Hot spring baths, changing room.
Nolan set Captain Jean down, slipped off her cape, and let his fingers wander across the snowy whiteness of her back.
His touch traced along the elegant lines of her shoulder blades.
Jean, her hands raised as she undid her hair ribbon, felt the ticklish sensation on her back. She bit her lip, enduring it before whispering with difficulty:
"Enough… don't dawdle here."
But Nolan's hands slid outward from her shoulder blades, fingertips creeping like ants into her defenseless underarms.
"Mm—!"
Jean, just undoing the black ribbon, instinctively clamped down on his hand with her arm, cheeks flushed, trying to push him away.
Of course, she failed.
He savored the warmth of her skin against his palms, then rotated his grip to hold her soft arms before slipping downward, tugging away her white sleeves.
Next, he lifted the hem of her sleeveless shirt, peeling it upward. Her abdomen was smooth and fair, her slender navel adding a subtle charm.
Jean covered her chest with one hand and hung her shirt on the rack. She parted her lips:
"Let me sit down first."
Her lower body was still clad in white leggings and knee-high heeled boots—she couldn't take them off standing.
"Alright."
He fetched a wooden chair from the corner, and Jean sat gracefully, raising her foot for him to remove her boots.
But he only stared at the arm shielding her chest, not moving at all.
Seeing his gaze, Jean instantly guessed what was going on in his mind.
"Hmph."
They had been lovers long enough that she wasn't shy anymore—her modesty was only to avoid catching a chill.
With a helpless glance, she pulled off her own boots and socks, planting her bare feet on the floor.
When she stood to remove her leggings, Nolan stepped closer, grinning:
"Allow me."
He tugged gently at the waistband, sliding the white leggings down.
Her full hips, clad only in delicate white undergarments, and her pale thighs emerged. She lifted her feet one after the other to let him pull the garment away.
But before she could strip further, he eagerly scooped her up and carried her out toward the spring.
"Ah! Don't be so sudden—you!"
Jean pressed a hand on his head, pinching his ear in mock annoyance.
Even with her eyes covered, he found the pool edge easily, and together they leapt into the water.
Warmth swallowed them whole.
They rolled twice under the surface before surfacing again. Nolan pressed her shoulders and captured her lips.
"Mm!" Jean closed her eyes, arms twined around him, as she felt her undergarments pushed aside.
Half an hour of "cultivation" later, Jean lay panting against him. Her strength had risen, her elemental power refined. She bit his earlobe lightly and murmured:
"Well? What else did you want to tell me?"
Scooping water in his palm, Nolan let it trickle down her smooth back, fingers tracing her skin. With a cough he admitted:
"It's nothing major… I want to invite Barbara to live in Wonderland too."
"You—!" Jean's submerged hand gripped his side in annoyance. "So you really do have designs on Barbara as well!"
She had suspected as much ever since realizing Barbara also carried a "Waymark." Now her suspicions were confirmed.
"Hmph. Do as you please, scoundrel. Just don't let Barbara suffer."
With a resigned sigh, she bit his neck.
If Barbara truly liked him, Jean had no reason to object. In fact, she hoped her sister would find someone reliable and exceptional.
Nolan, aside from his flirtatiousness, was strong, protective, loving, and helped everyone grow stronger.
With the miracle of Wonderland, they would never need to fear death or time.
If Barbara was with him, it was undoubtedly good. Jean had no desire to stand in the way—though some punishment for his arrogance was unavoidable.
She straddled him once more.
Another half hour passed before the bathhouse welcomed a second guest—long platinum hair brushing her calves, scarlet eyes gleaming faintly.
Ningguang stepped out of the changing room, bare-skinned, and let her pale feet slip into the water as she approached them.
She settled by their side, easing herself into the spring.
Nolan slid one hand to her waist, palm tracing circles across her lower belly near her navel. Smiling, he asked:
"By now, Liyue should have officially begun selling the Akasha Terminals, right? How's the public response?"
With Jean already spent, Ningguang gestured for her to shift aside. She straddled Nolan herself, frowning briefly before relaxing, and answered:
"The Qixing have accepted them readily. With the 'Akasha Network' linking people across nations, free communication is possible.
"This greatly benefits trade between our countries."
Thanks to the network, exchanges had become effortless, and Liyue's commerce more prosperous than ever.
And not only trade—scholarly dialogue now occurred every moment.
Already, new theoretical breakthroughs had emerged. At this pace, a technological boom was inevitable.
With elemental technology fueling it, Nolan's dream of a spaceship might not be far at all.
Perhaps he should first establish the spaceship project, then let the scholars research it gradually.
Nolan thought to himself.
