Exchanging with Lian, Immense Gains

"Tarnished, I did not expect us to meet again so soon."

Lin Huai looked at Malenia, at a face not yet eroded by rot.

Her skin was as lustrous as jade, her lips carrying a faint rosy hue.

What a pity, such a great beauty, ravaged by such a curse.

"Your thoughts seem somewhat complex, Tarnished. What are you pitying?"

Hearing Malenia's voice, laced with confusion, ring out.

Lin Huai's heart skipped a beat.

"You can perceive my thoughts?"

Malenia was silent for a moment, as if deep in thought.

"I cannot. I am not skilled in mental abilities."

"However, when you are caught off guard, I can roughly sense what you are thinking."

Hearing that Malenia could not perceive his specific thoughts, Lin Huai breathed a sigh of relief.

Malenia tilted her head slightly.

"You feel very relaxed now. Tarnished, have you done something improper?"

Seeing this head-tilt from the mature beauty, it was quite adorable!

But hearing that Malenia was sensing his thoughts again.

Lin Huai's expression stiffened.

Clear your mind, clear your mind.

He spoke with a serious expression: "Malenia, although our lives are bound together now, I still require some personal space."

"In the future, you are not to perceive my thoughts without my permission."

Malenia nodded, feeling slightly puzzled.

"You truly are a strange Tarnished."

"But I understand. I will not perceive your thoughts at will from now on."

Only then did Lin Huai feel completely at ease.

It seems I will need to manifest a physical body later, otherwise, when I am with other beauties, there will be someone watching from the side.

Lin Huai looked at that exquisite figure; perhaps being watched would be quite stimulating?

Setting aside these inappropriate thoughts.

Lin Huai sat cross-legged before Malenia.

"My name is Lin Huai. You can call me by my name directly, or call me Ah Huai."

"Your name is a bit long, so I will call you 'Lianlian'."

"How about that?"

Malenia's tone was indifferent: "It is just a name. You may decide as you wish."

Upon hearing this rather intimate nickname.

In a place Lin Huai could not see, a faint red flush crept across Malenia's ears.

Lin Huai took the opportunity to ask:

"Is there no better way to deal with the Scarlet Rot within us?"

"Can it not be sealed, or cleared away entirely?"

Malenia's somewhat hollow voice sounded.

"It can be sealed, but such an existence does not exist in this world. Even those the world calls 'gods' are unable to resolve it."

The mental space fell into silence.

Malenia's voice sounded once more.

"When I was young, my sword instructor used sword intent to seal the Scarlet Rot within me."

"According to the classifications of this world, the comprehension of this aspect can be roughly divided into Micro, Momentum, Intent, and Domain. After I comprehended the Waterfowl Dance, I likely derived my own 'Blade Intent' through the Flowing Water Sword Technique."

Lin Huai's body trembled suddenly when he heard 'Waterfowl Dance'.

Unpleasant memories surfaced.

Seeing Malenia tilt her head again.

So cute.

Lin Huai kept a straight face.

"It's nothing, just recalled some bad memories. Please, continue."

"I hypothesize that as long as one comprehends the 'intent' of the Flowing Water Sword Technique, one can completely suppress the Scarlet Rot before it fully erupts."

Lin Huai looked thoughtful.

He thought of Lianlian's second phase in the game, those fluttering rot butterflies, and that image that was both powerful and somewhat lewd.

"Unfortunately, before I could comprehend the sword intent, the scarlet rot within me erupted completely once."

"After that, I used this power again."

Malenia looked at Lin Huai, her tone very serious.

"Lin Huai, before you have your own comprehension of the Flowing Water Sword Technique, do not overuse the power of rot."

When Lin Huai heard 'Flowing Water Sword Technique', a line from a strategy guide suddenly flashed through his mind.

"A flowing stream never rots, a door hinge never rusts?" (Actually, it's the other way around, but this fits better here.)

A rare sense of surprise appeared in Malenia's tone.

