"Done~!"
After a full day's work, Yamato had finished carving out her new cave hideout.
"Just need to polish this part a bit more."
Yamato picked up her spiked club A-Jian to smooth out the jagged rock protrusions while putting the final decorative touches on her new home.
After another hour of work, Yamato nodded in satisfaction - this would be her new residence from now on.
"Time to prepare dinner!"
The exhausted "Master Yamato" took out the last two remaining salmon from yesterday's meal in her bag.
Though not exactly fresh anymore, they were still edible. For someone like Yamato who often went hungry, this was hardly an issue.
"I'm about to—"
Start eating!
With a thunderous boom, the boulder blocking the cave entrance was shoved aside.
Luo Xia strode in, his gaze sweeping across the newly constructed cave hideout.
The space was at least twice as large as the previous one, with well-polished walls that significantly upgraded the living conditions.
"Not bad, not bad." Luo Xia nodded approvingly.
"W-wait a minute, Luo Xia! Why are you here?" Yamato snapped out of her daze, her eyes widening as her voice rose several octaves.
"Why shouldn't I be here?" Luo Xia countered.
"I... I left you a message telling you not to come looking for me!" Yamato protested.
"I don't even listen to Kaido, why should I listen to you? If I stopped coming just because you told me to, wouldn't that make me look weak?" Luo Xia stated matter-of-factly.
Yamato blinked in surprise, then realized there was some truth to his words.
After all, when she'd told the Beasts Pirates members to stop chasing her before, none of them had listened either.
"Come on, let's warm up first." Luo Xia smiled.
Yamato hung her head low with a sigh as she trudged outside.
"Here I come!"
Haa~!
With a spirited shout, Yamato swung her Spiked Club Eight Precepts at Luo Xia with full force, producing metallic clanging sounds like a blacksmith's hammer.
Her fierce-looking attacks turned out to be all show and no substance.
After a dozen or so strikes, the damage was actually less than what she'd managed with a single blow before.
She was clearly phoning it in!
Luo Xia frowned, but before he could say anything, Yamato quickly raised her hand to explain.
"I'm sorry I couldn't entertain you properly, but I spent the whole day building my new home and haven't even eaten yet. I'm completely exhausted."
"Fine, let's eat first then." Luo Xia nodded and led the way back into the cave, opening the various bags and packages he'd brought.
Rustle~
An assortment of delicious foods came tumbling out, piling up like a small mountain.
"Wooow~!"
Yamato's eyes immediately sparkled as drool dripped from the corner of her mouth.
While salmon was her favorite, that didn't mean she didn't love other foods - rice balls, grilled meat... they were all among her top choices.
"Eat up, there's plenty." Watching the simple-minded Yamato drooling over the food, Luo Xia couldn't help but smile.
He had to admit, for all of Kaido's rough and brutish appearance, his daughter had turned out quite well.
Aside from her questionable intelligence and obsession with Kozuki Oden, she hardly had any other flaws.
Luo Xia had no intention of living under someone else's roof or working for others indefinitely, but he still needed more time to develop his strength quietly. For now, the Beasts Pirates remained his best option.
Two days ago, his overwhelming victory over Drought Calamity Jack had successfully established his authority, but that alone wasn't enough.
No matter what, he was just a newcomer who had only joined a few days ago. Despite his formidable strength, Kaido wouldn't trust him completely.
To earn Kaido's trust as quickly as possible, Luo Xia decided to start by winning over his rebellious little daughter.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and eat!" Luo Xia urged.
"No, no, I'll just have this." Yamato picked up an unappetizing piece of salmon.
Those who accept food from others find it hard to refuse their requests.
Once she accepted Luo Xia's food, it would be difficult for her to turn him down later.
Of course, Luo Xia had no idea about the little schemes running through Yamato's mind. He simply focused on devouring his meal.
Once he was full, Luo Xia stood up.
"Are you leaving? Let me see you out!" Yamato's eyes lit up.
Luo Xia shot her a glance. Just how eager is she to get rid of me?
Boom!
Luo Xia punched the empty ground at the center of the cave, blasting open a pit.
"W-wait! Don't just wreck things! I worked hard to build this place!" Yamato cried out in panic.
Ignoring her, Luo Xia threw several more punches, widening and deepening the pit.
In no time, a roughly five-meter-wide crater had formed.
Luo Xia sniffed the air, then walked along the cave wall before striking it with another punch.
Splash~
Mountain spring water gushed into the cave, flowing along the channels Luo Xia had carved earlier, eventually filling the pit at the center.
Once the water level was just right, Luo Xia rolled a massive boulder over to block the water source.
He then arranged the food and drinks around the newly formed hot spring before casually stripping off his clothes and jumping in.
Fire Dragon Slayer Magic—Activate!!!
The icy spring water rapidly heated up, soon reaching the perfect temperature for a hot spring.
"W-wait, Luo Xia… d-did you just turn my home into a hot spring?!" Yamato finally realized what he was doing.
Luo Xia still didn't respond, leisurely soaking in the warm water, sipping wine, and enjoying some dessert and fruit.
Seeing this, Yamato's fair face twisted with conflict.
A real hot spring… after so long!
Back in the day, she had been the little princess of the Beasts Pirates, showered with love and luxury.
But after witnessing Oden's execution at the age of eight, she became rebellious, leading to over a decade of hardship—starving, freezing, and never even dreaming of something as luxurious as a hot spring.
Soaking in a hot spring while eating… that must feel amazing~ Yamato couldn't help but think as she watched Luo Xia's blissful expression.
"Was I too harsh earlier? Luo Xia brought all this food to share with me, and yet I kept trying to drive him away…"
"Sure, he's a bit weird—likes getting hit and all—but that's just his personal quirk… He ignored me earlier… He must be mad, right?"
Yamato nodded, as if making up her mind.
"Luo Xia… um… can I join you in the hot spring?"
"Mhm." Luo Xia gave a noncommittal nod.
"Yay~!" Yamato cheered, then with a dramatic flourish, shed her kimono without hesitation, standing completely bare before him.
Though Luo Xia already knew Yamato had no sense of boundaries between men and women, her boldness still caught him off guard.
Splash!
Yamato leaped into the pool, sending water flying everywhere.
"Ahhh~ so~ good~!"
After years without a hot spring, Yamato couldn't help but moan in pure delight.
"Luo Xia~ Luo Xia, I was just being polite earlier. I'm actually still hungry—can I have a little more?" Yamato tentatively asked again.
"Mhm." Luo Xia remained noncommittal.
"Great~" Yamato cheered once more, sitting down in the area filled with food and beginning to devour it heartily.
"So delicious~" Yamato, enjoying the delicious food, was as happy as a child, her feet splashing up and down in excitement.
Just then.
"Huh~ what's this?"
Yamato let out a surprised sound.
Never mind—even though I don't know what it is, it feels pretty good for a foot massage.