He decided that after the bath, he would discuss the matter with Nahida.
Another half hour later, Ningguang lay against him, arms wrapped around his neck, cheek resting on his shoulder as she smiled:
"You're preparing to head to Fontaine with Lumine soon, aren't you?"
"Mm. I've got ideas about that so-called Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale that gathers faith in justice. I'll need its power to expand the 'Akasha Network.'" Nolan nodded.
"Negotiating with the Hydro Archon won't be quick. And in less than ten days, Liyue's Lantern Rite will arrive.
"Why not wait until after the festival to go with Lumine and Paimon?"
Ningguang's cheek brushed lightly against his chest.
"The Lantern Rite, huh."
Of course, Nolan knew the festival—it was Liyue's most important holiday.
On the first full moon of the year, people reunited to celebrate the year gone by and welcome the new.
The entire nation would come alive with festivities, and in Liyue Harbor, countless lanterns would rise into the night sky.
"Mm, that's fine. Gives me time to focus on cultivation," Nolan said, smiling as he kissed her lips.
Cultivation didn't only mean spending time with the girls—it mainly meant grinding EXP inside the cosmic beast, and studying sword arts.
His plan was to fuse another Divine-level sword technique, then combine it with the two he already had, to see if he could surpass even the Divine tier.
He had been planning this for a long time.
Tomorrow he would collect the sword manuals from the Knights. If those weren't enough, he could ask Ningguang or Keqing—Liyue surely had its own collections of swordsmanship.
After bathing, he returned to the room with Ningguang and Jean, holding them close as he resumed cultivation—and at the same time contacted Nahida through the Waymark.
They discussed establishing the spaceship project.
Nolan knew it needed things like radiation shielding, artificial gravity, and an ecological cycle.
But beyond that, he didn't know a single technical detail.
So building one had to start with researching space itself—just like building a ship required understanding the ocean.
How strong were the waves? Were there fish that gnawed on wood? Was the salt content high?
One had to understand the environment before crafting a vessel that could sail safely.
Together with Nahida, he decided to publish the spaceship project on the Akasha Network, inviting scholars to participate.
Anyone who contributed would be rewarded with mora.
But to avoid drawing too many scholars away from other fields, they agreed to create a new "Research Projects" section on the Akasha Forum.
Anyone could post projects there, attach rewards, and gather collaborators.
The spaceship project would be just one among them, its reward levels kept comparable to others.
That way, only scholars truly interested—or in relevant fields—would participate, while other areas of research would continue undisturbed.
It was the most balanced approach.
With details settled, and both Ningguang and Jean tired, Nolan wrapped them in his arms and drifted to rest.
---
The next morning, he awoke among their warmth, trained briefly, and then rose with them.
After enjoying breakfast prepared by Noelle, he headed with Jean to the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
Following her instructions, he filled out an application. Jean then asked Lisa to hand him a collection of sword manuals kept in the library.
They were all Arcane-level techniques, each with conditions for study.
For instance, Riding Swordsmanship required proficient horsemanship, as it was meant to be used while mounted.
Another, Thunderclap Sword, demanded mastery of Electro.
Others included Sword of Earth, Ritual Swordsmanship, and Four-Winds Dandelion Sword—all strong Arcane-level arts.
To master them, one needed not only elemental skill, but a polished foundation in basic Favonius swordplay.
None of that daunted Nolan. These were only Arcane level arts—he could max them within days, and without even spending EXP.
But before beginning, he planned a visit to the Cathedral to see Barbara—perhaps persuade her to live in Wonderland as well.
If she agreed, he would gain yet another cultivation partner.
The Cathedral wasn't far. As he walked, he reviewed the fundamentals of swordplay in his mind.
Before long, he climbed the steps of the great cathedral, mingling with the faithful come to hear Barbatos' teachings.
Inside, rows of pews filled with worshippers—but Barbara was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, by the rear wall, he spotted a familiar figure: a nun in a thorn-crown headdress, black veil falling to her back, dark red hair, pale skin with a sickly cast.
Rosaria.
She leaned against the wall, looking bored, her fitted backless habit revealing glimpses of black fishnet tights beneath its folds.
Compared to the other sisters, she seemed almost rebellious—but still did her duty, standing vigil despite the fatigue on her face.
Noticing Nolan among the crowd, she yawned and strolled over.
"What brings you here? Don't tell me you're actually interested in the Knights' sermons, the 'teachings' wrung from Barbatos' words?" she asked casually, arms crossed—utterly irreverent toward the Anemo Archon.
Nolan shook his head, stepping aside with her.
"No, I'm not here for that. I'm looking for Barbara. Do you know where she is?"
(End of Chapter)