Chapter 23: Capturing Demons
The bathhouse was luxuriously decorated with gilded columns and murals of court ladies on all sides. The lighting was splendid, and if you weren't paying attention, you might think you had truly traveled back to the Tang Dynasty.
"Do we have to... undress completely to soak in the hot spring here?" Jiang Hong felt a bit embarrassed and used a towel to cover himself.
"Yes," Lu Xiu said inexplicably, "Why not?"
"But where we're from, we usually wear swim trunks in hot springs..." Jiang Hong tried to argue.
"Stop talking! Hurry up!" Lu Xiu directly took away the towel that was covering Jiang Hong's waist.
Jiang Hong: "..."
Well, Jiang Hong didn't really mind, it was just a matter of regional customs between southerners and northerners. After all, it was the first time he was completely naked in front of this handsome god-like man, and he felt a bit self-conscious.
Fortunately, his body was in good shape from regular exercise, with slight muscles but not overly bulky, a physique that was just right for a young man. Lu Xiu's body, on the other hand... Lu Xiu's physique was simply perfect!
The contours of a dragon's muscles and the graceful lines of his elongated body were naturally beautiful, and Lu Xiu had taken that beauty to the extreme after assuming human form, radiating both strength and symmetry.
The two of them entered a Turkish bathhouse, and it was quite spacious inside, with only the two of them.
"Why choose to meet here?" Jiang Hong looked around and asked, "Won't it seem very strange?"
Lu Xiu was soaking in the pool, letting out a long sigh. His eyes roamed up and down Jiang Hong's chest. Jiang Hong had been a bit shy at first, but now he was completely at ease, enjoying the bath.
"You're quite fair," Lu Xiu suddenly said something unrelated.
Jiang Hong: "You're fair too, hehehe."
Jiang Hong thought Lu Xiu's body was like a beautiful sculpture and couldn't help but steal a few more glances. Since Lu Xiu was staring at him without looking away, Jiang Hong boldly returned the favor.
"Can I touch it?" Jiang Hong asked, "You actually have a bit of chest muscle."
Lu Xiu didn't answer, so Jiang Hong, not getting a response, daringly touched him.
Lu Xiu: "..."
Jiang Hong burst into laughter, and Lu Xiu stared at him with a threatening look in his eyes, but Jiang Hong couldn't resist giving him another playful squeeze.
Lu Xiu: "Stop it!"
"Chest muscles are difficult to build," Jiang Hong mumbled to himself. "It requires strength training. Hmm, why do you have... a scar on your chest?"
There was a small scar on Lu Xiu's left chest, like a wound that had healed after being pierced by a sword.
Jiang Hong leaned in slightly, reaching out to touch the scar on Lu Xiu's chest. Lu Xiu didn't resist at all, allowing him to touch it. He first gazed into Jiang Hong's eyes for a moment, then as if he had noticed something, his gaze lifted, looking past Jiang Hong's shoulder toward the entrance of the Turkish bathhouse.
Someone else had entered. Jiang Hong turned to look and saw a tall man with a slender figure.
So tall! Such long legs! So fair! He looked like a mixed-race person! Jiang Hong took a quick glance, noticing that the man still had long hair, and for a moment, he almost mistook him for a girl.
The man glanced at Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu, who were huddled together in the steam room, before sitting down inside the steam chamber.
"What are you looking at?" Lu Xiu's expression changed slightly, and there was a hint of mockery in his gaze.
Jiang Hong, who had been leaning against Lu Xiu's chest and turned his head upon hearing the question, now turned back and smiled.
"Where did you get that scar?" Jiang Hong asked with a hint of concern. "Were you stabbed?"
Lu Xiu casually assessed Jiang Hong, then finally said, "Self-inflicted."
Jiang Hong: "???"
"Come a bit closer," Lu Xiu motioned for Jiang Hong to sit beside him, making room for the newcomer.
The hot spring pool was quite small. Jiang Hong obediently sat down. The man with long hair finished steaming, rinsed himself with water, his long hair partially wet, and then walked into the pool, taking a seat across from the two of them. Jiang Hong shifted a bit closer to Lu Xiu, and Lu Xiu stretched out his hand, pulling Jiang Hong close, allowing him to lean back against his chest.
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
When Lu Xiu held him, Jiang Hong pressed his left side against him, and their bare skin came into contact without any barriers. Jiang Hong actually felt like he was being electrified!
Jiang Hong: "..."
Lu Xiu was holding him so openly, and Jiang Hong couldn't help but feel that the sensation was extremely strange. Perhaps it was because the water in the bath was too hot, and Jiang Hong's heart was still racing. In the slick and warm spring water environment, with intimate skin-to-skin contact, and at their youthful age, it was only natural that it could easily awaken certain... normal reactions.
Ah, this can't happen! It's too perverse!
He dared not move recklessly and was afraid of accidentally touching "that" part of Lu Xiu. So he remained stiff and pressed against Lu Xiu.
The fair-skinned man across from them was smiling at them.
