Help! I transmigrated to a Beast World-Chapter 90: The Price of Jealousy

Night had fallen over the wolf settlement.

The fires had been banked. The children put to bed. The warriors settled in their homes. Everything was quiet. Peaceful.

Almost.

In the shadows between the buildings, a figure moved. Silver fur gleaming faintly in the moonlight.

Zi Jue.

Her gray eyes were cold, and fixed on one building in particular.

Xin Yi’s room.

She had waited for this moment. Planned for it. Rehearsed every step in her mind.

The outsider had to die.

It was the only way.

The Alpha would mourn, yes. Would be angry. Would probably punish her.

But eventually, he would move on. Would remember that SHE—Zi Jue—had been loyal. Had served him faithfully for three years. Had never questioned. Never defied.

Not like that pathetic marked female who challenged him at every turn. Once the outsider was gone, things would return to normal.

They HAD to.

Zi Jue reached Xin Yi’s door, and pressed her ear against it.

Silence.

Good.

She was asleep.

Carefully, slowly, Zi Jue pushed the door open. It creaked slightly, just slightly, but not enough to wake anyone.

She slipped inside.

The room was dark. Moonlight filtered through the window, casting pale silver across the floor and across the bed.

Where Xin Yi lay sleeping.

Curled up under blankets, her breathing slow and steady, her face peaceful.

An evil smile graced Zi Jue’s face as her hand moved to the knife at her belt. It was a small blade. One quick strike to the throat,and the outside would bleed out quickly.

It would be over in mere moments. Too fast for her to scream. Too fast to call for help.

Then Zi Jue would open the window, and get rid of her. Make it look like she had escaped. Fled into the night like the coward she was.

By the time anyone found the body, if they ever did, it would be too late.

The Alpha would assume she had run back to her precious snake king. He would move on, he would forget.

Perfect.

Zi Jue approached the bed, and raised the knife.

"Goodbye, outsider," she whispered. "You should have stayed with your snakes."

She brought the blade down—

[DING! (╯°□°)╯]

[HOST WAKE UP!]

[DANGER! DANGER!]

[ZI JUE IS ATTACKING YOU! ☆]

Xin Yi’s eyes snapped open.

She saw the blade, saw Zi Jue’s face twisted with rage, saw death coming.

And immediately moved.

[EMERGENCY DEFENSE PROTOCOL ACTIVATED!]

[SYSTEM OVERRIDE!]

[BLOCK! BLOCK! BLOCK! ☆]

Without thinking, her arm shot up and caught Zi Jue’s wrist mid-strike.

"What—" Zi Jue gasped, the she-wolf shocked.

But Xin Yi wasn’t finished.

Her other hand grabbed a pillow and swung it hard into Zi Jue’s face. The she-wolf stumbled back, her face filled with shock and fury.

"You—how did you—"

"SYSTEM!" Xin Yi screamed. "HELP ME!"

[DING! (⊙_⊙)]

[ON IT!]

[EMERGENCY ITEM: SLEEPING POWDER!]

[Cost: 300 System Points!]

[DEPLOYING NOW! ☆]

A small pouch materialized in Xin Yi’s hand, and she quickly threw into Zi Jue’s face.

White powder exploded and filled the air, coating Zi Jue’s nose and mouth.

"What is—" Zi Jue coughed and stumbled. "What did you—"

Her eyes rolled back.

She collapsed, passing out.

[DING! (◕‿◕)]

[THREAT NEUTRALIZED!]

[Host is safe!]

[Good job! ☆]

Xin Yi stood there, breathing hard and shaking. She was staring at Zi Jue’s unconscious body on her floor.

"Oh my god," she whispered. "Oh my god she tried to KILL me!"

[DING! (...)]

[Yes]

[She did]

[You should probably call for help now! ☆]

"HELP!" Xin Yi screamed. "HELP! SOMEONE HELP!"

The door burst open.

Sha Chen stood there, in his sleeping clothes. Hair disheveled. White eyes wide with alarm.

