Second Time

Chapter 55 - Construction

Jin Liling had lingering fear about approaching Shao Yue's room. She stopped on the first floor of the central pavilion and called out, "Yue? Do you have a moment?"

"I'm making pills," Shao Yue's voice echoed in Jin Liling's mind. "I'll be down in a few minutes."

Jin Liling sat down and waited.

Shao Yue descended the stairs not long after. "What do you need, Liling?"

"While I was practising the Depths Traversal Technique, I found an underground spring," Jin Liling explained. "It's within the main array, to the north-west. I think we could create an open-air bath from it. What do you think?"

"An interesting idea. It would be good to have some more places to gather." Shao Yue nodded. "Okay, let's do it."

"Great!"

Building the bath became a team effort.

Shao Yue and Jin Liling, with some help from Ren Meili, took care of the initial landscaping work. They carved out an area fifteen meters in diameter with a smooth floor and stepped edges for sitting, then connected it with the spring to fill it.

Cai Fei set up a divine sense blocking array on the same level as the pavilions', then another array to raise the temperature of the water to a comfortable level.

Zhu Jiao gathered plenty of bamboo from the sect which they used to build walls surrounding the bath. Even though they were all girls, the idea of being peeped on still made them a bit hesitant. They planted the excess bamboo around the walls to give it a more natural look.

Peng Fuyi embroidered cloth to use as the doorway. She also prepared a bunch of towels and robes for everyone to use.

Xu Mingzhi planted flowers and shrubs around the bath to increase the aesthetics. Petals and leaves would sometimes fall and float peacefully in the water.

Finally, after everything had been prepared, Lin Xifeng gathered herbs and placed them in the bath. They had several effects. They would make everyone's skin soft and silky, relax their bodies, and fill the air with a pleasant scent.

Everyone gathered to relax in the bath together under the setting sun. It was roomy enough that everyone could sit along the edges with a meter or two between them, but some of them stayed close, surprising no one. Shao Yue with Cai Fei, Peng Fuyi with Jin Liling, and the Chen twins with each other.

Any man who managed to see such a sight would die without regrets. Most likely within seconds, considering their collective strength.

Shao Yue and Cai Fei had an arm wrapped around each other's waist. Peng Fuyi and Jin Liling had a bit of distance between them to retain the benefit of the doubt, but their fingertips touched under the water.

Sun Anrou covered her chest with her hands. "Seeing everyone like this, I really envy your bodies."

"We all have our own charms," Shao Yue said, idly admiring the size of Sun Anrou's chest.

Chen Chunhua giggled. "I think that means less coming from the prettiest one here."

"Hah?" Peng Fuyi stared at Chen Chunhua. "Liling is clearly the prettiest one here!"

"Liling is classically beautiful, but she can't beat Yue's otherworldly charm."

Xu Mingzhi added, "Xifeng also has that exotic appeal of a foreigner."

"Are we not going to mention Jiao?" Cai Fei gestured to Zhu Jiao. "She's always so serious, but now that she has her hair down and her guard lowered, the gap makes it even cuter."