After spending the whole day indulging Asuka's wild antics, Huang Zhetian returned to the hot springs with her to find that Shinji and Mana had already finished soaking.
Tsk, look at how flushed Shinji's face is. Something's going on there~
Maybe the hot spring just made him red? Say whatever you want. I'm innocent, anyway.
Huang Zhetian's stare made Shinji's scalp prickle, and he hurriedly changed the subject. "You haven't soaked yet, right? I already booked a bath for you. It's mixed-gender, over on the left. Don't look at me like that. There were just too many people. This was the best I could get."
The moment Shinji mentioned the mixed-gender bath, Asuka's glare sent him breaking out in a cold sweat.
I can't afford to mess with this girl! Poor Zhetian-kun has it so rough... If it were me, I'd have given up and died already.
Nobody knew what Shinji was thinking, but his expression made it clear that he was terrified of Asuka.
"That had better be the truth. Hmph!" Asuka didn't give Shinji any more trouble. His girlfriend was right there, after all. She had to let her teammate save some face.
"All right, let's wash up and soak! I can hardly wait... Not like that! I've never been to a hot spring before." Huang Zhetian was impatient to get going,
but when a chill ran down his back, he realized Asuka was looking at him. He hastily changed his tone and explained himself.
"Why are you boys all like this? I seriously don't get it! You're hopeless..." Asuka complained.
In the end, they still bathed separately. To be precise, one finished soaking before the other went in.
Huang Zhetian was honestly a little dissatisfied. Although he had seen her stunning figure before, he hadn't seen her with no... Forget it. Better leave that unsaid.
Huang Zhetian got up regretfully and dried himself with a towel. He glanced outside. It was dark.
On the hill behind the hot springs,
the four of them lay side by side on the grass.
The two girls were in the middle, with the two boys-Huang Zhetian and Shinji-on either side.
"The stars are so bright tonight. My parents used to tell me you couldn't see stars at night," Mana said wistfully.
"You can see them now because this world has changed. Even though things are back on track, some things are still different. It happened fifteen years ago," Huang Zhetian told her bluntly.
"Why do you think humans are different from other species? Is it just because we're unique as humans?" Shinji asked.
"That's not the only reason. It's because humans possess intelligence and can develop a sense of self. You'll understand when the time comes. Besides... someone will tell you what happened. Telling you now would only give you more worries. The same goes for Asuka..." Huang Zhetian stood up and brushed off the dirt, gazing at the brightly lit city in the distance below.
Honestly, he hadn't wanted to come to this little Japanese country and protect it. But if the Third Impact happened, this world really would be finished.
Although Huang Zhetian knew that the Angel beneath Central Dogma wasn't Adam but Lilith, he couldn't change anything yet. He could only work some plans of his own into events from the sidelines.
Humanity truly deserved to be called God's finest creation. The impact fifteen years ago had unleashed all kinds of natural and man-made disasters on Earth, yet even those had failed to shake humanity.
Humans had still managed to recover through their own intelligence and creativity. Humanity, which possessed the Fruit of Knowledge, really was extraordinary. Strictly speaking, they were the Eighteenth Angel, possessing the Fruit of Knowledge.
"What are you talking about? I don't really understand." Mana looked utterly confused beside them.
Huang Zhetian laughed. "That's exactly how it should be. You don't need to understand, either. It's not like this is going to be on your exams. Haha."
"Anyway, just staring at the night sky is a little boring. Are there any fun games we could play?" Mana was perceptive. Realizing that Huang Zhetian didn't want to continue the discussion, she took the initiative to change the subject.
Asuka snapped out of her thoughts and said to Huang Zhetian, "Don't you play the flute? Give us a performance."
"The problem is, I didn't bring a flute..."
"Are we supposed to go to bed already? It's too early. I can't sleep." Asuka sounded a little helpless.
"If you're bored, I'll show you a special trick." Huang Zhetian doted on Asuka. After all, he was her temporary boyfriend today. It wasn't too much to grant her a little wish.
