After all that, Bai Shi could no longer hold on and slumped to the ground.
He was utterly exhausted. First, he had cut down a hundred Misbegotten, then he had to fight a Leonine Misbegotten empowered by the Grafted Blade Greatsword.
All Bai Shi wanted to do now was get to a Site of Grace to heal his injuries, then find a place to get some proper sleep.
But it wasn't time for that yet. He still had to go out of the castle and bring Irena back. He could visit a Site of Grace on the way.
"I am Edgar, castellan of Castle Morne and Irena's father. My apologies for only introducing myself now."
Edgar waited until Bai Shi had finished his actions before approaching him.
"Bai Shi. Just an ordinary Tarnished."
Edgar committed the name to memory.
"You are a true warrior. Thank you for everything you've done for Castle Morne."
"Once the castle is fully back under our control, I will be sure to offer you a grand reward."Bai Shi didn't refuse. Although it wasn't why he had come, it was what he deserved. Why turn it down?
"We can talk about the reward later."
"I'll rest for a bit first, then I'll go bring Irena back. We shouldn't keep her waiting outside for too long."
Edgar once again expressed his gratitude to Bai Shi, then left him to rest.
He had many things to attend to as well—clearing out the remaining Misbegotten in the castle, relocating the residents, cleaning up the bodies…
Though he was worried about Irena, now that he knew she was safe, his duties as castellan were more pressing.
Evan also sat down beside Bai Shi.
After fighting side-by-side, Edgar had provisionally trusted Evan, merely telling him to wait here while he decided his fate later.
Evan sprinkled healing powder on them both as he spoke.
"You're the most valiant warrior I've ever seen."
"If it weren't for you, those Misbegotten would still be rampaging through the castle..."
As Evan spoke, he fell silent.
"I'm the one who caused this disaster, but I couldn't even stop the Misbegotten."
"Thank you."
Bai Shi didn't speak. He didn't know what to say.
Evan and Singh had wanted to save the Misbegotten, but they had caused a massacre in Castle Morne. Even if they had been manipulated, it was a sin that could not be washed away.
They knew it themselves.
In the end, Bai Shi just sighed.
—
After a short rest, Bai Shi took the lift back down to the main gate.
The light of the Grace washed over Bai Shi's body. His wounds healed rapidly, and his spirit was revitalized.
Although he was still mentally exhausted, he had finally recovered.
Melina appeared beside him, still shaken. She had been watching the whole time and knew what a perilous situation Bai Shi had been in.
"That was a brutal battle. It's a shame I have no physical form, or I could have helped you in the fight."
Bai Shi shook his head.
"Leave the fighting to me. You already help me a lot as it is."
"By the way, that Flask I picked up from the envoy earlier... is it all right for me to just use it?"
Melina took the Flask from Bai Shi, inspected it to make sure no marks had been left on it, then handed it back.
"There are no marks on it, so it'll be fine. Just make sure to wash it."
After all, someone else had drunk from it. Although Bai Shi found it a bit distasteful, it was a Flask. He couldn't let it go to waste.
"Bai Shi, I'm sorry."
Melina stared into Bai Shi's eyes and suddenly apologized solemnly.
"I have been observing you, to see if you are truly guided by Grace, if you would rise to challenge hardship."
"It turns out my worries were needless. Torrent trusted you from the very beginning. I was the one who was not sincere enough. I apologize."
Bai Shi actually didn't think much of it.
"It's all right. You must have a very important reason for wanting to reach the foot of the Erdtree."
"I understand your concern. It's essential to find a trustworthy companion."
"So, have I passed your inspection now?"
Melina's feelings were somewhat complicated. She hadn't really needed to say these things to Bai Shi.
But she still confessed and apologized, because that was the kind of earnest girl she was.
She had braced herself for Bai Shi to be angry about this. After all, secretly testing a companion after already setting out on a journey together was a sign of mistrust.
But Bai Shi didn't seem to mind at all. His magnanimity earned Melina's admiration.
"Yes. You passed with flying colors."
"As an apology, when you have finished with everything here, I will take you to a place—the Roundtable Hold, where heroes gather."
—
Bai Shi stood at the castle gate and blew his whistle, waiting for Torrent to bring Irena over.
Bai Shi was very happy now, not because Melina was taking him to the Roundtable Hold, nor because of the large number of Runes he had just obtained.
It was because one use of his Fengling Yueying had been restored.
At the Site of Grace, he had taken a quick look at his Fengling Yueying panel.
Next to the original panel, a new column had appeared. A Leonine Misbegotten icon was lit up.
The other icons were dark, waiting for Bai Shi to light them.
It was a game achievement system.
With the unlocking of the first achievement, this section's information became available to him.
This achievement panel wasn't part of Fengling Yueying, which was why it hadn't been displayed at first, but this panel was directly linked to Fengling Yueying.
Each achievement he completed would restore one use of Fengling Yueying.
Knowing there was a way to restore it, Bai Shi breathed a sigh of relief.
Before, Bai Shi had feared it was completely unrecoverable. Now that there was a way to get uses back, there was nothing to be afraid of anymore.
Torrent, carrying Irena, ran from the distance and stopped before Bai Shi.
Torrent affectionately nuzzled Bai Shi's face.
"Sir Bai Shi, are you all right?"
"My father... is he okay?"
Irena had been waiting anxiously outside the castle. The situation inside was likely even worse than when she had left.
"It's fine. I've killed most of the Misbegotten in the castle. They were no match for me."
"I've already met your father. We even fought side-by-side. He's safe and sound, so don't worry."
Irena finally let out a sigh of relief.
"That's wonderful. Thank you."
Bai Shi took Irena's hand and helped her onto the lift.
As the lift continued its ascent, Irena smelled the thick scent of blood.
Her face turned pale. She couldn't imagine what scene awaited in the castle to produce such an overwhelming smell of blood.
The lift finally reached the top. Edgar, in the courtyard, noticed Bai Shi and Irena on the lift and immediately ran over.
Seeing Irena, Edgar could no longer contain his emotions, his eyes welling up with tears.
"Irena…"
"Father!"
Father and daughter were finally reunited, safe and sound, holding each other in an embrace.
Watching the moving scene of their reunion, Bai Shi also smiled happily.
His slaughter all this way had not been in vain. He had saved this father and daughter and allowed them to be reunited.
From now on, he would give more characters a perfect ending.