Chapter 48: Sit Down and Talk
So fierce!
Queen Medusa opened her mouth and immediately issued a death sentence. Even when she recognized Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, her gaze didn't waver in the slightest. The killing intent she radiated was so tangible it made the desert night feel even colder. Hai Bodong's heart sank. He could tell she was serious—her tone left no room for negotiation.
Who exactly is this snake-woman to make Queen Medusa leave her palace herself?
Hai Bodong couldn't help but glance at the still-sleeping girl beside Yao Yan, utterly confused. Just what kind of value or allure did this woman possess to draw so much attention? Compared to Queen Medusa, perhaps the most mysterious person here was actually the young man beside her.
It seemed like he was the only one here who knew nothing of the snake-woman's identity—just here for a bounty.
"Queen Medusa, if it's for that snake-woman… I'll leave," Hai Bodong said after a moment of deliberation.
Fighting over a bounty that wasn't worth much to begin with was simply foolish. He wasn't that stubborn. This had started as a simple tracking job in the Tagor Desert, but the situation had clearly escalated far beyond that.
If not for being unsure of Queen Medusa's exact stance, he might've fled already.
Queen Medusa didn't respond. Her figure slowly descended from the sky, an aura of sovereign dominance radiating from her. Ignoring Hai Bodong entirely, she looked at Yao Yan and said in a voice as silky and bone-numbing as it was deadly, "Alchemist?"
She had sensed his soul force—just like Hai Bodong had.
On the Dou Qi Continent, only high-tier alchemists could wield soul force in such a way. And judging by his appearance, this one was shockingly young.
Still, what concerned her more than a young alchemist was her sister's well-being. Her gaze shifted and soon landed on her sister's charcoal-smeared face. Her cold purple eyes twitched in surprise, then quickly turned icy as they locked onto Yao Yan.
Yao Yan had also been observing Queen Medusa. Her face was exquisitely beautiful, and although her figure was hidden beneath a black robe, just her face and the small section of her alluring violet tail were enough to stir desire. With her regal bearing, the allure she exuded could drive any man wild—awakening the primal urge to conquer and possess.
Even Yao Yan's heart skipped a beat. Her beauty was dazzling. A dangerous, carnal impulse surged within him.
He was fully aware he was being shallow, tempted by her body. But with a woman like this, how could one not be moved—especially when you had the strength to turn desire into reality? That kind of temptation was hard to resist.
And more importantly… his body was mature. He wasn't a boy anymore. He was a man.
Hormones played their part.
Young men always struggled in the face of beauty—but fortunately, he still had the rational mind of an adult to hold him back.
On the surface, Yao Yan looked calm and composed. He even had the presence of mind to observe Queen Medusa's expression. When he noticed the cold light in her eyes, he spoke up to clarify, "I didn't do anything to her. She thought her face was too beautiful and might cause trouble, so she smeared herself with charcoal."
The frost in Queen Medusa's gaze didn't fade. In fact, her pressure increased, as if she was preparing to strike. Beside her, Hai Bodong raised his guard, ready for combat.
"She's sleeping deeply. I suggest you don't make a move."
Yao Yan interrupted her and glanced at the silly girl clinging to his arm. In a soft voice, he added, "She recently used a spatial secret technique. The backlash from that force stripped away all her energy, even sealing her companion soul. That's why she's suffering from amnesia. She's been through a lot lately—let her sleep."
As he spoke, he summoned the Illusionary Gold Flame, its golden glow illuminating the night and casting back the darkness.
"Heavenly flame?!"
Queen Medusa and Hai Bodong were both visibly shocked. With their statuses, they naturally knew about heavenly flames—and what it meant for an alchemist to possess one.
But Yao Yan quickly clarified, "It's not a heavenly flame. It's a beast flame from a juvenile Fire Scorpion Dragon Beast, a seventh-rank magical beast. It's called Illusionary Gold Flame. Powerful enough for my needs."
As he spoke, he used the flame to reignite the firepit. Warm light and heat quickly spread, dispelling the chill brought by the two powerhouses.
Neither Queen Medusa nor Hai Bodong said anything. Both understood what a seventh-rank beast flame implied. That was the level of a magical beast only a Dou Zong could handle. To refine and control such a flame—especially for a young alchemist with unknown rank—made one thing very clear:
Yao Yan wasn't ordinary. And most likely, he wasn't from the Jia Ma Empire.
People like that… even Queen Medusa wouldn't offend casually. His background might be something she couldn't afford to provoke.
Of course, that all changed if he had harmed her sister—then there would be no mercy. She had never been one to endure injustice.
"Let's put away the Dou Qi, shall we? Hard to have a proper chat when you're all so tense."
Yao Yan spoke lightly, then gestured for them to sit down.
In truth, there was no real conflict between them. Hai Bodong had taken a bounty—a bounty issued by the snake-people. Queen Medusa had inherited the throne and was being pressured by her people to kill her own sister. But unwilling to do so, she had to pretend to hunt her down, all the while searching for a way to save her.
Unfortunately, her sister lost her memory, which led to a tragic series of events.
Now, facing a mysterious young man, both Queen Medusa and Hai Bodong quietly withdrew their Dou Qi. When facing someone potentially beyond their reach, it was better to be reasonable.
Queen Medusa gracefully coiled her tail beneath her and sat down. Her icy purple eyes locked onto Yao Yan as she gently spoke, "You're not from the Jia Ma Empire, are you?"
Her voice had lost its previous killing intent. It was soft, sultry—tugging at the heartstrings.
"No. I'm from the far south of Central Plains. I was heading to the Black-Corner Region for training, but got caught in a spatial storm during transit and landed here. That's when I ran into this amnesiac Medusa."
Yao Yan nodded, then openly admired Queen Medusa's face.
Her features were identical to the silly girl beside him, but their auras were completely different. One was seductive, regal, fierce—the kind of woman who set your blood on fire. The other was gentle, sweet, and pure—like a kind big sister from next door.
Two opposite styles, perfectly complementary.
"Another Medusa?" Hai Bodong's pupils contracted as he glanced from the snake-girl beside Yao Yan to the queen herself. A suspicion took root in his heart.
Sensing his gaze—
Queen Medusa cast a cold glance at him. Her red lips curled into a frosty smile as she warned, "If you want to keep your eyes, I suggest you stop looking. And forget everything you heard tonight."
This generation's Queen Medusa was one of a pair of identical twins—a secret known only to a very small number of the snake-people.
If Yao Yan weren't present, she would've ensured Hai Bodong never left the Tagor Desert—no matter the cost.
(END CHAPTER)
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