Chapter 79: 78. Peace Amidst the Turmoil

78. Peace Amidst the Turmoil

Because the lead dancing priestess suddenly rushed into the crowd, people were first caught off guard for a moment, and then the scene instantly erupted into chaos.

"Hey, hey, what is that girl doing? Who is that man to her?"

"Her father? Looking at their ages, the difference isn't that big, but it’s a bit much for a couple..."

"Is it her boyfriend? Shouldn't we call the Order Frost-Heart Group over?"

The expressions of the citizens in front were becoming increasingly strange, while those in the back who hadn't seen the situation clearly were passing along rumors, with the understanding becoming more and more distorted.

"What? The blessing dance is cancelled? Is someone causing trouble?"

"It seems someone is harassing the lead dancing girl."

"What! I must act with chivalry and righteousness!"

Li Ang had participated in vast battlefields where hundreds of teams fought, had even battled magical beasts capable of crossing world dimensions, and had been present at guild ceremonies honoring top-ranked teams, feeling the gaze of ten thousand people.

But those were all serious occasions, not this interrogation of various moral levels before him.

Yet, as the surroundings fell almost entirely into turmoil, only Zoe seemed to have cast aside the entire world; she clung to Li Ang, her face buried in his chest, caring only about pouring out her feelings.

"You lied to me; you were clearly late by six meals' worth of time."

Li Ang originally wanted to explain that the ship's speed was relatively slow, but thinking that this little kitten probably missed him every little while, the words were replaced by an apology as they reached his lips.

"I'm sorry, I hurried back as fast as I could."

"You must compensate me."

Zoe raised her head, her pair of red pupils overflowing with watery light.

"Alright, alright."

"You have to accompany me to practice swordplay, accompany me to practice the spells Master Eden taught me..."

"Anything, anything."

"And you have to accompany me to sleep."

"Don't say such misleading things out in public!"

The girl naturally meant having late-night talks like they did on Satus Island, but others didn't know that.

Dorothy let out a near-scream from the side.

Li Ang noticed from the corner of his eye that as Zoe caused a huge commotion, the lady's expression had already shifted from astonishment to confusion to extreme panic.

It seemed she had mentioned she wasn't good at handling crowded scenes, yet she had suddenly ended up in the eye of the storm; although she wasn't the cause, she couldn't stay out of it, and she looked as if she could barely breathe, just one eye-roll away from fainting on the spot.

"Quick! Get down! This is in public! Goddess! H-how can there be such a willful person!"

Dorothy’s vocabulary and pronunciation had lost their usual aristocratic tone.

Zoe blinked, turning her head to look at the strange girl shouting nearby.

"Who are you?"

"I am, I am?" Dorothy didn't know how to organize her words for a moment.

After repeating it twice, she gritted her teeth and said: "I am! I am the person who is going to stop you!"

Gathered in the square in front of the Frost Tower Church were not only citizens but also all sorts of adventurers.

"Hello, do you need help?"

"The youth of today, sigh. What kind of things are they saying."

"What about my blessing? Hurry up and give me a blessing!"

"Is the dance still going on? I don't care what you're doing, let me see the High Priestess dance; I've never seen a Beast-kin sister with such a broad heart."

Various tones of language, guesses from various angles, polite inquiries, or rude interference—people had different purposes and cared about different things; it was this very scene that made Dorothy feel even more dizzy.

The half-elf girl, on the verge of tears, grabbed Zoe, wanting to separate her from Li Ang.

Zoe’s eyebrows stood up, glaring at this strange woman who had suddenly popped out. She kicked at her like a kitten swiping its claws.

"Stop messing around, let's slip away first."

Li Ang had intended to slip away after Zoe’s shocking words, but the crowd behind didn't know what had happened and surged forward, causing many people to be squeezed into the area where the dancing was originally taking place.

Even though the priestesses tried to maintain order, there were too many people, and they ended up forming a pincer movement with the people in the back.

