“No,” Bai Xuan said with certainty. “Just find a place to sit and expose the location of the curse.”
Lorrain remained silent for two seconds before slowly untying the laces of his shirt and exposing his back to Bai Xuan.
The moment he saw Lorrain’s back, Bai Xuan’s breath hitched, and a flicker of shock flashed through his eyes.
In the center of Lorrain’s back was a hideous, terrifying scar.
It wasn't a wound caused by an ordinary weapon; instead, it looked as if something had violently torn its way out from inside his body, leaving behind a twisted, uneven mark.
Around the scar, several pitch-black lines spread out like pulsating veins, slowly crawling toward his sides.
At the end of each line, a faint, wispy black gas seeped out, carrying a sinister, bone-chilling cold.
“This isn't an ordinary curse,” Lorrain’s voice came from ahead, carrying a hint of uncharacteristic weight. “It was the price I paid years ago to obtain my current Class.”
He paused, his tone dropping even further as he spoke each word deliberately:
“Because it is related to the Demon Race.”
Bai Xuan was stunned again. The Demon Race? In all the time since he had crossed into this world, this was the first time he had heard that term.
In the novels of his previous life, he had seen many descriptions of demons, but he knew nothing about what the Demon Race of this world looked like or what kind of power they possessed.
However, he quickly gathered his thoughts. Now was not the time to think about demons; removing the curse from Lorrain’s body was the most important task at hand.
Sensing his thoughts, Lorrain continued, “Do you still think you can really help me remove it? This is the handiwork of the Demon Race.”
“That’s why I said you might not be able to fully dispel it earlier. It has long since exceeded the scope of an ordinary curse.”
Bai Xuan remained silent for a few seconds, his gaze fixed on the hideous scar and the black lines. His voice was sincere and firm.
“I’ll do my best.”
As he spoke, he slowly raised the Staff of Guidance, hovering the tip directly over the scar on Lorrain’s back. Focusing his mind, he activated the skill 【Purifying Severance】.
Golden light instantly erupted from the tip of the staff, enveloping Lorrain’s back. But the moment the light touched the black gas, Bai Xuan immediately noticed something was wrong.
The mana in his body was draining at an alarming rate—at least three times faster than when he usually used this skill. He had to continuously channel the technique.
The pitch-black gas seemed to possess a life of its own. The moment the golden light touched it, it began to struggle violently.
It clung stubbornly to Lorrain’s wound, refusing to loosen its grip in the slightest, as if desperately resisting the purification of the golden light.
Just as the curse was half-dispelled, Bai Xuan’s heart suddenly tightened. An eerie sensation washed over him, as if something from the deepest depths of the curse had cast a glance at him.
This was definitely not an illusion. The feeling was crystal clear—as if a pair of cold, ruthless eyes had lightly swept over him through this demonic curse from an infinite distance.
Those eyes held no emotion—no malice, no kindness. With just a single glance, they vanished without a trace.
A chill instantly shot up Bai Xuan’s spine and spread through his entire body, making him shudder involuntarily. However, he did not stop for a moment, continuing to drive Purifying Severance, refusing to give up halfway.
Lorrain didn't say a word the entire time, his back remaining straight. But he could clearly feel that the curse, which had tormented him for years like a maggot on a bone, was bit by bit loosening and dissipating.
A trace of disbelief quietly flashed through his eyes. He had never imagined that this seemingly ordinary young Healer could actually shake the curse left behind by the Demon Race.
The mana consumption was simply too fast.
Bai Xuan watched clearly as his mana bar plummeted—from full to two-thirds, then half, then one-third...
Yet, a small, stubborn patch of the curse still clung to the depths of Lorrain’s wound. No matter how he pushed the skill, it was difficult to completely dispel it.
He didn't have time to overthink. Freeing one hand, he quickly pulled the bottle of Medium Mana Recovery Potion from his robe, bit the cork off with his teeth, and tilted his head back to drain the entire bottle.
The moment the potion hit his throat, a warm current exploded in his stomach, spreading through his meridians to his entire body. The mana he had lost began to recover at a visible rate.
This was significantly faster than the recovery speed of a basic potion. Bai Xuan marveled inwardly; such an effect was indeed worth the price.
With his mana slightly replenished, he immediately focused again, increasing his mana output to continue driving Purifying Severance, launching a final assault on the last stubborn patch of the curse.
