Chapter 55
Just then, Elder Gao stepped out of the darkness and walked slowly toward Xia Qian and the others. His steps were neither hurried nor slow, and in this quiet moment, the sound of his footsteps echoed around them.
There was a strange feeling about it.
"Why are you suddenly going back?"
“You’ve already come this far,” Elder Gao said kindly to Xia Qian, “you shouldn’t be so willful, or Hughes will worry.”
At the same time, the hidden back door of the starship slowly opened, and a mini starship appeared in front of them. Although it was called mini, it was not actually that small. It turned out that there was another starship on its back.
Compared to this, the small starship in front of us looks incredibly tiny, and at first glance, it's easy to overlook it.
This is exactly their plan to mislead the enemy!
"Princess, you may proceed. The small starship carries eight hundred of the Empire's finest soldiers, who will be responsible for your safety. The large starship behind you has five thousand soldiers who will provide cover for you."
A soft sound was heard, and from under the rear door of the starship, a long, black, shiny, and incredibly hard iron rod emerged from beneath their feet.
The doors of the small starship were connected by ferromagnets, forming a corridor that appeared out of thin air.
The starship's gates awaited her arrival, but Xia Qian hesitated to take the first step.
"Xia Xia..." Xia Che looked at Xia Qian, hesitant to speak.
Xia Qian's gaze was fixed on Elder Gao, scrutinizing him. "Would the elder betray Hughes?"
The question came out of nowhere, catching Elder Gao off guard for a moment.
The atmosphere was quiet and still, as if some people's deepest thoughts had already been silently revealed in their eyes under this silence.
"No!" Elder Gao's aged face revealed determination, his eyes resolute and clear. "I will never betray Your Highness."
The moment the words left their mouths, the starship shuddered violently. Before anyone could react, a barrage of fire suddenly hurtled towards them, the flames faster than a person could react!
"Close the door quickly!" Xia Che shouted, quickly shielding Xia Qian behind him with one hand. Everything happened so suddenly, even though the door was already closed.
But the sound of cannon fire crashing violently against the starship's iron gate lingered for a long time.
We can't leave!
This was everyone's first reaction, and they all froze on the spot. What should they do now?
Outside, the starships were busy fighting the Church of Light squad. Waves of artillery fire exploded outside, one after another, making it impossible to tell who had the upper hand.
"From the very beginning, I felt that something was definitely wrong here!"
"It's clearly a secret exit, so why would the Cult of Light know about this place?"
Xia Che's face darkened.
His already sharp eyes were now fixed on everyone present, and everyone looked at each other, their expressions grim.
They were all people who had experienced the battlefield; who didn't know what the situation was like?
Right now, there's a traitor inside this starship!
A traitor colluding with the Church of Light!
"You're doubting me."
Elder Gao said, his eyes fixed on Xia Qian, his tone declarative, as if he weren't the one speaking.
“It’s not that I doubt you,” Xia Qian said thoughtfully. “I’m just wondering, what if the Pope possessed you?”
"What if the Pope finds out?"
She looked at Elder Gao, word by word, as if she were gambling, and indeed she was gambling.
She bet that Elder Gao was still the same Elder Gao, the one who hadn't been possessed by the Pope!
As expected, Elder Gao stared at her blankly, his eyes filled with surprise. He seemed not to have expected her to say such a thing, and for a moment he forgot to react.
Xia Qian's body possesses extremely high spirituality, and is so sensitive to its surroundings that it can not only absorb spiritual energy but also keenly perceive the emotions of those around it, whether they are malicious or benevolent.
Elder Gao harbored no ill intentions.
She won her bet!
The Pope has not yet possessed Elder Gao's body.
But it could be anyone else!
They should return to the starship's main control room right now, back to Hughes!
"What does the princess know?"
"Elder, there's no time to talk about this now." Xia Qian listened to the bursts of artillery fire coming from outside the door. One cannonball struck fiercely at that moment. It failed to penetrate the iron gate, but it still left its mark on the gate with great force.
This is not a place to linger!
A barrage of gunfire erupted. Xia Che opened his mouth, seemingly about to say something, but before he could finish, he was interrupted, "Brother, let's hurry back to the control room! It's not safe here!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than another cannon shot rang out, and flames erupted outside. Everyone was watching this evenly matched battle when Xia Qian suddenly reached out and grabbed Elder Gao's robe. "Elder, come with me!"
Xia Qian had no energy to pay attention to anything else. As soon as she finished speaking, she took quick steps and pulled Elder Gao towards the control room.
"Xiaxia!"
"Princess!"
Xia Qian heard the shouts behind her, but she didn't have time to turn around.
