Xin Yi sat down on one of the cushions. Zhao Li imdiately climbed into her lap and started playing with her hair.
Bai Feng stood by the door, looking relieved. "I will leave you ladies to talk. I have....patrol duties."
"Coward," his wife said fondly.
"I prefer ’tactically retreating.’"
"Still a coward."
He grinned and left.
Ai Yun busied herself with the tea, chattering the whole ti. "I am so sorry about the ss! If I had known you were coming I would have cleaned! And prepared snacks! Do you like moon cakes? I made so yesterday but Zhao Li ate most of them—"
"Mama!" Zhao Li protested.
"You DID, my darling. Do not deny it."
Xin Yi found herself smiling at the way mother and daughter bickered. This was so cute.
Ài Yún finally settled down with the tea, pouring two cups. She handed one to Xin Yi with a warm smile.
"So," Ai Yun said, sitting across from her. "How did you co here? To this world."
Xin Yi took a sip of the tea. It was good. Really good. So kind of floral blend that tasted like jasmine and honey.
"We know about the Great Mother and Father, Lin Zhiying and Wang Xianmo," Ài Yún continued. "They just......appeared one day. In the forest. Confused. Lost. No idea of how they got here." Her brown eyes were curious. "Was it the sa for you?"
Xin Yi nodded. "Yes. Exactly the sa. I just.....woke up in a forest. No idea how I got there. No idea where I was."
"Ooooh." Ài Yún’s eyes went wide. "How fascinating! And terrifying! You poor thing!"
"It was definitely terrifying."
"I cannot imagine!" Ài Yún stood up suddenly. "Oh! I almost forgot! Do you want so sweets? I made so this morning! Honey cakes! They are Zhao Li’s favorite!"
"Sweets?" Xin Yi’s eyes lit up. "Yes! Please!"
[DING! (◕‿◕)]
[Host’s sweet tooth: ACTIVATED]
[So things never change! ☆]
Ai Yun bustled over to a shelf and pulled down a small ceramic container. She opened it to reveal golden-brown cakes that slled AMAZING.
"Here!" She placed the container between them. "Eat as many as you like!"
Xin Yi took one. Bit into it.
Oh.
Oh WOW.
It was sweet. Soft. Perfectly moist. With a hint of cinnamon and sothing else she could not identify.
"This is DELICIOUS!" she said around a mouthful.
"I am glad you like it!" Ài Yún bead.
[DING! (¬‿¬)]
[Well, Host]
[It seems civilization has EVOLVED]
[The wolves already have: advanced architecture, cuisine, textile production, talworking, education, healthcare, AND record-keeping!]
[Host doesn’t need to teach them basic civilization!]
[Progress! ☆]
Xin Yi nearly choked on her cake. "What?!"
Ài Yún blinked. "Are you alright?"
"Yes! Sorry! Just—" She coughed. "—went down wrong."
[DING! (◕‿◕)]
[NEW QUEST UNLOCKED!]
[Quest: Survive Wolf Territory and Make New Friends!]
[Bonus Objective: Discover How Transmigrators Co to This World!]
[Reward: 2000 System Points Mystery Item!]
[Good luck, Host! ☆]
"Are you sure you are alright?" Ài Yún leaned forward, concerned. "You keep making strange faces."
"I am fine! Just......thinking."
"About your mate?"
Xin Yi’s chest tightened. "Yes. About him."
"I am sorry," Ai Yun said softly. "About what Sha Chen did. Separating you from your mate. Forcing you here. His ways are......cruel."
"Then why do you stay?"
Ài Yún did not look offended. She just looked sad. "Because he has also protected us. When barbarian tribes attacked, he defended us. When disease spread, he organized dical care. When food was scarce, he rationed fairly." She looked down at her tea. "He is cruel. But he is also......effective. And we feel conflicted about that."
Xin Yi said nothing.
Because she understood.
She HATED that she understood.
But she did.
This place, this territory, it was the most advanced civilization she had seen in the Beast World. More advanced than Shadow Claw. More advanced than Azure Scale.
It had everything.
And it reminded her of ho.
Her REAL ho.
The world with cars and electricity and internet and—
She was tempted to stay.
So tempted.
"OW!"
Xin Yi yelped.
Zhao Li, who had been happily playing with her hair, had accidentally YANKED a chunk of it.
"Oh no! Oh no!" Ai Yun jumped up. "Zhao Li! Be gentle!"
"Sorry!" The little girl’s eyes filled with tears. "I did not an to!"
"It is okay, baby—OW!"
Now Zhao Li was trying to pat the spot she had pulled. But her little claws—because yes, she had tiny wolf claws—scratched Xin Yi’s scalp.
"Zhao Li!" Ài Yún grabbed her daughter. "Stop! You are making it worse!"
"But I am HELPING!"
"You are NOT helping!"
[DING! (≧▽≦)]
[Adorable child has beco DANGEROUS]
[Accidental violence! ☆]
Xin Yi was rubbing her head. "It is fine. Really. She did not an to."
"I am so sorry!" Ai Yun looked mortified. "She gets excited and forgets her strength!"
"It is truly fine—"
"Stay forever!" Zhao Li announced suddenly. Still in her mother’s arms. Still completely unbothered by the chaos she had caused. "Stay forever and be my friend! We can play every day!"
Xin Yi’s heart squeezed. She smiled sadly. "I will......think about it."
Ài Yún set Zhao Li down and turned to Xin Yi, her eyes filled with warmth and understanding.
"Your fever is completely gone," she observed. "I can see it. Your skin looks healthy. The blisters are almost all healed."
"Oh." Xin Yi looked down at her arms. "Yes. It is. The Moonpetal lotus worked very well."
"That is good." Ài Yún smiled. "You will be fine here, you know. It is......different. Strange. Sotis difficult. But you will find your place."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because Lin Zhiying did. Wang Xianmo did." She reached over and squeezed Xin Yi’s hand. "And you are like them. Strong. Clever. Adaptable. You will survive this. Maybe even thrive." Xin Yi wanted to believe that. She really did.
Zhao Li wiggled out of her mother’s arms and climbed back into Xin Yi’s lap. This ti, she was very careful. Very gentle.
She patted Xin Yi’s cheeks softly. "Pretty Lady is sad?"
"A little bit, yes."
"Do not be sad!" Zhao Li threw her little arms around Xin Yi’s neck. "I will be your friend! Forever and ever! And friends make everything better!"
Xin Yi’s eyes stung.
She hugged the little girl back. "Thank you, baby. You are very sweet."
"The SWEETEST!" Zhao Li declared proudly.
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