“What?”
After listening to the [Sage]’s explanation, Bai Qiu’s expression changed dramatically.
He was utterly shocked.
Although he hadn’t sensed any killing intent from the snake-woman—which was why he had carelessly allowed her to get close enough to grab him in the first place.
For them to say that she’d actually fallen in love with him?
That was simply unbelievable!
The last time he had entered Zone 2227 to activate the teleportation device, before rescuing Huang Hailing and the others, the two of them had even exchanged words and come to blows.
But none of that mattered.
What mattered was that he had been wearing the MAX Dragonslayer Armor the entire time.
He had never shown his face or even revealed his name.
And now they were telling him that, from that very day onward, she’d fallen hopelessly in love with him, to the point of becoming completely obsessed—spending every day loitering around the teleportation device in the hope of seeing him again…
The whole thing was even more absurd than a man buying a woman a single meal, only for her to later claim she was pregnant with his child and cling to him because of it.
Looking rather embarrassed, the [Sage] explained, “Animiya’s situation is… somewhat different. Among her people, releasing one’s magical aura is how males court females and prove themselves… It was because she was exposed to your magical aura that…”
“No.” Bai Qiu cut him off.
“No matter how you explain it, this is still way too disturbing.”
For the first time since he was born, Bai Qiu experienced an overwhelming urge to flee from a situation as quickly as possible.
“Please, save our district!” the [Sage] pleaded.
“The person who tied the knot must be the one to untie it! Animiya’s completely lovestruck right now. Whatever you say, she’ll listen!”
Led by the [Sage], the reinforcements who had rushed over all looked ready to drop to their knees and beg Bai Qiu.
“Hey! Stop, stop! Can’t we think of another solution?”
Bai Qiu hurriedly stopped them.
He had never imagined that these reinforcements would put on such an utterly surreal performance.
In the end, unable to refuse everyone’s pleas, he reluctantly agreed to go back and trick Animiya into returning to her duties.
Even so, Bai Qiu felt an unprecedented sense of pressure weighing on him.
…
(P.S. This scene is so absurd that you may want to set your brain aside before reading.)
“Hey… snake lady.”
Bai Qiu called out as he slowly approached her.
His entire body was tense.
Inside, the embarrassment was so overwhelming that he wished the ground would swallow him whole.
Although Huang Hailing and the others had already disappeared without a trace—who knew where they had hidden—the feeling of performing this ridiculous act alone made him deeply uncomfortable.
He also had no idea whether the advice the reinforcements had given him would actually work.
At this point, however, there was no clearing his name.
Once the rumors had reached this stage, even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn’t wash him clean.
The dejected snake-woman had been squatting on the ground with her head lowered in despair.
The instant she heard Bai Qiu’s voice, she jerked her head up, her snake-like eyes locking onto him.
Just as Bai Qiu had said, the two of them didn’t even know each other’s names.
Animiya had never seen Bai Qiu’s true face.
She recognized him entirely by his magical aura and scent.
Bai Qiu stared straight into Animiya’s golden eyes, searching for even the slightest trace of deception or pretense.
He still harbored some doubts about what the [Sage] had told him.
However…
When he saw one part grievance, three parts delight, and six parts tenderness reflected in her eyes…
He believed it.
This woman really was just that bizarre.
When Bai Qiu had first appeared, Animiya had been so excited that she’d thrown herself into his arms.
Now that Bai Qiu had removed his armor and approached her voluntarily, she unexpectedly became shy instead.
Her cheeks flushed bright red.
Previously, she’d only sensed Bai Qiu through his magical aura.
Now that she was finally seeing his true face…
She was completely captivated.
“Y-you…”
Animiya blushed so hard she couldn’t even finish a sentence.
Her snake tail swished nervously back and forth across the ground.
Bai Qiu, however, had no intention of giving her the chance to gather herself.
He immediately took control of the conversation.
“I heard you’ve been waiting for me. Can you tell me your name?”
“A… Animiya.”
Her face was now as red as a baboon’s backside, and a faint wisp of steam visibly rose from the top of her head.
“My name is Bai Qiu. I heard that you’ve been neglecting your responsibilities every day just waiting for me. Is that true?”
“I… I…”
Bai Qiu stepped closer.
He gently patted her head and said in a voice full of affection,
“It’s alright. As long as you recognize your mistake and correct it, that’s enough. I know you’re a good girl who listens, aren’t you?”
“M… Mm.”
Animiya’s mind had gone completely blank.
All she felt was overwhelming happiness welling up from the bottom of her heart.
Unable to hold back the question that had occupied her thoughts all this time, she softly asked, “Why… why did it take you so long to come see me, Bai Qiu?”
Completely consumed by her lovestruck state, she was already speaking irrationally.
If I’d known things would turn out like this, I wouldn’t have come here even if someone beat me to death, Bai Qiu grumbled inwardly.
Outwardly, however, his expression remained perfectly calm.
With a tone carrying seven parts sympathy and three parts apology, he said,
“I’m sorry, Animiya. You know that the people of this world are still suffering. And as the greatest hero of all… I can’t afford to stop moving forward.”
Under Bai Qiu’s gentle tone and tender caresses, Animiya was completely drawn into his rhythm.
Whatever he said, she followed without question.
“Then… will we be able to see each other again?”
With tears glistening in her eyes, Animiya looked at him.
After Bai Qiu’s persuasion, she had already agreed to properly fulfill her duties as a supporter and work diligently every day.
Bai Qiu directly borrowed a famous line from a certain two-character game:
“We still haven’t said goodbye. So I won’t consider this a farewell.”
“Don’t worry,” he continued, “I’ll defeat every calamity and save this world. When that day comes… we’ll weave all of our wishes together.”
As he spoke, he was essentially selling her a dream.
Bai Qiu secretly glanced at Animiya.
Looks like I’ve almost finished my lines… If she’s still standing here afterward…
An idea suddenly struck him.
“So,” he asked, “do you understand everything I’ve said?”
“Yes! I understand!”
“Good.”
“Then hurry up and get back to work.”
That final sentence nearly made all the supporters hiding nearby leap out of their hiding places.
In their minds, the conversation should have ended around the heartfelt part.
The emotional exchange before that was one thing…
But the abrupt shift in tone at the end was simply too jarring!
Even Animiya froze for a moment.
Then she nodded firmly.
She took off the necklace hanging around her neck.
Attached to it was a small medicine vial.
Holding it out to Bai Qiu, she spoke before he could ask.
“This is the secret medicine of my people—the Panacea of Ten Thousand Poisons. It can purify every poison in the world, along with any negative effects they cause.”
“Please take care of yourself.”
“I’ll always be waiting for you!”
With those words, Animiya turned and left.
Even so, she looked back after almost every step, her gaze lingering on Bai Qiu, who stood there silently.
“…Phew.”
Bai Qiu hung the necklace with its tiny vial around his own neck.
I’ll just consider this compensation for the emotional damage I’ve suffered…
He once again equipped the Heavenly Aegis Armor and Concealment Cloak.
His magical aura burst forth in an instant.
The next second—
Boom!
Amid an explosive sonic crack, Bai Qiu disappeared without a trace.
Animiya stood there blankly.
A chilly breeze swept past, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around her shoulders.
“…”
A pure white flower drifted over on the wind and gently caught in her hair.
The sight rekindled the light in her eyes, which had only moments before been clouded with sadness.
— The end of the Chapter–
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