Holding Elder Gao's hand, she quickened her pace, her small body bursting with astonishing energy in that instant.
An energy that no one had anticipated.
"Princess--"
"The elder isn't wearing any listening devices, is he?" Xia Qian interrupted the elder.
Now is a critical moment.
How could she forget!
The real reason and trigger that led Hughes to become possessed!
Even if the plot has gone completely off track, some inevitable events will still happen.
How could she forget!
Hughes is so powerful, who can defeat him?
If it weren't for the Pope's scheme to deliberately mislead the Elder Council about Hughes and instill hatred in them...
This mighty empire will not collapse!
The genius who was showered with praise and adulation from childhood would never have turned into the villain he became later.
The Great Demon King that everyone fears!
The starship's main control room was not far ahead, but Xia Qian suddenly stopped rushing in.
"Elder!" Xia Qian's tone was solemn. "Next, I hope you can cooperate with me in putting on a show."
Meanwhile, in the main control room.
A deathly silence fell over the room; there was no chaos, but rather everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.
Countless electronic screens were spinning rapidly, and at the same time, one voice after another rose and fell: "Your Highness! Squad 3 has successfully shot down a Cult of Light squad! All members annihilated!"
"Your Highness, the starship of Squadron 4 has been breached!"
"Send Squad 1 to provide cover, and the entire Squad 4 will abandon ship." Hughes' tone was calm, showing no sign of panic.
It was just an ordinary battle.
Hughes stared at the huge electronic screen, watching the battle situation change in an instant every second. Just then, Hughes suddenly paused, like a wild beast that had smelled meat, and turned around abruptly.
A series of light footsteps approached, and a petite figure appeared behind him.
This figure shouldn't be here.
Hughes's eyes darkened.
"Hughes—"
Before Xia Qian could finish speaking, the young man's slender hand landed on the top of her head and gently rubbed it. "Why are you back again?"
"Your Highness, this happened suddenly! The Church of Light has been lying in wait to launch a sneak attack," Elder Gao said from the side.
At the same time, a cold wind swept in, seemingly enveloping Xia Qian, causing her, who was already dressed in thin clothes, to shiver.
Why is the air conditioning in the control room suddenly turned up so high?
When I came here before, it didn't feel this cold...
Xia Qian suddenly felt a strange sensation. Just then, she heard a soft laugh in her ear, carrying a chill, like a cold wind, with a strong sense of coldness.
An ominous premonition rose from the bottom of her heart, and almost instantly, a name appeared in her mind!
pope!
As if guessing her suspicions, that soft laugh came to her ears again, and a cold wind surrounded her, as if someone was standing behind her, strangling her neck.
Even his mouth seemed to be covered, and he couldn't make a sound!
In that instant, a force suddenly struck from behind. Xia Qian had no time to react and was violently pulled by this force, her back slamming against the cold wall. At the same time, something sharp was pricking her neck.
Xia Qian heard a gasp and a sudden burst of intense pressure. "What are you doing!"
That was Hughes's voice. (1025)
"Elder Gao?!" The others exclaimed in surprise, staring at the scene in disbelief.
"Elder Gao, what are you doing!"
Xia Qian closed her eyes, feeling the sharp dagger piercing her skin at her neck.
Elder Gao stood to the side, manipulating the dagger.
No one dared to step forward easily; they even held their breath unconsciously. They looked at each other, their eyes fixed on the black-clad youth in the center.
Hughes narrowed his eyes; that was a sign of danger.
"Don't come any closer," Elder Gao said. "I can't guarantee I won't pierce her."
No one dared to look at Hughes's face. The silence in the control room felt like an eternity.
Just then, a chilling chuckle rang out clearly.
Unlike before, this time the laughter echoed clearly throughout the entire control room. "How about it, Hughes? Didn't expect that, did you?"
This, this is—?
The elders cursed inwardly, "This is bad! When did the Pope of the Church of Light sneak up here?!"
The starship has multiple defense procedures; how did he manage to get past them all?
No one noticed that Xia Qian, who was being "kidnapped," exchanged a glance with Elder Gao, who had "abducted" her.
The Pope was indeed hiding in this starship!
Just moments ago, the Pope was in his own starship, speaking face-to-face on the StarNet screen, but he was able to sneak into an Imperial starship in the blink of an eye.
How could he have managed to sneak in so quickly?
All that was left was that artillery barrage.
Xia Qian recalled the sudden burst of fire that had attacked them from the hidden back door.
What if that fire wasn't artillery fire at all, but rather a fire deliberately created by the Pope?
Something that can sneak in little by little through the crack in the door.
