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

"If that's the case, shouldn't I just hurry back? Instead of staying here, I might as well be tougher... that way I can become my powerful self again!"

She shook her head, and now her words were no longer just a way of forcing herself, but seemed to have a bit of a breaking point.

"That's not what I said."

Bai Lin shook his head and said softly,

"Inner strength is important, but it's also incredibly cruel, and not everyone needs it. Embarking on a dark, thorny path with unwavering conviction is not something a normal person should experience in their lifetime. While I don't know how you came to the decision to become a Dark Knight, you must have your reasons. It must be a very strong belief."

Chapter 994 Straight Ball and Tsundere

"Now, you've forgotten it. But this undoubtedly only allows you to return to normal life. Walk away from the cruel path and live your life well. That's also good. As I said just now, I actually agree more with the ideas of those young people."

"In this cruel world, it's certainly heartening and inspiring to see more and more heroes and brave men stepping forward. But a beautiful world doesn't need heroes. No one needs to risk everything and sacrifice themselves. Seeing people freely choose how to live their lives in today's world brings joy."

Bai Lin smiled, her smile was very genuine. Her eyes looked towards the vibrant settlement around her.

"This proves that there's still beauty in the world, that the world is getting better, and that our efforts aren't in vain. Beauty is what's meant to exist, not that you could be working hard on it. Resting here is a waste of time and a burden to everyone else. Since you no longer have any reason to fight, then you should enjoy the rest of your life with your own interests, not fighting. Otherwise, wouldn't that be a waste of our kindness?"

At this point, Bai Lin probably felt that she was a little cocky. She laughed, then moved closer, put her hands on Xiao Nuo's shoulders, lowered her head and approached him, comforting him.

"But the fish people said that you will recover soon. Then I would like to hear why you have been fighting so long."

Xiao Nuo seemed to have calmed down a lot. She glanced at Bai Lin and said,

"What if I never remember it?"

Bai Lin sighed again, but this time it was definitely not a lament. Her smile remained unchanged.

"That's absolutely impossible. But if it happens, if you want to live on, then enjoy the rest of your life. Fighting is meaningful only if you do it from the heart. Forced responsibility is meaningless and will eventually distort and break."

"Maybe you'll find new beliefs, but it's also good if you don't. Although it's a pity that I'm missing someone who can do the work, it's okay. Even if I'm the only one, I will do what I should do."

When Bai Lin said this, there was no reluctance in her tone, only a hint of loneliness. She always did what she believed in and stuck to her own ideas. Even if the sky fell, she would bear it alone.

This made Xiao Nuo's heart tremble slightly. She seemed to see some different brilliance from Bai Lin. Then, her emotions were slightly touched. She raised her head and looked at Bai Lin with a not very stable gaze.

"What if I want to...share some of your worries?"

This was definitely not Xiao Nuo's style, and because of this, her voice was almost as soft as a mosquito's. Bai Lin leaned forward with an incredulous look on her face, and said exaggeratedly,

"Did I hear you right? For me? Oh my god, slap me right now! Am I dreaming?"

Perhaps having anticipated Bai Lin's provocative reaction, Xiao Nuo blushed slightly, and with a fierce slap of his hand, he slapped Bai Lin directly. Bai Lin easily caught it, then laughed a few times, looked at him and said,

"Honestly, I'm happy, but I don't recommend doing that. I've already said it's a cruel thing. Doesn't it sound like someone is voluntarily giving up their life just for me? I might have nightmares. The pressure would be immense, and I'd be desperate to make the world right in the next second. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to sleep well at night."

"But you still don't fully understand what I mean. Sharing my worries doesn't necessarily mean you have to do something. Assuming it's impossible for you to recover, just living here well is already a great relief for me."

Bai Lin denied Xiao Nuo's thoughts, but her tone was one of affirmation, affirming Xiao Nuo herself. She released Xiao Nuo's hand, then gently held it, looking at her. This laid the final nail in the coffin for her narrative. The midday sun shone through the shaded area, and for the first time, Xiao Nuo felt a person's gaze as warm and open as the sun. It could, like those words, have the warmth of a tightly clasped palm.

"But you'll definitely be fine. Don't overthink it. Train when you need to recover, eat when you need to, and rest when you need to. Get back to your best form sooner rather than later. Remembering the things you've forgotten is the greatest relief for me."

"...Who wants to share your worries? That was just an assumption. How self-indulgent."

"Oh, did I smile too much? Whether you like it or not, the training will not be reduced at all!"

-

The reddish-orange skin of the meat was glossy and satisfying in the sunlight. One bite revealed its juicy flavor, and it was even more delicious when topped with rice. Bai Lin devoured his rice with big mouthfuls, while Xiao Nuo, sitting beside him, also enjoyed this break from eating.

