Help! I transmigrated to a Beast World-Chapter 67: Baby Talk

Both of them turned.

Feng Huang was jogging alongside them, grinning. "My head warrior! He’s HUGE! Bigger than me in beast form! She could ride on his back the whole way!"

Qing Lin’s eye twitched. "Absolutely NOT."

"Why not?! It makes sense! He’s strong! He’s fast! And—"

"My female is NOT riding another male!"

"He’s in TIGER form! It’s not like—"

"I DON’T CARE!" Qing Lin boomed. "She rides with ME! Or she doesn’t ride at all!"

Feng Huang held up his hands. "Okay, okay! Calm yourself, possessive snake! I am just trying to HELP!"

"Well, STOP helping!"

"But think about it!" Feng Huang’s grin turned sly. "My Huo Gen is VERY comfortable to ride. Soft fur. Strong back. Xin Yi would be so cozy on top of him—"

Qing Lin’s eyes flashed GREEN. "I will RIP OUT YOUR THROAT!"

"—and I could run alongside! Keep her company! Make sure she’s not bored during the journey!" He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a purr. "Maybe even share body heat if she gets cold—"

"THAT’S IT!" Qing Lin shifted Xin Yi to one arm and lunged at Feng Huang with the other.

The tiger danced backward, laughing. "So EASY to rile up! Like poking an angry serpent with a stick!"

"I AM NOT A SERPENT! I AM A KING!"

"A very JEALOUS king!"

"I WILL KILL YOU!"

"Promises, promises!" Feng Huang winked at Xin Yi. "See how much he loves you? So possessive! So territorial! It’s almost cute!"

Qing Lin made a strangled hissing sound.

"Feng Huang," Xin Yi said tiredly. "Please stop trying to get yourself murdered."

"But it’s so FUN!" The tiger’s eyes gleamed with mischief. "Besides, the snake needs to learn to SHARE. You have two marks already, little female. Surely there’s room for one more—"

"THERE IS NO ROOM!" Qing Lin roared. "SHE IS MINE! MY FEMALE! MY MATE!"

"Hmm, but she hasn’t said that herself—"

"FENG HUANG!"

The tiger threw his head back and LAUGHED. "Ah, this is too good! Your face, snake! PRICELESS!"

Xin Yi let out a groan. She tugged on Qing Lin’s arm and whispered, "Take me to his front."

Qing Lin looked down at her, confused. "What?"

"Just.....just do it. Please."

Still looking suspicious, he walked closer to the still-laughing tiger. The moment they were in range, Xin Yi reached out and BONKED Feng Huang on the head with her fist.

THUNK.

"OW!" The tiger stopped laughing immediately, rubbing his head. "What was that for?!"

"STOP IT!" She glared at him despite her fever-flushed face. "Stop instigating! Stop teasing! Stop trying to start fights!"

"But I was just—"

"I KNOW what you were doing!" She bonked him again. "Bad kitty! No treats for you!"

"I’m not a KITTY—OW! Stop hitting me!"

"Then stop being ANNOYING!"

Feng Huang pouted, his ears actually drooping. "You’re mean when you’re sick."

"I’m mean when YOU’RE being a pest!" She turned to look at Qing Lin, her expression softening. "Please. Let’s not fight. I’m tired."

Qing Lin’s anger melted immediately. "Of course. I’m sorry, little female."

"And YOU—" She pointed at Feng Huang without looking. "Behave. Or I will ask Xiao Long to sit on you."

The tiger gasped dramatically. "You wouldn’t!"

"Watch me."

[DING! (≧▽≦)]

[Xin Yi has tamed BOTH males!]

[With violence and exhaustion!]

[Effective strategy! ☆]

Feng Huang held up his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine! I will behave! No more teasing!" Then his grin returned, smaller but still mischievous. "Until tomorrow."

"FENG HUANG!"

"What?! I said I’d behave TODAY! Tomorrow is a different day!"

Qing Lin made another strangled hissing sound.

Xin Yi just closed her eyes and let her head fall against his chest. "Someone please just knock me asleep until we reach wolf territory."

"Do not tempt me," Qing Lin muttered.

"I could help with that!" Feng Huang offered cheerfully.

"NO!" both Qing Lin and Xin Yi shouted at once. Qing Lin then pinched his nose, muttering to himself. He didn’t want to accept help, not especially from a big irritating tiger like Feng Huang. But Xin Yi needed it.

"...Fine." The word came out strangled. "FINE. Xin Yi rides the tiger. But I stay beside her! The ENTIRE journey! And you will stay here. Only Kuan Tie, and Huo Gen will come along."

"Good!" Feng Huang’s grin widened. "See? The snake can share—"

"I am NOT sharing! I am being FORCED!"

Xin Yi reached up and patted his hair.

"Thank you, Qing Lin."

"Hmph." He leaned into her touch despite his scowl. "This tiger makes my head hurt. He is very irritating."

"You are a good male."

"Do not.....do not say such things."

"A very GOOD male."

"Xin Yi—"

She kissed his cheek.

His whole body went RIGID. His face flushed hot, and he quickly turned his head away. Oh? The Snake King was flustered?

"You—that is—" He was making noises now, half-words. "Females should not—you cannot just—"

"Does it make you happy?"

"Yes....."

"Then I will do it again."

His face turned FURTHER away, practically facing backward. But his arms tightened around her, pulling her closer to his chest. His nose pressed into her hair, breathing her in.

[DING! (≧▽≦)]

[Tsundere Snake King: ACTIVATED!]

