Chapter 77: Never Changed

“Fafna, I told you to behave.”

“Hmph!”

Fafna let out a cold snort.

With a single punch, she reduced the folding screen to powder, sending a massive spray of water into the air.

The bath area, previously separated by the screen, now sat exposed before everyone’s eyes.

“Fafna, have you lost your mind?!”

A sharp cry cut through the splashing water as a young woman’s dripping, delicate body entered Qiaolin’s field of vision.

It was Gabriela.

Cherisse had mentioned to Qiaolin earlier that she was also soaking here, but he hadn’t expected them to be arranged so closely together.

With Fafna’s sensory abilities, it was impossible for her not to have noticed Gabriela right in front of her.

“Truly haunting. To think you’d stalk Qiaolin all the way here,” Fafna said coldly.

“Nonsense! I brought Lina here to bathe. You’re the one coming here to cause trouble!” Demigula stepped forward to argue.

Fafna didn’t even spare a glance for her former opponent.

“There is no place for you to speak here.”

“What did you say?!”

Demigula’s eyebrows shot up in fury.

This was the Demon King’s Castle—her and Gabriela’s territory.

Yet, this Dragon Princess was acting as if she owned the place.

If Demigula endured this, she wouldn’t be worthy of the title Crimson Empress!

Boom!

Crimson Magic surged outward.

Fafna curled her lip in disdain and released her own magic power, instantly suppressing Demigula.

It wasn’t until Gabriela displayed her own power that the scales balanced.

A battle in the bathhouse was imminent!

Seeing these powerhouses on the verge of war, Loki shrank behind the group.

While the drama was juicy, losing her life over it wouldn’t be ideal.

“All of you, stop!”

Thwack!

“Ow!”

“Gah!”

In an instant, three large, red bumps appeared on the heads of the three women.

“Honestly, if we’re all bathing, just behave. Especially you, Fafna. My patience has limits. If you keep causing trouble, I’ll have Xiao Bai replace you. She’s much better behaved,” Qiaolin lectured.

A flicker of panic flashed in Fafna’s eyes, and she immediately settled down.

“I was just joking. Just playing around.”

“And you, Gabriela. She’s immature, but are you as well?”

“I… I know I was wrong.”

After scolding Fafna and Gabriela, Qiaolin turned his gaze toward Demigula.

“What? Why did you hit me too?”

Demigula rubbed her head, her face full of defiance.

Qiaolin let out a long sigh.

“When did you become so reckless? You are one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Race, the second-in-command of the demons. Yet, you’ve started acting like a brat. You’re much older than Fafna and Gabriela; you should act like an elder, alright?”

“I…”

Demigula wanted to snap back out of habit, but upon reflection, Qiaolin’s words made sense.

It was just infuriating to hear—it made her feel incredibly childish.

“Fine, fine. Didn’t I do it for Lina’s sake?”

“You’ll only spoil Gabriela and make her as willful as you, wanting to fight at the drop of a hat. Where has the Tepes family’s grace gone?”

“You guy…”

“Pfft…”

Watching Demigula’s face turn blue and purple from Qiaolin’s lecture, Loki couldn’t help but stifle a laugh.

Demigula happened to notice Loki hiding in the back, and she finally found an outlet for her frustration.

“Hey! Loki! Don’t hide back there laughing! If you dare leak a word of today’s events, I’ll kill you!”

“Hehehe, I wouldn’t dare, Lady Demigula.”

“Everyone sit down. If you’re going to bathe, then bathe properly.”

Under Qiaolin’s firm command, everyone quietly soaked in the hot spring.

Occasionally, succubus attendants brought food and drinks, but they fled in terror upon seeing such a stern atmosphere.

“Tch… I didn’t tell you to stop moving.”

Qiaolin looked at the way they sat with backs as stiff as boards and felt helpless.

He waved his hand dismissively.

“Do whatever you want.”

The moment the words left his mouth, the solemn atmosphere vanished.

The girls began chatting happily as if the previous conflict had never occurred.

Qiaolin even suspected they were messing with him on purpose.

“However…”

Seeing them gathered here again made Qiaolin feel as if he had returned to the past.

“Hahaha…”

Qiaolin suddenly laughed.

Demigula asked in confusion, “What are you laughing at?”

“Just thinking about some things from the past.”

The girls looked at one another. Gabriela smiled faintly and said, “Actually, it wouldn’t be bad to return to those times.”

