Chapter 25: The Water from the Sacred Spring

“This is the place.”

Song Ze climbed the stone wall with difficulty, using an ancient jar he had picked up to fill it with the clear water flowing down from the statue of the deity.

The water here still carried traces of divine power. Drinking it not only quenched thirst but also strengthened the body and increased experience… Unfortunately, this effect only worked the first time, and after a few draws, the source would dry up. Otherwise, Song Ze would have stayed here drinking until he maxed out his level.

As he descended from the wall, he stumbled and nearly fell, barely catching hold of a nearby vine to avoid being scratched.

Then it struck him.

“Oh crap, wait—”

But it was too late. The surrounding vines shot toward him with lightning speed, wrapping around his body.

Song Ze tried to tear them off, but he couldn’t — after all, even though he had reached level 35, he was still fragile in this dungeon!

However, with the God’s Inheritance Mark as a cheat, he wouldn’t be directly bewitched… This was already an outright bug exploit.

But perhaps due to their shared origin, the mark didn’t target the vine itself, foiling Song Ze’s plan to escape using the mark’s power!

“Shit, this is bad!” Song Ze’s face paled. He knew all too well how terrifying and disgusting these temple vines were. He had fallen victim to them before in the Dark Forest, and now, in the temple complex, he had carelessly triggered them again…

And this time, he was completely alone! Had he avoided so many dangers only to die at the hands of these vines?

****

The clergy stood reverently nearby, not daring to look. They knew full well that they had only survived this far thanks to the Saint; otherwise, with their strength, they would have perished in the earlier temples.

With the Saint’s power, they could freely walk through non-central areas of the ruins…

But the central area, which should hold the inheritance, was shrouded in a magical barrier that even the Saint couldn’t enter.

The main reason for this expedition was to avoid arousing Song Ze’s suspicion and to possibly find clues missed in previous surveys, so they were exploring again from the beginning. Now, after reaching this courtyard, the destination was close.

The Saint closed their eyes, sensing more clearly what Song Ze was doing alone.

In their mind appeared an image: Song Ze wrapped tightly in white vines, struggling to breathe, a flush on his fair cheeks, his torn clothes revealing glimpses of snow-white skin — like a poor, helpless little animal caught by its natural predator.

Yet even in this dire moment, as if seeking salvation, he gasped out a name with all his strength, knowing miracles were impossible, but still calling, “S-saint…”

“Save… save me…”

The Saint opened their eyes. Their pale blue gaze was icy.

“Damn it.” The low voice sounded.

In the next instant, the ground around them shattered violently, as if struck by a tremendous force. The clergy cried out in alarm.

****

Song Ze felt the entire temple floor shake.

In the next moment, the vines binding him disintegrated — no, not just shattered, but turned to dust, without even the usual light particles marking the death of monsters.

“What just happened? Why did the Saint’s affection increase? What happened while I was away…”

Song Ze stood up, still shaken, looking behind him. Could it be that his cheat had activated again?

But none of that mattered now; he had to get back quickly! He had worked hard to raise the Saint’s affection to 35… and now it was 45. He didn’t want to lose all that progress.

Before fleeing, he grabbed the water jar from the ground. He couldn’t forget his purpose here!

****

When Song Ze hurried back, he was shocked to see the ground was cracked, as if something had struck it.

Everyone seemed terrified, as if they had witnessed something horrifying.

“What happened here? Did a powerful monster appear while I was gone?”

But regardless, it seemed the situation had been resolved, so he shouldn’t dwell on it.

Song Ze clutched the water jar and quickly walked toward the Saint.

The Saint looked different from usual, but Song Ze couldn’t pinpoint how. She looked at him and said softly, “What were you doing?”

Because of what had just happened, Song Ze’s clothes were torn in several places, his soft hair was disheveled, and his ankles were covered in wounds.

The boy’s eyes were glistening with pain, yet they curved warmly, his smile captivating.

He held out the jar filled with spring water and said gently, “Saint, please drink some water.”

The Saint’s eyes swept over his injuries, and her expression darkened.

Everyone present tensed, their breathing heavy.

This Song Ze, not even a full paladin yet, dared to offer water to the Saint in such a vessel — a complete affront to her dignity!

In normal times, anyone who did such a thing would have been dragged away. If not for Song Ze’s usefulness and his previous actions, he wouldn’t be standing here.

