"Indeed. This time, it's all thanks to our Benefactor otherwise, I might not have made it back at all!"
Tingyun cheerfully cupped Bailu's cheeks in both hands and began to squish them playfully.
Lady Bailu's face was small and soft, just as fun to squeeze as always.
"Mmmph…! T-Tingyun… that's enough!"
Tingyun stopped just in time, giggling. Harassing Lady Bailu's cheeks like this was something she always did whenever she returned from her trade expeditions, a ritual of affection between the two.
Bailu rubbed her tingling cheeks, puffed them slightly, and turned her gaze toward the "Benefactor" Tingyun had mentioned.
"So you're the Benefactor Miss Tingyun keeps talking about?"
Tingyun always came to see her after every caravan trip, and over time, the two had become good friends. So when her friend suddenly brought a supposed "Benefactor" along, Bailu naturally had to… size him up a little.
Hmph, she'd read those fox spirit repayment stories that circulate around Yaoling she knew how this worked!
"Nice to meet you," Daichi said, introducing himself and X.
At that moment, Bailu's curious gaze fixed on the small device hanging from Daichi's waist—X's Devizer.
Due to her height, Bailu and X were almost eye level.
[Hello, Miss Bailu.]
"Wah! It talks?!"
Startled, Bailu's tail shot up straight before drooping again. Then, curiosity took over.
"Huh… are you a mechanical AI? Or a sentient automaton?"
"Neither," Daichi explained patiently.
"X isn't a machine. He's merely residing inside this terminal."
"Not a machine nor AI? Then how are you communicating through an ordinary jade token? Don't tell me… is this one of those banned consciousness-transfer surgeries?!"
Daichi sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"It's not that, Lady Bailu. Please don't jump to conclusions."
[I entered it of my own will,]
"I see."
Bailu's curiosity flared and faded just as quickly. She turned back to the smiling Tingyun.
"So, Miss Tingyun same as usual, I assume?"
"Yes, but this time, could my Benefactor also join? I wanted to show him the world-famous skill of Lady Bailu's hands!"
"Another one? Sure! This young lady has plenty of strength and technique to spare!"
…The conversation sounded questionable. But in truth, they were only talking about massage.
"Ahh… that's it…" Tingyun's soft sigh drifted through the air.
She lay on the bed, face resting on her hands, utterly relaxed.
Bailu sat atop Tingyun's lower back, her small hands working expertly kneading, pressing, tapping, and loosening tense muscles with precision.
"Wow, Miss Tingyun! Your body's so stiff!"
"Yes… hah… the last trade trip was dreadful. My body's been tense ever since, so as soon as I returned to Luofu, I came straight to you… ah~ right there, Lady Bailu, a bit harder!"
"Got it!"
Bailu adjusted her strength, drawing another round of soft, helpless sounds from Tingyun.
A short distance away, Daichi had turned his back to them, pretending to study one of Bailu's medical books.
Though he had a background in medicine, Bailu's advanced texts were far beyond his level. The words swam before his eyes like ancient runes, leaving him dizzy and unable to focus.
He barely even registered the sounds behind him.
Meanwhile, the small screen on X's Devizer blinked faintly.
[Hmm… I see… if I apply pressure here… and then like this…]
"Huh? I can't read this."
Daichi returned the book to the table, just as he heard X murmuring.
"X, what are you doing?"
[Ah? Oh—just studying Lady Bailu's massage techniques.]
X spoke earnestly.
[It's fascinating each muscle responds differently to varying pressure, and every acupoint requires a specific touch. Judging from Tingyun's reactions, each stimulus produces unique feedback.]
"You're planning to become a masseur now?"
[I was wondering if I could apply these techniques to a monster's weak points, what would happen?]
"…We don't even know if monsters have acupoints. Pretty sure this only works on humanoids."
[Ah, true… what a shame.]
—————————————————
Some time later, Tingyun emerged from the room, legs unsteady but face blissfully relaxed. She took a sip of warm tea and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Lady Bailu's little hands are still as strong as ever. Benefactor, it's your turn next."
"My turn?"
Daichi smiled, picked up X and followed her inside.
Bailu clapped her hands and motioned toward the bed.
"All right, lie down."
"Okay."
Daichi did as instructed. Bailu began prodding around pressing here, squeezing there—essentially mapping out his entire back.
"Lady Bailu, that tickles…"
"Just a moment. Hmm… nice physique, firm muscles, healthy condition. Honestly, I don't think you even need a massage."
"Then could I perhaps experience Lady Bailu's skill just once? I'm quite curious."
"Let me think… all right then!"
Bailu kicked off her little boots. Suddenly, Daichi felt a gentle warmth touch his back.
"I'll just give you a back-walk massage!"
Daichi didn't speak, just gave her a thumbs-up in approval.
Her massage was surprisingly soothing. Those small, warm feet carefully worked across his back, easing every tense muscle until he felt like he was floating in bliss.
Lady Bailu's feet were soft warm and gentle.
As for fragrance… he wouldn't know. He hadn't gone that far.
After a few minutes of paradise, Bailu hopped off, declaring the session complete. Daichi sat up, picked up X's terminal, and smiled.