Crown of Silence

Chapter 544 Hand of God

Cold wind blows

Dead leaves and snow powder flying

Ye Qingxuan stood blankly at the door, listening to the loud noises and a series of broken sounds coming from far away in the restaurant. Several dim ether fluctuations just appeared, and were destroyed by a storm-like wild fluctuation.

Until finally, the wall shattered, and in the flying smoke, someone looked up to the sky, laughed, and rushed out.

"What are you still doing?"

The masked Bai Xi was holding a large bag of freshly baked goods. On his eyes outside the mask, two little eyebrows were flying excitedly: "Let's go! Let's go! Run away!"

As she said that, amid the gradual piercing whistle, she grabbed his hand, pulled the staggering Ye Qingxuan and started running away.

"That's the guy!"

"There he is!"

"Don't let them go!"

Amidst the sharp whistles of the patrol police approaching quickly, Ye Qingxuan was pulled by Bai Xi and ran on the streets of the Holy City.

At that moment, Ye Qingxuan was in a daze.

It's like suddenly going back to a long, long time ago.

In the same strange city, they ran wildly.

This time, it was Bai Xi who held his hand.

——

It wasn't until two days in the afternoon that they got rid of the pursuers behind them.

The two people collapsed on a bench in the street, gasping for air. They couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief when they heard the sound of the chase disappearing.

"Ah, I'm getting cold."

Bai Xi opened the paper bag, took out the lunch box, and shook it helplessly: "A lot of soup also leaked."

"It's okay, it's stolen goods anyway, let's eat together." Ye Qingxuan rubbed his hands and felt hungry: "The steak is yours, the smoked fish is mine, and the soup is yours too."

"Why 50/50?" Bai Xi hugged the paper bag and looked at him sideways: "I am the one doing the work, and I am the one taking the lead when running away. You are just looking out for the wind." It would be nice to give you a piece of cold bread. "

Even though she said that, she reluctantly put the still warm sandwich into his hand.

At first glance, he broke into the kitchen and forced the chef to cook it freshly.

The sauce is not spread right.

Ye Qingxuan held the sandwich, smiled, and stuffed it into his mouth.

Then he turned his head and took a breath of air.

——Why are there so many pickles! ! !

Facts have proved that it is really not a good idea to anger the chef. Most of what Bai Xi grabbed were all kinds of dark dishes with weird flavors.

“Ah, this bread is so spicy!!!”

Bai Xi's mouth was swollen and tears filled her eyes. Then when she saw Ye Qingxuan, who was so sour that his face turned green, he couldn't help laughing, and all the bread crumbs in his mouth spurted out and fell into Ye Qingxuan's soup.

Ye Qingxuan sighed, blew off the crumbs, and took a few sips to finally wash away the sour taste in his mouth.

"Next time, just be patient and wait for me to go back and get the money."

Ye Qingxuan looked up to the sky and sighed.

In the distance, there was a faint soft melody coming.

In the snow that had stopped, and in the crumbling church, there was a faint noise.

The girl in white gauze got off the rented carriage, held her sweetheart's hand, and walked into the church to the cheerful melody that was slightly off-key.

A wedding.

The rare smiles of those guests seemed to be one of the few bright colors in the city.

There are still people alive, living in this cold world, suffering from this, but there is still a smile in their arms.

At the end of the long street, in a dilapidated church, the two parties held a simple wedding.

While the priests were busy following the orders of the Order, they still invited a young apprentice from the Order to witness the wedding.

It seemed that the inexperienced young people were wearing religious robes, holding the temple in their hands, and presided over the wedding in a hurry, causing a lot of trouble. Fortunately, the wedding still went on.

There was not enough wine, the bread supply was not very open, and there was no sumptuous feast. Several old workers who could play musical instruments were temporarily recruited to form an orchestra to play the wedding march.

Although simple, everything is presentable.

"Louis, you...are you willing to marry her, according to..."

