It was called blood, but in reality, it wasn't red, just some pale yellow plasma. Usually, this plasma needs to be separated by a centrifuge to become clear liquid, but Ashlesh's blessing allowed Faen to freely control the water flow. If natural water was still limited by spiritual power and such, then for the things inside his own body, Faen could basically command them like his own arms.
To accelerate absorption, Faen used his finger to stir Zeri's tongue, trying to smear the pale yellow plasma as evenly as possible. Although she felt a wave of discomfort, Zeri forcibly suppressed the resistance in her heart—fortunately, Faen's appearance was quite acceptable; he looked sunny and cheerful, not like a bad guy.
After all, similarly having a hand stuck in one's mouth, the psychological preparation required to accept slender, clean fingers versus wrinkled fingers with fingernails full of black grime was completely different.
He didn't stir for too long, because soon Zeri felt an inexplicable strange emotion surging from the bottom of her heart.
It was a groundless emotion, an inexplicable happiness, like a castle in the air. It made Zeri feel that she was very happy, but this happiness had no support; while comfortable, it made one feel empty.
It was similar to... the emptiness and regret generated in the heart during the sage time (post-nut clarity) after masturbating?
Unfortunately, being just a little girl, Zeri couldn't understand what this feeling was. She only knew that this strange feeling made her body exceptionally excited. That unreleased vitality quickly cast a layer of mist over Zeri's bright and energetic eyes.
She wanted to ask Faen what this strange feeling was, but Faen's finger was still in her mouth. Zeri could only make some "ah ah woo woo" whimpering sounds, her throat swallowing empty air from time to time to show that she was very uncomfortable now.
Faen didn't stop immediately but used his fingers to grab Zeri's uvula and examined it carefully. After confirming that the plasma and the Joy of Ashlesh within it had been completely absorbed, he nodded and released Zeri's tongue.
"Actually, this is my first time using it on an outsider, so I have to be careful," Faen explained.
But Zeri had absolutely no time to respond to Faen now. Inexplicable joy constantly impacted Zeri's nerves. This causeless vitality made Zeri desperate to do something to make herself truly happy, or rather to find a cause for this joy.
She needed to give the castle in the air a foundation, to find the cause for the effect.
"No, no, no, I feel the feeling you talked about, but I feel a bit strange!"
Intense joy brought vitality to life. Zeri could feel her senses becoming exceptionally active, as if her nerves broke through the limitations of her skin and spread into the space. Even the colors in her vision became exceptionally colorful and beautiful.
But this liveliness and joy also made Zeri, who didn't know what to do now, unable to hold back the urge to vent. Yet not knowing exactly what she should do, Zeri could only uncontrollably hug the pillow and roll around on the bed.
Seeing this, Faen said, "Because you just woke up and haven't found the reason for joy yet. Here, you go wash your face first. The feeling of waking up should be able to alleviate this feeling to a certain extent."
"Makes sense! Just right to use the toilet too!"
Hearing this, Zeri woke up as if from a dream, and ignoring her injuries, she excitedly ran into the toilet.
Having slept for a whole night, Zeri stayed a bit longer. But soon, a scream came from the toilet again.
Looking at the bathroom door, a moment later, Zeri cautiously opened the door, swallowed saliva, and asked hesitantly, "Who changed my pants..."
"Me."
"...Then... those hairs?"
"Me." Faen reached out and made a peace sign—more accurately, a scissoring motion.
"The blood on your stomach flowed all over the place. If I didn't clean it up, I couldn't apply medicine, and it would easily cause infection."
"You even washed it?!" Zeri's eyes revealed shock. Did you scrub it too? And how can you be so calm?!
Faen just spread his hands helplessly. "When life is at stake, who has time to consider so much? And apart from applying medicine, I absolutely didn't do anything out of line. If you don't believe me, you can check."
Looking at Faen's helpless look, and then looking at the pants on herself, Zeri could feel something was wrong. But ultimately still a little girl, facing Faen's face full of helplessness, she didn't know how to express it to Faen for a moment.
Finally, she could only close the door unhappily. Accompanied by the sound of rushing water, she simply washed up, then walked out gloomily and said:
"Anyway... thanks."
Looking at that twisted expression, her small mouth pouted up to the sky, exactly like a mute person who had eaten bitter herbs.
Faen said, "You were seriously injured at the time; it wasn't the time to consider those things."
"I know, that's why I thanked you." Zeri rested her chin on her hands gloomily, her smooth cheeks puffed up, looking exceptionally cute and also exceptionally depressed:
"But with something like this suddenly happening, I can't just be giggling foolishly, right? ...Wait."
As she was speaking, Zeri seemed to realize something. She felt it carefully, then even reached out to touch and press her stomach, saying in surprise:
"Strange! Not only do I not feel uncomfortable! The wound doesn't hurt anymore either!"
Curiously controlling her body to twist around, Zeri's face was filled with surprise and delight.
The girl clearly remembered that when she just entered the bathroom, the wound was still faintly aching, and if she wasn't careful and bumped it, it would hurt enough to make her grit her teeth. But now...
Mustering up courage to press it, Zeri was surprised to find that she didn't feel anything when she touched the wound!
Opening the bandage at her waist, the previously obvious scar had actually healed. As the bandage loosened, the blood scab fell off, revealing new, light pink tender flesh.
"How is this possible?" Zeri cast a curious gaze at Faen.
Faen explained, "Because of joy."
"Joy?" Hearing this, a look of surprise appeared on Zeri's face. "Does joy have this function?"
"Of course," Faen said.
"Humans are organisms controlled by hormones in many situations. When in a happy mood, the human body releases things like endorphins and dopamine that can relieve pain, improve immunity, and accelerate metabolism. Moreover, activated body muscles can also grow faster. Conversely, if one is always depressed, the speed of wound healing will also be much slower."
