Otherwise, you can find another savior.

Page 417

"What?" tide Jian was pulled back to his senses by his master's voice. He floated on the water and asked in confusion.

Morgan also looked puzzled, clearly not understanding Scáthach's seemingly random question.

"How does it feel to be a god?" Scáthach asked again.

Xi Jian paused for a moment, then shook her head: "I can't quite put my finger on it, it's a very complicated feeling. And to be honest, I can't really say for sure what stage I've reached. It's just that I have enough confidence when facing an enemy whose strength is unknown."

“Is that so?” Scáthach suddenly smiled, a hint of melancholy in her eyes. “I’m sorry, I’ve taught many disciples, including some with demigod blood like Cú Chulainn. But none of them have transformed from human to god while still alive, like you. I’m truly sorry I can’t offer you any useful advice.”

"Should we find an opportunity to spar?" tide Jian asked. "Master is capable of slaying gods. If that power exerts any additional pressure on me, perhaps I will—"

“There’s no need for that.” Morgan rejected Shiomi’s idea. “For Wufu right now, we are all somewhat insufficient opponents. Only an enemy that can truly allow you to unleash your full potential can satisfy Wufu.”

tide Jian scratched her head: "Okay. I was just saying it casually."

“But more than power, I want to confirm something else.” Scáthach stared into Shiomi’s eyes. “That’s why Morgan and I took a bath and waited for you here.”

“Uh…” tide Jian had already guessed it.

Then he saw his master sitting with his legs spread open casually, and Morgan also took off his cloak.

Undoubtedly a temptation.

Test his human desires.

This is something Shiomi has always been afraid of losing, yet she has no choice but to face the path she can and should take in her current situation.

"There's no need to explicitly say it to that extent. Although I'm very busy right now, I'll take advantage of any spare moment... even if my wife and master don't say anything, I'll still take advantage of the situation."

He emerged from the water, slowly walked back to the blanket, sat down, took their hands, and embraced them both, feeling the warmth of their bodies.

"My understanding of God was too one-sided in the past. After all... in the mythology of the whole world, there are gods that symbolize desire."

The Land of Shadows: Hearts Connected Across the Screen (1)

“I will bestow upon you these two crimson spears, crafted from the skull of the sea monster Curruid, as proof that you have completed all the teachings of the Land of Shadows.”

In a corner of the castle in the Land of Shadows, there is a garden created by Shiomi.

At this moment, he was kneeling on one knee under the tree, reaching out his hands to receive the pair of crimson spears that his master Scáthach was holding in her hands.

"Thank you, Master." tide Jian solemnly accepted the pair of vermilion spears.

The solid weight, the cool touch, and the chilling aura surrounding the crimson spears all indicate that they are not ordinary weapons, but rather the embodiment of humanity's noble fantasies—that is, Noble Phantasms.

“But to actually demand the same prototype gun as me…” Scáthach chuckled to herself, then relaxed and leaned against a nearby tree.

The vast castle, the desolate land of the dead, contained only the two of them, master and disciple. The so-called graduation ceremony had no guests to witness it, and the process was so simple that it only involved the bestowal of the Crimson Spear.

It's simply because she, as the master, values ​​it, and the disciple in front of her also values ​​it, which is why it has such a ceremonial feel to it.

"Is it strange?" Shiomi stood up, holding the gun.

“Not surprising.” Scáthach shook her head, smiling at Shiomi. “Although you are still very immature as a warrior and magician, I really have nothing left to teach you. Even the dual-wielding technique, among all the disciples I have taught, only you have truly mastered it.”

"Is that so?" tide Jian hugged Zhu Qiang tightly.

Despite being a weapon as cold as iron, holding it in your arms brings an indescribable warmth.

"Alright, stop being so sentimental." Scáthach raised her hand and poked Shiomi's forehead. "In the past, disciples came to learn skills to go to the battlefield and make a name for themselves, so once they reached the point of graduation, they would rush off. But you're different..."

He inexplicably ended up in the Land of Shadows, and on the verge of death, he met Scáthach and was taken in as her apprentice.

From this perspective, Scáthach felt that her connection with this disciple was quite special, so much so that when he had the time to learn all her skills, she felt an indescribable joy.