Over the past few days, Bai Lin hadn't asked Xiao Nuo if she'd remembered anything. She'd treated him just like she always had, staying with him until he'd recovered. Although, it was a little different from traditional rest and recuperation.

As a person who was already weak, Bai Lin understood best that when she was still sick and put pressure on herself to get better quickly and go back to school or do something else, that was when she was most irritated.

Xiao Nuo was an adult, far more mature than he'd thought. She certainly wouldn't use illness as an excuse to stay here forever, otherwise she'd have had a thousand opportunities to do so. When she recovered, she'd naturally ask him to go back the first time.

"Are you full?"

Bai Lin put down his bowl and chopsticks, looked at the other party who was also eating a lot, and asked this question. Xiao Nuo nodded, looking very satisfied.

"Ah."

"Let's skip training tonight. Let's stretch and rest for a while, and then we'll do the rest in the early morning. Speaking of which, the temperature difference between day and night here is quite big. I was saying a while ago that I wanted to stay healthy by the sea after retirement, but now I really don't think so. I'm quite resistant to heat, so if you think it affects you, why not train indoors at night?"

Bai Lin teased as she gazed at the vibrant sunset glow on the seashore. It wasn't that she had ever thought about or wanted to enjoy her retirement by the sea; perhaps she was just fantasizing about a bright future.

In response to this, Xiao Nuo shook his head.

"I don't think it has much of an impact. It's the same everywhere. Compared to this, the training volume can be increased a bit. I feel that my body has recovered a bit."

Chapter 995 A Happy Life of Master and Disciple

"Oh? Since you've taken the initiative to say it, I must accept it."

Taking the initiative to increase training wasn't something Xiao Nuo often did. Bai Lin had her own calculations for normal training schedules. But now that Xiao Nuo was ill, it was up to her to judge her recovery, and Bai Lin listened to her. She put away the dishes and stood up.

"But whatever extra training there is, we'll arrange it after we've rested. Now your task is to go back to your room and rest for a while. Don't just stand there like an idiot, let's go."

"Who is stupid, really."

Xiao Nuo, displeased by Bai Lin's smile, followed suit. Their steps were light, treading on the soft sand, their playful laughter carried into the afterglow of the setting sun. The pale orange skylight gradually faded, and the lapping waves slowly washed away the glow.

Bai Lin expertly lit the oil lamp on the table inside the room. It had been a long time since she'd lived in one place for so long, let alone in such a proper room. The last time she'd been in that city, she'd mostly slept in a garage-turned-warehouse. This made her feel a little nostalgic, and she thought of the hotel she'd stayed in with Katie.

A place with a sense of belonging is truly more reassuring, isn't it? Now that I have a little more money, wouldn't it be nice to find a place for Katie and I to live together? Maybe a small house or something? That school should allow students to attend day classes, right? It's like making up for not being able to spend time with her for so long, right?

As he thought about it, Bai Lin shook his head again.

I can't live with her forever, so what's the point of having a home for myself? I might even hinder others from interacting with their roommates. The only thing I can do for her is to resolve these issues as soon as possible and bring her a more peaceful life.

"What's wrong? You look worried?"

Xiao Nuo's voice interrupted Bai Lin's thoughts. Perhaps because she rarely saw Bai Lin with a gloomy face and deep thoughts, she unexpectedly asked Bai Lin tentatively. Bai Lin raised her head and realized that she did not show her usual powerful master appearance. So she rubbed her nose to soothe her nerves and replied,

"Nothing, just remembered something."

"It's not something that's bothering me."

Xiao Nuo asked suspiciously, sitting on the bed with her legs crossed. Bai Lin immediately shook his head with a sarcastic expression.

"Don't take yourself too seriously, baby. You're right in my face. Can't I just ask you directly if I have any troubles? Why do I have to be so cautious?"

Xiao Nuo seemed to be accustomed to Bai Lin's attitude. She felt angry at first, then sighed and said,

"Indeed. However, there might be some issues. I feel like my body is getting better, but as for what happened before... I don't remember anything at all."

Xiao Nuo took the initiative to confess the current situation, but Bai Lin didn't think it was a big deal. The latter said,

"Why are you in such a hurry? I'm not in a hurry. I'll remember it sooner or later. By then, you might even want to forget about this time."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I'm really worried that after you recover, you'll be so shy when you see me that you'll want to punch me. You never used to be so dependent on me. You were always so concerned about your reputation..."

Before Bai Lin finished speaking, a small glass bottle flew towards her. It was obviously thrown by Xiao Nuo, who was already a little emotional. She reached out and caught it accurately, and commented calmly,

"I forgot. You're quite proud now. Sorry. I'll be more careful next time."

