Chapter 6: Relief in the Hot Springs
Although he prided himself on being a realist, there was no way to deny what had unfolded before his very eyes.
"Uh… probably?" Shen Xinghui admitted hesitantly.
"I see. That explains everything. It makes sense now—an ordinary people without weapons or armor wouldn't end up in such a perilous place," the man said, his tone softening.
A gentle smile formed on his face, and the kindness in his dark eyes was strangely reassuring.
He could feel the warmth feeling that way radiated from the man's body.
It was very comforting.
However, as Shen Xinghui's nerves began to settle, an unpleasant ache deep inside him flared up.
He involuntarily held his breath, which didn't go unnoticed.
"Are you in pain?" the man asked, his voice filled with concern.
"It's not… painful, exactly. But…" Shen Xinghui trailed off, unable to articulate his discomfort.
The words were too embarrassing to say.
To make matters worse, he was completely naked and utterly vulnerable.
His body had gone limp, unresponsive to his will, leaving him at the mercy of this stranger.
And, of course, his body was betraying him—his arousal was plainly visible in the man's arms.
"You must have ingested the sap of a Wombroot Aphrodite Vine King. It's difficult, but bear with it for a little while longer," the man explained calmly.
He then put Shen Xinghui gently onto the ground and reached into his waist pouch and pulled out a thick blanket.
Draping it over Shen Xinghui's naked body, he managed to shield him from the cold air and, thankfully, from his own embarrassment.
Shen Xinghui could finally breathe a little easier after his body was covered by the thick blanket.
Then, without hesitation, the man scooped him up again and effortlessly lifting him as though Shen Xinghui weighed nothing.
His movements were light and deliberate as he began walking with Shen Xinghui cradled securely in his arms.
The place Shen Xinghui had been brought to was a reasonably well-kept lodge.
The floors were made of polished wood, and the room featured several beds, a fireplace stocked with firewood, and even a small kitchen.
"How unusual. No one seems to be here today. Well, I suppose that works in our favor," the man remarked.
Still carrying Shen Xinghui in his arms, he walked further inside and opened a door at the back.
It appeared to be a changing room, complete with shelves holding wicker baskets, likely for storing clothes.
Without hesitation, the man continued through another door, revealing a spacious wooden bathhouse with a large, inviting hot spring pool.
He gently set Shen Xinghui down by the edge of the pool.
The warmth of the water enveloped Shen Xinghui, bringing him an overwhelming sense of comfort and relief.
"This place draws medicinal hot spring water," the man explained. "It helps with minor injuries, fatigue recovery, and detoxification."
"Detoxification?" Shen Xinghui repeated, his curiosity piqued.
"The sap you were forced to ingest came from a carnivorous plant called a Wombroot Aphrodite Vine King. Its effects are... extremely potent as an aphrodisiac. These hot springs can neutralize toxins like that."