Help! I transmigrated to a Beast World-Chapter 99: Water Therapy

Shortly after they returned from the temple, Xin Yi sat on a stone bench outside her room.

Staring at nothing.

Her face was blank. Empty. The tears had dried, leaving salt tracks on her cheeks that she didn’t bother to wipe away.

People passed by. Wolves going about their daily routines. But they gave her a wide berth.

Word had spread quickly.

The strange female snapped at Bái Fēng.

She yelled at him. Called him things. Refused to speak to people.

Something happened at the temple.

Something bad.

Měi Lán approached hesitantly, holding a plate of food. "Xin Yi? I brought you some—"

"I am not hungry."

"But you haven’t eaten since—"

"I said I’m not hungry." She snapped.

Měi Lán retreated quickly.

[DING! (⁠╯⁠︵⁠╰⁠,)]

[Host has rejected food]

[This is concerning ☆]

"PRETTY LADY!" Zhao Li’s voice rang out. The little girl came running, her grass bracelet clutched in her hand. "Pretty Lady! Look! I fixed it! It’s even better now! Want to play?"

Xin Yi looked at her.

And said nothing.

Zhao Li’s smile faltered. "Pretty Lady?"

Silence.

"Do you......do you want to see my new dance? Mama taught me! It’s really fun and—"

Xin Yi stood up, walked past her. Into her room, and closed the door.

Zhao Li stood there. Her lower lip trembling. "Did I......did I do something wrong?"

Ài Yún appeared, scooping up the child. "No, baby. She’s just.....tired."

"But she didn’t even LOOK at me."

"I know, sweetheart. I know."

~

Hours passed.

The sun moved across the sky.

Xin Yi eventually emerged, walking to a different spot and sitting again. Her mind was blank.

Just blank.

Sha Chen found her there as evening approached.

He was dressed in simple clothes, and his white eyes filled with concern.

He sat down beside her.

Not too close. Giving her space.

"Xin Yi.....Do you still want to go?" he asked quietly. "To Azure Scale?"

Silence.

"Xin Yi?"

"No."

His head whipped toward her. "What?"

"I said no." Her voice was empty. "I don’t want to go."

"But......Qing Lin. You care for him. You’ve been desperate to return—"

"What’s the point?"

Sha Chen blinked, surprised by her words. "What?"

She finally looked at him. Her eyes were hollow. "What is the point, Sha Chen? Of any of it? I can’t go home. I can never go home. So what difference does it make if I’m here or there?"

"Xin Yi—"

"It’s not their fault I was torn here. It’s not YOUR fault exactly. It’s not anyone’s fault except HER." She looked away. "But I still feel......resentment. Toward everyone. Everything. This whole world."

Sha Chen’s chest ached. "I understand."

"Do you?" She laughed bitterly. "You were born here. This is your HOME. You’ve never had everything ripped away from you."

"You’re right," he said quietly. "I haven’t."

They sat in silence.

Then Xin Yi spoke again. Her voice barely audible.

"Murderer."

Sha Chen flinched.

"You were cold and cruel to me," she continued, taking out all her anger and aggression on him. "You threatened my mate. Kidnapped me. Killed Zi Jue—" Her voice cracked. "You ripped out her heart."

He said nothing in response to Xin Yi.

But there was guilt written all over his face.

"I know," he finally whispered. "I know what I am. What I’ve done."

They stared at each other.

Then Sha Chen stood. "Come."

She didn’t move.

"Come, Xin Yi."

"Why?"

"Just.....trust me. Please."

She didn’t want to. Didn’t want to move. Didn’t want to do ANYTHING.

But something in his voice...

She stood reluctantly, and followed him.

They walked through the settlement. Past wolves who whispered as they passed.

"—killed Zi Jue to protect the other female—"

"—ripped out her heart, they say—"

"—always knew he was dangerous but—"

Xin Yi glanced at Sha Chen. Saw how his jaw clenched. How guilt flickered across his face before he hid it.

Good, she thought bitterly. Let him feel it.

[DING! (...)]

[Host is being cruel]

[But understandably so ☆]

You, shut up.

They reached a building. Larger than the others. Steam rising from vents in the roof.

Sha Chen pushed open the door.

Inside was.....a pool.

A massive, heated pool built into the ground. The water was crystal clear, steam rising from its surface. The walls were tiled with smooth stones.

"You have a swimming pool?" Xin Yi said flatly.

"Lin Zhiying designed it." Sha Chen removed the top layer of his clothing. "She said she always found water calming."

He stepped into the pool, and sank down until the water reached his chest. Sighed.

"It helps. When the thoughts get too loud."

Xin Yi stood at the edge. Staring at the water. Hmm. No.

She shook her head immediately. "I can’t."

"Xin Yi—"

"I SAID I CAN’T!"

She turned to leave.

But Sha Chen moved quickly. He surged out of the water, grabbed her wrist, and PULLED.

SPLASH.

She hit the water hard. Went under. Came up sputtering.

"ARE YOU INSANE?!" She smacked his chest. "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!"

He chuckled at her. "I’m sorry I did that. But at least now you’re not just staring blankly."

