Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 575 - 540 The Healing of the Little Bowl

Chapter 575: 540 The Healing of the Little Bowl

Little Bowl pointed out the conflict in my thoughts, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to explain it to her. But as far as my inner feelings are concerned, there is actually no contradiction.

Firstly, I believe that I have a responsibility towards Mazao.

Saying it is "responsibility" might not quite capture what I truly want to express and might sound lofty, but I cannot find a more appropriate word at the moment. "To protect Mazao from Ming Zhuo" is not a task formed by pressure for me. In short, I think it is necessary and I am also willing to protect Mazao.

Therefore, even though pursuing my dream holds a higher place in my heart than Mazao, I find it hard to bear the pursuit of my dream at the cost of abandoning Mazao.

If I return to the modern world and lay things bare to Mazao, telling her we will become enemies and part ways, that wouldn’t be "escape" but "facing up". though it would be very painful, I can accept this outcome.

But if I lay down my "responsibility" and merely bury myself in the adventures of the Doomsday Era, it will create a sense of escape. That feels bad, inferior, and does not align with my ideals for myself. Even if after doing such a thing I could quickly rationalize to myself, at least right now I still have resistance to this idea.

However, I think I might still end up making such a choice. Just as a long time ago, when I first met Mazao, realizing the扫帚 star power might spread from me to Changan, I made the choice to "sever ties with Changan". Between friends and adventure, I ultimately chose the latter. And this time is no different. I value my emotions greatly, but I value my obsessions even more.

"...The real reason stopping me isn’t that making this choice is hard, but that I can make such a choice so easily..." I tried to organize my words.

"But you didn’t make the choice, you stopped," Little Bowl said, "If this were a very difficult choice, you might focus your attention on the choice itself. Because you have some spare energy, you instead started thinking about more things."

"You began to wonder whether there’s something you yearn for lying ahead on this path that’s so easily obtainable. It’s not that you’re lingering over your emotions...you’re doubting whether you can really exchange them for adventure."

Since I had decided to open my heart to Little Bowl, I admitted honestly, "...Yes."

The adventure in my heart is a grand, magnificent stage, full of endless possibilities, rising crises, and a wonderfully colorful world.

But now, having to abandon my feelings along the way and move forward, all I see is a narrow path like a single-plank bridge. Doing this would only make my path narrower and narrower.

I’m not afraid of the single-plank bridge, but this is different from the adventure I yearn for.

Why do I have such feelings?

I think, probably from some point, my understanding of the word "adventure" has deviated. That’s why such contradictions are encountered. To me, what exactly does "adventure" mean? Why, even at this point, is the possibility of satisfaction still so elusive?

Or perhaps... this deviation hasn’t just started midway, from the very beginning... was there an error in my understanding of "adventure"?

There seems to be a fundamental flaw in my desire.

Had it been before entering the abnormal world, I would never have noticed this issue. Because at that time, I was putting in all my effort just to try to break into the abnormal world, and now that I finally have a foothold here, there’s extra strength for me to reassess my ground.

Little Bowl patted the bed beside her. This gesture was probably to ask me to sit there, so I sat down.

"Brother Zhuang Cheng, though it was my own decision to wish for you and Sister Mazao together, wanting you to save Sister Mazao, but if it’s just you fulfilling Sister Mazao’s wish, I don’t think it’s fair," Little Bowl said, "I also hope Mazao can save you, and I too will try my best to help you."

"What... save me?" I couldn’t help but be astonished.

Throughout my past life, there have been quite a few people I have directly or indirectly saved and helped, but I never thought I could be someone who needed saving. Whether in terms of strength or spirit, I don’t consider myself weak, much less in need of others’ saving or help. If there’s an enemy even I can’t resist now, others will only find it more insurmountable.

Although along the way I have sought support from others, no one ever regarded me as someone "in need of help," nor have I ever placed myself in that role. I even felt a slight discomfort because of this.

"I don’t feel unfortunate at all," I said.

Even during the times long ago when I struggled to find anomalies and failed, I never felt that way.

"’Saving’ might not be a very appropriate term, but, Brother Zhuang Cheng, perhaps you’re caught in some strange cycle and whirlpool without realizing it. If you can’t truly see what you are, even a self-destructive ending wouldn’t be surprising," Little Bowl said, "I believe you can understand? The path you’ve currently chosen is a thorough self-destructive one. From this perspective, you’re no different from Mazao of the past."