"Do you think long hair looks better or short hair?" Lu Xiu asked in the tranquil atmosphere.
"Uh..." Jiang Hong was a bit distracted for some reason. He felt very comfortable but also feared having a physiological response... Most of his attention was now focused on trying not to have such a reaction; otherwise, it would be too embarrassing.
Lu Xiu: "?"
Lu Xiu placed his finger on top of Jiang Hong's head and twirled his short hair in a circle. "I asked you a question."
Jiang Hong: "Both... look good, don't they?"
Lu Xiu was quite puzzled. "Why did you suddenly become so brief in your responses?"
Jiang Hong: "Hair. What about your hair? I think both styles are nice... But I do prefer your current hairstyle. After all, we first met like this. Do you want to keep your hair long?"
Lu Xiu regarded Jiang Hong strangely, and Jiang Hong's face turned very red as he said, "It's a bit... unusual, my first time bathing with you. I'll get used to it."
"They're not used to being nude," the man with long hair across from them said with a smile.
Lu Xiu then remembered and said, "Oh."
Just now, due to the mist, Jiang Hong couldn't see clearly, but now he suddenly realized that the man seemed somewhat familiar?
The man with long hair continued, "When we return to our true forms, we're all nude. We're accustomed to presenting ourselves in our original state. However, humans, apart from bathing, wear clothes all the time. When they're nude, they feel vulnerable, so they unconsciously reduce their voices to avoid attracting enemies."
Lu Xiu replied, "Yes, I know, I just forgot."
He's a demon hunter! Jiang Hong remembered that they came here to meet with the members of the Demon Hunter Commission. In that case, the man in front of them must also be from the supernatural world!
The man had earrings in both of his ears, double earrings... Jiang Hong had seen them on another person before, so it seemed there were familiar features.
"Are you..."
"I'm He Lanshan," the handsome mixed-blood guy smiled, "Thanks for taking care of my little brother, She."
"I knew it!" Jiang Hong said, "I had a feeling you looked familiar. Do you know me?"
He Lanshan said, "I recognized you at first sight."
"Yes, I'm He Jian's second brother," He Lanshan explained to Lu Xiu, "Mr. Lu, it's our first meeting, right? My younger brother and She are in the same dormitory."
Lu Xiu casually nodded his head without speaking.
"He Jian mentioned that he was going to meet you," Jiang Hong said, "Did you not run into him?"
He Lanshan said, "Our mother and little sister arrived last night. I have a mission from the Demon Hunter Commission, so I have to finish my work before I can go see them."
Lu Xiu kept his hand on Jiang Hong's shoulder but didn't look at He Lanshan. He appeared disinterested in him, focusing on the murals inside the Turkish bath and occasionally glancing at Jiang Hong's profile.
Jiang Hong, seeing someone he knew, instinctively relaxed a bit and asked, "How many siblings do you have?"
"Three brothers," He Lanshan replied, "and He Jian also has a sister."
That's nice, Jiang Hong thought, he has always wanted a sister.
Lu Xiu ruffled his half-wet hair, thought for a moment, and said, "Are you still going to take action tonight?"
"Yang Feiyao is leading the target here," He Lanshan replied, "If everything goes as planned, they should be arriving at the bathhouse soon."
Jiang Hong looked curiously at Lu Xiu, then at He Lanshan, then back at Lu Xiu. He Lanshan noticed that he had questions and explained, "This time we're after a monster that possesses a treasure called the 'Dragon Escape Seed.' It allows the user to escape underground when pursued."
Jiang Hong asked, "So you're luring it into the bathhouse to catch it?"
"That's right," He Lanshan explained politely, "It has a natural ability to escape underground, but as long as the treasure isn't on its person, it's much easier to capture. The Demon Hunter Commission tasked me and Yang Feiyao with recovering this artifact. Chen Shun is a local demon hunter responsible for providing support."
Lu Xiu released Jiang Hong, gesturing for him to stand up, and the two of them went to rinse off. Afterwards, all three changed into bathhouse attire and waited in the rest area.
Jiang Hong asked, "So, what are we..."
Lu Xiu interrupted, "I'll buy you an ice cream. Don't ask too many questions."
Jiang Hong agreed, "Deal, I want chocolate flavor."
He Lanshan glanced at his phone and said, "Later, during the operation, we'll rely on Mr. Lu."
"Are you confident?" Lu Xiu asked.
"Not really," He Lanshan said, "As long as the Dragon Escape Seed isn't in its possession, there's a chance. That guy is just too good at escaping."
"Is the artifact from the Demon Hunter Commission?" Lu Xiu asked.
He Lanshan replied, "Unfortunately, no. It's its own artifact. It has been cultivating for some time."
Lu Xiu inquired, "Does it harm people?"
He Lanshan clarified, "No."
Lu Xiu asked, "Does it pose a threat to people?"
He Lanshan responded, "There is currently no direct evidence of that."
