Divine Crest

As she spoke, her hand clutching the doll trembled even more violently, her fingers tensing so hard they nearly crushed it out of shape.

Her voice was broken, filled with both desperate justifications and an undeniable plea for mercy.

Bai Xuan did not interrupt. He simply stood there in silence, his gaze heavy as he watched her, taking in every bit of her breakdown and helplessness.

She screamed for a long time until her voice gradually grew faint, finally dissolving into a slurred murmur.

It was as if she were trying to hypnotize herself, or perhaps offering a futile defense.

“The village is gone... everyone is dead...” Her voice grew softer and softer, barely a whisper.

“It wasn't my fault... It really wasn't my fault...”

Bai Xuan frowned slightly.

He suddenly recalled the words he had accidentally overheard while standing outside the old priest's room back in Klara Village.

Was this fragile, shivering girl curled up in the corner of the bed really the same person who had harbored such stubbornness and arrogance in her eyes that day?

Bai Xuan sighed softly. He knew that she was completely unreceptive to such direct questioning and shock; he had to try a different approach.

A treatment method better suited to someone of this different world, and one that could truly reach her.

To use this method to deceive—no, not deceive. This was a white lie.

A benevolent redemption, yes.

He slowly raised his hand. In an instant, the golden light of Holy Light Catalyst welled from his palm, wrapping him in a soft, radiant glow.

The light was not blindingly intense, but in this dim, oppressive room, it shone brightly enough to dispel most of the gloom.

The golden light drifted onto Julia. She instinctively shrank back before slowly raising her head.

Her eyes squinted slightly against the light, yet she kept them fixed in Bai Xuan's direction, a hint of confusion hidden in their depths.

The man before her was like a completely different person from just moments ago, exuding a sacred and warm aura from head to toe.

Bai Xuan raised his other hand. The golden light of Purifying Severance drifted toward Julia, showering her with tiny, sparkling specks of light.

The gloom and despair that had weighed on her for over half a month began to slowly dissipate.

Julia lowered her head slightly, staring at her hands. She was completely stunned, her face a mask of utter disbelief.

“I am purging the impurities from your body,” Bai Xuan said. His voice remained calm, but it carried a touch of warmth.

“The physical wounds, the fears deep in your heart—I will banish them all for you.”

He opened his arms and leaned down slightly to meet her gaze. There was no blame in his eyes, only a resolute tenderness.

“It will hurt a little. Bear with it, and it will be over soon.”

The moment the words left his lips, the golden glow of Holy Light Catalyst flared once more, completely enveloping her body.

Immediately after, Pain Empowerment followed, slowly seeping into her body.

The scratches and bruises of varying depths on her skin, along with scars she couldn't even remember getting, began to heal and vanish at a visible rate.

Julia's body suddenly tensed. Her brow furrowed tightly as a muffled gasp escaped her throat, the pain so sharp she almost cried out.

But in the next second, Pain Empowerment gently drew away the sharp pain, transforming it into a warm, soothing energy.

It flowed slowly through her body, dispelling all the unease within her.

The pain dissolved, replaced by a warm, sun-like energy that spread through her limb by limb.

The suffocating weight that had congested her chest for over half a month felt as if it were forcefully shattered, vanishing without a trace.

The golden light gradually faded, and the room returned to its former dimness, but the previous oppression and coldness were entirely gone.

She looked down at her body. All her wounds had vanished, and her skin was smooth and delicate, as though she had never been injured.

Only a warm current flowed slowly within her, like ice that had been frozen inside her for a long time finally melting away completely, warming every inch of her skin and every single cell.

She slowly raised her head, her eyes shining intensely as she stared at the man before her, who still bore a faint golden radiance.

The golden light on his white robe looked like gilded trim, accentuating his tall, straight posture and that familiar yet foreign face.

She recalled that afternoon when the sun was bright and the breeze was gentle. The white sheets had fluttered in the wind, the pristine fabric like outspread wings, softly outlining his striking features and tall silhouette.

Though it had been but a fleeting glimpse, the image had been etched into her heart like an exquisite painting, never to be erased.

The person in her memory and the man radiating holy light before her eyes gradually merged into one, becoming indistinguishable.

Her lips parted slightly, her voice as light as a feather, carrying a hint of a sob and sheer disbelief.

“An angel...?”

Bai Xuan did not answer, merely watching her in silence.

