Olao’s words fell, and a buzz erupted among the crowd, even Adanis showed an incredulous expression.
Black Earl and Vay are of the Noah Clan, so it’s expected that they could enter the Qingkong Poetry Room. But what qualifications does Angel have to enter?
Adanis: "You say he can come in? On what grounds?"
Olao didn’t answer Adanis’s question, but instead turned to Angel with eyes full of expectation, seemingly encouraging Angel to move forward.
Angel was actually puzzled: "Why do you think I can come in?"
Olao: "Once you come in, the answer will reveal itself naturally."
Olao’s answer, in effect, said nothing. What does it mean that he’ll have an answer once he enters? If he finds he can’t get in and Adanis deems him an intruder, wouldn’t that result in a conflict?
Angel even doubted whether Olao was inciting a direct confrontation between himself and Adanis.
But if that were true, there was no need for Olao to help them stop Adanis’s attack in the corridor earlier?
Angel was very confused, but he knew the best choice at that moment was—
"No." Angel directly refused.
Olao: "Why refuse, aren’t you here for the Qingkong Poetry Room?"
Angel: "I don’t know how you... Mr. Olao, came to that conclusion. However, I can clearly state that I’m not that interested in the Qingkong Poetry Room."
Adanis: "You’re lying!"
Angel sighed lightly, looking at Adanis: "Madam, do you know me well? Before assuming things, why not open your eyes and see?"
What Angel said actually belonged to the category of "frank talk," the so-called "frank talk" can be judged true or false by truth-telling techniques. For those with strong observation skills, they don’t even need truth-telling techniques to determine whether Angel is speaking the truth.
Adanis: "If you’re not interested in the Qingkong Poetry Room, how could you break through all obstacles to come here? And, the Wise Sovereign, that old man, wouldn’t easily trust people, yet he chose to trust you—I don’t believe you are here without a purpose."
Angel: "I definitely have a purpose for being here, but it’s also true that I’m not interested in the Qingkong Poetry Room. Believe it or not, it’s up to you."
Angel was too lazy to argue with Adanis anymore, taking a few steps back, showing an expression of "I’m not involved in what happens next."
Earlier, when Olao told Angel he could enter the Qingkong Poetry Room, he did feel a bit tempted. But remembering Olao’s words before claiming Angel could enter were "should, maybe, possibly," he wasn’t too moved.
Seeing the interior of the Qingkong Poetry Room would indeed be best, but it wouldn’t matter if he didn’t see it. Anyway, Vay and Black Earl promised they’d use the Photostone to record the interior environment, so certainly they wouldn’t break their word.
Since he could easily get the information about the inner environment, why take the risk of "should, maybe, possibly," to break into the Qingkong Poetry Room? There’s no need.
Moreover, deep down, Angel actually had another backup plan.
If Vay and Black Earl encountered unexpected situations, making it impossible for him to learn about the interior... Of course, this probability is very small. Even if there wasn’t a Photostone, merely relying on memory, Black Earl and Vay could recall the situation inside, the Photostone serves only as auxiliary proof.
But a small probability doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, for instance, if the interior is completely obscured by Illusionary Realm or Mirror, preventing them from seeing the truest side, then nothing could be done.
Angel would just have to activate the backup plan.
The backup plan is actually simple: use the Dream Conch to pull the Qingkong Poetry Room directly into the Wilderness of Dreams.
At that time, he’d only need to explore the Qingkong Poetry Room in the Wilderness of Dreams.
However, using the Dream Conch in front of the crowd would surely attract attention. Though they might not be able to guess Angel’s purpose for using the Dream Conch, a seed of doubt would surely be planted.
And these seeds of doubt would certainly be triggered when the Wilderness of Dreams appears in reality.
Even if at that moment, Angel has countermeasures, it would be best if they weren’t triggered. After all, it would ultimately be a hassle, and what Angel hates most is dealing with unnecessary trouble.
If it can allow him to save effort, why complicate things? Just like now, if Vay and Black Earl can assist, why should he do it himself?
After Angel showed an attitude of "I’m not going, I refuse," Adanis was completely stunned.
She always thought Angel was the biggest variable, but why wouldn’t he take the usual path?
At this moment, Adanis inexplicably felt an emptiness in her heart.
Perhaps because not long ago, Olao had sincerely said: "I want to get an answer from these people, and I also want to see my back route... and your future."
Whether Adanis agrees with this or not, it indeed complicated her emotions a lot. She felt repulsed by them, yet faintly curious and expectant. She really wanted to know what answer Olao expected to get from these people?
And Adanis implicitly acknowledged that when Olao mentioned "these people," he actually referred to Angel.
And now, Angel’s refusal to go in made Adanis quite at a loss.
Could it be that he misunderstood, that Olao wasn’t referring to Angel but someone else?
Adanis turned to look at Olao, wanting to see what Olao had to say.
Olao still looked at Angel, without giving any attention to others, as if in his eyes, only Angel existed.
He silently stared at Angel, as if seeing something beyond Angel, and after a while, he spoke again.
"Maybe what I said earlier was somewhat ambiguous, leading to your choice of refusal."
Angel looked at Olao, the other party showing an expression of "I understand everything."
Angel actually wanted to say the reason wasn’t this, he purely wanted to save some effort. But he thought about it and didn’t speak up, instead waiting for Olao to continue his words.
Olao had this tone, there must be more to come.
Indeed, Olao, with a meaningful tone, said: "As long as you answer one question for me, I can determine whether you have the qualifications to enter the Qingkong Poetry Room."
Angel was silent for a moment and quietly said: "I’m not from the Noah Clan, nor do I have Noah bloodline, nor do I have ancestors similar to Empty-hearted People or those who carry the stigma of doubt."
Olao: "That’s not the question I want to ask."