"Gulp gulp gulp..."
Only Xie Ning's nose was exposed above the water. Hot white mist filled the black stone cave, fumigating his entire body red, like a cooked shrimp.
The hot water was very comfortable, and Echidna personally agreed to give him this spring as a private bathroom. He used the same perfume, wore a silk and cotton bath towel, and suddenly had an excessively luxurious life.
The spring water here is heated by the temperature of the underground fire, so Xie Ning can only soak in the shallowest part. There is no need for lights, the light from the spring water can illuminate the cave as if it were daytime. But Echidna would swim past the cave from time to time, and when he heard Xie Ning sighing that it was hot, he immediately poked his head in, looked around, and then retracted. When he reached in again, more than a dozen stone snakes rolled up a huge ice bucket and swam to the edge of Xie Ning's bath, allowing him to touch it with just a stretch of his hand.
Then, Echidna curled up at the entrance of the cave, looking at him with a smile, which made Xie Ning feel awkward and scared. Later, he gradually figured out a few familiar feelings from this scene - isn't this the look of a person who has just adopted a new kitten!
Well, he thought, just treat me as his newly adopted animal. It’s normal that the novelty hasn’t worn off yet!
After coming to terms with it, Xie Ning washed herself and ignored Echidna.
I have found my own place here for now, but returning home is still a long way off, and I have no hope...
As Xie Ning washed, his thoughts drifted and he couldn't help but start thinking about his home and his family.
How anxious would his relatives be when they learned of his disappearance? Would his elderly grandparents be unable to bear such a blow? Would his successful parents give up everything and spend all their money to look for him
Xie Ning had heard about how painful the plight of families who had lost their only child was. At this moment, just imagining the misfortunes that his family might encounter in the future made him feel heartbroken. Even though he was soaking in the surging hot spring, his body was as cold as ice and snow, and he was shaking with chills.
Echidna soon discovered his abnormality.
The snake's belly rubbed against the ground, and the hard snake scales caused the iron rock to scatter into fragments. He squeezed into this cave, which was a little crowded for him, and swam to Xie Ning.
"What's the matter?" The snake demon opened his eyes wide, "I feel you are trembling, Dolos, what makes you unhappy?"
“…Nothing.” Xie Ning forced a smile at him. “I just miss home.”
Echidna frowned, and seeing the human's sad smile, he immediately felt a harsh dissatisfaction, because the young man had paid a lot for him, and decided to serve him with the courtesy of serving the gods. If he couldn't even meet the other's small request, satisfy this person who loved him deeply, then what was the use of his power
"Would you like to return to Eleusis?" Echidna asked. "Don't be afraid to trouble me. Even if you want to live on Mount Olympus, it would be easy for you if you asked."
Xie Ning didn't want to tell him the truth so soon. It was too early. He didn't even understand Echidna's temper. It would be better not to talk too much.
He said politely: "My family...is no longer in this world."