She waited until there was enough splashing to indicate everyone was submerged before carefully removing her own leaf clothing and slipping into the water behind a large boulder.
The river erupted in chaos as the beastmen discovered soap.
"IT FOAMS!"
"WHY IS IT SLIPPERY?!"
"I DROPPED MINE!"
"THIS IS INCREDIBLE!"
Xin Yi peeked around her boulder to see absolute mayhem. Beastmen were scrubbing themselves, each other, and in one case, a confused fish. Bubbles filled the air. The water was turning cloudy with soap and dirt.
"Gently!" she called out. "You don't need to use the whole bar at once!"
It was too late. Half of them had already created foam mountains.
But slowly, as they rinsed off, the transformation became visible. Fur and hair that had been dull and dusty now shone. Skin looked cleaner, brighter. And the smell, the entire river area smelled like lavender and chamomile.
"I feel... different," one Panther male said, staring at his arms in wonder.
"I feel POWERFUL!" declared a Tiger, flexing dramatically.
"I feel PRETTY!" shouted another, posing.
Xin Yi couldn't help but smile. They were so happy about something so simple.
Then she noticed some of the beastmen pairing off, moving to more secluded parts of the river. A male Tiger with a female Tiger, their hands roaming. A Panther couple pressed against the riverbank, kissing intensely.
"Oh my god," Xin Yi whispered, quickly looking away. "Are they—"
[Yep! Apparently soap makes everyone feel romantic! Who knew? (◕‿◕)]
"SYSTEM!"
More splashing. More giggling. Xin Yi firmly kept her eyes on her own boulder, scrubbing herself clean while trying very hard not to think about what was happening twenty feet away. She lathered her hair, rinsed it, and was reaching for her soap again when—
"Little female~"
She jumped. "HEI YAN?! I TOLD YOU TO STAY—"
"Xin Yi."
She froze.
That wasn't Hei Yan's voice.
That was Feng Huang's voice.
And he had just used her actual name.
For the first time.
She turned slowly to find the Tiger Alpha behind her, leaning casually against her boulder. Water droplets ran down his muscular chest, his red hair slicked back, his golden eyes watching her with unmistakable heat.
"F-Feng Huang!" She sank lower in the water. "What are you doing?!"
"Bathing," he said simply. "Like everyone else." He moved closer, and she realized with horror that he was completely unbothered by his nudity. "You smell even better now."
"I'M NAKED!" Xin Yi squeaked, pressing herself against the boulder. "GO AWAY!"
He smiled slowly at her. "I have seen naked females before, Xin Yi. But none quite like you."
Her name in his mouth sounded like sin.
"We—you—I'm still being courted!" she stammered. "You can't just—"
"I know." He moved even closer, and she could see the water droplets on his eyelashes. "I want to mate with you."
Xin Yi's brain short-circuited. "W-WHAT?!"
"I want to mark you," he continued, his voice a low purr. "Claim you. Make you mine. I think about it constantly." His eyes traced her face, her neck, lower— "The things I would do to you, little Xin Yi..."
"We are STILL in the COURTING period!" she practically shouted.
His smile widened. "I know. That's why I'm telling you now. So you know what awaits you..." He leaned in, his breath hot against her ear. ".….when you finally choose me."
Then, to her absolute shock, he pushed away from the boulder and swam off, leaving her trembling and confused.
[WOW. Tiger Alpha does NOT play around! (⊙_⊙)]
"Shut up!" Xin Yi whispered harshly, her heart pounding. She stayed behind her boulder for several more minutes, trying to calm down. What was WRONG with these beastmen?! Why were they all so—so—
She didn't even have a word for it.
Finally, when her heart had somewhat stabilized, she finished washing and emerged from behind the boulder, wrapped in a large leaf she had prepared beforehand.
Most of the beastmen had moved to the banks, drying off in the sun. They looked so pleased with themselves, showing off their clean fur and shiny hair.
But Xin Yi suddenly felt exhausted. And hungry. And cold despite the warm air.
"System," she whispered. "Can you show me my stats?"
[Current Status Display]
Health: 75/100 (Fatigue, mild hunger)
Energy: 40/100 (Needs rest)
System Points: 390
Dimensional Storage Contents:
3x Dried Meat Portions
1x Water Skin
2x Healing Herbs
1x Extra Clothing Pattern (Unlocked!)
Soap Formula (Owned)
"Clothing pattern?" Xin Yi perked up slightly.
[Yes! Host can now teach them how to make proper clothes! No more leaves! ☆]
"Really?!"
[Also! Host has enough points to unlock "Basic Architecture - Personal Housing"! The beastmen can build individual homes instead of sleeping in piles! (◕‿◕)]
Xin Yi smiled despite her tiredness. "That's.…..actually good news."
[See? Progress! Now Host should eat and rest! ♪]
She was about to head back to shore when she heard it.
Splash.
Her entire body tensed. "Hei Yan? Is that you?"
Another splash. Closer.
"Feng Huang?"
Silence.
Then, a voice she hadn't heard in days. Elegant, with a slight hiss at the edges.
"Hello, female."
Xin Yi spun around.
Rising from the water like some kind of mythical creature was Qing Li, the python beastman. His emerald eyes glowed in the dim evening light, his silver-scaled markings shimmering. Water cascaded down his lean but muscular form.
"Why," he asked, swimming closer, "do you smell this way?"
Uh oh.
[ The plot thickens! ☆]