Chapter 222: Almost Really Gone (5K Bonus 55 56)

「……」

This was a very strange feeling—Herbert could clearly see his own body.

That exquisite shell was lying quietly on the ground, hands folded across its chest, as if it had fallen asleep.

The white-haired youth's eyes were tightly shut, his long lashes casting faint shadows on Bai Xi's skin.

His face was calm and serene, without the slightest trace of pain or struggle.

A head of originally smooth white hair scattered casually around him, like a halo of silver light.

His body lay stretched out comfortably, limbs naturally relaxed, just like a child in the middle of a sweet dream.

And beside his physical body, bright flowers had been planted all around; their petals still carried morning dew, which, under the sunlight, resembled translucent pearls refracting a seven-colored glow.

The flowers clustered together, and as the breeze brushed past, they swayed gently, making a soft rustling sound, as if whispering to one another—or as if guarding this sleeping body.

The scene was indeed beautiful, but it was also genuinely strange…

It felt like attending his own funeral.

"Hey, could you please stop planting flowers next to me? This feeling is really weird."

Herbert, in his soul state, called out helplessly, stopping Fu Leimei from continuing her bizarre act of planting fresh flowers beside him.

"But these flowers really look great! They go so well with you!" the mermaid Young Lady argued her case, trying to win the right to keep planting.

But she was firmly rebuffed by Herbert.

"No, stop planting. Be good!"

I'm just soul-projecting, not being carried out for burial!

My soul just left, it didn't really leave!

"…Fine."

Fu Leimei was still a little reluctant, and secretly tucked away the flower seeds she had painstakingly gathered… to plant them again after he was gone.

"Ahem!"

To keep Herbert from noticing this little detail, Fu Leimei coughed once, then proactively said: "Looks like you understand what I'm thinking."

"Yes. As long as you maintain the soul-projection state, the time you can spend outside can be extended."

Soul projection and spirit-body transformation are somewhat different.

Although both put oneself into a spirit-body state, soul projection doesn't require expending extra power to alter the body's form, which can greatly extend the duration the spirit body can be maintained.

Of course, the risk is also higher—once danger is encountered, there's no way to revert to the physical state, and the strength one can bring to bear isn't much.

But for Herbert, this really wasn't a problem.

Although most of his abilities were invested in his physical body, losing it might seem to weaken him considerably.

But even Herbert at full strength didn't mean much against the Misty Mountains.

Still just as insignificant.

A weak ant and a slightly stronger ant make no real difference to a human.

And he still had two bodyguards on him.

The centaur heroic spirit Sophia could bring out legendary-tier combat power, as well as… a certain jokester god hiding in the shadows slacking off.

Herbert clearly remembered that She had claimed long ago that She could briefly burst out with legendary-level ability.

And after devouring so many new monster materials, could Her strength possibly not have improved at all?

Not to mention the distant past—Nie Nasha had crushed Kreti with ease back then.

Exact combat power unknown, but estimated to be above Sophia's.

Fu Leimei wasn't aware of this; she had simply placed her hopes on Sophia.

She nodded at Sophia, and the latter, full of vigor, nodded back firmly.

"I swear to defend my lord unto death!"

Fu Leimei smiled in satisfaction, then continued to Herbert:

"Sophia can help protect your soul, and your body—during this period—will be left in my care."

Protecting the body is very important.

For those who soul-project, there is one absolutely vital principle—as long as the body isn't destroyed, returning to it on time won't result in serious injury.

Soul projection is itself an extremely peculiar and dangerous state. Once the soul leaves the body, the body is like a ship temporarily without a helmsman, quietly moored in place.

At this moment, the body becomes especially fragile; it has lost the soul's guidance and protection, and its defense against the outside world is nearly nil.

However, as long as the body isn't damaged, it is like a safe harbor, awaiting the soul's return.

Fu Leimei clenched her small fist tightly and said earnestly:

"With me here, you can rest easy! I absolutely won't let anyone do anything to it."

Her firm assurance put Herbert very much at ease.

"Alright, with you here, I can rest easy… hm?"

Can he really rest easy?

Why does that sound so off?

Anyone else?

Herbert looked at his body lying quietly on the ground, then at the earnest-faced mermaid Young Lady, narrowed his eyes, and said slowly:

"Not just other people… you, either—don't do anything rash, okay?"

"……"

In response to Herbert's warning, Fu Leimei merely silently turned her head to one side—as if she'd gone intermittently deaf.

And this reaction undoubtedly betrayed what was in her heart.

What are you going to do to my body!?!?

You shrimp-headed mermaid spirit!

"Sigh!"

Herbert let out a deep sigh, half-helplessly wanting to pat Fu Leimei on the head, but his palm passed right through her body.

At that moment, Fu Leimei turned back, stuck her tongue out at him with a smile.

"Hehe~ If you don't want me to do something to your body, then come back sooner!"

Returning to the flesh on time is the key to the soul leaving the body without harm.

The time the soul spends outside the body is like a race against time itself; every minute and every second that passes brings an increase in risk.

It's like a kite soaring in the sky — the end of the string must be firmly tied to something fixed on the ground.

