After explaining the situation to Master Zhang, Lu Ze returned to the hot spring. The first thing he saw was Hei Xier teasing Hu Qiandai.
Perhaps she was just bored, hence the behavior.
You might wonder why he didn't join them in the hot spring. Forget it; one man and two women. Are you expecting a romantic interlude in the hot springs?
He didn't have the fortune to enjoy such pleasures. If his family found out, he would probably have to kneel on washboards until they were ruined before it was over.
"Lu Ze, you should come down too. The hot spring is so comfortable, you should really like it. Besides, there are two women..."
Uh... Lu Ze silently wiped the sweat from his forehead. Stop tempting him; he was truly afraid he wouldn't be able to resist.
Hu Qiandai, having just washed herself clean, stealthily crept up behind Lu Ze and pulled him with all her might, dragging him and his clothes into the water.
"Damn, I was careless! I shouldn't have stood so close!"
But it was too late to regret it. He felt his clothes getting wet, his lower half submerged in the hot spring water. His shoes and pants were definitely soaked. It seemed he had no choice but to soak in the hot spring now.
However, to prevent any accidents, Lu Ze silently erected a wall of ice in the middle of the hot spring and then reinforced it. It shouldn't melt for a while.
Only then did he relax and soak in the hot spring, immersing himself in the water. Bathing was also a pleasure!
"So comfortable. How should I put it? The feeling of being enveloped by hot water is like arriving in the celestial court. It's truly exquisite."
Meanwhile, Hei Xier looked at the ice wall with some disappointment. She had originally wanted to cause some mischief. After all, she had finally gotten out, and it was just the three of them. It felt wrong not to do anything.
But this ice wall became an obstacle to her mischievous intentions. There was nothing she could do; she couldn't act on her desires.
"Hmm? Qiandai? What are you doing?"
Hu Qiandai was sitting by the ice wall, constantly splashing him with hot water. Where hot water met ice, it was constantly melting.
"Oh, it seems... possible?"
Her initially submerged intentions suddenly reignited. She joined the ice-breaking effort. This time, she was determined to succeed.
Soon, a concave surface appeared in the middle of the once thick ice wall. With a little more effort, there would likely be a large hole.
Then, they could swim through this large hole, stealthily get close, and do some mischief.
Half an hour passed. Lu Ze was so comfortable he was almost asleep. He was drowsy, leaning against a rock, his eyes squinted, watching the purple clouds in the sky.
Suddenly, a figure lunged at him, covering his mouth without a word. Lu Ze, who had been somewhat groggy, instantly woke up.
"What's going on? What happened? How did I..."
Upon closer inspection, wasn't this the demon girl? No, how many times had they met? Was it appropriate to act like this from the start?
Logically speaking, it wasn't.
But Hu Qiandai, having spent so much time in the wilderness, had lost most of her values. Now, all she knew was that this person had saved her, and she liked him.
Her way of expressing liking was only this. It might be a bit barbaric, but for her, it didn't matter anymore.
She was already a person on the verge of death. Besides, do you understand what salvation is? In the darkness, you see nothing, silently enduring pain. Suddenly, one day, someone holding light illuminates your world. This cannot be explained in a few words; that emotion is inexplicable.
"Hey, get off me. I should be the one to go first, shouldn't I?"
Hei Xier forcefully pushed him aside, throwing Hu Qiandai to the side. Didn't she understand the importance of "first come, first served"?
"Hei Xi? No, what are you doing? No! Let me go this time! I just want to soak in the hot spring properly. There's no need for this!"
But the latter would never heed him. How could she easily give up what she had finally obtained?
And so, in the hot spring, some subtle things happened. Lu Ze was forced to work overtime. Sigh...
An hour and a half later, Lu Ze lay in the water, somewhat exhausted. The two women beside him were nestled in his arms, their faces filled with happiness.
It was now around two or three in the afternoon, and it was time to go back. After a brief rest, Lu Ze walked out of the hot spring with a helpless expression.
He changed into clean clothes, and the other two women also put on their clothes.
Since there were no spare shoes, Lu Ze had no choice but to carry Hu Qiandai on his back and take off into the air. Xi'er followed silently behind. As for whether she was "black" or "white," that's unknown. You can guess.
Flying north, they soon saw the Tenshukaku. He landed steadily at the main gate, letting Xi'er go back on her own, as he had some matters to attend to.
Xi'er knew she shouldn't interfere and nodded before silently heading home. Watching her receding figure, Lu Ze then knocked on the Tenshukaku's door.
But no matter how long he waited, no one came to open the door.
"Hmm? They haven't returned yet? Could they have stayed overnight at Mount Kagemiyama? But it's already three in the afternoon; they should have returned by now, shouldn't they?"
He was filled with some doubt, but more with confusion.
There was no other way. Since he couldn't find them, he could only go to Mount Kagemiyama to look.
He took off again and landed at the Grand Narukami Shrine after about five or six minutes.
Hu Qiandai on his back had likely fallen asleep, either due to extreme comfort or sheer exhaustion.
To avoid waking her, Lu Ze walked very carefully, treading lightly. Relying on his memory, he arrived at Yae Miko's room.
He gently knocked on the door. After a moment, a Kitsune Palace in pajamas opened the door, yawning and saying:
"Who is it? Didn't we say not to disturb us..."
Before she could finish, Kitsune Palace's eyes widened because she saw a familiar person: Hu Qiandai.
"Qiandai? How did Qiandai get here with you? What on earth happened? It's only been a few days, you didn't..."
Thinking about the way she herself was resurrected, Kitsune Palace suddenly found it unsurprising. After all, the person had the ability to do so. At this point, she wouldn't be surprised even if a Sassayuri appeared.
"Where is Raiden Ei? I'd like to ask if she's here. I have something to tell her."