Level 1 Transmigrator, Max Level Charm: My Unwanted Harem

𝑇𝑊𝑂

Shei Long groaned, pressing his hands over the pointed tips of his ears. "Woman," he muttered, voice rough with sleep. "You are louder than a thunder."

Mu Yuling ignored him, picking up another chunk of rock.

CRASH!

The door didn't budge. Not even a scratch.

Shei Long sighed and rolled onto his side, his long serpent body coiling comfortably. "You could hit that door for a hundred years." he said, yawning. "It won't open. The seal is ancient magic."

Mu Yuling's shoulders slumped. She dropped the brick in her hand, breathing hard. Dust coated her face and clothes, making her look like some wild forest spirit.

Shei Long watched her with amusement. "All that energy wasted," he mused. "When you could be doing something more useful."

Mu Yuling shot him a glare. "Like what?"

A slow, knowing smile spread across his face. "We could mate." He propped his head up on one hand. "If we have enough children, maybe together they could-"

THWACK!

A small pebble hit him square between the eyes.

"Ow!" Shei Long rubbed the spot, hissing. "That was uncalled for!"

Mu Yuling was already gathering more ammunition. "Say that again," she threatened, holding up a sharp piece of pottery. "I dare you."

Shei Long held up his hands in surrender, though his eyes still sparkled with mischief. "So violent," he tsked. "I was only trying to help.

Mu Yuling turned her back on him, muttering curses under her breath. She kicked at the door one last time before slumping against it in defeat.

Shei Long stretched out along the cool stone floor, watching her. "You'll tire yourself out fighting what can't be changed," he said softly.

Mu Yuling didn't answer. Her throat felt like sandpaper. Hours of yelling and throwing things had left her exhausted and thirsty. Her eyes landed on a small, murky pool in the corner of the temple.

She turned to Shei Long, who was lazily coiled around a broken pillar. "Is that water clean?"

The snake-man didn't even open his eyes. "Look for yourself."

She rolled her eyes and shuffled over. Kneeling at the edge, she peered into the dark water. It was disgusting, thick with algae and who knew what else.

"Ugh..." she gagged. "Do you actually drink this?"

Shei Long's tail twitched in irritation. "It's not like I have a choice!" he snapped.

Mu Yuling made a face but stood up, only for her foot to slip on the wet stone.

"Whoa-!"

SPLASH!

The impact sent water flying everywhere. Shei Long's eyes flew open as droplets rained down on him.

"What in the-?" He stared at the pool, confused. The water shouldn't have made such a huge splash. It was barely knee-deep.

Shei Long watched, is she drowning in shallow water?

★

Mu Yuling's arms thrashed wildly. 'Why is it so deep?!' She kicked upward, lungs burning, but no matter how hard she swam, she couldn't find the surface.

Just as spots danced in her vision, a hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her up.

GASP!

Air hit her lungs like a punch. She coughed violently, water spewing from her mouth as she collapsed onto solid ground.

"Ew! Ew, ew-!" She wiped her face, gagging at the taste of stagnant water.

"Are you trying to kill yourself?!" a man's voice snapped.

Mu Yuling wiped the water from her eyes, still coughing. "I fell!" she wheezed.

Then she froze.

The voice wasn't Shei Long's.

She looked up.

A young man knelt beside her, dripping wet and scowling. His dark hair was plastered to his face, his simple cotton robes soaked through. Not noble clothes, but the rough, practical kind worn by farmers or laborers.

Mu Yuling's gaze darted around.

No temple.

No snake-man.

Instead, she was by a wide riverbank, surrounded by towering reeds. The air smelled of wet earth and grass, not ancient stone.

"What...?" Her voice came out small.

The man wiped water from his face, still glaring. "If you wanted to drown, pick a quieter spot next time," he grumbled. "Nearly gave me a heart attack."

Mu Yuling opened her mouth, then closed it.

She had no idea where she is. She stared at the man, her brain struggling to catch up.

"Are you... a cosplayer?" she blurted out.

The man's eyebrows shot up. He leaned closer, studying her face with concern. "Did the river water get into your brain?" he asked, dead serious. "You're speaking nonsense."

Mu Yuling ignored him, twisting around to take in her surroundings. The river stretched wide and calm, edged by thick reeds and swaying trees. No roads. No buildings. Just wilderness as far as she could see.

"Where am I?" she demanded, turning back to him.

The man wiped his wet sleeves, frowning. "The Luo River, just outside Qinghe Village." He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Mu Yuling's stomach dropped.

Qinghe Village? Luo River?

She had never heard of these places.

Her eyes darted to the man's clothes again, rough-spun fabric, tied with a simple sash. No zippers. No synthetic fibers. Nothing modern at all.

Her hands flew to her own clothes. The man was staring at them like they were from another world.

"What kind of garments are those?" he asked, poking at her sleeve with a suspicious finger. "They look strange."

This had to be a dream. A really, really weird dream.

Without thinking, she pinched her own arm hard.

"Ow!" She hissed, rubbing the spot.

The man's frown deepened. "Are you... alright?" he asked slowly.