Once the time is exceeded and the string snaps, the kite may lose its way and never be able to return.

If the soul returns to the flesh within the allotted time, it can regain control of the body, and all bodily functions can quickly return to normal operation, without any serious harm caused by the soul's departure.

But if this rule is violated, the soul may encounter all manner of unknown dangers outside the body, and the flesh may also suffer functional decline due to the prolonged absence of the soul's support.

Herbert was well aware of this, understanding that he couldn't linger outside for too long.

"Sigh, alright, I'll definitely come back very soon."

Herbert replied helplessly, suddenly feeling his body being lightly tugged.

Hmm?

Herbert couldn't grasp Fu Leimei, but as a legendary mage, she could lightly catch this "frail" soul.

She pulled Herbert in front of her, then gently kissed the soul on the lips.

Then, before Herbert could even feel the kiss in his soul state, Fu Leimei let him go directly.

"Hmm?"

He carefully felt himself over — there was no new blessing.

What does this mean?

Herbert had wanted to ask, but seeing the smug expression on the mermaid Young Lady's face, he suddenly understood.

No new blessing?

No.

He had already received the best blessing.

The Siren's Affection.

This love itself was already the best protection.

Just as Herbert hadn't made a new promise with Fu Leimei this time, she hadn't left him a new blessing either.

Compared to a promise, this sincere feeling could bind him even more.

Herbert smiled and shook his head, then waved at Sofia. After she came over, he vaulted onto her horse's back.

Herbert could currently pass through other people's bodies with ease, but for fellow spiritual beings, such contact was just like a collision of flesh.

He settled steadily onto the centaur Young Lady's back, gave a light squeeze with his legs, and Sofia turned her body in accordance with his wishes.

Herbert sat on the horse's back, looked down at Fu Leimei sitting beside the flower bushes, and chuckled: "I'm setting off."

Fu Leimei also nodded slightly and smiled: "Go, my chosen hero. Do what you want to do."

"I'll be right here waiting for you to come back."

The two nodded gently to each other, like a warrior before departure and the partner seeing him off.

After the farewell, the two said nothing more.

The sound of hooves rose, and Herbert rode the centaur into the mist.

"……"

After charging into the mist at a gallop, Herbert suddenly began chatting casually with Nie Nasha out of nowhere.

"Nie Nasha, I think……"

【"Hmm?"】

Herbert was silent for a moment, then said in an extremely solemn tone

"Fu Leimei must like me."

【"……Hmm?"】

Nie Nasha even seriously thought it over for a moment, only realizing halfway through what this guy was actually doing.

【"Tch, you really are disgusting, you."】

Flaunting your love right in my face — do you have any conscience at all?

Are you even human!!?

……

Not long after Herbert and Sofia had left, Fu Leimei let out a soft sigh.

"Sigh……"

If she could, she truly didn't want Herbert taking such a risk.

But since the decision had already been made, there was no point in continuing to regret it.

She sat on the grass, dipped her fish tail into the spring, and gently swayed it.

She felt a little like singing, but out of consideration for Shi Diwen lying unconscious over there, she could only helplessly hold back.

After enduring for quite a while, Fu Leimei suddenly laughed: "But…… it's not all bad, hehe."

She first glanced around guiltily left and right, then closed her eyes and listened carefully for sounds.

"……"

After confirming that Herbert and the others had completely gone far away, she finally turned her gaze toward the flesh not far in front of her.

"Hehe!"

This isn't me deliberately forcing you, you know.

You left your physical body behind yourself!

Although I did indeed say something like, "If you don't want me to do something to you, then come back sooner!"

But I never made a promise like, "If you come back sooner, I won't do something to your physical body!"

Hehe.

You've fallen into my hands again this time!

"I want to properly make up for everything I didn't finish observing last time!"

She slowly moved to Herbert's side, then extended her guilty little hand toward his clothes' buttons.

……

"Mm, ugh…"

Shi Diwen slowly opened his eyes, staring blankly at the sky.

"Wh-what happened to me?"

He remembered that he seemed to have seen messengers sent by the gods to save him.

No, that's not right.

That should have been even earlier—he seemed to have seen something else?

Grassland, spring water…

Right, I saw a miracle!

And then… uh, and then?

After that, he seemed to feel a sudden sharp pain at the back of his head, and then remembered nothing at all.

It felt like he'd forgotten something important, yet it also seemed unimportant?

There was always an ominous premonition that "if he remembered, it would bring disaster."

But Shi Diwen hadn't completely lost his memory.

Earlier, while unconscious, in that state that was neither dream nor waking, he seemed to have seen an angel!

That holy figure flashed before his eyes, transforming into blood-colored wings, illuminating the darkness before him.

Then, he slowly woke up.

As Shi Diwen's vision gradually cleared, he saw at a glance that the angel, my lord, was currently lying quietly in the grass.

That patch of grass was soft and emerald green, and the angel lay quietly within it, her face calm and serene, her whole being seeming to radiate a tranquil and sacred aura.

