Daziel's arm wrapped around the adult Bailu's slender waist, guiding her out of the dim confinement room. His posture seemed intimate, yet his fingertips held an undeniable strength, precisely controlling every inch of the beauty's movement in his arms.
The adult Bailu's figure was graceful, leaning against Daziel as if boneless, her eyes flowing with captivating charm. Her red lips parted slightly, warm breath brushing Daziel's ear like a feather, carrying a hint of lazy allure.
"Aiya, Brother Daziel, why be so tense? Didn't I just pour my heart out and help you, hmm?" Her voice was melodious and winding, like an invisible hook, seemingly genuine yet hinting at playful resentment, tugging at the heartstrings.
One had to admit, worthy of a Heliobus, in this aspect, she behaved no differently from a demoness.
The cold light of the train corridor spilled down, seemingly dimmed by her expressive, glancing eyes. "Is this how… you repay me?"
Daziel's face was stern, impassive, his arm tightening around her, almost embedding her into his embrace.
"You did help me, but I saw you indulging yourself, tireless and enjoying it. Let's not talk about repayment."
Daziel's sharp gaze swept down the corridor ahead. Herta was leaning against the cold metal wall, flipping through the book she hadn't finished.
"Miss Herta, if you would, please refit that lock onto her properly."
The adult Bailu made an exaggerated "tsk" sound, twisting her waist, every movement radiating extreme seduction.
"Aiya, listening to this, it sounds like you're putting a chastity lock on me? How embarrassing~"
She tried to find a gap in Daziel's hold, her waist twisting like a water snake, only earning a tighter embrace that nearly took her breath away.
Herta snapped the thick tome shut with a clean, crisp sound, utterly efficient. Her purple eyes, devoid of emotion, scrutinized the restless adult Bailu.
"Coming."
Before the word faded, the longevity lock that had been on Bailu's tail was already floating in her palm.
"Let me remind you beforehand, the process might be a bit painful." Herta's tone was as flat as if speaking to a test subject.
The adult Bailu extended the tip of her tongue, lightly licking her full red lips, a hard-to-read, strange light flickering deep within her eyes, a mix of anticipation and excitement.
"I'll try my best… not to make too much noise." Her tone was less an assurance and more a tease, filled with ambiguous suggestion.
Herta said no more, stepping forward. The ancient metal touched the adult Bailu's delicate, warm skin without warning, eliciting an uncontrollable slight shiver. The lock clicked precisely into her tail, the internal mechanisms turning subtly, emitting a series of crisp, minute "click-clack" sounds.
"Then I'll begin." Herta's declaration was like a final judgment.
With an imperceptible movement of her fingertips, something sharp and cold within the lock seemed to pierce deep into the adult Bailu's skin, connecting to her nerves. "Ah—!"
A short, high-pitched, trembling cry suddenly tore through the corridor's silence. The sound was haunting, seemingly containing both extreme pain and ecstasy, echoing in Daziel's room for a long time, unsettling the mind.
Daziel's brow instantly furrowed, his sharp gaze shooting towards the trembling woman in his arms.
"Didn't you promise not to cry out? Isn't this noise a bit too loud?"
The adult Bailu's charming eyes seemed to hold physiological tears, yet the corners of her mouth curved upwards strangely, forming an arc of both pain and satisfaction. "Because… it really hurts, brother…"
She gasped rapidly, her body trembling slightly like a leaf in the wind. Whether the tremor stemmed from unbearable pain or something else, no one knew. Herta withdrew her hand; the intricate lock was now firmly fixed on the adult Bailu, emitting a faint halo of energy.
"Alright, finished." She stepped back, picking up the thick tome again, as if she had just completed an ordinary calibration experiment, completely unfazed.
The light on the lock began to flow, emitting strange fluctuations. The adult Bailu's mature, alluring, and curvaceous figure began to twist and shrink within the light, as if kneaded by an invisible force.
Light and shadow changed rapidly. Her tall figure visibly shortened, and her clothes changed and simplified accordingly.
Finally, the light dissipated, leaving only the small, petite figure of the young, bewildered Bailu. Her small face was flushed with an abnormal, sickly red, her small hands unconsciously rubbing her eyes.
