noffsinger Chapter 552 Childish Competition
Chapter 552 Childish Competition
Bai E's little mouth twitched, her tone somewhat playful.
"Hmph... From what you're saying, the valiant Madmos, the heir to the Throne of the Suspended Peak, actually wants to break the ancient traditions that have lasted for thousands of years?"
Wan Di clicked his tongue.
"I'm still thinking about what to do."
Bai E waved his hand, "Forget it, it's probably not my place to give you advice."
"However, a thought suddenly popped into my head..."
Wan Di knew Bai E too well; he knew what Bai E would do, so he exuded helplessness.
"Tell me, what kind of terrible idea is this?"
"Perhaps we both need to release some pressure. Come on, Medmus, let's continue our competition..."
Wan Di rolled his eyes at him again, "I don't know who said before that we shouldn't be so childish."
"Oh, that was just something I said on a whim at the time." Bai E avoided Wan Di's gaze.
"However, this time we won't compete on who kills more enemies. This time—we'll compete on who can last the longest in the *super-high temperature* bath!"
"It's even more childish..." Wan Di was speechless.
"What, getting stage fright?" Bai E deliberately used a provocative tone.
"The word 'stage fright' doesn't exist in the dictionary of those who take the lead."
"I just find it laughable. You unofficial historian, haven't you heard that the people of Xuanfeng bathe in molten iron used for forging swords and quenching iron?" Wan Di retorted.
"We'll have to try it out first before we can say anything."
"Since you don't believe me, then today I will teach you these court etiquette rules!"
The two began their duel, but the scene was too brutal, so the bathhouse spirit began to provide an alternative commentary.
Bathhouse Fairy: [And so! An unprecedented sauna battle began.]
Bathhouse Fairy: [The two men's determination reached its peak; their intense will caused even the water vapor to change color. Their aura, carrying the water vapor, soared into the sky, blotting out the sun and making it impossible to see...]
Bathhouse Fairy: [Since we can't see the live match... and we're just killing time anyway, why don't you listen to a story about the "King"?]
Bathhouse Spirit: [Do you remember the legend of "Gorgon the Lion Hunter" mentioned by an old warrior? The protagonist of the story... the lion king, was not actually a local tyrant; there was also a sword-faced antelope that could rival him.]
Bathhouse Spirit: [Long before the Golden Age, two beasts were already locked in a fierce battle on the plains of Teretos. The lion saw the oryx as its meal, while the oryx viewed the lion as a high wall of contempt, oppression, and hardship, which it vowed to topple with its horns...]
Bathhouse Spirit: [And so, for tens of thousands of years, day after day, the two wild beasts began their struggle and pursuit in the wilderness—]
Wan Di:........
Bathhouse Fairy: [It stared in astonishment.]
Bai E:........
Bathhouse Fairy: [It looked up at its back.]
Wan Di:............
Bathhouse Fairy: [It has nowhere to retreat.]
Bai E:.............
Bathhouse Fairy: [It can't escape.]
Bathhouse Fairy: [On the land of Onpharos, some lives die at dusk, some at dawn, and some—they are destined to die in the midday sun!]
Bathhouse Fairy: [Finally! The most intense moment of the day has arrived, and a powerful destiny has arrived—]
Suddenly, a bathhouse attendant appeared, interrupting the duel between the two.
"Gentlemen, would you like me to turn the temperature down a bit?"
Wan Di simply snorted coldly.
"W-what? Ha...you chickened out?" Bai E's mocking tone came.
"roll."
"Are you telling me to get out, or...?" The waiter was somewhat at a loss.
Wan Di fell silent.
Even though he was somewhat exhausted under the high temperature of steam.
"You... figure it out yourself..."
"Then please forgive my overstepping my bounds, Your Excellency."
........
After learning the whole story, everyone's eyes lit up with beady looks, except for Aglaia, of course.
"It really was... a complete disgrace." Aglaia rubbed her eyes and slowly shook her head.
They're like two children who never grow up.