In particular... beyond what she taught, Shiomi also explored even more advanced fields on her own.

The ceaseless wind blew through the desolate castle. Scáthach looked up at the rustling branches and leaves, and was filled with emotion.

tide Jian also looked up at the tree.

Since this garden was developed, the master has been spending more and more time in it, and eventually, he even had to conduct his lessons in the garden.

Without a doubt, Master likes this place very much.

This change is also something that Shiomi is very happy about.

He smiled silently, and the red spear disappeared from his arms.

It didn't disappear; it was simply put away.

Once the pair of crimson spears are officially granted to him, they will remain with his soul forever, and will be his most cherished and trusted Noble Phantasms until they are destroyed.

“What happens next…” Scáthach took a few steps forward, then suddenly turned back and smiled quietly at him, “You can arrange your own time. Time doesn’t really pass here, and it’ll probably get boring once there’s nothing to do. If it becomes unbearable, I’ll send you out.”

"I...don't want to leave here." tide Jian hesitated for a moment before speaking her mind.

Scáthach raised her eyebrows slightly, seemingly unsurprised by his statement: "If you don't want to, then don't. I get bored by myself anyway. Having a good apprentice with me would make me much happier."

“…Mmm.” tide Jian responded softly, lowering her eyes, a complex expression in them.

Seeing his expression, Scáthach basically knew what was going on, but chose to leave the decision to Shiomi.

"Is there anything else you want to say? If not, I'll go and rest now," she said, subtly reminding Xijian.

"……I……"

Shiomi didn't know how much time she had spent here.

But his master, who had always been by his side and was the only one who accompanied him, was the person he understood best.

Sometimes stern, sometimes witty, sometimes mischievous... and sometimes gentle and considerate.

And there was that enduring loneliness in her eyes.

That is what Scáthach, as queen, would inevitably embrace as she alone guards this land of the dead, located on the outer edge of the world.

So... I want to soothe this loneliness...

"Ok?"

Hurried footsteps came from behind. Shio followed and hugged Scáthach from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder.

“…I like Master,” tide Jian said.

“I like you very much too. After all, you are not only talented, but also very hardworking. Even though my teaching is not easy, you have never complained.” Scáthach chuckled to herself.

“No…” Shio pulled Scáthach’s arm, making her turn around to look at her. “I love Master, not only as a disciple, but also as… a man, I admire Master as a woman…”

Upon hearing his words, Scáthach's eyes widened slightly, but the surprise lasted only a moment.

Scáthach knew this day would come after he secretly kissed her during a rest stop on a mission to exterminate the undead a long time ago.

"So, how does Master view me?" tide Jian asked nervously, seeking an answer.

Scáthach deliberately stood with her arms crossed, thinking for a long time, until she was almost overwhelmed by anxiety, before she slowly smiled.

“I don’t know how I feel about you, my beloved disciple, but this is undoubtedly important, so… let your master see what answer you can give me?”

The question, which may seem like a rhetorical question, actually reveals a clear answer.

“...Master.”

Shiomi's voice trembled involuntarily.

His eyes were fixed intently on Scáthach's eyes, as if repeatedly confirming whether they were genuine, their gaze flickering with curiosity, a hint of youthful burgeoning desire, and a touch of shyness.

"You only want one answer?"

Scáthach couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that she still had to stand on her master's side and teach him a lesson.

"For example, if my behavior offends my master, my master can beat me."

He nodded nervously, then quickly shook his head, not even knowing what he was denying.

Then, Shiomi approached her master, gazed into her eyes, and slowly lowered her head toward Scáthach's full, cherry-red lips.

When he saw his master close his eyes and slightly open his lips, everything suddenly became clear.

From initial tentative exploration to gradually finding the right approach, the master and apprentice embraced and kissed under the tree.

Scáthach stroked his hair as he embraced his master's slender waist.

Finally, they both collapsed onto the soft grass under the tree.

The Land of Shadows: Hearts Connected Across the Screen (2)

"It's like a dream."

Shiomi lay on the grass, gazing obliquely from under the tree canopy at the perpetually overcast sky of the Land of Shadows, a sky that never seemed to rain. Then, as if struck by a sudden inspiration, she murmured to herself.

