Queen Medusa

At dawn the next morning, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

Su Baichen slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, ending his all-night meditation.

The moment he opened his eyes, he met a pair of sparkling eyes—Caidie had long been waiting at his side, her chin resting in both hands as she gazed at him eagerly. Her undisguised anticipation seemed ready to spill from her eyes.

His gaze passed over her and turned toward the cave entrance. His Soul Force had already taken in everything outside.

The corners of Su Baichen's lips rose slightly, revealing a faint, knowing smile. His tone was casual yet brooked no argument. "All right, let them in."

At his words, Caidie's face instantly blossomed like a spring flower. Her eyes curved into crescents as she answered brightly, "Yes, Young Master!" Then, like a cheerful butterfly, she turned and lightly ran out of the cave.

In truth, not long after Caidie had brought food to the two elders last night, Queen Medusa had personally arrived outside the cave with the core members of the Snake-People Tribe.

Yet, just as everyone was about to announce their presence and request an audience, Queen Medusa raised a hand to stop them. She looked toward the deep cave entrance, her beautiful face appearing especially calm and composed beneath the moonlight.

"It is late. There is no need to disturb Senior's cultivation. We shall wait quietly here until dawn." Her voice was not loud, yet it carried the unquestionable majesty of a queen.

She had her own considerations. The Soul Force of the mysterious powerhouse within the cave was terrifying beyond measure; he had likely noticed them the moment they entered this mountain range.

Since the other party had not expressed any intention, rashly disturbing him in the middle of the night would not be wise. Such caution was both respect for a powerhouse and responsibility for the safety of the Snake-People Tribe.

Sure enough, everything had unfolded exactly as Queen Medusa expected.

When the Snake-People Tribe had still been several miles away from the cave, Su Baichen's vast, ocean-like mental power had already sensed their arrival.

Queen Medusa's subsequent order to wait quietly had naturally also fallen within his "sight." Su Baichen merely smiled faintly without committing himself, said nothing further, and continued meditating with his eyes closed until dawn.

While waiting outside the cave last night, Third Elder had quietly told Queen Medusa and the accompanying tribespeople in detail how Caidie, for the sake of the Snake-People Tribe, had begged Senior without hesitation and had even been willing to exchange her freedom for the tribe's safety.

Other than Queen Medusa, everyone's faces burned with shame after hearing this. Remembering how they had once misunderstood and pressured Caidie, they all lowered their heads guiltily.

Only Queen Medusa showed a faint yet genuine smile on her cold, beautiful face. Meticulous by nature, she immediately read far more into it: this undoubtedly meant that the Snake-People Tribe's crisis might be turning around. Her younger sister was safe and sound, and more importantly, her sister seemed to hold a place in that unfathomable Senior's heart. Though she did not know where this special consideration came from, for the Snake-People Tribe, for her sister, and for herself, it appeared beneficial for now.

—Back to the present.

Outside the cave, Queen Medusa and the Snake-People Tribe had waited for a long time. The air was steeped in a silence mixed with anticipation, tension, and reverence.

When Caidie appeared at the cave entrance, everyone's gaze instantly focused on her.

Caidie hurried out, her eyes immediately locking onto that peerlessly graceful figure in purple.

Unable to hold herself back any longer, she rushed straight into Queen Medusa's embrace like a swallow returning to its nest, her voice full of attachment. "Sister, I missed you so much."

Feeling the genuine warmth in her arms, Queen Medusa's usually cold expression thawed like a frozen river, revealing a gentle smile from the bottom of her heart.

She gently embraced her younger sister in return, but then deliberately put on a stern face and flicked Caidie's smooth forehead with a slender finger, neither too hard nor too lightly.

With a soft thunk, Caidie let out an exaggerated cry of pain. "Oww—!"

"You still dare say you missed me? You used a Forbidden Technique and ran away without permission. Your nerve is getting bigger and bigger!" Queen Medusa's tone was reproachful, but her eyes were filled with heartache.

Rubbing her forehead, Caidie pouted and argued, "I know my own limits... I knew I wasn't capable enough. If I really became queen, wouldn't I just lead the Snake-People Tribe into a ditch?"

"Besides... besides, I couldn't bear to hurt you, Sister!" As she spoke, she lifted her face and playfully stuck out her tongue at Queen Medusa, looking adorably naive yet somewhat sly.

Seeing her younger sister's eternally immature and mischievous appearance, the last trace of anger in Queen Medusa's heart turned into a helpless sigh.

She shook her head, ultimately unable to truly reprimand her. After all, this was her own younger sister. If she did not spoil her, who else could she expect to? She was her older sister, after all.

"All right, enough nonsense." Queen Medusa composed herself and turned back to the matter at hand. "Did Senior send you to call us in?"

As soon as she said this, the gazes of all the surrounding Snake-People instantly converged on Caidie, their eyes filled with tension, expectation, and unease.

The success of this journey depended entirely on the attitude of the Senior within the cave.

When her sister brought up serious business, Caidie also put away her playful expression. Trying hard to look solemn, she nodded. "Mm. Young Master sent me."

But then, as if recalling something, she scratched her head somewhat awkwardly and added, "Uh... actually, before I even said anything, Young Master seemed to already know what I wanted to say. He directly told me to bring you all inside."

Her slightly embarrassed and muddled appearance left the originally tense crowd momentarily stunned. They exchanged looks, unease rising in their hearts. Second Young Lady, is... is this message reliable? Please don't tell us you misunderstood it!

Queen Medusa knew her younger sister's flighty temperament better than anyone. She cast Caidie a helpless glance, but swiftly reached a conclusion in her heart.

That Senior was an Alchemist, and an Alchemist's mental power was generally stronger than that of experts at the same level. Combined with the fact that Senior had surely sensed their presence long ago,

it was not strange that he could foresee Caidie's purpose. On the contrary, it only made him seem even more unfathomable. Queen Medusa knew that the crisis surrounding this meeting had likely passed, and the Snake-People Tribe might even be able to rely on this Senior to fulfill their wish of leaving the desert.

With that thought, she no longer hesitated. Her gaze swept over the crowd as she gave a steady order, "Great Elder and I will follow Caidie inside to pay our respects to Senior. The rest of you will remain where you are. Without my orders, do not make any unauthorized movements, nor make any noise."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" everyone answered in unison. Though uneasy, they had no objections to the queen's decision.

Queen Medusa exchanged a glance with the elderly man at her side—Great Elder of the Snake-People Tribe, who held a Snake-Head Staff and carried a steady aura. Solemnity and resolve showed in both their eyes.

Then, the two adjusted their robes and followed behind the light-footed Caidie, stepping into the cave that emanated a subtle yet heart-palpitating aura.