Ahibern’s porcelain-white skin was enveloped in a delicate glow from the dim moonlight, with his lovely earlobes hidden beneath his golden hair.
Shuichang raised a hand to sweep Ahibern’s hair back, pinching his little earlobe with his thumb and index finger.
Ahibern felt a slight tickle and asked, “Doug, what are you doing?”
Shuichang flipped over, pinning Ahibern down, his hands braced on either side of Ahibern’s ears. In the absence of light, his eyes glimmered intensely, like a lone wolf fixating on its prey. Under his gaze, Ahibern didn’t dare to move.
Nervously, Ahibern licked his lips, and Shuichang remarked, “Ahi, I think you’ll be asleep all day again tomorrow.”
Before Ahibern could respond, Shuichang had already pulled him into a sea of passion, the sound of crashing waves filling their ears. Beneath him was his beloved, and Shuichang exerted all his strength to please Ahibern throughout the night.
In the morning, Shuichang awoke not tired at all—rather, he felt exceptionally energetic.
It seemed they could eat more seafood in the future; the invigorating effects were indeed remarkable.
The Ilan Empire was coastal, and their destination, Liusen, was renowned across the entire Hux continent for its fishing grounds. The fish from there were shipped to various countries through special channels.
However, the Liusen fishing grounds had not operated for a full two months.
The Spirit Group informed them that everyone there had contracted a curse, and everyone spent their days immersed in the bright spring sent by the Church.
Ahibern expressed his concern, “I hope the green-robed alchemist doesn’t poison the sea.”
Shuichang replied, “The sea is vast. How much poison would he have to put in for the water to be toxic? Didn’t we just eat seafood the day before yesterday?”
Ahibern pondered, “Why have I suddenly become so foolish? It must be because you know everything; I don’t need to think when I’m next to you, and my brain is regressing.”
“Thank you for the compliment; it’s my honor.”
Following the guidance of the Spirit Group, Shuichang took Ahibern directly to the pool containing the bright spring.
As Ahibern looked at the small house nearby, eroded by the sea breeze, he asked, “Aren’t we going to knock on the door and look for the owner of the fishing grounds?”
Shuichang teased, “Just follow me, and you’ll find out.”
Ten minutes later, Ahibern was left shocked as he watched the crowd of people packed tightly in the enormous pool nearby.
“Doug, how did you know they were here?”
“Because I’m smart,” Shuichang confidently claimed credit for the Spirit Group’s input. “If all goes well, everyone from the fishing grounds should be here.”
Ahibern’s clothing was quite distinctive; the wide robe billowed in the sea breeze, and the power of light emanating from him bathed him in a soft golden glow, making him appear sacred and noble, admired by others.
“It’s the Holy Son! The Holy Son has come to save us!” someone suddenly shouted, causing excitement among the people in the pool, who wished to get closer to the Holy Son.
The front-row people were squeezed uncomfortably, their wounds reopening, dark blood splattering onto the water, muddying the bright spring.
“Everyone, please don’t crowd! Those in the front, step out of the bright spring first; the Holy Son will heal you all.”
Shuichang stepped forward to restore order amidst the chaos.
Using some dark power in his speech, people found themselves instinctively obeying him.
“Who is the owner of the fishing grounds? Come forward to help manage the treatment order for the severely ill.”
A young man with less severe decay stepped out of the bright spring, enduring the pain as he stood at a distance, bowing to Ahibern. “Holy Son, I am the owner of the fishing grounds, Brady.”
Ahibern nodded, his voice resonant and reaching every corner, “Brady, you handle the patients, ten at a time. I can only assist you after everyone is healed. Can you endure that?”
Brady, pale but determined, responded, “Holy Son, I have no problem.”
Ahibern acknowledged him with a nod of approval, “Let’s begin.”
Brady selected the ten most severely affected individuals from the bright spring; their skin was nearly entirely decayed, exposing their ghastly white bones, surrounded by a foul stench.
Ahibern showed no disgust as he sat among them to begin chanting. A warm light showered down, and their skin began to regrow. Ahibern started absorbing the toxic gray substances from their bodies one by one.
Having healed thousands before, Ahibern was skilled at this, and the speed of toxin absorption was several times faster than before.
In just ten minutes, he had completely healed the ten patients.
They exchanged glances filled with shock and disbelief, kneeling to express their gratitude to Ahibern.
Ahibern instructed, “Go home and rest well now. Your bodies are still very weak; I recommend you wait half a month before returning to work.”
Watching the resplendent Ahibern, Shuichang felt nothing but joy; this man was his lover, and how lucky he was.
Three hours later, half of the bright spring’s pool was emptied, with Ahibern having healed two hundred individuals.
At this rate, he could heal everyone at the fishing grounds in a single day.
When Ahibern proposed to continue in the afternoon, Shuichang stopped him, saying, “What about your health? You need to rest.”
Perhaps the speed of absorption was greater than that of depletion; Ahibern’s once pristine skin appeared dulled, and his light green eyes were no longer clear.
Ahibern’s lips moved, but Shuichang did not let him refuse, directly addressing Brady, “The Holy Son needs to rest. The remaining patients are in less critical condition, and soaking in the bright spring will not worsen their conditions. A week from now, when the Holy Son has recovered, he will continue to treat you.”
Everyone wanted to survive; watching others leave one by one while waiting another week did not sit well with many. “How can the Holy Son treat us unequally? Is our life not worth as much as theirs? For every additional day, we suffer more pain; can’t the Holy Son think more for us?”
Shuichang shouted loudly, “Shut up! It seems you have forgotten why the Holy Son came here; he came for kindness in his heart, but such kindness is certainly not a reason for you to bully him.”
Brady turned back to reprimand the complainer to stop speaking, then bowed his head to Ahibern, “Holy Son, I apologize. He was just too frightened, so he spoke nonsense. I hope you will not mind.”