Jiang Hong, on the side, was enjoying his Häagen-Dazs ice cream and thought to himself: Aren't you basically robbing others? You see a monster with an artifact, and you use the excuse of "recovery" to snatch it away.
Lu Xiu's expression clearly mirrored what Jiang Hong was thinking, but he couldn't be bothered to voice it.
He Lanshan regretfully said, "It's not very fair, but this artifact is essential for the Demon Hunter Commission and that Tianlong. If we have no other choice, please ask Mr. Lu to spare its life."
Jiang Hong suddenly realized: Is this related to the investigation of the earth's veins?
Lu Xiu still didn't respond.
He Lanshan's phone screen lit up.
"The target has arrived," He Lanshan said, "in the Japanese hot spring restaurant. Let's go."
Saying that, He Lanshan adjusted his yukata. Jiang Hong, who was halfway through his ice cream, immediately abandoned it to follow the excitement. Lu Xiu, on the other hand, lazily gestured towards the seat, indicating for him to stay put.
Lu Xiu and He Lanshan entered the Japanese hot spring area, and Jiang Hong thought to himself: If I stay at a distance and just take a quick look, that should be fine, right? So he held onto his ice cream and cautiously peeked from behind.
There was a half-height cloth curtain hanging outside the hot spring area, which was brightly lit inside, with several naked men standing there.
Wow, this guy's muscles are really prominent... Oh, he must be a fitness trainer... Huh? It's that guy called Chen Shun! Jiang Hong saw so many naked bodies for the first time and wondered, which one of them is their target?
By the edge of the hot spring pool, there sat a lean, dark-skinned man covered in tattoos. He wasn't tall, but his appearance was quite fierce. Is he the one, the monster called "Tianlong"? In comparison, their side with Lu Xiu and He Lanshan seemed harmless and elegant... It's him!
Jiang Hong held his breath and watched as He Lanshan and Lu Xiu walked over.
The man, who was about ten meters away from them, became alert and immediately looked up.
"Demon Hunter Commission operation," He Lanshan's voice rang out, "Wu Xiao'en, come with us!"
When He Lanshan said that, he suddenly seemed like a different person. His voice was not only loud but also filled with righteousness. Everyone in the bathhouse looked up at them simultaneously.
At this moment, Chen Shun lifted his eyes and gazed at Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong was completely focused, staring at the pool. The man named Wu Xiao'en in the water suddenly jumped up and let out a roar! He bared his fangs towards Lu Xiu and He Lanshan, and in an instant, his teeth, sharp and extended, protruded from his mouth, becoming razor-sharp fangs that gnashed wildly!
Oh my God! Jiang Hong almost shouted out, venom!
As if knowing that he would resist, He Lanshan pulled back his fist and, with a crane-like motion, his hand emitted a brilliant light, releasing thousands of golden threads that swirled towards the monster.
The man realized something and didn't dare to engage. He hastily retreated and dived towards the ground.
Lu Xiu simply raised his left hand and snapped his fingers.
"Professor Lu!" Chen Shun, who was watching on the side, immediately panicked and shouted, "Please show mercy!"
In an instant, all the water in the entire bathhouse formed a towering giant wave, mercilessly swallowing everything along with Chen Shun's plea of "Don't drown ordinary people too..." In the deafening roar, the pool turned into a water cube, and Wu Xiao'en was carried away by the water, crashing into the wall and then being thrown into the air.
The surging waves of water stopped in front of Jiang Hong and collapsed with a "splash." He Lanshan disappeared inside the bathhouse. Then, Wu Xiao'en on the ground shivered, then shivered again.
Lu Xiu watched his body closely. In an instant, Wu Xiao'en bounced up and transformed into a nearly five-meter-long giant centipede, shooting towards the door with a swish!
"Stop it!" Chen Shun shouted loudly.
"Ah, ah, ah!" Jiang Hong, seeing such a huge centipede, finally realized that this creature was the "Tianlong." He was instantly terrified and instinctively sprinted for his life, wisely making way for the centipede.
A crane's cry sounded, and He Lanshan transformed back to his original form, swiftly flying out.
Lu Xiu followed, taking quick strides. He was still in his bathrobe. He glanced at Jiang Hong and said, "Wait here."
Jiang Hong stammered, "I-I-I really couldn't stop it. It's not my fault..."
Lu Xiu said, "Give me a bite of your ice cream."
Jiang Hong fed Lu Xiu a spoonful of ice cream, and Lu Xiu also dashed out.
Chen Shun, completely naked, ran out, anxious. "Why didn't you stop it?"
Jiang Hong replied, "I-I-I'm just here for an internship. The senior told me not to interfere in any way! By the way, shouldn't you put on some clothes..."
Suddenly, from the neighboring women's bath, there came frantic screams once again.
"Ah, it went over there," Jiang Hong said, "Are you... also going to chase after it?"
Chen Shun seemed to hesitate. Jiang Hong saw that many people in the bath were affected by Lu Xiu's water attack, causing them to feel dizzy and disoriented. So, he went to check if they were okay.