And beside the angel, my lord…

Before he could see clearly what the figure beside her was, he heard a furious shout.

"Who!?"

!!!

In that instant, Shi Diwen seemed to hear countless ghosts shrieking in his ears!

Without the slightest preparation, without a shred of resistance, his eyes rolled back and he fainted outright.

"Ugh—"

Just this once, Shi Diwen's injuries were even more severe!

The wound was not on the physical body at all, but entirely upon the soul.

He almost really departed…

"Mm?"

Fu Leimei, who was already feeling guilty as a thief, was startled, and her reaction was a bit excessive after hearing the commotion.

She turned her head to look at the unconscious Shi Diwen, and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming the other still had a breath left.

"Phew… you scared me!"

Fortunately she hadn't used her full strength, otherwise Shi Diwen would undoubtedly have died this time.

The title 【Death's Howl】 was by no means undeserved.

And after the awkwardness passed, she looked at the poor fellow who had once again fallen unconscious, and couldn't help but laugh as she said helplessly:

"No way, how did this guy faint again?"

Within that thick fog, faintly discernible figures could be seen here and there.

They were heroic spirits.

The fog was like a thick curtain, half-concealing, half-revealing the figures of the heroic spirits.

These heroic spirits quietly stayed in place; some stood, their postures motionless as statues, while others half-knelt, their poses seemingly frozen in a single moment.

The appearance of those heroic spirits was utterly wretched; most of their bodies were incomplete.

Some had lost their arms, the severed stumps empty and bare; some heroic spirits had incomplete legs, able only to barely stand in a teetering posture.

Other heroic spirits had massive wounds on their bodies, the wound areas seemingly still emanating a faint, elusive ghostly glow.

They looked extremely weak; those bodies that should have been brimming with power now seemed like candles in the wind, so frail they might dissipate at any moment.

Their eyes also revealed exhaustion and helplessness; the bravery and glory of the past seemed buried beneath this weakened state, leaving only a deathly stillness.

None of them made the slightest movement, as if they had already died.

The surrounding silence seemed like a wordless mourning, and the fog was like a grey curtain drawn up for their "passing."

This quietude lasted for who knows how long… until someone broke the silence.

Countless heroic spirits raised their heads at this moment.

They sensed that yet another new heroic spirit had awakened!

And absolutely an extremely powerful Heroic Spirit!

No.

This newly awakened one might not be as simple as just a Heroic Spirit.

A Holy Spirit?

Or perhaps an angel?

Out of curiosity, they cast their gaze toward the direction of the awakened one.

Then, they saw.

Within that fog, thick as substance, a strange and shocking figure slowly advanced.

It was an angel with crimson wings.

Each time his wings flapped, they stirred up a faint current of air, raising little ripples within the fog.

The feathers of the wings seemed soaked in fresh blood, red so dazzling yet tinged with a hint of mysterious aura.

The angel's face could not be seen clearly, but one could sense a handsome and austere temperament, his eyes flickering with a holy and resolute light.

He was draped in a white robe that emanated a soft halo, the robe fluttering gently with the wind.

And mounted beneath him was a centaur Heroic Spirit clad in battle armor.

A legendary-grade centaur!

That battle armor was a dark metallic color, covered with ancient runes and scratches left by battle, telling of past glory and campaigns.

The centaur Heroic Spirit radiated heroic spirit, the horse body's fur pure white as snow, holding a spear that gleamed with cold light, its eyes warily scanning everything around.

They walked step by step through the fog like this, each step as if treading on a mysterious harp string.

Their footsteps played a silent movement, as if heading toward an unknown yet mission-filled place.

And their appearance was like a boulder cast into a calm lake, instantly shattering the tranquility of the Spirit Realm.

The Heroic Spirits hidden within the Misty Mountains, those faintly visible ones, had their gazes drawn over one after another.

The Heroic Spirits' forms underwent subtle changes.

Some emanated a ghostly blue glow, like cold flames leaping, while others had illusory bodies, as if they could vanish into the fog at any moment.

The Heroic Spirits began to whisper among themselves.

Their whispers echoed through the fog, like countless tiny insects buzzing in one's ears.

The illusory voices seemed to come from a distant place, ethereal and vague.

Some Heroic Spirits were full of curiosity, their eyes flickering with excited light, huddling together, whispering to each other, trying to guess the origins of this pair.

They discussed the identity of this newly awakened angel, wondering what new changes he would bring to this fog.

Did it signal that some great transformation was about to befall the fog?

"!!!"

But suddenly, the voices of some Heroic Spirits vanished.

Their eyes brimmed with fear, their bodies curling up, as if they had seen some extremely terrifying existence.

That fear, like a cold tide, spread through their eyes; they lowered their voices, afraid of drawing the angel and centaur's attention.

Accompanied by fear and curiosity, the emotions spread swiftly through the fog.

They saw.

Behind the angel and the warhorse, there was also a vast shadow.

And within that shadow that seemed to devour everything, they felt a terror that made their souls tremble!

An unknown terror, as if it were a deity.

"Who... exactly is he?"

From deeper within the fog came such a murmur.

(End of this chapter)