Blue skies, blue water, watching the sunrise and the ripples.
Damian sat alone by a small lake, wearing a cloak and a conical hat, holding a fishing rod.
He sat upright and calm as a light breeze ruffled the shimmering surface and set his cloak drifting.
There was the feel of a lone shadow on a cold river, an old friend of the jianghu.
The clear green-tinged water was like a massive emerald, the center spread with lush lotus leaves like a dense array of jade fans.
Through the surface you could faintly see several big fish of different colors cruising the bottom. They seemed sizable, with whiskers and dragonlike scales, but hid too deep to make out clearly.
There was no hook on the line, not even bait—very much Jiang Ziya's "those who wish to bite will bite."
In truth, Damian wasn't fishing. He was using telekinesis.
Telekinesis is a supple application that fuses Cosmo and mental power, an expression of human will—an arcane ability.
Many Saints can use Cosmo but can't use telekinesis, stuck at the threshold with no progress for years, even decades—sometimes for life—never grasping the key.
Even some Gold Saints can't wield telekinesis skillfully.
Damian had no such trouble. While his telekinesis stat lagged far behind strength, agility, and constitution, after long accumulation it had topped a hundred.
Its effects were decent in use.
At full tilt he could move multi-ton stones, fling weaker foes with pure will, and perform "throat-locking from a distance" and such.
And telekinesis gave a solid boost to the Psychic Energy Web.
He was fishing with the Psychic Energy Web—threads of will extending into the water.
Look closely and you could see a translucent hook and line—condensed from telekinesis.
Splash!
Water boiled.
A big fish was hauled up by the hookless, baitless line, thrashing its heavy body and throwing spray.
It was large—close to ten pounds.
The fish in this small lake were for more than better meals—he could fish to cultivate his mood and pass dull hours.
With no Pansy the troublemaker these days and Saga not stirring up trouble, life had returned to calm.
Sometimes, Damian even missed the little loli.
The feel of totally dominating the great beauty Pandora and spanking that butt—just thinking of it made his hands itch.
Once he found a way to counter her hypnosis, he'd bring Pansy back to the graveyard and give her proper discipline—a proper "refinement," heh heh…
"Damian, Damian, Damian!"
From the graveyard gate came a faint shout.
Calling "Damian" three times at the gate meant business.
Damian set down the rod, stretched, and headed for the stone hall at the graveyard entrance.
That was his reception room.
Soon he saw a chubby little boy.
The kid had brown hair, a yellow short shirt, big round eyes, and a lively gaze. His brows were two little dots.
"Gravekeeper Damian? I hear you got the Pegasus Bronze Cloth? Not bad at all."
Seeing Damian, the round-faced child flashed a fawning grin.
"Kiki, I know you. Out with it."
Damian clasped his hands behind his back and smiled.
Yes, the kid was Kiki.
Don't be fooled by his age—he was a clever little imp, and proficient in telekinesis.
Kiki was very chatty—sometimes too clever and mischievous.
In short, a superpowered brat.
If he was in the Sanctuary, Mr. Mu had to be here too.
That alone suggested Saga's mental state was relatively stable.
Maybe that was why Saga hadn't come looking for trouble lately.
Hearing this, Kiki sighed and put on a woeful face. "Damian, I've been in training lately and got a little banged up, so I came to the graveyard to ask you to treat me."
Indeed, he had several cuts and bruises on his face and a limp—likely injured.
Uh…
From the brat's sorry state—had Mr. Mu thumped him?
Kiki was as cheeky as they came, a brat to the bone, but born with telekinesis—a little superman.
There was no one in the Sanctuary who could make him this black-and-blue except Mr. Mu.
"No problem. Where are you hurt? I can treat you right now."
Damian turned to fetch prepared herbal salves.
Those salves were ordinary bruise liniments. In essence he relied on the reversed Scarlet Needle—the Healing Needle—to treat people. Paired with the liniments, the results were great and the comfort unbelievable. Anyone treated sang his praises.
"Uh… actually there's a bit of residual poison in the wound. I'm afraid someone will have to suck it out."
Kiki said, embarrassed.
"Fine. Tell me where. I'll suck it out."
Damian was genteel and calm.
As a healer, sucking out some poison was no big deal. A guest is a guest—service rendered.
Besides, Kiki was Mr. Mu's only disciple. Doing a favor to bank some goodwill was only right.
"With that, I'm saved. Can we go inside? I'm a little shy."
Kiki's cheeks flushed as he glanced around.
The kid was usually all grins—now he was shy?
The sun must have risen in the west.
Damian nodded and led him into the stone hut.
Two stone beds with simple bedding, chairs and stools, cabinets with cotton, gauze, and tinctures, fresh flowers on the table, a hint of incense—it was clean and tidy, a relaxing place.
This was Damian's usual treatment room. Aphrodite often came for therapy and relaxation—and owed him no small favor because of it.
His medical skill and cooking were experiences from his past life, now used to make money, earn favors, and improve life—skills applied and enjoyed.
After all, the jianghu isn't all fighting—it's also favors and human ties. The Sanctuary was no different.
"Where are you hurt? I'll suck it out."
"Here—right here…"
Kiki immediately loosened his belt and bared a bruised rump, pale and mottled, with two holes oozing purple blood—and a faint stench.
"I was out looking for Cloth materials and got bitten by a viper. I figured it wasn't a big deal, but after two days my butt went rotten."
Kiki stuck out his reeking backside, pointed, turned back with a crooked grin. "Damian, you gave your word. Hurry up and suck it!"
Damian: …(へ╬)
"Suck? Suck your sister…"
Staring at the stinking rump, Damian's mouth twitched and veins throbbed on his forehead.
His clothes bulged and shredded—muscle bursting into view.
A brat dares tease me?
(End of Chapter)
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