Simultaneously, a hazy, pink light shadow exuding an ambiguous aura, like a stripped soul, slowly emerged from the young Bailu's body. The light shadow condensed and twisted in mid-air, reforming into the charming adult Bailu's spirit form.
She looked down at the bewildered young self on the ground, the corners of her mouth curling into a malicious, strange smile.
"Little girl, how does it feel? That sensation just now… wasn't it wonderful?"
Bailu, however, was still in a daze, unable to respond to the adult Bailu's words.
Daziel's face instantly turned icy cold as he sternly questioned the adult Bailu before him.
"Didn't you just promise to completely isolate her senses?! Why are you still asking this?"
The adult Bailu let out a bell-like giggle, lazily spreading her hands, her posture appearing utterly innocent.
"I did isolate them, Brother Daziel. She doesn't know any details about what specifically happened. It's just some residual dopamine and endorphins in her nerve endings—a little physiological echo of pleasure. You can't blame me for that."
A vein throbbed faintly at Daziel's temple. He forcefully suppressed the surging anger in his heart, along with a subtle restlessness.
"Tsk, you really are something…"
He took a deep breath, his gaze locking back onto the adult Bailu.
"Fine. Now, shouldn't you fulfill the other part of your promise?"
The adult Bailu's spirit giggled again, her form slowly drifting backward, her posture still captivating.
"Of course, of course. I'll take my leave now, absolutely won't linger and disturb your enjoyment."
She waved towards the bewildered young Bailu on the ground, her tone as light as saying goodbye to a friend.
"Goodbye, little sister, let's play together again next time." Bailu seemed not to hear the adult Bailu's voice, showing no reaction.
Before the adult Bailu finished speaking, her spirit form suddenly shattered like a broken mirror! In its place was a rapidly expanding, permeating dense pink mist!
The mist churned and rolled, emitting a sickeningly sweet yet extremely dangerous and crazed aura, instantly filling the entire corridor. At the very center of the mist, there was no longer any human form, but a huge, bizarre, heart-stopping single eye!
The eye was enormous, its pupil deep as an abyss, devoid of any human emotion, only endless mockery, chaos, and madness slowly swirling within. This was Illusion Dream's true form as a Heliobus!
"Alright, the contract is fulfilled, the transaction complete, I should be going." The huge demonic eye turned, its cold gaze sweeping over Daziel and Herta, carrying a lofty indifference.
"Where's the door? I can leave by myself, no need for you to see me out." Illusion Dream's voice became hollow and strange, losing its previous allure.
Daziel's lips, however, slowly curved into an ice-cold arc at this moment, like a hunter seeing prey fall into a trap.
"Wait."
His voice wasn't loud, even carrying a hint of casualness, yet it contained an undeniable absolute will.
"Did you really think, after boarding the Astral Express, you could leave so safely?"
The churning pink mist suddenly stagnated. The huge, demonic eye pupil abruptly contracted, revealing incredible color.
"...What do you mean by that?" Illusion Dream's voice held astonishment and strong incomprehension for the first time, even tinged with panic.
"I… I've already fulfilled my promise! Left Bailu's body! On what grounds… Give me a reason!?!"
Daziel took a step forward, icy killing intent spreading like a tangible substance, the oppressive feeling making the corridor air seem to freeze.
"Reason?"
Daziel's lips curled into a grim arc, cold light flashing in his eyes, like locking onto prey for the kill.
"Just because you! Dared to bewitch Bailu, pouring filth into her pure mind! Is this reason enough to grind your bones to dust?"
The pink mist representing Illusion Dream suddenly churned violently, like boiling water, revealing her agitation. The huge single eye contracted and expanded violently, showing disbelief.
"What's wrong! She's a healer, what's wrong with learning about this stuff?! Does an immature healer not need to learn these things?! I was helping her!" The voice from the mist was sharp, tinged with the anger of being exposed.
"Perhaps. Your twisted logic always sounds like it has some market." Daziel's tone surprisingly calmed down, but the dangerous light deep in his eyes grew even brighter, like the calm before a storm.
"But, you shouldn't have, absolutely shouldn't have, targeted Bailu. Now, you've boarded the Express, and you still dream of escaping unscathed?" Illusion Dream's demonic eye flickered erratically. The pink mist's form began to destabilize, edges dissipating and contracting, revealing her true panic. She finally realized the man before her wasn't bluffing but was serious.
