Mei Wu woke up to the smell of nature and plants around her. It wasn't an odd one, if she was honest, since staying in the proximity of one Kasumi Ai for nearly a month, it wasn't that much of a surprise.
But the sensation seemed to be far thicker than she usually remembered, and she didn't recall how it got this potent, either that or she was still not fully awake. There was also what seemed to be like one bizarre dream that she just had... dual cultivating with the alraune and becoming her lover? That felt almost too weird and pleasure-inducing to be true...
Opening her eyes, she blinked when she saw the whole area was almost completely dark, with the only source of illumination was a faint glow of white and black Qi, along with green Qi that was covering the body of one sleepy alraune lover of hers.
Wait... what was the last part...? She looked at the sleeping form of her friend and she quickly remembered what happened in the previous forty-eight hours.
Her face immediately reddened as if catching fire.
'Oh, oh gods! That actually happened!' she thought, feeling both embarrassed and warm at that. To think that did happen... she was her Ai'er's lover!
Mei Wu rapidly shook it off though, her expression turning a bit more somber as she remembered the conversation she had with her beloved. The sheer fear she felt when Ai was describing her race, and how the alraune was nearly having an emotional breakdown at the possibility of of ever inflicting that kind of horror at the human woman... It was just so intense... and Mei Wu found herself comforting her lover to sleep.
"Ai'er." Mei Wu whispered as she carefully moved her hands away from the human body of her friend, and she got a strange mix of a whimper and a whine in return, and she found herself gently ruffling the sleeping alraune's hair, and Ai's body relaxed.
She found herself paying attention to the golden liquid surrounding them. It was filled with Qi, but it seemed to be... dormant, even now, for the lack of a better word, by Ai's own will. And Mei Wu felt that it would be best to keep it that way with her Apoptosis Qi too.
If this pool of nectar became active right now, that would be disasterous, her instincts told her, and she could already understand what this nectar was, with how Ai reacted and what she was told about yesterday. Even if they didn't tackle Ai's own evolution for real, the possibilities are blatantly clear to her.
"Really, Ai'er? A pool of aphrodisiac nectar? Even if it was inert, you are getting too careless with me being with you. You ought to get a spanking for this mistake, you know? I remember that I promised to pay you back for all that attitude you gave me long ago, now wake up, sleepy head! The sun has risen."
There was no disappointment or anger in her tone that felt more like exasperation and a bit of irritation that one has when a friend kept teasing them too much.
"Mmhh... five more minutes..." came the single response as the alraune tried to continue her sleep. A bit surprising since Ai was a bit of a morning person from what she saw, but then again, after what happened the night before, it wouldn't be strange for her to feel lazier than usual.
Still, they have a work to do and they better not test their luck, just like what their boss, the Queen Bee, made it clear. Though it sucked that they are stuck inside the hive, even if it was highly important to hide from the Xie clan.
"Ai'er, you can't stay asleep for the whole day, come on!" Shaking the shoulders of the alraune gave the desired result, and Kasumi Ai woke up with a yawn and the petals that were closed opened, allowing light to hit their bodies.
"Mh...?" Ai looked at her dazedly, before smiling with the faintest hint of blush on her face, "Oh, good morning, Wu-chan!"
Mei Wu couldn't stop herself from smiling in return. Ai was not feeling as terrified as she was the night before. That was great. It wouldn't be good for her friend and lover to be angsty all the time, and that smile just felt more fitting and beautiful anyways.
"Had a good night's sleep, right?" she gave a hug that was reciprocated. Ai's Qi was definitely much calmer today.
"Oh, yes. Yes I did, even with... that." for a moment, she felt the sorrow in Ai's voice, before it vanished as her friend shook her head, "but it doesn't matter right now. I will just need to be better and be with you, and that's all what matters."
By the heavens, why does this woman know how to make her feel even warmer and needier? Mei Wu flushed even harder at that.
'What the hell, lady!? Get a grip on yourself!' she told herself, 'just because your girlfriend is your best friend, was the person who loved you the most and you felt loved by her the most, and she gave one hell of a pleasurable sex-like dual cultivation experience, and is now acting too sweet and shy for you to ignore... wait, why am I digging myself deeper!?'
Just great, a Gold-ranked alraune and a Level 3 [Hero] warrior, and both of them are acting like two girls with crushes. Fantastic.
Not that she hated it at all, she just found it a bit ridiculous. Adorable and sweet, but ridiculous. She almost wondered if other warriors had a life like this, outside of all their battling and 'saving face by murdering others' personalities.
Still, the hug got broken, a bit too soon in her very objective and calculating mind. A feeling that was mirrored by her Ai'er as she reluctantly separated from her.
"So, we need to go do our daily grind of my nectar, huh?"
Okay... ouch.
Mei Wu could hear the slight disappointment from her girlfriend. And seeing that she was glad about her daily work under the Queen Bee's demands without a care even a couple of days ago, that was saying something.
"... Ai'er, you're not perhaps thinking that you'd prefer to just be with me than doing our... boss' tasks, right?" she had to ask. Ai was obviously not really irritated by the prospect of doing the Queen Bee's tasks, just... not as enthusiastic as before.
