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How far is the path to rebirth? Each person may perceive it differently. Mengdie's experience couldn't be described as terrible, but it certainly wasn't pleasant. In his consciousness, everything was a vast expanse of white. He could open his eyes but saw nothing. He felt as though he was floating in the universe, unable to touch, see, smell, or experience anything. With no senses or consciousness, everything melted into nothingness…

"Woah—!"

Mengdie suddenly woke from a semi-conscious state. Trying to open his eyes, he still couldn't see anything. All was blank white. It felt like floating in space, not being able to touch or see, devoid of any sensation. He couldn't even tell if he was breathing. Are his hands even there?

Damn... such a terrifying state of paralysis... I've never encountered such complete powerlessness before! Could it be that Yama tricked me? I can't even tell if my heart is beating or if I'm breathing... am I truly alive?

Thinking was useless. In his current state, all Mengdie could do was wait and try to regain a sense of his body. After about ten minutes, he started regaining slight sensations…

"Gurgle, gurgle…"

A faint sound of water reached his ears, as if coming from afar. As the sound appeared, a suffocating heat broke through the senseless void, engulfing Mengdie's face. Instinctively, he tried to take a breath but inhaled hot water instead! He seemed to be immersed in hot water.

Huh? Where am I? Water???

Mengdie tried to open his eyes again, but everything was still a blur. After several attempts, he could discern something resembling tiles.

With his senses partially restored, Mengdie tried to step on the tiles. But did he make contact? With his sense of touch not fully back, he couldn't feel anything.

Attempting to exert some force, his numbed body couldn't stand firmly. Slipping, he seemed to tilt sideways and submerged back into the hot water…

Damn! Recover, my body!

Anxious, but to no avail. No matter how much Mengdie wanted to perceive his surroundings, his body didn't respond. The distant sound of water kept churning, and the recovery of his vision and touch was painfully slow. Plus, this paralysis… felt almost like the final moment of his battle with the Great Sage.

Just when Mengdie was about to give up and wait for further recovery, he felt his body rapidly rising. In a few seconds, the sensation of being soaked in hot water disappeared, and through his almost blind eyesight, he could vaguely see that his upper body seemed to be out of the water.

Who is it?

He turned his head and saw a blurry figure standing beside him. The figure was holding Mengdie's arm, lifting him out of the water.

"Tha… thank… you…"

Struggling to speak through his numb tongue, it took Mengdie great effort to utter those words. However, with his hearing still impaired, he wasn't sure if he had said them.

"%$##$￥@#???"

The figure beside him spoke again, but Mengdie couldn't understand. He shook his head and tried to pat his head, hoping for a quicker recovery.

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The person seemed to realize that Mengdie couldn't understand and simply grabbed him, bringing their face close to speak again. Despite the effort, Mengdie still couldn't comprehend. The person didn't give up, bringing their face even closer, practically against Mengdie's eyes, and asked again.

"&%$#?"

Unfortunately, he still couldn't understand. But the shock wasn't about the incomprehension. It was the face nearly touching Mengdie's eyes that startled him!

A woman… a woman?!

With his limited vision, Mengdie suddenly realized that the person in front of him was indeed a woman with green hair! He couldn't see her features clearly, but her voice and facial shape were unmistakably female!

Startled, Mengdie, who had just stood up, weakened and fell back into the water. The white world in his eyes gradually filled with blurred colors. And the slight improvement in vision confirmed Mengdie's worst fear—he was in a place no man should be—the women's bathhouse!!!

...

This is terrible… Absolutely terrible!

Mengdie hurriedly submerged his face in the water, extremely nervous.

How is this the most suitable place for rebirth? That damn Yama threw a man into a women's bathhouse and called it "suitable"? Damn it…! What should I do now? I'll definitely be labeled a pervert! In a few seconds, these girls will scream and rush out of the bathhouse! Then the trouble will only escalate! What should I do? What should I do?! I just arrived in this world and haven't figured out anything. Do I have to start fighting now?!

But then, something strange happened! The expected screams never came, even after a long time. He was sure it wasn't because his hearing hadn't recovered. The women bathing simply didn't scream! They just glanced at Mengdie and then turned away, continuing their baths as if they hadn't seen a man at all.