"Hey, are you okay?" Jiang Hong asked a middle-aged man.
The screams suddenly drew nearer. Jiang Hong helped people out and, as he turned around, he couldn't help but think that something was wrong.
The tiles in the bathhouse exploded, and the centipede crawled out once again!
Chen Shun shouted, "It's back! Catch it!"
The centipede roamed around the bathhouse, its venomous pincers grinding, its two eyes fixed firmly on Jiang Hong, then suddenly turning towards Chen Shun.
Jiang Hong: ".........................."
Chen Shun, with a towel wrapped around his waist, and Jiang Hong formed a defensive line, blocking the centipede. Inside the entire bathhouse, there were only Jiang Hong, Chen Shun, and the gigantic centipede demon.
Oh no... I left my protective charm in the locker in the changing room! It was right there, and I had been with Lu Xiu all along! Who would have thought to bring a protective charm to a bath?
In that instant, Jiang Hong's life seemed to flash before his eyes. Was this going to be the end of his eighteen years of existence?
He took a deep breath, about to call out for Lu Xiu.
Chen Shun said again, "I'll count to three, and then we'll attack together, young man, be careful, it might spit venom! Don't inhale the poison!"
"Um," Jiang Hong said, "How about we wait a moment?"
Jiang Hong was on the verge of losing his mind, wondering why Lu Xiu hadn't arrived yet!
"Three!" Chen Shun shouted, "Two!"
"One!"
"Lu Xiu—!" Jiang Hong yelled.
Both of them remained motionless, creating an eerie scene.
Chen Shun: "..."
Jiang Hong thought, "Are you serious? You're an exorcist! I'm just a freshman! Do you expect me to go up first and cover for you?!"
Chen Shun's motives were exposed, and he had no choice but to grit his teeth and shout, "Capture the demon!"
Chen Shun charged forward, and Jiang Hong finally shouted, "I don't know how to do this! I've only been in school for a month!"
However, the opponent had already rushed up. If he didn't go up, his teammate might be in danger. Jiang Hong took two steps forward, but the centipede seemed to be wary of him and hesitated to charge at him. Instead, it suddenly turned and pounced towards Chen Shun!
Chen Shun threw a punch, and his fist seemed to suddenly become incredibly solid, hitting the centipede's shell with a muffled sound. The centipede flipped onto the ceiling and then rushed back down towards the ground.
"Use whatever you can! Anything will do!" Chen Shun shouted in the midst of his actions.
Jiang Hong thought, "If I really knew something, I wouldn't be standing here watching!" Seeing that the centipede was about to decapitate Chen Shun, Jiang Hong, in a moment of desperation, realized he still held a cup of Häagen-Dazs chocolate ice cream in his hand. So, he threw the cup, spoon, and the remaining half-cup of ice cream at the centipede.
"Capture the demon!" Jiang Hong yelled as he let go.
The half-cup of ice cream shot like a meteor and hit the centipede demon's left eye with a loud "thud."
The centipede demon immediately screamed, raised its upper body, wildly flailed its hundred legs, and sprayed poisonous mist.
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
Ice cream is this effective? Jiang Hong could hardly believe what he was witnessing.
The centipede demon writhed for a few seconds and suddenly realized that the substance was harmless. It froze in mid-air, then used one of its legs to wipe away the chocolate ice cream from its compound eye.
Jiang Hong: "..."
Centipede demon: "..."
Jiang Hong: "Um... It was just a bit cold. You must have been startled."
The centipede demon was furious, and it let out a furious roar towards Jiang Hong. Jiang Hong was quite frightened but managed to control his instinct to turn and run. However, the centipede demon never came for Jiang Hong and instead turned and chased after Chen Shun.
Chen Shun was hit by a mouthful of toxic mist, desperately covering his mouth and nose. His towel even slipped down, nearly causing him to fall.
"You've been through a lot!" He Lan Shan arrived again.
Lu Xiu also arrived, and the centipede demon suddenly slammed into the wall, creating a hole and disappearing.
"I told you to wait, didn't I?" Lu Xiu said.
"He was capturing the demon," Jiang Hong said, "I was afraid something might happen to him..."
Lu Xiu was extremely frustrated and said, "My scale?"
"What scale?" Jiang Hong asked in confusion.
"The protective amulet!" Lu Xiu reminded him.
Jiang Hong immediately went to the dressing room, found his protective amulet, and put it on. Then he went to check on Chen Shun, who was coughing. Jiang Hong dragged him to the resting area.
"You go ahead!" Jiang Hong said, "Don't worry about me. I'll call you if I need anything."
Lu Xiu was also quite agitated. This demon kept avoiding direct confrontation, running away, and even burrowing underground, making it difficult to capture. He made a "bye-bye" gesture and chased after it.
"Chen Shun, are you okay?" Jiang Hong patted his face and asked.
Chen Shun had been poisoned to some extent and said, "Find... Fei Yao. She has... antidote."