Was this a part of her being an alraune in love? That she's wanting to just stay with her lover more than doing anything else? If so, that was one hell of a strong one-track mindset.
Ai blinked, confused and a bit indignant. "Of course, I still love that! I like making my nectar!... well, at least the healing and sweet-tasting ones. Also the poisonous ones currently... plus, it's a safe work where I get all my obvious needs of food, shelter, and mostly good work environment! But..."
Mei Wu felt her eye twitch when she felt the Qi of nature giving a mock-depressed atmosphere. The look of Ai's face cast down, looking so miserable managed to induce both pity and exasperation at once within Mei Wu's heart.
"I now want you to be with me, more than anything else... even the distance of a few meters, feels like the distance of heaven and earth... Ahh~ So close, yet so far, such is my life with you in my heart~"
"Please don't try to make anymore deep metaphors or poems. You suck at it." Mei Wu deadpanned as she loved the emotions but disliked the poor attempt. "Also, can you stop shaking your monstrous body? It's distracting."
Yes, Ai for whatever reason thought it was fun to make her monstrous body to shake and vibrate in a poor attempt to make it seem like her poem was making an earthquake, though with Mei Wu's level and inherent balance being a warrior and a cultivator, it was just slightly annoying and nothing more.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"Hahh... fine, cut my fun after the drama I had yesterday." Ai huffed, crossing her arms, but a smile was appearing on her face. "Let's just do our daily work then find something to do, either training, or cultivating, inside the hive. Sucks that we're under house arrest. In fact..."
Mei Wu raised her eyebrow as she felt the curiosity and contemplativeness emanating from Ai's Qi and the interested look on her face.
Though it vanished after a few seconds as Ai shook her head.
"Mmh, I will tell you later when we're on our own. Let's go finish our work, shall we?"
She smiled at the happy expression her lover's face was making. "Yes, let's. And by the way..."
Kasumi Ai looked at her in interest, as Mei Wu looked down at her clothes. While not really ruined, they were soaked by the nectars from the alraune's pool. They would need a thorough cleaning, as well as her body.
"I... I will need to take a bath later. As well as a quick washing of my clothes. Think you can do that?" she asked with a blush, one that was reflected by her lover.
It was honestly surprising, really, how things changed in just a few days.
Mei Wu usually depended on Ai's skillset to take a bath as well as washing away the dirt and grime from her clothes. The alraune, having consumed the Frose plant beast, and thanks to her ability to mimic and recreate the biology of plant life she ate, including other plant beasts, was able to generate clean water, and with her skill in shaping her nectar and even making it into a solid state if needed to create something akin to a bath tub, Mei Wu had no problem cleaning herself whenever her clothes and body started to get too dirty for her liking.
She had gotten used to it before, taking it as the simple solution, and she had long lost any embarrassment over the fact that Ai would be usually cleaning her clothes, underwears included.
And now, it felt a bit more awkward to do that despite it being the same thing they did for three weeks at this rate. Well, that, and slightly exciting, but she will try not to think of that now.
"O-oh! Okay, you can depend on me! Now let's go!"
Not needing to take any more hints about the contradictory hesitance and excitement Ai was having with that red face, Mei Wu leapt out of the flower wall that was Ai's new biological sleeping room.
Thank goodness that their lust was significantly toned down after a good nights' sleep. Small mercies are indeed a good thing to have.
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Well, the small mercies ended way too soon, Mei Wu found out.
Because right after they finished their work, a Protector Bee came buzzing in, and told them that the Queen Bee wanted to talk with them.
The humans in the forest had almost reached the area where Kasumi Ai's fight with Xie Li occured. Mei Wu remembered that lake, where her life changed for what she truly believed to be the better.
It was where everything beautiful she had found herself having today, started. Which felt strangely a bit nostalgic, despite her not even staying in that area with Ai alongside her for more than a day, before she got dragged into the Queen Bee's hive, something she couldn't find herself hating even if she still had her reservations about the Queen Bee, thanks to the latest threat she gave the two of them.
Even if it was still far better than most could hope for, from a Golden King Beast like the Queen Bee.
'It had also reached me that there are more humans searching the forest.' the Queen Bee's buzzing and intent, easily understandable due to her Qi-sensing, were clear as day, and she found herself tensing at that as she felt Ai do the same.
"More people? How many were there, in the first place?" Ai asked, a serious tone in her voice, one that was answered by the Queen Bee's intent sharpening.
Mei Wu sucked a breath at the scent of poison and honey thickening, but there was no more effect both due to her new growth in power and the fact that the queen of bees was not targeting them.
'Five humans before, and now six.' came the answer, clearly directed at Ai 'four of them are weaker than your... only your companion's level, I suppose. The other two easily exceed that, from what the Protector Bee I sent to investigate better found out.'