Wan Di crossed his arms, turned his head away, and looked smug.
"This is what happens when you overestimate yourself and challenge the Suspended Peak."
"I mean... your little game has caused quite a few people to suffer as a result." Aglaia's cool tone was tinged with a hint of anger.
"We'll send those bathers who were stunned by the murderous aura away," Wan Di said nonchalantly.
Bai E, who was lying on the ground, slowly raised his hand. "This...is not fair..."
"You're dressed... way more lightly than me..."
"Fully armed and diving into a hot bath, is this some new trend?" Feng Jin only realized then, why are these two dressed the same as outside when they enter the bathhouse?
They had all changed into yukatas.
"Don't stare at me like that... He issued the challenge. The word 'escape' doesn't exist in Xuanfeng's dictionary."
"Alright, shall we end this farce here? Warriors, it's time to get moving."
Bai E then shakily got up from the ground.
"I need to rest, so I'll leave this to the victors."
"you...."
Seeing Bai E's swaying figure, Wan Di was speechless.
"Wait, don't you want to have another match?"
"Ok?"
Suddenly, Bai E stopped in his tracks.
"Let's go! Let's see who sends off the most guests!"
The moment the competition is mentioned, Bai Er's back pain and leg aches vanish, and he immediately perks up.
"Sigh..." Aglaia suddenly felt a headache coming on.
"I'm sure I'll win again this time!"
"Impossible! The word 'to lose' doesn't exist in the dictionary of Suspended Peak City!"
Finally, the exhilarated Bai E and Wan Di escorted the unconscious bathers away from the scene of the crime...
However, in this escort contest, Bai Er narrowly won with an astonishing advantage of 27 to 25.
Aglaia, who was standing to the side, sighed again.
"Ah... the journey to chase fire is truly arduous and long."
"However, thanks to the two of them, the sad atmosphere has completely dissipated."
"Although we just went through a farce, it's rare to have such a peaceful time at Yunshi Tiangong. Why don't we continue with our previous itinerary? Xiaofengjin, would you like to come along?"
Tibo looked at the empty bathhouse and suddenly felt it was a pity not to do something.
"It's rare to see a bathing beach so empty..."
"I originally wanted to relax a bit after the surgery, so thank you for Ms. Tibo's invitation!"
Feng Jin thought so too.
"Then let's go to the biggest bathhouse!"
The group immediately headed to the largest bath in the bathhouse.
This place is usually packed with people, but today, because of Wan Di and Bai E, it is completely empty.
Feng Jin was the first to go into the water, her small, white feet slowly plunging in to feel the water's temperature.
"Let me try it first... the water temperature is just right!"
Aglaia immersed herself in the bath, her gold-trimmed bathrobe swaying gently in the water. The slightly warm water relaxed her completely, and soon her face flushed.
"How about that? This is what it's like to enjoy the entire bathhouse."
"Hehe, this feels so good..."
Tibo sat on the edge of the bathtub, her little feet gently playing in the water.
"But, Ms. Tibo...aren't you going to soak in the water together?"
Feng Jin, who had already sunk into the water, looked at Ti Bao with curiosity.
Tibo shook her head, "*We* won't, after all, we've become little kids."
"Please forgive me. Due to the blessing and curse of the Titan of Janus's Gate, she can no longer tolerate the temperature of this pool."
“Hmm…” Feng Jin nodded.
"Are you curious about *our* affairs, Kazeko?"
"I am a little curious, but my intuition tells me... maybe it would be better to change the subject?"
"What's there to be nervous about? It's not something that can't be said! Actually, *we* were mature adults a long, long time ago, just like Aya."
"But for various reasons, *we* took over the divine office of the Titans of the Janus Gate and obtained the power of the 'Gate'..."
"In exchange, the price paid is the splitting of the soul."
“Every time the ‘Gate of a Hundred Realms’ is opened, the impact of the split on Tibo and the others deepens. From their bodies to their minds, they regress step by step towards infancy.” Aglaia’s tone became heavy.
