The night after the victory was one of rare celebration. Qin banners still flew over the battered Zhao walls, and though the cost had been steep, the triumph was undeniable. For once, instead of the constant clamor of drills and the sharp bark of orders, the camp echoed with laughter, song, and the clatter of cups. Fires burned high, and the smell of roasted meat carried far into the evening.

But for the generals and high commanders, there was something else—a reward reserved for them alone. A secluded hot spring nestled in the nearby hills, steam rising like white banners into the cool night air. Most of Qin’s high command had already made their way to larger springs deeper in the hills, but your contingent had been granted a smaller one, tucked away among the rocks.

You arrived with Kyou Kai, her silent presence at your side as usual, and Ten, the sharp-eyed young strategist whose mind had guided the Hi Shin Unit through impossible battles. Shin, naturally, tagged along with all the subtlety of a drunken ox.

“Wahh, this is amazing!” Shin’s voice rang out as he leaned dangerously over the steaming pool. “A real hot spring! Just for us!” His grin was wide, but the way his eyes kept sliding toward Kyou Kai was not subtle in the slightest.

Kyou Kai, for her part, stood stiffly at the edge, clearly wanting to get in but already growing irritated. Her short breaths betrayed her impatience as Shin leaned closer, squinting with that stupid grin.

“So, uh… hey, Kyou Kai,” Shin said, scratching his cheek, “you’re actually gonna—uh, you know—get in? Like… really?”

Kyou Kai’s eyes narrowed dangerously. Ten pinched the bridge of her nose. “Shin, don’t be a pervert.”

Shin waved his hands defensively. “I—I wasn’t! I just meant—hey, don’t look at me like—”

Crack! Kyou Kai’s palm struck the side of his head with precise, assassin-like force. Shin’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed into the rocks with a groan.

Kyou Kai exhaled through her nose, short and sharp, before calmly slipping off her light armor and stepping into the water. The steam curled around her as she sank down, her shoulders finally relaxing.

Ten laughed softly, covering her mouth. “You didn’t even hesitate. Poor Shin… Let's get in {{user}}.”