It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

"You're really getting better at talking, Seiko. Since you're so clear about the concept of companionship, why don't you use love as an emotional metaphor earlier—"

"It's just a casual remark. Don't take it too seriously. It's my problem."

Bai Lin seemed to have noticed his own problem and quickly changed the subject. The poet also shook his head and replied,

"I don't care. What I want to say is that I have good news for you. In the next period of time, I will give you fewer unclear instructions that may cause you confusion and anxiety. At most, the enemy will be a little unexpected, but I will also give you hints."

When the poet said this, Bai Lin's expression froze, and she seemed stunned. This made the poet feel a little confused. She blinked and looked at Bai Lin and asked,

"what happened?"

"Nothing, this is certainly a good thing... I was wondering whether I should be happy or not. After all, being happy is equivalent to admitting that what you did before did make me uncomfortable—"

"Holy Son, do I need to be so polite to you? Besides, I don't mind your opinions. Will you have more fun traveling with me? Or will your guidance cause you more psychological problems?"

The poet interrupted Bai Lin's speech in a steady tone. She stared at Bai Lin with her red eyes, her eyes revealing a desire for an answer and a sense of inexplicable oppression. Bai Lin could not bear it any longer and replied from the heart without having time to carefully organize his words.

"Be happy. Even though I've been constantly exhausted and died several times, it's still painful. But I'm very glad to have met you, and I'm very happy. How should I put it? If you weren't a poet, and I wasn't the Son of God, and we didn't have the responsibility of saving the world, then what would it be like?"

Chapter 876: Romance 418 Light Years Away

"If I met you under those circumstances, I think we would definitely become good friends... No, that depends on you. As for me, I would definitely be happy to be friends with you."

Bai Lin responded very naturally. At this moment, she had no extra emotions, just purely expressing her enthusiasm for the poet as a friend. She continued,

"Like that time, in that mirror, when we were eating sweets together, I was thinking, if we could really all be high school girls, how great would that be. And when we were having a couple of drinks on the rooftop, and..."

At this point, Bai Lin paused again. She scratched her head and turned away, interrupting her thoughts.

"Of course, the heavy responsibility hasn't been lifted yet, and these are just thoughts. Telling you too much might shake you up, so I apologize."

The poet once again did not answer, which made Bai Lin begin to reflect on whether he was too emotional today. It might be because the issue of the morning and evening showdown had been suppressed for too long.

"I'm satisfied that you think so."

A gentle sound came along with the evening breeze. Bai Lin was startled for a moment, then quickly turned back and replied in disbelief,

"What did you just say?"

"I said, this is enough for me, that's all. I'm happy when I'm with you, but if I cause you more unhappiness than happiness, I'll also be unhappy."

The poet smiled faintly. Her slightly handsome face radiated a pure and lovely sincerity. She was no longer the mysterious person she had been under the mask, but just a simple girl. She clenched her hands, slightly averted her eyes, and then looked back into Bai Lin's eyes and said,

"There's nothing wrong with fantasizing, Holy Son. You'll definitely win in the end, so it's not bad to imagine the future in advance. After all, the future is created by you. That way, those thoughts won't just be fantasies."

Bai Lin's heart was really warmed by the poet's encouraging words. Even Bai Lin's self-confidence was not innate. She had lost it before and then slowly regained it. Only with the encouragement of everyone did she stand up straight. She was naturally very happy that someone trusted her so much. However, she would not accept this statement unilaterally now. The poet also needed this.

"You're wrong, poet. It's not me who will win in the end, it's us!"

She quickly recovered and then shouted, even raised her hands, looking very excited. But the poet just continued to smile and did not respond. She was lying down, also raised her hands, and pointed to the sky.

"Son, do you see that? Do you know what that is?"

The poet was pointing to a meteor with a long tail in the starry sky. Bai Lin nodded and replied,

"Of course I know. It's a shooting star, right? I heard it's hard to see. We say you have to make a wish when you see one. I don't quite believe it, but shooting stars are certainly beautiful. Isn't it just the starry sky itself that's beautiful?"

The poet didn't seem to care too much about Bai Lin's answer. He just nodded slightly and replied solemnly,

"A meteor is a light trail created when interstellar meteoroids approach our planet and are attracted by its gravity. Electrons ripple through Earth's atmosphere at high speed, creating a trail of light. Actually, meteors aren't particularly rare. If you have good skywatching conditions, you might just spot one or two at night. The rumors you're talking about over there being so hard to spot are probably about comets."

Bai Lin nodded.

"From a scientific perspective, that's right. I know the difference; I learned about it in class before. Comets are celestial bodies orbiting the Sun, whose brightness and shape change with their distance from the Sun upon entering the Solar System. They have a unique, misty appearance. Their tails are the result of gradual disintegration due to solar radiation, while meteors are caused by the burning of meteoroids upon entering the atmosphere."