"You! Go to hell."

Xiao Nuo made such comments, looking a little ashamed and angry, but probably because she had been training every day, she knew that she could not beat Bai Lin, so she did not come over to give Bai Lin a few hits. Bai Lin, on the other hand, sat leisurely on the chair and turned around.

"I've died plenty of times, and if you really want me to do that, I'll go. But it's clear you don't want to, so I'll stay here with you. No matter how long it takes, I'll stay with you until you're better. You can relax and take a break."

Xiao Nuo's side suddenly quieted down, and the room returned to its previous silence. The flame of the oil lamp flickered slightly, as if the night wind was a little agitated. But that did not destroy this peaceful and beautiful time, nor did it ruin the night.

Xiao Nuo was probably smiling. Bai Lin could easily imagine her having no worries, just resting contentedly.

Over the past few days, her mood has become increasingly stable, and Bai Lin has noticed every bit of improvement. Soon, in just a few days? Perhaps even tomorrow, she'll be well again. By then, she'll no longer be suffering from her illness, and the two of them can return to the team and continue fighting side by side.

Thinking of this, Bai Lin's heart calmed down. She closed her eyes, looking forward to a better tomorrow, and enjoying the peace of the present.

However, peace and tranquility naturally had their moments. Just as Bai Lin would often scold Xiao Nuo, and sometimes treat her to a slap, Xiao Nuo seemed to be making some moves. She silently got out of bed and slowly moved closer to Bai Lin.

Bai Lin could sense all of this. The other party wasn't being discreet, but rather concealing their movements in a natural way. This was good. It also made Bai Lin feel that his teaching this apprentice had not been in vain. It was just that Bai Lin himself was often very sensitive to other people's whereabouts, so he was able to detect it.

Well, then just come closer. No matter what prank you want to play, I will pretend to be tricked, and then tell you that I am worthy of the title of master!

She continued to close her eyes, pretending to be unaware, and allowed Xiao Nuo to gradually approach her.

One step, two steps...

When the distance was close enough, Bai Lin remained unmoved. On the other hand, Xiao Nuo immediately erupted with a sudden burst of strong hostility. This was naturally caught by Bai Lin, and she could not help but nodded slightly.

Very good, suppress it until the very last moment before showing hostility. Even if it's just a playful attack, treat it with the utmost seriousness—

No, something is wrong.

In the split second Bai Lin's eyes snapped open, a strange sensation suddenly invaded her brain. She felt a sudden, invisible, stabbing pain in her back, completely enveloping her mind in a vibrating alarm, instantly snapping her nerves from the leisure time and complete trust in her apprentice into another mode.

Chapter 996 Everyday Destruction

The enemy is coming, the enemy is coming!

The flames from the oil lamps in the room grew increasingly intense, and in an instant, the lamps exploded and the candles went out. Even Bai Lin's own thoughts couldn't keep up with this instinct. With a near-catapult reaction, she kicked herself to her feet, her whole body unconsciously entering a fighting state.

"It's too late, poor, weak, human."

As a voice, inextricably familiar yet completely unfamiliar, echoed, Bai Lin felt a sense of the earth collapsing and the sky cracking. She had just stood up, but immediately collapsed. It was as if her entire body was being driven into the floor like a nail.

The structure of the house instantly buckled, its foundation crumbling like shattered glass. Not to mention the furniture, which was instantly shattered beyond recognition. And at the back of Bai Lin's neck, a strange, luminous, egg-shaped mass appeared, its weight unbearable.

It wasn't so much that the object was pressing down on the back of her neck, causing her body to be unable to bear it and unable to stand up. Rather, it was that her hands were completely unable to properly lift the object, which was twisted and buckled on her body in a nearly broken state.

Yes, even if the reaction time was short, Bai Lin still used her hands to make her move. But just as the other party said.

It's too late.

Countless noises, clamors, and stinging pain enveloped her entire body, nearly silencing her already exhausted brain. Her shoulders and muscles began to tear, tearing, revealing horrific wounds. Her twisted hands seemed to be piercing her body, leaving deep scars, rupturing her skin, and striking the very skeleton that supported her.

I can’t take it anymore. In a moment… no, in the next second, my body will be on the verge of complete collapse! Bai Lin knew clearly.

Her eyes were trembling constantly, and she opened her mouth slightly, but didn't know what to say at the first moment.

Enemies? When?! This is impossible! Xiao Nuo, she's still injured, I should have warned her first—

No, you don't need to remind me.

Even though Bai Lin's mindset remained in the peaceful, sleep-like past, the cruel present left her no room for delusion, presenting everything directly before her. A figure in a black robe slowly approached her, clearly appearing before the Holy Son, whose body and soul seemed to be shattered.