Seeing the light gather in her eyes once more and the deeply buried terror slowly fade, he knew she had finally regained her sanity.

Bai Xuan nodded. After all, if he was going to put on a show, he had to play the part to the end.

He needed to give Julia an explanation she could comprehend. As long as she was willing to believe it, he would play along.

“I am the emissary of the Goddess of Radiance, the deity of compassion and redemption,” he said, keeping his voice low and steady.

“Meeting you in the village last time was actually a trial from the Goddess.”

With that, he pulled the holy crest from his robes. The golden light still clung to its surface, making it shine so brightly that its original color was obscured.

Julia's gaze locked onto the crest, her eyes filling with a growing light of deep reverence.

“You have passed the trial,” Bai Xuan spoke slowly. “From now on, you shall receive the blessing of the Goddess.”

Julia froze for a few seconds before slowly sliding off the bed and onto her knees.

Clasping her hands against her chest, she slowly closed her eyes. Her lips parted slightly as she muttered a quiet prayer, her expression pious and solemn.

Bai Xuan was taken aback instead. He had not expected Julia to respond in such a solemn manner.

Right at that moment, a bizarre sensation suddenly descended from the distant heavens.

It was not a sound, nor was it wind, but a profound and indescribable sensation.

It felt like a gentle gaze piercing through endless time and space, softly landing on him.

Bai Xuan's body instantly froze. There was not a shred of malice in that gaze, only an absolute tenderness—like a mother gazing at her child, or drifting clouds gently draping over mountains.

The sensation was fleeting, passing so quickly it felt like a mere illusion.

Just then, the holy crest in his hand suddenly lit up.

Bai Xuan looked down at the holy crest in his hand. The originally dull, dusty piece of copper was now radiating light.

The light radiating from it was no longer the brilliant gold of his Holy Light Catalyst, but a warm, gentle hue, like moonlight resting at the bottom of a clear pool.

As the light slowly receded, the copper piece had completely transformed.

Its shape and the patterns along its edges remained the same, but it had changed from a dull copper color to a warm gold, as if washed clean of all dust by a fresh spring.

Holding it in his palm, he could clearly feel a faint, lingering warmth slowly seeping into his fingertips.

He instinctively glanced at his status panel, and his entire body instantly went rigid.

【Divine Crest of Light: Transformed after being touched by a trace of the Goddess of Radiance's aura. Grants a minor blessing from the Goddess, triggering Holy Light Rebirth in times of crisis (forces resurrection once upon death).】

This is... resurrection? It actually allows me to resurrect once?

Bai Xuan stared intently at the words, his mind in complete disarray as he instinctively looked up at the ceiling.

That gaze just now... could it really have been the Goddess of Radiance?

He had only used her name to tell a white lie. How could it have actually drawn the attention of such an existence?

Sensing trouble, a cold sweat broke out across his back.

He wasn't even from this world to begin with, and his body harbored taboo things like a Subordinate Contract, a Magic Soul Seed, and the Evil God scales...

Did the Goddess see any of those things?

He held his breath and waited. One second, two seconds... his surroundings remained quiet, with no anomalies occurring.

Bai Xuan slowly clenched his fist, suppressing the panic in his heart, and decided not to dwell on it any further.

Whether the Goddess hadn't noticed or simply didn't care to intervene, at least for now, he had an extra trump card to keep himself alive.

For a loner like him, a second life meant a safety net.

Kneeling on the floor, Julia seemed to sense something and slowly raised her head.

She happened to see the golden Divine Crest hovering in midair, its soft light overflowing like moonlight rippling across calm water, gentle and holy.

Her eyes instantly welled with tears, her lips trembling uncontrollably, her gaze filled with profound emotion.

“The Goddess...” her voice was a mere whisper, a mix of disbelief and deep, heartfelt gratitude.

Seeing her state, Bai Xuan gently raised his hand and retrieved the hovering Divine Crest back into his palm.

“You must never speak of what happened today to anyone,” he warned solemnly.

“As the emissary of the Goddess, my identity must not be casually revealed. You must not mention a single word of this, not even to your father.”

Julia nodded repeatedly, her eyes shining with the bright light of someone who had been entrusted with a sacred secret.

Bai Xuan slowly lowered his hand, and the golden light enveloping him receded layer by layer like a tide returning to the deep sea, leaving no trace behind.

