Chapter 68: The Antagonist of the Dark God
[Hostile life readings reduced to zero]
[Comprehensive level upgrade]
[Accumulated experience in swordsmanship schools]
[You have acquired a new profession]
[Divine Flame Adjudicator: Level 15]
[You have obtained the title - Foe of the Dark God]
Foe of the Dark God…?
Not the adversary of cultists or demon slayers?
Bai Wei carefully examined the description of this title.
[Proof of Being Hated by the Dark God]
Ahem… Bai Wei rubbed his chin, pondering for a moment. This certainly didn't bode well.
How could he be targeted by the Dark God after only killing a few cultists?
Is there really a need to hold such a grudge?
Petty, truly petty… Back when the three sacred maidens of the Church were lured away by me, the Pope didn't even engrave the title of 'enemy of the holy faith' on my forehead; at most, he issued a few high-level wanted orders as a symbolic gesture.
You underestimate, Dark God, your perspective is limited.
Bai Wei picked up a small, close-fitting leather bag from beneath the charred corpse on the ground. The animal skin material was quite unique, not completely burned by the flames. It was unclear what kind of animal skin it was. Bai Wei casually opened it, finding inside several photographs and a diary.
In addition to that, there were also a few cigarettes.
Bai Wei put the other items into his pocket casually, while his left hand was still engulfed in raging flames. The divine fire was too violent, causing a backlash on himself. However, he remained unperturbed, patiently waiting for it to extinguish on its own. He ignited a cigarette with his fingertips, took a deep drag, and then…
"Cough, cough, cough! What is this strange odor? Low-quality tobacco?" Bai Wei furrowed his brow, then miraculously noticed that his condition was improving. He tilted his head back, and a green plus sign appeared above him.
[Recovery in progress…]
"Recovery item?" Bai Wei exclaimed in astonishment. In the past, the recovery items he frequently used were potions. Those who have played games are accustomed to treating healing potions as medicinal products. It was quite a technological advancement of the era to turn this substance into a cigarette.]
Although smoking is harmful to health, a cigarette afterwards can make one feel as invigorated as an immortal being.
He smoked while waiting for the fire to extinguish.
"Bai Wei!"
A call was heard, it was the foolish fox.
She was attempting to harness the rhythmic essence of the Heroic Spirit Principle, and it appears she succeeded.
Saki Jingūji surveyed the grim scene around her and couldn't help but ask, "How… how are you?"
"As you can see, I'm actually fine," Bai Wei waved his hand to indicate that there was no significant issue.
Jingūji stared at his burning left hand and asked, "Shall I go fetch a basin of water?"
Bai Wei reassured, "It's alright, the flame will extinguish on its own in a while. The temperature of the fire isn't actually that high, you just need to get used to it. Besides, we're not passing on the fire. So, have you taken care of everything on your end?"
Jingūji subtly averted her gaze and nodded imperceptibly.
In truth, she did nothing at all. After activating the Heroic Spirit Principle, she immersed herself in memories and became entangled in the mortal realm… Whatever events transpired afterward, she had no recollection of them. When her consciousness finally broke free from the realm of memories and she regained clarity, Blossom of Life Taker had already succumbed to madness.
Taking in the gruesome and brutal scene of bloodshed, it took her quite a while to regain her composure.
She just wanted to say… I didn't do anything, even though they were shot with a dozen or so arrows, it was actually all self-inflicted.
"Rather than this matter, we had better leave promptly," Jingūji immediately remarked.
"Why?" Bai Wei asked.
"The impact is too significant, and it is extremely malicious. This is a sacred cathedral, and if it involves the holy nation, it becomes related to diplomacy, which would be very complex! Both you and I would be investigated, and I might even have to write a report of several thousand words. I won't be able to attend school normally. What about my regular grades?" Jingūji sighed, grabbing Bai Wei's right hand and supporting them proactively. "Let's leave quickly. Fortunately, this place is remote and lacks surveillance. We can sneak away without drawing much attention."
Bai Wei stood in disbelief, "you don't want such a great merit?"
