Getting Something for Nothing

Medusa was speechless. Shi Kang himself was formidable, and he had two such powerful guards at his side. His background had to be terrifyingly strong, so why would he care about owing her a favor?

In his eyes, her little bit of value was probably worthless.

A sense of defeat washed over Medusa like a tide.

Just as Medusa had given up hope, Shi Kang suddenly spoke in an unhurried tone, his voice betraying neither pleasure nor anger. "Still, lending it to you isn't impossible."

Medusa abruptly raised her head. Light instantly flared in those beautiful eyes that always carried a trace of cold arrogance as she stared fixedly at Shi Kang, waiting for his conditions.

"You may borrow the Heavenly Flame," Shi Kang said, lightly tapping his palm with his fingertips. "But my condition is this: if your evolution succeeds, you must follow me."

After laying the groundwork for so long, Shi Kang finally revealed his purpose.

Medusa hesitated upon hearing this.

She wanted to break through to the Dou Zong realm, but she did not want to follow Shi Kang.

First, as Queen Medusa, how could she so easily become someone else's follower?

Second, Shi Kang was far too mysterious, and his background was far too powerful.

If experts like Shi Long and Shi Fei, whose true strength even she could not discern, were so obedient before him, then the force behind him had to be unimaginably terrifying.

Once she agreed, breaking free in the future would likely be harder than reaching the heavens.

Even if she managed to escape by luck, what about the Snake People Clan?

Besides, serving a ruler was like living beside a tiger!

But if she refused, she would have no way to evolve, and the Snake People Clan would never be able to leave this desert.

Medusa struggled inwardly, but Shi Kang was in no hurry. He simply watched her calmly, his expression unruffled, as though everything was already under his control.

He knew perfectly well that using force against someone with Medusa's temperament would only backfire.

In his previous life, those fanfictions had always featured protagonists who relied on their power and background to threaten the Snake People Clan's lives. It might have seemed like a quick victory, but in truth, they had already planted the seeds of hatred in her heart.

Shi Kang disdained such methods of subduing Medusa.

What such methods gained was nothing more than a "beautiful venomous snake" constantly thinking of biting back. Even guarding against her would be exhausting.

Making Medusa submit was such a simple matter. Shi Kang had no fewer than three methods, so there was no need to force her with strength and create trouble for his future self.

Shi Kang was using the Heavenly Flame as a condition now. If Medusa agreed, that would naturally be best. If she did not, he could simply add more bargaining chips.

Did Medusa not want to find suitable land for her people to live on?

For Shi Kang, that was merely a matter of saying the word. It could not have been easier.

Exchanging something so effortless for a future Dou Sheng bodyguard, perhaps even a queen to warm his bed, was a return on investment beyond reproach.

Well, that was assuming Medusa could truly evolve successfully. If she failed, Medusa would be nothing but a pretty vase.

After struggling internally for a while, Medusa finally seemed to make up her mind. She looked up at Shi Kang. "May I know your name, and your clan?"

Shi Kang raised an eyebrow.

The moment she asked that, she had essentially agreed.

"My name is Shi Kang," he said indifferently. "As for my clan, you'll learn of it in the future."

The Dou God Clans were all extremely mysterious. Only those who had lived in the Central Continent for a long time understood even a little of their terrifying power.

Even if Shi Kang told her about the Stone Clan, Medusa would not know what it meant.

Medusa silently repeated "Shi Kang" several times, firmly committing the name to memory. Then she took a deep breath. "I can follow you, but I have one more condition."

Before Shi Kang could say anything, Shi Long stepped forward and shouted sternly, "Insolence! Even a Dou Zong is unworthy of carrying the Young Clan Leader's shoes. You are merely a Dou Emperor; receiving the Young Clan Leader's favor is already a tremendous blessing, yet you dare make demands?"

Though his words were a rebuke, they were measured perfectly. He praised Shi Kang without making him uncomfortable, while also making Medusa recognize the current situation.

Shi Long believed that his Young Clan Leader had taken a liking to Medusa and wanted to bring her back to keep. As a guard, he naturally had to lend a hand.

It had to be said that Shi Long possessed great emotional intelligence.

