Mei Wu had just moved outside the hive's entrance, followed by Kasumi Ai, along with the obligatory 'guard' that was the Protector Bee.

She once again took a deep breath, enjoying both the freshness of the air around her, unlike the hive's air that reeked with the smell of honey to her, and the fact that the quantities of Qi signatures around her were a lot less than what she had to deal with inside the Queen Bee's domain.

But, despite how much she'd love to just keep enjoying the moment, and how it felt a lot better than what her body felt just minutes ago, she knew that she just couldn't do that.

Mei Wu had asked for the alraune to follow her outside to talk with her and attempt to discuss some rather... confusing and quite irritating things in Mei Wu's opinion, after all.

Something the human woman felt was needed to be talked about after a week of her trying to push it away without any real success.

Sitting on the soil, uncaring about the earth under her body, she looked up at the alraune that confused and frustrated her since the two had met. Despite Kasumi Ai sitting on the earth as well with her roots/legs unmoving, the fact that she was nearly four meters tall due to her lower monsterous body required Mei Wu to look up towards her.

Meanwhile, Kasumi Ai had to look down to see her, looking both curious and a bit confused at her, and her Qi sense made it clear why the alraune felt that way.

Don't you want to talk to me face to face?

So she felt from the intent of the nature and plant-flavored Qi. A part of her felt that it was surprisingly fitting that this alraune would want them to talk face to face, seeing the seriousness that Mei Wu was showing to her.

Kasumi Ai, despite her gleefully eating the corpses of her enemies, and having tortured the long deceased Xie Yu for a while with no remorse, from what the alraune told her, seemed to prefer some semblance of equality between the two of them.

Ignoring how her stomach felt unpleasant by that feeling, knowing just how off it felt to be given that much... not exactly respect... she shook her head.

"I'd prefer to stay this way. It would just be a hassale for you to lift me up, or for me to sit on a tree branch."

It was partly her honest answer. Mei Wu didn't say that she wasn't sure that this talk might not go peacefully, and in that case, she preferred not to be in a vulnerable place. Sitting on Kasumi Ai's vines or branches wouldn't feel secure to her, and sitting on a tree wouldn't be any different.

Of course, Mei Wu fully knew that this was just that; a mere feeling of security that wouldn't really help her at all if the Silver-ranked alraune in front of her turned violent, and that her head would be cut just as easily as one rips paper.

"If you say so." The alraune's answer was confused, but other than sensing her mood, Mei Wu didn't even need her qi sensing skill to know the meaning of what was spoken, as the ways Kasumi Ai pronounced certain words in the week they worked inside the hive's domain helped the human woman understand them.

Mei Wu was slowly, but certainly, getting used to understanding the language of the beasts that the alraune in front of her was speaking with. Something she didn't even know could happen. Whether this was due to her ability to sense Qi evolving into a better level, now that she needed to understand the meaning of the beasts' moods to survive even better, when under their control, or just her mind attempting to learn a new language just for the same reason, she didn't know.

But it both relieved and irked her, that she could do it.

Taking a long breath, ignoring the buzzing of the Protector Bee and the other sounds around them, trying to ignore the multiple signatures of Qi that were still quite strong despite being an order of magnitude less than what she felt all the time inside the Queen Bee's home, she looked directly at Kasumi Ai's face, right into these emerald eyes of the alraune.

"Let... let us start from the beginning..." she spoke, a tremble in her voice, barely controlling her frustration and fear, as she felt Kasumi Ai's confusion grow.

"Why?" it was asked with both indignation and a plea. "Why did you bring me to the Queen Bee's nest without asking me? Why did you choose for me?"

It felt stupid for her to ask the obvious, a question that even she already knew and understood the answer for, and the reasoning behind it. Yet, she still wanted to hear these words, feel the intent of these actions from the alraune in front of her.

Foolish woman, her mind mocked. She herself understood why it was done.

She was the only source of information Kasumi Ai had at that point that could tell her about the politics and other figures of importance. Her being left alone would be a risk, since Mei Wu surviving and being left alone would bring the Xie clan into the forest and they would kill the plant-type beast woman. Mei Wu being mistreated in her own clan wouldn't even matter in the ultimate result, and Kasumi Ai didn't know about it at that point, since it would only be Xie Li and Xie Yu who treated her poorly in the alraune's opinion.

"..."

Surprise. That was the expression that Kasumi Ai's face took, and she was genuinely surprised by the question, blinking before her face changed, looking rather resigned. Something that irritated Mei Wu more than she'd liked, and she could just predict the answer she would be given.

"I thought it was the best option to make at that moment. In hindsight, I was swept in the moment back then. I might have needed to ask you first about that. Sorry about that."

