NOVPUBWhen Li Hua returned to her quarters, she secured the door and activated the protective barriers. The long day of spiritual exertion—creating not one, not two but three advance formations and travelling between sects—had left her quite exhausted.
She kicked off her shoes with a sigh of relief and moved purposefully toward her private bathing chamber. With practiced efficiency, she prepared her evening bath by pouring spirit water from her inner space into the deep jade tub.
She retrieved the familiar jasmine-scented oil and shampoo, setting them along the bath's edge.
Li Hua extended her hand palm-downward above the water's surface. With delicate control, she channeled her fire essence—allowing precisely calibrated heat to flow into the bath. The water responded immediately, heating to the perfect temperature without a single bubble forming.
As fragrant steam began to rise from the jade tub, creating swirling mists that carried subtle spiritual essence, she removed her robes with practiced movements. Each garment was carefully folded and placed on the nearby stand.
She stepped into the bath, submerging herself gradually to allow her body to adjust to the warm water. As she settled against the smooth jade surface, a soft sigh of pleasure escaped her lips.
"So nice," she murmured, allowing herself a rare moment of complete relaxation.
In response to her contentment, Little Firefly materialized beside the tub, his golden-red feathers reflecting in the steaming water's surface.
"You need one too," she said with gentle affection, reaching for the small wash basin.
Li Hua poured spirit water and added a drop jasmine oil. Little Firefly floated into the miniature bath with obvious pleasure, his feathers creating ripples of golden light across the surface as he submerged his entire body.
For several minutes, master and spirit beast simply enjoyed the peaceful quiet, both replenishing energy depleted during the day's activities.
"Master, your personality has changed noticeably since the memories began returning," Little Firefly finally observed, his voice carrying neither judgment nor concern, merely factual assessment.
Li Hua traced patterns in the water, watching as her essence caused the liquid to momentarily retain the shapes she created. "Yes," she acknowledged with soft candor. "I've noticed it myself. There are moments when I nearly cringe at my own impulsive actions or unguarded words—behaviors my modern self would never have permitted."
She smiled slightly, catching her reflection in the water's surface. "But there are other moments when these new reactions feel absolutely right, as if they're the only possible way I could respond. It's as if the princess's spontaneity and the modern assassin are negotiating which should take precedence in each situation."
"That makes perfect sense, Master," Little Firefly responded, his feathers shifting in the spiritual water. "Your essential soul is integrating two distinct lifetimes of experience. I like you regardless of which aspect is ascendant at any moment."
Li Hua laughed openly, the sound echoing through her private quarters with an unrestrained quality. "You don't have much choice in the matter, Little Firefly. Our souls are bonded forever."
The phoenix spirit joined her laughter, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
"Master," Little Firefly eventually said, his tone shifting to practical matters, "you have three days until your assessment. What do you intend to do before then?"
Li Hua leaned back in the bath, her thoughts organizing into clear priorities. "I need to resume proper training but not tonight, perhaps tomorrow. Tonight, I want to refine pills for my brothers. I should also review the scrolls in our library—anything that would help my brothers."
Her fingers traced another pattern in the water—this one instinctively forming the celestial character for 'balance.' "And of course, I'll prepare meals and snacks to send through the transportation array. Li Hao's body is showing signs of nutritional deficiency that could compromise his next breakthrough."
"That sounds like a good plan, Master," Little Firefly whispered, his eyes drifting shut as he soaked.
Li Hua chuckled at his contentment before also closing her eyes, allowing her consciousness to float in the liminal space between alertness and relaxation.
After completing her evening soak, Li Hua emerged from the bath and dried herself with a towel. She then turned her attention to Little Firefly, lifting him gently from his miniature bath and attempting to dry his feathers with a smaller cloth.
"Your plumage retains water like a cloud," she observed with mild exasperation as the towel quickly saturated while his feathers remained damp. With practiced ease, she traced a wind formation in the air before him, creating a small sphere of warm, circulating air that enveloped his body. The gentle spiritual wind caressed each feather, evaporating moisture.
Once properly dried, she donned a set of silk night robes. Instead of immediately retiring, however, she settled into a meditation posture on her bed. Little Firefly perched beside her.
"Shall we?" she asked, receiving a confirming chirp in response.
With synchronous breath control, master and spirit beast closed their eyes and descended into her inner space.
They manifested inside her Library and Li Hua moved methodically through the shelves, examining scrolls with critical discernment. She selected materials carefully—choosing techniques advanced enough to genuinely benefit her brothers while remaining plausibly within the realm of understanding. After careful consideration, she set aside four scrolls for Li Wei—focusing on spiritual formation theory that would complement his scholarly approach—and three for Li Hao that contained refining purification techniques adaptable to his craft focus.
Once satisfied with her selections, she turned her attention to the Warehouse section.
She stood contemplatively before a particular section that contained her modern weaponry—guns of various calibers, tactical body armor, explosive compounds, communication devices, and other technology utterly foreign to this world.
"Little Firefly," she called out.
"Yes, Master?" he replied, materializing beside her.
"Please convert the GPS systems," she instructed, gesturing toward several electronic devices.
Little Firefly tilted his head, considering the implications. "What about the weapons themselves? The firearms, ballistic armor, explosive compounds? Should I convert those to spiritual equivalents as well?"
Li Hua shook her head, a calculating gleam entering her eye. "Leave those intact for now. I'd like to experiment with them."
"Yes, Master," Little Firefly acknowledged.
"Right. Let's head into the kitchen," Li Hua announced, turning away from the modern weaponry section.
"Yes, Master!" Little Firefly responded, his excitement palpable as spiritual essence rippled through his body.
With a thought, their consciousness shifted locations within her inner space, the warehouse fading as they materialized in her kitchen.
"I believe I'll prepare extensive provisions," she decided, "not just for Li Hao but for all of us. I should probably start on the wine as well, who knows when Grandpa will drop in."
With practiced efficiency she began assembling ingredients and Little Firefly perched comfortably on her shoulder.
Her hands moved with flowing precision as she prepared four distinct varieties of dumplings—each tailored to her brothers' particular tastes. The delicate crystal shrimp dumplings were made with Li Wei's favorite seafood and water chestnuts, while heartier pork and cabbage dumplings filled with savory spices would satisfy Li Hao's preference for robust flavors.