"I didn't expect you to be not only powerful in martial arts but also so learned."

"It seems you will comprehend the sword technique faster than I thought."

Lin Huai scratched his cheek.

He suddenly remembered that Lianlian's attacks in the game could also 'lifesteal'.

Staring at Malenia, his tone filled with anticipation:

"What about that ability of yours to drain my life force?"

"That is the effect of the Great Rune. I have it now, but you cannot use it."

"The Great Rune is within me. In the future, when you summon me to fight, you should be able to receive soul power feedback."

After sensing around, Malenia responded to Lin Huai.

As if thinking of something.

Malenia said quickly: "Lin Huai, you passed away later than I did."

"Do you know if Miquella has ascended to godhood?"

Lin Huai thought of Mitaen's abstract 'Santiago' image.

He then remembered that he had hacked both of these siblings to death.

He spoke with a hint of awkwardness.

"That... Mitaen, no—"

"Miquella, I ran into him later."

"He successfully combined Mohg's body with the soul of General Radahn."

Recalling Mitaen's broken combat power, Lin Huai felt a wave of sighs in his heart.

"Combined with Miquella's own abilities, it was simply ridiculously strong."

"But as you know, The Lands Between cannot have two lords."

"I went through great hardships and even borrowed power from outside the world to defeat them."

Three-in-one, so strong that I even had to join the Fling Trainer Sect just to win.

Lin Huai felt Malenia's aura suddenly sink.

He hurriedly tried to make amends.

"But he couldn't be seen as your original brother anymore."

Noticing Malenia looking at him again, Lin Huai continued to make amends.

"On his path to godhood, he kept discarding his own flesh. Later, even his 'love' was discarded."

"By the time he and Radahn stepped through the Gate of Divinity, he was nothing but a thin spiritual body."

"His 'love' persona begged me to stop him from becoming a god."

"That is why I..."

Looking at Lin Huai's small, shifty eyes, And sensing the worry mixed into his tone.

Malenia revealed a fleeting smile.

"I know, brother took the wrong path, this is not your fault."

"I just find it a pity that brother did not realize his dream."

"If brother is reborn in another world, I hope he can be free from his curse of never growing up!"

Seeing that faint smile, Lin Huai did not even hear clearly what Malenia had said.

"Look on the bright side, we are essentially living a second life, so let's do what we want to do."

"How about experiencing a different kind of life?"

"I lived to help brother before; suddenly making a change, I don't even know what to do."

Lin Huai's eyes lit up.

"Since that's the case, then live for me in this life and become my blade."

"Afterward, you can say, 'I am Malenia, Blade of Lin Huai!'"

"How about it, how about it?"

Feeling Lin Huai's playfulness and the anticipation in his tone.

"If you want me to become Lin Huai's blade, you aren't qualified yet."

"Work hard, and let me see if you can display your heroic spirit in this world once more."

Watching Lin Huai's excited, exaggerated movements, she felt the sadness in her heart dissipate a little.

Thinking of some incantations that her brother Miquella had taught her.

Malenia spoke again:

"I also know some incantations of the Golden Order, all taught by Miquella."

"You can try practicing them; it's always good to have more ways to face an enemy."

Hearing that he could learn some incantations, Lin Huai almost wanted to hug Malenia and kiss her.

In this world where Self-Created Soul Skills were scarce, these incantations could absolutely be used as Self-Created Soul Skills.

"The medicinal herbs you refined are almost done; it is time for you to wake up."

"Remember to practice the Flowing Blade Technique diligently."

"As long as your spiritual power makes another breakthrough, you can enter this Sea of Consciousness at any time."

This exchange not only provided a concrete method to deal with the Scarlet Rot, but also yielded several incantations equivalent to Self-Created Soul Skills.

Lin Huai was all smiles: "Goodbye, Lianlian, I don't think our next meeting will be too far off."

"I hope so."

"Goodbye."