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

The old man glanced at Xiao Nuo who was recovering and seemed to want to say something, but then he shook his head and said,

"Every story has an ending. I've already said goodbye to her. This farewell is another one forever, and it will only cause her more harm. It's better to leave like this."

"Besides, now that you are her master, there is no need for me to teach her anything more."

Bai Lin was slightly stunned by the old man's expression. He could be so calm about a farewell that presupposed death. It was truly remarkable that a hero in his twilight years was showing a scene that was unlike any other.

The old man's resolute eyes conveyed a look of trust. At this moment, he seemed to remember something and said to Bai Lin,

"Oh, by the way, take this."

As he spoke, the old man pulled out a scroll from his robe. It looked like a book, but it was very old and a little tattered. Apart from that, it was unremarkable.

"This is the original text of the Dark Knight's origin. I mentioned it to you before, but you left in a hurry and didn't take it. Now I give it to you."

"Mentioned before" naturally refers to the time when the old man stopped Bai Lin and the two of them flirted. Of course, they couldn't actually fight. After chatting for a while, they punched in according to the time given by the poet and continued to the next task.

Bai Lin did not express too much about this and accepted it with pleasure.

"Okay. Are you leaving?"

"It's almost time... Holy Son."

"what happened?"

When the other party called him like this again, Bai Lin felt that the other party had some important things to entrust to him. And the old man also said lightly,

"It's up to you to realize our vision."

As soon as he said this, Bai Lin immediately smiled back.

"Of course. This is what everyone has been accumulating. I will definitely accomplish it."

The words that sounded heavy, when spoken by the two, were actually light and casual, as if they were just a daytime tea talk. The old man turned and left, waving his hand, like a farewell between old friends, leaving easily in the blink of an eye.

"Goodbye."

Bai Lin, hands on his hips, watched the master and disciple depart, a wave of emotion welling up in his heart. Although he hadn't accomplished anything significant in his lifetime, he had done his best to follow his own vision and lived up to his own ideals. Even with his limited abilities, he was truly a hero worthy of respect.

Compared to the old man who could figure it out on his own, I have taken many detours on this road. However, everyone has their own path to follow.

Thinking about this, Bai Lin looked at Xiao Nuo who was sleeping peacefully in the morning light.

Isn't there someone here who wants to go his own way?

-

The pain and fatigue gradually receded from every part of her body. A warm light gradually enveloped her body, and she felt as if she were lying in her mother's cradle, so reassuring, reliable, and comfortable.

Embracing this feeling, Xiao Nuo slowly opened her hazy eyes. As soon as she opened her eyes, a hazy light passed through a somewhat ambiguous figure and fell on her face.

The first thing she noticed wasn't the light, but the figure's face. She could clearly see the faint smile, but she couldn't tell who it was. It felt like a dream, like a fantasy, and she couldn't believe it.

Just as she was wondering, a clear voice rang in her ears.

"Are you awake? We don't have much to offer you treatment right now. If you're not feeling particularly uncomfortable, let's leave."

The person before her was our Holy Son. She had already removed the depleted therapeutic device for Xiao Nuo and was holding him, somewhat reluctantly, in her arms, trying to make him feel as comfortable as possible.

Her white hair, bathed in the morning light, seemed warm and clean. Her golden, clear eyes, against which she stood, held a gentleness that was refreshing, not cloying. Even with the scars on her face, her features were enough to bring peace of mind at a glance.

The breeze blew her hair, and her backlight allowed Xiao Nuo to see the more gentle sunshine. But she still seemed to not think it was real. She turned her eyes away, not looking into Bai Lin's eyes, and just murmured,

"Have I... reached heaven?"

"I'm stupid, right? How could I go to heaven with my hand still broken? Is my disciple so stupid? Why don't I remember it?"

Bai Lin laughed heartily, revealing his true colors in an instant. Xiao Nuo also woke up instantly because of this too real scene. She looked at Bai Lin, not caring about the wounds on her body that had not yet healed, and struggled to get up, grabbed the other party, and said in astonishment,

"It's really you? Are you... okay?"

"Well, it's just a minor injury. I'm very strong. Don't worry, I'm fine."

Bai Lin said this, wondering if Xiao Nuo would actually listen to her words. However, it didn't seem to matter anymore. Those words seemed to be just a sidelight. Xiao Nuo's eyes were fixed on Bai Lin, who was still sitting in front of her, smiling and joking casually.

Gazing at the man's eyebrows, her dark green eyes flickered with something unknown. In an instant, anger, anxiety, and fear all melted away in the man's bright smile. Instead, after swallowing a large amount of emotion, she emerged with the most direct expression -

Two lines of tears slid down Xiao Nuo's eyelids. Her eyes were already wet, and her expression was out of control at this moment. The next moment, she threw herself into Bai Lin's arms.

Chapter 949 The Origin of the Dark Knight

Her emotions were out of control in an instant, and she cried uncontrollably, with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Why...why are you fighting so hard?? I thought...I thought you were really dead."