"...A single night's passion warrants a hundred days of kindness, sweetie!" Illusion Dream's voice suddenly did a 180-degree turn, becoming sickeningly sweet and coquettish, trying to evoke Daziel's pity with their fake past affair.
"You should… should remember our… shared moments of… ecstasy!" The enormous, strange demonic eye even tried to make a twisted winking motion, appearing comical and terrifying.
"Pah!!" Daziel let out a short, forceful sound from his throat, filled with extreme disgust.
"Kindness your mother!" The crude, direct response struck Illusion Dream's heart like a heavy hammer.
Just as Illusion Dream was momentarily stunned by this unexpected vulgarity. Herta, who had been standing by like a silent doll, moved.
Silently, the huge purple warhammer, disproportionate to her petite frame, was already in her hand. The hammerhead shone with a cold, dark metallic luster, energy seeming to flow across its surface.
Herta made no superfluous movements, didn't even look at Illusion Dream, just accurately captured this fleeting opening. The slender doll arm tensed at a speed exceeding visual limits, swinging the terrifying warhammer in a full circle.
The air tore, emitting a sharp whistle!
Target—the center of the pink mist, the enormous demonic eye still caught in astonishment!
"Boom—!!!!"
A dull thud that made teeth ache exploded in the narrow corridor! Like striking a huge, tough, yet slightly sticky gelatinous object.
Violent power erupted instantly! The pink mist, like a calm lake struck by a boulder, violently oscillated, twisted, and frantically scattered outwards! The surface of the huge demonic eye at the center instantly spiderwebbed with savage cracks! The chaotic, mad light within dimmed rapidly, like a candle in the wind.
Evidently, Herta's unannounced, power-concentrated strike directly stunned Illusion Dream!
"Ah—!!!" Illusion Dream let out a shrill, twisted, inhuman scream of pain! The pink mist's form nearly collapsed completely, becoming thin and transparent.
Now!
Sharp light exploded in Daziel's eyes!
His palm flipped rapidly. A gourd, ancient in appearance and covered in dense yellow talismans, appeared in his palm. It was the Moon-Concealing Gourd he got from Huohuo!
Daziel moved swiftly, flicking his thumb to pop the cork. The mouth of the Moon-Concealing Gourd was deep, aimed at the pink mist writhing in agony. Following the method Huohuo had taught him, Daziel rapidly chanted an obscure incantation in a low voice.
A majestic, formless, yet powerful and heart-stopping suction force erupted from the gourd's mouth!
"Contain!" A low shout, like a command!
The chaotic pink mist seemed to be seized by an invisible giant hand. It began to twist, stretch, and deform uncontrollably. Along with the cracked, dimmed demonic eye, it transformed into a pink torrent, irresistibly pulled towards the small gourd's opening!
Illusion Dream seemed to still want to struggle. Intermittent hisses filled with unwillingness and fear came from the mist. But before the Moon-Concealing Gourd's powerful ability, specialized in restraining spirits and evil entities, all resistance seemed pale and futile.
The pink mist torrent grew thinner and smaller. Finally, the last wisp of pink, along with the completely lustreless demonic eye, was fully submerged into the gourd's bottomless interior.
Daziel's eyes were cold. He quickly pressed the cork back on, his movements clean and decisive. Then, he forced a stream of spiritual light from his fingertips, transforming it into a new golden talisman, slapping it onto the connection between the cork and the gourd, reinforcing the seal.
The gourd vibrated slightly in his palm a few times, the amplitude decreasing, finally returning to complete stillness. The sickeningly sweet, nauseating smell in the corridor also vanished as if purified.
Herta casually tossed the huge warhammer onto the ground with a loud "clang," shaking the floor slightly. She patted her dust-free small hands, her actions as casual as throwing away a toy. Her signature purple eyes turned towards the gourd in Daziel's hand, still maintaining that impassive, seemingly indifferent expression.
"It's over. Haven't seen a Heliobus sample of this type in a long time. Didn't expect this one to be quite so… abstract?" Herta commented flatly.