How strange? Didn't they realize there's a man here???

"&**&%$&."

As the incomprehensible language resounded again, the green-haired woman bent over, gently patting Mengdie's head with a soft tone, not seeming angry at all.

Mengdie looked at her suspiciously, finding it unbelievable. Could it be that baths in this world are co-ed? Hence, women seeing men wouldn't be surprised and would even initiate conversation?

The woman said something else, but Mengdie had no interest in deciphering her words. Regardless of the customs of the women in this world, as a man, he absolutely couldn't stay in the women's bathhouse any longer! Unable to wait for his senses to fully recover, he decided to leave immediately!

Ignoring the woman's inquiries, Mengdie took a deep breath, stood up, and darted out of the pool, stumbling towards a door on the side of the bathhouse. He pulled it open and rushed in.

The sound of the door opening and closing startled the women inside the bathhouse, and also those outside. Without needing sharp vision, Mengdie could tell that this was clearly a women's changing room. Many women of different skin and hair colors were changing clothes. The women, who were changing, were surprised to see Mengdie rushing out in a panic.

Damn! They're going to scream now, right? What should I do? Should I act as if nothing happened and walk out, or should I knock them all out first and then sneak away as if I didn't know? No, my body hasn't recovered yet. I can't control my strength and might kill someone! ...Right! First, cover the important parts!

Mengdie glanced around the changing room, barely distinguishing a towel basket, pulled out a towel, and wrapped it around his lower body.

But... strangely again, the girls who should have screamed gradually calmed down. Like the women in the bath, they treated Mengdie's presence as air and continued changing clothes. Everything returned to an orderly state.

"What's with these women?" Mengdie muttered nervously, "Forget it, no matter what. It's better to leave this place of trouble first!"

Leaning on the walls for support, Mengdie cautiously moved, trying not to attract the girls' attention, and approached the corner of the changing room. Standing there, he breathed a sigh of relief and stepped out...

"&￥!@%$#?"

His hearing had improved, and Mengdie could vaguely make out someone calling him from behind. He tensely didn't turn back.

"%$#@&&."

The voice behind him spoke again, still incomprehensible, but definitely a young woman's voice.

The woman, seeing no response from Mengdie, grabbed his shoulders and turned him around. He was startled! ...Fortunately, she seemed to be wrapped in a towel.

The girl looked at Mengdie's face, gasped in disbelief, and then shook her head. She pointed at the towel on her chest and then at Mengdie's chest, followed by a series of incomprehensible words.

What does she want to say? Is there something strange on my chest?

Mengdie looked down, trying to see his chest. But his vision was still blurry, and he couldn't make out what was there.

If I can't see it, I'll feel it. Mengdie raised his hand, groping his chest, trying to figure out what the girl was pointing at. Unfortunately, his sense of touch hadn't fully returned; he couldn't feel his skin under his hands.

The girl kept talking, pointing at Mengdie's chest. But he was too distracted to care. He let go of his chest and, ignoring the girl's tugging, rushed out of the women's changing room.

Gosh! That was terrifying! That Yama really knows how to do things! Throwing me into such a place!

Outside the changing room was a European-style tavern. The bath seemed to be in the tavern's basement, leading to a small hall. From the corner, loud shouts and folk music came.

Mengdie composed himself, trying to discern his surroundings and walked out of the changing room. But what puzzled him was why everyone was staring at him? A bunch of people gazed at Mengdie, their expressions ranging from surprise and disbelief to whistling. He frowned slightly, about to close his eyes again when he noticed something.

Black, long threads floated around him in the water.

What's this? ...Hair? ...Mine???

Mengdie curiously picked up the black hair, giving it a brief look before discarding it carelessly.

Did Yama let my hair grow during my death? Heh, it's too long. I'll cut it off later to avoid the hassle.

Mengdie ignored the hair floating in the water...

The men's bath was still eerily quiet, with everyone's eyes fixed on one person. Mengdie was tired of their stares. Why stare at a man? He closed his eyes, soaking in the bath, carefully pondering his future path.

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