Her voice became more and more intense, completely lacking her usual strong demeanor, and even less the hardened spirit she possessed during battle. This made Bai Lin slightly stunned. However, Bai Lin quickly came to her senses, and she gently hugged Xiao Nuo without explaining anything further, simply saying,

"Sorry for making you worry."

As soon as these words came out, the crying stopped for a moment. But the next second, Xiao Nuo cried even louder.

It's hard not to be overwhelmed when someone you've been with for so long suddenly passes away, or even "dies" to protect you. Especially since Xiao Nuo has experienced the separation of life and death before, she can no longer hide her feelings.

When she confirmed that Bai Lin really appeared in front of her alive, she probably had only one thought, which was that she should never leave again.

And the act of hugging Bai Lin tightly is the best proof.

After crying for a long time, Xiao Nuo's eyes were slightly dry. She was still sobbing, but she was no longer so excited to express her emotions. She slowly recovered from the initial passion. Bai Lin just hugged her quietly and didn't say much. Until this moment, he slowly spoke,

"Oh my, I didn't expect you to care about me so much. Now that I know, I won't have to worry so much next time. It's not easy for me, your master, to get into trouble."

Bai Lin joked slightly. She always considered the situation differently, and the situation depended on her own subjective perception. Xiao Nuo, who had obviously recovered, raised her head, rolled her eyes at Bai Lin, and then said,

"What are you thinking about? I'm just worried that I won't be able to learn what I'm supposed to learn, so I'm crying..."

As she spoke, her voice gradually became softer, and she seemed to be feeling a little guilty.

"Actually, you don't have to worry about that anymore."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Bai Lin's sudden answer made Xiao Nuo slightly stunned. Bai Lin shook his head and said,

"Don't you understand yet? Although your prayers may seem to be of a different tone than theirs, in essence, they are exactly the same, the same thing."

"In short, Xiao Nuo, you are already a qualified Dark Knight."

"Huh? Is this the standard for judgment? No, how did I use it...?"

For a moment, Xiao Nuo's thoughts seemed a little confused, and she began to recall what happened before she was seriously injured and unconscious. But Bai Lin did not wait for her, but slowly explained,

"General prayers are usually addressed to certain gods. The closer one's thoughts are to what those gods desire, the more power they can borrow. There are also special methods like sacrifice and trade, depending on the specific situation. The methods presented are much simpler than normal magic, but they also have unique advantages. The two also have some common characteristics."

"The Dark Knights' prayers aren't directed to any gods, but rather originate from their own hearts. Therefore, you'll see that everyone's prayers seem to be remarkably tailored to their own unique style."

Bai Lin explained clearly. She released her hands, stretched them toward the sky, and continued in a long voice,

"Your heart summoned the dawn, ushered in the morning light. This pure thought fulfills the conditions for prayer. Naturally, you can use prayer."

"Of course, not everyone can wield this power. The Dark Knights only learned the prayer after meeting the bard. As someone who knows nothing about magic, I can't quite explain the specific methods used. Anyway, now you can use it too."

"But they did tell me about your different hues. The Dark Knights' prayers all have similar colors, but it's just their personal interest... doesn't it seem like something they could do?"

After hearing this, Xiao Nuo seemed to understand something a little bit. She pondered for a moment, but after a while, she couldn't help but ask again.

"But what does this have to do with becoming a Dark Knight?"

After hearing this, Bai Lin smiled again and knocked Xiao Nuo on the head.

"Silly, don't you understand yet? Let's put it this way."

As he spoke, Bai Lin took out the tattered ancient book and brought it to Xiao Nuo. Under the other's puzzled eyes, he explained,

"This is the original text of the Dark Knights, the one the old knight is holding. It contains the origins of the Dark Knights. Now, you can read it. After reading it, you will know why you are the Dark Knight."

"How did you get—"

Xiao Nuo was suspicious and surprised, but Bai Lin just shook his head, stopping her questioning and motioning her to read on. Xiao Nuo had no objection to this. She let go of Bai Lin's hand and took the book. She looked at the book and began to read.

At first, she read it very carefully, then she flipped through it faster and faster, with more disbelief and surprise on her face. She turned back and flipped through it once, twice, and finally turned the book over and read it. This old book was getting more and more difficult to handle. Seeing that the book was about to fall apart, she carefully put it away. Then, she immediately questioned Bai Lin impatiently,

“Isn’t this a fairy tale book?!”

"Yeah, it's a fairy tale. Doesn't it have a dark knight in it?"

Bai Lin responded with an innocent look. Then, she patted Xiao Nuo's shoulder and said,

"In fact, the Dark Knight originated from fairy tales. The original old knight simply stumbled upon these words in a fairy tale, and suddenly associated them with his own situation, so he made up his mind to do something about it."

"Do they have an ancient heritage? I don't know. But the Dark Knight you want to become is just like this. All the knights know this."