Daziel let out a turbid breath, his tense nerves relaxing slightly. He looked at Herta, expressing sincere gratitude.
"Thank you, Miss Herta. I owe you another favor this time."
Herta snorted, a barely perceptible curve seeming to touch her lips before quickly disappearing.
"Small matter. Just remember to come back after playing around outside. The sisters on the Express are waiting for you to pay your dues."
At this moment, Bailu, who seemed to have been in a daze, slowly woke up. She rubbed her eyes blankly, her small head still a bit groggy, looking at the peculiar gourd in Daziel's hand.
"Brother Daziel… that… big sister… where did she go?" The little girl's voice was soft and sticky, carrying the drowsiness of just waking up, along with a hint of subtle confusion.
Daziel quickly put away the Moon-Concealing Gourd, his face instantly switching back to the gentle mode he used with Bailu. He squatted down, meeting Bailu's gaze, extended his warm hand, and gently stroked her soft purple hair.
"That big sister had urgent family matters, so she left first. How is Bailu feeling now? Are you still uncomfortable anywhere?"
Bailu shook her small head, seeming to want to dispel the fog in her mind, rubbing her eyes with her small hand.
"No… nothing, Brother Daziel…" Her voice was as weak as a mosquito's buzz, carrying a lingering confusion and bewilderment, "It seems… nothing feels bad… just a bit strange…"
Daziel carefully observed Bailu's small face, confirming her breathing was steady. Although her eyes were still a bit vacant, there seemed to be no major issues. Only the unnatural flush remaining on her cheeks, and the indescribable trance deep in her eyes, silently proved that Illusion Dream's previous influence hadn't dissipated as easily as imagined.
A shadow quietly crept into Daziel's heart.
Ah, this despicable Illusion Dream!
He was absolutely right to capture it! It deserved it!
What if this attracts the attention of the ancient beast 'Censorship'?
But fortunately, the matter was resolved. The Heliobus was captured, Bailu was fine, and Jingliu's corruption value had risen again.
Speaking of Jingliu…
Daziel's gaze pierced through the darkness, looking towards the tightly shut door deeper in the corridor, his eyes dark and unreadable.
The iron-barred door of the confinement room was opened again. The air was thick, carrying the faint, lingering metallic smell from Daziel's recent battle with Illusion Dream.
Daziel took a deep breath and stepped inside. Behind him came the subtle rustle of fabric. Bailu's small hand tightly gripped his clothes' corner, following him step by step, her small body trembling slightly, seemingly uneasy about this environment.
The confinement room was extremely dim, with only a few emergency lights on the wall emitting weak light, barely outlining the interior. In the corner, a figure curled up.
Jingliu leaned against the cold metal wall, the shackles on her wrists and ankles hanging limply, occasionally colliding with a faint "clatter" of metal friction, exceptionally piercing in the silence.
She slowly raised her head. Those pink eyes, once cold as the moon but now clouded with gray, stared straight at Daziel as he walked in, churning with unfinished anger and deep-seated resentment.
Evidently, the commotion outside just now, including Daziel capturing Illusion Dream, she had heard clearly. The tide of anger hadn't fully receded, but beneath the resentment, there seemed to be a complex scrutiny, and a subtle fatigue.
Clearly, she had roughly guessed the cause and effect, so her resentment towards Daziel wasn't as hysterical as before.
Daziel ignored Jingliu's gaze, walked straight up to her, and squatted down. He reached out, deftly flicked his fingertips, and with a light "click," unlocked the metal gag binding her lips and tongue.
The gag sprang open. Jingliu immediately gasped heavily, fresh air rushing into her lungs. She slightly moved her jaw, stiff from prolonged restraint, making faint "creak" sounds.
"Sorry, I didn't mean for it to be like this." Daziel's voice was flat, devoid of any apology. "But, a faster rise in corruption value benefits us both. This was our agreement, wasn't it?"
A cold sneer escaped from Jingliu's throat, thick with mockery: "Heh… are you so certain? Aren't you afraid of playing with fire, directly inducing my complete fall into mara-struck state?" Her voice was hoarse and dry, revealing long-suppressed weakness and fatigue.