"I—YOU—" She hit him again. "You’re TERRIBLE!"

But he was right.

The shock had jolted something in her. Made her feel.....something. Anything.

She stood there soaked. Glaring at him.

"It’s cold," she muttered.

"It will warm up."

She sighed. "This is what I needed, I suppose."

"I know."

They stood in the water, not speaking.

Then Sha Chen said quietly, "You can tell me. What happened at the temple."

She shook her head. "No."

"Why not?"

"You?" She looked at him. "Why would I tell YOU anything?"

He flinched but said nothing in response.

"Very well," he finally said. "You don’t have to tell me."

But the silence was heavy.

And eventually... she broke.

"She’s petty," Xin Yi said quietly. "The goddess. She’s throwing a tantrum because her brother called her creation redundant. So she pulls people from other worlds to prove a point."

She laughed bitterly.

"That’s why I’m here. Not because I’m special. Not because I was chosen for some grand destiny. But because a GODDESS is having a sibling rivalry and I’m her pawn."

Sha Chen’s eyes widened. "Oh."

"And I can never go home. Ever. This transmigration is permanent. This is my life now. Forever." Her voice cracked. "Whether I like it or not."

"Xin Yi......."

"Don’t." She looked away. "Don’t say you’re sorry. Everyone’s sorry. But no one can FIX it."

He moved closer. "Then I won’t say sorry. I’ll say......I understand."

"You don’t—"

"But I do. They were transmigrators too," he said quietly. "Lin Zhiying and Wang Xianmo. They told me once, near the end......they told me they missed their old world. Their families. Their lives. But they couldn’t go back. And it destroyed them."

Xin Yi looked at him.

"They tried to hide it," Sha Chen continued. "Tried to be happy here. To make the best of it. But some nights.....some nights Mama would cry. And Papa would hold her. And they would both pretend everything was fine in the morning."

His jaw clenched.

"I saw it. The resentment. The pain. The desperate attempt to find meaning in a world they never asked to be part of." He looked at her. "So yes. I understand."

Silence fell between them.

Then Sha Chen moved, splashing water at her face.

She sputtered. "What—"

He splashed again. Grinning now.

"Stop it!"

"Make me."

She splashed back.

And suddenly they were play-fighting. Like children. Splashing and laughing and forgetting everything for just a moment.

[DING! (◕‿◕)]

[Host is.....laughing?]

[Healing detected]

[Small steps! ☆]

Xin Yi giggled despite herself. Sha Chen paused, staring at her. "There it is."

"What?"

"Your smile. I was worried I’d never see it again."

Oh. He’s smooth. Sigh.

She looked away, embarrassment flushing her face. "Don’t be dramatic."

But he stepped closer, his expression serious now.

"I’m sorry," he said. "For tearing you from Qing Lin. For threatening him. For being cruel. For......for everything."

She said nothing.

"I know you said you don’t want to, but you can still go if you want," he continued. "To Azure Scale. For good. I won’t stop you. I’ll still escort you. Make sure you arrive safely."

She looked shocked. "Really?"

"Really." His white eyes were sincere. "It’s your choice. Your REAL choice. Not forced by me. Not commanded by a goddess. Just......you."

She stared at him.

Processing.

"I....." She swallowed. "I’m not sure. I still feel... resentment. Toward everyone. Everything. I need....." She took a shaky breath. "I need time."

"Then take it." He smiled softly. "Stay here as long as you need."

"Really?"

"Really."

She sighed. "Hmm. Okay. I’ll......I’ll stay. For now."

Then, without warning, she started crying.

Not angry crying. Not desperate crying.

It was a release.

All the tension. All the fear. All the pain.

It poured out.

"I just—" she sobbed. "Why? Why ME? Why did it have to be—"

Sha Chen’s eyes first widened in shock, before he then pulled her into his arms, and held her as she cried.

She cried into his chest. Soaking his already wet shirt with tears and water.

He said nothing as she cried, just stroking her hair, letting her break down completely.

Eventually, the sobs subsided. She pulled back, embarrassed.

"I’m sorry, I—"

"Don’t apologize."

"But I got your—"

"I don’t care."

She wiped her face. Tried to compose herself. "I should......I should get out now."

"Alright."

She turned toward the edge of the pool. Reached for the stone ledge to pull herself up.

Her hand slipped.

"Wha—"

She fell backward.

Directly into the water.

SPLASH.

She came up sputtering. Again.

Sha Chen burst out laughing.

"It’s NOT FUNNY!"

"It’s a LITTLE funny!"

"I almost DROWNED!"

"You’re in three feet of water!"

She glared at him. Then to her shock found herself laughing alongside him.

Because it WAS ridiculous.

All of it.

The divine drama. The kidnapping. The krakens. The crying.

And now slipping like an idiot in a pool.

They laughed until their sides hurt.

[Comedy achieved!]

[Host is healing!]

[Slowly but surely! ☆]

Xin Yi climbed out successfully this time, dripping wet. Hair plastered to her face.

"I hate you," she muttered.

"No, you don’t."

"I do."

"Hmm. We’ll see."

She rolled her eyes.

But she was smiling.

Just a little.

And for now......that was enough.