He carefully tucked the transformed holy crest—no, it should be called a Divine Crest now—into his robes, returning to his usual appearance as a white-robed healer holding a staff.

But in Julia's eyes, that light had never truly faded. It had merely merged quietly into his body, leaving an invisible, holy aura draped around him.

“Go back and sit on the bed,” Bai Xuan said, his tone softening slightly.

Julia obediently did as she was told, slowly climbing back onto the bed.

Bai Xuan turned, walked to the door, and gently pulled it open.

The moment a crack appeared, Edmund eagerly squeezed his way in.

He cast a fleeting glance at Bai Xuan before his eyes immediately locked onto Julia on the bed, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

“My daughter...”

Sitting by the edge of the bed, Julia looked at her father's anxious face and gave a gentle nod, her eyes offering reassurance.

Edmund's eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up but held back by sheer willpower.

“Fortunately, I have not failed my mission,” Bai Xuan said slowly from behind him.

“The young lady has fully recovered, and her physical wounds have healed. However, she is still a bit weak and will need to rest and recuperate for a while.”

Edmund nodded repeatedly and rushed to the bedside. He reached out to touch his daughter, but fearing he might startle her, his hand hovered in midair before he ultimately withdrew it.

Seeing her father like this, a soft smile played on Julia's lips. It was no longer the spoiled, naive smile of her past, but a gentle, mature one.

“I'm fine now, Father,” she said softly, her voice steady.

Those words shattered the last of Edmund's defenses, and his tears finally spilled over.

Sniffling, he quickly raised his broad hand to wipe away the tears, rubbing his reddened eyes.

He then used his sleeve to cover most of his face, forcing himself to calm his raging emotions.

As the head of the family, he was long accustomed to maintaining a calm and authoritative demeanor in public.

Even though his heart was filled with the joy and lingering fear of having his daughter back, he did not wish to lose his composure in front of Bai Xuan and the servants.

Only the slight tremor in his hands betrayed the fact that his mind was not yet completely at peace.

Standing at the doorway, Jesse quietly watched the scene unfold inside before turning to look at Bai Xuan, a complex look entering his eyes.

Bai Xuan paid no attention to this. He stood to the side, his hand still clenching the Divine Crest, feeling the lingering warmth wrapped around his fingertips.

Edmund waved over the maid waiting outside and said in a deep voice, “Clean up the young lady's room thoroughly, and prepare some nourishing food for Julia.”

The maid quickly replied, “Yes, Master.” With that, she entered the room quietly to get to work.

Edmund stayed by Julia's side for a short while, offering a few words of advice on her recovery, before turning and making a welcoming gesture toward Bai Xuan.

“Mr. Bai Xuan, please follow me to the parlor. Allow me to show you some hospitality.”

Bai Xuan nodded slightly and replied softly, “There is no need for such politeness, Patriarch. It was merely a small effort.”

The three of them walked out of the room together. Edmund cast one last reluctant glance back before turning to leave.

As they walked back to the parlor, his steps were much lighter than before.

The smile on Edmund's face never faded. After a long period of constant setbacks, something had finally gone right today.

He turned and instructed Jesse, “Bring the Starlight Wood.”

Jesse stepped forward in response and handed over the box containing the Starlight Wood.

Bai Xuan took the box and opened it to take a quick look. Inside was the same familiar wood, its dark surface embedded with tiny, sparkling specks of starlight, exactly as it had been when he first saw it.

He didn't take the box, instead storing the Starlight Wood directly into his Space Ring.

In his current situation, there was no longer any need to hide his capabilities.

Edmund would never harbor ill intentions over a mere Space Ring.

Even if Edmund did, Bai Xuan had more than enough confidence to face him.

Edmund's eyes flickered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and shook his head with a smile.

“You are indeed a man of great wealth, sir. But that is to be expected; with your strength, such things are likely nothing out of the ordinary to you.”

Bai Xuan did not reply, simply watching him silently as he waited for him to bring up the next matter.

Seeing Bai Xuan's attitude, Edmund's smile faded, and his expression turned serious. “Next is the plan to intercept the Cross family's slave caravan.”

“The caravan's route is currently unconfirmed, so we can only dispatch more men to scout for information in different directions.”

With that, he turned to Jesse and said crisply, “Go and fetch another hundred gold coins for the gentleman.”