Help! I transmigrated to a Beast World-Chapter 81: To the Waterfall!

Three days.

It had been three days since Xin Yi had arrived at wolf territory.

Three days since she had said goodbye to Qing Lin at the border.

Three days of avoiding Sha Chen like he was a plague.

And surprisingly, he had let her.

He had not called her to his bedroom since that first night. Had not demanded her presence. Had not forced her into uncomfortable situations.

He just......let her be.

She ate meals with the harem, suffering through Zi Jue’s glares and Xue Mei’s cold indifference. Měi Lán was kind, at least. And Ling Yu had warmed up slightly after Xin Yi complimented her weaving skills.

But mostly, Xin Yi stayed alone.

In her room. In the gardens. In quiet corners where no one would bother her.

It was......saddening.

Not because she missed Sha Chen’s company—absolutely not.

But because she missed HOME. Missed Qing Lin. Missed Xiao Long. Missed the chaotic energy of building something from nothing.

Here, everything was already built. Already perfect. Already done.

There was nothing for her to DO.

[DING! (⁠ᗒ⁠ᗩ⁠ᗕ⁠)]

[Host’s emotional state: Melancholic]

[Host misses her Snake King]

[And her baby Xiao Long]

[This is sad ☆]

"I know it is sad, System," she muttered under her breath. "You do not need to remind me."

[DING! (¬‿¬)]

[Just providing moral support!]

[Very supportive System here! ☆]

She rolled her eyes.

~

Today, Ài Yún had invited her to the textile workshop.

"Come!" she had said that morning, practically dragging Xin Yi out of her room. "You cannot mope around forever! Come sew with us! It will be fun!"

Fun was....debatable. But at least it was something to do.

The textile workshop was bright and airy. Large windows let in natural light. Looms stood against the walls. Tables were covered with fabric, thread, needles, and patterns.

Several wolf women were already there. Working. Chatting. Laughing.

Ài Yún led Xin Yi to a table where a few females were embroidering.

"This is Xin Yi," Ài Yún announced cheerfully. "She is new. Be nice."

The women looked up. Some smiled. Some nodded politely. Zi Jue, who was also there, just sneered and went back to her work.

"Sit!" Ai Yun patted the cushion next to her. "I will teach you!"

Xin Yi sat, picked up a needle, and threaded it clumsily. She could easily do it if she wanted to, but she was too tired.

"Like this," Ài Yún demonstrated. "See? Simple!"

"Hmm." Xin Yi muttered, lazily trying to copy her. She poked her finger. "Ow."

"Careful!" Ài Yún laughed. "The needle bites!"

One of the other females, a younger wolf with brown fur and curious eyes, leaned over. "You really came from another world? Like the Great Mother and Father?"

"Yes," Xin Yi said simply.

"What was it like? Your world?"

Xin Yi paused. Thought about it. "Loud. Busy. Full of....things. Machines. Buildings. People everywhere."

"Sounds chaotic," another female said.

"It was. But it was also......wonderful. In its own way."

They worked in comfortable silence for a while, until one of the females, Ling Yu, spoke up. Her tone was casual but pointed.

"The Northern Frost tribe is so gentle compared to the savage snake tribes," she said, not looking at Xin Yi. "I heard they live in swamps. In caves. Like animals."

Xin Yi’s hand froze, and her jaw clenched.

She wanted to defend them, wanted to say that Qing Lin was NOT savage. That the Azure Scale tribe was building something beautiful. That they were learning and growing and—

But she bit her tongue.

Because arguing would not help.

"They are not savages," she said quietly. "They are learning. Adapting. Building."

Ling Yu raised an eyebrow. "Building what? Mud huts?"

"Stone houses," Xin Yi said firmly. "With proper foundations. And drainage systems. And—"

"Enough, Ling Yu," Ài Yún interrupted gently. "Do not antagonize our guest."

Ling Yu shrugged. "I was just making conversation."

[DING! (⊙_⊙)]

[Host is being VERY restrained]

[Good self-control!]

[But Host wants to SLAP someone! ☆]

Xin Yi took a deep breath, and focused on her stitching.

Suddenly a presence showed up in the doorway, and everyone looked up.

Sha Chen stood there. Tall. Elegant. His white eyes scanning the room until they landed on Xin Yi. He smiled at her, earning a scoff from Xin Yi.

The other women immediately straightened, and bowed slightly.

"Alpha," they murmured.

He ignored them entirely, walking straight to Xin Yi.

She kept her eyes on her sewing, refusing to acknowledge him. He stopped beside her, looked down at the fabric in her hands, reached out and touched it. His fingers brushed against hers.

She pulled her hand back immediately.

He chuckled.

Then he leaned down, his lips very close to her ear.

"Why work so hard, my bride? I have a hundred servants who can sew for you."

She stiffened.

