â`
Despite Bailuoâs inward denial, Lin Da approached with steadfast eyes, fearlessly confronting her Light Rank Adventurerâs presence with bold strides.
Their statuses reversed abruptly, and perhaps it was an illusion, but Bailuo thought she saw a shadow of the Dark Shadow in Lin Da.
When she had first joined the Primitive Adventure Team, the Dark Shadow had stood just as Lin Da did now, holding a stick, and sternly lectured her.
âDonât, donât come any closer!â
Recalling memories of being spanked by her teacher, Bailuo curled her cat ears in fear and staggered backward.
A small stone, by some cruel twist of fate, found itself right under her heel.
With a thud, Bailuo tripped and fell to the ground, her legs splayed like a frog flipped on its back.
Underneath the white little skirt were pristine white stockings.
But the ground was littered with broken stones and blood, dirtying her clean clothes.
The torches around the arena had extinguished many after the fierce battle, making the caveâs light even more dim.
Lin Da came to a stop in front of Bailuo, who, having fallen, was dizzy and disoriented, her legs perfectly aligned⦠with Lin Da.
The scene almost seemed as if Lin Da was bullying this authoritative head of the Adventure Academy.
âI will prove to you that the Witchâs contamination can be purified. If successful, I hope that Lord Bailuo will keep our secret.â
Lin Da helped Bailuo up, squatted down, and patted the dust off the girlâs white stockings.
Bailuoâs mind slowly steadied, and the violent rise and fall of her chest calmed down.
She looked, with complex emotions, at Lin Da squatting on the ground, cleaning her stockings.
Finally, she realized that this gentle-natured man, who wouldnât give up on a team member even if she turned into a Witch, had nothing to do with her own teacher.
If it had been her teacher, let alone having a team member turn into a Witch, he would have made them pack up and leave for far less.
Bailuo let out a soft sigh and said, âIâll give you one chance, no tricks. When the Imperial Knights arrive later, they wonât be as easy to talk to as I am.â
âUnderstood.â
Lin Da turned to look at Monica, pondering in his heart: if the purification effort was too slight, Bailuo would probably not be convinced, claiming the speed of her purification couldnât keep up with the rate of contamination growth.
Therefore, he had to make a grand show.
He needed to convince Bailuo beyond any hard talk that Monica was not doomed to downfall.
Butâ¦
Deep purification is not suitable for others to witness.@@novelbin@@
Lin Da frustratingly ruffled his hair, conflicted.
About half a second later, he had resolved his conflict. Bailuo was a woman, and very likely to become one of his Oath-bound in the future; if the process of deep purification was seen, then it was seen. There would eventually come a time when it would be seen anyway.
Lin Da, although uncomfortable with purifying one female in front of another, steeled himself to endure it.
The remaining concern was Monica.
Lin Da grasped Monicaâs shoulders and asked with serious eyes, âMonica, do you like the captain?â
âEh⦠eh?!â
Upon hearing this, Monica blushed crimson, her eyes darting about and her hands awkwardly clasped together.
A few seconds later, the young girlâs head nodded almost imperceptibly.
Lin Da smiled with relief and ruffled Monicaâs hair. âThatâs good because the captain likes Monica too.â
âReally?â Monica looked up incredulously, blinking her wide eyes, her smooth forehead reflecting the torchlightâs gentle glow, tempting one to play five-in-a-row on it.
Lin Da said solemnly, âOf course itâs true. The captain never lies.â
âYes, yes!â
Monica hesitated for a moment and then hugged Lin Da giggling.
Bailuo on the side was thoroughly confused, thinking you were meant to purify the Witch, not to feed your superior dog food!
Moreover, surrounded by the bodies of Heretics and with the vigilant lord herself present, why would you confess your love in such a setting!!!
Annoyed, Bailuo said, âGet on with purifying the contamination, and stop doing needless things!â
âAll that I am doing is for purification.â
Lin Da explained earnestly.
Then, holding Monicaâs face, he said, âClose your eyes, no matter what happens, the captain will take responsibility.â
Monica, possibly anticipating what was to come, felt her heart beat so loud in the silence of the cave that it was markedly noticeable.
All the things Lin Da was doing were for deep purification.
The source of contamination stemmed from the heart.
In the past, he thought deep purification had to be physically close to the source of contamination. But when Tasya served him, despite his efforts, the results of purification did not significantly increase.
It wasnât until he returned from the sealed Great Mystery Continent and kissed Tasya, who had just emerged from her Witch State covered in contamination, that he had an epiphany.
It turns out, deep purification refers to the depth of the soul.
Only when the Witchâs heart flutters violently and opens, would the effect be stronger!
Therefore, the effects of Lin Da kissing Tasya were much better than having her serve him.
âLord Bailuo, please watch closely the bond between me and my team member!â
Lin Da took a deep breath, held Monicaâs face in his hands, and, bending down, [Purified] her unreservedly!
âAh?!â
A greenish-black glow erupted between the two of them.
Bailuo let out a shocked cry and was dumbfounded.
The rapier in her hand dropped to the ground with a clatter as she stared wide-eyed.
Just as the thought, âIs this Lin Da fooling me,â began to form in her head, the next scene struck like a sledgehammer, shattering that notion mercilessly.