"It's nothing." Daziel's tone was relaxed, as if everything was under control. "This is the Astral Express. Your power is suppressed by the shackles Fu Xuan gave, and Miss Herta is watching outside. What chaos could arise? Facts prove, I bet right."
He leaned down slightly, meeting her gaze, his eyes sharp as knives, piercing deep into hers. "You see, you ultimately couldn't let go of those past obsessions…"
Jingliu's eyes dimmed slightly, as if struck where it hurt. She abruptly turned her head, avoiding Daziel's gaze, looking at the empty wall.
"How can one who walks the Path of the Hunt have the word 'let go'? The path of the Hunt is too narrow…" Her voice lowered, carrying a fatalistic sorrow.
Silence spread between them for a moment.
Finally, Jingliu sighed softly, her tone surprisingly softening, even carrying a trace of self-mockery.
"Fine… I don't blame you. Looking at the result, what you did… wasn't wrong."
Just then, a timid little head poked out from behind Daziel. Bailu blinked her large, innocent eyes, curiously approached Jingliu, her small nose twitching slightly.
"Eh? Big Sister, your complexion is so poor, you look very uncomfortable… Are you sick somewhere?" The childish voice, pure with concern, was like a clear spring injecting into this oppressive space.
Jingliu slowly turned her head, her gaze falling on Bailu's innocent little face. Her eyes instantly became extremely complex, deep as if holding thousands of words.
"Dragon Lady…" she began softly, her voice still hoarse but carrying an indescribable emotion, "This illness of mine… I'm afraid you cannot cure it."
Hearing this, Bailu's small face immediately lifted. She puffed out her small chest, carrying the confidence and pride of a healer. "Hmph! Is there any illness under the heavens that I, this lady, cannot cure? Let me see quickly!"
As she spoke, she curiously looked Jingliu up and down, her gaze falling on the restraints. "Huh? Sister, do you usually wear an eye mask, gag, and shackles when you go out? How strange…"
…
Hearing this, Daziel cleared his throat softly, masking the fleeting embarrassment in his heart. Although the eye mask was worn willingly by Jingliu to block out external stimuli and avoid triggering memories. The shackles were also requested by her to suppress her power and prevent losing control. But this gag… indeed contained a bit of Daziel's private interest, both for control and… his certain peculiar taste.
Fortunately, Jingliu didn't expose his little thoughts at this moment.
"My eyes are not blind." Jingliu's voice regained some calmness as she explained flatly, "Covering my eyes is merely unwilling to see old sights and things again, lest it breeds inner demons."
"As for the gag and shackles," "It's only because my thoughts have often been chaotic these years, startled awake at night, fearing losing control and harming the innocent, that I bind myself thus." She paused, her voice adding a touch of fatigue, looked up at Bailu, "I heard the Dragon Lady's medical skills are divine, I wonder if there is a good prescription for calming the nerves and settling fright?"
Bailu's eyes instantly lit up, her small face filled with surprise and disbelief.
"Eh? Am I already so famous? Even people outside the Xianzhou Luofu know me?" She chuckled smugly, her small canine teeth faintly visible. "Since you've said so, I must diagnose you properly!"
Saying this, Bailu extended her small, fair hand, carefully and gently placing it on Jingliu's wrist, which wore the cold shackles, concentrating on taking her pulse. The moment her fingertips touched the skin, Bailu couldn't help but let out a low gasp.
"Wow! Sister, your hand… is so cold! So cold!" The touch was bone-chillingly cold, completely unlike the warmth of a living person's skin, carrying a deathly coolness.
"The superficial signs are clearly no different from ordinary people, lifelike," Bailu murmured to herself while carefully feeling the pulse, her delicate small brow gradually furrowing. "But this pulse… when diagnosing by holding the wrist, it's practically like holding a block of eternal ice!"
She concentrated, probing carefully, her expression growing more focused.
"Between the Cinnabar Mansion and the meridians, however, it seems like there's a surging undercurrent, beating violently and ceaselessly, faintly revealing a tyrannical intent. I… I've never seen such a strange and contradictory pulse…"
Bailu looked up at Jingliu, her eyes full of confusion. "This pulse… looks like the precursor to a mara-struck outbreak, extremely dangerous, yet there's a powerful force suppressing it, maintaining a delicate balance… Sister, you're amazing, to be able to control it!"