Chapter 23: Capturing Demons
The bathhouse was luxuriously decorated with gilded columns and murals of court ladies on all sides. The lighting was splendid, and if you weren't paying attention, you might think you had truly traveled back to the Tang Dynasty.
"Do we have to... undress completely to soak in the hot spring here?" Jiang Hong felt a bit embarrassed and used a towel to cover himself.
"Yes," Lu Xiu said inexplicably, "Why not?"
"But where we're from, we usually wear swim trunks in hot springs..." Jiang Hong tried to argue.
"Stop talking! Hurry up!" Lu Xiu directly took away the towel that was covering Jiang Hong's waist.
Jiang Hong: "..."
Well, Jiang Hong didn't really mind, it was just a matter of regional customs between southerners and northerners. After all, it was the first time he was completely naked in front of this handsome god-like man, and he felt a bit self-conscious.
Fortunately, his body was in good shape from regular exercise, with slight muscles but not overly bulky, a physique that was just right for a young man. Lu Xiu's body, on the other hand... Lu Xiu's physique was simply perfect!
The contours of a dragon's muscles and the graceful lines of his elongated body were naturally beautiful, and Lu Xiu had taken that beauty to the extreme after assuming human form, radiating both strength and symmetry.
The two of them entered a Turkish bathhouse, and it was quite spacious inside, with only the two of them.
"Why choose to meet here?" Jiang Hong looked around and asked, "Won't it seem very strange?"
Lu Xiu was soaking in the pool, letting out a long sigh. His eyes roamed up and down Jiang Hong's chest. Jiang Hong had been a bit shy at first, but now he was completely at ease, enjoying the bath.
"You're quite fair," Lu Xiu suddenly said something unrelated.
Jiang Hong: "You're fair too, hehehe."
Jiang Hong thought Lu Xiu's body was like a beautiful sculpture and couldn't help but steal a few more glances. Since Lu Xiu was staring at him without looking away, Jiang Hong boldly returned the favor.
"Can I touch it?" Jiang Hong asked, "You actually have a bit of chest muscle."
Lu Xiu didn't answer, so Jiang Hong, not getting a response, daringly touched him.
Lu Xiu: "..."
Jiang Hong burst into laughter, and Lu Xiu stared at him with a threatening look in his eyes, but Jiang Hong couldn't resist giving him another playful squeeze.
Lu Xiu: "Stop it!"
"Chest muscles are difficult to build," Jiang Hong mumbled to himself. "It requires strength training. Hmm, why do you have... a scar on your chest?"
There was a small scar on Lu Xiu's left chest, like a wound that had healed after being pierced by a sword.
Jiang Hong leaned in slightly, reaching out to touch the scar on Lu Xiu's chest. Lu Xiu didn't resist at all, allowing him to touch it. He first gazed into Jiang Hong's eyes for a moment, then as if he had noticed something, his gaze lifted, looking past Jiang Hong's shoulder toward the entrance of the Turkish bathhouse.
Someone else had entered. Jiang Hong turned to look and saw a tall man with a slender figure.
So tall! Such long legs! So fair! He looked like a mixed-race person! Jiang Hong took a quick glance, noticing that the man still had long hair, and for a moment, he almost mistook him for a girl.
The man glanced at Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu, who were huddled together in the steam room, before sitting down inside the steam chamber.
"What are you looking at?" Lu Xiu's expression changed slightly, and there was a hint of mockery in his gaze.
Jiang Hong, who had been leaning against Lu Xiu's chest and turned his head upon hearing the question, now turned back and smiled.
"Where did you get that scar?" Jiang Hong asked with a hint of concern. "Were you stabbed?"
Lu Xiu casually assessed Jiang Hong, then finally said, "Self-inflicted."
Jiang Hong: "???"
"Come a bit closer," Lu Xiu motioned for Jiang Hong to sit beside him, making room for the newcomer.
The hot spring pool was quite small. Jiang Hong obediently sat down. The man with long hair finished steaming, rinsed himself with water, his long hair partially wet, and then walked into the pool, taking a seat across from the two of them. Jiang Hong shifted a bit closer to Lu Xiu, and Lu Xiu stretched out his hand, pulling Jiang Hong close, allowing him to lean back against his chest.
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
When Lu Xiu held him, Jiang Hong pressed his left side against him, and their bare skin came into contact without any barriers. Jiang Hong actually felt like he was being electrified!
Jiang Hong: "..."
Lu Xiu was holding him so openly, and Jiang Hong couldn't help but feel that the sensation was extremely strange. Perhaps it was because the water in the bath was too hot, and Jiang Hong's heart was still racing. In the slick and warm spring water environment, with intimate skin-to-skin contact, and at their youthful age, it was only natural that it could easily awaken certain... normal reactions.
Ah, this can't happen! It's too perverse!
He dared not move recklessly and was afraid of accidentally touching "that" part of Lu Xiu. So he remained stiff and pressed against Lu Xiu.
The fair-skinned man across from them was smiling at them.
