Chapter 102: Shuang'er?
The scorching sunlight poured down, turning the entire Tagor Desert into a massive steamer. The air seemed to distort under the heat, making it impossible to clearly see the distant landscape.
Inside the Snake-People Tribe's royal palace, in a heavily guarded hall...
Cai Die was currently being held there. Though many Snake-People warriors stood watch around her, most of them weren't particularly strong. With her current strength, no one could actually stop her if she chose to force her way out. This was precisely why those above the Dou Wang level were referred to as true cultivators.
Only by condensing Dou Qi wings could one truly soar freely through the heavens and earth—only then could one be said to possess true "freedom."
Unfortunately, not everyone could achieve that. Most people would never be able to unlock the shackles in their hearts for their entire lives.
External cages were easy to break, but inner cages could only be unlocked by oneself.
Cai Die gazed out the window, her beautiful eyes lowered slightly, lips slightly pouted as she murmured softly, "Another day's about to pass… why hasn't Young Master come out yet…"
She seemed disheartened. Without Yao Yan around, she felt like she had returned to her former self—a puppet, sitting by the window day after day, watching the sun rise and set, reliving the same days over and over. The whole world seemed painted in black and white, devoid of color.
Her charming, slender snake tail swayed idly, her curvaceous waist and hips perfectly outlined. Her stunning, bare face had been carefully adorned with accessories and light makeup, making her look even more radiant and breathtaking.
At that moment, Cai Die could truly be described as a Queen Medusa.
If Cai Lin were to stand beside her now, one would find the two almost identical in appearance. Only their temperament and the coloration of their tail scales distinguished them.
When Yao Yan arrived at the palace entrance, this was exactly what greeted his eyes. Watching the melancholic Cai Die, the corners of his lips curled into a smile. He wrapped his body with soul force and silently approached her. Without caring whether Queen Medusa was following, he boldly wrapped his arms around Cai Die's slender waist.
"What's wrong, were you getting anxious waiting?"
He leaned close and whispered into her ear.
Feeling that familiar aura, Cai Die's tensed body instantly softened. Her eyes grew even brighter as she looked at the familiar figure. She nodded slightly, then quickly shook her head, puffing out her cheeks in mock anger. "Not at all."
"Ying ying~"
Ling'er, who lay on Yao Yan's shoulder, let out a crisp chirp as a greeting to Cai Die, then lazily flopped back down. She had never been fond of movement—especially after eating. She preferred curling up and napping on Yao Yan's shoulder.
Cai Die looked at the lazy little fox and poked her with a finger in annoyance, letting out a soft snort. "Ungrateful little thing."
"Those four old geezers have already been convinced by me and your sister. You don't need to worry about the Snake-People Tribe hunting you down anymore."
Yao Yan inhaled the faint fragrance on Cai Die's body and spoke softly, delivering the good news.
"Really?!"
Cai Die's eyes widened with joy at his words, her voice full of surprise.
Then she looked at him curiously.
"How did you convince those old guys?"
"We reasoned with them."
Yao Yan stated plainly. Anyone in the position of the Four Grand Elders who still had a functioning brain wouldn't pick a fight with them. Most strong individuals were smart—they rarely went to war over petty matters.
Cai Die clearly didn't believe him. Seeing Yao Yan being evasive, she twisted her waist slightly and said stubbornly, "Liar. You're always lying."
"I just didn't want you to overthink it. But anyway, it's settled. They promised they won't bother you again."
Yao Yan raised his hand to knock on her forehead but stopped when he saw the delicate hair accessories she wore. At that moment, he also realized how closely she resembled Queen Medusa—at least 90% similar. The only true difference lay in their eyes.
Cai Die's eyes were gentle, while her sister's were cold and fierce, carrying an intimidating pressure.
One dazzling and lively, the other cold and noble.
"Did I charm you, Young Master?!"
Noticing Yao Yan's brief pause, Cai Die's eyes gleamed mischievously. She smiled brightly and fluttered her long lashes.
