The two (mainly Yu Cheng) cleaned up quickly, not taking long to tidy the room spotless.
If she hadn't been in a hurry to find Xia Lian, the Little Holy Maiden seemed to want to check the window sills and table corners, places prone to dust, even more carefully...
"Mainly because it's so fulfilling~" Yu Cheng cheerfully smiled at the sweating Mo Tan, wiping the tip of her nose.
"Actually, I'm not really the neat type; my room is usually a mess, but once I start cleaning, I can't stop.
Don't laugh at me, okay~"
Mo Tan took the rag from her hand, stood on his tiptoes to wipe the top of the bookshelf that Yu Cheng couldn't quite reach, and shook his head, saying, "Of course not, because like you, once I start cleaning, I can't stop."
"Really?" The girl clasped her hands behind her back, tilting her body to the side.
She happily looked at Mo Tan's profile: "You're like that too, Mo Tan?"
"Yeah." Mo Tan moved the rag with some effort (he just now realized he was about the same height as Yu Cheng), panting as he replied, "That's why I developed the good habit of 'never cleaning as long as there's still room to stand in my room' more than ten years ago, and it works wonders."
Yu Cheng burst out laughing: "You're too exaggerated."
"It's true." Mo Tan exaggeratedly winked at her, saying earnestly, "So, next time my house is filled with clutter, I plan to invite you over."
"Eh?"
Yu Cheng was stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded: "Then please prepare new mops, brooms, vacuum cleaners, large storage boxes, and trash bags, preferably bright yellow.
Hmm, actually pink isn't bad either, but it has to be a warm, light pink, not despair pink!"
"Huh?" This time it was Mo Tan's turn to be stunned.
He opened his mouth in surprise and took several seconds to regain his ability to speak: "I was just joking..."
Yu Cheng stuck out her tongue: "Hehe, I was joking too.
Light pink trash bags are really too bizarre; ordinary ones are fine."
Mo Tan reacted for a moment, then, as if possessed, blurted out: "I meant inviting you over was a joke..."
About a thousandth of a second later, he felt a strong, urgent, hysterical urge to kill himself.
Yu Cheng's smile fell.
She pouted her little mouth: "So you don't welcome me..."
"No, no, no, that's not what I meant." Mo Tan frantically shook his head, as if the thing on his neck wasn't his own, stammering an explanation: "I mean, if I were to... to invite you over, I would definitely clean up the house beforehand... *cough*... clean!
Yes, I was planning to do that these past two days, right, just clean it up.
You know a single man's home is usually a mess, like all sorts of terrible reading material and kitchen waste or something... Ah, I wasn't saying I have that kind of terrible reading material, actually, kitchen waste is also disposed of properly every day, I just..."
"I just feel like a complete idiot right now!!"
The incoherent Mo Tan wailed in his heart.
He looked at Yu Cheng's bewildered expression and felt his mental illness had worsened considerably.
Whether fortunate or not, Xia Lian suddenly burst in from outside, interrupting him.
"Hey! I just heard you two talking.
A Sun God Sect junior High Priest told me you started cleaning the room more than ten minutes ago.
Mo Tan, you're finally awake.
Yu Cheng told me earlier you needed to sleep a bit longer~" Xia Lian burst in and rattled off a string of words like popping beans, then smiled (Mo Tan felt he could read a hint of regret in her eyes) at the two neatly dressed young people in front of her, raising an eyebrow: "So, you two are already up?"
Mo Tan was about to clarify something but was fiercely (truly very fiercely) stepped on the back of his foot by Yu Cheng, immediately shutting him up.
"Y-yes, Holy Maiden." Yu Cheng nodded, her face flushed, and lowered her head, trying to stare at her toes, whispering in a mosquito-like voice: "We're cleaning the room, and... and we'll be down in a bit."
Xia Lian gave a mischievous smile: "I know.
You two can go directly to the temporary small meeting room in the first-floor hall later.
High Priest Furman and Lord Sol are already there."
Yu Cheng was still (trying to) stare at her toes: "Got it... We'll be there very... very soon."
"Alrighty~ Then that's that." Xia Lian energetically tossed her long hair, then skipped away humming a tune, closing the door behind her.
