Several days had passed since the great battle in Xinjing City. Peace had returned to Tianyin. The sky was clear, the breeze rustled the leaves that danced joyfully in the trees, and the townspeople were once again busy with their daily routines.
Amidst the tranquility, the Jian household looked more like a miniature battlefield.
"My candy! That's my candy, you sweet thief!" Su Daji screamed as she yanked a candy pouch from Tang Wu's hands.
"I just wanted to taste one! Don't be so stingy!" Tang Wu replied, laughing as he ran around the room.
Jian Mo, who had just finished brewing tea, could only massage her temples. "A peaceful morning? Sounds like a dream."
As the chaos escalated, the door suddenly burst open. Leon stepped in, slightly out of breath, holding a colorful piece of paper.
"EVERYONE!" he shouted. "You have to see this!"
Tang Wu and Su Daji stopped chasing each other. "Is that a food flyer?" Tang Wu asked eagerly.
"No," Leon replied, pointing at the image on the leaflet. "It's a special promotion for the hot springs in Liyun City! They're having a spring festival! There'll be open-air baths, local food, and even a lantern festival at night!"
Su Daji plopped down, her eyes sparkling. "Lantern festival? Hot springs? Wah wah wah! Dad! We have to go!"
Tang Wu was just as excited. "Count me in! I wanna soak while eating dango!"
Leon grinned and looked at Jian Mo, who was now facing three pairs of hopeful eyes.
Jian Mo took a sip of her tea before letting out a sigh. "Alright. We'll leave in two days. Prepare your things."
Cheers erupted in the room. Tang Wu even ran to hug Su Daji and Leon, but in his excitement, he slipped and crashed into the table.
"Aaand… there goes my tea..." Jian Mo muttered, wiping off the spilled drops on her robe.
—
Two days later, they set off for Liyun City, located southwest of Tianyin. The city was known for its clean and relaxing natural hot springs.
The journey took five hours by carriage, during which Tang Wu constantly chattered about his plan to eat 50 skewers at the festival.
"I'm gonna buy a cute yukata too!" Su Daji chimed in.
"As for me... just sleeping in silence without hearing you two is already a luxury," Jian Mo said flatly.
Upon entering the gates of Liyun City, they were greeted by a picturesque view. A small waterfall flowed near the edge of the town, and warm steam drifted from hot springs hidden behind rocks.
"This place is so cool!" Su Daji exclaimed, hopping in excitement.
Tang Wu was already sniffing out food. "I smell roasted mochi!"
Leon pointed at their inn. "There it is, Shui Yun Inn. They say the baths are directly connected to a natural spring."
They quickly checked in. Their room was spacious, with tatami floors and large windows that opened to a misty valley.
As evening fell, they donned yukatas provided by the inn. Su Daji looked elegant in a cherry blossom design, while Tang Wu chose a bright koi fish pattern.
"Why did you pick koi?" Leon asked, laughing.
"Because I wanna flow freely like koi in hot water!" Tang Wu answered dramatically—only to trip because his sandals were too big.
That night, they soaked together in the hot springs. Warm steam wrapped around their bodies, the starry night sky stretched above, and the sound of crickets filled the air.
Su Daji leaned against the edge of the pool, eyes closed. "This… is so peaceful."
Tang Wu floated on the water like a drifting corpse. "I… could die happy now…"
Leon let out a relaxed sigh. "I guess we need moments like this, just to remember what it feels like to live."
Jian Mo, sitting slightly apart from the rest, gave a faint smile. "If you live your whole life fighting, you forget how to breathe."
Suddenly, a loud growl echoed from Tang Wu's stomach.
"Sorry… that wasn't a dragon. Just me being hungry," he said with a sheepish laugh.
They left the bath and enjoyed dinner at the inn's restaurant. Warm food, laughter, and the feeling of togetherness wrapped around them like a soft blanket.
But not long after dinner, Jian Mo quietly slipped away.
She headed toward a settlement that now stood in ruins—just broken walls and scattered debris.