"You just look a lot like your sister."
Yao Yan sighed softly.
Cai Die's eyes narrowed at once. She twisted her sultry body and huffed unhappily, "I knew it! Young Master is always thinking about my sister. Holding me in your arms while still longing for her…"
She bit her lower lip slightly, giving Yao Yan a jealous glare.
"I'm not always thinking about her—just every now and then."
Yao Yan replied frankly. Even knowing Queen Medusa was eavesdropping outside, he didn't care. If women weren't shy, why should men be?
Besides, wasn't it natural for a man to like beautiful women?
He even tightened his embrace around Cai Die's delicate body. Seeing her displeased eyes, he changed the subject: "I heard from the Elders that you and your sister have a kind of empathic connection. What's that about?"
"We can roughly sense each other's emotions and physical states."
Cai Die responded without hesitation. Very few knew of this secret, but Yao Yan obviously wasn't an outsider.
"?!"
Yao Yan froze. He hadn't expected the twin sisters to be so in sync. That kind of ability reminded him of a certain movie he'd seen involving twins. He wondered if Cai Die and Queen Medusa could achieve that same level of connection. That thought made him reach out and pinch Cai Die's smooth snake tail.
Caught off guard, Cai Die's pretty face turned red. She gave Yao Yan a shy glare. Who launches sneak attacks while talking?!
At that same moment…
Outside the room, Queen Medusa—Cai Lin—pressed her lips together, her cold and seductive eyes filled with complex emotions. She wanted to rush in and kill Yao Yan but didn't know what excuse to use. In the end, she knocked on the door, her usually gentle voice now tinged with frost: "If you're done chatting, come out!"
So it's real… Yao Yan was stunned and excited at once. He wanted to study it more thoroughly but worried about mentally breaking his sister-in-law. He suppressed his impulse and consoled himself: there's always time!
"Sister's outside… It's your fault!"
Cai Die huffed in embarrassment and quickly distanced herself from Yao Yan. She muttered softly, feeling certain that her sister had sensed everything that had happened. It was so mortifying.
Yao Yan cleared his throat and replied casually, "Got it."
Then, he walked out of the room with the blushing Cai Die. The guards outside had already left, leaving only Queen Medusa at the door. This scene made Cai Die's face flush even deeper. She didn't know how to face her sister—especially after being told just recently to keep her distance from Yao Yan.
But when it came to Yao Yan, she clearly wasn't clever enough.
"If you dare grope my sister again, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
Queen Medusa twisted her waist and placed Cai Die behind her protectively, her icy gaze locking onto Yao Yan.
How do you know I groped her… Yao Yan wanted to joke but, knowing how fragile their relationship still was, held back. He simply nodded in agreement, avoiding triggering her anger.
Seeing Yao Yan's cooperation, Queen Medusa's mood eased slightly. She said calmly, "Hand over the pills you refined to my sister. I'm taking her to cultivate in seclusion."
She could no longer allow her sister to spend time alone with Yao Yan. The intensity of the emotional feedback was too overwhelming. She also wanted to ask Yao Yan if there was a pill to sever this connection—but the thought was too embarrassing to voice.
She couldn't exactly say: "I'm worried your affection with my sister will affect my emotional stability."
Yao Yan retrieved a bottle of pills from his storage ring and handed them to Cai Die, then looked toward Queen Medusa. "There are four left inside. Once your essence recovers, try taking one or two more to see if they're still effective."
He had taken one previously, but it had little effect on him—nothing compared to a Body Refining Pill.
Queen Medusa nodded without ceremony and led her sister away. As for Yao Yan, she left him in Hua She'er's care since taking the pills required a day or two to process—he wouldn't be out anytime soon.
"Young Master, this way please."
The graceful Hua She'er respectfully addressed Yao Yan.
