Mei Wu was... confused, if she was honest. She had no idea what to make of the highly intelligent, highly humanoid beast that was telling her to explain the geography and state the names of clans and people of interest to her.

Kasumi Ai, to the highly Qi-sensitive woman, was a very bizarre anomaly that she couldn't decipher at all even with her sensing skill.

The beast girl was just too strange, yet strangely too human for her liking, but at the same time, it was because of this human-like thought process that Kasumi Ai had that Mei Wu was even alive, that much is certain.

Still, it made her stomach churn unpleasantly even despite the level of respect the beast girl was giving her, and dare she say it, even enjoyed, if only due to how bleak her life felt that this development felt nice.

Which only made her feel even more weirded out by what the girl was doing! She just couldn't comprehend how this girl thought!

Kasumi Ai returning her clothes to her was... well, it was odd, yet a bit understandable from what her senses told her. The beast girl wants to talk to her, and so wants her to be comfortable in her presence. It felt more like a torture and information extraction plan; the carrot and stick.

Mei Wu was given the stick in the form of terror and sheer difference in powers, and now is given the carrot in the form of 'generosity', which she felt was honest, much to her surprise.

The nectar, she would easily admit that she thought it was a truth drug, or maybe an aphrosidiac, made solely to torment her, yet her senses told her that it was just for healing, and drinking it proved that right.

No lust consuming her and forcing her to crave anything to satisfy the heat, and nothing to compel her to speak something against her will. Just something plain delicious, and filling that she almost thought she would faint from sheer sweetness!

The sheer pride she felt leaking from Kasumi Ai was as bizarre as the beast was. It was solid, and the feeling of nature definitely grew to show that fact, yet unlike many of the Rankers, or those with high powers Mei Wu had seen, the whole thing felt rather, contained, and something like it wasn't to be taken seriously at all. Like it was a large joke that only the monster in front of her liked.

It felt more like a lunatic, really, and the woman couldn't hold back her reaction at seeing something that was supposed to be so majestic acting like a kid playing make-believe.

And then the Alraune, realizing her actions, had done the most baffling reaction she had ever seen. She had acted like a kid being caught red-handed in one of their imaginations, the waves of embarrassment, shame and indigniation felt all too human yet far removed from the usual way the wariiors expressed it.

It was... like how normal people, those with no potential of being warriors, act! There was no serious threats of death, no immediate attacks, just a half-hearted glare filled with shame for oneself.

Of course, Mei Wu stopped any attempt to laugh at the beast that felt more human than most the people she had lived with. It would be rather bad if her captor actually wanted to harm her for not controlling herself.

Yet, even then, she couldn't help but feel as if the beast in front of her was too competent and human-like than she should be.

Being able to find a way to go around the fact that Mei Wu couldn't understand Kasumi Ai's language so that the two can actually talk, the way she facepalmed as exhasperation almost oozed from her figure, treating a question about her age as if she took mock-offence, then giving her a firm whack on her ass for being too close and invasive.

Yeah, Mei Wu can understand why Kasumi Ai reacted that way... but in her defense, Mei Wu was just so excited!

How else is she supposed to react that such a powerful beast had appeared only two weeks ago, and in that period had gotten this smart, strong and very human-like!

Though that swat certainly awoke her from whatever dreamland she was in. That branch stung! She probably will have a welt for some time.

Once again, the beast looked at her with that flat glare, and while Mei Wu didn't understand the words, the meaning was more than clear: do that again and I'll tan your rear.

'Okay, fair I guess. But damn!' she thought as she apologized with an embarrassed and miffed tone.

Why does this Kasumi Ai even know the whole spanking thing? She doesn't even have a butt! Is this girl a pervert or what these degenerates in the cities call a butt-person?

Grumbling under her breath, Mei Wu tried to shove that thought process deep in her mind, she decided to tell about the hierarchy in the Soaring Dragon Continent.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Truthfully, there were so many influencial people that it would take days to finish listing them all, so she decided to talk about the biggest ones first, something that the Alraune just agreed to right away.

"Well, it's... complicated." she started, and ain't that a way to start the exposition. Kasumi Ai snorted, her nature Qi feeling rather amused by that start.

'I guess I am doing something right then...' taking a breath, Mei Wu began.

"I don't know if you know this, but here, this forest is a part of the Soaring Dragon Continent. It is the land of Rankers, where our people live in glory due to our ability: Summoning. Like my late 'friend,' that you had just killed, and consumed..." she stopped, barely holding her grimace.

She very much knew the weird dissonance of how the continent's people live in 'glory' while she and many others were a prime example of people NOT living in glory. And it was still hard not to think that this human-looking girl is still a monster who even now, is digesting the corpse of a human being.

