“What?! You broke through to Level 600? That’s the power of a Level 7 Holy Spring? Damn, you beat me to it!”
“Hahaha, let’s start our 10,000th one-on-one now! I’ll spot you two moves—doesn’t matter, I’m winning!” Chiyan, hands on hips, floated smugly in front of Bingpo. Level 600 vs. 599 was a world of difference. Even if Bingpo’s smarts crushed Chiyan, she’d still get steamrolled.
“No fair, that’s not a real duel! Wait till I hit 600!” Bingpo shot back.
“Heh, I’m just that shameless. Come hit me! Oh, wait, you can’t beat me now!” Chiyan, hovering, was peak smug. Bingpo could take it, but Filo couldn’t.
Filo flicked her hand downward, and Chiyan, midair, was instantly slammed to the ground.
“Mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy, Master! I shouldn’t have been so smug, mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy!” Chiyan turned into a broken record, her mouth trembling as she yelled frantically.
“Quit yelling. Mercy, what? Like I’m gonna kill you or something. This Holy Spring looks legit—both of you, go soak. You finish, then I’ll soak.” Filo gave them a salted-fish stare, not wanting to fight over it.
But…
“Master! Let’s soak together!”
“Yeah, why split up? This spring’s huge—forget three, it could fit thirty people! Oh~ I get it, Master, you think we’ll go dragon form, right? Don’t worry, we’ll stay human, so let’s soak together!”
Bingpo and Chiyan stared at Filo earnestly, their big, watery eyes brimming with a burning desire to bathe together.
Filo kinda wanted to join them. No matter how salted-fish she was, she was still a guy (once upon a time), and that bit of desire lingered.
But… but… but…
Filo’s reason and desire clashed fiercely in her mind. Just as desire was about to win, a faint emerald-green glow enveloped her.
[Forced Calm]
“…”
Isn’t that some skeleton’s move? Why’s the Blood Clan got it?
Filo wanted to roast it, but under Forced Calm, her heart was eerily serene. Soaking with two dragon girls, a lustful dream for others, held zero appeal in that moment.
“You guys go soak. Nah, I’ll give you a lift.” Filo raised both hands, red threads shooting out, whooshing to wrap around Bingpo and Chiyan.
Off you go~
Filo waved, and Bingpo and Chiyan were “cruelly” tossed out, splashing into the spring with two splashes.
“My clothes are still on!”
“Don’t act like I don’t know your clothes are dragon scales in disguise. Dressed or not, same diff.”
Filo turned and strolled out of the spring area, leaving a dumbfounded Bingpo and Chiyan behind.
“Master got super cold all of a sudden,” Chiyan muttered, blinking blankly, turning to Bingpo. Bingpo, hands clasped, head tilted, was panting rapidly, cheeks flushed red.
“This cold Master? I’m totally into it!”
“…”
An hour later, the dragon girls finished soaking. Bingpo broke through the 599 barrier to Level 600, while Chiyan, though not leveling up again, felt her body growing stronger.
Level 7 Holy Spring, worth the hype!
“Master, your turn! I’m off to prep dinner. I’ve got a new cooking trick based on your style—bet you’ll love it!”
“I’ll help too! I’m a genius, ya know!”
Handing off to Filo, they bolted to the kitchen. Filo’s Forced Calm wore off. She eyed the spring, slowly shedding her “starter kit” clothes.
Eyes closed, she stepped slowly into the spring. At LV999 with maxed experience, Filo didn’t feel stronger, but comfy? Oh, real comfy.
Maybe a liter of blood would make it even comfier…
The thought popped into Filo’s head. She froze, then shook it off quick.
“I’m having that thought? This body’s definitely Blood Clan. Even a True Ancestor can live without blood, but can’t fully ditch the bloodline’s craving.” Filo sank into a corner of the spring, leaning against the edge, half her face submerged.
As she exhaled, gurgle gurgle gurgle bubbles rose from the water near her mouth.
“Hot spring right by the house? My salted-fish setup just leveled up. Phew~ kinda sleepy. A quick nap’s fine, right…” Filo tilted her head against the corner, eyes drifting shut.
“Hiss… zzz…”
Filo was out like a light, proving Blood Clan sleep skills are unmatched.
Not long after she dozed off, the spring water a short distance away started pop pop pop bubbling.
The bubbles went for dozens of seconds, stopped, then started again after a few seconds. This repeated five or six times—quiet but not that quiet.
Filo showed no signs of waking. This noise couldn’t rouse a sleeping Filo.
“Huh? Sleeping that soundly? Wake up already! This spring’s been hijacked by two super scary dudes. Keep snoozing, and when those two evil dragons return, you’re in trouble!”
A playful, cute voice rang out, but its source was impossible to pinpoint.
“Hiss… zzz…”
“Ugh, still out? Sorry, but I gotta wake you!”
A rapid stream of spring water gathered and shot into the air, like a water dragon, rushing at sleeping Filo.
The instant it was about to hit, Filo’s eyes snapped open.
Blood-red eyes, like fine wine, glared. The rushing water collapsed into droplets, scattering across the spring’s surface.
“Who’s there?!” Filo stood on the water, eyes scanning around, but found no one.
“No way it’s a hallucination. That water was aimed at my face… Let’s try this.” Filo raised one hand, activating her Detect skill. A virtual screen popped up instantly.
Jackpot!
Filo glanced at the screen. It didn’t show Bingpo, Chiyan, or herself, but info on another “person.”
This “person’s” name was…
[Spring Spirit]
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Tftc!
I dislike aspects that control the main character’s emotions. also a proper salted fish would be lazy yes but put to much effort into holding back and placing limitations on yourself. you’re missing the point of being a salted fish.
its an overlord reference i think, Ainz is a skeleton and uses it to calm his emotions