He nodded and followed Queen Medusa's guard toward a distant palace. He planned to rest for a few days before heading to the location of the Green Lotus Core Flame, where he would begin his retreat. This time, he aimed to break through to Dou Wang with the flame's power!
After that, he would head for the Black-Corner Region.
…
A few days later, Hai Bodong and the two sisters emerged from seclusion. Considering their destination lay deep within magma, Yao Yan decided to have Cai Die remain in the Snake-People Tribe's territory to temporarily impersonate Queen Medusa and manage the tribe. Since the sisters looked nearly identical, the ruse would be easy.
As for the difference in tail scale color… such disguises were simple. A bit of colored pigment was enough.
Cai Die had done this many times before.
Naturally, she didn't want to—but she also understood the importance of the heavenly flame. She couldn't let her personal feelings interfere with Yao Yan's mission. So she obediently nodded and watched the trio depart. Only when they disappeared from sight did she purse her lips and return to the palace with Hua She'er, her mood clearly downcast.
Meanwhile, Yao Yan looked at Queen Medusa with curiosity. "Cai Die told me she gave you a name—Cai Lin?"
Hearing that name, Yao Yan had been surprised. He hadn't expected Queen Medusa to have taken it.
"Just a nickname."
Cai Lin replied coldly, clearly uninterested in the topic. Yao Yan wasn't her sister, so she had no reason to entertain his chatter.
Annoyed by her icy tone, Yao Yan resolved to spank Cai Die twice next time he saw her. He then turned to Hai Bodong and said, "Once I locate the Green Lotus Core Flame, I'll likely go into seclusion. I'll need you to handle the supplies."
The flame was located near Shi Mo City. Cai Lin was unsuitable to accompany them. That left only Hai Bodong—the Grand Elder of the Miter Family.
With his influence and connections, he could quickly acquire any medicinal ingredients within the Jia Ma Empire. That was what Yao Yan valued most. Martial strength mattered, but vast connections brought convenience. After all, no one—no matter the world—could live in isolation.
Even in cultivation, one needed wealth, partners, techniques, and land. The same applied in a fantasy world.
"No problem."
Hai Bodong nodded.
Cai Lin frowned slightly and asked, "Are you sure of the location?"
"You'll know soon enough."
Yao Yan smiled without offering more explanation and sped up. His desire for the Green Lotus Core Flame had reached its peak. He needed its power to evolve Flame Mantra and strengthen his body to reach the second stage of the Vajra Indestructible Body. Advancing his Dou Qi was now a secondary goal.
This would be his most critical step toward becoming a supreme powerhouse!
Success would mean a promising future.
Failure… was not an option!
…
The trio soon arrived near Shi Mo City. Both Cai Lin and Hai Bodong were surprised by the location. They exchanged looks, as if suspecting Yao Yan had gotten it wrong. This place didn't seem like it would harbor a heavenly flame.
Yao Yan said nothing. He hovered in midair and scanned the surrounding area with soul power. Soon, his eyes opened, and golden Phantom Flame surged around him, turning into a streak of light that shot toward the desert.
Cai Lin and Hai Bodong followed immediately.
With a deep rumble, Yao Yan opened a path with his body, quickly forming a crater in the ground. Flowing sand poured into it endlessly, revealing a bottomless pit beneath—its dark mouth like a gluttonous beast ready to devour everything.
Floating in midair, Yao Yan signaled to Cai Lin and Hai Bodong before leading the way into the dark abyss.
Soon after…
The three halted, facing more than ten pitch-black tunnels.
"Which way?"
Cai Lin looked toward Yao Yan for direction. By now, she believed the map fragment must be genuine. Without a map, finding a place like this would be pure luck.
Yao Yan gently patted the slumbering Ling'er in his chest. Seeing no reaction, he began scanning each tunnel with soul power. Soon, he sensed a unique aura in one of them—its fire attribute energy felt noticeably gentler than the rest.
"This one!"
Yao Yan pointed to a specific path and flew ahead.
(END CHAPTER)
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