Even though she couldn't understand all the words, the feeling of one being awkward, combined with the resignation made it clear that Kasumi Ai was apologizing. As if she understood that her actions were not right.

Not even a word about how Mei Wu being unconscious meant that Kasumi Ai could do whatever she wants with her. Not mentioning that it wouldn't have mattered what she would choose since Kasumi Ai wanted to know about the human kingdoms and characters of importance, therefore she would attempt to either force her to go along, or convince her to.

The fact that Mei Wu would have arguably chosen to follow the beast woman that killed the trash who violated her, and decided to follow her just on that principle alone, mattered little.

Mei Wu didn't like the idea of not having any choice whatsoever, even if all the choices were bad and she had to choose the lesser evil of them. And that's what she wants to talk and vent her frustration about.

How frustrating sweet of this woman in front of her.

Mei Wu forced herself not to gnash her teeth.

"... Why?" she felt herself glaring, her head looking right at the alraune's upper, human-like face. "Why do you care about my opinion then?"

Surprise once more appears on this too human-like woman, as she oozes confusion.

"You... want me not to care? Wait, are you...?" Kasumi Ai felt like she would have seemingly found the whole thing funny if Mei Wu didn't look so serious, before she looked at her in bafflement.

"I... I don't understand?" confusion, larger than before, made itself clear. No, there's a hint of understanding of why Mei Wu thinks of that, but the way it was present felt detached? She couldn't explain it.

"Why do you even bother?" Mei Wu felt her voice rising. She was simply unable to hold her stewing rage for longer. "Why? Why!? Why are you even apologizing to me!?"

She rose from her position as her glare intensified as she kept directing it at the alraune's face. The sound of buzzing increased in the background, but she didn't care about it at all.

"Why are you acting like we are in any way equal!? Tell me!"

Because this was ultimately the crux of her problem with this being that could decapitate her in less than a second. Acting so friendly. Acting so chatty. Being so casual. Too... mortal-like in behaviour! Too different than what she ever knew! It was hair-tearing in her opinion.

Kasumi Ai's mouth was gaping, and Mei Wu felt as if the alraune's thoughts just halted, trying to understand the nature of her question, like it was a bizarre and tremendous task.

Then, contemplation filled the qi of nature, as the atmosphere seemed to halt.

"... Because there is no reason for me to be cruel or heartless towards you?" the answer, spoken slowly, as if it was filled with uncertainty, but the human felt more certainty in that response than what the tone seemed to convey. "Because I think it would be better in the long run, maybe. Or, I just find you deserving of being treated nicely."

Not every word was understood, but the meaning of them clear as the blue sky in spring. This monster finds her deserving of being treated nicely? As if on principle?

She felt the laugh threatening to tear her throat as it attempted to escape. A hollow laugh trying to make itself known to the world, directed at this... stupid alraune's thoughts.

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She crushes it right before it leaves, only a giggle feeling so wrong escaping her lips as she clutched her sides and her body moves a few steps back.

"Mei Wu? Are you alright?" Ah, that feeling of concern, accompanied with the idea that she might not be right in the head.

How infuriating (refreshing). How self-absorbed (kind). How... cruel (gentle).

"Ha... ha... Am I alright... Such an idiotic question..." she finds herself answering, feeling like something was being destroyed inside of her.

... Ah, that was her mind, wasn't it? She had sensed this before, but she never felt it happen to herself, did she?

So, that's how her Qi acts when she's breaking down, huh? This feeling of her own Qi twisting and churning violently, as if wanting to rampage and break everything in her sight. How fascinating (tragic).

"Of course I'm not alright!" she felt her throat about to be crippled due to the sheer rage she found herself unleashing in her scream, Qi rising to a level she did not even notice, going right into the equivalent of the power of a Ranker Level 2 [Braveman], outright skipping the intermediate and advanced stages of a Level 1 [Apprentice].

Panic and shock filled Kasumi Ai as she took a step back from sheer surprise, concern showing itself a moment later.

"Me-"

"Stop. That!" Mei Wu hissed, cuting her off, taking a step forward. "Stop breaking my world!"

Anger oozed from her being as she finally managed to put her frustration into words. Words that fit way too well.

Kasumi Ai looked at her in shock due to the sheer ridiculousness of the statement.

Breaking her world? What did that even mean? "Mei Wu... I- I don't understand you... Was it my teasing? If that's i-"

Mei Wu understood the words before the reply even finished. No, she will not allow her to finish it.

"Don't you dare apologize!" a growl left her mouth, cutting off the apology the other party would have given, "You still don't even understand what I am saying, don't you? Fine, I'll tell you! Stop this disgusting niceness! I hate it!"