"Do you think long hair looks better or short hair?" Lu Xiu asked in the tranquil atmosphere.
"Uh..." Jiang Hong was a bit distracted for some reason. He felt very comfortable but also feared having a physiological response... Most of his attention was now focused on trying not to have such a reaction; otherwise, it would be too embarrassing.
Lu Xiu: "?"
Lu Xiu placed his finger on top of Jiang Hong's head and twirled his short hair in a circle. "I asked you a question."
Jiang Hong: "Both... look good, don't they?"
Lu Xiu was quite puzzled. "Why did you suddenly become so brief in your responses?"
Jiang Hong: "Hair. What about your hair? I think both styles are nice... But I do prefer your current hairstyle. After all, we first met like this. Do you want to keep your hair long?"
Lu Xiu regarded Jiang Hong strangely, and Jiang Hong's face turned very red as he said, "It's a bit... unusual, my first time bathing with you. I'll get used to it."
"They're not used to being nude," the man with long hair across from them said with a smile.
Lu Xiu then remembered and said, "Oh."
Just now, due to the mist, Jiang Hong couldn't see clearly, but now he suddenly realized that the man seemed somewhat familiar?
The man with long hair continued, "When we return to our true forms, we're all nude. We're accustomed to presenting ourselves in our original state. However, humans, apart from bathing, wear clothes all the time. When they're nude, they feel vulnerable, so they unconsciously reduce their voices to avoid attracting enemies."
Lu Xiu replied, "Yes, I know, I just forgot."
He's a demon hunter! Jiang Hong remembered that they came here to meet with the members of the Demon Hunter Commission. In that case, the man in front of them must also be from the supernatural world!
The man had earrings in both of his ears, double earrings... Jiang Hong had seen them on another person before, so it seemed there were familiar features.
"Are you..."
"I'm He Lanshan," the handsome mixed-blood guy smiled, "Thanks for taking care of my little brother, She."
"I knew it!" Jiang Hong said, "I had a feeling you looked familiar. Do you know me?"
He Lanshan said, "I recognized you at first sight."
"Yes, I'm He Jian's second brother," He Lanshan explained to Lu Xiu, "Mr. Lu, it's our first meeting, right? My younger brother and She are in the same dormitory."
Lu Xiu casually nodded his head without speaking.
"He Jian mentioned that he was going to meet you," Jiang Hong said, "Did you not run into him?"
He Lanshan said, "Our mother and little sister arrived last night. I have a mission from the Demon Hunter Commission, so I have to finish my work before I can go see them."
Lu Xiu kept his hand on Jiang Hong's shoulder but didn't look at He Lanshan. He appeared disinterested in him, focusing on the murals inside the Turkish bath and occasionally glancing at Jiang Hong's profile.
Jiang Hong, seeing someone he knew, instinctively relaxed a bit and asked, "How many siblings do you have?"
"Three brothers," He Lanshan replied, "and He Jian also has a sister."
That's nice, Jiang Hong thought, he has always wanted a sister.
Lu Xiu ruffled his half-wet hair, thought for a moment, and said, "Are you still going to take action tonight?"
"Yang Feiyao is leading the target here," He Lanshan replied, "If everything goes as planned, they should be arriving at the bathhouse soon."
Jiang Hong looked curiously at Lu Xiu, then at He Lanshan, then back at Lu Xiu. He Lanshan noticed that he had questions and explained, "This time we're after a monster that possesses a treasure called the 'Dragon Escape Seed.' It allows the user to escape underground when pursued."
Jiang Hong asked, "So you're luring it into the bathhouse to catch it?"
"That's right," He Lanshan explained politely, "It has a natural ability to escape underground, but as long as the treasure isn't on its person, it's much easier to capture. The Demon Hunter Commission tasked me and Yang Feiyao with recovering this artifact. Chen Shun is a local demon hunter responsible for providing support."
Lu Xiu released Jiang Hong, gesturing for him to stand up, and the two of them went to rinse off. Afterwards, all three changed into bathhouse attire and waited in the rest area.
Jiang Hong asked, "So, what are we..."
Lu Xiu interrupted, "I'll buy you an ice cream. Don't ask too many questions."
Jiang Hong agreed, "Deal, I want chocolate flavor."
He Lanshan glanced at his phone and said, "Later, during the operation, we'll rely on Mr. Lu."
"Are you confident?" Lu Xiu asked.
"Not really," He Lanshan said, "As long as the Dragon Escape Seed isn't in its possession, there's a chance. That guy is just too good at escaping."
"Is the artifact from the Demon Hunter Commission?" Lu Xiu asked.
He Lanshan replied, "Unfortunately, no. It's its own artifact. It has been cultivating for some time."
Lu Xiu inquired, "Does it harm people?"
He Lanshan clarified, "No."
Lu Xiu asked, "Does it pose a threat to people?"
He Lanshan responded, "There is currently no direct evidence of that."
