Help! I transmigrated to a Beast World-Chapter 30: The Snake’s Audacity

Xin Yi floated in the hot spring like a very angry, very sore dumpling.

Her muscles screamed. Her neck throbbed where Hei Yan had bitten her. And her brain was currently trying to process the fact that she had:

1. Lost her virginity to a giant cat man

2. Got literally kidnapped from the ceiling by a snake

3. And was now soaking naked in enemy territory while said snake probably watched from the shadows like a creepy reptilian stalker

"I hate my life," she muttered into the steam.

[DING! (◕‿◕)]

[Actually, Host’s life is statistically MUCH better than it was 3 weeks ago!]

[Then: Explosive diarrhea, lonely, no boyfriend]

[Now: Royal hot spring, five-star accommodations, freshly mated to an Alpha, two other Alphas fighting over you!]

[This is called PROGRESS! ☆]

"This is called KIDNAPPING!" Xin Yi hissed, splashing water at the glowing screen. "I was STOLEN! From my HUSBAND’S BED! By a SNAKE!"

[Technically, Hei Yan isn’t your husband yet. You’re just marked. There’s a difference!]

[Also, ’stolen’ is such a harsh word. I prefer ’strategically relocated for educational purposes.’]

"WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?!"

[Team Chaos, obviously. (͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

Xin Yi was about to drown the System screen in hot spring water when she heard it.

Footsteps.

She sank lower into the water until only her eyes were above the surface, scanning the room like a paranoid hippopotamus.

The curtain rustled.

Qing Lin stepped through, still completely, utterly, shamelessly naked.

"PUT. ON. CLOTHES!" Xin Yi shrieked, covering her eyes with her wet hands.

"Why?" He tilted his head, genuinely confused. "We are both unclothed. It is efficient."

"EFFICIENT?! IT’S TRAUMATIZING!"

"Hmm." He considered this, then reached for a robe hanging on the wall and wrapped it loosely around his waist. It barely covered anything. "Better?"

"MARGINALLY!"

He moved to the edge of the hot spring and sat down, dipping his feet into the water. Up close, in the soft bioluminescent light, Xin Yi could see the intricate patterns of his scales, silver and green, shimmering like crushed opals along his cheekbones, down his neck, across his shoulders.

It rained her to admit, but he was really attractive.

[DING! (⊙_⊙)]

[Host’s heart rate just increased by 15%! Ohoho~]

"Shut UP!" Xin Yi squeaked.

Qing Lin’s emerald eyes fixed on her. "You talk to the air often. Is this a human trait?"

"It’s a PRIVACY trait! Which you’re VIOLATING!" She hugged her knees to her chest, trying to maintain some dignity while naked in a hot spring with a kidnapper. "What do you want?!"

"To negotiate."

"NEGOTIATE?! You KIDNAPPED me!"

"I rescued you from a mediocre mating," he corrected, his voice maddeningly calm. "That Panther was too rough. You could barely walk when I took you."

Xin Yi’s face went red. "HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?! WAIT—YOU SAID YOU WERE IN THE CEILING THE WHOLE TIME?!"

"Not the whole time." His lips curved into the faintest smirk. "Just enough to confirm the Panther has no technique. Very disappointing for a first mating."

"I AM GOING TO DROWN YOU!"

She lunged out of the water, and Qing Lin caught her wrists with lightning speed, his grip cool and firm. He pulled her closer, and suddenly they were inches apart, water dripping from her hair onto his chest.

His eyes studied her face. "You smell different now. Like Panther. But also like....what you call....soap and...something sharp. Anger, perhaps."

"OF COURSE I’M ANGRY! YOU KIDNAPPED ME!"

"You keep saying that word." He released one wrist to brush a wet strand of hair from her face. "But you are not screaming for help. You are not trying to escape. You are...negotiating."

Xin Yi froze.

He was right.

She WASN’T screaming. She wasn’t fighting. She was...talking.

[DING! ☆]**

[System Analysis: Host has subconsciously recognized that Qing Lin is NOT a threat to her safety. Interesting! Your survival instincts are sharper than your brain! (◕‿◕)]

"I hate you too," she muttered at the screen.

Qing Lin’s thumb traced the fresh bite mark on her neck. His touch was cold, soothing against the inflamed skin. "This mark is incomplete."

"What does that mean?"

"It means," he said slowly, his eyes glowing faintly in the dim light, "the Panther marked you in desperation. Fear. Possession. But not...devotion. Not yet."

"So?"

"So it can still be challenged." His other hand slid to her waist, holding her steady in the water. "By someone who understands what you are truly worth."

Xin Yi’s heart was hammering. "And you think that’s YOU?"

"I think," Qing Lin murmured, leaning closer until his breath ghosted across her lips, "you deserve someone who will worship you properly. Not just claim you like a hunt prize."

[DING DING DING! (≧▽≦)]

[ROMANCE LEVEL: CRITICAL!]

[Host, he’s about to KISS you! What will you do?!]

[A) Let him kiss you (Start Snake Romance Route)]

[B) Push him away (Maintain Panther Loyalty)]

[C) Scream for help (Coward Option)]

[D) Bite his tongue if he tries it (Feral Option)]

Before Xin Yi could even process the options, a sound split the air.

ROOOOOAAAARRRRR!

The entire village shook.

Birds exploded from the trees. Small animals fled in terror. Even the bioluminescent plants seemed to dim in fear.

Qing Lin’s head snapped toward the entrance, his pupils contracting to slits. "Ah. The Panther has arrived."

"HEI YAN!" Xin Yi gasped.

Another roar, closer this time. Followed by the sound of wood splintering and people screaming.

"GIVE ME BACK MY FEMALE!" Hei Yan’s voice boomed across the village like the wrath of an angry god. "QING LIN! COME OUT AND FACE ME, YOU COLD-BLOODED COWARD!"

Xin Yi tried to scramble out of the hot spring, but Qing Lin held her in place.

"Let him wait," the Snake King said calmly. "He interrupted us."

"HE’S GOING TO DESTROY YOUR VILLAGE!"

"Hmm. Possibly." Qing Lin didn’t seem concerned. "But if I return you immediately, he will think I fear him. That sets a poor precedent."

"PRECEDENT?! HE’S GOING TO MURDER YOU!"

CRASH!

The sound of an entire building collapsing.

"QING LIN!" Hei Yan roared. "I WILL BURN THIS SWAMP TO THE GROUND!"

Python warriors were shouting now, hissing challenges, but none of them seemed brave enough to actually engage the feral Panther Alpha currently demolishing their village.

Xin Yi looked at Qing Lin. "Please. Let me go to him before someone dies." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"No."

"QING LIN!"

"Not until you agree to my terms." His grip tightened on her waist. "Teach my people. One moon cycle. Then you may return to your Panther."

"ONE MOON CYCLE?! THAT’S A MONTH!"

"Twenty-eight days," he corrected. "I am being generous."

Another building exploded in the distance.

"XINNNN YIIIII!" Hei Yan’s voice cracked with desperation. "WHERE ARE YOU?!"

Her heart clenched.

[DING! (╥﹏╥)]

[Aw, Host! Your Panther is having a meltdown! His post-mating instincts are going HAYWIRE! If you don’t show yourself soon, he might actually go feral-feral and kill everyone!]

[New Quest: PREVENT A MASSACRE!]

[Options:]

[1) Agree to Qing Lin’s terms (1 month teaching Snake tribe)]

[2) Refuse and let Hei Yan destroy everything]

[3) Negotiate better terms]

Xin Yi took a deep breath.

Think. THINK. She was naked, kidnapped, and caught between two hot Beastman.

There was only one right decision to make!