"You're really keeping it by your side?"
As Xiao Bai made his decision after probing the golden little dragon, a fleeting trace of worry flickered in Medusa's eyes. She couldn't help but voice her concern.
When Xiao Bai had questioned the dragon, its small eyes had shown a hint of confusion. It admitted it wasn't entirely sure of its own origins. Its fragmented memories recalled being a golden bolt of lightning, drifting aimlessly until it followed the tribulation to this place. Drawn to Xiao Yi, it had transformed into an egg.
When it hatched and the sky darkened, it felt something lock onto it, sending shivers through its being. But a mysterious aura from Xiao Bai had shielded it, dispelling the threat. That aura, lingering in its soul, sparked an instinctive closeness to him. It believed that without his protection, it would be targeted again. This was why it called him its lord.
"Hey, hey, Mistress! This dragon is majestic, wise, and unparalleled! With me by his side, my lord will soar to the heavens. What's with the doubt?" The golden dragon, catching Medusa's skeptical look, puffed up indignantly from Xiao Bai's shoulder, waving its claws and shouting.
Then, as if struck by a revelation, it grinned cheekily. "Mistress, don't worry! I'm a thunder spirit, no male or female here. I won't compete with you for my lord!"
Medusa's eyes darkened, glaring at the dragon, her fists clenched. She wanted to strangle this foul-mouthed creature.
"Sha Sha, don't worry. I've got this under control," Xiao Bai said quickly, scooping up the dragon to silence it as he saw Medusa's near-explosion.
"Call me Queen!" Medusa's gaze turned icy, shooting him a fierce glare. "Like master, like pet—birds of a feather!"
The word "pet" seemed to stir something. She lifted her eyes, giving Xiao Bai a cold glance, huffed, and turned, her sleeves billowing as she left.
Xiao Bai watched her graceful, retreating figure, a faint smile playing on his lips. Medusa's attitude toward him since her evolution was… intriguing, to say the least.
"My lord, how's my performance? She didn't even deny the 'Mistress' title this time!" The golden dragon stood on his shoulder, hands on hips, grinning smugly.
"Not bad," Xiao Bai said, glancing at the self-satisfied dragon, his expression calm, though his eyes crinkled slightly.
"Then…" The dragon looked at him expectantly.
"Don't even think about it," Xiao Bai cut in, ignoring it. He sat cross-legged, preparing to cultivate.
The area still held a decent concentration of thunder-attribute energy, though it was dissipating. Every bit he could absorb counted. Cultivation was a slow grind of accumulation, and Xiao Bai never wasted an opportunity.
"You heartless brute! Using me and tossing me aside? This is rabbit cooked after the hunt, dog boiled after the chase! You're abusing this dragon—I'm running away!" The dragon fumed, rolling and flopping on his shoulder in a tantrum.
After a while, seeing Xiao Bai unmoved, it slumped, dejected. Closing its eyes, it soon began to breathe in a peculiar rhythm, subtly absorbing the surrounding thunder energy.
Xiao Bai's brow twitched, though he kept his eyes shut. Inwardly, he sighed, Another glutton to feed.
___
Medusa returned to the Snake-People's temple, reclining languidly on her throne. Sensing the surging energy within her, a smile curved her lips, her eyes alight with joy.
She had succeeded, fulfilling a decades-long dream. The hope of leading the Snake-People to resurgence, a dream spanning generations, now rested in her hands.
But her thoughts drifted to the man who'd helped her. A trace of confusion flickered in her narrow eyes.
What is this feeling in my heart?
In the underground strange fire space, when he'd tricked and restrained her, she'd wanted to tear the cunning human apart. She'd braced for outrageous demands, but he made none, earning a sliver of her respect.
She was well aware of her allure. Her fearsome reputation stemmed from two things: those coveting the Snake-People's resources and those lusting after her. In this ruthless world, weakness invited predation. Surrounded by human nations, any sign of vulnerability in the Snake-People would have led to their annihilation long ago.
To protect her tribe and deter those with designs on her, she'd gritted her teeth and projected unrelenting ferocity—a resolve to take a piece of her enemies even in death. She was their queen, guardian of countless Snake-People who relied on her.
When Xiao Bai offered to aid her evolution with the strange fire, she was elated but wary, expecting new conditions beyond their three agreed-upon terms. Yet he asked for nothing.
Later, arranging tribal affairs took time. For her people's survival, she swallowed her pride and asked for his help—the first time she'd ever pleaded with anyone. When he didn't respond immediately, she braced for rejection or harsh words. But he agreed, framing it as a trade, sparing her dignity. The deal seemed trivial to her; the Snake-People lacked alchemists, and their stock of herbs and cores was meager. He didn't seem to care.
The night before her evolution, though she hadn't spoken, he seemed to sense her unspoken words. He said nothing then but gave her Xiao Yi during the process. In her moment of despair, he'd pulled her back from the brink of death.
If it were just these acts, she'd see it as a debt of gratitude, repayable with aid when he needed it.
But it all traced back to that seal.
During her evolution, Xiao Bai's seal, entwined with her soul, had endured the tribulation's assault. Somehow, it had fused with her.
She could sense him.
She couldn't describe it. Awakening in her sea of consciousness, she felt his sorrow and joy—grief at her potential fall, elation at her survival.
Even among her tribe, her death would spark mourning, but it would be for the loss of a queen. Xiao Bai's emotions were different, personal.
This stirred complex feelings she couldn't name.
By her nature, anyone who dared take liberties with her would be torn apart—her fearsome reputation wasn't for show. Yet with Xiao Bai, she couldn't muster killing intent. His actions sparked anger, yes, but no lethal rage, which startled her.
Am I… developing feelings for him?
In the crimson mist, she pondered, then impulsively unleashed her innate charm on him—partly to test him, partly to retaliate. If he faltered, it would prove his heart was as base as others, driven by lust. She could erase these feelings.
But he resisted, and somehow, she felt ensnared by him.
Sigh.
Is this connection one-way or mutual?
Judging by his behavior, he doesn't seem to sense it.
In the grand hall, after a soft sigh, Medusa murmured to herself, a small relief washing over her that Xiao Bai seemed unaware of their bond.