Jiang Hong, on the side, was enjoying his Häagen-Dazs ice cream and thought to himself: Aren't you basically robbing others? You see a monster with an artifact, and you use the excuse of "recovery" to snatch it away.
Lu Xiu's expression clearly mirrored what Jiang Hong was thinking, but he couldn't be bothered to voice it.
He Lanshan regretfully said, "It's not very fair, but this artifact is essential for the Demon Hunter Commission and that Tianlong. If we have no other choice, please ask Mr. Lu to spare its life."
Jiang Hong suddenly realized: Is this related to the investigation of the earth's veins?
Lu Xiu still didn't respond.
He Lanshan's phone screen lit up.
"The target has arrived," He Lanshan said, "in the Japanese hot spring restaurant. Let's go."
Saying that, He Lanshan adjusted his yukata. Jiang Hong, who was halfway through his ice cream, immediately abandoned it to follow the excitement. Lu Xiu, on the other hand, lazily gestured towards the seat, indicating for him to stay put.
Lu Xiu and He Lanshan entered the Japanese hot spring area, and Jiang Hong thought to himself: If I stay at a distance and just take a quick look, that should be fine, right? So he held onto his ice cream and cautiously peeked from behind.
There was a half-height cloth curtain hanging outside the hot spring area, which was brightly lit inside, with several naked men standing there.
Wow, this guy's muscles are really prominent... Oh, he must be a fitness trainer... Huh? It's that guy called Chen Shun! Jiang Hong saw so many naked bodies for the first time and wondered, which one of them is their target?
By the edge of the hot spring pool, there sat a lean, dark-skinned man covered in tattoos. He wasn't tall, but his appearance was quite fierce. Is he the one, the monster called "Tianlong"? In comparison, their side with Lu Xiu and He Lanshan seemed harmless and elegant... It's him!
Jiang Hong held his breath and watched as He Lanshan and Lu Xiu walked over.
The man, who was about ten meters away from them, became alert and immediately looked up.
"Demon Hunter Commission operation," He Lanshan's voice rang out, "Wu Xiao'en, come with us!"
When He Lanshan said that, he suddenly seemed like a different person. His voice was not only loud but also filled with righteousness. Everyone in the bathhouse looked up at them simultaneously.
At this moment, Chen Shun lifted his eyes and gazed at Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong was completely focused, staring at the pool. The man named Wu Xiao'en in the water suddenly jumped up and let out a roar! He bared his fangs towards Lu Xiu and He Lanshan, and in an instant, his teeth, sharp and extended, protruded from his mouth, becoming razor-sharp fangs that gnashed wildly!
Oh my God! Jiang Hong almost shouted out, venom!
As if knowing that he would resist, He Lanshan pulled back his fist and, with a crane-like motion, his hand emitted a brilliant light, releasing thousands of golden threads that swirled towards the monster.
The man realized something and didn't dare to engage. He hastily retreated and dived towards the ground.
Lu Xiu simply raised his left hand and snapped his fingers.
"Professor Lu!" Chen Shun, who was watching on the side, immediately panicked and shouted, "Please show mercy!"
In an instant, all the water in the entire bathhouse formed a towering giant wave, mercilessly swallowing everything along with Chen Shun's plea of "Don't drown ordinary people too..." In the deafening roar, the pool turned into a water cube, and Wu Xiao'en was carried away by the water, crashing into the wall and then being thrown into the air.
The surging waves of water stopped in front of Jiang Hong and collapsed with a "splash." He Lanshan disappeared inside the bathhouse. Then, Wu Xiao'en on the ground shivered, then shivered again.
Lu Xiu watched his body closely. In an instant, Wu Xiao'en bounced up and transformed into a nearly five-meter-long giant centipede, shooting towards the door with a swish!
"Stop it!" Chen Shun shouted loudly.
"Ah, ah, ah!" Jiang Hong, seeing such a huge centipede, finally realized that this creature was the "Tianlong." He was instantly terrified and instinctively sprinted for his life, wisely making way for the centipede.
A crane's cry sounded, and He Lanshan transformed back to his original form, swiftly flying out.
Lu Xiu followed, taking quick strides. He was still in his bathrobe. He glanced at Jiang Hong and said, "Wait here."
Jiang Hong stammered, "I-I-I really couldn't stop it. It's not my fault..."
Lu Xiu said, "Give me a bite of your ice cream."
Jiang Hong fed Lu Xiu a spoonful of ice cream, and Lu Xiu also dashed out.
Chen Shun, completely naked, ran out, anxious. "Why didn't you stop it?"
Jiang Hong replied, "I-I-I'm just here for an internship. The senior told me not to interfere in any way! By the way, shouldn't you put on some clothes..."
Suddenly, from the neighboring women's bath, there came frantic screams once again.
"Ah, it went over there," Jiang Hong said, "Are you... also going to chase after it?"
Chen Shun seemed to hesitate. Jiang Hong saw that many people in the bath were affected by Lu Xiu's water attack, causing them to feel dizzy and disoriented. So, he went to check if they were okay.
