"Mmm… too noisy…" she mumbled, her voice fuzzy.
When she saw Starlaine and Mo Bai, her little mouth puckered. "Little Lain? You're back… and you brought a big rock with you…"
Her mind and memories still retained a much more childlike state.
Starlaine was used to it and stepped forward respectfully at once.
"Master, it is your disciple Starlaine. I've brought Brother Mo Bai to report to you. He has fully recovered."
"Mo Bai? Fully recovered?"
Master Cai tilted her small head, sat cross-legged in a pile of cushions, hugged a rabbit plush toy almost as big as her, and tried to recall. Her eyes gradually cleared.
"Oh… the one who slept for so long… the one who nearly drowned…"
Suddenly she let go of the toy, scrambled out of her nest on all fours, and pattered over barefoot with her pale little feet. She dragged over a white jade staff much taller than her.
"Stand still! Let this master inspect you!"
She lifted the staff with both hands, struggling—its body towered over her, and the green gem at the top swayed.
But on her delicately featured little face, her expression shifted abruptly.
The daze melted away.
From the depths of her dark eyes emerged a serene gaze that had witnessed countless ages, seeing through all things.
The contrast between her childlike appearance and that gaze sent a faint shiver down one's spine.
She slowly circled Mo Bai once, her bare feet stepping soundlessly on the stone slabs.
The emerald gem at the staff's tip rippled with faint, wave-like green rings. Where the ripples passed, Mo Bai felt a gentle yet irresistible force of inspection sweep over him.
Master Cai stopped.
She tilted her small face up and looked quietly at Mo Bai—
not at him, but through him.
"Interesting…" she murmured softly, her childlike voice carrying the weight of a millennium.
"His physical wounds are ninety percent healed. Memory energy flows unobstructed, and his new power has grown rather than diminished."
A smile bloomed on Starlaine's face—then froze instantly.
"But…"
Master Cai lifted her big dark eyes toward Mo Bai, the childishness in her gaze fading, replaced by a blunt, childlike curiosity.
"Big rock… do you still have some really old, really sticky gum stuck in your consciousness sea? Otherwise, a consciousness cracked that badly couldn't be put back together."
Old, sticky gum?
Mo Bai's heart jolted.
Could Master Cai already sense that I held three unusual true Memory Core Fragments, unlike ordinary people?
He remained calm on the surface and bowed slightly.
"This junior knows nothing. My recovery is entirely thanks to Miss Starlaine and Master Cai's miraculous healing."
"Hmph, slippery tongue."
Master Cai wrinkled her little nose, dissatisfied with his answer but too lazy to press further.
Mo Bai's heart trembled.
She turned and staggered back, dragging the staff. But when she reached the pile of cushions and toys, she suddenly stopped.
She turned around, her big dark eyes falling on the still respectful Starlaine, her daze fading into seriousness.
"Little Lain, come here."
"Yes, Master."
Starlaine hurried forward and stood obediently before her.
Master Cai looked up at her, then suddenly sighed—a sigh coming from a child, strangely incongruous.
"You're pure-hearted and hardworking, but your talent… sigh, it's ordinary."
Starlaine's honey-colored eyes dimmed slightly, then brightened again. She nodded firmly.
"This disciple knows! That is why I will work even harder!"
"Diligence is good. Complete this graduation trial. From now on, always remember the Hall of Spiritual Healing's purpose:
Purify the unclean, heal the body and the heart.
Hold fast to your heart. Never forget your origin."
Master Cai stretched out her small hand, and the enormous white jade staff tapped lightly on the ground.
Hearing such words spoken in a childish voice by a little blonde girl felt absurdly surreal, yet Starlaine listened with complete focus, bowing deeply.
"This disciple remembers. I will never forget!"
Master Cai gripped the over-sized staff with both hands and took a deep breath, gathering her memory energy.
The emerald gem at the top began to glow softly.
"Since you have graduated, I shall bestow upon you the two foundational secret arts of this hall—"
She spoke each word slowly, her childish voice carrying unshakable dignity.
"The Glazed Purification Mantra… and the initial formula of the Universal Radiant Light.
These are the foundation of our hall's healing and purification. They require pure intent to drive, and unyielding will to bear.
Focus your mind. Receive it."
The moment her voice fell, the gem blazed with light!
Countless intricate, profound golden and green runes gushed forth like a fountain of light from the void, weaving into a brilliant river that surged toward Starlaine's glabella.
"Ugh—!"
Starlaine grunted, her body trembling violently, eyes snapping shut.
All color drained from her face, turning as pale as paper.
Each rune sinking into her forehead felt like a heavy hammer striking her soul, bringing searing pain and dizziness. Yet within the agony, new realms of understanding were forcibly carved open.
Mo Bai watched from the side, his gaze deepening.
He could clearly sense this was no ordinary skill transfer—it was a true inheritance, forcibly engraving memories deep into the recipient's consciousness sea. It placed an enormous burden on both giver and receiver. A faint trace of exhaustion, carefully hidden, now appeared on Master Cai's childish face.
The inheritance lasted roughly the time it takes for tea to cool.
When the last vibrant green rune slipped into her glabella, the staff's light vanished abruptly.
"Phew…"
Master Cai exhaled softly, the weariness between her brows deepening.
Starlaine, meanwhile, seemed drained of all strength, unable to stand. Her eyelashes trembled weakly, and her body softened, falling straight backward—
Mo Bai stepped forward, his movement natural and swift. He stretched out an arm and steadily caught her falling body.
Her golden hair spilled like a waterfall over his arm, making her pale face seem even fainter, her breathing almost imperceptible.
Strangely, beneath her closed lids, a faint, warm, peaceful green light flowed gently between her brows.
"Silly girl…" she whispered, all playfulness and scolding gone, only pure, soft affection remaining.
Her big dark eyes turned to Mo Bai, who held Starlaine steadily. Her gaze was clear and direct, holding an unmistakable entrustment.
"Big rock."
She called, her voice returning to childishness, yet her tone unusually earnest.
"You saw it yourself. This girl is sincere, stubborn, and hardworking… but her innate foundation is just ordinary."
She paused, her gaze lingering on Mo Bai's calm face, as if weighing her words, then seeming to make up her mind.
"In the future… if you travel together, look after her. Don't let her—"
"Rest assured. To the best of my ability, I will not let her suffer harm."
It was a promise, and also his way of conduct.
At his clear, sincere reply, the last trace of lingering worry in Master Cai's eyes faded slightly.
She said no more, raised her staff, and tapped lightly.
A single thread of green light—finer, softer, and purer than all before—seeped from the staff's tip. Like the gentlest spring rain, it carried soothing, awakening power and slipped lightly into Starlaine's glabella.
"Mm…"
Starlaine let out a soft moan, her long lashes trembling violently. She slowly opened her eyes.
Fully alert in an instant, she realized she was leaning in Mo Bai's arms. A weak flush quickly rose to her pale cheeks.
She hurriedly tried to stand on her own. Though her legs were still weak, she pulled away from his support, staggered, then finally stood shakily.
"This disciple… Starlaine… thanks Master for the inheritance!"
She dragged the staff, turned toward the pile of cushions, and began muttering childishly again, as if the solemn inheritance and heartfelt entrustment had been nothing but a dream.
"So tired… Little Lain finished her task… don't bother me while I sleep…"
"Oh… right… big rock, take this. Your master left it for you. He's not here now. Wait until it glows, then go… Zzz…"