Task: Bathing Together

Qian Daoliu watched her retreating figure, a low sigh escaping his heart.

He said nothing more.

Bibi Dong traversed the long corridor, returning to the door of her residence, where she paused for a moment.

She took a deep breath.

She banished the icy faces and even colder memories of the Elder Hall from her mind.

Then, she reached out and pushed the door open.

The frost on her face melted away the moment the door swung wide.

"Mama!"

A milky, childish call came from the bed.

Luo Dong was sitting in the middle of the bed, his two short legs dangling over the edge, swinging back and forth rhythmically.

In his hand, he clutched that bare candied hawthorn stick.

Seeing Bibi Dong enter, his little face lit up instantly. He opened his arms, his five fingers grasping at the air, leaning forward as if he wished to fly straight off the bed.

Bibi Dong walked over quickly, bending down to scoop him into her arms.

Luo Dong immediately buried his head into the crook of her neck, rubbing his little face against her, his soft hair tickling her.

His small hands wrapped around her neck, holding on tight.

"Where did Mama go?"

Luo Dong lifted his head from Bibi Dong's neck, blinking his black, grape-like eyes, his face still smeared with dried sugar residue.

Bibi Dong reached out to wipe his face, sat on the edge of the bed, and settled him onto her lap.

"Mama went to a meeting." She thought for a moment, deciding there was no need to hide it from her child, and added, "In three days, Mama has to go out to eliminate some bad people."

Luo Dong's eyes brightened. He was getting bored of staying in Martial Soul Hall and wanted to go out and see the world, so he grabbed Bibi Dong's lapel with his small hand, his voice filled with eagerness: "I want to go with Mama too!"

Bibi Dong looked down at his sparkling eyes, which clearly read, "If you don't take me, I'll cry until you do."

Her first instinct was to shake her head.

He was too young; he was only one year old.

Although being able to run and talk at one year old was already monstrously precocious, he was still her child. If something were to happen to him while they were out... she couldn't bear it.

However, she had never let Luo Dong out of her sight; even bathing and changing his clothes were tasks she handled personally.

Thinking about leaving him alone in Martial Soul Hall for three days or even longer made her feel a hollow ache in her chest.

She reconsidered.

The system released Daily Quest tasks regardless of the setting.

The daily tasks at home had already raised her from level eighty-three to level ninety. What if she took Luo Dong out?

Would it trigger different field quests?

Perhaps even... special opportunity quests?

Over the past year, she had grasped the system's patterns; it encouraged her to stay with Luo Dong and to care for him in her role as a mother.

Leaving the unchanging environment of Martial Soul City might be a new trigger condition for the system.

Besides, that level eighty-nine Spirit Douluo... she didn't put him in her eyes at all now.

After a moment of silence, she ruffled Luo Dong's hair, a smile blooming on her lips.

"Alright, Mama will take you with her."

Luo Dong cheered, bouncing in her arms and raising his little fists high in the air.

Bibi Dong looked at the sky; it was time to give Luo Dong his bath.

Over the past year, she had grown accustomed to bathing him at this time every day.

From washing him in a small basin to a small wooden tub, from him letting her do as she pleased to him actively splashing about, she had become used to it all.

Just as she was about to order a maid to fetch hot water, she noticed Luo Dong's gaze fixed on the large wooden tub in the corner of the room.

That was the tub Bibi Dong used for herself.

Usually, she kept it hidden behind a screen, but the maid must have forgotten to pull it back after cleaning today.

The tub was massive, completely different in size from the small one Luo Dong had used for the past year, large enough for an adult to soak in comfortably.

Luo Dong looked at the large tub, unable to tear his eyes away.

He looked down at his small tub, then back up at his mother's large one.

He had used the small tub for a long time and was already tired of it.

Every time Bibi Dong bathed him, it was comfortable, but soaking all alone in the small tub always felt like something was missing.

He wanted to bathe with Bibi Dong.

Soaking in that large bathtub, feeling the warmth, and being held by Bibi Dong—how comfortable that would be.

"Mommy..."

Bibi Dong was currently facing away from him, tidying up the bathing supplies, and responded casually: "Hm?"

"I want... I want to bathe with Mommy." Luo Dong's voice was small, yet clear.

He stretched out his little hand, pointing at the large bathtub in the corner, "In that big tub."

Bibi Dong's movements paused.

She turned around to see Luo Dong looking up at her with his little face, his eyes clean and filled with nothing but pure anticipation.

Just as she was about to say something, the system panel in her mind suddenly lit up.

[Daily Quest triggered]

[Quest: Gentle and Considerate Bathing Together]

[Quest Content: As a thoughtful and good mother, bathing together with your precious son is a wonderful moment to deepen your bond. Use the same bathtub and gently help your precious son bathe, letting him feel his mother's warmth and care.]

[Completion Reward: Special Technique--God Spider Eight Kills. A matching technique perfectly suited to the host's Martial Soul, Death Spider Emperor. It is divided into eight kills; for every kill mastered, combat power doubles. Completing all eight kills can increase combat power to eight times the original.]

Bibi Dong stared at the system panel, her pupils dilating slightly.

Eight times.

Eight times the combat power.

What kind of concept was this? At her level, the gap between every rank meant a suppression in total soul power, as well as the strength of one's Soul Skill.

A technique capable of increasing combat power by eight times.

This was no longer just some cultivation method; it was practically cheating.

Looking across the entire continent, something that could instantly increase combat power by eight times? It was unheard of.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Then, she looked down at Luo Dong.

The little guy was gazing at her eagerly, his eyes bright and filled with nothing but expectation, without a single trace of impure thoughts.

The hesitation in Bibi Dong's heart vanished instantly.

This was her own precious son.

As a mother, bathing with her own precious son was perfectly normal.

Countless mothers on the continent did the same; she was hardly the first.

She bent down and reached out to pinch Luo Dong's little nose.

"Alright, Mommy will bathe with you."

Luo Dong's eyes lit up instantly, even brighter than before. His little face crinkled into a ball as he laughed, waving his hands and feet, twisting and turning in Bibi Dong's arms until he nearly slipped out.

Bibi Dong laughed and held him tight, then stood up to instruct the maids to fetch hot water.

Before long, several maids entered carrying buckets of hot water, filling the large bathtub until it was seven-tenths full.

Steam rose and swirled, filling the room with a thin layer of white mist.

Bibi Dong reached out to test the water temperature.

She pressed the inside of her elbow against the water surface; it was slightly warm, just about the same as body temperature—perfect.

She dismissed the maids, closed the door, and turned back to the side of the bathtub.

Luo Dong had already jumped down from the bed by himself and was standing beside the tub, standing on his tiptoes to peek inside.