His milky-gold hair was luxurious and proud, but the gray streaks in it showed the traces of time. His once lively green eyes had been completely replaced by a lifeless crimson, and he was now looking down at Bai Lin with a condescending attitude.

Scrutiny? Would humans use such a word towards animals? Perhaps, so the other party might have been giving that exact look.

That expression, which should never have appeared on a young girl, entered Bai Lin's sight. There was no sign of anything happening, or perhaps it was the pressure coming from her that was the best sign.

The black robe, a common outer garment one might normally wear to conceal one's identity, now seemed to Bai Lin like a thick barrier, obscuring her perception. Yet, ironically, Bai Lin could clearly see the man's face. Every detail of it was incredibly familiar, making it unforgettable.

I must have recognized the wrong person, or maybe I was hallucinating! That person would never do such a thing. She couldn't persecute me like this. She didn't have the heart, nor the ability. Or maybe someone was just impersonating her, that's all. Absolutely not, absolutely not...

Bai Lin stared at the person in front of her, as if trying to find some response from his eyes. But all she received was another cold sentence, as if analyzing a living being.

"I thought that with your strength, you could still bear the weight of the World Egg for a while longer. But unfortunately, I seem to have overestimated you. The people of this world are indeed fragile, and you are not much different from them. Pathetic and weak."

A tone without any compassion, a lament, came from the mouth of "Xiao Nuo", a person with Xiao Nuo's appearance. She looked at Bai Lin and said so,

"Struggle a little longer, use all your might. This isn't a battlefield to be trifled with. If you don't fight like hell, this planet you love so dearly—no, the entire universe—will probably be destroyed in an instant. Infinite expansion will vanish in an instant. Endless time will also easily come to an end."

"The weight of the World Egg is equivalent to an infinite number of universes, expanding infinitely. Even I, an old man, cannot lift it now. I can only summon it and use it once. Otherwise, it could be used as a weapon, which could be quite powerful. Although its appearance is not impressive, it truly fits the nature of a weapon. Hmm, very good."

The woman muttered to herself, nodding her head while supporting her chin, seemingly agreeing with what she had just said. Her petite frame, her once adorable face, now held a completely different demeanor. It was the attitude a researcher might show toward research animals, but more than that, it seemed she simply looked down on the person before her.

In fact, she didn't even show anything that could be called an attitude, so she just evaluated and agreed on her own.

"Oh, yes. Although your essence and everything you carry allow you to surpass your limits, the World Egg also has the effect of increasing your strength according to your will. Otherwise, you would have no chance of resisting it. The power I mentioned earlier also refers to your will... Weak, pitiful human."

This thoughtful statement does not contain any arrogance, but seems to be a natural demeanor. It is not even heroic, but just a casual remark.

As for Bai Lin, from the very beginning, the words that came out of the other party's mouth had already made her, who was already having trouble thinking, completely confused.

Infinitely expanding universes? The World Egg? If the world can no longer withstand the pressure, it will be destroyed? What is all this? Is this a joke? If this is a dream, she demands to wake up right now!

Unfortunately, when emotions have reached their peak, what they reach is the ultimate stillness. Bai Lin, who has suffered so much pain and torment, now understands most clearly that this is absolutely reality.

Chapter 997 Dusk God

Even if she had doubts, she didn't dare to throw the pebble away. She didn't dare to bet on the possibility that the other party was lying to her, because now she felt from the bottom of her heart that she recognized the other party's strength - she was so strong that there was no reason for her to lie to her. So Bai Lin could only squeeze out a few almost airless, and even less powerful, thin tones from between her teeth.

"Why...why are you doing this? What are you going to do?"

"I'll restrain you to the point where you can't stop me. This is far more effective and reliable than torturing you to the brink of life and death. After all, I don't have the luxury of that, and you definitely can't escape this invisible cage. I need you to remain here until I complete my plan. At this stage, you are indeed one of the most threatening individuals."

Xiao Nuo made such an evaluation. Even with such an expression, she was not stingy with her praise for Bai Lin, but her praise was even more without a trace of superfluous expression than Bai Lin's praise for her.

"Inside that is a backup of my original world. However, I no longer need it. Once I carry out my plan, ascend to the throne, and tear that creature apart, I will naturally be able to change freely and create a better world, a world that I desire."

At this point, Xiao Nuo's mouth twitched. She might have wanted to laugh, but this level of emotional expression seemed to be the limit. She was like a statue, a statue of a deity coiled above a city gate. Majestic and majestic, the fearful would kneel at the sight of her, while the faithful would feel their faith deepened. Different people saw different sides of her, but it was difficult to force such a solemn statue to lean towards a specific emotional tone.