A barely perceptible, extremely subtle curve touched Jingliu's lips. The smile vanished in an instant, carrying an indescribable meaning.
"...Perhaps, this should be credited to Daziel." Her gaze drifted vaguely towards Daziel nearby. "During this period with him, my mood… has indeed stabilized a lot."
Hearing this, Bailu abruptly turned her head, her large, watery eyes widening, looking at Daziel, filled with surprise and admiration. "Wow! Brother Daziel! You have this kind of skill too?" Her small face was full of curiosity and longing for unknown medical techniques. "How did you help this sister? Quick! Show this lady! Okay?"
"..." Hearing this, the expression on Daziel's face instantly became somewhat subtle, even awkward.
"If… if there's any miraculous medicine that can treat, or even just alleviate, the mara-struck state, please, please share some with me for research! Please!" Bailu clasped her hands together, looking pitifully at Daziel. "Think about it, if we can research a cure for the mara-struck state, it can be promoted throughout the entire Xianzhou Alliance! All Xianzhou natives will be grateful for your kindness! Brother Daziel's kindness is truly immeasurable!"
"This… I'm afraid it's not convenient to demonstrate." Daziel didn't know how to explain and could only say vaguely, "And this medicine… is not suitable for everyone, the restrictions are many."
Demonstrate? Didn't he just "demonstrate" on Bailu? How could Daziel explain this process clearly?! As for the medicine… It was indeed Daziel's special bodily fluid, capable of purifying negative states, having a certain effect against the mara-struck state. Thanks to anime, the production volume was sufficient. But promotion…? That was absolutely impossible! Daziel didn't like being exploited.
Seeing Daziel looking troubled and directly refusing, Bailu's small mouth immediately pursed unhappily. "Hmph! Stingy! Just say you're unwilling!" But she quickly consoled herself, nodding like a little adult. "But thinking about it, such a powerful 'medicine' must be incredibly precious, the quantity extremely rare. Wanting to promote it throughout the entire Xianzhou is indeed unrealistic."
"Yes, yes… indeed not much, extremely precious." Daziel immediately slid down the offered step, secretly relieved. Fortunately, Bailu girl had filled in the blanks herself, otherwise it would be really hard to explain.
Bailu no longer dwelled on the medicine issue, turning back, earnestly instructing Jingliu.
"Hmph, since Brother Daziel's 'medicine' is so effective, then sister, you just stay by Brother Daziel's side." Like a little doctor, she instructed with a straight face, "Remember to 'take your medicine' on time, absolutely cannot miss it, understand?"
Hearing the words "take your medicine," Jingliu's body stiffened imperceptibly for a moment, her eyes becoming extremely complex, seeming to recall certain unspeakable images. She remained silent for a moment before responding in a low voice.
"Mm… Actually… I've been 'taking' it… very regularly. Thank you for your concern, Dragon Lady."
Only then did Bailu feel relieved, revealing a reassured smile.
"That's good! That's good! Taking medicine on time helps the illness get better faster!"
Seeing this, Daziel quickly interjected, trying to change the subject:
"Ahem, actually, what she seeks is not medicine to treat the mara-struck state…"
Bailu paused upon hearing this, tilting her small head doubtfully.
"Eh? Not treating mara-struck? Then what illness does she want to treat?" She carefully examined Jingliu again. Besides the cold body temperature and strange pulse, and the lingering gloom between her brows, she couldn't see any other problems.
"I think this sister, apart from the hidden mara-struck danger, has a pretty good physical foundation." Bailu earnestly warned, "Sister, if you're not sick, absolutely don't take medicine randomly. Medicine is partially poison."
Hearing this, Jingliu actually smiled faintly. The smile carried a trace of world-weary bleakness, and a sense of relieved release. She deeply stared at Bailu's pure, flawless eyes, as if wanting to etch her appearance into her soul.
"It's not a physical illness, just a heart illness." She said softly, "However, today seeing an old friend… mm, seeing the person I've always wanted to see, this heart illness has been somewhat relieved."
Bailu blinked her innocent big eyes, nodding as if understanding yet not fully grasping.