[He’s acting tough but he’s MELTING inside!]

[This is peak romance! ☆]

[Mission Accomplished: Tiger convinced Snake to accept help!]

[Qing Lin’s Jealousy Level: Still Maximum but Manageable!]

[Tomorrow: Journey to Wolf Territory begins! ☆]

~

Dawn came too quickly.

Xin Yi stood in front of Huo Gen, the MASSIVE tiger warrior who made even Feng Huang look small, and swallowed hard.

"You want me to climb.....onto THAT?"

Huo Gen was in his beast form. Orange and black stripes. Muscles everywhere. And those TEETH.

"He won’t bite," Feng Huang said cheerfully. "Probably."

"PROBABLY?!"

Qing Lin looked physically pained. "I hate this. I hate EVERYTHING about this."

"I know." She patted his arm. "But it’s practical."

"Practical," he muttered. "My female riding another male is NOT practical. It is TORTURE."

"He’s a tiger! In beast form!"

"Still a male!"

Huo Gen made a rumbling sound to mock the Snake King.

Qing Lin shot him a LOOK. "Do not laugh at me, tiger. Or I will poison your next meal."

The rumbling stopped immediately.

"Okay." Xin Yi took a breath. "Help me up?"

Qing Lin looked like he would rather eat grass, But he lifted her carefully, mindful of her blisters,and placed her on Huo Gen’s back.

The tiger’s fur was SOFT. Warm. And surprisingly comfortable.

"Oh," she said. "This is actually.....nice?"

Qing Lin made a wounded noise.

"I mean! Not as nice as you! You’re much nicer! The NICEST!"

"Stop talking," he muttered, already walking away. "You are making it worse."

[DING! (¬‿¬)]

[Snake King’s Jealousy: CRITICAL]

[But he’s being mature about it!]

[Character growth! ☆]

Kuan Tie appeared, carrying supplies. "We are ready, King Qing Lin."

"Good." Qing Lin responded. "Kuan Tie, you carry the medicine supplies. I will lead. Huo Gen in the middle with Xin Yi. And—" He turned. "—Yue Ling will accompany us."

A female snake stepped forward.

She was absolutely tall. Silver scales. Purple eyes. And she carried herself like a warrior.

"Yue Ling?" Xin Yi blinked. "Why do we need—"

"A female should have another female present," Qing Lin said firmly. "For....for female things. That males should not handle."

Translation: He was worried about her blisters and fever and wanted someone other than himself who could help with intimate care.

Xin Yi’s chest felt warm. "Thank you."

"Hmph."

"PINK SKIN!"

Xiao Long came RUNNING. His little face was red. Tear-streaked. "You are LEAVING?! Without me?!"

"Oh, baby—" Xin Yi leaned down from Huo Gen’s back. "We arre only going for a few days! We’ll be back!"

"But what if you DIE?!" He was full-on sobbing now. "What if the wolves EAT you?! What if you forget about me?!"

"I could NEVER forget about you!"

"But—but—" He hiccupped. "Who will call me their baby?!"

[DING! (╥﹏╥)]

[XIAO LONG IS BREAKING EVERYONE’S HEARTS]

Qing Lin crouched down. "Xiao Long. Listen to me."

The boy sniffled. "Yes, Uncle Qing?"

"Feng Huang will take care of you. And Mei Lin. And all the warriors. They will keep you safe."

"But I want Pink Skin!"

"And she will RETURN. I promise." His voice was firm. "I will bring her back safely. Do you trust me?"

Xiao Long wiped his nose. "...Yes."

"Good. Now be brave. Like a warrior."

The little boy straightened up. He tried to stop crying but failed miserably. "O-okay."

Xin Yi’s heart was BREAKING. "Xiao Long, when I get back, I’ll make you ALL the soup you want! And we’ll build MORE things! And—"

"You PROMISE?!"

"I promise!"

He seemed slightly mollified. "...Okay. But come back FAST!"

"As fast as we can, baby."

Feng Huang scooped up the crying child. "Come on, little prince. Let’s watch them leave together."

They started walking.

Qing Lin at the front. Kuan Tie beside him. Huo Gen in the middle with Xin Yi on his back. Yue Ling bringing up the rear.

The settlement got smaller behind them.

Xin Yi looked back one last time. Xiao Long was waving frantically. She waved back until she couldn’t see him anymore.

Then turned forward.

"How long until we reach wolf territory?" she asked.

"Three days," Qing Lin said without looking back. "Maybe two if we push hard."

"And the flower?"

"Grows in the mountains. We will find it."

There was silence for a while. Just the sound of footsteps and Huo Gen’s breathing.

Then—

"Xin Yi?"

"Yes?"

Qing Lin still wasn’t looking at her. His ears were slightly red. "When this is over. When you are healed. When we return..."

"Yes?"

"We should......we should have our own young."

Xin Yi CHOKED. "WHAT?!"

"Cubs. Hatchlings." His voice was matter-of-fact but his neck was BRIGHT red now. "You are good with Xiao Long. You would be a good mother."

"I—you—we—QING LIN!"

Kuan Tie was trying SO HARD not to laugh. Yue Ling was openly smirking. Even Huo Gen made an amused rumbling sound.

"I am just saying," Qing Lin continued, still not looking back, "it is something to consider. For the future. When you are not dying from fever."

[DING! (≧▽≦)]

[BABY TALK!]

[Qing Lin wants BABIES!]

[This journey just got INTERESTING! ☆]