Chapter Six: A Surprise from the System

Hearing this, the siblings were both taken aback. They had never heard of the medical principle that exercise could promote blood flow. Saga, worried, asked, "Father, Yuna has only just begun to recover. Is it really alright for her to go out and walk around now?"

Link smiled and replied, "It's precisely because she's just starting to get better that she needs a little movement. Don't worry, I'm only suggesting she walk around a bit. After lying in bed for so long, a little activity and some sunlight will do her much more good than staying bedridden. We'll accompany her, so nothing will happen."

Saga, though not versed in medical knowledge, trusted Link unconditionally. Since Link said so, he relaxed and told Yuna, "Yuna, Father has spoken; let's go outside for a walk."

Yuna nodded obediently. She dressed and, supported by Saga, left the room where she had spent countless days. As sunlight touched her face, she trembled with excitement. She could no longer remember how long it had been since she last bathed in sunlight. All she knew was that, compared to being cared for in bed, she longed to walk on her own feet under the sun.

Seeing Yuna's joy, both Link and Saga were delighted. Saga cast a grateful look at Link; were it not for him, he might never again see such an expression on his sister's face.

As for Link, although he had his own motives when he first helped the siblings, Yuna's innocent and radiant smile brought him genuine happiness. He wondered if this reaction meant he was a hopelessly good person, but all he knew was the satisfaction of helping a child smile again, the accomplishment of breathing new life into a soul.

In that moment, Link felt, for the first time since his arrival in this world, a profound sense of being truly alive—a feeling of belonging to the world, rather than standing apart from it and viewing others with detached superiority, all while suffering inner emptiness. This was infinitely better.

With their own thoughts, the three headed out. But soon after stepping onto the street, an unexpected situation arose.

The neighbors, who knew the siblings' plight, were shocked to see Yuna, once at death's door, now walking in recovery. They gathered round, eager for answers. Honest Saga didn't hesitate and explained that Link had treated Yuna's illness.

The neighbors were even more astonished, casting incredulous looks at Link. It was hard to believe that a young priest, no older than seventeen, had cured a terminal disease. Yet, Yuna's recovery was undeniable.

So, after the initial shock, their gazes turned to reverence and hope. Many approached Link, asking if he could cure their ailments.

Living in the slums, people inevitably suffered from illnesses, but with no money, they had to endure them. Now, hearing that Link had treated Yuna for free, they naturally hoped for the same.

For Link, this was a delightful surprise. He felt no annoyance at their eagerness or flattery; in fact, this was precisely the effect he wanted—a golden opportunity to grow his flock.

However, Link didn't rush to treat everyone. Aside from the uncertainty about their ailments, his own magical energy was running low; reckless healing would leave him exhausted, just as it had the day before. Moreover, he needed to maintain a mysterious and noble public image. Thus, he remained reserved, chatted with them, and eventually treated two individuals before showing signs of fatigue, indicating he'd expended too much energy and needed rest.

Saga, who had been observing, "cooperated" by telling everyone that Link had already spent much energy treating Yuna and urged them to wait until Link was rested before seeking his help.

Witnessing Link cure two people in a short time, the neighbors were awestruck. They understood the need for rest; after all, Yuna's illness was terminal, far more severe than their minor ailments, and healing her must have required great effort. That Link could continue treating others afterward was nothing short of miraculous.

As a result, the neighborhood's faithful grew from three to twelve, closing in on the system's goal of twenty. Link was overjoyed by this development, so the next morning, he returned to the slums. After completing Yuna's final treatment, he eagerly continued seeking new followers among the poor.

Watching Link treat various difficult conditions for free, Saga remarked admiringly, "Father is truly a noble man. Priests and clergy willing to help the poor for free are rare these days." He paused, then shook his head, "No, it's more accurate to say that hardly any priests or clergy are willing to lower themselves to the slums at all. Nowadays, religion only cares about recruiting followers among the upper classes and amassing wealth. Alas..."

