Zhu Zhuyun glanced at the crumpled paper ball on the floor. Dai Weisi had already decided not to wait for her persuasion any longer.
"No matter what, we have to give it a try. Are we really going to wait for Dai Mubai to deal with us?"
At midnight, the two donned black cloaks, avoided the Spirit Hall knights patrolling the main streets, and followed the shadows along the roadside until they reached Pope Hall. The stone steps lay before them when two long spears crossed in their path.
"Stop! Pope Hall is sacred ground. Trespassers die."
Dai Weisi stopped before the spears, pulled back his hood, and took out the White Tiger Gold Token from his robes, handing it over. Zhu Zhuyun revealed her face as well and passed the guard her dark-purple Hell Spirit Cat Token.
"Dai Weisi of the Star Luo Imperial Family."
"Zhu Zhuyun of the Star Luo Zhu Family."
The knight accepted the tokens, carefully inspected their patterns, then looked the pair over once more. The two spears remained barring the stone steps, with no sign of moving aside.
Meeting the guard's gaze, Dai Weisi lowered his head slightly. "We seek an audience with His Holiness the acting Pope. Please announce us."
Inside the Side Hall of Pope Hall, Zhu Yan clutched a vermilion brush and had just finished reviewing documents for an hour straight. Her wrist was so sore she did not want to move it.
She shook out her hand, then looked at the towering stack of files on the desk. The more she looked, the more she suspected that when her teacher had accepted her as a direct disciple, he had already intended to snatch himself some free labor.
Acting Pope sounded quite imposing.
Only after truly sitting in this position