Chapter 142: "Your Majesty, Surely You Don't Want…"
Whoosh!
A burst of seven colored light suddenly radiated, transforming into a glowing orb that floated out of Lu Bu's arms and hovered before him.
Zi Yan tilted her head curiously, her small, delicate face showing a hint of confusion. This aura… how should she describe it?
It felt somewhat familiar, as if it was ingrained in her instincts. She didn't particularly dislike it, but neither did she feel any strong affection toward it.
Why is she coming out now? Lu Bu raised his eyebrows, surprised. Medusa had been silent for months, and he had assumed she was in seclusion, focusing on her cultivation.
The intense glow gradually receded, revealing a flawless, snow white, and utterly enchanting figure. Dressed in a sheer purple veil, her perfect curves were partially hidden yet tantalizingly visible. An intangible allure radiated from her every movement.
Hiss!
Lu Bu took a sharp breath, his blood boiling. He immediately felt a rush of heat flood his body, though he maintained a composed outward expression. Thankfully, his loose robes provided enough coverage, allowing him to maintain a shred of dignity.
Subconsciously, Lu Bu took two steps back and sighed inwardly. After spending three or four years in this world, he was still a "Shakespearean boy." It was… a little depressing.
Medusa lazily floated before him, her seductive and exquisite face displaying a faintly amused expression. Her long, narrow eyes swept across the surroundings, clearly puzzled by her location.
And then, her gaze locked with Zi Yan's wide, dark eyes.
Medusa tilted her head, curiously observing the little girl. Somehow, she felt that this child was unusual.
The two stared at each other in silence, one big and one small, their gazes meeting for several moments.
After a while, Zi Yan blinked, snapping out of her daze. She thought this beautiful big sister seemed quite nice.
Medusa also came to her senses. Her body shimmered with purple light, and in an instant, a form fitting purple robe draped over her. The flowing fabric perfectly outlined her elegant curves.
"Little one, what's your name?" Medusa ignored Lu Bu entirely and instead addressed Zi Yan, her cold, exquisite face softening with a gentle smile.
She, too, found this little girl somewhat likable.
"Hello, big sister! My name is Zi Yan," Zi Yan replied sweetly, bowing politely. Her demeanor was unusually well behaved not only because she liked Medusa's aura, but also because she could sense Medusa's immense strength.
Among magical beasts, strength was the ultimate language. Unless there was an irreconcilable hatred between them, power could always bridge the gap. And, in this case, Zi Yan felt a natural fondness for Medusa.
"Zi Yan, is it? It's nice to meet you." Medusa smiled faintly and reached out a hand, gently ruffling Zi Yan's hair.
The sudden radiant smile left Lu Bu momentarily stunned, his heart skipping a beat. Hurriedly, he looked away to regain his composure.
This woman really is a temptress. She's too captivating. If I'm not careful, she'll steal my soul along with my heart.
"Ahem… Your Majesty, what brings you out so suddenly?" Lu Bu cleared his throat, clenching his fist lightly as he interrupted the interaction between Medusa and Zi Yan.
Medusa glanced at him with a hint of annoyance, while Zi Yan simply smiled, unbothered.
"I sensed you refining pills, so I came to take a look," Medusa replied coolly. Her tone became sharper as she continued, "Where's the pill I asked for? Is it ready yet?"
"Not yet." Lu Bu spread his hands in mock helplessness, sighing dramatically.
Medusa's delicate brows immediately furrowed. With a cold glint in her eyes, she clenched her hand, summoning a dazzling, icy longsword.
"I still lack ten or so ingredients," Lu Bu quickly added with a sly smile, raising his hand to reveal over forty medicinal ingredients floating in midair, suspended by his soul force.
Medusa's expression froze. A wave of irritation surged through her, her silver teeth grinding audibly.
So many ingredients had already been gathered clearly, Lu Bu hadn't forgotten about the Soul Fusion Pill. Yet the way he phrased it just now was purely intentional!
"You scoundrel! Next time, say everything at once instead of taking those long, dramatic pauses!" Medusa snapped angrily, her chest rising and falling as her irritation flared.
Lu Bu's gaze naturally followed the motion, his eyes narrowing slightly as they took in the striking sight.
What a magnificent view…
Medusa's recently subsiding anger flared up again. Being around this man was always an exercise in frustration!
She raised her sword, prepared to teach Lu Bu a lesson.
"Ahem! Sister Medusa, you can't treat Lu Bu like that!" Zi Yan suddenly stepped between them, her dark eyes flashing with a faint purple light as she stared directly at Medusa.
"Zi Yan, it was he who disrespected me first…" Medusa tried to explain through gritted teeth, though an inexplicable surge of irritation rose within her. For a moment, she even felt an urge to strike Zi Yan as well.
The thought startled her, and her face paled slightly.