"I won't go into the other differences for now. Comets are not only much rarer because the conditions are more demanding, but even fewer can be observed with the naked eye. That's why they're truly, truly rare to see."

The poet still didn't show much emotion in response to Bai Lin's answer. She just tilted her head slightly and asked Bai Lin,

"Meteors and comets visible to the naked eye may appear different, but most are similar. They are beautiful, but also fleeting. They streak freely across the beautiful starry sky, pursuing their own journeys."

"But did you know there's another type of meteor that can be observed with the naked eye, with a similar visual effect?"

Although she didn't know why the poet suddenly expressed such a strong interest in astronomy, Bai Lin did have a good impression of the starry sky, and such content also made her curious. She quickly asked,

"What is that? I've never heard of it."

"I'm afraid it might be beyond your imagination, but it's formed by stars."

"What? How is that possible? If it's a star, it must be far enough away from us. How fast would it be moving to... No, it's impossible for there to be a tail, right?"

Although Bai Lin was not well educated, common sense made her feel that this question was unlikely. The poet, on the other hand, looked towards the more distant starry sky. Her eyes reflected the infinite galaxy, and her soft voice narrated a story from the ancient times to the future.

"About six billion years ago, in a galaxy about 418 light-years from our planet, a binary star, Mira, was born. Today, the primary star is a red giant, and the companion is a white dwarf. The periodicity of their star shifts wildly, and their distance can vary infinitely. But their mutual presence creates the miracle we see."

"On our planet, for example, there are countless accidents and miracles born of coincidence. You've witnessed many of these. Some bring sadness, others joy. And to describe the countless miracles in this vast universe... I'm afraid the only word I can use is romantic."

From the depths of the universe, tiny coincidences, almost beyond the reach of probability theory, combine to form the binary star we see in the night sky. The companion star tracks the primary star, pulling on its material and creating the streak of light, the meteor's "tail."

Chapter 877 Additional Training

As the positions of the stars change, the shape and color of the tail are also constantly changing, presenting the most extreme brilliance and beauty in the universe, which can even be called "fantasy-like."

"From where we are, with the naked eye, they would probably look just like ordinary meteors, not much different. And this is the world I love and look forward to."

The poet's words gradually progressed, her tone slowed down, but she also pointed to the distance, guiding the mind along her forward fingertips,

"Whether it's a tiny speck of stardust like a shooting star or a miraculous beauty that's rare in the universe, all can freely choose their own direction under the same night sky."

"Where you want to go, what kind of future you want to explore, it's all up to you. Take your destiny into your own hands, free from constraints. If other stars don't want to move, they can remain in the night sky, living a peaceful life. And shooting stars, on the other hand, can follow their own thoughts, sketching brilliant fireworks across the harmonious and beautiful night sky."

As she spoke, the night sky, like the surface of a lake, gradually stirred. Light streaked from the sky, like raindrops, yet even more magnificent. This did not disturb the silence of the deep space, but only accentuated its splendor.

Meteor showers streaked down from the horizon at just the right moment. Bands of light, as blue as the deep sky, wielded the finest brushes, painting the night sky with dreamlike colors. Purple, even pink just beyond the edge, brought the night sky's splendor and brilliance to a pinnacle. They told a story of the infinite length of time between the stars, yet they too, merely streaked across the night sky, uninterrupted by the poetry of others, seeking their own future.

The beautiful scene before them was deeply imprinted in Bai Lin's eyes. She couldn't help but sigh once again: this world is beautiful. At this moment, perhaps somewhere, the figures of the two of them were also small miracles in the eyes of others, shining dreams, and moving stars.

The star rain soon faded away. Bai Lin felt as if she was missing something. She clenched her hands, feeling as if they were empty. It seemed that it was just because she had just been "filled" with such a scene. She took a breath, as if trying to organize words to express her feelings about it. But when the words came to her lips, she found that all the words were so pale. In the end, she could only slowly say,

"That kind of world is really nice. I, I want to see it too."

"...That's not what you want to see, Holy Son. It's you, not me, who has the power to save this world. You should want to create this kind of world."

The poet was silent for a moment before he reminded Bai Lin. Bai Lin scratched his head a little embarrassedly and replied,

"Yeah, I guess that's my fault for not expressing myself correctly. But we all have to create this world together, not just me."

"Well, we, together. This isn't just a one-person thing."

This time, the poet responded to Bai Lin in this way. A peaceful daily life, the freedom to control one's own destiny. This simple wish was exactly what Bai Lin desired. She secretly clenched her fists, as if feeling the previous fatigue gradually disappear. Her eyes also became clearer, gradually calming down in the silent night sky.