"…" She thought for a moment and seriously suggested, "Then when you saw the person you wanted to see, did you have a good chat with her?"
"Since she's the one who can untie the knot in your heart, you must talk more, untie all the knots in your heart."
"Chatted quite a lot." Jingliu's gaze unconsciously softened slightly, like ice beginning to melt. "Thank you, Dragon Lady."
"You're welcome!" Bailu waved her small hand generously, revealing a bright smile. "It's a healer's duty! Then rest well now." She instructed again, "Remember, don't do any more strenuous exercise, rest quietly!"
Hearing the words "strenuous exercise," Daziel couldn't help but cough twice again.
"Ahem… alright, Bailu, let's end the diagnosis here. It's getting late, this sister also needs quiet rest."
"Mm, that makes sense." Bailu nodded obediently, agreeing.
Daziel stood up, picked up the black eye mask and metal gag placed on the low table nearby, preparing to put them back on Jingliu. Before the cold metal could once again seal her words, before the soft black cloth could cover those complex pink eyes, Jingliu's gaze finally fell on Bailu one last time.
That gaze was distant and deep, as if piercing through the endless river of time, landing on the distant past, on those four familiar figures…
"Farewell, Bai… lu." She murmured softly, her voice barely audible, the end carrying an indescribable attachment and melancholy.
"Goodbye! Sister, rest well!" Bailu, completely unaware, just waved her small hand innocently, saying goodbye loudly.
The eye mask fell, covering all light and emotion. The gag clicked shut, sealing all unfinished words and sighs. The room returned to deathly silence, leaving only the occasional cold, regular faint clink of shackles colliding, like the tolling of time's funeral bell.
Daziel silently took Bailu's warm small hand, turned, and walked out of the confinement room.
"Let's go, Bailu."
The heavy metal door of the confinement room slowly closed behind him, completely shutting out the heavy darkness, struggle, and past within. The light in the corridor suddenly brightened, dispelling some of the previously lingering gloom and chill.
Daziel didn't stop, his voice steady: "We should head back to the Xianzhou."
"You've been missing for quite some time this time. The Alchemy Commission is probably going crazy. Any further delay might really cause trouble."
Bailu trotted to keep up with his pace, her small face carrying a lingering sense of loss.
"Mm… it's indeed about time to go back." As she walked, she muttered softly, "Eh, what a pity, I only experienced the feeling of being an adult for less than a few minutes…"
Hearing this, Daziel turned his head, his gaze falling on her still somewhat bewildered small face.
"Oh? The feeling of becoming an adult, was it good?"
Bailu immediately frowned her small brow, trying hard to recall the short yet chaotic experience, her small face falling.
"..." Her voice dropped, carrying a trace of grievance and lingering fear, "It felt… still a bit painful…"
"... " Daziel was choked speechless by these words, unsure how to respond.
Daziel's fingers holding Bailu's small hand tightened unconsciously. His Adam's apple bobbed, but ultimately, he didn't press further.
That damned Illusion Dream!
Truly deserved a thousand deaths! Much more detestable than Luocha! He truly acted righteously by capturing it in the Moon-Concealing Gourd! A service to the people! Later, when Phantylia eats it, she must take several extra bites, preferably biting it unevenly.
But that's for later. The current priority is to take Bailu back to the Xianzhou first.
Thinking this, Daziel led Bailu by the hand, quickened his pace, and embarked on the journey back to the Xianzhou Luofu.
"Let's go, Miss Herta. I'll come back when things are settled." Passing by Herta, Daziel extended his other hand and waved goodbye.
"Mm, go early, return early." Herta, who was reading with her head down, heard this, turned sideways, and nodded in response.
In the empty room, only Herta remained. She closed her book, bored, watching the two figures disappear at the end of the corridor. She looked down again, glancing at the huge warhammer she had casually tossed on the floor.
Herta extended her foot, clad in delicate small leather shoes, and gently kicked the hammer handle. The metal collision made a dull sound, then disappeared.
"Tsk, thought that woman Jingliu would take the chance to completely erupt into mara-struck state, but it ended just like that…" She pouted, a hint of imperceptible disappointment flashing in her purple eyes.
"So boring."
___
Greetings! ✨ Walnut here with another translation! Saint Seiya united by their strength!
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