At the end, Saga seemed to recall something and sighed with melancholy.

Beside him, Yuna was silent for a moment before saying, "Brother, why don't you help Father Link?"

Saga was surprised, then understood her meaning, but hesitated. "I've thought about it, but Father is so noble. Would he really accept someone like me as his attendant?"

Yuna smiled sweetly, "Brother, you underestimate yourself. If you're not qualified to serve Father, who is? Now that he's just founded the Church of the Father, he needs people. This is the perfect time to join him."

It was hard to believe such reasoned words came from a ten-year-old girl, but Saga seemed used to it, showing no surprise—only thoughtful consideration. After a pause, he asked worriedly, "You make sense, but you've only just recovered. If I go to help Father now, will you be alright alone?"

"Don't worry, I'm fully recovered. Father is amazing; after only three treatments, I feel just as I did before I got sick. My body is still a bit weak, but I can take care of myself. Besides, the neighbors will help me, won't they? Brother, go and help Father with peace of mind."

Saga was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "Let's talk about it later..."

Yuna sighed but didn't press him further.

Link, of course, had no idea that the siblings were eyeing him as their lifeline. His attention was wholly on recruiting new followers. Everyone had friends and relatives, and in the slums, they were often nearby, so word of Link spread quickly.

As a result, even more people came to see Link than the day before. Most were skeptical, coming to watch the spectacle, but once Link demonstrated his miraculous healing, they were convinced.

Though healing with magic was not uncommon in the world of Sola, few with such skills would treat the poor for free. The impoverished had simple thoughts: all those grand mages and doctors were useless, since they wouldn't treat them without payment. But Link's healing was real and free.

Consequently, whether or not they'd been treated, most who witnessed Link's miracles began to believe in the Church of the Father. In just one morning, Link achieved the system's target of twenty followers, and as before, he reserved his lottery chance for midnight.

When his already sparse magical energy was once again nearly depleted, Link excused himself, saying night had fallen, and returned to the church to await midnight.

The poor were reluctant to see him leave, but night was indeed approaching, so they said nothing. Instead, they worked even harder to spread Link's fame, and the reputation of Link and the Church of the Father began to spread from the slums to other areas.

That day, Link recruited more than fifty new followers. Combined with those he already had, his known flock was nearing seventy. Although the number had grown, he received no further rewards, leaving him to wonder what conditions were needed for the next. It seemed he would have to use the lottery opportunity first.

At midnight, as the clock struck twelve, the system's lottery reactivated. Link could hardly wait to begin.

"Divine skill, divine skill, divine skill!" Watching the spinning wheel, Link clenched his fists and whispered. The wheel spun rapidly, and his heart raced with it.

Yet, this draw repeated the previous outcome—the pointer stopped at the skills section, and unlike last time, it didn't even nearly land on divine skill.

"Confession technique?" Link closed his eyes and sensed the new ability, then smiled wryly. "Another support skill... Ah..."

After his sigh, the system's voice sounded again.

As soon as it finished, a battered ancient book appeared out of nowhere before Link.

Link was so excited that his whole body trembled. He had just been frustrated at missing the divine skill, but the system, generous as ever, had gifted him a divine skill manual: though only the first three levels of the Nine Yang Divine Skill, its reputation was legendary. In the novels of Jin Yong, it ranked among the top five inner skills—a grandmaster like Zhang Sanfeng founded a sect after learning just a bit of it, and Zhang Wuji, once weak, became a top master after mastering it, learning any martial art as if he'd unlocked a cheat.

Thinking of such legendary feats, Link could hardly remain calm. He immediately picked up the battered book and read it eagerly.

With the system's aid, as soon as Link finished reading, the first three levels of the Nine Yang Divine Skill were engraved in his mind, and a blazing energy began to coalesce in his dantian.

The first three levels of the Nine Yang Divine Skill—mastered!