A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 141: The Moon Goddess Temple
Chapter 141: The Moon Goddess Temple

As they wandered, Arix’s eyes suddenly lit up when she spotted a particular restaurant.

”Hey, wait, Drexel! Let’s go eat there!” she exclaimed, pointing excitedly at the place.

”It’s not even lunchtime yet. What do you want to eat now...” Drexel trailed off as he followed her gaze. A cute cat-eared maid was enticing customers, while a wolf-eared butler showed off his abs.

Drexel almost stared his eyes out.

”Arix, if I take you to a place like this, guess what Mom and Dad will do to me,” Drexel said, giving her a ’don’t even think about it’ look.

”Why should you be scared of them? You are taking me to the Moon Goddess Temple, and you aren’t afraid,” Arix retorted, pouting.

”Well, you have to choose: the Moon Goddess Temple or this restaurant,” Drexel replied, deadpan.

”Alright, the Moon Goddess Shrine it is,” Arix finally decided, though she was clearly reluctant.

It wasn’t that the restaurant wasn’t appealing, but the Moon Goddess Temple had someone she wanted to meet. As for those handsome boys and pretty girls, she figured there would be another chance.

Drexel watched Arix’s lingering gaze, too tired to say anything. ’Whose genes did Arix inherit to be such a sucker for good looks? Thank God she isn’t a boy; otherwise, who knows how many girls she’d trouble.’

But on second thought, Drexel found that a girl like this might be even more problematic. ’What if Arix gets swayed by a handsome guy and ends up in danger?’

As Drexel was lost in his worrying thoughts, Arix asked casually, ”Why do you want to go to the Moon Goddess Temple anyway?”

”Huh?” Drexel’s mind, still muddled from his daydreaming, took a moment to process her question before replying, ”Curiosity. The Moon Goddess Temple is famous; wouldn’t it be a shame not to check it out?”

”Is that the only reason?” Arix tilted her head, looking puzzled.

”What else could it be?” Drexel asked, genuinely confused.

Arix frowned and probed, ”Do you know about Grandpa, I mean, Mom’s dad?”

”Yeah, I know. Didn’t he die? Why are you bringing him up now?” Drexel replied, puzzled.

”No! Who told you that?” Arix gasped, her eyes nearly popping out of her head. The Pontifex of the Empire was very much alive.

”Mom said so. When I asked where Grandpa went, she said he was in some far far away place. Isn’t that just a nicer way of saying he died?” Drexel scratched the back of his head.

He remembered a classmate’s father who had died, and his mother had explained it the same way.

”I think what Mom meant was that Grandpa can’t visit us, but he’s still alive,” Arix tried not to sound too critical.

”Whatever. If Grandpa is really alive but hasn’t come back to see us all these years, it means we’re not important to him. So why should we care about him?” Drexel said indifferently, shrugging.

Even though his words were harsh, they made some sense. Arix felt a bit deflated thinking about it. Maybe Grandpa really didn’t care about them.

Outside the Moon Goddess Temple...

Drexel clutched Arix as they huddled in a nearby alley. He quietly eyed the activity around the Moon Goddess Temple.

By the main entrance, aside from the occasional believers in robes coming and going, two knights in armor stood on guard.

Arix peered around for a bit. She noticed that security at the Moon Goddess Temple was pretty tight, making it seem unlikely they could sneak in.

”How are we going to get in? Should we dig a dog door again?” Arix asked, turning to Drexel.

”No, this time we’re going in openly,” Drexel replied, setting Arix on the ground. He then pulled out a set of white and gold robes from his Space Button.

”Aren’t those the believers’ robes? When did you get them?” Arix asked, surprised.

”I came across a vendor selling them while shopping, so I bought one just in case,” Drexel said, putting on the robes and pulling up the hood. At a glance, he really did look just like one of the believers.

”But even if we dress like this, we can’t get in. Those knights seem to be checking identities,” Arix pointed out the main issue.

Drexel raised an eyebrow and gave a mysterious smile, ”I have a plan, but you need to cooperate with me.”

