chsdbacks Chapter 163 Taking a Bath
Chapter 163 Taking a Bath
Relying on his memories from the game in his previous life, Lynn quickly found an area nearby where tough vines and broad-leaved bananas grew.
The fibers of the vine are tough and, after processing, can be woven into rough but sturdy fabric.
Large banana leaves can be used to make temporary shelter.
He swiftly gathered the materials, while explaining the uses of the plants to the two princesses who followed closely behind him.
Vivian and Lydia listened intently, their eyes filled with curiosity and admiration.
In their past lives, when had they ever come into contact with these most primitive yet most practical survival skills?
They watched as Lynn skillfully peeled the vine bark and selected the leaves.
This focused and powerful profile seems to have a mysterious attraction for them.
"Uncle Baki, you know so much!" Vivian couldn't help but exclaim again, her azure cat eyes gleaming. "This knowledge is so useful!"
"It's just some stuff you need to know to survive in the wild," Lynn smiled and tied up the collected materials.
"Let's go find a suitable place to camp."
"It's best to be near a water source, but avoid swamps and steep slopes."
He naturally took on the responsibility of leading the team, and Vivian and Lydia had no objections, still carefully holding his trouser legs on either side.
The terrain of the forest is not flat, and there may be slippery tree roots or loose rocks hidden under the decaying leaves.
Lynn walked steadily, occasionally reminding the two girls behind her to watch their step.
However, the accident still happened.
While crossing a moss-covered slope, Lydia, distracted by watching Lynn's back, suddenly slipped!
"Ah—!" she cried out in surprise, losing her balance and sliding down the slope!
There was a thicket of thorny bushes and a few sharp rocks!
"Lydia!" Vivian screamed in fright.
At this critical moment, Lynn, who was walking in front, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. Almost as soon as Lydia screamed, he turned around!
His movements were as fast as lightning!
His left hand still held the materials steadily, while his right hand swiftly reached out and precisely grabbed Lydia's frantically flailing arm!
A powerful yet gentle force abruptly halted Lydia's fall, then gently pulled her back from the brink of danger.
Due to inertia, Lydia cried out and bumped directly into Lynn's arms.
"Ugh!" Lydia groaned as she felt herself bump into a solid, warm body.
The scent of sweat emanating from Lynn enveloped her instantly.
What made her heart almost stop was that, due to the impact, her full breasts were pressed firmly against Lynn's bare, sweaty chest.
The softness against her chest sent a strange, unprecedented, and dizzying sensation through her.
Time seemed to stand still for a second.
Lydia could clearly hear her own exaggerated heartbeat, and she could also feel Lynn's equally strong and steady heartbeat beneath his chest.
Her cheeks instantly burned, and her mind went blank.
"Lydia! Are you alright?!" Vivian's anxious voice pulled her back to reality.
"I...I'm fine!" Lydia pushed Lynn away forcefully as if she had been burned, and staggered back two steps.
Her hands unconsciously crossed over her chest, her face was as red as a ripe apple, and even her ears and neck were tinged with crimson.
Lynn was pushed back half a step.
He smiled nonchalantly and said gently, "It's good that you're alright. That was too dangerous. Next time, you must stay close and watch your step."
He paused, looking at Lydia who was still too shy to look up, and added, "The situation was urgent just now, Lydia. Men and women shouldn't touch each other. It was right for you to push me away. Don't take it to heart."
His words were frank and considerate, which both eased the awkwardness and preserved the girl's dignity.
When Lydia heard him say that, her embarrassment lessened slightly, but the strange flutter in her heart lingered for a long time.
She secretly glanced at Lynn and saw that he looked natural and his eyes were clear. He didn't show any unusual reaction to the close contact just now. She felt relieved, but also inexplicably felt a little...disappointed.
"Thank you, Uncle... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." she said softly and shyly.
"I already said it's nothing." Lynn waved her hand and turned around again.
"Let's go, it's getting dark, we need to find a campsite quickly."
After this little incident, the atmosphere seemed to have subtly changed.
Lydia followed behind, her grip on Lynn's trouser leg seeming to tighten, and her heartbeat still hadn't completely calmed down.
Vivian glanced at her best friend's flushed face, then at Lynn's broad back in front of her, her cat ears twitching slightly, lost in thought.
Fortunately, Lynn quickly found an ideal campsite.
A flat meadow on a gentle slope, backed by a huge rock that provides shelter from the wind, and the sound of a babbling brook can be heard not far away.
The terrain is high, relatively dry, and offers a wide view.
After putting down the materials, Lynn immediately got to work.
Using the branches and vines he found, combined with the boulder, he quickly built a simple but sufficient triangular shelter frame, then covered it with layers of large banana leaves and secured it with vines.
