“Anyone can possess love—anyone except a priest.”
Lin Yao murmured the words as if reminding Kathy, or perhaps reminding himself.
Even if he harbored deep admiration for Prince Cody, he could not allow his personal desires to bring harm upon him. Just as it had been last night—even though he found the prince’s touch comforting, he refused to let Cody become a demon in the eyes of his people.
Cody belonged on a high pedestal, worshipped by all; Lin Yao’s only duty was to serve him.
That was the heartfelt devotion Lin Yao needed to project right now.
As if the confusion in his eyes had suddenly cleared, Lin Yao withdrew his hand, his posture regaining its usual detached composure. Only the subtle tremor of his fingers betrayed his brief lapse in resolve. “Thank you, Your Highness. I belong to the Sanctuary, so I cannot accept your offer.”
He turned and walked away slowly, yet the gentle voice calling from behind made his steps falter for a moment.
“Yao, as I said, I will help you. Whenever you need me, you are welcome to find me.”
Lin Yao did not turn back, though his hands tightened into faint fists.
Inside the magnificent yet cold palace, a man sat at his desk, holding a quill in a hand that was more accustomed to wielding a blade.
Unlike the lazy, wine-addled demeanor of that night, he was now immaculately groomed. His long hair was tied neatly, and a broad belt accented his lean, powerful waist. As his spine stretched with every movement, he displayed the flawless physique of a seasoned warrior. When focused, his presence alone was enough to drive every maiden in Onassis wild with admiration.
Perhaps not just maidens.
Lin Yao bowed deferentially. “Your Highness, good day.”
“Here to deliver Posuo Flowers?” Cody looked up from his scrolls. Dropping the quill casually into an inkpot, he raised his eyelids slightly. Upon spotting the tray in Lin Yao’s hands, he rose and walked over to him.
His slender fingers stroked the flower petals, causing one to snap off and drop. No one would ever imagine that such delicate blooms possessed the power to augment a warrior’s physical strength.
“Yao’s abilities grow stronger by the day.” Cody took the tray of Posuo Flowers and handed it casually to an utterly stunned attendant nearby, chuckling softly. “Why come personally? Next time, you don’t need to make the trip yourself—just have a servant deliver them to save you the trouble.”
“It is no trouble.” Lin Yao’s voice was naturally cool, softening into gentle warmth only when speaking to this man. He retrieved a carefully prepared gift and offered it under Cody’s questioning gaze. “I heard Your Highness is setting off on campaign again. Unsure when we shall meet next, I wished to present you with a gift.”
“A gift?” Cody accepted the small silk pouch, finding two smooth, pebble-like stones resting inside. His narrow eyes held no sign of disapproval, only mild amusement. “Two stones? They are quite pretty.”
Seeing his casual attitude, Lin Yao’s voice carried a hint of anxious urgency: “These are no ordinary stones. They are sacred relics granted by the gods, called Sound-Transmission Stones. If you speak into one, the person holding the other can hear your voice, even if separated by thousands of miles.”
The man holding the stone—who had initially treated it like a toy—froze in surprise. His expression turned solemn as he began to inspect the pebble carefully. If it truly possessed such miraculous properties, countless military orders could be delivered instantly without waiting for messengers to return.
“Yao, you have given me a grand gift indeed.” Cody looked down at the young priest, who was gazing back at him with expectant eyes, and asked, “What reward do you desire? Wealth, land, or the position of Grand Priest?”
A truly loyal subordinate was naturally worthy of his genuine favor.
Yet Lin Yao merely shook his head, his pure eyes filled with quiet concern. “I want nothing. I only hope that when Your Highness is out on campaign, you take care of your safety. I, His Majesty and the people of the kingdom will all be worrying about you.”
“Including you?” Cody stepped closer unexpectedly, his eyes reflecting a complex calculation.
As a man, how could he be completely immune to beauty? It was simply that, compared to indulging in soft pleasures, there were far more important matters demanding his attention.
The youth before him was delicate and submissive. He treated others with cold detachment, keeping everyone at a distance, yet around Cody, he opened up like a soft clam, exposing only his gentle interior.
Unquestionably, this feeling of being uniquely favored felt pleasant. If Lin Yao were merely a common beauty rather than a priest, Cody would have taken him without hesitation. But a priest he was.
And his divine capabilities were far more valuable than his body.
Feeling Cody’s proximity, Lin Yao’s breath hitched. After a long moment, he gave a subtle nod. “Including me. I am a subject of the kingdom, a subject of Your Highness. I will always be thinking of you.”
The Sound-Transmission Stones came in a pair—one held by the sender, the other by the receiver, allowing one-way voice transmission. This was the result of Cody’s testing.
Although the inability to hold a two-way conversation was somewhat regrettable, achieving this much was already extraordinary. A divine grace was truly miraculous.
Cody toyed with the two stones, his mind conjuring up the image of the young priest from that day. The silver mask had clung to his face, concealing his features, leaving only a pair of expressive eyes that seemed capable of speaking on their own.
Lin Yao likely had no idea how captivating he looked when speaking with such restrained sincerity—an expression virtually impossible for any man to resist.
