Taking Caidie as a Maidservant

The next morning, three figures made their way across the Tagor Desert.

Su Baichen was still dressed in white, strolling unhurriedly among the rolling dunes. His bearing was ethereal, as though he were an immortal entirely out of place in this harsh environment.

Cao Ying followed behind him, still puffing up her cheeks in annoyance. But today, there was an additional figure behind the two of them: the snake woman named Caidie, who quietly trailed after them.

Yesterday, Su Baichen had said he could take her in as a maidservant and give her the name Caidie. He would protect her whenever she was in danger, and she had agreed without a moment's hesitation.

Though she had lost her memories and could recall nothing, instinct told her that following the figure ahead was the safest choice she could make right now. She sensed no ill intent from Su Baichen.

The morning light fell upon her slightly pale face. Her unique snake eyes held a trace of confusion, yet there was also a hint of obedience toward her new identity.

A little farther behind, Cao Ying limped along. Her small face was full of grievance and indignation, and one hand occasionally rubbed her suffering backside as she muttered under her breath, clearly still bitter about yesterday's "Bamboo Shoot Fried Meat."

"Big Sister Caidie." Cao Ying quickened her pace and moved beside Caidie, tugging at her sleeve. Blinking her large eyes, she said in a tearful voice, "I ended up like this because of you yesterday. If anyone bullies me in the future, you have to stand up for me."

Seeing her pitiful appearance, Caidie's heart softened. She patted her chest without hesitation and promised earnestly, "Uh, no problem. If little Cao Ying needs anything, I'll take care of you."

But when the corner of her eye caught sight of the tall white figure ahead, she immediately lowered her voice and added, "Of course, the young master is excluded."

Cao Ying pouted. Though somewhat disappointed, she knew that was the bottom line and could only nod.

Having a Dou Wang-level big sister willing to watch over her was still better than having no one.

Walking ahead, Su Baichen had long since spread out his spiritual sense, taking in every movement within several miles.

Naturally, the girls' whispers could not escape him. He merely allowed the faintest curve to rise at the corner of his lips.

Cao Ying was quite quick-witted. However, his attention was now focused more on several powerful auras rapidly approaching from afar.

They're here. Su Baichen slowed slightly. Three figures emitting Dou Emperor fluctuations were speeding over from behind the dunes. One of the auras was cold and powerful, carrying a bloodline resonance identical to Caidie's.

Laborers delivered right to my door. Su Baichen was in a pleasant mood as he considered how to offer a "friendly" greeting and make them willingly help search for the Green Lotus Core Flame.

However, just as that thought arose, an abrupt change occurred!

The leading Snake-People Elder was gaunt and sharp-eyed like a hawk, with no intention of speaking at all.

The moment he spotted Su Baichen's group, especially when he sensed Caidie's familiar aura, killing intent surged in his eyes.

"Traitor! Die!"

The gaunt elder shouted and thrust his withered palm forward! Vast Dou Qi surged out, instantly condensing into a dark-purple energy python several zhang long in midair!

The giant python was lifelike, its scales chilling. Opening its bloody maw, it tore through the air with a piercing hiss and lunged down at Su Baichen! Wherever it passed, the leaking energy carved a deep trench through the sand.

This was clearly a formidable high-grade Xuan-class Dou Technique!

"Damn it! No sense of honor at all!" Su Baichen had not expected his opponent to be so decisive and ruthless, using a killing move the instant they met. His relaxed expression vanished as he cursed, but his reaction was swift as lightning.

Facing the serpentine phantom capable of blasting apart a small hill, Su Baichen neither dodged nor retreated. He merely raised his right hand as though casually.

There was no dazzling radiance of Dou Qi, nor any earth-shaking aura. He simply sent a light, effortless palm strike forward.

His palm was fair and slender, like the hand of a refined scholar playing the zither or wielding a brush. It stood in stark contrast to the savage, ferocious energy python.

"Hmph. Trying to take my high-grade Xuan-class Dou Technique barehanded? You truly don't know the difference between life and death!" The gaunt Snake-People Elder sneered mockingly.

He could practically see the arrogant human brat being torn to pieces by the giant python.

Caidie and Cao Ying behind him went pale with fright. Caidie cried out and instinctively wanted to rush forward, but the terrifying Dou Emperor pressure left her unable to move. Cao Ying's little face turned deathly white as she clutched tightly at Caidie's clothes.

Boom—!

Just as the giant python was about to swallow Su Baichen, his palm struck its forehead with perfect precision.

There was no expected violent explosion, only a muffled thunderous blast. The menacing energy python seemed to have crashed into an invisible yet indestructible barrier. Starting from its head, its enormous body shattered inch by inch, like broken glass, turning into pure motes of energy that swiftly vanished into the air. The scattered shockwave swept up yellow sand across the sky, forming a brief curtain of dust.

Su Baichen did not move an inch. Even the hem of his clothes remained undisturbed.

He slowly withdrew his hand and lightly dusted off nonexistent dirt from his sleeve. Through the gradually dispersing sandstorm, he calmly looked toward the three Snake-People Tribe Dou Emperors in the air, whose faces were filled with shock.

The sneer on the gaunt elder's face had long since frozen, replaced by intense disbelief and a trace of fear.

His full-powered high-grade Xuan-class Dou Technique had been shattered by the other party's casual palm strike? Just who was this young man?

At the same moment Su Baichen neutralized the attack, another Snake-People Elder had already transformed into a streak of light, heading straight for Caidie and Cao Ying. His powerful pressure descended like a mountain, and his voice was cold with unquestionable authority. "Those who violate tribal law, come back with me to receive punishment!"

Feeling that familiar yet hostile aura, along with the other party's undisguised killing intent, the faint hope Caidie had just developed toward her clansmen instantly shattered.

Resisting the discomfort caused by the Dou Emperor pressure, she shielded Cao Ying behind her. Though her face was pale, she still held her head high and said, "I can go with you, but spare the child beside me! She has nothing to do with this!"

The rushing Snake-People Elder swept his gaze over Cao Ying. There was not a shred of pity in his eyes, only deep-seated hatred for humans. He roared, "You betrayed the Snake-People Tribe and colluded with humans. Your crime merits death! I will spare neither you nor her!"

Before he finished speaking, his five fingers curled into claws. Carrying a fierce gust of wind, he reached for Caidie and Cao Ying!

The sand and dust gradually settled, and the atmosphere in the field became taut with tension. Su Baichen sighed softly. He had originally wanted to save some effort, but now it seemed a proper "conversation" was unavoidable.

His gaze gradually turned sharp.