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

Bai Lin's tone was filled with the forced joy in the night, but also with a hint of helplessness. She looked at the poet, raised her hands, but didn't know where to put them. Finally, she withdrew her hands and looked away.

"This is really, really..."

"I know what you want to say, Holy Son. However, it will soon be time for you to start training yourself. We all have our own things to do and we need to be in our proper places. This way, things can be over faster."

The poet herself didn't need sleep, and she certainly didn't wait every night for Bai Lin to rest before moving. Bai Lin's most memorable moment was waking up to find the poet holding a fish and spitting it out in front of her. She explained it was some kind of ritual material, and asked Bai Lin to hold it between her pinkies and perform a ritual. So, the poet's departure at this point didn't surprise Bai Lin. The poet didn't seem to rush, but her comings and goings were never sudden.

But this time, Bai Lin also felt a little uncomfortable. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.

But isn't that what life is all about? Just like the days and nights she spent with the poet, tonight was relaxing, but everything was just as normal. She looked up, and saw his red eyes, sparkling like gemstones and yet quiet, casting a gentle gaze upon her.

Her pure white hair was tinged with charm by the night. She stood there, just as every night would come as scheduled and would eventually leave.

Bai Lin finally nodded, she looked at the other person and forced a smile.

"Be careful on the road."

"Yeah, you too. Take good care of Xiao Nuo and try not to argue with her. If there's something in the food the mermaids will send in two days that doesn't suit Xiao Nuo's taste, you can just give her the food you brought. And remember not to drink alcohol that afternoon, as it might arouse her interest. If you don't give her any, she'll get upset, and if you give her some, it'll make her condition worse. And..."

The poet seemed a bit like an old woman, but she was also casual, talking about the advance notice she usually gave to Bai Lin. She quickly pursed her lips and said,

"Once you're done here, the first thing you need to do is return to that forest. That's about all. Goodbye, Holy Son. At least somewhere, we'll see the sunrise together."

"Well, bye."

Bai Lin didn't look up, but waved casually, as if saying goodbye, but she had already watched the other person leave. She listened to the other person's footsteps gradually fade away, and the poet finally left as usual.

The sea of ​​stars is of one color, like a jade plate at dawn.

But, no matter what, tonight had been quite enjoyable. Bai Lin relaxed her arms and leaned back on the beach, quietly enjoying the rare tranquility. After a while, when her body and mind had relaxed enough, she stood up and walked towards the illuminated settlements.

Chapter 991 Taking care of the child again

Of course, she wasn't taking advantage of the poet's absence to attend the event. Bai Lin walked straight toward their assigned residence in Qingtan. Because of the special circumstances today, no one was guarding her. The porch light was warm, yet it seemed very quiet and peaceful.

Bai Lin knocked quietly, but received no response. So, she gently pushed it open and walked in calmly. But as soon as she entered, she felt a chilling sensation against her neck. A pair of eyes, seemingly fluorescent green in the dim light, shone with an icy gaze.

Of course, for Bai Lin, this look did not make her feel any sense of danger. Instead, she felt like she was being stared at by a cat, a little creepy, but then she just downplayed everything because of the cute impression she had of the other person. She closed the door, exhaled, and smiled.

"So you weren't asleep? Then why didn't you open the door when I knocked? You didn't even turn on the light when you weren't asleep. Is it fun to be in the dark?"

"Didn't you tell me not to run around and get some rest? That's why I didn't even get out of bed."

A voice that seemed to carry a hint of resentment came from the other person's mouth. The only person who could speak to Bai Lin like this in her room, besides the poet who had already left, was Xiao Nuo.

Hearing these words that sounded angry and a bit like a complaining woman, Bai Lin smiled without losing his smile. He touched his nose and turned on the lamp in the middle of the table.

"You're quite the learner, I hope you can surpass your master in combat someday. Come on, close your legs."

While joking, Bai Lin cleaned up the plates that Xiao Nuo had placed beside the bed and placed them on the table beside him.

Ever since Xiao Nuo was infected that day, she's been in this state ever since. She's a bit sentimental, and her personality is pretty much the same as before, but her mood swings are surprisingly negative.

The mermaids had examined her and said it was a mild case of sea nightmare. Xiao Nuo was now slightly weaker both physically and mentally than normal, roughly the same feeling as a normal person with a cold, but with some mental symptoms.

All mermaids like spicy food, so they recovered quickly. But Bai Lin and the poet were not so sure about Xiao Nuo's preferences, so her recovery was not as fast as before, as her symptoms were relatively mild.

Since Xiao Nuo showed a strong affinity for Bai Lin and her condition improved when she was around him, they tentatively accepted this as a form of treatment. Therefore, under the joint arrangement of the poet and the mermaids, Bai Lin would stay and care for Xiao Nuo, allowing her to slowly recover.