She had no animosity toward Zi Yan if anything, she quite liked the little girl. Why, then, had she suddenly felt such a strong impulse?
It must be… the Heaven Swallowing Python's emotions influencing me.
Realizing this, Medusa took a deep breath, suppressing the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind.
Lu Bu, for his part, shrugged nonchalantly. He chalked it up to Medusa being her usual temperamental self and turned back to his cauldron. Tossing two ingredients inside, he began refining the pills for Zi Yan.
Medusa eventually calmed down and sat nearby, watching silently. Meanwhile, Zi Yan curiously circled around her, examining her from every angle.
Not long after, the pill was finished. Unlike standard alchemical pills, this was a simple blend of extracted medicinal essences and auxiliary ingredients, crafted to be nutritious and delicious an easy task for someone of Lu Bu's skill.
"Here you go, Zi Yan," Lu Bu said with a smile, handing her a jade bottle filled with pills.
Zi Yan's face lit up instantly. Her bright eyes curved into crescent moons as she grinned, her joy infectious enough to make even Lu Bu smile along with her.
Meanwhile, Medusa snapped out of her thoughts, suppressing the Heaven Swallowing Python's lingering emotions.
"Your Majesty, aren't you going back yet?" Lu Bu asked casually, his tone light. "It'll take some time to gather all the ingredients needed for the Soul Fusion Pill."
"I'm not going back!" Medusa huffed. "I've been cooped up for so long I'm staying out here to enjoy the fresh air."
"Well then, shall we have a little chat?" Lu Bu suggested with a grin, sitting on a nearby rock and motioning for her to join him.
Zi Yan giggled mischievously and wriggled into Lu Bu's lap, comfortably settling in as she munched on her pills.
That's my spot! Medusa's eye twitched involuntarily. The thought startled her so much that she quickly composed herself and sat on a nearby rock, feigning indifference.
"What do you want to talk about?" she asked coolly.
Lu Bu's grin widened. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a scroll from his storage ring and tossed it lightly in the air.
"This is the formula for the Soul Revival Pill," he said, his tone deliberately slow. "It removes external influences on the soul. Interested?"
Medusa froze.
Here we go again… This bastard's trying to scam me again!
...
In the Black Corner Region's Medicine Emperor City
The city's true name was Feng City, named after Han Feng. But in reverence to the "Medicine Emperor," travelers preferred to call it Medicine Emperor City.
Inside a serene bamboo grove, a man in green robes with flowing hair held a piece of paper, his expression solemn.
"The Inner Academy… A Heavenly Flame… The Fallen Heart Flame?"
Han Feng muttered, his eyes gleaming with an uncontrollable frenzy and desire.
Over the years, Han Feng had painstakingly searched for Heavenly Flames, yet the only one he had managed to obtain was the Sea Heart Flame, ranked 15th on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.
If the Inner Academy truly had a Heavenly Flame, and it turned out to be the Fallen Heart Flame… then no matter the cost, he had to obtain it!
Determination flashed in Han Feng's eyes. As a disciple of the Medicine Venerable, his understanding of Heavenly Flames was unmatched. He knew exactly what the Fallen Heart Flame represented.
A cheat for cultivation!
No wonder the Inner Academy students of Jia Nan Academy advanced so quickly. So, this was the secret behind it!
"If I can acquire it, I'll definitely reach the Dou Venerate realm within ten years!" Han Feng's face flushed with excitement. At all costs, he must secure the Fallen Heart Flame!
However…
Han Feng's brow furrowed slightly. He was no fool. To have slain his teacher and then deceived Venerable Feng and the many trusted friends of his master, hiding his betrayal successfully while establishing a stronghold in the Black Corner Region, how could someone like him be naïve?
"Why did the Black Emperor Sect suddenly send me this information?" Han Feng lightly slapped the piece of paper against his palm, murmuring in suspicion.
Mo Tianxing was a scheming man, and with his strength always slightly above Han Feng's, he had been able to suppress him all this time. Mo Tianxing might tolerate a "Medicine Emperor" like Han Feng, but he would never accept a "Dou Zong Han Feng."
There had to be something fishy about this!
"Han Beng, what has the Black Emperor Sect been up to recently?" Han Feng called out sharply, summoning his subordinate.
"Reporting to my lord… nothing unusual," Han Beng replied after a moment of thought. "They've been carrying out regular cultivation and collecting taxes. No signs of troop movements or large scale activities…"
Hearing this, Han Feng fell silent for a while. No matter what, he couldn't afford to ignore the Fallen Heart Flame. Yet, at the same time, he couldn't allow himself to be used as someone else's pawn.
Pacing in place, Han Feng finally said in a low voice, "Activate the spies we planted in the Inner Academy. Have them investigate Jia Nan Academy's recent movements."
"Yes, my lord!"
