." The Pope lamented inwardly. This child was exceptionally talented, but unfortunately, he was cold and stubborn. He was quite different from his sister, Fan Qingyu. As a saintess, Fan Qingyu possessed outstanding abilities, but her personality was perhaps a bit too lively and cunning.

"Your Holiness, please think of a way! You must save this child." Jiang Ren was heartbroken. Fan Qingyin was so devoted to Xiao Yu, and even called him father. As a father, how could he watch his child die?

“However…” the Pope pondered, “The only thing he can’t let go of now is his wife, Jiang Yu. He called her name while he was unconscious, so he must have sensed something. Judging from his reaction, Jiang Yu should be safe.”

"Really? Are you sure?" Jiang Renhu's eyes lit up with joy. It didn't matter that Xiaoyu couldn't be found for the time being, as long as she was safe. So many people were looking for her, they would find her eventually. Her safety was probably the best news he had heard at this moment.

“Qingyin and I share the same lineage of perception of divine power, so I can still sense his emotions to some extent.” The Pope stood before the ice bed, looking down at Fan Qingyin, who lay quietly on the bed.

"The one who tied the knot must untie it. The only possibility of saving him lies with Jiang Yu. Hopefully, Jiang Yu can be found as soon as possible."

As the crisp sound of bells grew louder, a saintess dressed in pure white entered the palace accompanied by eight equally pure white attendants.

It was Fan Qingyin's older sister, Fan Qingyu.

The saintess was tall and slender, dressed in a straight, uncinched robe. Embroidered from top to bottom in silver thread were patterns of divine glory, symbolizing divine power descending to earth and blessing all beings. The hem of the robe was embroidered with children of the aurora, eyes closed in prayer, and countless outstretched hands, symbolizing the people's supplication for divine glory and their devout prayers to the gods.

Beneath the pristine white robe embroidered with silver threads lay layers upon layers of skirts that wrapped inwards, also pure white but much lighter in texture, like silk or gauze. Compared to the outward expansive vibrancy, this inward-wrapping design conveyed a more restrained, secluded beauty, one that was not meant to be displayed to outsiders.

The saintess had long since come of age, having entered the Holy Mountain at the age of eighteen. She could not leave the world unless under special circumstances. This time, she came out because of her younger brother's accident, and also with the Pope's decree.

The saintess wore a tall, pure white crown, with an ice-blue gem set in the center, matching the ice-blue eyes of her Brahma family for generations. This gem was ancient, left behind by the gods themselves, and was the best proof of their divine lineage.

The gemstones were also surrounded by crystals strung with silver thread, creating shimmering patterns of varying lengths. The crown was sparsely decorated and simple in shape, yet it appeared incredibly sacred and elegant.

Beneath the tall crown was a partially opaque veil, concealing the saintess's cold and stunningly beautiful face, completely shielding her from outside gazes and preventing anyone from seeing her.

This veil is made of a special material, somewhat like double-layered privacy glass. The saint can see everything happening outside from inside, but people outside cannot see her face at all.

The veil only reached her chest in the front, but became longer towards the back, eventually trailing on the ground like a cape.

The saintess's hands were folded in front of her, and she even wore white gloves on her hands. Not a single inch of her skin was exposed.

"Your Holiness," the saint bowed slightly, performing a restrained kneeling salute, "how is the divine messenger?"

In front of the Pope, she dared not address Fan Qingyin as "brother." She knew that once a saintess was chosen, she was to sever all ties with her original secular family. While mistakes made in youth could be forgiven, adulthood did not allow for such errors.

She had already been offered to the Holy Mountain; the time before she turned thirty was nothing more than waiting for her execution. A mocking smile played on her thin lips beneath the veil, but when her gaze fell upon Fan Qingyin's face, worry resurfaced.

“You must be the father of the Divine Envoy’s wife, General Jiang Ren of the Ocean Empire. Thank you for your hard work in escorting the Divine Envoy back to the Aurora Empire and back to the Fan family.” Fan Qingyu also nodded slightly to Jiang Ren.

Jiang Ren quickly returned the greeting, "You're too kind, Holy Maiden. This is what a father should do. Qingyin suffered such a calamity for Xiaoyu; our Jiang family owes him a debt."

Fan Qingyu said calmly, "General, there's no need to be so formal. Now that you're married, you're family. It's only right to give everything for your beloved wife. If you had to do it all over again, I believe God would still make the same choice."

Jiang Ren did not reply, but simply bowed deeply.

Fan Qingyu withdrew her gaze and turned back to look at the Pope. The Pope shook his head slightly, indicating that he didn't have any good solutions either.

"If the sacrificial array were really that easy to break, your family wouldn't have suffered such a tragic fate back then, with the Pope and all the bishops being sacrificed."

"What if someone else is also willing to reopen the sacrificial array for the sake of the divine messenger?" Fan Qingyu asked.

"Everything has a cause and effect, which is why I said that the last glimmer of hope lies in his wife, Jiang Yu."