"What do you think the shrine is? Promotion relies not only on merits but also on qualifications. I am still young, it is impossible for me to reach the position of a shrine priest," Jingūji said disdainfully. "Moreover, rapid promotion brings many troubles. I would receive more dangerous tasks and become subject to jealousy. Ah, in any case, there are no good outcomes. It is best to remain inconspicuous among the masses."
"…… That's true," Bai Wei couldn't argue, "It's not a bad idea to just go with the flow."
He stood up, his body still very weak, relying on Jingūji for support with much of his weight.
"A burnt smell," she said disdainfully, "and so much blood too. My clothes are all dirty now."
While complaining verbally, they held onto it even tighter.
Through the thick layer of adipose tissue, one could sense her heartbeat quickening. Was she feeling nervous?
Bai Wei lowered his head and could faintly smell the delicate fragrance of cherry blossoms emanating from her. Subconsciously, he moved closer, and there was a gaze fixed upon the side of his face.
"Don't purposely get so close!" The shrine maiden blushed in annoyance, her words filled with reproach, saying, "Do you believe I will let go?"
…Her face was redder than my burning left hand, which made it quite unconvincing.
Bai Wei retracted some of the weight he had been exerting, but stumbled momentarily due to blood loss.
Jingūji swiftly grabbed hold of his waist and whispered, "Are you really not pretending on purpose?"
Bai Wei rolled his eyes I, as a mighty emperor, having remained single for over ninety lifetimes, why would I purposely pretend to be weak just to take advantage of you?
"Would you simply put me down and let me lie here?"
The shrine maiden ceased further entanglement in details, lifting the young man without resistance to the overly intimate contact, blushing silently without uttering a word.
She now somewhat envied Yagyū Simozi's slender figure, free from concerns about conspicuous body curves and accidental collisions.
They walked a distance of half a street and arrived at a riverside where they sat down.
Saki Jingūji said, "Let's take a moment to rest here."
Bai Wei nodded.
"What would you like to drink?" Jingūji pointed to the nearby vending machine.
"I'll have barley tea."
"There is coffee."
"No, I'll have barley tea."
"Don't you enjoy drinking coffee anymore, sir?"
"I have quit…"
Bai Wei suddenly closed his mouth after instinctively blurting out those three words.
In fact, it doesn't matter if this sentence is spoken in its entirety, but it is crucial that he voluntarily stopped himself from saying it, displaying a sense of guilt.
A gaze was cast, and those bright eyes were filled with intricate thoughts.
The shrine maiden narrowed her slender eyes, pursed her lips, and gazed at the silent young man, her expression filled with nothing but vexation and irritation.
"Why keep it a secret? Do you think that by not telling me, I wouldn't figure it out?"
"I can explain," Bai Wei scratched the back of his head.
"Do not say anything," she interjected, "I don't want to hear explanations, anyway… I am not that fox!"
Bai Wei paused for a moment. Indeed, humans are humans, and foxes are foxes; they are different entities.
He casually nodded and responded, "Hmm."
"You dare to 'hmm' again?!" the witch glared in anger.
She angrily ran towards the vending machine, pounding on it without reason, venting her frustration at the lifeless contraption.
Bai Wei:"…"
She was still angry in the end, though she claimed to have let it go. It's truly hard to fathom the thoughts of a woman.
Bai Wei sat in the sunlight, extending his left hand and watching as the flames gradually subsided. He rested on the chair, closing his eyes and indulging in a tranquil respite.
Saki Jingūji, returning with her beverage in hand, noticed him closing his eyes, unconsciously slowing down her pace and gentling her movements.
She sat on the grassy slope opposite, embracing her knees.
She is not that fox, but… that fox is also her.
The woman's emotions are intricate, as they meet again in two lifetimes. The bond represented by a single word, intertwined with past karma.
She should have felt joy, yet it was difficult for her to genuinely smile, as it was not what she had expected.
The witch, embracing her knees, concealed her countenance and uttered a murmured whisper that only she could hear.
What she longed for was…
"You were the one who found me first."
