After parting ways with Castorice, Caelus walked alone toward his private bathhouse.
He recalled the journey over the past few days—it had been filled with uncertainty and danger, and he was utterly exhausted.
Look! The pink little dog hadn't made a sound since they returned.
"I wonder how Dan Heng has been these days…"
Before long, Caelus arrived at the private bath palace. Dan Heng seemed to be enjoying the scenery on the balcony.
Dan Heng waved at him. "Long time no see. I heard about what you went through from Phainon… You've worked hard."
Caelus immediately spread his arms wide. "My dear friend, I missed you so much!"
Dan Heng replied with a deadpan expression, "Looks like you took quite a blow."
Seeing that Dan Heng's jab wasn't nearly as sharp as March 7th's, Caelus changed the subject.
"What were you doing while I was gone?"
"Organizing logs and getting some research materials on the Grove from Hyacine. I discovered something quite interesting. Remember how Amphoreus's sky is sealed by a Titan? Aquila, the Titan of the Sky… Their existence completely isolates this world from the outside. Hyacine's ancestors… seem to have been Sky Priests who worshiped Aquila. To find a way back to the Astral Express, she might be able to provide more clues. These past few days, there haven't been any major incidents in the holy city, and I didn't have to deal with people. Being alone wasn't bad at all."
Hearing how relaxed Dan Heng's tasks had been, Caelus pointed at him. "Don't get too comfortable—your good days are about to end!"
Dan Heng rested his chin on one hand. "With the Grove incident, there will surely be more turmoil ahead. Since things have come to this, you should rest first. You look exhausted. Get some proper sleep before we set out tomorrow… Oh, right. I heard some rumors… If you plan to go out for a stroll, I suggest you avoid the high-temperature baths."
[ If Little Green Dragon were here, what would the black-robed swordsman be? ]
[ Big Bro needs water—unless you can pull out a whole Sea of the Ancient Moon from your pants. ]
[ Would bathwater work? ]
[ Bathwater? That's interesting. ]
[ What did that last line mean—avoid the high-temperature baths? ]
— —
The scene shifted.
It returned to the time when Caelus had just arrived at the Grove.
Inside the Cloudstone Celestial Palace.
"Trianne…?"
Tribbie's heart felt as if someone had suddenly gripped it tightly.
"What's wrong… Did something happen on the Grove's side?" Aglaea asked with concern from the side.
"Yes. A signal flashed for a moment but it was extremely strong… They seem to have run into serious trouble." As she spoke, Tribbie's expression grew grim. "Trianne used the 'Hundred Realms Gate' again."
"Can you see any clear images?"
"No, it's as blurry as usual. But the enemy's presence has disappeared. Maybe they've moved to a safer place… probably."
Aglaea comforted her, "Hopefully it was just a false alarm. Trust Caelus and Castorice, my teacher… They will protect Trianne."
Tribbie smiled and shook her head.
"How come you're treating us like children, Agy? One day, Trianne will reach her limit, and Tribbie will take over the 'Gatekeeper' duty from her. We both know this clearly. I am just… worried about her mind. Before we set out, Trianne was already struggling to speak full sentences… At least let us say a proper goodbye."
[ Noooo! ]
[ So that's why Trianne talks like a child. ]
[ Old miHoYo is here with the speakers and the knife. ]
[ Damn, they really are going to do it? ]
[ Go ahead. I'm completely numb to it now. ]
[ That's exactly the kind of person they want—the one who doesn't believe it, then cries their heart out under the blanket. ]
[ It's no longer about whether they'll stab you. It's about how many times miHoYo will stab you. ]
"I will pray with you," Aglaea's voice actually carried a trace of tears.
"Thank you. Agy, could you accompany us to the bathhouse this time? Let's relax a little… It feels like neither of us has laughed in a long time."
"Riding the west wind, let's go!" Tribbie took the lead and ran toward the bathhouse.
Aglaea watched Tribbie's back and couldn't help but sigh. "Sigh…"
...
Before long, Tribbie and Aglaea had arrived at the bathhouse.
Even before entering, a thick cloud of steam slipped out through the door crack.
"The steam is so heavy. Is it usually this hot?"
The two walked deeper into the bathhouse, only to find several bathers collapsed on the ground, their bodies flushed red and barely conscious.
"Over there… more injured people?"
"Ah…" One of the fainted bathers let out a weak cry for help.
Tribbie's eyes widened. "Wh-what happened here?!"
"Be… careful… Be careful… the people from Castrum Kremnos…"
Hearing this, Aglaea's brows furrowed tightly.
"People from Castrum Kremnos? Did they cause this scene?"
"Agy, never mind that for now—quick, help the injured!"
Just then—
"Everyone, please make way!" Hyacine came running over in a hurry.
Seeing Tribbie and Aglaea, she breathed a sigh of relief. "You two! You're here too—that's reassuring."
The moment Tribbie saw Hyacine, she had a bad feeling.
"Why did you come to the Radiant Court too? What exactly happened?"
"I actually just came to relax… As soon as I got nearby, I saw many people lying scattered on the ground. I checked them—they're not seriously hurt. It seems they just… stayed in the water too long because the temperature was too high."
Aglaea's frown deepened. "Multiple people fainting at the same time due to high water temperature? Where is the bathhouse manager?"
Hyacine shook her head.
"He's missing—gone without a trace. Some people are muttering that it was done by 'the people from Castrum Kremnos'… Do you have any idea, Lady Aglaea?"
"Sigh…" Aglaea had already guessed the general situation. "Let these people rest properly. You two, come with me."
Tribbie fluttered her small wings. "Agy, did you think of something?"
"Of course. I don't know exactly what they're planning, but it's time to end this farce."
— —
Tribbie, Aglaea, and Hyacine continued toward the source of the high temperature.
The deeper they went, the more people they found collapsed on the ground. Without exception, all of them had fainted due to the excessively high pool temperature.
Even those still standing were barely conscious and swaying unsteadily.
Finally, in a thick cloud of steam, the three discovered a strong figure faintly visible.
Upon closer inspection, it was Mydei.
"Pathetic 'Deliverer,' nothing more than this." Mydei stood with his arms crossed.
At his feet, Phainon had stretched out his left hand and was lying motionless on the ground.
He pointed with one finger.
"The cul… prit… The culprit… is… Mydeimos… Ugh!"