"!"

Good, let her be utterly baffled and shocked, Mei Wu inwardly grinned to herself.

"You think it's funny, don't you? To show me how generous you are by that condescending compassion of yours, isn't that right?" she pointed at Kasumi Ai accusingly, a feeling from the bottom of her heart.

Why is she nice to her? Why is she even bothering to lower herself to Mei Wu's level?

"Ah, so that was your problem..." realization filled the alraune, looking at her both in understanding, indignation and, more infuriatingly, pity. "You are upset because I'm not acting like a power-hungry, self-absorbed lunatic, like what your clan act. No, like most warriors and Rankers you met."

Kasumi Ai crossed her arms, contemplative; baffled, yet a feeling of strange determination leaking into her qi all at once. "But, are you telling me that you want to be treated like that? By me? I have to say..."

A piercing gaze. Scrutiny. Disappointment.

That was what Mei Wu felt, and her rage evaporated at the sight of the alraune's seemingly expressionless face.

"Are you an idiot?" the Qi of plants and nature suffocated the woman just by the glare directed at her, the insult clear as day.

"You want me to do that to you? You want me to treat you like a slave? Instead of me acting like a decent person to you? Is that what you want me to do?" Annoyance made its presence, and anger followed, daring her to affirm the questions asked.

'How much are you willing to convince me to break you?'

That was the question that was not asked, but was clearly visible for the two of them.

Mei Wu felt her throat drying, knowing that the alraune's question was quite valid. She was clearly trying to have Mei Wu answer that no, she doesn't want to be enslaved. And she truly didn't want that.

But, that question was also an attempt to ignore the subject, by putting it into a Yes or No answers, options that while correct, are in no way the real argument here. Becaue there was a person who experienced a version of the same thing Mei Wu defined as her tragedy, and completely acted like it was nothing.

"Maybe it isn't so bad to be a slave, since you seem to enjoy it so much!"

So, ignoring the terror in her heart, she faced Kasumi Ai's glare, and argued back. The memories of Kasumi Ai happily working under the Queen Bee fueling her determination and hatred to the whole memory, lest her willpower just breaks.

How can she just look at this damn alraune that had only lived for less than a month, born innately with such high intelligence for a beast, grew that strong that quickly, without feeling unvalidated? All her work invalidated? Her experiences treated as trivial?

She struggled to even survive in the streets, and she still had to pay too much just for survival, and now she can't have a safe life anymore. The only way for her to continue living is to be always on the run, maybe living in a weak farm and just hoping life wouldn't throw anything at her, or to live as a slave or the equivalent of it. Even now, despite the Queen Bee being generous, who can say that won't change just due to a fleeting whim? This was just the same as when she was under the rule of the Xie clan in her opinion.

And then this Kasumi Ai unknowingly, or maybe uncaringly, starts to mock her past with the same indifference that one gives to moving a pebble on the road, after already breaking all her preconceived ideas about beasts, and unknowingly giving her hope that life could be just slightly better.

"... Is that why you're so furious? You think I'm invalidating your experiences? Hah... So that's how it is..."

Shock was the first to appear on Kasumi Ai's face, then understanding, and finally resignation as she sighed, a feeling of awkwardness making itself known to Mei Wu's senses.

"I just don't see it that way though. It's just not the same in my mind."

The truth, because to Kasumi Ai, it wasn't slavery as much as it was an offer from a stronger entity that coincidentally helped her live in relative peace and given food as long as she gave nectar. To her, it was more like a formal contract that benefited both parties (her and the Queen Bee). Just like a bussines deal between partners, how people did in her previous life.

"I understand your opinion, but even so, I'm just not seeing it the same way as you do. Your experience with the Xie clan is nothing but slavery, that much I understand and acknowledge, and I give you my utmost sympathy." she really did feel that way, Mei Wu understood, and then Kasumi Ai looked serious.

"But while I can fully comprehend how you see your life in the hive as enslavement, I see it differently, because, as callous as this feels, I am not you. For starters, I am a beast, and even more importantly, I don't have your experiences. Thus, what you can see as something, I see as something else." she pointed to herself, her lower half in particular as the giant eyes on it looked towards the human woman.

"To me, what I don't want is a life where I am contracted without my consent, forced to obey someone or something that just wants to torture me, and having my petals and body parts ripped and taken away to be used and discarded like trash. Even if it isn't completely something you can relate to, I believe we both can understand that we hate things like that, isn't that right?" A genuine question.

Mei Wu bit her lips at that. True, what she heard made sense. Them being different due to their experiences made sense, them being from different races would of course give a different set to what they define as terrible or fantastic, even if there are points the two agreed on.

