One day later…
Soon, they arrived at their destination, the 'Valley Stream Springs' (Hot Spring Resort!)
* * *
The Valley Stream Springs - Hot Spring Resort—
-
The Valley Stream Springs was an old resort located at the foot of an unnamed mountain range in the southern region, facing the East Sea. It was a large, well-known destination, famed for its natural hot springs and its spectacular view of the water.
Long before it became a leisure stop for practitioners, the valley was home to an extremely unique species of magical beasts known as the 'Rat Bears'. These creatures lived deep within the winding valleys and stream-filled pools that stretched far behind the resort and into the unnamed mountain range.
Even in its early days, the Valley Stream Springs existed as an anomaly within the southern region. The hot springs of the Valley Stream Springs were born where several underground ley lines converged, their heat and spiritual energy bleeding out through the fractured mountains. Over time, this energy condensed into hundreds of natural pools scattered along the mountainsides, forming cascading terraces of spiritually infused springs.
Following that, this location 'naturally' became an excellent place to cultivate, but, for some reason, it was rarely used for that, becoming abnormally quiet…
The reason for this?
Well—! The problem was the Rat Bears!
These massive rodents were 'extremely aggressive' toward anything that 'actively' cultivated within their territory!! It appeared to be an instinctual response, a naturally driven instinct to defend the ley-lines beneath the valley. This made these lazy little blockheads transform from floating stones to vicious beasts quicker than you could react!
However—! If one refrained from cultivating, instead choosing to spend their time resting peacefully, these beasts would basically ignore them completely—
And treat them as if they didn't exist…
It was a stark contrast!
In the end, this was an unusual form of 'guardians', one that blessed the Valley Streams Springs, and worked incredibly well! Why did this work so well?
Mm, simple…
Each of these Rat Bears was a fourth-order magic beast, powerful, territorial, and yet, impossibly lazy! Their presence discouraged large factions and aggressive cultivators, while allowing ordinary practitioners to remain unharmed, even welcome in a weird way.
In addition, for those passing through—
'It was not uncommon to feed the rats…'
Unlike most hot springs, which surged violently or fluctuated with the weather, the pools of Valley Stream Springs remained calm and consistent, with their stability mostly attributed to the valley's location, alongside the fact that the Cross Continent didn't have the traditional seasonal cycle.
In the earliest records, the springs were nothing more than a handful of shallow pools hidden behind a curtain of hanging mist and rain-worn cliffs. Wandering practitioners, exhausted explorers, and migrants would stumble upon them from time to time, rest for a night, then leave feeling lighter.
Their wounds healed faster, their fatigue faded, and even strained meridians felt soothed, almost as if something had gently massaged them, which was just another phenomenon often attributed to the ley lines beneath the resort!
Roughly two hundred years ago, word began to spread, and after that, it was all history…
The 'Valley Streams Springs - Hot Spring Resort' was founded!
* * *
The Valley Stream Springs - Hot Spring Resort was built directly into the mountainside, sprawling outwards into a vast complex that covered a wide area.
Nearly all of its structures faced the eastern sea, while a towering mountain range rose behind it like a wall of stone wings. That mountain range formed a natural barrier, blocking the only entrance and enclosing the 'Central Valley'. This valley was the core of the Valley Stream Springs, where the majority of the hot springs were gathered, so with the mountains sealing it from behind, the resort's main building worked as the only way into the valley, funneling all traffic down its central stone pathway.
Within the Central Valley, hundreds of natural pools cascaded down the slope from broad, layered cliffs. Each pool overflowed into the next, forming a continuous descent of streaming steam and pooling pools. It was a majestic sight…
Spiraling steam rose constantly, filling the enclosed space with drifting mist that pooled near the lowest levels, creating a spectral, almost ethereal atmosphere. The air was thick with the scent of minerals and damp earth, creating a humid, spiritually rich environment that nurtured unique flora. Moss, heat-loving plants, and moisture-loving insects clung to the stone and soil, thriving in the warm breath of the valley. The Central Valley felt less like a resort and more like a living hollow carved into the mountains, completely unaffected by the outside world!
Focusing back outside—
Stone walkways curved naturally with the terrain, guiding visitors past old, moss-covered railings, roadside rivers, small bridges, and a series of small decorative gardens that added some vitality to the seaside scenery. Everywhere you looked, the design echoed an eastern aesthetic, favoring balance, open space, and harmony with nature, over the grandeur and stone masonry of the medieval society from the Cross Continent.
The 'main hall' of the resort was deliberately ostentatious, standing out from the rest of the smaller buildings. As for these 'smaller buildings'…
Excluding the rooms from the main building, only thirty-two courtyard-style guest 'rooms' were available, scattered along the sea-facing slope, each separated by stone pathways and flowing foliage to preserve their privacy. Their sizes varied by level and age, but all of them opened inwards to a private garden, a bit like a hollow rectangle, and all of them were surrounded by a long and open deck.
The central structure, 'Main Hall', of the resort was a large, three-story structure with an open, flowing design, seamlessly integrating the exterior and the interior into something that made it difficult to tell where the transition occurred. Its wide corridors, sloped roofs, and exposed beams allowed the wind and light to pass freely through the building, blurring the boundary between building and pavilion.
Overall, the Valley Stream Springs - Hot Spring Resort… was a peaceful place!
* * *
Central Valley, Hot Springs—
Fuooooooooosh—!