Mei Wu took that information carefully. Four below her level, so that meant their powers are equal to a Level 1 or 2, either [Apprentice] or [Braveman], while the other two are on the [Hero] level or higher. Maybe reaching that of a Level 6 [Elder] at most. There is a chance they would be stronger, but a Level 7 [Overlord] warrior was extremely rare in the Soaring Dragon Continent. Only the emperor Jun Wu You reached it and maybe three more at most.
"There could be elders from the Xie clan, then... but, that's just the most likely option. I could be wrong though..." Mei Wu muttered, only to feel the attention of the Queen Bee on her.
'From what my Worker Bees said before retreating, the stronger two were called Xie Yao, and Xie Xiu, a man and a woman respectively.'
Both alraune and human felt shock. There's no more doubt. The Xie clan is the one on their trails, most definitely.
"So it's them for real, huh?" Ai mumbled, looking deep in thought.
Mei Wu didn't blame her, but she was honestly a lot more surprised because she knew the two people in question.
"Two elders? Impossible." she whispered, but her voice was heard by the other two occupants in the room, "Both reaching the Level 5 [Grandmaster] rank, both with Grimoires and with at least two beasts each. Why are they both moving in the same area though? From what I heard, they don't really like each other."
"Is that really that shocking?" Ai asked her, "Xie Li was the clan master's son, from his first wife as well. He might have decided to have two elders to effectively deal with his disappearance."
"True, that makes sense but... no matter, they're both chasing us." Mei Wu shook her head at that. No use thinking why the two decided to join the mission together, when in hindsight, there were plenty of reasons.
'... It seems we would have to talk about these two in detail later.' the Queen Bee declared, and the two straightened at that, nodding. 'but, for now, go and finish your work. I'll send a bee to bring you to me... six to seven hours from now. Go now.'
They didn't need to be told twice, but as soon as they were about to turn around, the feeling of amusement from the Queen Bee was felt.
'Oh, and on a side note,' they stopped, looking at her, 'Not that I care about what you do in your spare time, but next time please put a sign so my bees don't end up as the source of your rage. Also, would it kill you to at least tell me beforehand about your attempts at... sexual experience, that's what you people call it? It was irritating to have my bees trying to look why the smell of arousal was spreading around.' the Queen Bee tilted her head, seemingly bored and disappointed at them.
Mei Wu's face glowed while Ai gave a strangled noise as her petals almost closed off from embarrassment.
Turns out, Ai glaring at the poor Protector Bee didn't go unmentioned. Who would have thought?
Well, if this embarrassment isn't the consequence of not doing the equivalent of locking the door and forgetting that they're mere guests in the house of an empress.
They couldn't have run faster if they tried.
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"Finally. This feels just good after all that effort." Mei Wu sighed with relief as she got her chance to clean herself.
Her body relaxed as the tension left her muscles. Despite her not using them much, since she didn't have a chance to spar with her beloved, and it was a poor choice to do that inside the hive, she still felt a bit of soreness that came with working for hours on end, even if it was just a phantom sensation.
She had to admit, the water that her honey created was honestly marvelous for soothing the body and taking away the dirt and sweat, what with it being infused with Ai's Qi of nature. Turns out that the Qi of nature could also work as a powerful soap, and could stay warm for a while as well. Mei Wu would really love to learn this trick if it was possible and this whole situation with the Xie clan was solved.
But still, she shouldn't stay too long in the bath, since Ai told her that she had some idea that might work to help her get stronger.
Other than dual cultivation, of course.
Her face flushed at the reminder. The two agreed that they would do that again tonight, partly because the sense of urgency had gotten stronger, and that method worked the best under the current circumstances, and the second reason was because they liked it.
Though they both agreed that it would only be the training, and maybe a kiss or two. Anything more is not allowed, and Ai must keep a lid on that pit of lust she has, either that or her human body steps away from it before they start.
'Heavens, I feel like I'm getting too lustful, but I don't hate it.' she thought as she touched her lips, remembering the feelings she got from kissing that lover of hers. 'I know that we both want to taste that again... Though I don't think she is ready for anything more... physical with me yet due to her fear about her instincts.'
And she fully understood that. She understood the fear of having one's instincts rebelling against the mind. After all, Xie Li...!
She took a shuddering breath to halt her rage. This was time to just enjoy herself, and thus she relaxed.
Soon enough, minutes passed and she heard the voice of Ai, sounding a bit embarrassed. "Wu-chan, here are your clothes!"
A vine holding her clothes entered through the thin nectar wall keeping Mei Wu's privacy, and put the clothes on the ground.
A minute later, a fully dressed Mei Wu saw as the nectar wall melted, returning liquid and eaten by the large monstrous mouth of the alraune, and soon enough, the two sat in silence.
She wondered what Ai had in mind to make her stronger.
"So, what is your plan, Ai'er?"
The alraune sighed, and she brought down her arm, eyes determined as stone as an object was held in that delicate hand.
Mei Wu could only look in shock at that, and gulped. "Ai'er, is this what I think it is?"
"Yes, I think it's worth to try this..."
In Ai's hand, was Xie Li's Grimoire, inactive, inert, and currently nothing but a useless book.
Like thunder, Kasumi Ai's voice declared.
"Wu-chan, try to contract it."