Huang Zhetian looked down at the lawn, selected a long, narrow blade of grass, and plucked it.
He carefully washed it with clean water, dried it, and licked his lips.
The other three had no idea what Huang Zhetian was doing and could only watch him work.
Huang Zhetian gently pressed the edge of the grass blade to his lips, then slowly blew across it.
A sound began to ring out as he gradually settled into the rhythm.
It was the same piece as last time, "Thoughts Across Time and Space."
This time, however, the music carried a hint of hope, expressing joy.
After all, they were all couples out on dates today. There was no need to make things so sad. He adjusted the rhythm and score a little, then changed the timing of his breaths.
This time, Shinji and Asuka listened in rapture. Gradually, everyone fell silent.
They wanted only to appreciate the beautiful instrumental music.
"Woo~ woo-wooo~" The notes grew ever more graceful. The music gradually slowed to a stop, ending on one long, haunting note.
"Phew~ What did you think? Impressive, right? I know you admire me, but don't admire me too much just yet. After all, I'm just a legend." Huang Zhetian turned his back on the three of them with his hands resting behind his waist, striking an outrageously smug pose.
Damn it, he actually pulled it off. (Author)
Mana was the first to applaud. "That was wonderful! You're amazing, Zhetian-kun."
Asuka looked immensely pleased with herself beside her.
How could her boyfriend be anything less?
Shinji, however, didn't mind. Zhetian-kun was his friend, so he ought to be happy for him.
"I've got something else to show you. Don't tell anyone about what happens today. Promise me first." Huang Zhetian wanted to try out the skill the system had given him, so he laid down that condition first.
"All right. It's just the four of us on this hill anyway." Shinji greatly admired the teammate standing before him.
Asuka quickly agreed. "Fine, stop dragging it out. You're a grown man, and we already said yes. Get on with the show!"
His previous performance had already amazed them. What would he show them this time?
"Have you ever heard of... immortal arts?" Huang Zhetian asked slowly.
"Huh?" None of the three understood.
"Watch closely! This is an immortal art from China! Its name is Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source."
Huang Zhetian shouted, pressed two fingers together, and pointed down at the ground.
The blades of grass and flower petals on the ground rose into the air.
Then Huang Zhetian swept his arm, and all the grass and petals obeyed his command, following his movements.
Huang Zhetian's display shattered the three onlookers' understanding of the world.
What kind of trick was this? Could it really be an immortal art?
The performance wasn't over yet. Huang Zhetian swept his arms through the air and brought them together.
The grass and petals followed his will, forming the shape of a heart.
They slowly settled onto the ground.
"Holy shit!!!"
"Wie operieren?" (German for "How does that work?")
"Is this really an immortal art?"
The three hurriedly questioned him.
"Haha, this isn't an immortal art. It's just a personal transformation that happens when your martial arts reach their ultimate limit," Huang Zhetian bluffed.
It really wasn't an immortal art. It was merely Mythic Technology.
Gods stood above immortals.
That display had drained all his stamina. It seemed he still wasn't up to the required standard.
Everyone present understood the meaning of that heart. Asuka's gaze grew increasingly tender and dreamy as she looked at him.
That was worth it.
"All right, time for bed. You've seen the show. Can you sleep now?" Huang Zhetian stretched, feeling a little sleepy.
The things the system gives me really are top quality.
Asuka abandoned Shinji and Mana and immediately chased after him. She dragged Huang Zhetian into a room...
Before long, a scream came from inside.
"Is this how those two always get along?"
"Pretty much..."
The night passed without further incident.
Don't get the wrong idea. They haven't reached that stage yet. Asuka was only asking him a few questions. Also, I'll wrap up this storyline as quickly as possible, because there isn't much time left.
There isn't much time left either in the story or for me in real life. Anyway, I'm about to start my final comprehensive revision to prepare for next year's college entrance exam. But whenever I have time, I'll still try to set aside two hours to write. It depends on how things go.
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