Rain poured down the mountainside in steady sheets, the sound of static and storm overlapping as it struck the slick stone. It was no longer a passing drizzle, but a full-on storm! Water hammered against the stone slopes, turning the terraced valley into a living instrument!
Steam rose wherever the rain struck, contrasting with the cold air, and thickening until the entire valley seemed to drown in a low climbing haze…
Higher up, near the rim of the valley—
Near the peak of the valley wall, in one of the uppermost pools, Petra was already there, submerged and relaxing, wearing only a simple white towel. She was hidden from the cold, half drowsy from the heat, and she soaked in a secluded spring, tucked into a shallow indentation in the cliff that had been formed by a small natural cave eroded by time.
Overhead, a large stone overhang jutted out just far enough to block the rain, letting the storm rage freely just beyond its edge, streaming down as a curtain, while the pool itself remained calm and untouched, forming something almost like a streaming screen.
Petra floated lazily, resting against the smooth rock, her little arms resting at her sides, eyes half-lidded. She didn't seem to notice the storm at all.
Mm, no, she didn't seem to notice anything at all…
She hummed—
Capybara~! capybara-capybara, 'Cap-pea-bar-ah', capybara-capybara, Petra, Wet-Wolf! ~ Dun-dun-dundun, da-da-da-da, Hm-mm, Hm-mm, da-da-da! ~
Around her, several 'Capybaras' lounged in the water, their massive, rounded bodies bobbed up and down like stones, er… so, not so much! One was stretched out beside her, whiskers twitching, another was half-submerged with its back pressed against the rock wall, and its eyes closed in contentment. Their thick fur was damp and steaming, visibly evaporating, and none of them showed the slightest concern for the weather.
Petra ran her fingers through a small patch of mud near the shore. She sighed—
For some reason, she seemed to get along very well with these 'carriage-sized' capybaras!
—But she didn't understand why!
Petra turned her head.
Beside the pool, just under the overhang, the Calamity Wolf was lying down, curled into a ball, shivering. This was the real Calamity Wolf, not the death-seeking projection.
The Calamity Wolf, an unorthodox mutation of an incomplete ice elemental, had snow white fur, black claws, and two draconic green crystal-like horns protruding from its head.
After its most recent evolution—
It had fucking shrunk!
Before, it stood towering over Petra, but now, it was only 1.5m tall, with a newly blackened tail! That was all! Out of all the beasts, this big furball was by far the weirdest…!
For starters, Petra wasn't even sure how to classify it. Not only was it not a true ice elemental, which she was sure of after fighting the dirt-eating grandpa or whatever, but it had also used a small piece of the King's Hand in its evolution materials! How this would affect it, Petra had no idea, but reducing in size was definitely not one of the things she had predicted! Aside from the color of its 'tails' changing to black, there were no other noticeable abnormalities. This was even confirmed by Levy, so Petra was feeling a bit lost. It was still very huggable, yes, but Petra was worried that it might fall behind the other beasts if this continued.
She shook her head.
Only time would tell…
Its fur was soaked, darkened by the rain, with water still dripping steadily from its mane.
Like the red cat, this big dog had an equally deep hatred for the rain!
Petra glanced at the wolf, then back out towards the vast view.
She had found a really good spot! Looking forward, peering just over the rim of the hot spring—
Beyond the overhang, the 'Central Valley' unfolded below her. It was an incredible sight, with an almost tropical aura. Straight ahead was the opposite wall of the valley, and down below was a nature-filled garden drowned in flowing fog and a dense haze. The water from both sides of the valley spilled down, collecting in a central stream, then cut through the Central Valley and disappeared in the opposite direction of the resort.
It felt like a small, enclosed rainforest concealed by massive stone walls.
The ongoing storm only made everything feel more alive. The thunder rolled from somewhere far above, distant and muted, followed by a strong wind and heavy rain.
Petra sank a little deeper into the water and let out a stream of bubbles. Up here, wrapped in the warmth of the cubby, the world felt very far away.
That was exactly how she liked it.
She sighed, submerging herself to her chin, and slowly sinking deeper…
Her eyes peered out into the valley, then slowly closed, blending in between the towering beasts.
* * *
At the same time—
Main Hall, Front Desk…
The rain had driven most of the guests indoors.
The floor was wet and the space, despite being very large, was both busy and strangely sparse.
Inside the reception room, which connected directly to the main hall, the atmosphere was subdued yet orderly. Water dripped from wet clothes onto the freshly cleaned floors, while wind drifted lazily through the open corridor. Lanternlight lit the halls, enchanted in such a way that it was protected from the wind and rain.
At the front desk, a receptionist leaned back against the counter, her arms crossed.
She was a beastmen, and an 'aggressive' one at that!
She was a bit scary…
Long, sharp ears twitched beneath a tied-back mess of short black hair, and a thick, striped tail swayed lazily behind her in irritation. Her eyes were narrow and predatory, her teeth were serrated, and the amber of her slitted pupils gave the distinct impression that she was judging everyone in the room. She was a mountain lynx, and a young one, or at least something close enough.
She looked bored, aggressively bored! She appeared almost as if she was looking for a fight!
Some of the patrons didn't even want to approach her…
Unfortunately, she was the only one on duty today.
In front of her, a trio of travelers finished checking in. Their cloaks were still damp from the rain, but their steps were light, clearly those of a practitioner.