Chapter 55: Confrontation

Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Confrontation

Bai Wanwan knew perfectly well what Yin Da had been called away to do.

She was from the modern world, after all, and had seen her fair share of palace harem dramas.

Beastmen shared human traits; jealousy and possessiveness would drive other females to play right into her hands.

All Bai Wanwan had to do these past few days was provide Yin Da with some emotional validation, and her life became much easier.

After luring Yin Da away one more time, Bai Wanwan decided to go find Zhu Xiu.

After a few days, she knew she couldn’t escape on her own.

Her only chance might lie with Zhu Xiu.

From what she’d gathered over the past few days, Zhu Xiu was the least like a Wandering Beast of all the Wandering Beasts.

Leaving the stone house, Bai Wanwan passed through an alley and heard the shrill cries of a few females.

Their voices held no pleasure, only pain.

Bai Wanwan peeked out. By the side of the stone hill, four male Wandering Beasts were pinning down a female.

They tormented and beat her simultaneously.

Having seen how males in the Cat Clan Tribe treated females like treasures...

Seeing this scene now made her feel even more strongly that these Wandering Beastmen were all twisted inside.

She tiptoed back, having no intention of getting involved.

She could barely protect herself; she couldn’t save anyone else.

She navigated the winding paths with a practiced familiarity.

Along the way, she ran into several Wandering Beasts.

Their gazes were so blatant, as if they wanted to tear her limb from limb and devour her.

She bolstered her courage and forced herself to walk on, feigning composure.

She could even hear them talking behind her back.

"So what if she’s a Holy Female? It’s not like we haven’t had one before."

"How can you say that... That Holy Female was so precious, and you lot played her to death."

"So she died. Who cares? We have a new one now."

"Once the City Lord gives the word, I’ll be the first to mate with her."

Bai Wanwan kept her head down and walked on, only to suddenly bump into a wall of flesh.

The force of the impact sent her stumbling back a couple of steps.

Zhu Xiu stood a few steps away. "Where are you going?"

Bai Wanwan righted herself and glanced around. There didn’t seem to be any other Wandering Beasts nearby.

"Looking for you."

"Looking for me?"

Though Zhu Xiu asked the question, his expression held no surprise.

"Yes. Can we talk somewhere else?" Bai Wanwan smiled at him.

She knew her smile was a potent weapon against males.

She’d tested it before, after all, and the results had always been good.

But to her surprise, Zhu Xiu shot her down without a moment’s hesitation. "No. The only thing I’m doing is taking you to see the City Lord. You can walk, or I can tie you up and take you."

Bai Wanwan was stunned for a moment, but then her smile, instead of fading, grew even brighter.

"If you want to tie me up, then go ahead. As long as it means I get to spend a little more time with you."

Zhu Xiu’s gaze swept across her face, and he chuckled softly. "Trying to escape? And you want to use me to do it?"

Zhu Xiu had to admit, she was the smartest and most composed female he had ever seen.

He knew everything she had been up to these past few days.

’Who would have thought a mere female could remain so composed? Not a single tear or tantrum. She even managed to coax Yin Da into being less irritable than usual.’

He really did see her in a different light.

’But... she shouldn’t have targeted me.’

Bai Wanwan chuckled. "Don’t put it so harshly. Do you know what cooperation is?"

"I don’t want to know."

"Don’t be so hasty... You know I’m a Holy Female. But being a Holy Female doesn’t just mean I’m more fertile than the others. I have other skills, too. You’ve been watching me for the past few days, haven’t you?"

Zhu Xiu neither denied it nor cut her off, seemingly willing to hear her out.

Bai Wanwan didn’t keep him waiting. ’As long as he’s willing to listen, there’s hope.’

"I’ve been watching you these past few days, too... Second-in-Command. In Wandering Beast City, you’re an anomaly. You’re incredibly powerful—rumor has it you’re on par with the City Lord—yet you don’t touch any of the females."

"Hm. And what conclusion did that lead you to?" Zhu Xiu’s eyes flickered.

"The Beastmen of Wandering Beast City unleash all the evil in their hearts here. They commit every wicked act imaginable. But you? If you don’t indulge yourself, then what is it you’re after?"

She threw the question back at him, their gazes locking in the space between them.

Suddenly, Bai Wanwan felt something moving at her feet.

She looked down and saw a Snake Tail.

She jumped back several steps in fright. "I might be able to help you! But if you kill me to shut me up, you’ll just be making things harder for yourself... You’ve been in Wandering Beast City for a long time, haven’t you?"

The moment she finished speaking, the cold Snake Tail coiled around her, hoisting her into the air.

Zhu Xiu hadn’t fully transformed. His upper body was still human; only his lower half had changed, wrapping around her tightly.

"Zhu Xiu, I genuinely want to help you! You wouldn’t even have to pay a high price..."

Zhu Xiu slithered forward, carrying her along and completely ignoring her.

Bai Wanwan tried to persuade him the entire way, talking until her mouth was dry and her throat was sore.

Zhu Xiu remained completely unmoved, delivering her all the way to Yin Da’s dwelling.

Just then, Yin Da rushed out and breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Zhu Xiu and Bai Wanwan.

"Where did you run off to? Why did you make Zhu Xiu bring you back?"

Yin Da’s tone wasn’t as fierce as when he faced other Beastmen.

Zhu Xiu’s eyebrow raised, and he turned his head to look at Bai Wanwan.

Bai Wanwan pouted. "I took a wrong turn and almost couldn’t find my way back."

Zhu Xiu lowered his gaze. ’This little female is quite two-faced. No wonder she has Yin Da wrapped around her finger.’

His long tail retracted, and Bai Wanwan fell into Yin Da’s arms.

"Were you scared? If you get scared, you shouldn’t run off. You were lucky to run into Zhu Xiu. If it had been any other Wandering Beast, they might have lost control and hurt you."

Bai Wanwan shrank into his arms, putting on an act of being genuinely frightened.

Yin Da looked at Zhu Xiu. "She’s timid. Thank you for today."

’Timid...’

Zhu Xiu’s glowing red eyes moved, and his gaze met Bai Wanwan’s.

Bai Wanwan, nestled in Yin Da’s arms, showed no trace of fear on her face. Seeing him look her way, she raised an eyebrow and gave him a smile that made her eyes curve.

’What a duplicitous little female!’

"Yin Da, I’m hungry. I want to eat some Unicorn meat. Second-in-Command, would you like to stay and eat with us?"

Yin Da’s expression soured at Bai Wanwan’s invitation to Zhu Xiu.

A ghost of a smile touched Zhu Xiu’s lips, as if he had seen right through Bai Wanwan’s ploy.

He spoke up, "No need. I’m not hungry."

With that, he slowly turned and left.

Seeing her still staring at Zhu Xiu’s back, Yin Da’s displeasure twisted into something fierce. "You are my female. You’re not allowed to look at other males."

Bai Wanwan smiled and pulled her gaze back. "Alright, I won’t look. I don’t like snakes..."

She didn’t notice that the male, who hadn’t gotten far, faltered in his steps for a moment before continuing on.

Bai Wanwan was quite satisfied with the results of today’s test.

Zhu Xiu was a tough nut to crack, but as long as he wanted something, she had a chance to strike a deal and leave Wandering Beast City.

Just as she was lost in thought, Yin Da suddenly bent down, picked her up, and started walking toward the stone bed.

Bai Wanwan’s whole body went on alert. "Yin Da, what are you doing?"

’I’m completely unprepared. These past few days, I’ve been satisfying his emotional needs so he wouldn’t be in a rush to mate with me. So what is he doing now?’