"Actually, we don't know what the end will look like. In short, that's why we become like children."
"Then...during your battle with the Titans of the Nicardi conflict, the enormous 'Gate of a Hundred Worlds' you opened above Ohma, wasn't that...?"
Tibo smiled slightly, "There's nothing we can do; the journey to chase the fire is destined to be anything but smooth sailing."
Feng Jin remained silent.
"Perhaps... there is a way. The core topic of the School of Intelligence is the soul, addressing its depletion, or replenishing the soul that has already dissipated... as long as the research continues, there may be new discoveries."
"We will do our best."
Aglaia was somewhat surprised, "Your first reaction was actually negative?"
"No wonder he's Na Kexia's student." She thought of that guy she didn't get along with again.
"I look forward to your good news, Feng Jin."
"Haha, now I have another reason to look forward to tomorrow..."
Suddenly, Tibo clutched her head and cried out in pain.
"Ms. Tibo?! W-what happened?" Feng Jin panicked immediately.
"Something seems... off. That intense feeling is coming back... Is it Tian?"
"No, no... this time it's not Tian..."
"It's Tinning! Tinning is in danger...!"
................
Meanwhile, outside the bathhouse.
Bai E placed her hands behind her head, crossed.
"Ha, I won this escort mission for the bathers."
"Hmph, that's because you were close to the door when the match started." Wan Di rolled his eyes at him.
"Look at you, saying a few flattering words won't hurt you."
"You bastard."
"Haiyi... what are you saying, your hometown dialect?"
"Hyena—I'm comparing you to a skinny hyena. By the way, your stress is completely off."
“We’ve known each other for a while now, but I’ve only heard you mention the ancient sayings of Xuanfeng a handful of times.”
"Because I'm not good at this language either. Listening and reading aren't a problem. But if you ask me to write in classical Chinese..."
"You can write? Didn't they say the people of Suspended Peak don't have dictionaries?"
"Oh no, there is a dictionary, but there are no words in it." Bai E chuckled.
"Your remarks seem to lack any thought." Wan Di rolled his eyes at Bai E again.
"Haha, just kidding. No wonder, after all, you spent your childhood... wandering, far from home."
"Take better care of yourself, Savior. You never mention your hometown except when introducing yourself."
"Heh... because there's really nothing to say. Aili Mishe was just a small village, and it's long gone because of the war."
"The only time I've ever seen it is in my dreams. And..."
"besides?"
“In the trials of the Titans of strife, the Spear of Divine Retribution.” Bai E’s tone turned somber.
"As expected," Wan Di exclaimed.
"Yes, I saw it. The burning Erimite, my family, friends, clansmen... all of them fell in the sea of fire."
"A half-circle of blood-red sun hung in the sky, just like before, and the murderer stood before me..."
“He killed Xi Lian.”
"But this time, I saw its true form: a black cloak, a strange mask, and a shattered greatsword exuding an ominous aura..."
Bai Er described what the person looked like in his memory.
He was terrified, but he kept staring at his face.
Because he needs to remember this murderer.
"I fought that guy during the trial. But so much time has passed, and even though I fought, grew, and became stronger with determination... I still can't defeat it."
"Hatred blinded you, and you almost got lost in that trial."
"Yes...so I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Medemos."
"Hmph, at least you've learned manners. It's not too late."
"And what about you, Wan Di? What did you see in that trial... and what were your fears?"
Wan Di: First of all, the word "fear" does not exist in the dictionary of the Suspended Peak Man.
Bai E was speechless again. "See if I'm right? There's no such word in your dictionary."
Wan Di didn't answer him, but continued, "Then, I saw Ohma in it. And..."
"My former comrades-in-arms."
“Hephaestus, Perdiccas, Leon, Ptolemy, and Poseidon... ever since I returned from the Sea of the Dead, those five have always been by my side.”
"During our years of exile, they shared life and death with me. Those ten years were filled with hardship and displacement, but they are also worth remembering. Every night, we would sit around the campfire, drink honeyed wine, and sing our hearts out..."
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