Su Yue crossed her arms.
"We’re not asking to sleep in your room."
Bai Xue smiled.
"Some of us weren’t."
Shen Tian stared.
Chi Lingxi covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Yin Suyi looked toward the manager.
"Prepare all surrounding rooms."
The manager bowed immediately.
"Yes, Madam."
Shen Tian sighed.
"So I’m still surrounded."
Shen Yan smiled.
"Protected."
"Surrounded."
"Same thing."
Xu Ning nodded.
[In your case, yes.]
The first afternoon was peaceful.
Suspiciously peaceful.
Everyone explored the resort.
Chu Zijin and Li Lian found a music room containing traditional instruments.
Chu Luoshen discovered the library.
Ling Shuangxue inspected the resort’s financial records despite being repeatedly reminded that she was on vacation.
Bai Xue found the archery range.
Ruan Yizhen joined her.
Chu Mei and Chu Chuchu disappeared into the souvenir shop.
Qin Ruobing and Meng Lan sat near the river with tea.
The old man attempted to fish using Qi.
He was banned from fishing within ten minutes.
Shen Tian walked the mountain path with Chi Lingxi and Su Yue.
At first...
The situation felt slightly awkward.
Chi Lingxi held Shen Tian’s left hand.
Su Yue walked on his right.
Neither woman seemed hostile.
That somehow made Shen Tian more nervous.
Su Yue had officially begun dating him after the world championship.
Chi Lingxi had already been with him before that.
They knew about one another.
Accepted one another.
At least...
Mostly.
But this was the first extended trip where they were both openly beside him.
Su Yue glanced toward their joined hands.
Chi Lingxi noticed.
She hesitated.
Then smiled gently.
"You can hold his other hand."
Shen Tian nearly stumbled.
Su Yue froze.
"What?"
Chi Lingxi’s cheeks became slightly red.
"I mean..."
She looked toward Shen Tian.
"He has two."
Shen Tian stared.
"That is technically true."
Su Yue’s face warmed.
"I wasn’t asking."
Chi Lingxi smiled.
"You were looking."
"I was not."
"You were."
Su Yue stared at her.
Then...
Slowly...
She reached toward Shen Tian’s right hand.
Her fingers touched his.
Shen Tian looked over.
Su Yue immediately looked straight ahead.
He smiled.
Then held her hand.
For several seconds...
The three continued walking.
Chi Lingxi on one side.
Su Yue on the other.
Neither said anything.
Then Su Yue quietly spoke.
"This is strange."
Shen Tian nodded.
"Very."
Chi Lingxi squeezed his hand.
"Bad strange?"
Su Yue thought.
Then shook her head.
"No."
A small smile appeared.
"Just new."
Chi Lingxi smiled too.
The tension eased.
They continued along the path.
The mountain air was cool.
Red leaves drifted around them.
A waterfall appeared farther up the trail.
For once...
There were no crowds.
No cameras.
No game streams.
No people recognizing Shen Tian.
Just quiet.
Su Yue looked toward him.
"You should stream from here."
Shen Tian stared.
"Why?"
"Scenery."
"I thought we were on vacation."
"You can stream vacations."
"No."
She smiled.
"You’d get viewers."
"I already have viewers."
"You could get more."
Chi Lingxi laughed.
"She’s turning into Ling Shuangxue."
Su Yue looked horrified.
"I am not."
From far behind...
Ling Shuangxue’s voice reached them.
"I heard that."
The three turned.
Ling Shuangxue stood on another path holding a tablet.
Bai Xue walked beside her.
Shen Tian stared.
"Why do you have your tablet?"
Ling Shuangxue looked confused.
"Why wouldn’t I?"
"Vacation."
"Markets continue moving during vacations."
Bai Xue shrugged.
"I tried."
Ling Shuangxue looked toward Shen Tian.
"Your stream revenue increased twelve percent after the wedding clips."
Shen Tian sighed.
"No business."
Ling Shuangxue became silent.
Then nodded.
"Fine."
She turned off the tablet.
Shen Tian blinked.
"That easy?"
Ling Shuangxue smiled faintly.
"You’re right."
She slipped her arm through his after Chi Lingxi briefly released him to adjust her cardigan.
Shen Tian looked down.
Ling Shuangxue stared ahead calmly.
"Vacation."
Su Yue looked toward her.
Then Chi Lingxi.
Then Shen Tian.
"You really do need more arms."
Shen Tian laughed.
"Absolutely not."
That evening...
The group finally entered the hot springs.
The resort had several private pools divided across the property.
Some overlooked the valley.
Others were hidden among stone gardens.
The women claimed the largest outdoor spring.
Shen Tian was firmly directed toward a separate spring on the other side of a wooden wall.
The old man joined him.
Unfortunately.
Shen Tian sat in the steaming water.
A folded towel rested on his head.
The old man leaned against the opposite rocks with a cup of tea because Meng Lan had confiscated all three wine bottles.
For several minutes...
Neither spoke.
The silence was comfortable.
Then the old man sighed.
"Women are frightening."
Shen Tian opened one eye.
"You’re only realizing that now?"
"I knew."
The old man looked toward the wall separating the springs.
"I simply forgot."
Voices drifted faintly from the other side.
Laughter.
Water splashing.
Chu Mei accusing Chu Chuchu of stealing her spot.
Shen Yan warning everyone not to discuss Shen Tian while he was close enough to hear.
Immediately afterward...
Everyone began discussing Shen Tian.
He closed his eyes.
The old man smiled.
"You’re popular."
"So I’ve noticed."
"My granddaughter likes you."
"I know."
"My daughter probably likes you too."
Shen Tian opened both eyes.
The old man grinned.
"Just observing."
"Stop observing."
"Cultivators must remain aware of their surroundings."
"You’re using cultivation philosophy to gossip."
"Wisdom takes many forms."
Shen Tian slowly sank deeper into the water.
The old man continued.
"Your mother is terrifying."
"Yes."
"Your sister is worse."
"Yes."
"The silver-haired girl from the game seems nice."
"Su Yue."
"Good hips."
Shen Tian stared.
The old man raised both hands.
"Observation."
"You’re about to die again."
The old man laughed.
Then his expression softened.
"Tian."
Shen Tian looked toward him.
For once...
The old man appeared serious.
"Thank you."
Shen Tian already knew.
"You’ve said it."
"I’ll say it again."
Steam drifted between them.
The old man looked toward his hands.
"I remember pieces."
Shen Tian became quiet.
"Darkness."
"Cold."
"Then..."
His brows slowly tightened.
"Something pulling."
"Your voice."
(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)
SEND POWESTONES!!!
ALL SUPER GIFTS (Magic Castle, Space Ship, Golden Gachapon) = MORE ChapterS!

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