Xiao Nuo's condition wasn't particularly severe, but she was definitely unable to perform her duties normally. As for why... she had lost most of her memory, apparently due to a mental shock. Even the mermaids could only diagnose her with this.

At first, she couldn't even recognize Bai Lin. But ever since she recognized her cheap master, her reliance on him has become even greater than before. Although her mouth remains as hard as before, this symptom is definitely serious. Fortunately, the mermaids have also diagnosed it. As long as she recovers from the symptoms, she will remember everything.

Seeing Bai Lin collecting the dishes for her, Xiao Nuo's expression was not soft at all. She asked,

"Why are you back so late?"

"I attended the festival and chatted with the poet for a while afterward. Didn't I tell you not to wait for me tonight and to go to bed early?"

Bai Lin replied casually. Her attitude towards the patient was still a little gentle. She put her hands down and leaned on the chair next to the bed. Xiao Nuo sighed softly.

"A poet? Why is it always her? Who on earth is she? She sounds like she has it all. Mysterious, perfect, and fascinating. You said I worked for her before? But I can't remember it at all. I don't have that good impression."

Her tone sounded unpleasant, tinged with suspicion. Indeed, Bai Lin felt that the poet, having spent more time with Xiao Nuo than herself, should be more familiar with him. However, as the two of them discussed the subject, Xiao Nuo increasingly expressed annoyance towards the poet. She also had no impression of the Dark Knights as a whole. This was quite strange.

"She's a good boss, but you don't need to think about that right now, and let's not talk about her. Are you hungry at this hour? Do you want some midnight snack?"

Bai Lin was a good chatterbox, not willing to bring up something irrelevant, so he stopped the topic immediately. Xiao Nuo naturally shook her head. It seemed that because of her mental state, even though she had been resting in the house, her complexion did not look too good. So, Bai Lin simply said,

"Then go to bed early. I'll be out for morning exercise soon. You're still recovering, so come back after you've rested enough."

After saying this, Bai Lin was about to stand up when she felt something grab her arm. She turned around and saw Xiao Nuo staring at her, holding her arm.

"Again?"

It seemed that this was not the first time this happened. Bai Lin smiled helplessly, while Xiao Nuo said nothing, but just increased the strength of his hands.

This level of clinginess is really hard to deal with.

Fortunately, my quality is very low.

Bai Lin scratched his head, then slapped Xiao Nuo on the back of the head. Xiao Nuo's head was naturally buzzing after this slap, and her hand loosened immediately. She was dizzy, and she saw Bai Lin turn off the light, walked towards the bed opposite, and said,

"You're already grown up, go to sleep by yourself. I'm your master, not your parents. When you can hold me down, I'll consider it. It's a pity that your skills are really a bit lacking."

As a master who was extremely self-willed, Bai Lin's words of teaching did not sound very reasonable. But in the end, it was a simple and easy-to-understand rejection and encouragement. Xiao Nuo, who had sobered up a little, also snorted, and then quickly said,

"Just wait, I'll surpass you soon!"

"Well, I'll wait. Ever since you became my apprentice, you've lost to me a full 15080 times. Including that last time, it's 15081. I'm almost tired of hearing you say that."

"What?! Didn't you say before that I've been your master for less than a year? How could I have lost so many times?"

"Just kidding, stop it and go to sleep."

Bai Lin cut the conversation short. Theoretically, it wasn't appropriate to joke with someone whose memory was clouded. But this had always been her and Xiao Nuo's way of interacting, and maintaining that old image seemed to be quite beneficial to Xiao Nuo's recovery.

Well, although there are indeed some true characters in it.

Chapter 992 Getting Better

However, even the image of Bai Lin as a mentor that he had previously displayed in front of Xiao Nuo was due to Xiao Nuo's own personality, which deliberately emphasized some of Bai Lin's own characteristics. Now that the other party is a patient, he still has to show this attitude, which is really unexpectedly carrying out his mentor image to the end.

However, after all, it was still a true portrayal, so Bai Lin himself felt that it was not bad. With such a messy thought, Bai Lin fell asleep.

-

The midday sun shone slightly downward. Sweat streamed down Xiao Nuo's forehead as it shone through. She had been sparring with Bai Lin all morning, and judging by the marks of injury and her breathlessness, she wasn't gaining the upper hand. As usual, Bai Lin was dominating her.

She was tense, her stance tense, her training sword pointed at the opponent. Bai Lin, standing opposite her, was more relaxed. Her upright posture completely blocked out the sun. She held a wooden stick in one hand and casually struck it against her shoulder, appearing quite at ease.

