Hua She'er: Your Majesty Has Finally Seen the Light...

Medusa Temple, Wude Hall.

"Where is Yan Lin? Didn't they say he was back?"

Dressed in fiery red, Medusa flashed down from atop the massive statue within the hall. Swaying her snake tail, she slowly slithered toward Hua She'er, who had entered the hall.

Upon seeing the Queen, Hua She'er first respectfully bowed before speaking. "The Saint King did return, but upon hearing that you were in seclusion, he instructed this subordinate to leave something for Your Majesty before departing."

"What is it?"

Queen Medusa stopped, standing about a meter away from Hua She'er as they faced each other. She was curious as well—what could Yan Lin have brought her after suddenly returning?

Yet Hua She'er's next words immediately stirred the usually unruffled Queen.

"A Heavenly Flame."

"A Heavenly Flame?!"

A trace of surprise entered Medusa's voice. "What Heavenly Flame?"

"The Saint King said it was the nineteenth-ranked Heavenly Flame... the Green Lotus Core Flame," Hua She'er said slowly.

Green Lotus Core Flame?

Medusa murmured to herself before looking at Hua She'er again. "How did he obtain it? And why did he give the Heavenly Flame to me?"

A Heavenly Flame was something nearly every cultivator on the Dou Qi Continent dreamed of obtaining.

For alchemists, it held an even more deadly allure.

Yet Heavenly Flames were born of heaven and earth and were exceedingly difficult to find.

Yan Lin had found one, but instead of refining it himself, he had given it to her. Queen Medusa could not understand his intentions.

"The Saint King did not say how he obtained the Heavenly Flame. He merely instructed this subordinate to tell Your Majesty that he hoped you could safeguard it for him."

Hua She'er hesitated slightly. "The Saint King also said that no matter which method Your Majesty chooses to improve your bloodline, he will support you unconditionally. He only hopes that if Your Majesty chooses to break through the limits of your bloodline with a Heavenly Flame, you will wait for him to return."

"By then, he should have become a Fifth-Grade Alchemist and will be able to refine specialized fifth-grade medicinal pills to preserve Your Majesty's life. Once he refines the Heavenly Flame, the danger when Your Majesty transforms your bloodline with it will be reduced to the lowest possible level."

Yan Lin had said this because he feared that Queen Medusa, having acquired the Green Lotus Core Flame early, would hasten her bloodline transformation through the Heavenly Flame, affecting his subsequent plans.

Of course, he was also worried that Queen Medusa might encounter an accident if she used the Green Lotus Core Flame to transform her bloodline herself.

After three years together, and with her being his fiancée, there were feelings between them one way or another. Yan Lin still did not want anything to happen to Medusa.

"Do you know where he went?"

After hearing Hua She'er's message, Medusa remained expressionless. Yet Hua She'er, who had been watching her, could faintly sense the subtle ripples emanating from the depths of her eyes.

She did not dare pry too deeply into Queen Medusa's thoughts. Lowering her head slightly, she said, "The Saint King did not say. This subordinate does not know either."

Medusa fell silent. Hua She'er raised her head again, her expression hesitant. In the end, she still opened her mouth uncertainly. "Your Majesty, actually... the Saint King cares about you very much."

The Queen slightly lifted her eyelids, her star-like eyes fixed on Hua She'er, seemingly interested in what she had to say.

Her manner seemed encouraging, giving Hua She'er the courage to continue. "Before the Saint King left, he also said... he said he was very skilled, and very good in bed."

"He doesn't want Your Majesty to use the Green Lotus Core Flame to transform your bloodline. He wants to sleep with you!"

Medusa said nothing, but the subtle ripples in her starry eyes had already exposed her true feelings. One could imagine what a marvelous expression must be on that alluring face beneath her veil.

If Yan Lin had been here, he would probably have pointed at Hua She'er and shouted, "She's slandering me! She's slandering me!"

When had he ever said such a thing?

Though he really was very skilled, was that something worth being proud of?

He would never reveal the glorious exploits of his previous life—one versus seven, fourteen times in one night, the little prince of nightlife.

He was very low-key, all right?

"Did he really say that?"

Medusa scrutinized Hua She'er as she spoke.

Her tone remained cool, yet it carried doubt.

She isn't angry?

Then there's a chance... Your Majesty really is saying one thing and meaning another...

Secretly grumbling, Hua She'er forcefully suppressed her guilt and nodded with absolute certainty. "Yes. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may ask the Saint King yourself."

Hua She'er's tone was unwavering, as if it were the truth. Yet inwardly, she was frantically berating Yan Lin.

Hah, for the Queen's life and for the future of the tribe, I, Hua She'er, am really going all out.

If it weren't for me, you two would fall apart sooner or later.

You found a Heavenly Flame, yet instead of refining it directly, you brought it back to the tribe for the Queen. Isn't that blatantly seducing her?

And you've read so many human dirty books. Turns out you're all theory and no practice. You even dare to advise other people...

Hua She'er did not know that it was not because Yan Lin did not understand how to pursue Medusa, but because he understood her pride all too well.

Medusa was unlike ordinary women. The more desperately you fawned over her, the more she despised you.

Sweet talk and cheesy lines would only backfire on her.

What she liked was a man stronger than herself, prouder than herself, and possessed of greater backbone.

With a woman like Queen Medusa, only by conquering her both mentally and physically could you make her truly devote herself to you.

There were countless women in the world; each required a different approach!

Yan Lin understood this precisely. That was why, in every practical combat exercise against Queen Medusa, he had never surrendered even once. He often provoked her, and sometimes even dared to take advantage of her.

Without exception, he returned from Wude Hall to Saint King Palace seriously injured every time.

The difference was that Medusa's attitude toward him had clearly improved...

"You may leave."

Whether Queen Medusa believed her or not, Hua She'er could not glean any information from her voice.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Hua She'er respectfully acknowledged and was about to withdraw from Wude Hall.

Just as she turned to leave, Medusa suddenly called out to stop her.

"Wait... do you know... what big waves are?"

"???"

A multitude of question marks seemed to hover above Hua She'er's head. "Big... waves? What is that?"

She did not understand the term. It sounded strange, yet familiar, as though she had heard it somewhere before but could not recall where.

"Nothing. Withdraw."

Seeing her utterly bewildered look, Medusa knew she had asked the wrong person. She waved her hand, once again telling Hua She'er to leave Wude Hall.

"Yes."

Hua She'er instinctively bowed to take her leave. Then, suddenly, something flashed through her mind, reminding her of when she had reported the Saint King to Queen Medusa several years ago.

Memories surged like a tide, and Hua She'er suddenly understood. The Saint King had once said that he liked big waves.

Comprehending at once, Hua She'er secretly narrowed her eyes into slits, the corners of her lips lifting into a knowing smile. Your Majesty has finally seen the light...

For a moment, Hua She'er felt deeply gratified. After pondering briefly, she eagerly offered Medusa a suggestion. "Your Majesty, if you wish to know the answer, you can ask Cauliflower Snake. He is the Saint King's best friend, so he should have the answer you seek."

A glimmer flashed through Medusa's starry eyes, though it vanished in an instant.

Expressionless, she dismissed Hua She'er. After remaining in Wude Hall for a while, she left Medusa Temple directly...