29

Completing the water park took two weeks, in the end. But now, happy laughter could be heard outside, as the women enjoyed the pool.

Pef poured another spoon of water over the heated brass, making steam rise again, and warm his skin.

Xia waved away the hot steam, looking red and flushed and breathtakingly pretty.

"Sauna...you just want to see us naked" she decided in a wise voice, her silver eyes glinting in annoyment.

"True, I enjoy watching you. But this is about elements. Fire, air and water." Pef said closing his eyes and breathing deeply.

The warrior watched him for a minute, but Pef just laid back and relaxed, ignoring the beautiful body in front of him. Somehow, that didn't make the woman happy.

"Come here and kiss us. And then you may take us flying" she allowed with magnanimity.

Pef smiled and crossed the aisle, and obeyed her wishes.

"Okay, this should be enough sauna for today. Let's swim a little" the kissing hero muttered in some pain.

"In the deep side. Splashing in the shallow waters is for maids and sister Si" Xia demanded, and walked off, entering the changing cabin.

"Damn it. She bit me again..." Pef grumbled while waiting for his tongue to heal a minute.

'You let her win. You could easily overpower...well. Not a good idea'

'Yeah. Still, inventing swimming suits made the wives happy'

'Made you, even happier, Aspirant'

'Ha, it kinda did' Pef admitted with a grin.

He drew on his shorts and ran towards the pool, diving in the cool waters.

As he emerged on the other side, he checked the scenery with amazed eyes.

Except Lin, who rarely indulged in anything outside smithing, the other wives were all here, lazing about the pool in leather swimsuits. And a dozen maids as well, if they had free hours.

Keeping a household this large going wasn't easy, and Pef wasn't going to hire men around his beloved wives. Then he would doubt them...and ruin things.

Aria and Qin sat on chezlongs, now a bit less alone or isolated. Di and Jian would often check on them, if a maid wasn't there already.

Some kind of bond had formed between these four, as they endured the basement and the Awakening at the same time.

Xia emerged beside him, and followed his gaze.

"A pool, cold drinks and best meals in the empire. It's a vacation all right" she said a bit coldly.

"Yea, precisely. Paradise on earth."

"Xie wants to swim." the silver eyed woman said and drew back, allowing the brown eyes to come forward.

"Yay, the pool!" his wife exclaimed, and dove back under water.

Pef closed his eyes, feeling a hostile gaze pressing from somewhere above.

'You made enemies, Aspirant'

'But they can't attack me directly'

'Emperors can fly here. Not without a good incentive though. And you have nothing they could want.'

'Serving their gods...'

'And risk losing their wealth or sects while they are gone? Not likely. They only need to wait. You'll have to go to them, one day' the system explained logically.

'Maybe my father can be of help...'

'More likely to kill you on sight. His lover died because of you'

'Hey, I didn't shoot that arrow!'

'Your parental unit could have been Xia. Her divine nature would have reformed the shattered Core'

'Oh. Xia is a goddess? And father, tried to use his baby as a soulcatcher. Cold bastard, my dad.'

'Yes. You are much alike. Though you also have a pool. So you're better' the glove concluded amused.

Pef opened his eyes and grinned. He did have a pool.

He dove underwater, chasing after Xie like a human torpedo.

Then he caught her, and formed a shield over them.

"Aha, I captured a beauty! In this water dungeon, she is all mine!" Emperor Pef declared with a thin voice.

"No, the evil Emperor has caught me! I need a hero!" the frightened princess proclaimed with wide eyes.

"Heroes are expensive. They only get paid in hugs. Or kisses. But mainly hugs..." the hero explained in a grave tone.

"Then, this Xie will call forth a hero! And make this evil Emperor regret pawing over the priceless swimsuit..." she whispered and offered a long hug.

Ten minutes later, the hero was summoned and flew out from the depths, with the princess in his arms.

They stopped some 50 meters up, and kissed in victory.

"My Lady, I am injured...gravity is too heavy. Save yourself!" the hero managed to mutter as he let go.

The princess arrived home with a splash, scaring the local critters or making them scream in outrage.

After this random display of powers, Pef circled round and landed at the smithy.

A robe fell from his outstretched hand, over his head and covering his abs and other visible muscles.

Then he stepped inside, proud of his deeds.

He quickly stepped outside though, and scraped molten metal from his naked soles.

After healing for a minute and donning a pair of Sky ranked boots, the hero dared the dungeon again.

"I knew I heard some weak voice screaming...it was my husband?" Lady Lin asked rhetorically, while pouring hot metal in some forms.

Pef ignored the question as he had others. "So, What do you think? Can we make a steam engine or not?"

"As you can see my apprentice, I am pouring the cast for the engine parts. If it will hold or not, don't know." Lin muttered.

"Well, the aeolipile worked. It's just not powerful enough to push a ship" Pef mused while looking at the new design. A brass cylinder with a long tube coming out, ending in three spokes with open nozzles at the end.

Water would boil, then eject steam through the nozzles, making the entire thing spin.

He would need a joint or a ball bearing to make just the long shaft spin.

And somehow Pef knew the torque would shear the brass tube, if under heavy load, like driving paddle wheels through the ocean. Unless he used a Sky rank spider leg...hollow on the inside.

'What do you think glove, would a Sky rank leg be strong enough?'

'Yes. You would need to flare out the end inside the cylinder, to make a seal.'

'Then, fill sapphire storage stones with fuel, like wood or coal...'

'Ah yes, neolithic magitech. It will fail horribly at some point, but sure. Let's try it' the glove answered with something between glee and sarcasm.