"And send word to the Earth Flame Sect, the Blood Sect, and the Tian Yin Sect. Have them assist in probing the Black Emperor Sect's recent activities. I refuse to believe that old fox won't slip up somewhere!" Han Feng said grimly.
For now, the Fallen Heart Flame was securely sealed. It wouldn't be easy to obtain, which gave him time to carefully assess the situation.
"As you command, my lord!" Han Beng nodded and swiftly departed.
"Let's see… Black Emperor Sect, Jia Nan Academy… just what sort of game are you two playing?" Han Feng muttered, his gaze fixed on the endless forest stretching toward the direction of Jia Nan Academy.
…
Northeast of the Inner Academy, atop a waterfall.
Queen Medusa glared at Lu Bu, her beautiful eyes fixed on the pill formula in his hand.
"Soul Revival Pill… Why didn't you mention this when you first brought up the Soul Fusion Pill?" she asked angrily.
"How would I have known about this formula back then?" Lu Bu spread his hands with a helpless sigh. If I'd told you earlier, wouldn't I have lost out on another opportunity?
If there's one thing I'm good at, it's milking a situation for all it's worth.
Medusa bit her silver teeth in frustration. Liar! I don't believe you for a second.
"What do you want?" she asked coldly.
"Well, I happen to need a bodyguard. What do you think?" Lu Bu grinned. Previously, their agreement was more flexible she could choose to help him based on her mood. If she felt like it, she'd lend a hand; if not, she could ignore him completely.
In other words, it was a relationship based on equality. She acted at her discretion, not his orders.
But now, Lu Bu's terms had changed. A bodyguard had to follow commands. When he gave an order, she would have no choice but to act. This was no longer a partnership of equals it was a subordinate relationship.
"Dream on!" Medusa scoffed coldly. As the dignified Queen of the Snake People, she had never bowed her head to anyone.
No man in this world dared to make her submit!
"Oh?" Lu Bu raised an eyebrow, his figure blurring as he suddenly appeared in front of her. He bent down slightly, looming over her and locking her gaze with his.
"What are you doing?" Medusa instinctively leaned back, but a flash of anger flickered in her eyes. Why am I backing away from him?
But before she could react further, Lu Bu chuckled softly and said, "Your Majesty, surely you wouldn't want the Heaven Swallowing Python to keep influencing you, would you?"
As he spoke, Lu Bu raised his hand, his fingers lightly lifting Medusa's delicate, jade like chin.
It wasn't crude or vulgar, but it was undeniably flirtatious.
"How dare you treat this queen like this!" Medusa's eyes blazed with fury. Just as she was about to explode in anger, an uncontrollable thought surfaced in her mind: Jump into his arms. That's my place…
Medusa's eyelids twitched violently, and she slapped Lu Bu's hand away.
"Fine. I agree to be your bodyguard," she said coldly. "But there will be a time limit. I won't follow you forever!"
She had to resolve the Heaven Swallowing Python's influence on her as soon as possible. If she didn't, she feared she wouldn't be able to resist her impulses the next time.
"A time limit, huh… Let's say ten years, then?" Lu Bu said with a sly grin. He knew full well Medusa wouldn't follow him for that long.
But as the saying goes: If you aim high, you settle for more.
If he suggested three years, she'd demand one. But if he proposed ten, she might counter with five.
"Absolutely not! Three years at most!" Medusa snapped.
"That's too short I'd be losing out," Lu Bu said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "How about this? I'll compromise. Eight years my bottom line."
"No way!" Medusa shouted. "Five years at most! I need to protect the Snake People "
"Deal! Five years it is!" Lu Bu cut her off with a grin.
Medusa froze, realizing she'd fallen into his trap. Her face flushed red with anger, and her slender frame trembled with frustration. She wanted nothing more than to cleave Lu Bu in two with her sword!
But then her gaze shifted as an idea formed in her mind. She said firmly, "No, five years is too long! I can't abandon the Snake People!"
"My purpose in evolving to this form was to protect them. I cannot neglect my duty because of you!"
"Are you sure?" Lu Bu said softly, his tone almost playful. "Your Majesty, you know me well. I've never bullied anyone unprovoked I prefer to act decisively."
"But if you break our agreement…" He smiled wickedly and once again lifted her flawless chin with his fingers, his voice turning low and suggestive.
"Your Majesty… you wouldn't want the Snake People to be bullied in the Tagore Desert, would you?"
"Surely, you want the Snake People to remain safe and strong, right?"
"So, don't overthink it. Just follow the terms of our agreement, and your people won't have to suffer. Whatever happens between us… the Snake People need never know."
Under Lu Bu's piercing gaze, Medusa's jade like teeth clenched, and her trembling body slowly nodded.
"…Fine," she whispered.
"Excellent. That's my dear Queen Medusa!" Lu Bu said with a satisfied smile.
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