A soldier approached at a hurried pace, stopping a few steps before Luo He and bowing slightly. "My lord," he said still catching his breath. "We have finished gathering the spoils."
Luo He barely turned his head. "How much?" He asked. "More than one million gold coins," the soldier replied, unable to hide the excitement in his voice.
"And many more valuables chains, bracelets, earring and gemstones as well." The soldier hesitated, then added eagerly, "You should see it." Without waiting for a full response, he gestured and led the way.
They were taken to the center of the captured stronghold. What had once been a place of order and defence was now a vault of plunder. Chests lay open, spilling gold onto the stone floors.
Jewellery glimmered under the dim light, scattered like fallen stars, bracelets stacked high, rings piled in careless heaps. Even the air felt heavier there, thick with the metallic scent of wealth and blood.
The soldier watched Luo He closely, expecting some reaction, surprise, satisfaction, perhaps even pride. But Luo He only glanced once. Then looked away. His expression didn't change one bit.
Jin Mulan noticed. More than a million worth in gold and not even a flicker. The soldier's excitement faded slightly, confusion replacing it. "Shall we begin sorting it further, my lord?" he asked carefully.
"Do as you wish," Luo He said calmly. "It changes nothing." The soldier blinked, then quickly bowed again. "Yes, my lord." By sunset, orders were given. Eight hundred soldiers were left behind to secure the island. Six ships remained with them, enough to defend, not enough to rebel.
The rest were prepared to be taken. The copper ore which were already been smelted into heavy bricks, their dull golden sheen catching the last light of day.
Alongside them, the gathered treasure was loaded carefully onto the ships. As they sailed away, Luo He stood at the edge of the deck, watching the island grow distant.
They arrived at the once pirate strong hold. "This place," he said casually, "will now be called Pirate Island." He declared. Jin Mulan glanced at him. "It already had a name." Luo He shrugged slightly.
"Then it wasn't worth remembering." His tone carried no attachment, only finality. By the time they returned, night had fallen.
The once-occupied fortress now stood quiet. Its halls emptied of life, echoing faintly with their footsteps. Torches flickered along the stone walls casting long shadows that danced across the corridors.
The scent of smoke, blood and sea still lingered in the air. Servants quickly moved to prepare water, hauling buckets into the bathing chambers.
The sound of sloshing water and crackling fire filled the silence as large tubs were filled and heated.
Luo He stepped inside one of the chambers, loosening his outer garments with little concern. He glanced at Jin Mulan, a faint smile forming.
"Do you remember," he asked lightly, "what you were told when we first came to Pirate Island?" She paused, leaning slightly against the stone wall, arms crossed.
Her eyes narrowed just a little. "I was your handmaiden," she said slowly, "and you were my mistress."
"Good," Luo He replied, a quiet laugh escaping him. He turned toward her fully now, amusement clear in his expression. "So," he continued, tilting his head slightly, "is this how you treat your mistress?"
Jin Mulan raised a brow. Luo He gestured toward the bathing area, where steam was beginning to rise. Curling softly into the air. "Go on," he said, his tone teasing but deliberate.
"Prepare a proper hot bath for your mistress." He stepped closer, his voice lowering just slightly. "I need to wash off the blood from all that slaughter."
The faintest hint of irony touched his words. The chamber filled slowly with warmth as steam thickened, blurring the edges of torchlight. The scent of heated water and faint herbs began to replace the lingering metallic smell of battle.
Jin Mulan stared at him for a moment. This man Who could command death without hesitation. Now stood there, speaking as if they were playing roles in some strange performance.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "You haven't changed at all," she muttered. "My mother was right to trust you." Luo He smiled faintly.
"On the contrary," he said. "I'm very consistent." She let out a quiet breath, half irritation, half something else she didn't quite name. Then, without another word, she stepped past him toward the bath.
Water rippled softly as she tested the temperature, steam rising around her armour still stained from battle. Behind her, Luo He watched calm and composed as always.
And yet, beneath the stillness of the fortress, beneath the fading echoes of war something between them had shifted. Not loudly, Not clearly, but undeniably.
Luo He's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he spoke again, his tone cool and commanding. "You go into battle in heavy armour but not into a bathing chamber. So take it off."
Jin Mulan didn't move immediately.
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Go on," he added. "Test the water. Make sure it's safe for me to enter."
There was no softness in his voice now only quiet authority. She hesitated. Luo He seemed to notice. Without another word, he stepped to the door and took his sword.
With deliberate precision, he wedged it firmly between the door handle and the hook in the door frame forming a hasp and staple type lock. The metal settled into place with a dull, final sound.
"No one will enter," he said simply. Jin Mulan glanced at the door then back at him. Something in her posture eased just slightly. Not trust. But enough. She turned away.
The chamber was thick with steam now, the air warm and heavy. Water rippled softly in the large wooden bath, its surface reflecting the flicker of torchlight.
Slowly, she began removing her armour. Each piece came off with a quiet, deliberate motion the faint clink of metal echoing in the enclosed space. Shoulder plates. Bracers. Chest guard. Layer by layer, the weight of battle fell away.
She placed each piece neatly on the wooden bench beside the door, controlled even in something as simple as this.
By the time she reached the last piece, she paused for just a fraction of a second. Then set it down as well.
Now unburdened, she stepped toward the bath.
The stone floor was warm beneath her feet. Steam curled around her, softening the edges of everything, turning the harshness of the battlefield into something distant, almost unreal.
She crouched slightly and reached out, dipping her hand into the water. A ripple spread outward. She tested the temperature carefully. Warm but not scalding. Safe.
After a moment, she stepped back just enough. Now certain, it's safe. Her expression remained steady as always, though her movements carried a rare trace of quiet vulnerability one that only existed in moments like this, far from the battlefield.
Behind her, Luo He watched in silence.
Not with impatience. But with quiet observation. As if even this was something he was studying.
"It's fine," Jin Mulan said at last, her voice calm. She straightened slightly, glancing back at him. "You won't die from it."
A faint smirk touched Luo He's lips.
"Good," he replied. "That would be unfortunate." He stepped forward, unhurried, completely at ease as if the bloodshed of the day and the quiet intimacy of the moment belonged to the same world.
Jin Mulan watched him approach, her expression unreadable. "You give orders," she said quietly, "even here."
Luo He stopped just short of the bath.
"I give directions," he corrected. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "And expect it to be followed." She said. "Indeed" Luo He answered.
There was no hesitation in his answer.
For a brief moment, the only sound between them was the gentle movement of water.
Then Luo He tilted his head slightly from the bath, his tone shifting just enough to carry a hint of something lighter. "You did well today."
Luo He said as he finally removed his undergarments worn under his armour and got in with only his underwear. Jin Mulan blinked once, caught off guard by the sudden change.
"That's rare," she said. "What is?" He asked. "Praise." She answered indifferently. Luo He gave a small shrug. "I don't give it where it isn't earned."
She held his gaze for a moment longer, something unreadable passing through her expression. Then she turned slightly back toward the bath, the tension easing just a little.
Outside, the fortress remained quiet. Inside, the steam continued to rise. And for once There were no enemies. Only silence and something neither of them chose to name.
Luo He removed his underwear after he is fully in the water and threw the wet underwear on to the ground. Aren't my wife going to join me in for this bath. He teased her.