Xiao Nuo knew that in his current state, it was impossible to defeat Bai Lin. Because Bai Lin was like a monster, no matter how slow he acted, he would not reveal the slightest flaw. Just like the midday sun on the scorching seaside, when you stand in the sun, you will wonder how the day can last so long, it's so hot that you are almost dying!

Having failed to win the previous morning, the chances are even slimmer now.

"Well... you don't have to be too discouraged. Actually, you couldn't beat me with my wooden sword with your iron sword before, and it wasn't due to any physical problems. Being nervous is good, but if your mind is affected by negative emotions and you can't execute a confident attack, then nervousness will only have a negative effect."

Bai Lin half mocked and half taught. In terms of her usual personal style, she was already very polite. She turned her head to the side, not knowing what she was looking at, and said,

"If you attack without confidence, you won't hit anyone unless you're lucky. And at our level, talking about luck is meaningless."

"So, brace yourself, and attack me with the determination that if you can't win, you'll be forced to eat a stinky dried fish meal for lunch!"

Bai Lin said this with a crooked smile, looking really mean. Xiao Nuo also gritted her teeth. Bai Lin said this with ease, but did she really know how much pressure she was under standing opposite her?

Concentrate, it's a simple word, but it's not easy to do. Not everyone can give their all for a lunch.

But at least Xiao Nuo still had a desire to win. After being beaten all morning, she had at least gained some experience. She held her breath, concentrated, and swung her sword upwards. Slashing diagonally, stabbing straight ahead, then slashing downward, she continued to pursue, her attack fierce, like a raging storm. Bai Lin let out a surprised "Oh!" and switched to holding the sword with both hands, engaging in a serious duel.

"That's pretty good. I'll put in a little more strength too!"

Bai Lin said this, shifting his center of gravity, and snatching a split second of opportunity, he tightened his hands and slashed directly at the opponent's blade as it came down. Meanwhile, Xiao Nuo smiled sinisterly.

This is what I've been waiting for.

As a master, Bai Lin's skills were naturally impeccable. Xiao Nuo couldn't imagine how she could possibly defeat her. But the wood in her hand wasn't very strong. After a whole morning of hammering, it was already scarred. If it were to undergo an excessively violent head-on collision, it would definitely not be able to withstand the force and would break.

Sure enough, when the two swords collided, the wooden sword broke instantly, and Xiao Nuo's sword slashed directly towards Bai Lin's face. It seemed that there was no way to avoid it. However...

Bai Lin didn't seem to be panicked at all.

The shifted center of gravity now played a crucial role. Bai Lin's explosive power from turning from behind propelled her speed sharply upwards. The broken-handled wooden sword struck Xiao Nuo squarely in the abdomen. Xiao Nuo's eyes narrowed, foam sprayed from her mouth, her breathing became chaotic, and her center of gravity was thrown off. Forgetting to hold her weapon, she nearly flew backwards. Bai Lin reached out and held her down, preventing her from suffering any further secondary damage, but she still casually let her fall onto the beach behind her.

"That's a good idea. That's exactly what I want to teach you. A good person needs good weapons. We're people who pursue efficiency, not those technical seekers who want to reach the top with just a stick. We should use the best and avoid the inferior."

"Of course, no weapon always offers an absolute advantage, so if you choose to use a weapon against your opponent, you must fully understand it. I'm sure you know better than you that a stick can break, but even if it does, it still has its uses. This is a crucial point in armed combat."

I don't know if Xiao Nuo can listen to it, because the former is now twitching a little, probably in a semi-comatose state of severe pain. But Bai Lin bent down and touched the other's head in a soothing manner, then threw a wet towel and turned away.

"It's almost time. I'm going to get some food and will be back soon. Take it easy for a while and don't worry. It's safe here and you'll be fine without me."

The first half of the sentence was crisp and clear, but the latter part wasn't quite Bai Lin's style. This was because Xiao Nuo seemed to be feeling insecure when she wasn't around, which exacerbated her emotional instability, so she specifically added that in. As for whether it was helpful, it was unclear.

The two of them sat by the sea and ate lunch. Bai Lin didn't bring his apprentice the promised stinky dried fish meal, but instead brought two meat dishes and one vegetable dish, with rice being the staple food.

"Eat less spicy food. You're not well yet."

Bai Lin reminded like an old lady,

"Then why are you getting it for me?"

"Of course I want to eat it. Why, you're not convinced?"

In fact, Bai Lin felt that punishing a child by making them eat unpalatable food was quite annoying, based on her own personal experience. However, she also felt that her hypocrisy was quite different from Xiao Nuo's stubbornness.

She said she should eat as little as possible, but no matter how much Xiao Nuo picked up her chopsticks, Bai Lin didn't stop her. Xiao Nuo glanced at Bai Lin while eating, swallowed the meat in her mouth, and asked,

"When will we return to the team?"

Chapter 993 Am I Not Important?