As he spoke, Bai Lin straightened up slightly, and said calmly and resolutely,

"Anyone who follows their own convictions, takes up arms, forges a path forward, and protects their own or others' future is a Dark Knight. They use their bodies as shields, and as swords. Beyond this, there are no other requirements. You don't need to be particularly powerful, nor do you need any particular bloodline, and of course, there are no restrictions on the weapon you wield."

Xiao Nuo looked at Bai Lin. She seemed a little shocked when she learned the truth.

Chapter 950 What do you mean by two days of fun?

Xiao Nuo had been pursuing this goal for a long time, and had had countless guesses about it. But what he finally heard was such a simple and plain content that no one would be too calm.

No wonder Bai Lin, who had initially been clueless, took on the responsibility of teaching him after a brief conversation. No wonder, despite their diverse personalities and seemingly shared goals, their reasons for fighting and their beliefs were often skewed and mixed. Despite this, they were still so united. Even Qianhua, in this city, seemed to understand all of this.

Stupid, it seems like I'm always alone.

At this moment, another clear and audible sound came into Xiao Nuo's ears, breaking her thoughts.

"Why are you looking so down? You finally achieved what you've always wanted to achieve. Shouldn't you be happy?"

Of course, Bai Lin's voice was playful. Xiao Nuo's stunned eyes slowly returned to reality. These casual words seemed to echo the history of the knights, which had begun as mysterious and ultimately originated only in fairy tales.

The sun rose as usual, illuminating the two of them. Xiao Nuo smiled faintly under the gentle caress of the morning breeze.

"Nothing, it's just that for a moment, I couldn't think of what expression to put on."

"That's good."

Bai Lin raised his thumb with his only remaining arm. Xiao Nuo then noticed Bai Lin's current state, and his expression suddenly became unnaturally depressed.

"Will it be very inconvenient in the future?"

"Huh? Oh. That might be a little bit, but there are always different ways to deal with different situations."

Bai Lin reacted and used his other hand to put on the shoulder of the broken arm and stroked it for a while, looking energetic and saying,

"Just like you, you weren't that skilled in multiple weapons originally, right? But after my instruction, you've clearly made significant progress. Material foundations are like a pool of water, while spiritual strength determines whether you can harness it to create both a gentle stream that nourishes all things and a cascading waterfall that radiates like a galaxy."

"You did well. It's obvious that you have a lot of imagination in your fighting skills. And as your master, I'm sure I won't be much worse. Every hand has its own fighting style. It's no big deal."

Bai Lin was clearly trying to cheer herself up, and Xiao Nuo knew she wasn't forcing a smile, but she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sadness. She should have agreed with her, but Xiao Nuo simply couldn't do that. With a look of heartache in her eyes, she reached out and placed her hand on Bai Lin's, which was currently caressing the wound.

Seeing this, Bai Lin was stunned for a moment, but then it was naturally the other party who was stunned.

"Oh?! What's going on? Why didn't you come back to tell us you were safe after the battle? Why are you doing this one-on-one training?"

"Wow, is this a teacher-student romance drama? I, your sister, love watching this."

"You two should stop being so noisy. They're obviously badly injured too."

The trio of Long Hair, Brown Hair, and Ivan were the first to emerge, each teasing their own ways. Only one person, with a slightly frown on his face, showed a hint of concern. From another direction, the sound of three more people talking could be heard.

"Brother, I'm hungry. Can you take the Holy Son out for a midnight snack now?"

"It's morning now, sister. Besides, is she taking care of you or are you taking care of her? Also, the other person is so badly injured, can you please stop focusing on eating? Not everyone is like you, eating the first thing they do when they wake up."

"Haha... You two, why don't we prepare an environment so they can rest as soon as possible?"

These three are naturally further off topic, but the content of the topic is somewhat richer.

It was obvious that everyone had gathered around the two of them at some point. Xiao Nuo, upon noticing all this, shuddered and shyly withdrew her hand. She looked around, her eyes and hands unsure of where to go. Where was her previous composure? Bai Lin, on the other hand, stood up calmly and replied to the crowd,

"Oh, don't spread rumors. I'm more interested in breakfast than the little girl. Kingfisher, let's go pick a good spot later! And you, don't be so shy. I've already hugged you, now..."

The first half of the sentence was obviously said to everyone. She smiled and quickly blended into the atmosphere of the crowd. The second half of the sentence was said to Xiao Nuo. Xiao Nuo could no longer sit still. The redness on her face quickly spread. She jumped up and exclaimed,

"You were the one who held me first when I was still unconscious! Besides, how can this be the same?"

"It's the same. There's nothing innocent about it. It doesn't matter who sees it or what they say about it."

Bai Lin patted Xiao Nuo's shoulder and laughed twice. This was a very common action in the past, but it made Xiao Nuo flinch. The crowd watching was of course exclaiming in surprise and teasing at the same time.

At this moment, a figure slowly walked out from between the two groups of people. As soon as her gentle footsteps appeared, Bai Lin had already looked in that direction.

Naturally, the only person who can attract Bai Lin's attention at the first moment is the core figure who holds an absolute position among our group of knights.

The poet coughed twice and walked into the crowd. She said,

"Just kidding, don't take it too far."