The young trainee priest stood on the stage, stumbling and reading the contents of the note in his arms: "Live with him according to the teachings of the Holy Scriptures, and become one with her in the presence of God. Love her, respect her, Protect him as you love yourself. No matter... no matter... no matter..."

His voice grew quieter.

In front of everyone, in the cold weather, the trainee priest's forehead was sweating and he was murmuring in embarrassment.

Forgot the words.

This scene is so embarrassing.

But the more anxious you are, the less you can remember, and the more embarrassed you become...

Ye Qingxuan, who was watching from outside, could swear that this scene definitely ranked among the top ten embarrassing scenes he had seen in his life.

"Forget it, let me help you."

Ye Qingxuan sighed, opening and closing his lips silently, and a wisp of sound fell into the young priest's ears along the breeze. He was refreshed, as if he had been saved, and he shouted the last words ecstatically:

“—to be faithful to her in sickness and in health, rich or poor, till the day you depart?”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The groom nodded, "I do."

The wedding went on smoothly, and the awkwardness was quickly forgotten.

The groom kisses the bride.

applause.

"so good."

Outside the door, Bai Xi looked at the two people hugging each other and clapped along.

In the silence, the sound of carriages and horses sounded from a distance.

Starting from the Pope's Palace, the gorgeous carriages came out gracefully, accompanied by the sound of magnificent trumpets, and marched on the avenues of the Holy City.

In the sound of the trumpets as high as the scorching sun, the snow powder was startled from the ground, blown to the sky by the wind from the wheels, and fell down one after another, sprinkled on the canopy and flags.

The rich incense rose from the copper stove, curling and spreading in all directions, covering the whole world in the warm spring breeze that seemed to be there and not there.

The knights in black clothes guarded the sides of the caravan with knives and swords, holding high the flags and stabbing them into the sky. The countless bright red flags rolled in the white wind and snow, like burning flames.

On the empty streets, yellow silk was spread on the ground, and countless servants ran in front to welcome the luxurious caravan, extending all the way to the gate of the Holy City.

Under the protection of countless soldiers, the long and winding caravan marched outside.

The sounds of thousands of people marching gathered together, like thunder, shaking in the huge city.

It was like the emperor's tour.

Ye Qingxuan looked up blankly, only to see six three-meter-tall handsome dragon horses pulling the huge carriage slowly forward among the layers of guards. Wherever it passed, everything bowed its head, and everyone bowed their heads respectfully, not daring to look directly at it.

The white-haired musicians wore long robes, rode on horses, followed the carriage, step by step.

The huge ceremonial guard from the East appeared on the streets of the Holy City as never before.

The carriage that should have slowly walked out of the city stopped on the street at this moment, and countless people stood silently in the melting snow, as if waiting.

"Oriental people?"

Ye Qingxuan frowned, staring at the flags hanging high on both sides of the carriage, the unfamiliar emblem, and for some reason, he instinctively felt a palpitation.

"I'm afraid it's trouble again."

Ye Qingxuan shook his head and reached out to pull Bai Xi:

"Let's go."

But Bai Xi didn't move, still standing there, staring at the newlyweds hugging each other in the church. After a long time, she suddenly raised her head: "Cousin, will you propose to me one day?"

"Hmm?"

Ye Qingxuan thought he had heard it wrong, but Bai Xi looked at him silently, waiting for an answer, which made him suddenly panic.

"Uh, why suddenly..."

His lips stammered, but he couldn't make a sound.

I didn't know what to say, I didn't know whether I should speak.

But when Bai Xi saw his embarrassed and stunned look, she seemed to have succeeded in a prank and laughed happily. As she laughed, she lowered her head.

She said, "Cousin, I'm leaving."

"Hmm?"

Ye Qingxuan was stunned, "Where to?"

"It should be to the east. I haven't been there. It should be far away, right? I hate taking a boat. I get dizzy, and it's annoying and troublesome with so many people. But I don't need to worry about this."

