37: Therapy Chamber Experience: A Healing Immersion

The bathroom in the Captains Quarters had undergone a massive transformation.

The original shower stall, which could only accommodate one person standing, had been completely dismantled and replaced with a space filled with a sense of futuristic technology.

The walls had been replaced with a translucent, deep-blue material, making it feel as if one were deep underwater.

Soft light spilled down from all sides; it was not blinding, but it perfectly outlined every detail.

And in the center of the bathroom, the newly completed 【deep sea therapy pod】 stood quietly.

Its streamlined, silver-white metal casing had a faint purple light flowing across its surface.

Beneath the transparent hatch, it was filled with a pale blue liquid.

The liquid was not still; driven by some unseen force, it slowly swirled and rippled, emitting a refreshing, delicate fragrance.

Gu Pingsheng stood beside the pod, his fingers gently tapping against the hard, transparent casing.

"Alice, are all parameters normal?"

"Reporting to Master, the deep sea therapy pod has completed its self-check. Temperature is constant at 38 degrees, nutrient concentration is standard, and the brainwave regulation system is on standby. It is ready for use at any time."

Alice's voice echoed in the bathroom, carrying a hint of imperceptible anticipation.

Gu Pingsheng nodded in satisfaction.

This thing had taken a great deal of effort to create. If he didn't find someone to test its effectiveness, wouldn't it be like wearing fine clothes in the dark?

As for who to find...

Although that temptress Gu Nian was proactive, she was too shrewd, and that mature woman's charm was better saved to be savored slowly.

Right now, he wanted to see a different kind of reaction.

"Alice, call Chen Chuxia over."

A playful arc curled at the corner of Gu Pingsheng's mouth.

"Just say... I have an important mission for her."

...

A few minutes later.

Chen Chuxia stood anxiously at the door of the Captains Quarters.

She had just been in the infirmary organizing potions when she was suddenly summoned by Alice.

An important mission?

Could it be that someone was injured again? Or had some major problem occurred with the spaceship?

She took a deep breath, straightened her slightly oversized lab coat, and raised her hand to knock on the door.

"Enter."

Gu Pingsheng's voice came from inside, devoid of any discernible emotion.

Chen Chuxia pushed the door open and entered.

The Captains Quarters was empty, save for the bathroom door, which was half-open, letting out a sense of warmth and steam.

"Come to the bathroom."

Chen Chuxia was stunned for a moment.

The bathroom?

Although she had some doubts in her heart, she obediently walked over.

As soon as she entered, she was stunned by the scene before her.

That huge, glowing, transparent pod looked just like a prop from a science fiction movie, full of mystery.

And Gu Pingsheng was standing beside the pod, holding an electronic tablet, wearing only a loose bathrobe.

"Cap... Captain..."

Chen Chuxia stood at the doorway, feeling somewhat awkward, her hands twisted together.

"You're here."

Gu Pingsheng turned around, his gaze sweeping over her.

"You are a doctor; you understand human body structure and physiological reactions the best."

"This deep sea therapy pod has just been built, and I need to collect first-hand human data."

"Therefore, I am entrusting this mission to you."

Chen Chuxia blinked, not quite registering what he said.

"Col... collect data?"

"That's right."

Gu Pingsheng pointed at the deep sea therapy pod.

"Go in and lie down, experience it. I will record the changes in your physiological indicators."

"Ah?!"

Chen Chuxia's face turned red instantly.

Go in? Lie down?

That pod is transparent!

And... and Gu Pingsheng is watching right there?

"What? Unwilling?"

Gu Pingsheng raised an eyebrow, his tone deepening slightly.

"This is for the health of the entire spaceship crew. If this deep sea therapy pod is effective, everyone can use it to recover when they get injured in the future."

"As a doctor, shouldn't you lead by example?"

With such a heavy label placed on her, Chen Chuxia was immediately flustered.

"No... it's not that I'm unwilling..."

She waved her hands in panic.

"It's just... just..."

"Just what?"

Gu Pingsheng interrupted her.

He walked to a nearby cabinet, took out a neatly folded set of clothes, and handed them to Chen Chuxia.

"This is a protective suit specifically designed for the deep sea therapy pod. Go change into it."

