Chapter 67 78. Gangzi's Bathhouse Adventure (Part 1)
Yu Xiao Gang felt his body falling endlessly through darkness until, with a muffled thud, he landed in a steamy changing room.
Dozens of burly men immediately turned to stare at him.
Dazed, Yu Xiao Gang stood up, realizing that despite his fall he wasn't hurt in the slightest. Only when a heavy hand clamped down on his shoulder did he snap fully awake.
He turned—and froze.
Before him stood a mountain of a man, half‑naked, muscles rippling, a jagged scar running across his face like a centipede. The man's eyes glinted as he licked his lips. "Well, well… smooth skin, pretty face. Looks like luck's on my side today." He squeezed Yu Xiao Gang's shoulder hard enough to make him flinch.
Behind the scarred man crowded a group of thick‑necked brutes, all eyeing Yu Xiao Gang like wolves studying their prey.
From across the room, another deep voice called out. On a bench sat another muscled giant—his back to a mob of rough men, one eye covered by an eyepatch, a full beard bristling across his jaw.
"Scarface, you planning to keep this one for yourself?" the bearded man growled. "You know the rule—whoever sees the prize gets a share."
The first man—Scar—snorted. "Eyepatch, don't tell me you want to fight my crew over this one. I saw him first."
"Then show me if you dare," Eyepatch snapped, stepping forward with a dozen more bruisers.
The air crackled with tension as the two groups squared off.
Caught between them, Yu Xiao Gang gawked, bewildered. What are they even talking about? Ginseng fruit? What ginseng fruit?
Before he could make sense of anything, the doors slammed open. A third faction swaggered in—led by a towering man with a bright red mohawk.
The mohawked brute whistled at the sight of Yu Xiao Gang. "Hey there, Scar, Eyepatch—where'd you two dig up this fine little gem?"
"Chicken‑head, stay out of this," Scar warned.
"You can't hog all the fun." Chicken flexed his arms lazily. "You know the rule—everyone gets a share."
Now three factions faced each other, their combined numbers filling the changing room. Yu Xiao Gang shivered under dozens of hungry gazes.
Then a calm voice cut through the tension. "Hey, hey, have you all forgotten the bathhouse rules? No fighting in here."
A bald man in a black shirt and glasses stepped forward, pulling Yu Xiao Gang out from between the mobs. His tone was friendly, almost warm.
"Don't be scared, brother," the bald man said with an easy grin. "I'm Jie Ge. Welcome to the bathhouse. What's your name?"
"I'm… Yu Xiao Gang," he muttered nervously.
"Good to meet you, Xiao Gang." Jie Ge patted his shoulder. "Here, we're all brothers. No need to be afraid."
"Bathhouse? What is this place? How do I leave?" Yu Xiao Gang asked frantically.
"Leave?" Jie Ge chuckled, licking his lips with amusement. "By the rules, the exit's beyond the bathing hall. You'll have to cross the entire bathhouse to reach it."
"What's in there?" Yu Xiao Gang asked.
"You'll find out soon enough," Jie Ge replied. "The session starts soon. Prepare yourself—and remember the rules."
Around them, the brutes eyed Yu Xiao Gang covetously but remained still, restrained by something unspoken.
Bathhouse rules? he thought uneasily.
Just then, a disembodied voice echoed in his ear.
"Bathhouse trial commencing. All patrons enter the bathing hall first. After three minutes, the participant Yu Xiao Gang will enter. The Bathhouse Adventure now begins."
"Rule 1: To complete the trial, you must cross the bathhouse and reach the exit."
"Rule 2: No bar of soap may remain on the floor. When one falls, you must pick it up. The friendly brothers will remind you if you forget."
"Rule 3: Each time you pick up a fallen soap, you will trigger a short event tied to the one who dropped it. Only after the event ends will that brother leave the bathhouse."
"Rule 4: If a bar of soap remains on the ground for more than twenty seconds, you will lose five levels of soul power. Should your power reach zero, the bathhouse will begin stripping your martial spirit. Once that is gone, you will be expelled from the space."
"Rule 5: Only one bar of soap can fall at a time—until you cross within three meters of the exit. Step past the red line, and the brothers will begin dropping their soap simultaneously."
"Rule 6: When you leave, there must be no soap on the ground. For every bar left behind, another five levels of soul power shall be lost. If your soul power reaches zero, your martial spirit will be taken, and you will be cast out."
The voice faded.
Yu Xiao Gang blinked blankly. "Pick up soap? Why?"
He didn't understand, but the punishments described filled him with dread. Dammit! What kind of sick trial is this? It's like the universe itself wants me to suffer! Lose soul power? Even my martial spirit? That's my lifeline!
He scowled. He might beat Luo Sanpao endlessly, but that weak little spirit was his only proof of status—his sole link to the world of soul masters. To lose it meant total ruin.
No, he thought fiercely, I'll pick up every bar if I have to! But once I'm three meters from that door, the soap will start dropping nonstop… which means I can't leave too soon.
Then his eyes brightened as a plan formed. Wait, there's a loophole. Each soap I pick up makes one of these guys leave. If I trigger every event and clear them all out, the place will empty, and I can pass peacefully. Hah! Easy.
Folding his hands behind his back, Yu Xiao Gang's eyes gleamed with self‑satisfaction.
(END CHAPTER)
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