"And also," he continued, still whispering, "you have been avoiding me for three days. Why is that?"

"I have not been avoiding you," she lied.

"Hmm. You eat meals in silence. Disappear immediately after. Spend your days hiding in corners." His breath was warm against her ear. "That sounds like avoiding to me."

She said nothing.

He straightened up, and looked at the other women.

"Leave us," he said simply.

They scrambled to obey. Even Ài Yún, though she gave Xin Yi an apologetic look before leaving. Within moments, the workshop was empty, leaving just Xin Yi and Sha Chen.

"You do not need to clear the room every time you want to talk to me," Xin Yi muttered.

"But I enjoy having your full attention."

"You do not have my attention. You have my tolerance."

He laughed. "You are very sharp-tongued for someone in your position."

"And you are very touchy for someone who promised not to force me."

"I am not forcing. I am merely....present."

[DING! (¬‿¬)]

[Sha Chen is PERSISTENT]

[Like a very elegant, very annoying dog! ☆]

Sha Chen walked around the table, sitting down across from her. He rested his chin on his hand.

"I have sent my people," he said. "To your snake territory. To teach them what you requested."

Her head snapped up. "What?"

"The builders. The craftsmen. The teachers." His white eyes glowed. "They left yesterday. They should arrive at Azure Scale in three or four days."

Her eyes widened. "You......you actually did it?"

"I said I would, did I not?"

"But—I thought—"

"You thought I was lying?" He tilted his head. "I may be cruel, Xin Yi. But I keep my word."

She stared at him, still processing what he had just told her. He had actually sent help, he had actually kept his promise.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

"Hmm." He was watching her with a blank expression. "You are welcome."

They sat in silence for a moment, but then Sha Chen sighed.

"You are very difficult, you know that?"

"Good."

"Most females would be grateful to be in my harem. To have my attention. My resources."

"I am not most females."

"No." He leaned back. "You are decidedly NOT most females."

[DING! (◕‿◕)]

[Is Host... taming the Wolf Alpha?]

[With sass and attitude?]

[This is hilarious! ☆]

"Why do you keep coming to bother me?" Xin Yi asked suddenly. "You have four other females in your harem. Go bother them."

"Because they bore me."

"Excuse me?"

"They agree with everything I say. They smile when I tell them to smile. They are......predictable." He looked at her. "But you? You slap me. You argue. You refuse to even look at me most of the time." His smile widened. "You are interesting."

"I am NOT a toy for your entertainment."

"No. You are much more valuable than a toy."

She threw her sewing at him.

He caught it easily with a laugh.

"See? Interesting!"

[DING! (≧▽≦)]

[Host threw fabric at an Alpha!]

[And he is ENJOYING it!]

[These males are all insane! ☆]

Xin Yi stood up. "I am leaving."

"Wait." He stood too. "I have something to show you."

"No."

"It is not my bedroom."

"Still no."

"It is a waterfall."

She paused. Turned. "...What?"

"A waterfall. Liánmián. The Clear Moon Waterfall." His expression softened slightly. "It was Mama’s favorite place. I thought......you might like to see it."

"There is a waterfall?" Her voice came out more surprised than she intended. "Here? In wolf territory?"

"Yes. North of the settlement. Hidden in the mountains." He tilted his head. "Would you like to see it?"

[DING! (⊙_⊙)]

[A waterfall!]

[In the mountains!]

[That sounds beautiful!]

[But also potentially DANGEROUS!]

[What is Sha Chen planning?! ☆]

Xin Yi hesitated.

On one hand, she did NOT want to spend time alone with Sha Chen. On the other hand, a waterfall. A WATERFALL. She had not seen anything that beautiful since transmigrating.

"Is this a trick?" she asked suspiciously.

"No trick. Just a waterfall."

"Will there be other people there?"

"Probably not. It is quite remote."

"Then no."

"Xin Yi—"

"I am not going anywhere alone with you."

He sighed. "You can bring Ài Yún if it makes you feel better."

"....Really?"

"Really."

She narrowed her eyes. "And you will not try anything?"

"I promise to be on my best behavior." He held up his hand. "I will even walk ten paces behind you the entire time."

[DING! (¬‿¬)]

[He is REALLY trying!]

[Host should go!]

Xin Yi bit her lip.

"...Fine," she said finally. "But Ài Yún comes with us. And you stay ten paces away. And if you try ANYTHING—"

"You will slap me. Yes. I am aware." But he was smiling. "Shall we go now?"

"Now?!"

"Why not? The weather is perfect. The sun is high." He extended his hand. "Come. Let me show you something beautiful."

She looked at his hand, and decided to not take it. She just walked past him toward the door.

"Let me find Ài Yún first," she muttered.

Behind her, Sha Chen chuckled.

[DING! (◕‿◕)]

[Adventure time!]

[To the waterfall!]