"Hey, are you okay?" Jiang Hong asked a middle-aged man.
The screams suddenly drew nearer. Jiang Hong helped people out and, as he turned around, he couldn't help but think that something was wrong.
The tiles in the bathhouse exploded, and the centipede crawled out once again!
Chen Shun shouted, "It's back! Catch it!"
The centipede roamed around the bathhouse, its venomous pincers grinding, its two eyes fixed firmly on Jiang Hong, then suddenly turning towards Chen Shun.
Jiang Hong: ".........................."
Chen Shun, with a towel wrapped around his waist, and Jiang Hong formed a defensive line, blocking the centipede. Inside the entire bathhouse, there were only Jiang Hong, Chen Shun, and the gigantic centipede demon.
Oh no... I left my protective charm in the locker in the changing room! It was right there, and I had been with Lu Xiu all along! Who would have thought to bring a protective charm to a bath?
In that instant, Jiang Hong's life seemed to flash before his eyes. Was this going to be the end of his eighteen years of existence?
He took a deep breath, about to call out for Lu Xiu.
Chen Shun said again, "I'll count to three, and then we'll attack together, young man, be careful, it might spit venom! Don't inhale the poison!"
"Um," Jiang Hong said, "How about we wait a moment?"
Jiang Hong was on the verge of losing his mind, wondering why Lu Xiu hadn't arrived yet!
"Three!" Chen Shun shouted, "Two!"
"One!"
"Lu Xiu—!" Jiang Hong yelled.
Both of them remained motionless, creating an eerie scene.
Chen Shun: "..."
Jiang Hong thought, "Are you serious? You're an exorcist! I'm just a freshman! Do you expect me to go up first and cover for you?!"
Chen Shun's motives were exposed, and he had no choice but to grit his teeth and shout, "Capture the demon!"
Chen Shun charged forward, and Jiang Hong finally shouted, "I don't know how to do this! I've only been in school for a month!"
However, the opponent had already rushed up. If he didn't go up, his teammate might be in danger. Jiang Hong took two steps forward, but the centipede seemed to be wary of him and hesitated to charge at him. Instead, it suddenly turned and pounced towards Chen Shun!
Chen Shun threw a punch, and his fist seemed to suddenly become incredibly solid, hitting the centipede's shell with a muffled sound. The centipede flipped onto the ceiling and then rushed back down towards the ground.
"Use whatever you can! Anything will do!" Chen Shun shouted in the midst of his actions.
Jiang Hong thought, "If I really knew something, I wouldn't be standing here watching!" Seeing that the centipede was about to decapitate Chen Shun, Jiang Hong, in a moment of desperation, realized he still held a cup of Häagen-Dazs chocolate ice cream in his hand. So, he threw the cup, spoon, and the remaining half-cup of ice cream at the centipede.
"Capture the demon!" Jiang Hong yelled as he let go.
The half-cup of ice cream shot like a meteor and hit the centipede demon's left eye with a loud "thud."
The centipede demon immediately screamed, raised its upper body, wildly flailed its hundred legs, and sprayed poisonous mist.
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
Ice cream is this effective? Jiang Hong could hardly believe what he was witnessing.
The centipede demon writhed for a few seconds and suddenly realized that the substance was harmless. It froze in mid-air, then used one of its legs to wipe away the chocolate ice cream from its compound eye.
Jiang Hong: "..."
Centipede demon: "..."
Jiang Hong: "Um... It was just a bit cold. You must have been startled."
The centipede demon was furious, and it let out a furious roar towards Jiang Hong. Jiang Hong was quite frightened but managed to control his instinct to turn and run. However, the centipede demon never came for Jiang Hong and instead turned and chased after Chen Shun.
Chen Shun was hit by a mouthful of toxic mist, desperately covering his mouth and nose. His towel even slipped down, nearly causing him to fall.
"You've been through a lot!" He Lan Shan arrived again.
Lu Xiu also arrived, and the centipede demon suddenly slammed into the wall, creating a hole and disappearing.
"I told you to wait, didn't I?" Lu Xiu said.
"He was capturing the demon," Jiang Hong said, "I was afraid something might happen to him..."
Lu Xiu was extremely frustrated and said, "My scale?"
"What scale?" Jiang Hong asked in confusion.
"The protective amulet!" Lu Xiu reminded him.
Jiang Hong immediately went to the dressing room, found his protective amulet, and put it on. Then he went to check on Chen Shun, who was coughing. Jiang Hong dragged him to the resting area.
"You go ahead!" Jiang Hong said, "Don't worry about me. I'll call you if I need anything."
Lu Xiu was also quite agitated. This demon kept avoiding direct confrontation, running away, and even burrowing underground, making it difficult to capture. He made a "bye-bye" gesture and chased after it.
"Chen Shun, are you okay?" Jiang Hong patted his face and asked.
Chen Shun had been poisoned to some extent and said, "Find... Fei Yao. She has... antidote."
