In these three days, there was still much to do: relocating the villagers of Rockstead Village, moving the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, transferring the Lake of Life, transplanting the Golden Tree, arranging academy matters, and resolving a few lingering minor issues...
All these tasks needed to be completed as soon as possible.
Thinking of the headaches these troubles brought him, Wu Tong couldn't help but sigh.
Annoying, truly annoying. When would he ever get a real break?!
Sigh…
Then, pushing these matters aside, Wu Tong freshened up and lay straight on his bed.
"Ah, bliss~."
"Though it'd be even better with someone to warm the bed."
He shifted into a comfortable position and mused aloud.
That said, his little maids were already asleep, and Wu Tong didn't want to disturb their sweet dreams.
Thus, his small fantasy had to be abandoned.
After lying restlessly for a while, Wu Tong grew increasingly agitated. The days of apocalyptic slaughter had left him with a buildup of negative emotions.
Though he had killed before, never had it been on such a scale.
Now, back in the quiet of his domain, the silence only amplified his restlessness, making him crave an outlet for the pent-up turmoil.
The best release, undoubtedly, was through physical indulgence.
But there was no one to help with that.
"Hmm… Ah, right. Saeko Busujima and the others—I haven't let them out yet. Perfect timing."
Just as his frustration peaked, Wu Tong remembered the trio he'd forgotten: Saeko Busujima, Shizuka Marikawa, and Rika Minami.
He never claimed to be a good man.
So, enlisting their "help" didn't strike him as the least bit inappropriate.
Without hesitation, he focused his consciousness into the world model within his mind, located the three, and summoned them forth.
The sudden change in scenery left Saeko, Shizuka, and Rika momentarily stunned.
But as they took in the dimly lit room and Wu Tong's faintly glowing crimson eyes beneath the night sky, realization dawned.
Their faces flushed instantly.
Yet none resisted. Ever since their rescue in the Highschool of the Dead world, they'd secretly held feelings for him.
Becoming his women wasn't just acceptable—it was something they'd anticipated.
As the saying goes: Drawn in by a life-saving grace, captivated by peerless charm, and devoted to transcendent talent.
When all was laid bare, everything flowed naturally.
Seeing their lack of resistance—even their subtle eagerness—Wu Tong was more than pleased.
Though he admitted his motives weren't pure, summoning them for a night of indulgence, mutual willingness made it a fair exchange.
With that settled, he rose from the bed, guided the trio through a quick freshening-up, and returned to the sheets.
Under the fervor of "heavenly thunder meeting earthly fire," Wu Tong's "First Blood" achievement—whether in his past life or this one—was effortlessly unlocked.
Pink pillows cradle spring's allure,
New robes shed, desires ignite.
Three breezes revel in the phoenix's joy,
Unaware the sun has climbed the red candle's height.
What followed was, naturally, a night of unbridled passion.
—— Meanwhile ——
Leaving Wu Tong's escapades aside for now, let's turn to the other returning group members.
Star Rail World
"We're back, Auntie March!"
The moment they returned, March 7th shouted excitedly toward the train.
They'd departed from outside the Astral Express, so their reappearance occurred in the same spot.
Navigator Himeko, who had just bid them farewell, was about to reboard when the group suddenly materialized again—along with that questionable greeting.
"Huh? Back already?"
Himeko froze. She'd literally just seen them off. How were they here now?
But she trusted March wouldn't lie.
If they'd truly visited another world and returned this quickly, only one explanation made sense:
Time.
'To think that chat group of March's can manipulate time…
Just what kind of power is this? If true, she's joined an organization far beyond our understanding.'
As the Astral Express's navigator, Himeko knew full well the magnitude of controlling time's flow.
In the cosmology of the Imaginary Tree, time was an inviolable domain—a sovereignty belonging solely to the Tree itself.
Research in the Star Rail world posited: "Every petal and leaf represents their present and past along time's dimension."
This underscored time's absolute governance by the Tree.
Aside from the Aeon of Finality, no being in this world could touch time's power.
Even this enigmatic Aeon, born from the universe's end and traversing backward through time, could only barely graze its authority—often distorting its revelations into fragmented whispers for followers.
If even Finality was subject to time's whims, the chat group's ability to circumvent it was staggering.
And it was precisely because Himeko grasped time's elusive nature that she understood the terrifying implications of March's casual remark.
*(Author's Note: In this setting, mortal beings cannot wield time's authority within the Imaginary Tree's cosmology. The Herrscher of Finality's time-related powers stem from the Cocoon's intrusion onto the Tree, essentially "stealing" its authority.
As for Istaroth of Genshin Impact—honestly, it's a bit OP. Teyvat's scale is dwarfed by Star Rail's, yet it has time manipulation where even Star Rail's Aeons falter.
Thus, my headcanon is that Teyvat is a fallen bubble world, no longer bound by the Tree's laws. Hence, Istaroth's authority over time.
…Praying miHoYo doesn't retcon this later!)*
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(End of Chapter)