She whispered softly, looking at the long convoy in the distance. In the gorgeous ceremony, someone ran towards Bai Xi, lowered his head, held the pure white fox fur in both hands, stepped forward in small steps, and stopped ten steps away.

Respectful and awed.

Ye Qingxuan looked at him silently for a long time, then looked at Bai Xi: "What's wrong?"

"It is said that I am the daughter of the regent now."

Bai Xi said, "They dare not look me in the eye. They are afraid that I will kill them. They are much more obedient than the servants in Yunlou City. I asked them to kneel down and they kneel down... kneel down."

The servant knelt down in response, ignoring the mud and snow on the ground, but holding the pure white fox fur high, without a trace of dust.

"Look, it's so great."

Bai Xi smiled: "If you go there, you should have a good life, right? Cousin, you can rest assured..."

"No!"

Ye Qingxuan interrupted her.

But he didn't expect his voice to be so loud and so sharp, as if he was afraid.

He didn't know what happened, why it suddenly became like this.

But being watched by Bai Xi, he felt embarrassed and flustered, at a loss.

He had obviously done well enough, had obviously saved the Holy City, had obviously become a very strong person, and everything had obviously improved...

But he found that he was going to lose even Bai Xi.

"Why go to the East...I mean...the East is so far...very troublesome and tiring, I can...uh, I won't drive you away. I mean, you can stay..."

He hesitated to reach out his hand, but didn't dare to touch her, for fear that she would disappear like a dream. He just looked at her, incoherent, and humbly begged:

"Bai Xi, please stay."

Stay?

I can do anything.

I can smash the Holy City to pieces again.

I can pay any price.

"Stay, okay?"

He stood stiffly in front of the attendant, separating Bai Xi from the convoy in the distance.

Just making a sound, he had already exhausted all his strength.

Teacher, Xia Er, Ye Lanzhou...

Are you leaving me now too?

In silence, Bai Xi looked at his face.

"Cousin, Hermes is dead... I haven't reacted until now." She said, "Just now I was thinking that if I go back late, he will be nagging again. But he is dead."

"But there is still me!"

Ye Qingxuan wanted to say something, but Bai Xi shook her head, stretched out her hand, and pinched his face:

"If I stay here, Yun Lou Qingshu will definitely come up with some tricks. At that time, I will become a nuisance again, and I will definitely hate myself.

Besides, I have a troublesome personality, and I will be sad if you ignore me. If you don't take me out to play, I will be bored. If you don't care about me, I will get angry.

If one day, I find that you don't like me, I will be very sad. "

Ye Qingxuan was stunned.

Bai Xi moved forward, stretched out her hand, hugged him so hard, and buried her face in his arms, close to his heart, listening to the distant echoes from there.

She closed her eyes.

It was like going back to a long time ago, when they hugged for the first time in the dark.

This world is so cold, but when you find that person, it won't be cold anymore.

Even in a world without moon and light, if you hug him, you won't be afraid.

"Cousin, do you know? I have always thought you are an unparalleled hero."

Bai Xi whispered softly, "Every woman can only have one hero in her heart. When I meet you, I can no longer pretend to be someone else. I have lied to you so many times, will you hate me?"

"No." Ye Qingxuan shook his head: "Never."

"Then if one day, when I need you, will you still come to save me?"

"Will do."

Ye Qingxuan hugged her, but couldn't help crying, "Even if I'm about to die."

Bai Xi smiled and raised his hand to wipe away his tears.

Finally, he stood up on tiptoes and gently touched his forehead with his cool lips, raw and careful, as if he had exhausted all his courage.

"Then, goodbye."

She let go and stepped back with a smile, one step after another. He waved goodbye and smiled as he did when we first met him in previous years.

It was as if she was finally free from worries and she was free.

It was like walking out of the cage after passing through the darkness. After a long time, she spread her wings, flew past the memories of the past, and flew into the sky, flying to a world that Ye Qingxuan had never been to.