Xia Qian felt terrified just thinking about it.
He really wanted to use that move to defeat Hughes!
Xia Qian trembled with anger, but at this moment, everyone's attention was focused on finding the Pope.
The Pope's voice, filled with sarcasm, echoed in the air: "Didn't expect that, did you? Didn't expect Elder Gao to betray you, did you? He had already sided with me long ago."
"Your teacher, who's been by your side since childhood and has always been loyal to you, is now holding a knife to your girlfriend's neck. How pitiful!"
Hughes's eyes darkened, his fists tightened, and the chilling aura emanating from him sent shivers down one's spine.
"Let her go! If you have a problem, come at me."
The Pope watched with even greater pleasure, hiding himself in the shadows, so well that he was nowhere to be seen.
But his laughter filled the entire control room.
"This scene is so heartbreaking. I almost cried."
"You only dare to say such provocative things when you're hiding." A soft, sweet voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone was stunned, seemingly not expecting that Xia Qian, who was being held hostage, would still be in the mood to speak.
Her voice is soft and sweet, but she's incredibly brave!
Everyone could clearly see the stubbornness in the girl's eyes.
“Normally, you wouldn’t dare to talk to Hughes like that.”
All the elders inwardly gasped for Xia Qian's sake, but just then, the cold laugh became even clearer.
"Still talking tough at a time like this!"
But the girl wasn't intimidated at all. I don't know if she was bold or naive, as if Elder Gao's dagger really wouldn't cut her throat.
I won't cut her throat—
Hughes's eyes darkened.
Just then, Elder Gao gave a warning glance around the crowd, and when his eyes landed on Hughes, he increased the pressure on his hand.
"No one is allowed to disrespect the Pope!"
Xia Qian's neck was bleeding, and a low moan of pain escaped her throat.
Hughes was furious, his veins bulging, wishing he could unleash all his power on Elder Gao at this moment!
He is not where he should be; this is not how things should be!
"Hughes—"
Xia Qian had already sensed the boy's anger. She shook her head at him, while something flickered in her eyes, as if she were telling a story.
She wouldn't allow him to be angry.
He is not allowed to lay a hand on Elder Gao.
The boy's eyes darkened. Why?
Because what he's trying to do isn't the right thing.
Why is it wrong?
At a time like this, the faster we can get out of the enemy's hands, the better.
Why wouldn't Xiaxia allow him to lay a hand on someone?
Unless Elder Gao doesn't actually intend to harm her.
They're putting on an act.
Elder Gao acted alongside her.
But what was the purpose? Was it merely to force out the Pope?
What do they want him to do next?
Hughes narrowed his eyes, a sign that would appear extremely dangerous to anyone else.
His Highness is truly enraged!
The Church of Light and the Empire have always been irreconcilable enemies!
The two sides had long disliked each other, and their plans to eliminate the other were being carried out secretly.
The Empire's plan to eradicate the Church of Light began a very, very long time ago.
Back in Hughes' childhood, when he was eight years old, it was Hughes who proposed the elimination plan.
The king was still having a headache, but Hughes was clear-headed. Although he was young, no one dared to underestimate this young crown prince.
“What if we use Teacher Gao as an informant?” Hughes said at the time.
They used Elder Gao as their informant, letting him mislead the Light Cult and make them mistakenly believe that Elder Gao had betrayed the country.
Once they've earned enough trust, they'll reap the rewards completely.
And their anticipated harvest is today.
If it weren't for Elder Gao's sudden kidnapping of Xia Qian, everything else would have perfectly aligned with their plan.
And so, the Pope boarded the starship alone!
It went perfectly into their plan!
But he suddenly kidnapped Xia Qian, who is the princess of the Source of Life. If anything happens to her, not only will the Source of Life hold them accountable, but their prince will definitely be the first to retaliate!
What should we do?
This was completely unexpected!
Especially now, the Pope is hiding somewhere in the control room, secretly watching them.
That familiar cold laugh echoed through the control room once more. "What, Hughes? Are you angry?"
However, at that moment, Xia Qian suddenly bit Elder Gao's hand hard, causing him to instinctively release the dagger. The dagger fell to the ground with a "clatter," and in that instant, everyone erupted in cheers.
"superior!"
Elder Gao fled swiftly, not even picking up his dagger, disappearing in an instant like a whirlwind, prompting the elders who had been secretly preparing to make their move to give chase.
Several people wanted to chase after them, but before they could even step out the door, a burst of blue light suddenly appeared, intensely enveloping everyone present, like a barrier that shut them all out.
The elders who wanted to chase after him were all shocked and looked at the person who released the barrier in disbelief.
"Your Highness!"