"What—" His gaze landed on Zi Jue’s body. Then on the knife on the floor. Then on Xin Yi’s terrified face. "What happened?!"

"She—she tried to kill me!" Xin Yi’s voice was shaking. "She came in with a knife and—and—"

Měi Lán appeared behind Sha Chen. "Xin Yi! Are you hurt?!"

"No! I’m—I’m fine! I....somehow managed to quickly wake up—"

But Sha Chen wasn’t listening anymore.

He was staring at Zi Jue’s unconscious form.

And his expression...

It was terrifying.

Cold. Empty. Murderous.

"Sha Chen?" Xin Yi said quietly.

He didn’t respond.

He just walked over to Zi Jue, grabbed her by the hair, and dragged her out of the room like she was a sack of meat.

"Sha Chen!" Měi Lán called after him. "What are you—"

"Stay with Xin Yi," he said. His voice was flat and emotionless. "Make sure she is safe."

Then he was gone.

Dragging Zi Jue’s unconscious body into the night.

---

~

Zi Jue woke to pain, sharp and burning. It was radiating from her left side.

"Ahhh!" She screamed. "What—"

Her eyes focused on her environment. She was outside, in the forest, and a little distance away from the settlement.

And Sha Chen stood over her.

His white eyes glowing in the darkness.

His claws extended.

Dripping with her blood.

"Alpha," she gasped. "Alpha, I can explain—"

He slashed her arm again.

She SCREAMED.

"Explain what?" His voice was cold. So cold. "Explain how you broke into Xin Yi’s room? How you tried to murder her in her sleep? Despite my several warnings to you?! Do explain, Zi Jue! "

"She—she was going to take you away from us!" Zi Jue clutched her bleeding arm. "She was going to make you abandon the tribe! Abandon ME!"

"So you tried to kill her."

"YES!" Tears streamed down Zi Jue’s face. "Because I LOVE you! Because I have given you EVERYTHING! Three years! Three years of loyalty and service and—"

He grabbed her by the throat, and lifted her off the ground.

"I told you," he said quietly. "I told you to not harm her. I told you. I warned you."

Zi Jue clawed at his hand. Gasping. "Alpha—please—you were going to abandon us for her!" she choked out. "You were going to leave the tribe—"

He slashed her arm again.

She let out another scream.

"No," he said, his grip on her neck tightening. "I was not."

"But—but you said—"

"I said I would ACCOMPANY her to Azure Scale. To see her territory. To understand her bond with the snake king." His white eyes blazed. "Then we would RETURN. Together."

Zi Jue’s eyes widened. "What?"

"I was never abandoning the tribe. I would never do that, you fool!" He leaned closer. "I was never abandoning my responsibilities. I was simply......learning. Growing. Trying to be better."

"Then—then why—"

"Why was I showing her favor?" He grabbed her face, and forced her to look at him. "Because she is WORTH it. Because she challenges me. Makes me think. Makes me question my own cruelty."

He slashed again.

Zi Jue sobbed. "Alpha, please—"

"You tried to take that from me." His voice dropped to a whisper. "You tried to kill the one female who has made me feel something other than obligation in YEARS."

"I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’ll—I’ll apologize to her! I’ll beg for forgiveness! I’ll—"

"It’s too late for that."

Something in his tone made Zi Jue go still.

Very still.

"Alpha?" Her voice was small now. Frightened. "What—what are you going to do?"

He didn’t answer her question.

And she knew.

She KNEW.

"No," she whispered. "No, please—"

"You forced my hand, Zi Jue." His voice was almost sad. Just almost. "I gave you a chance. I warned you. I told you to leave her alone."

"Alpha—"

"But you couldn’t. You let your jealousy consume you. Let your rage override your common sense."

His hand moved to her chest.

Over her heart.

"And now," he said quietly, "you pay the price."

"NO! PLEASE! I’LL DO ANYTHING! I’LL—"

His claws pierced her skin.