A moment of awkward silence...
"It seems Holy Maiden Xia Lian had a good rest; she looks very well." Seeing Yu Cheng still looking down and not speaking, Mo Tan broke the silence with an unusually obvious platitude.
"Mm..."
"High Priest Furman and Lord Sol are here, in that small meeting room on the first floor, right?"
"Mm..."
"Tairo should probably be there too.
Hope he doesn't mind the lies we told earlier~"
"Mm..."
"Uh, you're not holding it in, are you?"
"Hey!" Yu Cheng quickly looked up, glaring at Mo Tan indignantly: "What are you saying!"
Mo Tan, realizing his slip, gave an awkward laugh: "My bad, I just really didn't know what else to say..."
Yu Cheng sighed, her face flushed as she looked out the window: "I slept here last night."
Mo Tan's eyes widened: "Huh?"
"I mean! I slept here last night!" Yu Cheng stomped her foot hard, letting out a small animal-like whimper: "That's what I told Holy Maiden before!
I couldn't help it!
She had just left when you inexplicably said you were going offline and then disappeared, and Xia Lian loves barging into other people's rooms!
I had to stay here, otherwise, if she couldn't find you anywhere, she'd definitely go crazy!"
Mo Tan nodded stiffly: "You mean..."
"Yes!" Yu Cheng collapsed weakly onto the bed, covering her head with a pillow, and muffled: "After that, I stayed here the whole time, and I even logged in at seven o'clock today!
Sure enough, Xia Lian came banging on the door first thing in the morning, and I told her you weren't awake yet and asked her not to come in.
Then she asked why I hadn't returned to my own room last night, and I... I, I didn't know what to say... so I told her I stayed here last night!
Got it!
Don't let it slip!"
Although the amount of information in this statement was a bit large, causing Mo Tan not to react immediately, it didn't prevent him from answering loudly: "Yes!"
"I... I'm not ordering you."
Yu Cheng shook her little legs in distress, then slowly got up from the bed, gave Mo Tan a reproachful look, and whispered: "At least get our story straight before going offline, you're always so sudden!"
The latter nodded with a bitter expression: "I'll try."
"Alright, I'm not really angry~" Yu Cheng smiled gently, surveying the surroundings that, in Mo Tan's eyes, were clean enough to be revered: "It's just a little embarrassing..."
Mo Tan sighed, saying from the bottom of his heart: "It's my fault."
"Well, it's okay, anyway, Holy Maiden has always been misunderstanding." Yu Cheng shrugged and spread her hands: "Didn't we agree to explain it to her once the Misha County matter was resolved?
Then she won't overthink it anymore~"
Mo Tan nodded vigorously: "Exactly."
"Hey~ Mo Tan, you don't dislike me, do you?"
"Absolutely not."
"And you don't not welcome me?"
"No!"
"And there's no terrible reading material at home?"
"..."
"Hehe, I'm just kidding~ That makes us even, right?"
"Actually, there really is..."
"Eh!?"
...
Ten minutes later
Holy Church United Chapel, first-floor hall, temporary meeting room
Mo Tan and Yu Cheng pushed open the door and, as expected, saw Xia Lian, Tairo, High Priest Furman of the Justice Church, and Lord Sol of Mida City.
"Have a seat, let's make this short." Xia Lian gestured to the two chairs by the door, and after they sat down, she adopted a rare serious expression and said to Mo Tan: "First, I've already told everyone about the general situation in the south and some of my decisions."
Mo Tan swallowed with some difficulty and nodded gently: "Mm."
He felt a bit nervous.
"Don't be nervous~" Xia Lian laughed heartily and waved her hand at Mo Tan: "Believe me, no one could have done better than you.
Everyone agrees, right?"
Lord Sol elegantly bowed to Mo Tan: "Holy Maiden Xia Lian is right.
To be honest, when I learned of your great achievements last night, I wasn't surprised in the slightest.
Please allow me to express my gratitude on behalf of Mida City and all the people in the northern part of Misha County, High Priest Black Vatican."
Mo Tan shook his head somewhat flustered, just about to say something when he was interrupted by Furman.
