Xin Yi froze. "What?"
"You heard ." His purple eyes were hard as stone. "You are FORBIDDEN. You, that snake, that snake child—all of you. BANNED."
[DING! (╯°□°)╯]
[OH NO HE DIDN’T!]
[BANISHNT CARD PLAYED!]
[That’s harsh! Though honestly could be worse! He could’ve challenged Qing Lin to death combat! Or tried to kill you both! So really this is pretty rciful! ☆]
"You’re—you’re BANISHING ?!" Xin Yi’s voice went up three octaves.
"I am protecting my tribe." Hei Yan turned away. "You brought a snake into our ho. It will not happen again."
"Hei Yan, you can’t do that. PLEASE—"
"GO BACK TO YOUR PRECIOUS AZURE SCALE!" He was shouting again. "Go back to your snake king who is SO MUCH BETTER THAN ! Just don’t. Co. Back. HERE!"
He started limping away.
"HEI YAN! WAIT!"
He didn’t stop, he didn’t even look back at her. He disappeared into the trees, hunched over his wounds, moving like every step hurt.
Silence.
Xin Yi stood there, her chest feeling slightly constricted and painful.
"Well," Qing Lin said. "That went—"
"Do not." Her voice was flat. "Don’t you DARE say that went well."
"I was going to say ’better than I expected.’ I thought I was finally going to kill the panther."
"HE JUST BANNED FROM AN ENTIRE TERRITORY!"
"Yes, but we’re all alive! No one died! That’s—"
"I DON’T CARE!"
[DING! (◕‿◕)]
[Redirect! Redirect!]
[Xin Yi’s anger switching targets!]
[New Target: Snake King]
[Qing Lin Survival Rate: Dropping FAST! ☆]
Seven days.
The stupid cat had waited SEVEN DAYS.
No food. No sleep. No MOVING.
For HER.
And she had co back slling like another male. Marked by another male. Having MATED with another male.
No wonder he’s pissed.
But then—
FORBIDDEN?!
Like she was so kind of CRIMINAL?!
Like she hadn’t TAUGHT them how to COOK? And make SOAP? And build ACTUAL HOUSES instead of dirt caves?!
"Tch." The sound escaped before she could stop it.
Qing Lin’s eyebrow went up. "Xin Yi? What are you thinking?"
"Stupid possessive cat," she muttered, her fists clenching. "Who does he think he IS? Forbidding from places? I’m not his PROPERTY!"
"Well, the mark suggests—"
"I DON’T CARE ABOUT SUGGESTIONS!"
Qing Lin shut up fast.
"You know what? FINE!" Xin Yi’s face was burning now. Angry-crying-embarrassed all at once. "He can KEEP his stupid territory! With his stupid caves and his stupid RAW AT! Walking around naked too! See if I CARE! It’s not my fault I want civilization! That big stupid cat!! I hope he falls inside a ditch and breaks his ankle!"
"Xin Yi—"
"It’s a turn-off anyway!"
Both Qing Lin and Xiao Long blinked.
"A what?" Qing Lin asked carefully. "What’s a ’turn-off?’" Xiao Long tilted his head in confusion.
"NOTHING!" Her voice cracked. "Nothing! Just—UGH!"
She spun around and started stomping toward Azure Scale territory.
"Pink Skin?" Xiao Long scrambled after her. "Your face is really red! Are you sick?"
"I AM FINE!"
"But—"
"I SAID I’M FINE!"
[DING! (≧▽≦)]
[Translation: Host is SUPER NOT FINE!]
[Emotional Breakdown Status:]
- Guilt: 40%
- Anger: 35%
- Hurt: 20%
- Confused horniness because possessive Hei Yan was kinda hot until he BANISHED you: 5%
[That last part is fascinating! Host has issues! ☆]
I WON’T JUST DELETE YOU. I WILL FRY AND ENSURE YOU CAN NEVER FUNCTION AGAIN!!!
[Waaaaaa]
[Host is feeling murderous! Jacqueline the ripper!]
Qing Lin caught up easily to Xin Yi. Stupid long snake legs. "Xin Yi, walk slowly."
"Why?"
"You’re about to walk into a tree."
She stopped. Her nose was like two inches from bark.
...I’m fine." But her voice wobbled.
"You’re crying."
"AM NOT—" She touched her face. Wet. "...Oh."
Qing Lin’s face went soft. He reached out slow, giving her ti to smack him away, and wiped her cheek with his thumb.
"He’s an idiot."
"He’s HURT."
"Still an idiot." Qing Lin’s jaw went tight. "Banishing you because he’s jealous? That’s childish."
"He waited seven days." Her voice ca out small and pathetic. "And I ca back marked by you."
"His choice to wait. YOUR choice to accept my mark." He tilted her chin up. "You don’t owe him anything just because he bit you first, Xin Yi."
"But—"
"No." His thumb brushed her lip. "He marked you desperate. I marked you devoted. Different."
[DING! (¬‿¬)]
[Smooth talker!]
[Also not wrong though! ☆]
Xin Yi yanked away from his hand. Sigh. There were too many feelings.
"I need to think."
"Then think." He stepped back, giving her space. "But walk while thinking. Don’t hit your head on anything."
"Uncle Qing?" Xiao Long tugged his wrap. "Is Pink Skin gonna be okay?"
"Eventually." Qing Lin’s eyes stayed on her face.
[DING! (◕‿◕)]
[NEW QUEST: DEAL WITH YOUR SS!]
[Objective: Process emotional trauma of getting dumped by Panther husband!]
[Difficulty: VERY HIGH]
[Suggested Coping thods: Ice cream, crying, friend talks]
[Available Resources: No ice cream, no human friends, only snakes and one small child]
[LOL good luck Host! ☆]
They walked quietly for a bit.
Xiao Long kept looking at her with big worried eyes.
Finally: "Pink Skin?"
"Yes?"
"The angry cat was really an."
"He was hurt."
"He hurt YOU!" Little fists clenched. "Made you cry! That’s bad!"
Xin Yi felt a tiny smile. "You’re sweet, baby."
"I’m not a baby! I’m SEVEN! I’m a WARRIOR!" But he grabbed her hand and squeezed. "Warriors protect sad people."
[DING! (╥﹏╥)]
[Xiao Long = TOO PURE]
[Must protect at all costs!]
[Congratulations Host! You survived the wrath of the Panther Alpha and ca out in one piece!]
[Mostly.]
[Your dignity took so damage but hey! You’re ALIVE! ☆]
Xin Yi walked in silence for another ten minutes, her brain churning.
Fine.
FINE.
If Hei Yan wanted to be a stupid possessive cat, then she’d just—she’d just focus on OTHER things!
Important things!
Like building civilization in Azure Scale territory! And her relationship with Qing Lin! Who actually ASKED before doing things! Who didn’t just bite and claim and then throw tantrums!
Who needs that oversized housecat anyway?
You do, a tiny voice whispered in her head.
She stomped on that voice HARD.
"System," she muttered under her breath. "What should I do?"
[DING! (ノ◕ヮ◕)ノ*:・゚✧]
[OH! Host is finally asking for HELP!]
[This is BEAUTIFUL! Character growth! I’m so proud!]
[Okay okay, listen up! Ti to get SERIOUS about your actual PURPOSE here!]
[You’ve been too busy collecting husbands! Now it’s ti to BUILD!]
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