And when he offered these two stones, what thoughts had been running through his mind? Had he never considered keeping the receiving stone for himself?
A tender, innocent affection, a breathtaking body, and peerless abilities. Having such a person harbor feelings for him was certainly a welcome asset. Thus, Cody had to ensure the youth wouldn’t be destroyed by the intrigues of the royal court.
The campaign petition scroll remained spread out on the desk. Cody picked up his quill and inked the final condition at the bottom.
Campaigning abroad was a grueling endeavor, and every victory came at the cost of countless lives. Therefore, requesting a priest skilled in the healing arts to accompany the army was entirely reasonable.
The system was still acting silly and cute today:
［Host, why did you give those Sound-Transmission Stones to that big villain?］
When Lin Yao had bought them, he had looked so reluctant to spend the money! The system thought he was going to use them to talk to someone else, but instead.
Having spent so much time together, Lin Yao had grown accustomed to his foolishly cute system. He offered a faint smile:
［Because I’m deeply in love with him, of course.］
The system paced around in circles anxiously:
［But Host, you aren’t allowed to fall in love with people in mission worlds! It brings terrible luck!］
［Like what?］
［Like, if you want to take him out of this world, it costs at least one hundred million Star Credits!］
Lin Yao’s hand combing his hair paused mid-motion. He sighed mentally:
［So expensive. Is he encrusted with solid gold?］
For someone who felt physical pain spending a mere thousand Star Credits, if someone offered a hundred million, he’d be tempted to sell himself on the spot.
Far too expensive. Fortunately, he had never intended to fall in love in the first place.
［Maybe he’s encrusted with diamonds,］ the system chimed in with an equally deadpan sigh.
Like master, like system.
When he received the official military deployment scroll, Lin Yao’s expression overflowed with excitement. His visible delight caught the messenger off guard, causing the man to hesitate briefly before bowing out.
Yet the moment the messenger left, Lin Yao—who had been holding the scroll with reverent care as if wanting to press it to his chest—casual dropped it onto the table.
［Host, are you not happy?］
The system genuinely couldn’t understand. One moment his host seemed overjoyed, and the next he was completely indifferent. The system was programmed with an IQ of 180, so why did it feel like a dummy right now?
［I am happy,］ Lin Yao put the scroll away. Ensuring no one was nearby, he let out an ungraceful, bored yawn.
This outcome had been within his calculations all along—everything was moving step-by-step according to plan. There was no real reason to be overly thrilled or upset.
［If you can’t figure it out, don’t strain yourself. Thinking too much leads to hair loss.］
［Huh? Really? Then I won’t think about it anymore!］ The system cowered instantly, clearly terrified of turning bald. After a short pause, it bounced back eagerly: ［Host, the store just stocked fresh Spicy Crawfish! Want an order?］
［Poor. Can’t afford it.］
Lin Yao rejected it decisively. Satisfying worldly cravings was not a priority.
［Ah? But today it’s 90% off! It only costs 40 Star Credits!］
［Bring me an order then,］ Lin Yao opened his eyes and rolled up his sleeves.
With the campaign imminent, Cody arranged a private carriage for Lin Yao, keeping in mind that he was merely a fragile priest who might break a bone if bumped too hard by a soldier.
The white-robed priest stepped into the carriage amid the enthusiastic cheers of the kingdom’s citizens. The last thing he saw before entering was Kathy’s meaningful smile—like being watched by a venomous pit viper, leaving a lingering chill in the heart.
As Onassis expanded its borders, the duration of military expeditions grew longer. The foot soldiers had to march on foot, but Lin Yao did not. In his spare time, he spent almost every moment cultivating Posuo Flowers.
As bloom after bloom was produced, the young priest’s reputation grew even grander. Previously, the soldiers had only heard rumors of how remarkable this priest was, how many flowers he could cultivate, and how exceptional their quality was.
Yet rumors could never compare to witnessing it with their own eyes.
That priceless artifact seemed to bloom so effortlessly beneath his fingertips, earning him ever-deepening respect and awe from the army.
When night fell, the white-robed priest would sit cross-legged on a mat by the campfire, occasionally stoking the flames. The meals prepared by his hands smelled incomparably more delicious than the rations at any other campsite.
Only then did the soldiers realize that Lord Yao was also a gifted cook.
Even though he wore a mask, his serene silhouette began to settle deep within the hearts of more and more men. They held his image in their minds with admiration, tossing and turning through the night as they cherished his memory—yet none dared entertain a single disrespectful thought.
Cody usually rode on horseback, but occasionally he rested inside the carriage. Sometimes he wiped down his blade, sometimes he read or drafted scrolls, and sometimes he simply stared directly at Lin Yao—watching those pale, pristine fingers tend to the soil as beautiful blossoms bloomed from his touch.
With his eyelashes cast down, Cody reflected on the soldiers’ praise for the youth. Lin Yao was like a deity representing pure goodness and sanctity in legend, inspiring yearning in all who looked upon him.
Yet rather than sacred purity, Cody felt he resembled a Posuo Flower blooming at its absolute peak—a beauty so profound it bordered on a sin. A perfection everyone lusted after, yet precious few could ever hope to possess.