"Well said." The burly High Priest clapped his hands forcefully and exclaimed: "You cleared the path from here to the Migratory Bird Town blockade, purged so many monsters from the surrounding area, saved so many people—Blackwater Lake, Cold Ridge Village, Dagger Sheath Bridge... Great Heimdall above, why aren't you a member of the Justice Church!
I guarantee I'd write a hundred letters of recommendation and personally deliver them to Light Capital, and even request an audience with His Holiness the Pope to have you..."
"Cough~"
Xia Lian elegantly cleared her throat, gently tapping her star-gold cross on the ground (the room dangerously swayed for a moment), then mildly turned to Furman: "Poaching in front of me?
I'll crack your skull open~"
Furman shivered and decisively chose to shut up.
Tairo looked at Mo Tan with burning eyes, then 'swish'—he drew his longsword.
"Mr. Tairo!?"
Yu Cheng gasped softly, nervously clutching Mo Tan's sleeve, and raised her small hand, golden holy light flickering between her fingers.
And then...
"You are right, High Priest Black Vatican." Tairo, with his square face, solemnly held his cross-sword in front of him and said in a deep voice: "I apologize for not having given you more trust before.
Last night I went to inquire with everyone, and the knights told me that you never made them abandon any commoner, nor did you ever issue any orders that went against the knight's code.
Furthermore, there have been no unnecessary casualties these past few days.
I must apologize for my narrow-mindedness and stubbornness.
For the duration of this period, until we return to the Holy Domain, Tairo Conner and all the Holy Knights participating in this Misha County rescue mission will obey your commands, in the name of the gods."
Mo Tan smiled gently: "Thank you."
"We should be thanking you." Tairo also smiled, his sideburns trembling: "Everyone wants to thank you personally.
They all thought those orders came from me before.
You two concealed it so well.
Hmm, I think that's all thanks to Wang Yu."
This guy even made a joke!
"Ah, I... I'm very sorry, Mr. Tairo." Yu Cheng gave a weak smile, sticking out her tongue a little awkwardly: "I was afraid if I told you directly..."
"You certainly could have told me directly." Tairo shook his head, sheathed his longsword, and said seriously: "After all, the Goddess bestowed those crystals with magical power upon you, so..."
Xia Lian glared at him: "You talk too much, sit down!"
"Yes."
Tairo immediately sat down, and Mo Tan keenly noticed his calves suddenly trembled reflexively.
"Those crystals are my personal collection, and yes, they were indeed bestowed by the Goddess." Xia Lian explained, following the script they had agreed upon yesterday.
She gently tapped the table: "I've lent all of them to Black Vatican for use."
Black Vatican nodded solemnly: "Holy Maiden is generous, Holy Maiden is auspicious..."
"Don't be like that, you're making me blush." Xia Lian pouted, then quickly changed the subject: "In short, from now on, all of us will cooperate with your arrangements.
Wang Yu should have already told you, all the Holy Knights from Mida City and Hofur City, along with the lower-level professionals and commoners who volunteered to participate in this rescue operation, have assembled and are ready to rendezvous and depart at any time.
Lord Sol has also drafted a series of recruitment announcements as per your previous request, which will soon be distributed to everyone in both cities.
High Priest Furman is also willing to lead all the Justice Church clergy from Mida City as a combat High Priest team to accompany the expedition.
Although their healing abilities are terrible, their auxiliary divine spells, combat capabilities, and group fighting skills are all top-notch."
Mo Tan showed a smile that lacked confidence but was quite courageous: "Thank you all for your help, I will do my best..."
"Very good~" Xia Lian smacked her lips, slowly standing up: "Then let everything begin.
No matter what, we must put an end to this disaster!"
At the same time, two system prompts echoed in the ears of all online players within Misha County:
"Regional World Quest Triggered: Save Misha, Reward: ???, Current Progress: 21%, Contribution Rank: XXX (Varies per person)"
"Regional World Quest Triggered: Find the Source of the Plague, Reward: ???"
Mo Tan and Yu Cheng were both stunned for a moment.
The former subconsciously opened his quest log and found that his contribution rank for the first world quest was...
—First: 7580 points
Chapter 252: The End