Then they used stones to build a simple fire pit in front of the shelter and collected some dry branches and leaves for later use.
His movements were fluid and efficient, as if he had done them a thousand times.
In less than an hour, a simple but fully functional temporary camp appeared before the two princesses.
"Wow, that's amazing..." Vivian and Lydia were dumbfounded.
They simply couldn't imagine how one person could create such a "home" in the wilderness so quickly.
"Just the most basic stuff." Lynn wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at the sky.
"I'll go get something to eat before it gets completely dark. You guys..."
Before he could finish speaking, Vivian and Lydia awkwardly moved closer.
They shoved each other a little, and finally Vivian, blushing, whispered, "Uncle... um... we're all sticky, covered in mud and... frog slime, it's so uncomfortable... we want... we want to take a bath."
Lynn paused for a moment, then nodded: "Oh, of course."
"There's a stream over there, you can go there. Be careful, don't go too far, and don't go into deep water. Come back quickly after you're done washing."
"But..." Vivian and Lydia exchanged a glance, their faces showing hesitation and fear.
After the day's adventures, they were filled with fear of this seemingly peaceful forest.
"We...we want to ask the uncle...to come with us..." Lydia mustered her courage, her voice soft, her face even redder than before.
"It's...it's nearby...we're taking a shower...uncle, please keep watch for us...we're...we're scared..."
Asking a middle-aged man, whom you've only recently met and who is of the opposite sex, to accompany you to the bathhouse?
The request sounds really excessive and shameful.
But compared to the unknown dangers and inner fears, this shame seems bearable.
Moreover, for some reason, they had a strange sense of trust in this Baki-san, feeling that he wouldn't take advantage of the situation to do anything.
Upon hearing this, Lynn frowned slightly, looking troubled. "This... isn't this a bit inappropriate? I'm a man, and you're girls..."
"Please, uncle!" Vivian clasped her hands together, her deep blue cat eyes filled with pleading.
"We'll shower quickly! Just stay here with your back to us! We really...we really don't dare to go by ourselves..."
Lydia looked at him with the same pleading eyes.
Looking at the two girls' pitiful yet dependent eyes.
Lynn felt he might have overacted, and he sighed inwardly.
Well then, let's see this through to the end and go all the way.
"Alright." He nodded helplessly. "But it's settled then, I'll just keep watch from a distance. You guys take care of yourselves and hurry up."
"Thank you, Uncle!" The two girls immediately beamed with joy, their previous shyness replaced by excitement.
So, led by Lynn, the three of them headed toward the direction from which the sound of the stream was coming.
The closer you get, the louder the sound of water becomes, and the more humid and cool the air becomes.
Soon, a stream about three or four meters wide, with crystal-clear water that shimmered in the setting sun, came into view.
The stream wasn't deep, reaching only about waist-deep at its deepest point. The riverbed was covered with smooth pebbles, and the banks were lush with green grass, making it a perfect place for washing.
However, the moment Lynn saw the stream, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and his amber eyes swept sharply across the water and the lush aquatic plants on the opposite bank.
The terrain, water flow speed, vegetation distribution of this stream... why does it look so familiar?
In the previous game, near Stardew Town in the Sky Ancient Tree area, there seemed to be a similar stream, which was a favorite habitat of a certain high-level water-attribute monster—the [Stream Python]!
This monster excels at lurking in underwater or shoreline plants to ambush creatures drinking water. It is powerful, swift, and can also use water arrows and entanglement attacks.
Damn, those two girls really know how to pick a spot!
Lynn cursed inwardly, but kept a straight face.
He pointed to a relatively flat rock on the shore with a wide view: "You can wash there, the water is shallow and it's safe. I'll retreat behind that big tree over there, with my back to you, and keep watch for you."
"Remember, move quickly, don't go into deep water, and call me immediately if anything seems wrong."
"Okay, Uncle!" Vivian and Lydia nodded hurriedly and ran towards the big rock.
For a girl who loves cleanliness, the temptation to wash away all the filth and slime is simply too great.
Lynn did as instructed, retreating to a large tree more than ten meters away, facing away from the stream, and sitting cross-legged. He seemed to be resting with his eyes closed, but in reality, his senses were heightened to the extreme, and his ears were picking up every subtle sound from the direction of the stream.
Soon, the rustling sound of clothes being taken off came from behind, along with the suppressed, joyful whispers and soft laughter of the girls.
Then came the sounds of splashing water, and the splashing of water.
"Wow! The water is so cool! It feels so good!"
"Hurry up and wash, Vivian! Don't play in the water!"
"Okay, okay!"
Hearing the youthful and energetic voice coming from behind him, Lynn shook his head helplessly.
Hopefully nothing unexpected happens...
However, what you fear most is what happens.