"Hmm? Did you remember anything?"

Hearing Xiao Nuo's question, Bai Lin, who had been calm and relaxed, suddenly raised his voice. A rare vacation time is good, but being a long-term guest in a foreign country is not for her to take a vacation. Xiao Nuo just shook his head and said,

"Although I haven't fully recovered yet, I should still be able to help with the work. I don't need to take a long rest... As for you, you should go back earlier, right?"

Xiao Nuo's voice was a little weak, her eyes downcast, and she seemed a little dazed. It seemed that she was not very willing to participate in this proposal she had made herself, but only made a partial sacrifice based on some considerations. But when Bai Lin heard this, he directly rejected it calmly and continued to use his chopsticks.

"That won't do. Just take your time and rest."

"Why? I can go with you until I recover. I can do my best, right?"

Xiao Nuo never thought that such a strict teacher like her would give such an answer. Seeing that her proposal was unexpectedly rejected, she widened her eyes. Bai Lin swallowed the food in her mouth and put down her bowl and chopsticks. She put her hands down, looked at the other party, and said seriously,

"Let me ask you, why do you suddenly want to return to the team?"

"Why...isn't it because you told me that it's what I should do? Even though I haven't remembered it yet, I also feel that I shouldn't drag you down."

Xiao Nuo couldn't resist Bai Lin's dominance, so she could only answer like this. Bai Lin immediately replied,

"Thinking that way will never accomplish anything. What we're doing is facing death, and it's definitely not something a little kid can force their way to. Besides, no Dark Knight, including me, would want you to force yourself. It's both dangerous and unfair to you."

Bai Lin looked down at the other person,

"Alas... I just taught you what a Dark Knight is a while ago, and you've forgotten it so quickly? You can only succeed if you truly want to do it. This kind of thing will never happen."

She first lamented, then righteously rejected Xiao Nuo without any negotiation. Only then did Xiao Nuo understand that although Bai Lin was unreasonable and a bit arrogant, when she was reasonable, it really made people feel that there was no chance of resistance. She swallowed her saliva, her eyes swaying, and asked weakly,

"Am I not important in the first place?"

Her expression grew even more gloomy, her heart racing, yet her body and soul felt increasingly cold under the sun. It was as if, in her negative mood, she had suddenly become obsessed with something, sinking into a spiral of self-doubt.

Bai Lin also noticed something was wrong. She immediately spoke,

"Tsk, what are you thinking? You're not important, but I am. I'm here with you, and they're missing someone to work with. Besides, you were really powerful before. Many of the old men probably couldn't beat you. You also learned a lot from me. To say you're as strong as a monster is not an exaggeration."

These words, though not particularly comforting, did indeed highlight Xiao Nuo's importance. However, to someone so deeply skeptical, they might not have been sufficiently convincing. After all, she had lost her memory.

However, Bai Lin's words had a more profound meaning. She took a deep breath and slowly said,

"In fact, ever since I first met you, that is, after I defeated you for the first time, and learned your story, I've already felt that you were very strong. A girl, a girl who had just come of age, wanted to be a partner with these people who spent time with her day and night. I don't know what exactly motivated it, but did she want to repay them? Or did she want to be like them, devoting herself and passing on this belief to more people?"

"Whichever it was, it was an extremely strong choice. Back then, you were also very strict with yourself. Even someone as tough as you could be, after being beaten by me, you still came to me sincerely to become my disciple. I complained about your training being difficult and tiring, but you never gave up. You were also very strict with the young people around you, but in my opinion, their cunning and cunning behavior was the more correct choice."

Bai Lin said, smiling. She picked up a piece of meat and put it in her mouth.

"The Dark Knights had no choice but to fight as they were doomed to perish, but you are different. You have a future of your own choosing. What's wrong with enjoying your life?"

"Although we are master and disciple, Xiao Nuo, I am still a long way from understanding you. I don't know what you have experienced or thought during these years living with them, but I respect everyone who can make this choice. Because if I could have been born into a comfortable life without having to fight for my life, I probably would never have made this choice."

"No matter how clumsy or incompetent they are, anyone who makes such a choice deserves my respect. Even though you are my apprentice, I have never looked down on you."

Bai Lin gradually retracted her smile. She looked at Xiao Nuo and gave him a comforting look. Then she stretched out her hand and placed it on his, drawing his gaze towards her. Bai Lin's eyes were still as clear as ever. She looked at him firmly and said,

"This world isn't made up of idealism, but inner strength is the reason why you're here. You've always been important, and my teachings are just the final piece of the puzzle. Even without me, your strength will slowly grow, and you'll eventually understand everything."

Seeing Bai Lin's expression, Xiao Nuo was somewhat affected by his emotions even though she could no longer listen. But she quickly pulled her hand away, lowered her head, and then said,