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“It’s been a long time since I’ve come back here.”
Downtown.
A certain closed chamber.
Anna looked at the dusty instruments in the dim room and sighed softly.
“I hope they can still be used.”
With a wave of her hand, a faint magical force rippled through the air.
A gentle breeze blew in from outside, scattering the accumulated dust, which was then expelled by the reactivated exhaust fans and vented outside.
Very quickly, the instruments that had long been unused became spotless again.
Without much sentiment, Anna immediately set to work.
She took out various strange materials, including the peculiar black branch she had purchased while shopping with Mu’en earlier in the day.
The delicate instruments were activated, and she operated them skillfully.
Decomposition, melting, extraction, mixing.
As if she had practiced countless times, none of Anna’s actions were excessive. Before long, a newly made magic potion appeared in her hand.
Finally, she took out a small container the size of a knuckle and dripped the crystal-clear liquid inside into the potion.
The surface of the magic potion rippled, the ice-blue liquid slowly swaying inside the transparent container.
Anna stared intently at the potion, as though confirming something.
“There’s still no change in the potion that there should be; it rather seems like something unrelated has been added.”
Anna sighed softly but did not feel too disheartened.
She had foreseen this result, or rather, had already experienced it many times.
Actually, this potion carefully concocted through complex procedures was not very important; it was merely to maximize a particular effect.
What truly mattered was that single drop of clear liquid.
“But it’s worth a try, isn’t it?”
Holding a faint glimmer of hope, Anna gulped down the potion.
She then rolled up her sleeves and calmly stared at the black scales that had inexplicably grown on her arm again.
Five minutes.
Ten minutes.
Half an hour.
Two hours.
Anna seemed frozen like a statue, silent as she waited for the dawn of hope.
But as the midnight bells rang, all she saw was an even deeper night.
“Of course, it’s not possible, is it?”
As her fingertips caressed the cold scales, a trace of ironic smile emerged on Anna’s lips.
“What exactly am I expecting, isn’t it already clear? True love is just a deceptive falsehood meant to fool innocent children.”
“Then I’ll pin my hopes on tangible things.”
She casually threw the container that still held a trace of luminous liquid into the trash, as if severing all her yearnings with this act.
Then she turned away, proceeding to a shop that looked extremely old.
The shop sold some curious and strange items. The most prominent place showcased lifelike little girl figurines, life-sized statues of mature women, and “Holy Maiden Album 3.0.”
There were no other customers in the shop. On the rocking chair behind the counter slept an old man.
The old man was very aged, and through the faint starlight from outside the window, one could vaguely see the age spots on his skin.
He seemed just as decayed as the shop itself.
Anna gave the old man a look, then took out a wad of bills and placed it on the counter. After a long silence, she finally spoke:
“Same as always, please help me deliver this money to the orphanage.”
No response.
The old man seemed to be asleep.
Anna said nothing more, left the money there, and prepared to leave.
“When you went to see them secretly yesterday, why didn’t you give it to them yourself?” The old, hoarse voice suddenly spoke as she was about to leave.
Anna paused for a moment, not turning around.
“Someone like me would be better off not involving myself with them too much.”
“Is that so?”
The old man opened his dim eyes and gazed at the particularly lonely figure under the moonlight, his glance full of pity.
“Anna, by persistently locking up your heart, you can never receive redemption.”
“Redemption?”
Anna laughed bitterly and took another step, once again walking into the profound darkness.
“Who would bring redemption to someone like me, a monster?”
…
…
Noon.
Mu’en was awoken by the piercing sunlight seeping through the cracks in the curtain.
“Is it already this time?”
Mu’en glanced at the clock instinctively, and his thick drowsiness immediately vanished.
Actually, after spending the whole night in a fierce battle, he only managed to fall asleep in the morning, a few short hours ago. Speaking of rest, it was far from sufficient. Last night’s exhaustion had surpassed the toll of battling enemies for a hundred rounds.
But he still had things to do today, and a true man would naturally not forever indulge in the comfort of intimacy.
Mu’en slightly moved his body and discovered that his entire left side felt unusually tingly. Upon looking down, he saw An, who even in her sleep, clung to him like an octopus.
“Such a clingy person.”
Mu’en chuckled helplessly and gently pried An’s supine form away.
However, when skin-on-skin contact conveyed that indescribably exquisite sensation, combined with the endless allure revealed from beneath the covers, Mu’en almost lost control once more.
Thankfully, Mu’en recited the quieting mantra in his mind a few times, successfully suppressing that passionate fire.
Come on, if this continued, they’d end up not getting out of bed for three days and three nights.
Fortunately, An’s unusually deep sleep indicated that even for her, last night was extremely tiring. After all, at present, An’s physical strength still couldn’t match that of Mu’en, who had been training for more than two months and underwent tempering in the Mercury Well.
“To grow stronger is truly a pressing matter; otherwise, I might be drained dry by this little fairy before even being killed by an evil god.”
Mu’en sighed, quickly got up, and started dressing.
After An’s obsessive tendencies were remedied, he needn’t hold back as much. After all, if they could always return to the Duke’s Mansion, why cling to this fleeting intimacy?
As he thought this, Mu’en couldn’t help but take another close look at An’s composed and dignified face, which remained unchanged even in her sleep.
After the sickly desire faded, this face truly became extraordinarily pure and beautiful, immensely captivating.
“You be a good girl; I will come to see you often.”
Mu’en affectionately caressed An’s face, smiled gently, and then quietly tiptoed out of the room.
…
An abruptly opened her eyes and looked toward the just closed door.
“Young Master.”
A blissful smile graced her lips as she touched her cheek, relishing the lingering essence of Mu’en, lost in nostalgia.
But pleasant memories were fleeting, and there were also matters that needed her attention.
She got up and walked to the mirror.
In the mirror, traces of their intimate encounter still lingered on her body, like some sort of a mark, making her feel genuine satisfaction deep within.
But after a moment, her serene face became cold.
Just as ice gradually crystallizing.
She recalled yesterday.
At that time, she didn’t take action not because she didn’t want to.
It’s because she sensed a dangerous presence, though she didn’t know the source. Still, she couldn’t guarantee that in that situation, she wouldn’t harm the Young Master.
So, she chose to temporarily leave.
But that didn’t mean she didn’t care about other women by the Young Master’s side.
“It seems, it’s necessary for me to become stronger.”
An fixed her gaze on her own hands.
The Divine Chosen has potent abilities, but they’re not invincible.
For example, the white sword the Young Master wielded last night – she couldn’t control it.
But as the Young Master became more outstanding, there would certainly be some lecherous women attracted to him, like moths to a flame.
That would never be allowed.
The second clause in the house rules for servants of the Campbell family: keep the master’s surroundings clean and free of impurity!
Therefore…
“You, wait a bit, Young Master.”
An’s serene face again took on a pathological fervor and desire.
All metallic objects inside the room resonated in unison, sensing her resolute will.
“I’ll make sure to completely eradicate those vulgar insects who flirt around you!”