Wherever she passed, everyone bowed their heads in awe, knelt on the ground, and respectfully welcomed her arrival.

Step by step, she stepped onto the carriage.

Stay away from yourself.

quietly.

In the silence, the car moved forward again.

Ye Qingxuan stared silently as the convoy gradually went away until they disappeared from the end of sight.

Snow fell from the sky, flooding the silent city and covering the last traces left by Bai Xi.

He closed his eyes.

Turn around and leave.

——

The long convoy passed through the streets of the Holy City, exited the gate of the Holy City, and marched on the wilderness.

The sound of the sea can be heard in the distance.

In the silence, the old man in the car put down the book in his hand and sighed softly: "He didn't catch up. It seems that you guessed wrong. Are you really sure that he will come to you?"

"Yes, I will."

Bai Xi nodded firmly, as if stating the truth.

As if he had heard a joke, Bai Heng smiled slightly and said, "You are my daughter now. If he wants to take you away, it may not be that easy. At least, he must first have the confidence to be an enemy of the entire Cathay."

"I believe that one day, he will come to save me from your hands."

Bai Xi stared at the Holy City in the distance and said softly: "If Cathay stands in front of him, he will defeat Cathay. If you stand in front, I will help him kill you together."

"Are you thinking of killing your father now? She is truly the daughter of a treacherous minister and traitor."

Bai Heng laughed and stroked Bai Xi's long hair: "Hermes is indeed right, you are born like me.

If that day comes, I can behead my father with confidence. But whether you can use Cathay as your dowry depends on your ability. "

Staring at the indifferent Bai Xi, he was filled with joy:

"After all, dying in the hands of your own daughter is not a injustice."

——

Late night, Papal Palace.

Under the dazzling lights, the low noise continued.

Secretaries with files in their arms were coming and going from the side door without noticing, and they were constantly placing documents from all over the world on the huge round table, waiting for processing in categories.

Behind the huge round table, the red-eyed cardinals were either immersed in annotating documents or arguing in low voices with their colleagues about the contents.

The ashtray was filled with cigarettes, and the acrid smoke hung in the air.

The warm breeze blew, but it was dull and suffocating.

And at the very back of the huge round table, the Red King, who should have gone to rest early, was still sitting in his seat. The tea in the water cup became cold and then changed, and then changed again and again.

In the long silence, it seemed that he was waiting for something.

Until the footsteps in the distance gradually began to sound, the main door of the hall trembled, making a deep sound, and opened from the outside in. The biting cold wind rushed in from outside the door, dispelling the suffocating heat and bringing those low-pitched arguments to an abrupt end.

From the outside of the Papal Palace to the inside, people drove straight in, passing through the layers of open doors, without any notification or any etiquette, and walked into the core with such arrogance.

Not willing to wait even for a second.

The cardinals raised their heads, looked at the uninvited guests, and frowned.

To this day, no one does not recognize the iconic white hair and the indifferent young man. But when they saw the ancient string of rose beads on his wrist, they couldn't help but be stunned.

No one knows what it means.

Under everyone's gaze, he walked to the front and bowed to the Red King.

The Red King raised his eyes and looked at him:

"Do you understand?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

Ye Qingxuan said: "I am leaving the Holy City tonight."

The Red King was silent for a long time and sighed softly: "I thought what the Holy City promised you is enough to satisfy you."

"too slow."

Ye Qingxuan shook his head, "I can't wait."

In the long silence, the Red King stared into the young man's eyes, but suddenly felt that maybe he had guessed wrong.

He originally thought that Ye Qingxuan would gain insights from it, but what he saw now was definitely not the case.

The fire in those dark eyes was clearly burning with determination and madness, like lava spreading in the wasteland, burning the earth's crust and steel, then rising into the sky, trying to ignite the whole world...

The Red King lowered his eyes and stopped looking.

"Go ahead."

