readsfreenovel Chapter 481 Obey the Imperial Decree
Chapter 481 Obey the Imperial Decree
"Your Excellency the Holy Son?" Chu Ziyu took a half step forward, frowning slightly.
Lin Ci'an came to his senses and found that his hands had been immersed in the holy water without him knowing when. What was even more terrifying was that the water in the pool was strangely boiling and tumbling around his fingertips, steaming up a sulfur-smelling mist.
“God of Light is above!” The old deacon on the side exclaimed and stepped back, “Holy water…Holy water is boiling!”
Panic quickly spread among the crowd. The cries of newborns, the prayers of believers, and the whispers of clergy mixed together. Lin Ci'an quickly pulled his hand back, but it was too late - the entire pool of holy water had evaporated, revealing the blue gemstone embedded in the bottom of the pool.
Chu Ziyu's reaction was amazingly fast. He stepped to Lin Ci'an's side, holding the sword with his left hand, and supporting Lin Ci'an's lower back with his right hand. This posture seemed to be protective, but in fact it kept Lin Ci'an firmly within reach.
"Silence!" Chu Ziyu's voice was as cold as steel, instantly suppressing the commotion in the audience. "The holy water phenomenon is a manifestation of a miracle, so why is it surprising?"
Lin Ci'an glanced at him. Chu Ziyu's jawline was tense, and his eyes were flickering with emotions that Lin Ci'an couldn't read - it was not simply vigilance or loyalty, but a light that was almost...excited?
"Knight Chu is right." Lin Ci'an continued, his voice slightly hoarse due to the restlessness of the dark forces, "This is a revelation from the God of Light, indicating that these children will experience an extraordinary life."
He walked slowly towards the panicked crowd, each step felt like walking on the edge of a knife. The dark power was running rampant in his body, and he needed an outlet. Twelve pairs of parents holding babies knelt in front of him, their eyes mixed with awe and fear.
According to the ritual process, the Son of God should dip his hands into holy water and draw a blessing rune on the baby's forehead. But now...
"Today's ceremony needs to be slightly changed." Lin Ci'an raised his hand, enduring the pain and mobilizing the remaining light power in his body. A faint golden light gathered at his fingertips, "I will replace the holy water baptism with direct blessing."
The first baby was handed over tremblingly. Just as Lin Ci'an was about to touch the baby's forehead, a sharp pain pierced through his temple. The dark power rioted again, and the golden light on his fingertips suddenly turned black.
A strong hand suddenly grabbed his wrist.
"Please allow me to assist you, Lord Saint." Chu Ziyu had already knelt on one knee beside him without him noticing, his voice respectful but unyielding, "Your piety has made you too exhausted."
Lin Ci'an turned his head and met those bottomless eyes. Chu Ziyu's fingers clasped his pulse point tightly, with just the right amount of force - not hurting him, but also making it impossible for him to break free. What was even stranger was that as the contact continued, the dark power running wild in his body gradually subsided.
“...Thank you.” Lin Ci'an nodded slowly.
The following ceremony turned into a strange performance. Chu Ziyu always stood beside Lin Ci'an, and whenever he wanted to bless the baby, the knight would hand over the prepared holy water bottle at the right time - at some point, he had ordered someone to fetch holy water again.
Lin Ci'an noticed that this holy water was different from the previous ones. It was a light milky white color and had a strange cool feeling to the touch. When it was used to complete the ritual, the dark power was no longer agitated, as if it was temporarily sealed by some force.
As the ceremony was drawing to a close, Lin Ci'an deliberately ordered Chu Ziyu in front of everyone: "Kneel down."
The entire baptistery suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The Holy Son's Guard Knights were of high status, and even the Holy Son himself would not ask them to kneel in public without a legitimate reason. This was almost a public humiliation.
Chu Ziyu's pupils shrank slightly, but it was fleeting. He knelt on one knee without hesitation, and the collision of armor and marble floor made a crisp sound. He raised his face, his expression was calm and almost weird: "I will obey the decree."