Besides, how could the noble Saint casually drink water from an unknown source? What if it was poisoned?

The Saint was already in a bad mood, and now Song Ze was adding fuel to the fire.

Finally, someone couldn’t hold back, ignoring the bishop’s orders, and coldly glared at Song Ze. “Do you know what you’re doing?! That is the—”

The Saint, who usually presented herself as a delicate maiden, spoke for the first time in a chilling voice: “Withdraw.”

The speaker’s face turned pale, and he immediately knelt, realizing his words had displeased the Saint.

The others thought, ‘That’s only natural. The Saint wouldn’t allow others to make decisions for her, even if offended, she would punish them herself. And this Song Ze was special… She probably wouldn’t be too harsh.’

Then, under everyone’s gaze, the Saint turned, glanced at the water jar, then focused on Song Ze’s face. She said gently, “You’re hurt. Let me take a look.”

[Quest target affection +10, current affection 55.]

Song Ze: “!!” It seemed his hard work in fetching water had paid off! Wonderful!

It had already broken 50; twenty or thirty affection meant a good relationship, but fifty was the point where feelings began to change (Song Ze didn’t want to recall Idis’s matter). At this level of affection, even a small gesture or word could make the target’s affection skyrocket. The conquest was almost complete!

Everyone: “!!” The Saint was not only not angry but also so gentle!

“No need, my injuries aren’t that serious—”

Before Song Ze could finish, the Saint pulled him over. To his surprise, he couldn’t break free, feeling a power he couldn’t resist… He never expected the delicate maiden to possess such strength.

Then he was pressed onto a nearby step.

The Saint gently touched the wounds on his face and body, her expression earnest, making Song Ze hold his breath. The faint tingling sensation from the healing made him feel strange.

Soon, her hand reached his ankle. Song Ze tried to say something, “Saint, you don’t have to—”

But the Saint lifted his ankle without allowing refusal, making Song Ze’s face flush bright red. He pressed his chest and couldn’t utter a word.

What was happening? Why was the Saint suddenly so proactive? Was it because of the high affection? But it felt like their roles were reversed…

The Saint looked down. The thin ankle bore vine scratches, shocking yet strangely alluring, tempting one to follow the red marks and taste the snow-white skin, wondering if the blood was as sweet.

Held in her grasp, it seemed that with a little pressure, it would snap.

Even now, he still depended on her like this. What a foolish idiot.

Finally, her hand gently brushed over it. A flash of light, and Song Ze’s wounds healed completely.

“Next time, don’t take such risks alone,” the Saint said softly.

[Quest target affection +10, current affection 65.]

“Mm!” Song Ze nodded, once again marveling at the Saint’s gentleness… How much of this affection had come from her healing him?

Surely, his injuries had shown his bravery!

After a short rest, the rest of the journey went smoothly. They encountered no danger, easily dealing with the few monsters, until they reached the outer boundary of the central area.

Here, a huge translucent barrier was clearly visible, isolating everything and preventing entry into the innermost temple.

Song Ze held his breath, knowing the time for the inheritance trial had come.

Within this barrier, almost all magic would fail, and almost no means could be used. Moreover, there were various mists that would lead one into illusions, blurring the line between reality and fantasy.

And the key to the inheritance lay in that illusion!

“Song Ze, I leave it to you now.” The Saint looked over gently.

“Saint, leave it to me,” Song Ze vowed, already planning how to escape with the Saint after obtaining the inheritance, freeing her from the evil church’s control.

The Saint smiled, and her boneless hand rested on his, then she held his hand directly.

Song Ze’s face instantly turned red. He stammered, “S-Saint, we…”

“Who knows what dangers lie inside? This is safest,” the Saint said softly.

“Mm!” Song Ze nodded, hesitated, then carefully held her hand back, not daring to look in her direction. The inheritance mark on his back grew hot.

[Quest target affection +5, current affection 70.]

As they passed through the barrier, a system prompt sounded. Song Ze felt blissful — but then he noticed… the hand holding his seemed… seemed… bigger?!

He instinctively turned his head and met the gaze of the person beside him.

Silver hair, a holy aura, pale blue eyes like the clearest lake — a young man of breathtaking beauty.

Song Ze: “…”

Song Ze: “?!?”

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