One hour later.
The steam from the medicinal bath was still rising in the room. Fu Qin was still enjoying their time together with Xiao Wu when slow footsteps came from outside the door.
Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun finally arrived at the inn, their exhaustion palpable even through the door.
Fu Qin's eyes sharpened as his keen hearing detected footsteps stopping in front of his door.
"Sister Xiaowu, Third Brother and the others are here. You should hide in the water!" He lowered his voice, his tone urgent yet steady.
A sly glint flashed in Xiao Wu's eyes. She obediently took a deep breath and slid into the depths of the medicine tub like a fish, leaving only ripples on the surface of the water.
But she wasn't about to behave. Under the dim light of the underwater herbs, she quietly moved closer to Fu Qin and gently pressed her soft lips against his.
"Hmm—"
Fu Qin froze, his face flushing crimson. He never expected Xiao Wu to be so bold as to do such a thing just as Tang San was about to enter.
The warm medicinal liquid enveloped the two of them, and the underwater disturbances made his breathing rapid, yet he dared not make a sound.
He could only grit his teeth and endure Xiao Wu's reckless behavior underwater.
With a creak, the door was pushed open, and Tang San's figure appeared in the doorway.
He was still covered in dust, and his brows were full of fatigue. His gaze fell on Fu Qin, who was soaking alone in the bathtub, and he did not suspect anything.
"Fu Qin, are you also taking a medicinal bath?" Tang San asked with a smile, quietly closing the door behind him as if he had something to say in private.
Fu Qinqiang suppressed the turmoil in his heart, pretending to have just been disturbed. He grabbed a bath towel from the side and draped it over his shoulder to cover his unusual movements, responding in a natural tone.
"Hmm, the medicinal bath prepared by the master is just right to relieve the fatigue from the trial. Did Third Brother need something from me?"
His gaze inadvertently swept across the water's surface, where he saw a small, bulging shape underwater. Xiao Wu was still holding her breath, and it seemed she was about to collapse as well.
Tang San walked to the table and sat down, a mysterious smile on his face, and lowered his voice.
"I do have something personal to ask you." He paused, his gaze fixed on Fu Qin. "Fu Qin, do you like Rongrong?"
Fu Qin's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately realized Tang San's purpose.
He went along with what the other person said, pretending to be flattered, his cheeks instantly flushed red, and he scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.
"Third Brother is joking. Rongrong is the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. She has a noble status and outstanding talent. I am just an ordinary Soul Master. How could I be worthy of her?"
"I don't care whether she's good enough for you or not," Tang San waved his hand, his smile becoming increasingly meaningful. "I just want to know, do you like her?"
Looking at Tang San's serious eyes, Fu Qin knew that there was no point in pretending anymore, so he simply blushed and nodded slightly.
"It would be a lie to say I don't like it; of course I like it."
"Great!" Tang San slammed his hand on the table, his face full of a gratified smile.
"I knew you had a thing for Rongrong!"
As he spoke, he took out a thick stack of blueprints from his soul tool, numbering in the hundreds, and neatly laid them out on the table. He then took out a yellowed notebook and placed it on top of the stack.
The drawings were filled with complex structures, which were the design drawings of various hidden weapons, from the common Zhuge Crossbow to the exquisite Dragon Beard Needle, and even a few hidden weapons that Fu Qin had never seen before.
"These are the betrothal gifts I prepared for you." Tang San's voice was still low, but he couldn't hide his excitement.
"These hundreds of hidden weapon blueprints, as well as this manual on various types of hidden weapons, are my most treasured possessions. Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is the number one support sect, it still needs strong self-defense capabilities."
"If you can refine these hidden weapons, and with your ability to refine magical artifacts, you'll definitely become a rising star in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. When that happens, marrying Rongrong will be a piece of cake, won't it?"
Fu Qin looked at the blueprints and notes on the table, his eyes filled with surprise.
Goodness.
Is this still the Tang San he knows?
This isn't raising henchmen, it's raising Deadpool!
Fu Qin knew very well that Tang San's willingness to give him these things meant that Tang San truly treated him as one of his own.
Although I had already obtained these things, I couldn't show them off because of the circumstances.
Now that Tang San has given them to him, he can openly and legitimately forge hidden weapons.
Only then will his alchemy truly unleash its power.
But he had no time to think about these things at the moment. Xiao Wu underwater was about to burst, her body began to tremble slightly, and her movements underwater became more and more urgent.
Fu Qin could sense her struggle; she had to deal with Tang San's enthusiasm while also worrying that Xiao Wu might develop problems.
"Third Brother, this...this is too precious, I can't accept it." Fu Qin forced himself to remain calm and pretended to decline.
"You must accept it!" Tang San said firmly, patting him on the shoulder.
“We’re brothers. If you marry Rongrong, I, as the eldest brother, will naturally help you.”
"Study these drawings carefully, and ask me anytime if you don't understand anything."
After saying this, Tang San gave a few more instructions and then got up to leave.
"I won't disturb your medicinal bath any longer. I'm going to check on Mu Bai and Hong Jun."
Fu Qin breathed a sigh of relief and nodded quickly, "Thank you, Third Brother!"
Watching Tang San close the door, Fu Qin could no longer hold back and immediately leaned down to look at the water.
"Sister Xiaowu, Third Brother is gone!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Wu suddenly popped her head out of the water, panting heavily, her cheeks flushed red, her wet hair plastered to her face, but her eyes held a hint of triumphant cunning.
"Brother Fu Qin, was that exciting just now?"
She wiped the water droplets from her face, a trace of glistening moisture still clinging to the corner of her mouth. Her actions underwater had filled her eyes with allure, and her gaze toward Fu Qin grew increasingly ardent.
Fu Qin shook his head helplessly and reached out to hug her tightly.
Xiao Wu's body was incredibly flexible, and it felt incredibly comfortable to be intimate with her.
"Sister Xiaowu, you almost gave yourself away just now! If Third Brother had found out, it would have been a real problem."
"What's there to be afraid of~" Xiao Wu nestled in his arms, her fingers gently tracing his chest. "With Brother Fu Qin here, he can definitely protect me. Besides, those hidden weapon blueprints that Tang San just brought over are really good stuff."
"But speaking of which... do you like Rongrong more, or me more?"
Upon hearing Xiao Wu's words, Fu Qin felt a chill run down his spine.
"Hehe, Sister Xiaowu, what are you saying? In my heart, you will always be the most beautiful."
Before Fu Qin could finish speaking, Xiao Wu grabbed his neck and pushed him underwater.
Sensing Xiao Wu's somewhat domineering actions, he secretly began to make plans.
Tang San's gift was not only intended to bring him and Ning Rongrong together, but also to use him to connect the hidden weapon technique with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, thereby enhancing the overall strength of the Shrek Academy team.