In the back room, the shadows of the lamps floated in the air.
Thin wisps of smoke created an atmosphere that was somewhat ambiguous.
Although Shenhe wasn't good at expressing her emotions, she approached everything she did with a serious attitude.
"Boss, how does it feel?"
"Not bad."
"I've read some books on massage techniques for treating bruises and injuries."
"No wonder your hands feel a bit strong."
"Then I'll go lighter."
"It's fine. Bruises and injuries..."
Xia Zhi recalled the time he had given Shenhe a massage and noticed the many hidden scars on her body.
"You used to get injured a lot during your training. Did you read that book to learn how to improve blood circulation and reduce swelling?"
"Mm."
"What about the medicine?"
"I gathered it myself in the mountains."
"No wonder... Your master didn't really take care of you."
"Master was very good to me. When I was young, she often played with me and taught me many things."
"Cloud Retainer knows how to raise children too?"
"I heard from Master that she also raised Senior Sister Ganyu."
"Oh."
"Later, when I grew up, Master became busy researching new mechanisms, so she wasn't as involved as she was when I was a child."
"What new mechanisms?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but I think she's trying to condense different elemental powers into cores, install them in special mechanisms, and then trigger elemental reactions by mixing them all at once."
"..."
Xia Zhi fell silent upon hearing this.
This little crane's idea sounds a lot like the multi-element talisman explosion I created before.
Could it be that she got seriously injured because of a mistake while testing her new mechanism?
After all, she doesn't have an invincible skill like time stasis like I do.
I can create a nine-element chain reaction, but the little crane can only manage up to seven elements. Still, that's powerful enough to harm even an adeptus.
When we fought Osial in the sea, Xia Zhi had considered using a massive explosion.
But when he tested its destructive power, the shockwaves had shaken the entire Mt. Tianheng and caused a massive earthquake. Xia Zhi was worried that an explosion in the sea would create a huge tsunami, submerging the islands and ships. So, in the end, he chose to transform into the [Giant of Light] instead.
Of course, part of it was also because of Shenhe.
The first movie she had seen in Xia Zhi's meditation space was Ultraman, and she had loved it.
Xia Zhi had saved her once in a dream. If he could save her again in reality using the Ultraman she adored, he believed it would help resolve her inner struggles.
Osial was just like that. Xia Zhi hadn't even used his newly acquired divine skills much, probably because Osial had just broken free from the seal and was too weak at the time...
"Boss?"
"Did you feel lonely living alone in the mountains?"
"It was fine. I liked the peacefulness."
"Then when your master told you to come down to the city to repay your debt to me, were you reluctant?"
Shenhe hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "At that time... I was a bit unwilling because I don't like dealing with strangers."
"Haha, after all, it's hard to defy your master's orders. But now that you've offered yourself as repayment, I'd say you've already fulfilled your debt."
Shenhe suddenly stopped. "That's not it."
Xia Zhi asked, "What's wrong?"
Shenhe looked at him and slowly said, "I like you, and it has nothing to do with repaying my master's debt."
Xia Zhi smiled. "Mm."
Shenhe's serious personality was truly endearing.
So cute.
Shenhe's eyes reflected the light of the lamp, and she pursed her lips.
Then, Xia Zhi experienced Shenhe's massage again—a massage with no technique, just pure sincerity.
It was wonderful.
When it was over, Shenhe, her face slightly red, picked up the towel.
"Boss, I'm going to soak in the bath."
"Go ahead. You've worked hard. I'll rest for a bit and join you after you're done."
"Mm."
Shenhe returned to the bathhouse, and no one noticed anything unusual about her.
After all, everyone looked a bit strange after their massages.
After soaking in the bath for a while and sharing some laughs, the girls got up one by one and left the bathhouse.
The Mahjong King Tournament was over, and after playing mahjong all afternoon, no one felt like continuing. They all returned to their rooms.
Zhu Zi wanted to write her novel, Ying'er wanted to research lip balm, Diona wanted to study brewing... Everyone had their own things to do.
Ganyu and Shenhe returned to their room. Even though Ganyu hadn't stayed at the shop since last Friday, seeing her junior sister's familiar bed gave her an inexplicable sense of comfort.
Lying down on the soft bed, the bell around Ganyu's neck made a soft sound, and Shenhe couldn't help but glance at it.
"Soaking in the hot spring and then lying down like this is so comfortable."
"Mm."
"The room feels so warm too. Did you put something under the bed?"
"Adepti talismans. They provide heat."
"I see."
There were two pillows on the bed—a light blue one that Shenhe used and a dark blue one that Shenhe had prepared for her senior sister.
Ganyu reached out and took her pillow, burying her face in it.
The pillow was clean, with only a faint trace of Shenhe's scent and nothing else.
"Junior Sister, I'm so envious of you all. After work every day, you can soak in the hot spring like this."
"Mm."
Ganyu turned her head and saw Shenhe sitting at the table, slowly combing her white hair with a jade comb.
At this moment, her junior sister's profile exuded a gentle aura, and there was a faint hint of charm in the corner of her eye.
Ganyu couldn't help but be momentarily stunned.
"Junior Sister."
"Mm?"
"Do you want me to dry your hair for you?"
"No need."
"Junior Sister, your hair seems to have grown a bit longer."
"Mm."
"Junior Sister..."
After a while, Ganyu sat up on the bed.
She had chatted with her junior sister about many topics, but unfortunately, Shenhe hadn't shown much interest, only responding with simple "mms."
Sigh, the junior sister in my dreams has a much better personality. The real one is too aloof.
The only topic her junior sister seems interested in now is food, right?
"Sister, what do you want to eat for breakfast tomorrow?"
"Pickled vegetable and shredded pork noodles."
"Uh, I only eat vegetarian."
"Senior Sister can have pickled vegetable noodles."
"..."
"They're really delicious."
"Alright."
Ganyu's expression showed a hint of helplessness as she lay back down on the bed.
Her junior sister really loves sour flavors.
Because of the angle, she was now lying on the light blue pillow—the one Shenhe used.
Huh?
Ganyu turned her head slightly and noticed that this pillow also only had a faint trace of Shenhe's scent.
It was almost the same as her own dark blue pillow.
How is that possible?
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