-

Looking up, I saw a dark, leaf-covered sky. Looking forward, I saw a deep forest with intertwined branches, stretching to the horizon. Looking back, the same thing happened.

Bai Lin had long since grown accustomed to such an environment. She often complained about how so much of the terrain in her alternate world was filled with forests. The visibility was poor, and the climate and environment were generally bad, making any movement in the woods a constant source of surprise. Even with her current strength, she didn't have much room to relax. Sometimes she even wondered if someone had designed so many forests specifically to torture her.

However, the poet had said beforehand that there was no need to get too nervous today, saying that Bai Lin would meet some "familiar" people here. His words were a bit confusing, but the poet said they weren't riddles this time, and he hadn't finished his words just to surprise Bai Lin, so Bai Lin didn't ask any further questions. He simply complained a little inwardly about the forest.

If I had to pinpoint a specific characteristic of this forest, it would probably be its exceptional darkness. Light barely penetrated, and Bai Lin relied entirely on his exceptional vision to navigate. Even peering through the cracks at the sky, he couldn't discern any reference points like the sun or moon, only glimpses of a crisscrossing mass of light, weaving endlessly across the lavender sky.

Who could this familiar person be that would surprise me? It couldn't be the dwarves changing bases, or perhaps some other branch of the Cat Spirits? Thinking carefully, there are so many people I wouldn't want to see again. Ahhhh, I just can't guess.

Just as Bai Lin was thinking this, a treetop made a slight noise in the absence of wind. Bai Lin noticed this keenly. Although she did not sense the murderous intent, she still quickly drew her weapon and protected the poet. She glanced around coldly and finally shouted with great momentum,

"Who's there? Make a sound. If you don't, don't blame me for taking action."

As soon as she uttered these words, the previously silent forest suddenly stirred. Shadows of branches tilted and swayed, and crisp sounds between leaves were mixed with rapid flashes, revealing black shadows in an instant.

Each of them seemed to be wearing black armor and cloaks, looking very similar to Bai Lin's outfit. Their figures were almost invisible in the dark jungle, which might be one of the reasons why they were able to hide so well here. The sharp angles of the armor, the hard and threatening aura, came along with their figures, making Bai Lin even more nervous.

The circle formed by the shadows made Bai Lin want to strike first, even though he could not sense the murderous intent. And just at this moment, a shadow behind the poet raised his hand, and then...

He, oh no, she, patted the back of the head of the person next to her and broke the stiff atmosphere with a sentence,

"I told you to intensify your training, intensify your training, and lose some weight. What have you been doing? Why are you failing us at this crucial moment? What do you think of our Holy Son, who is meeting us for the first time?"

A voice that sounded a little childish, but could be heard to be fiery and oppressive, came from the figure who was slapping the other person. Her figure was slightly short, but her aura was not short at all.

Chapter 878 You're Pretty Awesome

"Oh, stop scolding me. We don't stand a chance anyway, do we? And didn't you say there's no harm in showing our shortcomings in front of adults? Otherwise, you could just not let me come this time. This is also part of the plan."

A deep male voice rang out, and the girl from before sneered, then quickly turned around and slapped the latter's face shield. The latter covered her head and jumped two steps in the opposite direction of the blow, then fell to the ground.

"You don't know how to do anything, but you talk a lot."

"Uh...someone explain to me, what's going on? What do you want to do?"

Seeing the atmosphere was becoming somewhat disorienting, Bai Lin wasn't sure if she should be so threatening anymore. She still held her weapon, but spoke directly to the crowd. The female knight, who looked even smaller than herself, raised her hands, patted them together, as if to show she was unarmed, and then naturally walked towards Bai Lin.

As she walked, she extended a hand, as if to start a conversation directly and naturally. But before she took two steps, a dull sound rang out. A huge crack appeared on the floor between them, caused by heavy cutting.

The people around them stumbled a few times due to the sudden situation, which was no less severe than an earthquake. The leader of all this was Bai Lin. No matter how humorous the other party was, she would at most change her attitude slightly, but she would stick to her bottom line. She kicked the sword up with her foot, grasped it back in her hand, and swept her eyes around with a stern look. She warned again,

"This is your last chance. Make your intentions clear. If you dare approach me like this again, I will attack with all my might."

Not giving any chances, this is Bai Lin now.

Just as she entered a state of alert, a hand was placed on her shoulder. In this extremely tense state, Bai Lin trembled all over. If she hadn't known that it was the poet who walked to her side, she would have really stabbed him. Then the poet slowly said,

"Son, don't you understand yet?"

"Ah? Understand what?"

Bai Lin was confused. They agreed not to use riddles, so why did they resort to this trick? The poet looked mysterious, and came close to Bai Lin's face and said,

"They are your companions!"

