When it came to hot springs, as people would have put it in my previous life, Japan had abundant geothermal resources because it lay between the Eurasian and Pacific plates.
But in this world, there might be another explanation. Maybe two Rooftop Emperors were fighting over territory, and the geothermal activity was just collateral damage?
Whatever the explanation, there was no denying that Japan's hot spring industry was extremely well-developed.
But now, with Sea Monsters running rampant and large swaths of Japan lost, the hot spring industry had fallen into decline along with tourism...
After changing in the locker room, everyone received a small wooden bucket containing an ice-cold towel, chilled milk, and a wooden headrest.
When everyone was usually dressed, you couldn't really tell, but now that they were all baring it all, the difference in their physiques was plain to see.
Mages used up magic energy, not fat, so their body types varied greatly.
Zhu Wang's belly looked like he was carrying a giant watermelon. He had the distinctive flab of a middle-aged man, and, like Xu Fang's blond hair, he was a classic rival to the cuckolded husband.
Liu Xiao had dark skin and a skinny build. On closer inspection, he even had deep eye sockets like someone who'd been enjoying himself a little too much—a human version of a Black Rot Corpse.
Wang Peng was the only one who looked decent, with a flat stomach and an utterly unremarkable build.
"Damn, Zhang San, those muscles are impressive. You work out?" Liu Xiao was green with envy. "Those abs look like they're made of chocolate!"
"Not bad." Xu Fang took off his mask and put it in the locker.
Liu Xiao grew even more envious. You couldn't tell with him wearing a mask all the time, but this guy was actually so handsome?
Wearing loose swim trunks and carrying his little wooden bucket, Xu Fang entered the hot spring area. Zhu Wang had been generous and bought the deluxe package. The squad had a private room with two pools, one large and one small.
Above the smaller pool hung a huge wooden tub, three or four meters high. It was tilted, pouring a steady stream of natural hot spring water piped in from outside. The steam rolled toward them, and their cheeks were flushed before they'd even stepped in.
The larger pool wasn't a hot spring but a swimming pool, with slightly cooler water. Inflatable boats and watermelon-shaped beach balls floated on its surface.
"Having money is great!"
"No wonder this place costs five thousand a night."
"Let's soak for a while. I'm dead on my feet after a whole day of missions."
It was the first time the Flying Tiger Squad had been to such a high-end place. Without a second thought, they jumped straight into the pool and yelped at how hot it was.
Xu Fang sat at the edge of the pool, testing the temperature with his foot before slowly lowering himself into the water.
"This feels..."
Xu Fang sank farther into the pool until only his head remained above the water. He closed his eyes and began to meditate.
In the Spiritual World, the Golden Star Seed was incredibly excited, darting wildly through the star dust. Its light flashed impatiently, conveying its feelings to Xu Fang—I want it! I want it so badly!
"Just as I thought."
He'd found the source that had transformed ordinary spring water into natural hot spring water and accelerated the growth of plants on the outskirts of town.
Xu Fang opened his eyes, and a word surfaced in his mind: Spirit Seed.
The world gave birth to elements, and depending on their environment, those elements came in different grades.
In certain special places, an element could become so active that it produced a sentient "seed." If a mage refined and absorbed it, the power of their magic spells would increase severalfold!
"I never thought I'd find something as good as a Spirit Seed in a little place like this."
This Spirit Seed was his!
Normally, only Intermediate Mages could absorb Spirit Seeds. A tiny shrine like his star dust couldn't hold a Buddha as grand as a Spirit Seed.
But judging by how excited his Golden Star Dust was, practically drooling at the prospect... there was no harm in trying. At worst, he'd waste it!
"Hey, what are you thinking about?"
The touch on his shoulder pulled Xu Fang out of his meditation. As soon as he opened his eyes, a pair of heavy mounds filled his view.
Xu Fang: "Oh!"
Qianqian hurriedly covered her chest, her ears turning bright red. Without a word, she sat down beside him.
Fangfang, never one to pass up a chance to stir things up, egged them on. "Qianqian, Zhang San is so handsome and has such a great body. He's totally your type!"
"Sh, shut up!" Qianqian tried to make her voice sound cold, but to everyone else, it was clearly the feeble protest of a tsundere girl.
Xu Fang leaned comfortably against the wooden headrest and drawled, "Do you moonlight as a matchmaker?"
Fangfang giggled. "I'm just looking out for my best friend's future happiness. Qianqian's single, you know, and tons of people are after her. If you don't act fast, you'll miss your chance."
"Mind your own business," Qianqian protested.
"Me? So you're generous enough to give this great guy to me? Then I won't hold back." Fangfang spun around in the pool. "Handsome, I'm twenty-three, never dated anyone, and I like singing and dancing. How about we give dating a try?"
Qianqian stared at her in disbelief, shocked by her best friend's shamelessness.
Zhu Wang and the others had already gone to the swimming pool. They paddled around absentmindedly in their inflatable boats, stretching their ears to eavesdrop on the conversation.
"Damn those smug good-looking guys. Does being handsome make you so great?" Liu Xiao lamented bitterly.
Zhu Wang consoled him. "Fangfang's only joking. She's just an outgoing person."
"Then why does she never joke like that with us?"
"..."
They looked at each other in silence, tears streaming down their faces.
Meanwhile.
Xu Fang looked Fangfang up and down carefully from head to toe. He stared so intently that she started to feel uncomfortable, as if bugs were crawling all over her.
"So, how do I look?"
Xu Fang said, "I like girls who leave a little space when you hug them."
Fangfang: "???"
She instinctively looked down. Her chest barely rose above the surface, and she could easily see the tips of her toes.
"Pfft!" Qianqian couldn't hold it in any longer. She bowed her head, bubbles gurgling up around her.
Fangfang's face turned from pale to red, then from red to dark. Her teeth ground together as she spat out each word: "Zhang! San!"
Xu Fang said, "That's me."
"I'll kill you!" Fangfang shrieked and charged at Xu Fang, ready to take him down with her. Xu Fang wasn't about to just sit there and take it, of course, and fought back with all his might.
Qianqian couldn't get away in time and was dragged into the senseless brawl. In an instant, the hot spring turned into a complete mess.
At the swimming pool nearby.
Wang Peng said, "Let's go."
Liu Xiao had a blank expression, utterly resigned. "Go? Of course we should go. Do we even belong here?"
Zhu Wang wanted to comfort him. He thought it over for a while, then patted his shoulder. "It's fine. You'll get used to it."
The three of them sensibly got up and left, abandoning Xu Fang, the newest member of the squad, to suffer merciless bullying.
Twenty minutes later.
Xu Fang came out carrying one woman in each hand. Their cheeks were bright red, and they were so limp they could barely walk. Dangling from his hands, they looked just like boiled shrimp.
Liu Xiao glanced at the time and said sourly, "Pretty average."
"They got dizzy from soaking too long. Just find a fan and let them cool off." Xu Fang set them down.
Mages had the same physical fitness as ordinary people. Soak too long in a hot spring and they'd get dizzy too, especially if they were roughhousing the whole time.
"Just wait. I'll get you back for this..." Fangfang struggled to open her eyes and spoke feebly.
"Sure, sure."
Xu Fang gave her a perfunctory answer. Get me back for this later? I won't be in Yangcheng much longer. What are you going to do about it?
Before you continue