“It’s not a dream, it’s reality.” Scáthach lay prostrate on top of him, every inch of her skin pressed against his, and told Shio with a soft laugh.

"Um... it just came to mind, Master, please don't laugh at me." tide Jian smiled shyly.

tide Jian couldn't quite remember how much time had passed since then.

In his memory, he and his master were always entangled under the largest tree in the garden. From being clumsy and awkward to becoming skilled, he initially made his master feel a little uncomfortable, but now he can enjoy tender moments with his master.

There was no day or night, no cold, hunger or thirst. We were with our master every moment. Even clothes became superfluous. We just hugged each other and talked. When the mood struck, we would have another round of pleasure.

Fortunately, there is no one else in the Land of Shadows. No one knows what they do, think, or say in this place.

“I won’t laugh at you, after all, you’re the most sentimental of all my disciples.” Scáthach flicked Shiomi’s forehead with her finger. “But too much sentimentality on the battlefield will lead to a quick death.”

"Hmm... Putting aside where I might die, if I die in battle against those out-of-control undead, my soul should be taken over by my master, right?" tide Jian asked.

“That’s natural. After all, you are my last disciple, whom no one knows. Even if I wanted your soul to be engraved on the Throne of Heroes, without any achievements, such a thing is out of the question.” Scáthach smiled.

tide Jian nodded contentedly: "So whether I live or die, I am still Master's?"

“If that’s how you wish, of course you can,” Scáthach said, her eyes gentle and tender.

"Why do you say that?" tide Jian was a little confused for a moment.

“It’s not surprising that you’ll fall in love with me, and it’s not surprising that I’ll accept you.” Scáthach placed a finger on his lips. “If one day I have to leave this place and embark on a journey to face the world and understand it… perhaps…”

"Maybe?"

"Forget it, let's not talk about such discouraging things." Scáthach shook her head, casually ending the conversation. "When the time comes, you'll understand that some things can't be refused just because you want to."

"Hmm..." tide Jian was somewhat dissatisfied, but she could only listen to it as a lesson and keep it in mind.

His master taught him not to say things that are too absolute, but to do things that are absolutely absolute.

Scáthach noticed the hesitation and confusion in Shiomi's heart, as well as a slight rebellious desire to deny her words, but she said nothing.

After all, the present is the present, and the future is the future.

Scáthach, who was sitting sideways on her beloved student's lap and nestled in his arms, slowly straightened up, placed her palms on his chest, and then slowly raised them.

The state of their skin sticking together and then gradually separating is immediately apparent.

"You've sweated a lot," Scáthach said with a smile.

"Well, you'll sweat eventually, won't you?" tide Jian scratched her head.

He admired himself for doing this day and night, and even more so for his master.

“After all, there are no other forms of entertainment in the Land of Shadows, so you don’t need to worry about it,” Scáthach said, cupping his face in her hands. “If I were all alone, thousands of years would pass just like that. Since my beloved disciple has a request, as his master, I should naturally grant it.”

"So Master was just doing this to cooperate with me?" tide Jian asked unwillingly.

“Foolish disciple…a woman won’t give her body to a man if she doesn’t want to.” Scáthach pinched his cheek in exasperation, reminding him, “If you still don’t understand this, I’m at my wit’s end. I can only say that it’s fortunate your first love was your master, and not some other woman.”

"Ah ha ha……"

Realizing she had asked a stupid question, Shiomi could only laugh awkwardly and try to change the subject.

"Master, would you like to take a bath?"

The Land of Shadows has no water source, but that doesn't mean it can't get water.

The abundant divine magic in the air, through the power of the primordial runes, can be transformed into clear, living water.

“You really need a shower. My beloved disciple has made me smell terrible. I need to wash myself.” Scáthach said, then sniffed his body again. “You too… It’s really unacceptable to be so slovenly.”

"Then, Master, please wait a moment."

Shiomi placed Scáthach on the grass, then went to the side and used magic to create a small pond. She then threw in a few runes to heat the water, and the artificial hot spring was born.

Then the master and apprentice soaked together in the warm pool water to wash away the dirt on their bodies.

They couldn't help but hug each other and be affectionate for a long time.

"They're just like the couple in the Garden of Eden."

When they came out of the hot spring, Shiomi suddenly teased each other like this.