Time passed minute by minute. He didn't know how long it had been, but finally, the last wisp of black gas completely vanished from Lorrain’s back.
Bai Xuan finally relaxed, withdrawing the Staff of Guidance. However, his feet faltered, and he had to quickly reach out and support himself against the nearby wall to keep from falling.
The mana in his body was almost completely exhausted. Combined with the long period of intense mental focus, the moment he relaxed, he felt as if all his strength had been drained. He barely had the energy to lift his hand.
Ignoring his dignity, Bai Xuan slowly slid down the wall and sat on the floor, recovering his spent mana.
Lorrain slowly put on his shirt, tied the laces, and turned around.
He looked quietly at Bai Xuan, who was slumped on the ground. His gaze was complex and hard to read—there was gratitude, shock, and a hint of inexplicable curiosity.
“You did it.”
His voice carried a hint of uncharacteristic raspiness. Clearly, during the process of dispelling the curse, he had been suppressing its backlash, which had taken a significant toll on him as well.
“I’ve sought out many people for this curse. Clerics from the Church, wandering exorcists, and I even humbled myself to beg hidden experts. But not a single one of them could completely remove it.”
Lorrain fell silent for a moment, his gaze resting on Bai Xuan. His tone gained a few more notes of genuine praise.
“You are very impressive.”
Bai Xuan leaned against the wall for a good while before his breathing gradually stabilized.
He looked up at Lorrain, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, “With your strength, why stay in a border town like this?”
Hearing this, Lorrain gave him a deep look, a flash of surprise in his eyes.
“You can see my Rank? At your current level...” He raised an eyebrow, a clear look of surprise appearing on his tanned face. Then, he spoke slowly, “It seems you truly are extraordinary.”
He walked slowly to Bai Xuan’s side and sat down against the wall as well. The backlash from the curse’s removal was still affecting him, and his current exhaustion was also significant.
“I didn't stay here just to remove the curse.”
Lorrain shook his head gently, his tone becoming somewhat mysterious. “It’s not convenient to tell you the specific reason right now. All you need to know is that I’m staying here waiting for the right opportunity.”
Seeing this, Bai Xuan didn't press further. If Lorrain didn't want to speak, he wouldn't ask.
The room fell into silence, leaving only the sound of the two men breathing as they recovered their mana.
After another long while, Bai Xuan used the wall to support himself as he slowly stood up.
Lorrain leaned against the wall, his gaze on Bai Xuan. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, “I owe you a favor.”
He paused and added, “If you need help with anything in the future that is within my power, feel free to come to me. Also, anything you buy in my shop will be at a ninety percent discount off the cost price.”
Bai Xuan was stunned for a moment. “Huh? A ninety percent discount is the cost price?”
Lorrain only gave him a flat look and said no more.
Bai Xuan shook his head and joked casually, “Then your alchemy is way too profitable. If I had that kind of skill, I’d make my own medicine and save myself a lot of wasted money.”
He privately calculated that if he could learn a secondary Class like alchemy and make his own medicine, he wouldn't have to spend huge sums of money begging others.
But it was just a thought. Such a skill was never something one could learn just by wanting to. Perhaps he could see if he could draw something related to it.
Suddenly, Bai Xuan seemed to remember something and looked up at Lorrain. “Right, while I was dispelling your curse, I used up a bottle of Medium Mana Recovery Potion. You should reimburse me for that, right?”
Lorrain nodded without hesitation. “Of course.”
Taking an inch and asking for a mile, Bai Xuan added, “Also, you just said you’d give me a ninety percent discount. So the two bottles of potion I bought from you earlier—shouldn't those be calculated at that discount too?”
Lorrain looked at him, his eyes filled with obvious speechlessness.
“You certainly aren't being polite.”
Bai Xuan didn't reply, just quietly looking at him with an expression that said it was only natural.
Lorrain sighed helplessly and stood up, walking to the shelf by the wall.
A moment later, he took down ten small dark bottles and placed them gently in front of Bai Xuan. “A refund is impossible. I’ll count the previous purchase as an eighty percent discount, and these ten medium potions will be your compensation. They should last you a while.”
Bai Xuan looked at the potions. Ten medium potions would cost twenty gold coins at full price; this compensation was indeed substantial.
