Chapter 66: The Lady of Eternal Sorrow

“Thank you, Mr. Renault.”

Li Nanke took the chainsaw sword, untied the thorns already wrapped around it, and, following Renault’s instructions, tied them again. His memory was exceptional; after seeing the intricate knots just once, he mastered them, tying them even more neatly and securely than before.

The chainsaw sword itself was of limited quality and power, a standard-grade weapon, but with the addition of the “Crimson Thorn Branch,” it could now unleash far greater force.

Li Nanke’s gaze swept over the furnishings in the room. On the wall hung an oil painting—a family portrait of three: father, son, and daughter. Edell and the young Renault were recognizable; the younger daughter’s face, however, was unfamiliar.

Renault, noticing Li Nanke’s interest, raised an eyebrow and spoke, “You must have already met Edell. I understand roughly why you’re here, but what I intend to do is far more dangerous than you realize.”

“If you want to stay alive, hide in the Relief Society, keep your identity concealed. At least, that gives you a better chance than coming to find me...”

Li Nanke abruptly cut him off, “What if I refuse to hide?”

“The Penitent Holy Order, led by the Sacred King, has twisted its faith, continually distorting the true meaning of the God of Pain’s blessing. The world has become chaotic, plagued by epidemics and disasters, and its followers mutated into monsters... The reason why blessings have nearly vanished is precisely due to the Sacred King and the Order’s perverse actions in recent years.”

“The Mourners fought the Order’s atrocities to the death, resisting until their last drop of blood. I perished alongside countless comrades in the canyon.”

“When the God of Pain’s blessing descended upon me, and I was resurrected from death, I understood the mission I bore... I was reborn not to cower in hiding, but to end all of this.”

Renault, having left the Order due to his differing understanding of faith, undoubtedly despised its actions. Li Nanke aimed to dispel his doubts entirely, presenting himself as a kindred spirit in Renault’s eyes.

Claiming the identity of a Mourner—one who dared to confront and resist the Order unto death—was his strongest argument.

Renault remained silent at first, but his gaze shifted markedly when the Sacred King and the Order were mentioned.

After a long pause, he finally spoke, “Blessings in the form of resurrections—like the one you received—haven’t appeared for many years. From what I recall, every blessing from the God of Pain now manifests as punishment, twisted and burdened with guilt.”

“Because the God of Pain’s blessings have become increasingly warped, the original Lickers’ healing abilities, their gift to cure others’ wounds, are disappearing, leaving only distorted transfers of pain.”

“My sister, Anya, aspired from a young age to become a true Licker, to inherit our father’s legacy and heal the suffering of others.”

“But by then, the Lickers had lost most of their blessings. Still, her devotion was unwavering. She prayed day and night to the Great Presence, hoping that the supreme will would once again grant a blessing, letting her soothe the wounds of the world.”

“Perhaps it was Anya’s devotion that moved the Great Presence, for eventually, as she wished, the God of Pain’s blessing descended…”

“But it came in a horribly twisted form.”

“In the instant the blessing arrived, every injury, illness, torment, whip mark, and knife wound suffered by those at the Relief Society—all their afflictions, all their scars—were transferred onto her.”

“In that moment, agony struck. Anya’s body burst open with wounds; the diseases, torments, and injuries of everyone converged upon her. Her young frame twisted and tightened with the unbearable pain, blood soaking her pristine white dress.”

“Even as the pain transferred ceaselessly, Anya survived. No matter how deep the wounds, no matter how wretched her cries, she lived. The God of Pain’s blessing even stripped her of the right to die by suicide, condemning her to suffer endlessly.”

“Unless someone killed her, unless she begged others to end her suffering.”

“On countless nights, I listened to Anya’s anguished wails, wishing to end her pain, but the young child chose to endure silently... She was too young to understand that fleeting fervor cannot sustain true faith, nor did she realize how terrifying it is to bear such agony for a lifetime.”

Li Nanke had already grasped how twisted the God of Pain’s blessings were in this dream world. Hearing of a punishment that stripped one’s right to die, forcing eternal suffering, he couldn’t help but frown.

“Soon, Anya became a living, walking embodiment of the God of Pain’s blessing. The Order learned of her existence.”

“The Punitive Army arrived. The Sacred King promised Edell that, if he surrendered Anya, the Relief Society would be allowed to endure.”

“Edell was a cowardly father. Perhaps he struggled and hesitated; perhaps he felt remorse and guilt on countless sleepless nights. Yet, in the end, he handed Anya over.”

“As a representative of the God of Pain’s twisted blessing, the Order bestowed upon Anya the title ‘Lady of Eternal Pain.’ To care for my sister, I voluntarily joined the Order and the Punitive Army as well.”

“But the Sacred King did not want Anya for adoration, nor to make her a symbol of the Order’s faith... He wanted her ability to transfer and endure wounds.”

“The Order imprisoned Anya underground, developed special prayers, and crafted sanctuary sigils... The Punitive Army became the beneficiary; any injury they suffered was transferred onto the ‘Lady of Eternal Pain.’”

“This made the Punitive Army fearless, invincible, undaunted by any wound, increasingly fanatical and fierce.”

Li Nanke instantly understood the source of the Punitive Army’s daunting ability to rapidly heal and recover from injuries. The power originated from ‘Lady of Eternal Pain’—Anya.

Renault took a deep breath and continued, “Anya is now nothing more than a tool for the Order, condemned to eternal suffering.”

“When I learned of this, Anya was already under strict guard by the Order, forbidden to be approached by anyone—not even I was allowed near her.”

“I raised my sword and fought my way to the Order’s underground prison, finally seeing Anya.”

“Through the steel cage, on a blood-soaked stone altar, Anya knelt, her body bowed, long hair obscuring her face, hands suspended by iron chains. She had been tortured beyond recognition.”

“Exhausted, I was surrounded by the Punitive Army. Perhaps because of Anya, the Order spared my life and ultimately exiled me…”

Having recounted everything, Renault raised his head, eyes burning with indelible flames of vengeance. “I will return to the Order... and end Anya’s suffering.”

“Edward, do you have the courage to come with me?”

[Nightmare: You have triggered a hidden node!]

[Hidden Node: Rescue ‘Lady of Eternal Pain’ Anya, or kill her!]