“I wouldn’t want that. Do you know how long I had to cultivate to reach my current level?”

Fafna countered.

“Tch, who’s more impressive than you? If I’d known you’d be this arrogant now, Lina and I should have disciplined you more back then!”

“Eh? I have to join in too?”

Gabriela pointed at herself blankly.

“Discipline me? You think you’re worthy?”

Fafna jumped up, her tail twitching, a fierce expression on her face.

“Sigh, here we go again.”

Qiaolin covered his face, helpless.

To prevent them from fighting again, he had to play the villain.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

“Ow, ow, ow!”

“Stop, stop! Don’t hit my head!”

“I… I’m getting hit too?”

After soaking in the springs, the group went to the open-air backyard to rest.

It was evening, the setting sun was like molten gold.

Qiaolin leaned back lazily on a lounge chair, watching the distant clouds dyed in brilliant gold.

A glass of iced drink was placed on the table.

Qiaolin looked up to see Gabriela sitting beside him.

She wore a loose, black silk robe; its semi-transparent texture outlined her graceful figure.

Noticing the man’s gaze, Gabriela’s face grew cramped, and her cheeks—already flushed from the bath—turned even redder.

Qiaolin reached out and gently lifted the girl’s damp hair.

A warm magic power emanated from his hand, slowly drying her locks.

“Mm…”

Gabriela instinctively lowered her head, her posture relaxing, appearing clever and obedient.

“Does it still hurt?”

Qiaolin’s palm brushed over Gabriela’s forehead.

He could feel a slight unevenness.

It seemed that even the Demon King’s self-healing couldn’t instantly erase a bump left by the Hero.

Gabriela pouted unhappily.

“You have the nerve to ask after hitting me without even checking who was right or wrong.”

“You were all being too rowdy, though Fafna clearly needed the lesson more… Hehe, forgive me.”

Qiaolin gave a toothy grin, and Gabriela found she couldn’t stay mad at him.

“I saw Cherisse today and talked with her for a long while.”

“Oh? You two actually met? How was it? Is she very different compared to before?”

Gabriela smiled.

She rested one foot on the edge of the chair and slid inward, bringing the two of them a step closer.

“She has grown much stronger and more beautiful. But seeing her always brings back memories of our time here. She is still the succubus Cherisse I knew.”

“I heard about your past from Lady Tor. Actually, you don’t need to dwell on it. The succubus race relies on the life force of others to improve themselves; it’s an essential factor for their growth,” Gabriela said.

“That may be true, but I am not a succubus. I will certainly mind that point…”

To Qiaolin, the actions of his immature past self were childish and foolish—bullying the weak.

It was completely unlike how a Hero should act.

“Over the years, Cherisse has stayed here faithfully, even though her strength would have long ago earned her a place among the elite of the Demon Race,” Gabriela said.

“Demigula and I are regulars here, and she often receives us personally. To me, she is a kind and understanding older sister, just like Lady Tor…”

When mentioning Tor in front of Qiaolin, Gabriela’s voice trembled.

She watched the man’s eyes intently, fearing his mood might shift.

“Perhaps among all of us, she is the only one who hasn’t changed.”

Qiaolin spoke softly.

Just as Gabriela said, if Cherisse had stayed here for so many years, what was she guarding?

Was it truly just for this bathhouse?

“Qiaolin, do you think I’ve changed?”

Gabriela suddenly asked.

Qiaolin looked at her, his eyes widening slightly.

“Of course. Don’t you remember? You used to be so timid and rarely spoke. You’re completely different now…”

Qiaolin smiled, talking at length.

“But there is one thing that seems unchanged.”

“What?”

“You and Fafna still bicker and pinch each other the moment you meet. Hahaha.”

“Is that so?” Gabriela bit her lip gently, a flicker of anxiety in her eyes.

She was like a student who had submitted an exam and was desperately waiting for the results.

Qiaolin was right, but there was one thing he hadn’t said.

“Qiaolin, actually, I… back then, I already…”

“Qiaolin! Come over and eat barbecue!”

Fafna’s loud voice drowned out everything else.

Seeing this, Qiaolin had no choice but to walk toward her.

“I’m coming.”

Gabriela froze in place.

The courage she had just gathered vanished in an instant.

‘Did he hear me? Or is he just pretending he didn’t?’

“Gabriela,” Qiaolin called her name, reaching out his hand toward her.

“Let’s go eat barbecue together first.”