A trash human being, but one all the same.

"When it comes to political powers, there are mainly eleven rulers for the continent in general. The three kingdoms, the four major clans, and four major sects. In order, the three kingdoms are the Zi Jin Empire, Tian Luo Empire, and Da Xia Empire. Frankly, not many of the royals in these are remembered by their names. They are mostly called Princes, Kings, Queens and so on of their kingdoms, or some other title. I think the only real exception is Da Xia's Emperor, Jun Wu You. As for their children... Sorry, but I didn't keep track after something like ten royal children from each empire. Not to mention that I didn't have any chance to interact with them, so..." she shrugged.

Mei Wu knew that she should have tried to remember, but these names honestly just couldn't stick in her mind.

Curiosity was what she felt as Kasumi Ai hummed to herself, as if just asserting a thought she had before. It was absurd, just one more absurdity to the list, really. But it still was rather interesting.

A vine was extended, and while she felt anxiety, she trusted her Qi sense a lot, and the lack of harming intent was telling, as she watched the vine grow an apple before it was given to her.

"Feeding me?" she raised an eyebrow, and got an amused shrug and other uncomprehensible words that her Qi sensing roughly translated as "Why not?" as a response, as the Alraune girl took her own apple to eat.

'I feel like I am talking to a human at times. Yet I am not.' that was... conflicting to Mei Wu.

It was just too dissonant. While Kasumi Ai was a beast, she was too human to be just a beast. Yet, she was too beast-like to be a human. She was a strange being that was walking on the line separating normal beasts from Holy Beasts, yet she was just... not crossing it or able to cross it for now, leaving her in an odd place where she is only a beast in name only, yet is also a human in name only.

'Neither a beast, nor a human.' Mei Wu thought in interest, only now noticing the bizarre contradiction of Holy Beasts. 'They were treated as the closest being to a human, yet... I just can't think that she will just go into human cities and casually live there the moment she ascended into a Holy Beast. No, in the first place, just because she would be more human-like doesn't mean that she would stop eating people...'

And isn't that one hell of a perspective? Holy Beasts were treated as these powerful beings that had learned to control their instincts and knew how to act human, yet, talking to this beast whose lower half is nothing but a mosterous plant and upper body is that of a cute girl, it felt more like...

No matter.

Mei Wu shook her head. She will think of that later after she finishes this lesson on history to this beast girl whose actions and mannerisms are so confusing they bordered on creating a rather odd yet fascinating uncanny valley effect.

"Nothing." she said as she saw Kasumi Ai tilt her head in interest. "Shall we go back to the discussion?"

She saw a nod and was about to begin explaining about the clans and sects when Qi flared, and she grimaced as she knew what was happening with just one look to behind her, as the feeling of fear sent from the other occupant in the area, outside of the still-buzzing bees, registered to her brain.

"Hm?" She didn't even need her senses to feel the curiosity of her captor as she also looked down, as both their eyes fell on one Xie Yu, awake and scared out of his mind. He couldn't even scream due to the vines gagging his mouth, and she could feel the slightest hint of rage as he saw her having a good day (arguably) with Kasumi Ai.

"Mei Wu?" her head snapped as she looked at the Alraune, whose eyes felt strangely malicious and uncaring at one. "This guy, is he important to you?"

Again, the words couldn't be comprehended, but the intent; that was more than clear to her. "Is he an important person, or just an extra you'd like to leave to die?"

The Qi of plants of nature increase, threatening to overwhelm her mind, yet she knew that it wouldn't. She wouldn't be hurt if she chose "wrong," or anything like that.

She was given a choice. Two options. Sparing a guy who had not only gladly worked with and for her now-deceased sexual harasser, but one who had participated in many of the same actions, even if she herself wasn't on the menu. Or, sending that asshole to the cruel mercy of this girl who is very much a beast?

This wasn't even a difficult one. She didn't even care about any sense of hypocricy she was making. The fact that he might even face the same fate as his victims didn't make her falter.

With a grin that she knew would fit a demon than a human, Mei Wu spoke, almost purring. Oh, how revenge is so sweet...

"Do whatever you like with that trash."

A smug smile appeared in front of her, as the Qi of nature seemed amused by her reply.

"Really... Very well. I believe you can get a nap. We'll go back to our lesson later."

And then she sensed it, the feeling of drowsiness entering her. Did she get hit by a sleeping pollen?

"If you wake up before I finish, you might enjoy the show if you'd like. Sweet dreams~!"

Mei Wu didn't know what to feel annoyed about. The fact that she wasn't worried about falling unconscious in front of this beast girl called Kasumi Ai, or the fact that she might not join in taking her revenge until all the fun is sucked out of it.

And her eyes closed with a cruel smile on her face.