Chen Chuxia took the clothes.

It felt light, thin, and smooth to the touch, like a second layer of skin.

That was the 【Nano Bodysuit (Blue)】 that Gu Pingsheng had previously obtained through a critical hit.

Although it was called a protective suit, in reality...

Chen Chuxia looked at the pile of fabric in her hand, which was only the size of a palm, and her face turned even redder.

But this was an order, after all.

And Gu Pingsheng was right; for the sake of everyone...

She gritted her teeth, clutched the clothes, and walked into the changing booth nearby.

...

A moment later.

The door of the booth slowly opened.

Chen Chuxia walked out, head down, hands tightly shielding her chest, moving one step at a time.

Gu Pingsheng's eyes lit up.

That black nano bodysuit fit perfectly against every inch of her skin.

It was like a second layer of skin.

It outlined the figure she had originally hidden under the oversized lab coat to perfection.

A slender waist, long legs, and curves that, while not exaggerated, were perfectly shaped.

The black fabric created a strong visual contrast with her fair skin.

That feeling of pure desire was absolutely lethal.

"It fits very well."

Gu Pingsheng did not spare his praise.

Chen Chuxia lowered her head even further, wishing she could crawl into a crack in the ground.

It was too shameful.

The clothes were too tight, so tight that she could even feel her own heartbeat.

"Go in."

Gu Pingsheng opened the pod hatch.

A wave of warm air rushed toward her.

Chen Chuxia took a deep breath and, as if heading to the execution ground, carefully stepped into the pod.

The pale blue liquid instantly enveloped her ankles, calves, and thighs...

The sensation was very strange.

It didn't feel like water; it was more like a living gelatin, gently supporting her body.

She lay down slowly.

The liquid rose over her chest and neck, finally leaving only half her face exposed.

"Relax."

Gu Pingsheng's voice came through the liquid, sounding a bit muffled.

"Close your eyes and feel the changes in your body."

Chen Chuxia obediently closed her eyes.

As the pod hatch slowly closed, the world around her became quiet.

There was only that faint, delicate fragrance and the warm feeling of being enveloped.

Her tense nerves slowly relaxed.

She felt as if she had returned to the womb; all her fatigue, anxiety, and fear dissipated in this moment.

Comfortable.

So comfortable.

Every pore was cheering, and every cell was greedily absorbing the energy in the liquid.

However.

Just as she was about to fall asleep.

A strange feeling suddenly came over her.

She opened her eyes abruptly.

She saw that Gu Pingsheng was standing outside the pod, his face very close, almost pressed against the transparent shell.

Those deep eyes were staring at her without blinking.

His gaze was scorching, as if it could pierce through this layer of glass, through that thin bodysuit, and land directly on her skin.

"Don't move."

Gu Pingsheng raised the tablet in his hand, while his other hand reached out and pressed against the transparent shell.

His fingers were long and powerful.

Through the glass, he slowly traced along the curves of Chen Chuxia's body.

From her shoulders, to her collarbone, and then to...

Although there was a thick layer of material in between, it was impossible to have any physical sensation.

But Chen Chuxia felt as if that finger had truly grazed her skin.

Sending waves of electric shivers through her.

"Your heartbeat has accelerated."

Gu Pingsheng looked at the data on the tablet, a mischievous smirk curling the corner of his mouth.

"Your blood pressure is also rising."

"Dr. Chen, what are you nervous about?"

Chen Chuxia was so embarrassed her face turned completely red.

She shook her head desperately in the water, trying to avoid that gaze, but the cramped pod left her nowhere to hide.

And...

That feeling of being watched and toyed with actually made her feel a strange... excitement?

No!

It can't be like this!

She was a doctor! This was an experiment!

Chen Chuxia desperately warned herself, wanting to close her eyes and play dead.

But her body seemed to have betrayed her will.

Where Gu Pingsheng's finger traced, her skin involuntarily flushed a shade of pink.

Even...

She felt her body craving closer contact.

Craving for that finger to not be separated by glass, but to truly land on her body.

"It seems the mental soothing system is very effective."

Gu Pingsheng looked at the girl inside the pod, her face flushed and her eyes unfocused, and nodded in satisfaction.

This was the data he wanted.