"Your Highness, what is this—"
"Hahaha, Hughes, are you frantic?"
By binding everyone present with a barrier, the boy was implying that he doubted everyone there.
But there is always a mole, otherwise how could the hidden back door be staked out by the Church of Light? In an instant, everyone was looking at each other, their faces filled with suspicion.
Everyone was suspicious, but no one would admit to being the mole.
However, the boy didn't care at all, as if he didn't care about anything. Ignoring the discussions outside, he walked straight towards Xia Qian.
Hughes' silence was terrifying.
The boy's gaze swept over everything, and he finally stopped.
"let me see."
His fingers touched the girl's skin, his dark eyes filled with a heartache that seemed out of character for him.
She was indeed bleeding.
The girl's blood loss was minimal; the dagger was merely pressed against her neck, causing a slight puncture.
Even so, Hughes was not happy.
He closed his eyes, the image of her being kidnapped replaying in his mind over and over again.
Hughes was very unhappy.
The boy's burning gaze fell on her, scrutinizing her from head to toe, not missing an inch of her skin.
"—Is there anything else?" he asked in a hoarse voice.
"What?" Xia Qian was taken aback. When she met the boy's deep gaze, she finally saw what was in his eyes.
She knew he was very worried about her.
But her worries were greater than she had imagined.
His words still seemed to echo in her ears. Xia Qian shook her head. "No, they're gone."
"There was no injury anywhere, just a little blood on my neck."
Her words were soft, light as a feather, falling in the silent atmosphere, as if she were stroking a wolf.
Gently, following his extremely unhappy mood.
Hughes stared at the girl in front of him.
However, Xia Qian didn't notice Hughes's gaze at that moment. Recalling everything that had just happened, she hurriedly spoke, "Hughes! Listen to me, the Pope—"
"Xiaxia," the boy said in a hoarse voice, his cold fingers touching her injured neck, the tips of his fingers gleaming, a chill creeping up her body.
The next second, Hughes' deep voice rang out clearly, "You're not allowed to leave my side anymore."
His fingertips touched her neck, and Hughes's eyes darkened. The coldness in his fingertips suddenly turned into warmth in that instant.
He said, word by word, "I won't let you leave."
Every word, every phrase, is clear and lingering.
In the control room, everyone heard these words, and everyone couldn't help but sigh in their hearts that their prince was truly infatuated!
One gaze after another fell upon her, and Xia Qian wished she could dig a hole and disappear into it.
Now is not the time, Hughes!
"...The Pope is still here!" Her gaze fell on the boy and his hand, which was tightly clasped in hers.
He held her hand tightly because he was afraid she would be hurt again.
"Wow, that's really touching!"
The Pope's voice rang out again out of nowhere; though he was nowhere to be seen, he was omnipresent.
“He’s right here!” Xia Qian said, her eyes fixed on the group of elders, not letting a single one slip by.
"The Pope practiced forbidden magic in secret, his soul separated from his body, and his soul is right here!"
"He possessed one of the elders and, taking advantage of the chaos, infiltrated our ranks in an inconspicuous manner."
Everyone was shocked. Before they could react, the control room was filled with the Pope's laughter.
"Hahahaha! You little lover really know a lot."
The Pope's smile was laced with deep mockery; he was laughing!
They're laughing at how they only realized it now.
Xia Qian looked at a certain spot defiantly, "Your Majesty is laughing too soon. I still know which elder you've possessed!"
The Pope's laughter froze instantly.
The elders' gazes followed, some scrutinizing, some surprised, and among these gazes lay an extremely malicious one.
She could feel the malice in that gaze.
He concealed his malice well under the gazes of everyone, quietly releasing it.
He stood in the crowd, one wicked thought after another popping into his mind as he sized up the delicate girl in front of him.
He was pondering how to end the life of this girl who somehow knew so many of his secrets!
Is it because she has the ability to foresee the future? Or perhaps, the ability to peep?
Neither of them can survive.
She deserves to die.
This idea clearly took root in the Pope's mind. He looked at Xia Qian with malice and quietly took a step forward.
In the chaotic crowd, no one noticed what was happening.
He strode toward Xia Qian, and the supernatural power he had been secretly gathering in his hands began to operate at that moment.
Just as the Pope was about to launch his attack, a figure completely blocked the petite figure that was being revealed.
Like countless times.
Hughes protected her extremely well!
The Pope promptly withdrew the energy he had been preparing to use for an attack.
"It's not the right time yet," he told himself.
At the same time, the boy's characteristic deep voice clearly rang out.
He said to the girl, "Don't worry about these things."