He remembered that he still had two low-quality mana recovery potions he had bought at the market near the dungeon entrance.
Furthermore, as his level increased, his mana recovery speed also improved. As long as he didn't encounter a commission or event that extremely drained his mana, his own mana reserves were sufficient.
This way, these medium potions would last him a long time and save him a large amount of gold coins.
Satisfied, he stowed the potions away. Then, he picked up the Staff of Guidance and handed it to Lorrain. “Also, can you see if you can help me enchant this?”
Lorrain reached out to take the staff. His hand involuntarily dipped—he clearly hadn't expected it to be so heavy—but he quickly stabilized himself.
He examined the shaft carefully, his gaze sweeping over it as his expression gradually became serious.
“This weapon of yours is extraordinary. It uses top-tier materials, but currently, it’s only a Rough Embryo.”
As Lorrain spoke, he handed the staff back to Bai Xuan. “You need to find a high-ranking craftsman first to forge it into a true magical weapon embryo. Once it’s finished, then you can consider enchantment.”
He paused, a hint of regret in his tone. “Besides, my Class and your attributes clash. I don't specialize in the field of enchantment either; I can only add some cheap effects.”
“So I can't help you with the enchantment. You’ll have to find someone else. Because of my Class, I’ve always been used to being a loner and don't know anyone. You’ll have to find someone on your own.”
Bai Xuan took the staff back. He couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed, but he knew the requirements were there, so he could only accept it helplessly.
He stowed the staff and stood up. “That’s about it, then. I’m leaving.”
Lorrain nodded slightly. Bai Xuan pushed open the door, walked through the alchemy shop, and stepped onto the street with a light pace.
It was still early. After a brief thought, he turned toward the White Lion Inn. He hadn't been back there in a long time.
Pushing open the inn’s door, he saw Aunt Martha behind the familiar counter, her head down as she balanced the books.
Hearing the door, she looked up. When she saw it was Bai Xuan, she was stunned for a moment, then a warm smile spread across her face. “Oh, Mr. Bai Xuan! You’re finally back!”
Bai Xuan smiled and nodded in response. “Long time no see, Auntie.”
Aunt Martha quickly walked out from behind the counter, looking him up and down with concern in her voice. “I’ve been worrying about you. Then Kieran came back and said you were doing a commission in the dungeon, so I felt a bit more at ease.”
“You look a bit thinner than before, but your spirit seems better.”
Bai Xuan pulled a coin pouch from his robe, his tone sincere. “Thank you for keeping the room for me all these days. I’ll pay the back rent now.”
Aunt Martha quickly waved her hand and said with a smile, “No need, no need. I’m just happy you’re back. I’ve kept the room for you, and you still have the key. You can just go right up.”
But Bai Xuan still insisted on counting out some silver coins and placing them on the counter. Aunt Martha tried to refuse a few times, but seeing his firm attitude, she eventually accepted them.
She hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, “Mr. Bai Xuan, I wanted to ask... did something happen to Kieran’s team in the dungeon?”
Bai Xuan looked at her worried expression and didn't speak immediately.
Aunt Martha frowned, her tone full of confusion. “Since he came back, he hasn't been himself. He said the team disbanded and he needs to find a new one.”
“Everything was fine before, so why did they suddenly disband? I asked him a few times, but he refused to say.”
Bai Xuan remained silent for a few seconds before speaking calmly, “They lost a companion while doing a commission in the dungeon.”
Aunt Martha was stunned, the smile instantly vanishing from her face.
“I’m not entirely sure of the specific reasons for the team’s dissolution.”
Bai Xuan paused and softened his tone. “But something like this must have been a huge blow to Kieran. It’s better not to press him. When he’s ready to talk, he’ll tell you naturally.”
Aunt Martha nodded slowly, not asking further. A trace of sadness she couldn't hide flickered in her eyes as she whispered, “You’ve had a long journey. Go up and rest.”
Bai Xuan nodded, turned to climb the stairs, and pushed open the familiar door.
Everything in the room was as it had been—clean and tidy, far better than the makeshift inn at the dungeon entrance market.
He walked to the window and pushed it open. The distant bustle of the market drifted in, and wisps of cooking smoke rose slowly in the twilight.
After all his traveling and toil, he was finally back in a place where he could catch his breath.
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