”You’re not thinking of another crazy idea, are you?” Arix shivered, feeling a sudden chill.

”You’ll see soon enough,” Drexel said, a slight smile on his lips as he picked up Arix again. Then he headed straight for the main entrance of the Moon Goddess Temple.

”Wait, aren’t we going to disguise ourselves?” Arix asked nervously in a low voice.

”Don’t worry, trust me,” Drexel reassured her, patting her on the head.

Arix still had doubts, but Drexel already walked to the door. Thus, she had no choice but to go along with Drexel’s plan.

”Stop! No unauthorized persons allowed in the Moon Goddess Temple!” The two knights crossed their swords at the entrance, looking very serious as they shouted.

”I am Drexel, a believer, here by order of the Pontifex to bring the young Tiger clan member to him,” Drexel said, suddenly looking like a different person. He made a look of detachment and indifference, just like a real believer.

The two knights looked suspiciously at Arix, but when they saw the blue gemstone necklace on her chest, they were taken aback. They immediately bowed and said respectfully, ”Please come in, Your Excellency!”

They stepped aside and quietly waited for them to pass through.

Drexel was confused. ’This isn’t how I planned it!’

Drexel’s eye twitched slightly. But under the knights’ serious gazes, he forced himself to stay calm and walked into the Moon Goddess Temple.

After the siblings walked away, one of the knights looked a bit puzzled and asked, ”They seemed quite suspicious. Are we sure it’s okay to just let them in?”

”The person who has that necklace has been approved by the Moon Goddess Herself. If the Moon Goddess acknowledges them, why should we doubt?” the older knight said calmly.

”Oh, I see,” the younger knight replied, letting go of his doubts and resuming his post.

Meanwhile, Drexel and Arix, who had successfully snuck in, found a small room to hide in. They both slumped to the floor with relief.

”Phew, I thought we were going to get caught!” Drexel said, patting his chest nervously.

”Wasn’t that a bit too easy?” Arix frowned, feeling it was too good to be true.

”Now that you mention it, something does feel off. I had prepared a whole bunch of excuses, but they let us in after just one sentence,” Drexel said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

”It seemed like they saw something that made them let us through,” Arix recalled the knights’ expressions and then looked down at the necklace Cassian had given her. ’Was it because of this?’

Seeing Arix staring at the necklace, Drexel laughed and teased, ”You don’t really think it’s because of that necklace, do you? How could a necklace be that powerful?”

”Then what do you think it was? Your HANDSOME face?” Arix snapped, putting down the blue gemstone necklace and giving Drexel a fierce look.

Raising an eyebrow, Drexel pulled out a small mirror from his Space Button and admired his face. ”Well, now that you mention it, it’s quite possible,” he said smugly.

”Alright, enough joking. Let’s look around and then leave,” Arix said, deciding to change the subject as she couldn’t be bothered to argue with Drexel.

Drexel shrugged but didn’t object. He put away the mirror and gently picked up Arix. Then he carefully pushed the door open.

He saw no one around and stepped out.

”Where should we go?” Drexel asked, looking around the vast expanse of the Moon Goddess Temple.

”Let’s check out the Pontifex’s place,” Arix suggested, feeling a strange urge to see him.

”The Pontifex? Are you sure, Arix? Wandering around the Moon Goddess Temple is one thing, but if the Pontifex catches us, Uncle might skin us alive!” Drexel said, his face full of fear.

He felt that Arix was even crazier than him, always wanting to go to the most dangerous places.

”The Pontifex is our grandfather,” Arix decided not to hide it from Drexel anymore.

”Oh, okay... Wait, grandfather?” Drexel almost choked on his shock. He lifted Arix, shaking her in disbelief. ”Did I hear you right? Did you say the Empire’s Pontifex is our grandfather?”

”Yes, Mom’s dad,” Arix confirmed with a nod.

The air was still for a moment.

The siblings stared at each other for a long time.

Finally, Arix blinked and tentatively asked, ”So, are we still going to see the Pontifex?”

Drexel wiped his face with a hand. His gaze then became firm. ”Yes, we’re going!”