"Huh? I don't even know them—"

Bai Lin was utterly bewildered, almost wondering if the poet had lost his mind. But as she reassessed the crowd, she too was stunned, then understood the poet's meaning. Having spent so much time with the poet, she had a certain understanding of his way of thinking. Considering the fact that the "surprise" hadn't been stated upfront, she understood the situation.

They dressed similarly, and like Bai Lin, they were even skilled at concealment, even wearing armor! Bai Lin had heard of this group of people long ago, a group he had heard of all too well, yet he had never seen them before. They were a unique group. Bai Lin had even been mistaken for one of them and attacked.

They are not monsters and can communicate. They are wearing black armor and cannot see the light. So there is only one answer: they are——

Dark Knight.

Since he's a Dark Knight, he's naturally human, so it's no problem to say he's Bai Lin's companion. And since he's dressed so similarly, he must be a companion, right?

However, rather than being surprised, Bai Lin was rather speechless. Of course, the poet couldn't be unaware of Bai Lin's attitude towards such a surprise. Perhaps this was just the poet's unique style of humor.

Seeing that Bai Lin seemed to understand, the female knight, who was slightly shorter than Bai Lin, reached out her hand again and walked in front of Bai Lin. As she approached, a strong impact came from her direction, hitting Bai Lin's body in the front where he had let down his guard.

Bai Lin reacted hastily, raised his hands to block, and retreated while defending against the opponent's extremely fast punches and kicks.

Pretty fast.

Heavy, swift, and each move was a sure kill, with clean and sharp pursuits, a fighting style very similar to Bai Lin's. The only difference was that there was still a certain gap between her and Bai Lin's techniques.

The dull, heavy blows kept colliding with the armor, and if he continued to hit, his hands would be numb. After accurately blocking the attacks for a few seconds, Bai Lin put away the slight admiration in his eyes and dispelled the relaxed attitude.

She suddenly turned the hand that was stretched out to block the opponent's attack, and took advantage of the moment when the opponent's upper body leaned forward due to the attack, and used her body to block the opponent's punch, which had less power due to insufficient force distance. Then she directly hit the opponent's intercostal nerve plexus with an elbow, making half of the opponent's body numb due to pain.

Then, without pause, Bai Lin delivered a powerful blow to the abdomen. The muffled sound pierced through the leaves, silencing the entire scene. A large tree behind the opponent exploded, and white foam erupted from beneath her visor. It was hard to imagine the ferocious expression on her face. Her entire center of gravity shifted completely, and she fell towards Bai Lin.

Finally, Bai Lin raised one hand high, and was about to smash it down towards the opponent to connect the combo, but he touched his head instead, supported the opponent's body with his other hand, and then smiled and said,

"Why, you realized I'm not going to kill you now, and you want to start a fight to get to know each other? Sure, I'll give you what you want. Wait a few seconds, that's enough, right? Can we shake hands?"

There was a sense of silence, and a kind of oppressive atmosphere spread from the center of the scene. The person involved actually stretched out his hand with trembling hands, and said with trembling teeth,

"That's quite impressive."

-

"What's going on with you today, Holy Son?"

Inside the curtain, the poet pulled the curtain shut and asked Bai Lin this question. Bai Lin rubbed his forehead and replied,

"If you're talking about how I used too much force when we first met, I don't have much to say. Before I knew it, I had slipped right into that state, and when I came to my senses, I was already close to killing her."

"At that moment, I actually felt like there was nothing wrong, so I was able to continue the conversation naturally. I even felt a little regretful for not continuing, but that feeling quickly passed, existing only between breaths. It was like a sudden thought in my subconscious, and then it disappeared. I'm not quite sure why."

After hearing this, the poet frowned slightly, then nodded silently and said to Bai Lin,

"Even though you don't care about the so-called heroic image, those are just children, so they still have some influence. Well, judging from the results, there's no problem. Just keep a little attention."

Chapter 879 You’re Not Welcome

Bai Lin remained silent and nodded. In truth, she had sensed a hint of hostility from Miyuki, which was why she had increased her intensity. Miyuki had confessed this to Bai Lin, saying that she felt the same way, feeling a sense of "inexplicable hostility." Bai Lin couldn't say for sure, so she could only let it go.

Anyway, that guy did this right away, so I was more or less mentally prepared to get beaten, so it wasn't really a big problem.

So, led by the poet, the two of them drew aside the curtains and headed outside. Outside, they saw a warm bonfire, unfamiliar yet evocative of a sense of belonging. All around them were tents set up. Bai Lin had seen this scene countless times in the forest. Seeing it again, she felt a mixture of emotions.

The scenes she encountered on this seemingly ordinary "adventure" were similarly exhausting, but they were much less flamboyant, and didn't leave her with the same frenetic, mind-numbing intensity as the dawn-dusk showdown. Most importantly, during those years, she had always had many companions by her side.