The furry ears on top of Eden’s head twitched; she raised her hands, releasing a burst of ice mist, and a large amount of snowflakes appeared, condensing into various patterns.

This move slightly attracted the crowd's attention, but the scene had not yet calmed down.

"Everyone! Listen to me! I have something to say!"

A resonant male voice exploded like a thunderclap; this voice shocked many people in the square. They turned their heads to look, and the one shouting was a middle-aged man with somewhat graying hair.

It was Li Ang’s old team leader, Weir, who had made a powerful appearance. He forcefully showed off the commanding voice he was skilled at during his adventuring days—back then, his voice was even louder than this, enough to penetrate an entire battlefield. Li Ang once suspected this was some kind of innate skill of his.

Weir winked at Li Ang, made a "contact later" gesture he used in the old days, and gave him a thumbs up.

Li Ang quickly hugged Zoe and squeezed through the crowd. Taking this opportunity, Eden signaled the priestesses to start the music and chanting immediately.

When the music began, the surging of the crowd slowly stilled and gradually retreated, clearing the area for the priestesses.

Li Ang, while holding the petite girl, led the half-elf lady—who was panting from running—behind a thick pillar outside the church.

No one paid them any more attention; they were temporarily out of danger.

Li Ang let out a long breath and glared at Zoe with a headache.

"Hu..."

Just as he wanted to scold her for being unruly, he found her pressing her face against his chest, eyes closed peacefully, a smile blooming on her lips.

It seemed that no matter how chaotic the world was, she could feel endless peace as long as he was there.

Li Ang let out a long sigh.

He chose this, so what could he do? He could only educate her slowly.

"You're so doting." Seeing Li Ang’s slightly angry expression turn into helplessness, Dorothy, who had been full of anticipation, felt bored and muttered to herself.

"Get down." Li Ang patted Zoe’s back.

The girl didn't let go; she even hugged him tighter.

"If you don't get down, you won't get your gift."

"Gift?"

Zoe opened her eyes, which were filled with light, and the strength in her body slowly receded.

Li Ang was just about to put her back on the ground, but noticed the girl's feet were about to step on the cold floor, so he held her for a moment longer.

However, Zoe moved her body and jumped to the ground herself. Before her pink, soft soles touched the ground, a layer of earth and rock instantly condensed, insulating her from stepping directly on the frosted tiles.

"When did you learn this trick?"

"Gift, gift!"

The girl’s focus at this moment was not on Li Ang’s question at all.

"Let's wait until we get inside."

Li Ang pushed away the curious kitten who was reaching her hand into his bag and looked for Eden’s location.

As if responding to him, the Beast-kin woman danced in a swirling step, released a burst of frost and snow, and disappeared within it.

The crowd gasped and laughed, thinking it was some kind of sleight of hand or magic effect, making the celebration even more enthusiastic.

In front of the three of them, dots of blue light emerged and gathered from the air. Just as Dorothy was about to ask a question, Eden appeared within the blue light.

Eden bowed to Li Ang: "Greetings to the companion of the God-child."

"Two honored guests, please follow me." She raised her hand to lead the three toward the side of the church.

Li Ang followed, with Zoe skipping and jumping beside him; every time her feet touched the ground, a shield of earth and rock material instantly generated on the floor.

"W-what companion?" Dorothy asked in a low voice from the side.

"A type of address."

"You're really cunning." The half-elf walked with her hands behind her back, following closely: "I guessed it, I guessed it, how could you be a regular team member. But I’m too embarrassed to talk about others..."

Eden led the three into the interior of the church through a side door. Li Ang had thought she would take them to a reception room soon, but he didn't expect her to keep heading deeper into the church.

The further they went, the higher the church's dome became, finally sinking into the darkness that the lamps on both sides of the corridor could not illuminate, leaving only blurry dark blue shadows visible.

At the end of the corridor, Eden waved her hand, causing a massive door to be driven by magic and slowly open, revealing a vast space before them.