"Xiaxia, just stay by my side." The boy gripped the small hand tightly, sensing the malice in the shadows, his dark gaze becoming even more terrifying.
He gently stroked her hair, his touch incredibly tender. "I will protect you. Anyone who wants to hurt you,"
The atmosphere was extremely quiet. Despite the chaotic scene, everyone involuntarily held their breath.
At the same time, a blue light, unnoticed by anyone in the sky, suddenly struck down with remarkable precision, hitting a person.
The elders were horrified and quickly moved away, when a sharp scream mixed with pain rang out.
"Hughes!"
That was the voice of the Pope of the Church of Light.
The boy, holding the girl in his arms, turned back coldly and said, "I've said it before, I won't let any of them go."
The boy's voice came from above her head. When Xia Qian looked up, a ray of light shone down.
The light shone on Hughes, as if he were favored, and his whole body shimmered with a faint glow.
She looked up at Hughes' profile, and the pulse of his heart suddenly became clearer and clearer in her chest.
A thumping sound came from my chest.
Amid the chaos, the Pope's shouts continued, with some cheering loudly and others quickly organizing an attack.
Every now and then, someone would shout loudly that there was a mole inside, which disrupted the entire control room.
Among all these people, only her boy was the quietest.
That's always been his nature.
Xia Qian couldn't help but recall the first time she met him.
Without even thinking, she recognized him at a glance.
Among the crowd, his aura was the most unique.
Hughes truly lives up to his role as the protagonist!
He deserves everyone's love.
Even in this world where the plot has gone completely off track, he remains calm.
Everyone will panic and be afraid.
Only Hughes wouldn't.
A shadow fell upon her, tall and large, completely covering her.
Hughes had already healed the wound on her neck, but now, the boy's cold fingers were climbing up her neck.
"Xiu, Xiu Si...?"
What is he trying to do?
"Why are you being so naughty?"
Why bother with these things?
Didn't she know how dangerous it was just now?
"Let's... let's go find Elder Gao!" The girl said guiltily, taking a few steps forward.
"He must have found the Pope's body."
As soon as she finished speaking, she tried to run away, but the person behind her grabbed her by the back of the neck.
He gently pinched the back of her neck, as if he were holding a kitten.
Just then, someone exclaimed in surprise, gasping, "Your Highness!"
Xia Qian looked in the direction of the sound and saw everyone staring at a certain spot in silence. Following their gaze, Xia Qian's heart tightened as well, "Hughes!"
Hughes is bleeding.
He gripped the back of her neck, while his other hand, hanging vertically, dripped blood onto the floor, like a blooming, alluring datura flower.
"Does it hurt?"
Xia Qian's heart clenched. She held his hand and carefully lifted his robe. Her usually soft voice was now filled with anger and heartache, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
She had never seen Hughes injured, much less bleed.
The elders quickly made way, and some even rushed off to find a doctor.
Only the girl beside him remained by his side, as obedient as ever.
Her eyes were fixed on the blood, as if she were the one in pain.
"Hughes, does it hurt?"
The boy lowered his eyes, saying that if he said it hurt, it would make her worry.
But if he answers that it doesn't hurt, the girl will likely leave him hanging again, and the annoying Xia Che will take over.
Thinking of this, his eyes suddenly darkened. "It doesn't hurt that much,"
The boy lowered his eyes, and the shadow cast by his long eyelashes inexplicably made the beauty mark under his eye even more noticeable.
As if he were holding back, he lowered his eyes and brows.
Xia Qian's heart tightened, "Hughes..."
"Your Highness, please bandage your wound."
The elder standing to the side said with concern.
The Pope is dead, and the art of soul detachment is forbidden; once used, it always comes at a great cost.
After Hughes's heavy blow, the Pope was unable to retaliate, and now they have caught him again.
He had long since lost the power to resist, and the remaining forces of the Church of Light were not worth their Highness's trouble.
"Your Highness, please go and rest. I'll have someone come and bandage you."
"Let me bandage you up!" the girl said, looking at him with concern.
She brought it up herself.
The girl looked at him with all her heart, and Hughes felt a deep sense of pleasure.
He lowered his gaze, not wanting to reveal his emotions too obviously.
"Um."
Getting injured can be a good thing sometimes.
The boy thought to himself.
At least Xia Che doesn't have the treatment he has now.
He was treated with the girl's undivided attention and careful care.
The boy smiled.
Those eyes, usually unfathomable, were now filled with great pleasure.
Noticing the boy's gaze, Xia Qian subconsciously looked up, but his hand covered hers, completely blocking her view.
"Thank you for your hard work, my little princess,"
I didn't realize that getting injured could have so many benefits.
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