The hot spring pool, the conversation of the three women

In the tranquil hot spring of the floating island, Hu Tuan'er sighed with satisfaction, her voice soft with relief. "This place is perfect. The temperature is just right," she said, relaxing into the soothing waters.

Her pale skin glowed against the warm steam as she turned to Rice Noodles, who smiled back. "It's exactly what I needed after waking up. I was drenched in sweat. This feels so refreshing," she said, her smile bright as she sank deeper into the spring.

Hu Tuan'er glanced at Ruoruo, who remained perched by the pool's edge, lounging in a rocking chair she had just retrieved from her storage ring. "Why don't you join us, Ruoruo?" Hu Tuan'er asked.

Ruoruo shook her head, a playful smile on her face. "I've already soaked earlier this afternoon. Brother Su says it's best to only bathe once a day." She reclined in the chair, swaying gently, her voice light and teasing.

Rice Noodles giggled, eyeing Ruoruo with amusement. "You really listen to the captain, don't you?"

"Of course," Ruoruo said, her tone filled with affection. "The captain is the glue that holds our team together. We all respect him—and more." Her eyes sparkled with admiration.

Curious, Hu Tuan'er leaned forward. "What kind of person do you think Yuto Saito is?"

Without missing a beat, Ruoruo replied, "Brother Su is... perfect. To his own people, he's incredibly kind, but to his enemies—he's ruthless. Decisive. That's why we all admire him so much." A subtle blush crept across her cheeks as she spoke, as if she held a secret close to her heart.

Rice Noodles, ever inquisitive, asked, "Isn't someone after the captain today? Who is it?"

Ruoruo's smile faded slightly. "It's because of what happened with Zhang Kui. Brother Su killed him to save Sister Shuang. Zhang Kui's family is powerful in the capital, and now they're out for revenge. The Zhang family likely sent those assassins."

"Zhang Kui?" Hu Tuan'er asked, tilting her head.

Ruoruo nodded. "When the apocalypse first hit, everything turned to chaos. Corpses were rising, and some people began to awaken abilities. Sister Shuang was mistaken for a zombie during her awakening. Zhang Kui... he tried to kill her with a chair."

Her voice grew quieter as she recalled the memory. "Natto stopped him, but Brother Su arrived and finished it. Ever since, the Zhang family has been after him."

Rice Noodles smiled knowingly. "It sounds like the captain has a soft spot for Ni Shuang."

Ruoruo nodded, though her voice was thoughtful. "It seems like it. But Brother Su and Sister Yun are already together. Still, you never know."

Rice Noodles chuckled. "With the captain's strength, it's not surprising that more women are drawn to him. I wouldn't be surprised if Sister Shuang ends up being his, too."

Ruoruo shared a smile. "Yes, we all think so. Brother Su is... more tender than I expected. He respects us all."

The conversation shifted, and Hu Tuan'er's curiosity piqued again. "Ruoruo, can you tell us more about this floating island?"

Ruoruo's eyes lit up as she began. "The island started small, but we can expand it using spar. Spar is crucial—it's what powers everything here."

"That explains Mina's message asking if we had any spar," Hu Tuan'er said, realizing the importance.

"Exactly," Ruoruo nodded. "And now that you're part of the team, you can help us hunt zombies and monsters to collect spar. The more spar we gather, the bigger the island can grow."

Rice Noodles chimed in with determination. "I'll do my best to contribute! I'm now a first-grade pharmacist, so I can help with refining pills, too."

"That's amazing, Xianxian!" Ruoruo beamed, genuinely impressed.

Hu Tuan'er leaned forward. "Does every zombie drop spar?"

Ruoruo shook her head. "Not all. Basic zombies have about a 30% chance. Higher-tier zombies have better odds, and the stronger the creature, the rarer the spar—ranging from white to red, green, blue, and even amethyst."

Hu Tuan'er was awestruck. "You know so much, Ruoruo."

Ruoruo chuckled. "Brother Su taught me everything. He's always thinking ahead. His goal is to grow stronger so we can protect ourselves and help others."

Rice Noodles nodded in agreement. "That's wise. Strength is essential. If we aren't strong enough, we could be overwhelmed by people who want to take what's ours. The stronger we are, the safer we'll be."

Ruoruo continued. "Yes, that's why we've been working on expanding. The island now has a villa with three floors, and the island itself will grow tenfold once we reach the next level."

"Ten times? That's incredible!" Hu Tuan'er gasped.

"It is," Ruoruo said. "And with strength comes responsibility. We'll need to keep building, adding residential spaces, and eventually, we'll even have our own streets and farmlands."

Rice Noodles smiled at the thought. "I can't wait to bring my friends here. It's going to be an amazing place."

"Exactly. But for now, the island is protected by a powerful shield. It consumes spar daily to stay active, but while it's up, we're completely invincible—even from something as destructive as an atomic bomb. No one can touch us."

Hu Tuan'er and Rice Noodles exchanged glances, stunned by the magnitude of the floating island's defenses. The thought of such a safe haven filled them with awe.

Ruoruo went on to explain the Tree of Life, how it produced oxygen even if the island ascended to great heights. "With the shield and the Tree of Life, we could live even 10,000 meters in the sky."

As Ruoruo shared more about the island, Hu Tuan'er and Rice Noodles listened, captivated by the limitless potential of this floating sanctuary. To them, the island seemed like a paradise where they could not only survive but thrive.