Medusa was startled by Shi Long, but she also picked up on an extremely important detail in his words.

Even a Dou Zong was unworthy of carrying Shi Kang's shoes?

Did that not mean Shi Long and Shi Fei were stronger than Dou Zongs...

The more she thought about it, the more terrifying it became. She had thought having high-level Dou Zongs as guards was already absurd, yet...

Medusa became even more curious about Shi Kang's background.

At the same time, Medusa had a feeling that following someone like him might allow her to become stronger!

Shi Kang raised a hand to signal Shi Long to step back. His gaze remained on Medusa as he spoke calmly. "Tell me. What condition?"

Medusa pleaded slightly, "If my evolution fails, I hope you will not take action against the Snake People Clan."

Shi Kang froze for a moment, then laughed helplessly.

He had thought she would ask for territory or resources. He had not expected this.

This condition could not have been simpler.

He had no grievance against the Snake People Clan in the first place. Even if Medusa failed, he would at most find it regrettable before turning and leaving. Why would he wipe out an entire clan for no reason?

"Fine." Shi Kang agreed without hesitation. "I promise you."

Agreeing to Medusa's condition cost Shi Kang absolutely nothing.

Even this Green Lotus Core Flame had been taken from Medusa. He was truly getting something for nothing.

"Evolution concerns my life. I still need some time to prepare."

Medusa composed herself and regained some of her queenly bearing. "Though my clan's conditions are humble, we have prepared lodgings. Please rest here for the time being."

Shi Kang did not mind. He had only just left home and still had many matters to attend to, so he was in no rush to return to the clan.

Besides, he did not want Medusa's hurried preparations to result in a failed evolution. Losing an ally who might grow into a Dou Sheng for nothing would be a true loss.

Medusa went to prepare for her evolution, while Shi Kang did not remain idle.

He obtained a map from the Snake People Clan and, after glancing at it twice, headed toward Stone Desert City.

There was still a Demonic Flame Fragment Map there.

Oh, right. Qing Lin, the girl with the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, should also be in that city.

Upon arriving at Stone Desert City, Shi Kang casually grabbed a passerby and had him lead the way.

Before long, he arrived at the entrance of a shop called "Gu Tu."

This was the map shop run by Hai Bodong.

After rewarding the person who had guided him with several gold coins, Shi Kang stepped inside.

The shop was deserted, without even a single customer. Behind the wooden counter, an old man with graying hair hunched over a sheet of parchment, carefully sketching with a brush. He was so focused that he had not noticed anyone entering.

This was Hai Bodong?

Shi Kang gave him a glance, and jokes he had heard in his previous life involuntarily surfaced in his mind—things like "the strongest angel investor" and "I won't smoke unless it's lit with a Heavenly Flame"...

But the old man before him had a weathered face and ink stains on the backs of his hands. He looked like an ordinary, down-and-out craftsman. Where was even a trace of the Ice Emperor's former glory?

His Dou Qi had been sealed, and he was trapped in this tiny Stone Desert City drawing maps. His past few years probably had not been easy.

After looking him over briefly, Shi Kang lost interest.

His gaze swept across the shelves before he walked over to one and casually flipped through the old maps piled atop it.

With a rustle, a simple ancient map with tattered edges slipped from the pile and fell to the floor.

Shi Kang drew the map into his palm and spread it open for a glance, confirming that it was the Demonic Flame Fragment Map.

Just as he placed the fragment map into his Storage Ring, a voice rang out.

"Put that down."

Hai Bodong, who had been bent over his drawing, finally raised his head. A flash of sharpness appeared in his cloudy eyes.

Though he did not know the origin of that fragment map, he had always felt it was unusual and had kept it tucked away at the very back. He had not expected this youth to uncover it.

Shi Kang did not stop walking. He merely turned his head and gave Hai Bodong a sidelong glance.

A faint Dou Zong pressure spread without warning, like an invisible boulder crashing down upon Hai Bodong.

With a thud, Hai Bodong was instantly forced flat onto the ground, his face pressed against the cold stone floor. Every bone in his body felt as though it were about to fall apart, and even moving a finger took tremendous effort.