Blasphemy

Lu Li walked through the lush gardens and made his way outside, instantly spotting Anthelia, who had been waiting for quite some time.

With a long sword hanging from her waist, the young woman stood tall and straight. Behind her was an extra-wide carriage, its body an immaculate, shimmering silver, carved with intricate wing patterns and elaborate designs.

To Lu Li's surprise, the horse pulling the carriage actually possessed a pair of wings.

“Your Highness, please board the carriage.”

Anthelia had been waiting for a long time, her heart suspended in anxious suspense. Although she knew the Cardinal could not possibly do anything to the Holy Son, her heart had remained uneasy.

Fortunately, the Holy Son had returned completely unharmed.

Seeing Anthelia open the carriage door for him, Lu Li hesitated for a brief moment before climbing inside. However, before entering, he invited her to join him.

The young woman sat opposite him, her legs pressed tightly together, looking somewhat uneasy. Her fair, delicate face was tinged with a faint, rosy blush—though whether from the oppressive heat or sheer nervousness, it was hard to tell.

“Anthelia, there are some things I want to ask you.”

There were indeed some descriptions of extraordinary power in Lucrezio's memories, but most were merely mentioned in passing.

Lu Li could not possibly grasp the full scope of extraordinary power from these brief descriptions alone. However, the fleeting glimpse he had caught of it earlier only intensified the sense of crisis looming in his heart.

The young woman sat obediently and nodded upon hearing his words, her eyes focusing on him with earnest attention.

Lu Li pondered his choice of words before speaking slowly, “Just now, I encountered an angel...”

He briefly recounted what had just transpired at the Sacred Spring, omitting any detailed descriptions of the angel's appearance. If Anthelia knew more, she would naturally understand.

And if she knew nothing, then asking her would be in vain.

“So, Anthelia, is there any way for me to increase my strength? Or perhaps for me to obtain extraordinary power?” Lu Li looked at her expectantly.

“Um... Your Highness, didn't you used to despise these things the most?”

Anthelia knit her brows slightly. As his personal guardian, she had failed to protect him when danger arose, instead forcing him to rely on the very things he loathed.

How vexing! She really deserved to die!

Noticing the expectation in Lu Li's eyes, Anthelia could not help but sigh. “You are inherently holy and possess a sublime Status, which makes it impossible for you to inherit extraordinary power.”

“But please rest assured, Your Highness. I, Anthelia, Commander of the Holy Knights, swear before the Lord that I will guard your safety even at the cost of my life!”

It would be a lie to say he was not disappointed. However, seeing the earnestness with which Anthelia swore her oath, Lu Li felt that perhaps she truly was reliable.

Thus, he asked,

“In that case, Anthelia, can you defeat an angel?”

Anthelia's expression froze instantly. Why would His Highness ask her such a question? It was truly a difficult one to answer!

If it were a High Angel, Anthelia felt she might barely survive two or three exchanges. If it were a Mid Angel, she should be able to hold her own and fight on equal terms. And if it were a Low Angel, defeating them would be as easy as pie.

At this thought, a confident smile spread across Anthelia's face. “I would say it is a fifty-fifty split between us.”

A fifty-fifty split?

Lu Li cast a suspicious glance at her. Truth be told, as his personal knight, Anthelia might indeed be very strong. Hearing such an answer from her lips, however, was probably not very good news...

As for her claim about him being 'inherently holy,' Lu Li paid it even less mind. In his eyes, it was likely nothing more than an excuse she had cooked up to console him.

“Alright.”

“I will be counting on you in the future then, Anthelia.”

Lu Li offered a faint smile. Though it was a gentle and unassuming grin, in the young woman's eyes, it shone as brilliantly as a radiant star.

Ahhh! The Holy Son smiled! The Holy Son's smile—I will guard it!

Anthelia's mind wavered as hot blood coursed through her veins. She wished a mountain of blades or a sea of flames would appear right before her this very second so she could charge through it to prove her loyalty.

Upon returning to his bedchambers, watching the young woman lead the way with her head held high and chest puffed out, Lu Li's previously gloomy mood seemed to be lifted by her energy, turning much lighter.

It's good to be young! She's so full of vigor!

Seeing how energetic she was, a trace of playful mischief bubbled up in Lu Li's heart, tempting him to tease her.

Entering his room, he threw himself onto the large, soft bed. Propping his head up with one arm, he lay on his side and looked toward the young woman standing at the doorway.

“Anthelia, you've worked hard all day. Why don't you come inside and sleep with me?”

“Hmm... let's call it a reward for your hard work today!”

The youth's voice trailed off with a slight, melodic lilt, as gentle as the bubbling of a clear spring. But to Anthelia's ears, it sounded like a sudden clap of thunder.

Her hand, which was about to close the door, froze instantly. Caught entirely off guard, she stood frozen in place as her heart began to race wildly, thumping violently against her chest out of her control.

Only a second later, she felt her cheeks burning hot.

She could easily imagine what an embarrassing mess she must look like right now, her fair skin dyed a deep, crimson red.

“Ah... um, cough, cough... t-that... Your Highness... I-I-I... I'm not... not sleepy yet...”

Anthelia's voice squeaked out of pitch as soon as she spoke. She hastily coughed twice, but her tongue felt so tied up that she couldn't speak straight no matter what. After stammering out her reply, she slammed the door and fled.

Staring at the closed door, she let out a long breath and slowly leaned against the wall, feeling utterly drained.

Suddenly, she shifted her waist uncomfortably. Her face flushed bright red once again, and she instinctively squeezed her thighs together...

Meanwhile, inside the temple.

Dozens of knights clad in silver armor and holding sharp swords stood guard around a crystal sarcophagus, surrounding the Pope's corpse, fully prepared for battle.

From time to time, Julia pulled out her pocket watch to check the time. However, even as the hands ticked to twelve o'clock sharp, the temple remained dead silent.

That fellow was late.

Unsurprised, Julia continued to wait patiently.

A few minutes later, a beam of light slanted down through the stained-glass window of the dome, faintly illuminating a tall, slender silhouette amidst the colorful light.

In the next instant, wings unfurled. Those wings, which should have been holy and pure, were now stained with a crimson blood of unknown origin.

“Drip—”

“Drip—”

Droplets of blood dripped from the tips of its feathers like an absurd, stingy rain, pattering against the transparent lid of the crystal sarcophagus.

The angel turned around, revealing its hideous face that looked as if it had been charred by roaring flames. Its gaze swept over the knights before finally settling on Julia.

“Hehehe—”

The angel let out a sinister laugh, and its voice rumbled:

“Young Cardinal, do you... intend to commit blasphemy?”