Chapter 56: Divergence

Garden Villa

As soon as Feng Zhe returned, he was met with the sight of the Crystal Saint, encased in ice.

"Is there any hope for my teacher?" asked Hyoga, half-leaning against the doorframe as a biting wind swept through the basement, chilling to the bone.

"His body is riddled with frostbite, and the shattering of frozen crystals inside him has ruptured his blood vessels. The gravest issue is his severed brain nerves. Even if my healing could restore his external wounds, I cannot reconnect his nerves," Feng Zhe replied after his examination, sighing in helplessness.

Hyoga fell silent. He knew well the severity of his teacher’s injuries. In a low murmur, he said, "If that’s the case, then I will return my teacher’s body to Siberia, to lay him to rest."

Feng Zhe pondered for a moment, a possibility flickering in his mind. "Wait," he said, "I must first speak with Miss Saori."

Out in the garden, Miss Saori was feeding her pony—her beloved companion, to whom she never entrusted another's care. Upon seeing Feng Zhe, she spoke at once. "Alex, Sanctuary has gone too far. Isn’t it time we made a journey to Greece?"

Feng Zhe shook his head. "Seiya and the others are not strong enough yet. To go now would be to send them to their deaths."

"And my safety?"

"Rest assured, there will not be a next time…"

"I hope that is so," Saori replied, continuing to feed her pony without even looking up. "Is there something else you wish to say?"

"I would like to beg Miss Saori to pardon the sins of the Crystal Saint…"

Saori was about to refuse, but recalling Hyoga, she relented. "If he is dead, then let him be pardoned."

"I also wish to ask Miss Saori for the grace to use the power of Divine Healing, so that I may fully cure the wounds upon the Crystal Saint…"

Saori, in reasonably good spirits a moment before, clenched the hay tightly in her hand, then turned and glared at Feng Zhe in anger.

For Feng Zhe to heal the Crystal Saint’s wounds, he needed to borrow Athena’s Cosmo; only thus could his healing become divine.

"Do you understand what you’re asking?" For the Crystal Saint, who had nearly cost her her life, Saori had already pardoned his sins for Hyoga and Feng Zhe’s sake—but to bring him back to life was sheer fantasy.

"Of course. The Crystal Saint is needed for the coming Holy War. He cannot die."

"You are overstepping your bounds!" Saori snapped, glaring at Feng Zhe in open displeasure.

"Please trust my judgment, Miss Saori…"

"No one dictates the will of a god!"

"You are not yet a god. You, too, need to grow…"

Saori was about to explode in anger when she caught sight of Seiya and his companions arriving in the garden. Suddenly, tears welled in her eyes and spilled over.

Seeing this, Seiya and the others hurried to Saori’s side, watching Feng Zhe with open wariness. Shiryu, calm as ever, asked, "What’s going on here?"

Feng Zhe said nothing, only tossing back, "If Miss Saori cannot trust me, then forgive me—I can no longer be your guardian." With that, he turned and walked away. Saori, seeing this, burst into tears.

Seiya immediately stepped in front of Feng Zhe. "Feng Zhe, that’s enough! Apologize to Miss Saori at once!" Hyoga and Shun hurried after him as well, while Shiryu remained rooted to the spot, at a loss.

"Hmph! Out of my way!" Annoyed, Feng Zhe’s Cosmo flared, sending Seiya flying several meters back.

Without a backward glance, Feng Zhe departed, leaving Seiya howling in protest.

News of the incident at the garden villa quickly spread among all the Saints. Though their reactions varied, none took reckless action.

…

A few days later

While taking a break by the sea, Seiya encountered his teacher, Marin. Marin ordered Seiya to end his own life, infuriating him to the point of shouting.

Beside Marin appeared Misty of the Lizard, and words soon gave way to battle.

Elsewhere, as Feng Zhe soaked near the shore, a young messenger from Jamiel clan appeared before him.

"Lord Alex! Trouble—two Silver Saints from Sanctuary have arrived. One is already fighting Seiya!"

"Silver Saints, so soon?" Having finally fallen out with Saori, Feng Zhe could only sigh.

He looked to the messenger. "You must be Kiki, Mu’s disciple?"

"Has your master sent any word?"

"Master Mu says the goddess has yet to awaken, and the warriors at her side still need to grow. Whatever Lord Alex does, he supports you!"

"Mu, that old fox…" Feng Zhe thought of the wise Mu and Dohko of Five Peaks; both now supported Miss Saori.

"Lord Alex, you must hurry—if you don’t, Seiya will die," the boy urged.

Feng Zhe burst out laughing. "I should hurry, indeed—but not to save Seiya. It’s that arrogant Lizard I need to rescue."

As one of the goddess’s most loyal warriors, Seiya was constantly under Athena’s blessing; this was why he could always challenge those above his rank. The Lizard, albeit strong, was simply outmatched by this indomitable cockroach.

Sure enough, by the time Feng Zhe arrived, he saw Seiya unleashing his Pegasus Meteor Fist, grappling Misty and plunging down from the sky, crashing heavily to the ground.

Time stopped!

Feng Zhe’s Cosmo erupted as he instantly froze the moment Misty was about to hit the ground, saving him from certain death.

When time resumed, a dull thud sounded as Seiya himself slammed into the earth, dazed and battered.

Misty gasped for air, and when his senses returned, he turned to see Feng Zhe and stared in disbelief.

"Lord Alex, you saved me!"

He knelt before Feng Zhe, causing Seiya’s clenched fist to loosen in surprise.

"Were you sent by the new Pope?"

"It was Chief Strategist Burton’s order!"

"Burton?" Feng Zhe’s face twisted in exasperation at the mention of the second strategist—a man arguably less capable than Gigas, a true fool.

"Come with me first."

"Burton didn’t send me alone. Moses of the White Whale and Aegian of the Hunting Dog were sent as well!"

Misty of the Lizard confessed. Feng Zhe asked offhandedly, "Where are they now?"

"They went to assassinate that young lady."

Feng Zhe’s expression changed instantly, and he cursed, "Utter fools!"

Without another word, he sped back toward the garden villa.

Back at the villa, Moses of the White Whale and Aegian of the Hunting Dog were locked in battle with Algethi of Hercules, Dio of the Fly, and Sirius of the Great Dog. The clash was fierce as Miss Saori sat at ease, enjoying her tea as if nothing concerned her.

Around her stood Shiryu, Hyoga, and Shun, as well as Douglas, captain of the guard.

By the time Feng Zhe arrived, the fight was nearly over. Clearly, the White Whale and the Hunting Dog were about to be defeated. For them, failure meant only one thing—death.

"Stop!"

With a furious shout, Feng Zhe teleported directly into the midst of the battling Silver Saints.