I said noncommittally, "... this topic should probably end now."

"Yes, so let’s get down to business now..." Little Bowl casually brought up a remarkable thing.

"Business?" I was surprised, "Wasn’t what we just discussed the main topic?"

"What we just discussed is also important, but what’s happening now is equally significant," said Little Bowl, "Though I can’t perceive it clearly, all along this journey, I feel like there’s some sort of injury on Brother Zhuang Cheng."

"I really tried hard to examine, but I still couldn’t find any trace on your body and soul. It wasn’t until you opened your heart to me and let me deeply perceive your soul that I truly confirmed the existence of this injury... What kind of injury is this?"

I said with sudden realization, "You’re talking about damage on the level of the True Spirit, right?"

This injury was sustained in the battle with the Great Demon Xuanwu.

Moreover, before entering the Doomsday Era, the True Spirit damage from the battle with Huang Quan had not been healed and lingered on.

I can instantly recover the injuries to my body and soul, but I am helpless when it comes to True Spirit damage.

Originally, excessive damage to the True Spirit would cause a hazy consciousness. Luckily, due to Little Bowl’s blessing, my spirit was revitalized, offsetting such negative states.

"Is that really the case..." Little Bowl nodded, "Then let me be responsible for healing you."

"You can repair True Spirit damage?" I asked, surprised once again.

The Divine Son can heal the wounded using the Power of Heaven and Earth. This in itself isn’t something particularly surprising. In the Bible, Jesus could heal others’ wounds and diseases through a simple touch, even curing disabilities and dispelling curses. This is one of the fundamental abilities of the Divine Son.

However, this kind of healing should be limited to the injuries of the body and soul, not covering the level of the True Spirit.

Even searching all over Luo Mountain couldn’t uncover the technology or knowledge to repair True Spirit damage. Therefore, after the last battle with Ming Zhuo, I could only slowly recuperate at the Luoshan Headquarters’ sanatorium by amusingly "eating well and sleeping well," providing the best conditions for the True Spirit’s natural repair.

"It should be possible to heal. At least that’s what my feeling tells me," Little Bowl said with a smile, "Come then. This is also a reward for Brother Zhuang Cheng’s honesty all along."

Could it be because her power is enhanced by the Power of Divine Seal Fragments? The power of the Divine Seal Fragment is indeed capable of anything?

Since she said so, letting her give it a try wouldn’t hurt.

I selectively ignored the latter half of her sentence.

"So, what should I do next?" I asked curiously.

"Hmm, well... first, we need to have physical contact, and it’s best to find a comfortable position..."

After pondering seriously, Little Bowl lightly patted her lap and said, "First, please rest your head here, Brother Zhuang Cheng."

Looking down at her slender, weak thighs, I asked, "Is this really necessary?"

"This way, it feels more like taking care of a patient, and it will make it easier for me to grasp the feel of healing," Little Bowl said.

That reason I could accept, so I tried to lay my body down and rested my head on her lap.

If the object was a peer like Zhu Shi, it would be different. At this moment, savoring the feeling of my cheek touching the thighs of a ten-year-old girl made me feel a bit embarrassed.

Little Bowl placed her hands on my hair, then slowly bent over, gently holding my head. The slightly higher than adult childlike warmth transferred to my face, and I could faintly smell her body’s scent when breathing, reminiscent of the damp grass after rain.

While stroking my hair, she muttered to herself: "...As the saying goes, one’s own matters are the hardest to see clearly. Now, I somewhat understand why I’m so concerned about Brother Zhuang Cheng. It seems I can’t turn a blind eye to your plight, and I really want to take care of you..."

Take care of me... Hearing her youthful voice from above, there was a sense of role reversal as if playing house with a little girl. I bewilderedly found myself assigned to the role of the other’s child, receiving clumsy yet attentive care.

A wondrous ripple from the Power of Divine Seal Fragments slowly emanated from her hand, seeping into my body and soul like comforting warm water.

"Rest well, Brother Zhuang Cheng. If you feel tired, it’s okay to fall asleep like this," her gentle voice echoed in my ears.

I slowly closed my eyes.

This period lasted for about half a day.

Afterwards, the door of the room was knocked on.