He waved his hand tiredly: "In thirty minutes, there will be a boat that will take you to wherever you want. Someone will be there to give you what you want.

From now on, God may be the only one who can protect you in everything you do. "

Ye Qingxuan smiled and said nothing more.

He bowed, then turned and left.

The door slams shut.

In the low noise of returning, the Red King closed his eyes sleepily, but for some reason, he suddenly remembered Gaius's favorite book of poems in the past.

Since then we as human beings have suffered and experienced hardships. To become cold and cold, to prove the stone nature of our flesh...

Maybe, this is human beings.

——

Late at night, outside the Holy City, at the silent dock.

Amidst the sound of the ocean tide, Ye Qingxuan waited silently, reading the notes left by Hermes.

The faint moonlight fell from the gap in the clouds, illuminating another vague figure. The phantom between reality and reality stood beside Ye Qingxuan, looking at the young man's appearance, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Every musician dreams of a canonization, a compensation that reaches the sky in one step. Do you really want to just say no?"

"What I want isn't here."

Ye Qingxuan stared at the silhouette of the steel city in the distance and slowly shook his head, "The Holy City can't give it to me."

"Little Ye Zi, you are finally on the right track."

Laura smiled: "That's how it should be! What do you want, just go and get it yourself? Why do you have to worry so much? Anyway, the world has been turned into such a horrible state by the Hundred Eyes. No matter how bad it gets, It’s just hell.”

In the high-pitched whistle, the iron wheel is ready.

The sound of horse hooves in the distance gradually increased, and a messenger in white clothes came on horseback and stopped in front of Ye Qingxuan.

"Declared in the name of the Archbishop of the Holy City, the representative of the gods, the Supreme Pontiff, and the Red King."

The messenger half-knelt on the ground, and presented a red sacred belt with lapis lazuli patterns to Ye Qingxuan with both hands: "From now on, Ye Qingxuan will be canonized as the head of the Ministry of Doctrine of the Faith and the Grand Inquisitor, and will be ordered to rebuild the religious trial and inspect all countries. Titled 'Hand of God'.

Give you the crown of righteousness. From now on, everything you say and do will be right.

——This is God’s will! "

"hand of God?"

Ye Qingxuan stared at the red holy belt for a long time, then laughed softly: "Very good, I like this title. Thank the Holy See for me."

As he spoke, he put the sacred belt on his shoulders, adhering to God's mission and possessing his own majesty.

The dark eyes were as cold as iron, making the messenger dare not look directly at him and lowered his head in awe.

"Then, let's first use God's will to create a better world, out of fire and iron."

He turned and left.

He never looked behind him again.

-

Under the silent moonlight, the whistle burst out sharply.

The iron wheel started moving slowly, setting off undercurrents and waves, and sailed into the distance.

In the dim light of the cabin, Ye Qingxuan stared at the huge and complicated design in the notebook, the last legacy of Hermes, the behemoth that spanned the entire material world and was named the 'Ethernet'.

At the end of the note is a photo tucked at the bottom of the page.

It was an image taken by Hermes at an unknown time. In the photo, Bai Xi was riding a cart and was being pulled by a running golden retriever dog. The dog jumped in the air and galloped through the streets of Avalon.

It was clear that he was about to fall over, but he smiled as if he had gained the whole world.

"Wait for me, Bai Xi."

He stroked the smile in the photo and closed his eyes.

Soon, I will come to you...

When the time comes, I will never let anyone I love leave my side again! ——

Since that night, notifications from the Central Temple were relayed to all directions.

The long-dead Inquisition rose again from the ashes.

The light of the stake will illuminate the whole world again.

The young man known as the 'Hand of God' abandoned his dreams and aspirations and embarked on the long journey home again.

And the world is already immersed in turmoil.

As Ludovic once said, a new era has begun.

It is not the golden age of mankind, nor is it the eternal darkness of the abyss. In fire and iron, a new prologue has been opened, and a new era is about to come.