"Wait, that's not right!" Zeri found a blind spot.
"If that's the case... then it doesn't add up!" Zeri said suspiciously, "I was clearly terrified just now! Where was I happy! Don't slander me!"
"Ashlesh's blessing can guide all emotional changes towards joy in the end." Faen was also quite helpless.
"This even includes pain generated from self-harm and intense shame in the heart. For example, special fetishes like masochism and exhibitionism. The you just now happened to be in a blessed state, but couldn't find a reason to support this joy. You happened to discover some things at this time, your spirit was strongly stimulated and turned into complete pleasure, so the physical recovery naturally became faster. Also... when happy, the human body secretes many things that it wouldn't secrete under normal conditions..."
Faen didn't continue, just remained silent for a moment and pointed at Zeri's pants.
Looking down, having only focused on being terrified, confused, and screaming earlier, Zeri just realized that the clean pants Faen changed her into were already wet in a large patch.
And now that she realized it, Zeri could even feel the tender flesh down there squirming happily, constantly secreting a slightly thick transparent fluid.
Although inexperienced, she was an adult after all. Looking at this, Zeri's small face immediately turned red. Covering her face, she ran straight to the bathroom without saying a word, but a moment later poked half her head out, looking at Faen and humming, "Help me get a pair of pants."
Returning an OK gesture, Faen went downstairs on the spot and bought a pair of tight jeans to hand to Zeri.
A moment later, changed and opening the door, Zeri adjusted her belt while twisting around to look at her long slender legs and her perky, shapely buttocks that filled the pants tightly. Her lines were beautiful and smooth; the vitality of sports was perfectly displayed on the girl. Only after confirming there was no continued leakage did Zeri breathe a sigh of relief.
But returning to the bedroom and seeing Faen, Zeri still pouted somewhat aggrievedly.
She couldn't say she hated him, but this series of events was obviously exceeding Zeri's endurance limit.
Zeri's attitude towards Faen now was definitely not 'like', and 'love' was even more out of the question. But if forced to say 'hate', that wasn't it either; in fact, there was faintly more good will.
After all, who would hate a frank and cheerful handsome guy? Moreover, based on facts, Faen did save her, and the things he did were all very organized...
"Thanks a lot." Zeri said dejectedly, "I'll pay you back later..."
"No need." Faen shook his head, took out the wallet and handed it to Zeri under her surprised gaze. "I've been using your money all along."
Hearing this, taking the deflated wallet and looking at its pitiful slimmed-down appearance, Zeri opened her mouth wide in belated realization, but then slapped her forehead. "Almost forgot you just arrived in Zaun yesterday... But still, thank you. Do you have a place to stay? If not, you can rest at my secret base for a while."
Thinking about it, Zeri said somewhat embarrassedly, "But repaying you or whatever... might not be possible for now. Those Chem-Barons seem a bit impatient. That guy yesterday was already the third bounty hunter I've encountered this week. I have to lay low."
"It's okay, I'll help you." Faen smiled.
"You help me? Uh... why help me?" Hearing this, surprised, Zeri then asked cautiously, "We... only met for the first time, right? Although I don't hate you, isn't deciding to help me a bit sudden? Um, I'm not refusing, just a bit curious."
"Because of Ashlesh." Faen sighed. "I am deeply bound to Ashlesh now. My power source is also joy, and I am still generating endless joy. The joy generated when I saved you yesterday soothed me a bit, but it wasn't enough. In fact, right now I can already feel the emptiness of this joy tearing at my consciousness."
"I don't want to become a lunatic like Ashlesh, brain-fried by extreme sensory stimulation, rushing towards the sky when high. If I don't go for quality, I can only go for quantity. If I can make the people of Zaun feel happy and joyful, this massive amount of joy can also alleviate Ashlesh's negative influence on me."
Saying this, pausing for a moment, Faen continued, "And even without Ashlesh's reason... I also want to help you."
Looking into Zeri's eyes, Faen said seriously, "You are doing the right thing. You are fighting for those who cannot fight. I hope this world can have more people like you."
"Eh? Is that so?" Listening to Faen's words, Zeri felt somewhat flattered. She couldn't quite remember how many times Faen had praised her.
But no matter how many times, Zeri would feel a sense of achievement and recognition spreading in her heart.
Even though she didn't know if what she was doing was right, if anyone supported her, or if she didn't even dare to return home... but hearing someone approve now, Zeri inexplicably felt a bit excited, thinking that everything she did these days was worth it. Even the awkwardness of Faen cleaning her wound's blood stains and shaving her hair earlier quietly lessened a lot.
While Zeri was secretly feeling happy, Faen on the other side could clearly feel that the emptiness in his spirit was slightly alleviated.
But Faen didn't say this purely to relieve pain... After all, who wouldn't want more people like Zeri around them? If it were those disgusting ambitious schemers, Faen would rather suffer in silence than say a word of flattery.
"Then let's go!" Zeri packed up her clothes and put on that slightly large and heavy iron thread shell jacket, saying, "Let's go to my secret base first, then we can have a good chat about what to do next."
"Alright."
Faen nodded, looking at the streets of Zaun outside the hotel, his eyes also holding some anticipation—this was his first time leaving Ionia, and he felt he should do something.
Zaun's environment was harsh and complex, but this also had an advantage: as long as you were willing to look, you could definitely find a secret base that belonged to you. Especially for someone with special skills like Zeri; even Faen didn't expect that Zeri's secret base was the circuit conduit of a chemical factory.
Controlling electric sparks to open the door of the circuit conduit, Zeri showed off with a grin: "I searched for a long time to find this secret base. Without my electric magic, others wouldn't know how to get in even if they found it, let alone that they would never guess I would hide inside here!"