Mo Basi's Little Trick

The Snake-Person City is located deep within the Tagor Desert, where the climate is sweltering and unbearable. It is also plagued by sandstorms year-round, though fortunately, the towering city walls shield the snake-people within. When sandstorms occasionally strike, Medusa, as their Queen, personally steps in to shatter them.

Although the snake-people, possessing cold-blooded constitutions, have adapted to the scorching desert environment, they still yearn for the world beyond the sands.

The reason Medusa is so desperate to break through to the Dou Ancestor realm is precisely because she wants to lead the Snake-People Tribe out of the desert to find a new place to call home.

Under the scorching sun, the snake-people, regardless of gender, are dressed in very revealing attire. The male snake-people are practically bare-chested, wearing only shoulder and skirt armor, with various snake patterns painted on their bodies. The snake-women also wear only chest and skirt armor, exposing their slender, alluring waists. Their bronze skin, shimmering as they move, radiates a wild charm.

Gu Shenge strolls along the street with Yue Mei following behind him, drawing the attention of many snake-people who begin to whisper.

Some snake-people show expressions of awe due to his status as the Wang Fu.

Others are resentful that their beloved Queen has married a human, yet they can do nothing about it because they are no match for him.

Still others, snake-women, are captivated by Gu Shenge's peerless, handsome, and heroic appearance, casting him flirtatious glances filled with admiration and greed.

After wandering through the city, Gu Shenge discovers that the Snake-People Tribe is incredibly poor, with meager resources. It is no wonder Medusa wants to lead her people out of the desert; it is truly not easy for the Snake-People Tribe to survive in such a harsh and difficult environment.

Gu Shenge sighs, "Yue Mei, your Queen truly has it hard."

Even though the Snake-People Tribe possesses six great Dou Emperor powerhouses—Medusa, the Four Great Elders, and the Great Commander—they are forced to cower within the Tagor Desert when faced with the suppression of various powers like the Jia Ma Empire, the Chu Yun Empire, and the Luo Yan Empire.

The Snake-People Tribe is, after all, not human. Even though the three great empires may have their own conflicts and frictions, and all wish to destroy one another, they are quite united when it comes to suppressing the snake-people.

Now that Medusa has broken through to the Dou Ancestor realm, once she finishes fusing with the Nine-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python Origin Points, the first thing she will likely do is launch an offensive against the Jia Ma Empire to secure a habitat for her tribe.

As for why they wouldn't occupy the entire Jia Ma Empire, in Gu Shenge's view, it is impossible for the small population of the Snake-People Tribe to consume all the territory of the Jia Ma Empire. It is more reasonable to occupy a resource-rich, fertile land and create a snake-person kingdom.

When that day comes, he, as the Wang Fu, will inevitably have to take action.

"Move faster, all of you!"

Suddenly, a sharp shout interrupts Gu Shenge's thoughts. He looks toward the sound and sees several burly snake-people from the Mo Snake Tribe brandishing barbed whips, driving a group of ragged humans.

Those humans include men, women, the elderly, the young, and even small children. They have iron collars around their necks and ankles, connected by chains that string them all together. Some have several, or even a dozen, whip marks on their bodies, their flesh torn and blood dripping; every step they take leaves bloody footprints on the ground, a truly miserable sight.

Whenever someone walks too slowly, those snake-people lash them with a whip.

Seeing this, Gu Shenge's eyes instantly turn cold, and a trace of anger rises within him. Yue Mei senses the change in her Wang Fu's aura and her expression shifts slightly; knowing he is angry, she quickly explains.

"Wang Fu, these are human slaves offered as tribute by the Mo Snake Tribe. If you find this inappropriate, I will have them release these human slaves."

"Human... slaves."

The word makes Gu Shenge frown. Being human himself, seeing his own kind reduced to slavery leaves a very bad taste in his mouth.

At the same time, he realizes that the relationship between the Snake-People Tribe and humans is far from harmonious. Humans capture snake-people as slaves, and the snake-people capture humans as slaves; it is a cycle of mutual harm and deep-seated hatred.

As the Wang Fu of the Snake-People Tribe, he finds himself in an awkward position regarding certain matters.

Gu Shenge instructs Yue Mei, "Tell those snake-people to release the humans and bring them back to the Divine Temple."

If he were to simply release these humans and let them leave, they would likely die at the hands of Desert Magical Beasts or other uninformed snake-people. Even if they didn't encounter beasts or snake-people, they would likely starve or die of thirst in the desert.

If you are going to help, you might as well see it through to the end.

Rather than letting these humans perish in the desert, it is better to take them in for a while; it won't be too late to send them away once their wounds have healed.

It is merely a small effort on his part.

Gu Shenge is no saint; he simply feels uncomfortable seeing his own kind treated as slaves, and his mind is not at peace with it.

"Yes." Yue Mei nods obediently and steps forward to have the Mo Snake Tribe members release the humans.

But just then, another figure appears.

It is none other than Mo Basi, though judging by his appearance, it does not seem like a coincidence.

Seeing Mo Basi appear, Yue Mei doesn't think much of it. She points to the humans and says to him, "Mo Basi, you've come at the right time. The Wang Fu has ordered that all these humans be released."

However, Mo Basi remains motionless and instead questions Yue Mei with a sharp tone.

"What if I don't release them?"

This makes Yue Mei's brows furrow. As a leader herself, she is not afraid of Mo Basi. Her voice turns cold, and her attitude becomes firm.

"If you don't release them, you will be held responsible when the Wang Fu blames you."

"Hmph! Why should I release these human slaves? Just because that guy is also a human? Yue Mei, don't forget that humans have captured many of our snake-people as slaves! We are simply giving them a taste of their own medicine."

Mo Basi's voice rises sharply, attracting the attention of many snake-people, who also begin to show expressions of righteous indignation.

That's right, why can humans capture our snake-people as slaves, but we can't capture humans? This is such a double standard!

The surrounding snake-people's gazes toward Gu Shenge also change, revealing obvious disgust and anger.

Sensing the shift in the surrounding snake-people's eyes, Yue Mei thinks to herself that this is bad and glares fiercely at Mo Basi.

This guy is doing this on purpose, trying to exploit the snake-people's hatred for humans to make them despise, and perhaps even hate, the Wang Fu!

Gu Shenge looks at Mo Basi, who is standing with his arms crossed and a mocking expression, and understands why he appeared here so conveniently; it seems it was all calculated.

However, he is still too green if he thinks he can use these petty tricks to make things difficult for him or ruin his image within the Snake-People Tribe.

BOOM!!

The powerful pressure of a four-star Dou Emperor erupts from Gu Shenge's body, instantly enveloping the entire street. Every snake-person feels as if a giant boulder is pressing down on their chest, making it difficult to breathe. Their hearts tremble as they watch the handsome man walking slowly toward Mo Basi; only then do they realize that the Queen's husband is also a powerful Dou Emperor.

Mo Basi never expected Gu Shenge to make a move in front of so many snake-people. Facing him as he approaches step by step, a hint of panic appears in his diamond-shaped snake pupils.