SWWW Chapter 230: Returning to Earth, Family Hot Spring!
Night had fallen.
On Earth, in the land of neon lights and cherry blossoms.
A bright moon hung in the sky, casting down a faint silver glow.
Inside a privately reserved hotel, at the hot spring area—
A cool night breeze swept through the courtyard. The branches of cherry trees rustled, and soft pink petals fell into the steaming hot spring pool.
Gurgle—
A black-haired youth reclined in the pool, his upper body bare, revealing perfectly sculpted muscles. A warm towel rested across his forehead as he stretched out in the water, soaking in relaxation.
Of course, since this was a family trip, he wasn't the only one in the spring.
Gurgle—
From the surface of the water floated up a ball of soft, glowing orange fur. Soon after, a small head poked out, letting out content "meow meow" sounds of pleasure.
The little orange cat paddled happily with her paws, playing in the pool.
"Not bad at all."
Nearby, a glass jar floated on the surface of the hot spring. Inside, sprawled lazily on the bottom, was a colorful one-eyed starfish.
Although Jarro wasn't directly soaking in the hot water, he still enjoyed the warmth seeping through the glass. Relaxed, he muttered mentally to himself, "For leaving me alone in that abandoned factory this morning, I forgive you all."
A red cloak floated beside Xi Nian, dipping a corner into the spring. When the fabric got wet, it quickly shook the water off in a huff!
Xi Nian let his mind wander, his body relaxing, fatigue washing away in the comfort of the spring.
"Xi Nian, how does it feel?"
A cool, pleasant voice drifted from the other side of a bamboo wall.
"Feels great."
Xi Nian opened his eyes just in time to see Xiao Huang leap up from the spring, trying to drag the Cloak of Levitation into the water. He was speechless.
"Do you want to come over and soak with us?"
The voice of his aunt floated over, mixed with the surprised squeals of younger girls.
Xi Nian's relaxed body instantly tensed, his mind unable to calm down.
Who could endure this kind of temptation?
…
On the other side of the wall, in another hot spring pool.
A red lasso, a long red dress, white stockings, a white blouse, a black skirt, and two swords—one silver, one gold—were all laid neatly beside the water.
Amidst the mist rising from the hot spring, two females sat soaking.
One was mature and breathtaking, her body sculpted like a goddess, long black hair cascading across her shoulders. The other was younger, petite, still blooming into a beauty, her crimson hair flowing into the water like silk.
"Miss Diana, let me scrub your back."
The scarlet-haired maid, Wanda, shyly moved behind the black-haired woman.
Whether from soaking too long in the heat, or from Diana's earlier words, Wanda's cheeks were flushed, making her look even cuter.
"Don't worry, he won't come over." Diana smiled faintly, winking.
"I know…"
Wanda didn't know if she felt relieved or disappointed. Blushing, she raised her small hand to gently scrub Diana's back.
But she quickly discovered that Diana's back was flawless—smooth, fair, unblemished, shaped with divine perfection.
"Miss Diana, your skin is so beautiful… is this what it means to be a goddess?"
Wanda's heart filled with envy. She glanced at Diana's graceful silhouette above the water, then compared it with her own. With a squeak, she quickly ducked lower into the spring, hiding in embarrassment.
"You'll be the same one day," Diana reassured her with a smile.
"The same…?"
Wanda's face grew hotter. Pouting, she blew bubbles into the water, her mind wandering with thoughts she didn't dare voice.
…
Smack!
Xi Nian slapped his own cheeks, forcing himself to deactivate his Spider-Sense. Otherwise, he couldn't help but sense the presence next door…
"Next week, I need to set a date with Gwen or Kara," he muttered to himself, staring at the towel floating on the water.
After the hot spring soak, Xi Nian scooped up the dripping Xiao Huang and the Cloak of Levitation from the pool.
The two immediately shook themselves dry—fur and fabric alike—spraying water all over the changing room.
"You two, behave yourselves."
Xi Nian scolded lightly, then dried off, put on pajamas, and tucked the spatial pendant hanging around his neck inside his shirt.
But suddenly, a ripple of space energy flared behind him.
Yes—space energy.
Ever since wearing the pendant, Xi Nian had grown extremely sensitive to spatial fluctuations.
He turned sharply, only to see a bald woman in yellow robes standing in the room.
"Seriously, Master. Could you at least give me a heads-up before popping out of nowhere? You'll scare someone to death like that." Xi Nian sighed, letting go of his guard.
The Ancient One clasped her hands behind her back and replied calmly, "This level of surprise could frighten you?"
"Well… good point."
Xi Nian had to admit, after everything he'd been through, with threats of world-ending scale appearing almost daily, not much could truly scare him anymore.
The Ancient One studied him, then asked bluntly, "You came to the New York Sanctum today to find me?"
"So, there are still things you don't know?" Xi Nian shrugged. "Yeah, I did go looking for you, but the matter's mostly settled now."
He briefly recounted the Aether incident, leaving out Odin and Zeus's wager.
When he finished, Xi Nian gestured to Xiao Huang. "Xiao Huang, bring it out."
The little cat obediently opened her mouth, coughing a few times before spitting out a crystal-like red gem.
"The Reality Stone…"
The Ancient One stared at it in silence for a while, then turned her gaze back to the black-haired youth. "So, you're planning to gather all six?"
"No! Absolutely not!" Xi Nian immediately denied it, helpless. "It stuck itself onto Wanda—I had nothing to do with it!"
"Fate has its way."
The Ancient One shook her head mysteriously. She flicked her hand, collecting the gem, then tossed a silver necklace toward Xi Nian.
Catching it, he realized it was nearly identical to his own space pendant, except for the shape of the metallic charm.
It was the vessel containing the Mind Stone.
Xi Nian understood immediately.
"I'll need some time to craft more," said the Ancient One. "There aren't many suitable artifacts that can serve as vessels."
"Take all the time you need," Xi Nian replied, unusually respectful.
The Ancient One glanced at him, slightly amused by the tone, then turned to open a portal.
"Master, what about that red ribbon-like artifact?" Xi Nian asked.
"Leave it for Wanda."
With that, she stepped through the portal and disappeared.
"Ancient One… she really is a good person," Xi Nian sighed.
Though couldn't she at least tell him what the artifact was called, or what powers it had?
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