Chapter 14: Soaking in the Hot Springs

“This way, honored young ladies.”
With a bright smile, the receptionist respectfully led Lingling Lan, Xinghui, and Velf to a steaming hot spring.

Bubbles gurgled up in the flower-petal-strewn pool, sending wisps of white mist curling into the air.

This was Xifa Star’s most renowned hot spring bathhouse.
The entrance ticket alone cost a hundred gold coins.

Fortunately, the moment they showed that enormous banknote, the proprietress welcomed them with beaming delight.
Not only did she waive the fee, she even arranged the most luxurious accommodations for them.

“Esteemed young ladies, payment is nothing—please, simply spread word of our humble establishment!”

Velf still felt awkward about such treatment.
But Xinghui and Lingling Lan had slipped smoothly into their roles as wealthy noble daughters.

“Senior Xinghui, are we… are we here to bathe?”
“Of course! Before bed, you have to wash up properly—clean, fresh, and sweet-smelling—so you can dream well!”
“But bathing means… taking everything off…”

The moment such a shameful thing was mentioned, Velf stiffened in panic, her neck shrinking back as if retreating.
This wasn’t like changing clothes—at least then she could keep something essential on.
To soak in a bath meant nothing could remain.

“Oh come now, we’re all girls. It’s no big deal,” Lingling Lan said casually.
She pulled a pink towel from her bag while unbuttoning her own clothes.
“Little Fu is so cute, with such a lovely figure. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“All girls? That makes it even better.”

Xinghui’s playful tone carried the most dangerous words.
Velf instantly scrambled back into the corner, and even Lingling Lan bristled with alarm.

So it’s true, Xinghui—your tastes are finally showing.
She’d suspected something back when Xinghui stayed at her house.
Now it seemed her fears were correct.
Things were moving exactly as she expected.

Since Little Fu was here, Xinghui probably wouldn’t dare act yet.
But at night…
What if she sneaked into the room, pretended to fetch water, slipped something into the cup, and then—

And what if she tried to test my “development”…
Even without drugs, what if she forced herself on me while I was half-asleep, leaving me too weak to resist, taking full advantage, until the next morning when my legs couldn’t even hold me up…
I can’t stay awake all night just to guard the door…

Seeing Lingling Lan and Velf’s bewildered faces, Xinghui hurriedly defended herself.
“Honestly, this Sword Immortal was joking! I’d never actually get that close to you. I just enjoy reading those kinds of novels and manga.”

“I don’t believe you!” Lingling Lan instantly shot back.

“Really! If I’d wanted that, I’d have done it when I tied you up at my place.”

“…Excuse me, what??? Do you think I’m that easy to take advantage of?!”

“I’m just saying. Look at me—so upright, a proper Sword Immortal. I’d never prey on a girl when she’s too weak to fight back.”

The more she explained, the worse it sounded.
Best to drop this topic.
Better to focus on the hot spring itself.

“Fine… then I’ll take them off.”

Velf’s expression nearly collapsed as she trembled, hands inching toward her collar buttons.
It took her five full minutes to slowly undo each one.
Then her trousers.
And then…

No, no, my heart’s pounding too fast.
Even if it’s only Senior Xinghui and Sister Ling here, showing my real self to others for the first time—it takes so much courage!

“Here, let Senior help you.”
“Ahhh!!! Senior!!! P-please don’t laugh at me…”

At last, all three had slipped into the water.

The warmth was so soothing that Lingling Lan almost wanted to release all her tentacles into the bath, letting them soak up the moisture, scrub them with body wash, then blow them dry afterward—so that when she lay down at night, she’d smell fresh and feel soft and cozy.
But that would surely terrify Little Fu.
She didn’t yet know Lingling Lan was a daughter of an Outer God.
If she saw, it would force Lingling Lan to silence her, and that would be far too troublesome.
So for now, it was best to maintain the image of a cute and harmless human girl.

“Xingling, could you scrub my back?”

Though the request sounded ordinary, somehow Xinghui’s tone carried a hint of suggestion.
“Ever heard of doing things yourself? I can barely manage with just two hands.”
“You could use your tentacles. I bet they’d feel amazing scrubbing someone’s back.”

“…Tentacles?” Little Fu wondered if she’d misheard.

The words dropped like a thunderclap.
Lingling Lan instantly splashed a huge wave at Xinghui’s face, pretending she hadn’t heard a thing.

“What hand? Oh—assistant? Yes, yes, I’ll be your assistant!”

Her voice wavered.
Tentacles—how dare Xinghui say it aloud!
Still, to keep Little Fu from suspecting, she had to swallow her pride.
So Xinghui had scored a point here… no, wait. This was deliberate, wasn’t it?
Damn it, she tricked me!

But now Lingling Lan had seen Xinghui fully revealed.
Her small but perky chest—youthful buds belonging to a girl just beginning to blossom—actually looked a bit larger than her own.
Not that Lingling Lan was trying to compete.
But she really was the flattest among all of Mother’s daughters.
Big Sister Gera had mocked her for it before.

Hmph, like hers were any better—what was there to brag about?
Why did everyone else end up bigger than me?
I used to have such a fine figure… how did I end up with this pitiful little body after Mother remade me?
Sigh. Guess I’ll just have to learn to live as a little one.
Small can be cute too!

***

An hour later.

“Xingling, I’ve seen everything now.”

Xinghui, blow-drying her silver-gray hair with wind magic, wore a beastly grin.
She was dressed in a thin white slip of a chemise, so light it seemed a gentle tug would reveal all beneath.

“You dare say you’re not shameless! You couldn’t sit still the whole time, practically ready to kiss me!”
“Heh, who could resist when you’re this cute?”

Xinghui’s smile was downright predatory.

“You! Air Charge!”

The hairdryer in her hand suddenly roared to full power.
A violent gale blasted her face until tears almost spilled from her eyes.
Her hair whipped into a wild mess, her expression twisting as though her face were a flag shredded by the storm.

“Stop, stop! My clothes are flying off—mmph!”
“Hahaha! That’s what you get for teasing me! Beg for mercy and I’ll stop!”
“Big Sister Ling, I was wrong! Next time I’ll… I mean—I won’t dare next time! My face is going to warp—!”

“Senior Xinghui and Sister Ling get along so well!” Velf said, barely holding back laughter.

“Me? Get along with her? Hmph, hardly!”

Lingling Lan and Xinghui spoke almost in unison, then stared at each other in surprise.

“Eh?! Why are you copying me—”