Not just physical repair, but also mental... development.

Time passed second by second.

For Chen Chuxia, this was both a torment and an enjoyment.

Until—

"Ding."

A soft sound.

The liquid in the pod stopped flowing, and its color faded significantly.

"Alright, the test is over."

Gu Pingsheng opened the pod hatch.

Fresh air rushed in, allowing Chen Chuxia to snap out of that dazed state.

She sat up in a panic, her hands shielding her chest, gasping for breath.

The bodysuit on her body clung to her, wet, outlining an even more alluring silhouette.

Gu Pingsheng handed her a large bath towel.

"Come out."

Chen Chuxia took the towel, scrambled to wrap herself up tightly, and then climbed out of the pod as if fleeing.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, she felt the difference.

Her body felt incredibly light.

The heavy, exhausted feeling caused by long-term overdrawing of mental energy had completely vanished.

Replacing it was a sense of abundant strength.

"How do you feel?"

Gu Pingsheng leaned against the nearby sink counter, watching her.

"Very... very good..."

Chen Chuxia lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes.

"My mental energy... seems to have recovered, and... the upper limit has also increased..."

She could clearly feel that the healing energy within her had grown by at least ten percent compared to before.

This was simply a miracle!

One had to know that increasing mental energy was extremely difficult, usually requiring constant practice and overdrawing to accumulate it bit by bit.

And now, just by taking a bath, it had increased by this much?

"That's good."

Gu Pingsheng nodded.

"It seems this deep sea therapy pod wasn't built in vain."

He walked over to Chen Chuxia and reached out to neaten her slightly messy, wet hair.

His fingertips touched her burning earlobe.

Chen Chuxia shuddered, instinctively wanting to dodge, but ultimately remained frozen in place.

"From now on, you can come here and soak for an hour every night."

Gu Pingsheng's voice was very soft, but it carried an undeniable dominance.

"This is an order."

"And also... a benefit."

Chen Chuxia's heartbeat skipped a beat.

Every day?

Have to come here?

Have to be... watched by him like this?

A sense of shame surged in her heart again, but beneath this shame, there seemed to be a hidden trace of anticipation.

"Yes... Captain..."

She replied in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

Just as this ambiguous atmosphere was about to reach its peak.

Suddenly.

"Woo—woo—woo—"

A piercing alarm sounded without warning in the Captains Quarters.

Red warning lights flashed frantically, bathing the originally soft bathroom in a blood-red light.

Chen Chuxia screamed in fright and instinctively threw herself into Gu Pingsheng's arms.

Gu Pingsheng's expression changed.

He grabbed Chen Chuxia, looked up at the speaker on the ceiling.

"Alice! What's going on?!"

"Warning! Warning!"

Alice's voice was no longer calmly perfect; it now carried a hint of urgency.

"Radar has detected a high-energy reaction!"

"A huge unidentified object has appeared on the flight path directly ahead!"

"Its volume... is ten times that of our spaceship!"

"It is approaching rapidly!"

Gu Pingsheng's pupils contracted sharply.

Ten times?

What kind of concept was that?

That was simply a moving space fortress!

"Switch to the bridge view immediately!"

Gu Pingsheng pushed Chen Chuxia away from his arms and strode out of the bathroom.

"Put on your clothes! Gather at the bridge!"

Chen Chuxia stood frozen in place, watching Gu Pingsheng's disappearing back, the romantic atmosphere instantly replaced by fear.

Something happened.

Something big happened.

...

The bridge.

The huge holographic screen displayed the scene in front of the spaceship.

In the originally empty and deep starry sky, there was now a huge shadow.

The shadow blocked out the sky, like a giant beast with its mouth open, quietly waiting for its prey to arrive.

As the distance closed, the outline of the shadow gradually became clear.

It wasn't some monster.

Nor was it an asteroid.

It was a ship.

A dilapidated, ancient, yet suffocatingly huge...

Ghost Ship.

The hull was covered in rust and pits from meteorite impacts, and countless broken cables floated in the void like tentacles.

There were no lights, no signals.

Only a deathly silence.

But within that deathly silence, Gu Pingsheng felt an unprecedented sense of crisis.

That was...

A gaze from the abyss.