She didn't even notice that the words were becoming clearer the more she heard and talked with her. Even if her ability had increased in level, she didn't even notice since she was just so wrapped in the talk, and she wouldn't get time to ponder if she did realize what was happening, as the feeling of amusement and contemplation filled Kasumi Ai's Qi.

"If I wanted to explain what I wanted until now though... I guess I can sum it up in three necessities, really. Just some food to fill me, and maybe the occasional prey that makes me stronger, a nice place to live in, where I can cultivate on my own, and not dealing with unsavory peaple, unless I could kill and feed on them, and I would be happy to live in solitude as long nothing comes to ruin my life. 'Peace', or so some would say. I'm talking about something simple here. It's not complicated, it's easy to understand. Don't you agree?"

Of course, it's easy to understand. A lot of people want a peaceful life. Even she wants one. The problem is that even if one didn't get disasters thrown at them in their desire to attain their peace, the very definition of 'peace' could very well be completely different from one's idea to another.

One's ideal peaceful life could be him living in tranquility, just a life of mundane, boring routine with the occasional drama of romance, growing up, and such, to spice things up.

Another would love nothing but to have a peaceful life where they can rape, pillage, and murder to their hearts' content with complete immunity to consequences, for the consequences are what would ruin their idea of peace.

So, if Kasumi Ai wanted a peaceful life, then of course... of course she wouldn't care about the Queen Bee's demands.

"So, because all what you define as a component for your peaceful, or ideal lifestyle, you don't think of the Queen Bee's demands as enslavement. To you... that's just more safety net given to you at the price of doing something you are already doing before." Mei Wu stated, calming down. "To you, the threat of death didn't matter because you had no problem doing what the Queen Bee asked, and the fact that she was a lot more tolerant and lenient, you had no reason to hate it. If anything, you liked it even more that way."

"Correct!" Kasumi Ai gave her a wide smile as happiness made itself known as her viewpoint was understood.

Mei Wu had to ignore the lower mouth's smile that looked predatory despite the alraune's efforts

"..." Mei Wu sighed, feeling rather exhausted after this whole conversation as she fell on the ground, her qi calming down.

She was still very much frustrated, but nowhere as before. All that yelling and arguing made her feel a lot better. And she couldn't deny that Kasumi Ai's perspective made sense.

The Queen Bee was rather open-minded, the alraune was rather nice even if she annoyed her human woman from time to time with her teasing.

Mei Wu found herself wondering if she would have been this furious, broken, and bitter about her current situation if she had time to adapt to it. If she had talked with Kasumi Ai for weeks instead of mere hours, and if going to the Queen Bee wasn't something thrown at her, but an option she chose, due to the Xie clan beginning their search, she probably would be a lot more accepting of this situation, and she would probably way less frustrated by being the Queen Bee's equivalent to a janitor.

"Are you alright now? That was a lot of frustration you had to vent, isn't it?" Kasumi asked her, amused and curious now that Mei Wu seemed rather relaxed and not as tense.

"Let's say that I'm fine. Though I think I wouldn't even be this angry if the changes were gradual, instead of all of this happening in a single week." the human admitted with a sigh.

She looked up as the sun was close to setting. "Maybe this won't be bad... as long as we can survive the Xie clan's incoming search party with our sanity and bodies intact. We both won't be able to win if they summoned the stronger members." Mei Wu stated, a hint of seriousness in her tone.

"True, a week had passed. They would notice the two trashes' disappearance soon." Kasumi Ai sighed at the reminder, before perking up, and Mei Wu felt a shiver down her spine as the qi of the Alraune took both a strange feeling of amusement, sadism, and teasing.

This was not for a threat on her life, but one she felt when some use a tough love approach to make sure the other party is up to snuff...

"Hey... what are you thinking...?" she didn't like that grin at all.

"You know... you complained how I was treating you too well, right?" Yeah, Mei Wu really did not like that at all.

"Wait. Stop!" she found herself retreating, her face sweating, but the alraune only looked at her, and took a step forward. "I said cease!"

Needless to say, Kasumi Ai did not stop, with her grin growing larger, clearly too amused to stop.

And then, like thunder, her words hit Mei Wu's ears.

"We both need a training arc."

It felt like a god's judgement more than an advice.

"Ah, don't worry about injuries... I will make sure not to cut off some limbs or instantly kill you... after all..."

A giggle escaped the alraune, clearly enjoying herself.

"I can heal you just fine... So you better be prepared for a 'cruel' me. It would be so much fun!"

Mei Wu then realized one thing: hindsight is always 20/20, and she preferred a docile Kasumi Ai more than whatever this desire that spontaneously emerged from the alraune's very being.

"Fuck my life."