Medusa knew that Mo Basi had a grudge against Gu Shenge, but she hadn't expected him to be so foolish. Still, he was one of her tribal chieftains—and the strongest of the eight. Killing him just like that had cost her dearly.
As she watched Gu Shenge soothe the humans, Medusa swayed her rounded, peach-like hips and strode over on her long, perfectly proportioned legs. Her gorgeous, bewitching face was serious, and a trace of resentment seemed to linger in her eyes as she spoke coldly.
"Gu, you killed Mo Basi. Now my Snake-People Tribe is down one Dou Wang, and I've suffered a great loss. You'll have to compensate me."
At that, Gu Shenge's mouth twitched. This woman really never passed up a chance to wring something out of him. Since that was the case, he teased her.
"If my beloved wife wants compensation, then your husband will gladly oblige. Tonight, I'll give you my most precious possession. How does that sound?"
"You!" Medusa knew exactly what he meant by his most precious possession, and a faint blush spread across her fair cheeks.
The nerve of him!
After teasing his beloved wife and seeing her blush, Gu Shenge's mood improved. He turned and instructed Yue Mei, who was standing nearby.
"Yue Mei, take these humans to the Divine Temple first. Let me know once they've recovered."
"Yes, Wang Fu." Yue Mei nodded and led the humans away.
Gu Shenge glanced around at the Snake-people. Though they looked at him with reverence, there was still a trace of disgust mixed in.
But he didn't care. He'd already made up his mind: once he got the Green Lotus Core Flame, he would leave the Snake-People Tribe and travel across the continent.
"I'm going into seclusion."
Medusa suddenly spoke up, telling Gu Shenge that she was going into seclusion to merge with the Origin Points of the Nine-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python.
Hearing that his beloved wife was going into seclusion, Gu Shenge wasn't surprised. He told her his own plans, too.
"Good timing. I was planning to leave the Snake-People Tribe and travel around."
When she heard that he planned to leave the Snake-People Tribe, Medusa froze for a moment. Then anger surged in the depths of her phoenix eyes. She raised a delicate hand, grabbed Gu Shenge by the ear, and parted her red lips. Her voice rang with fury as she demanded, "Gu Shenge, what do you mean?! You're planning to run off after sleeping with me, aren't you? Don't forget what you promised me last night!"
The sudden rebuke left Gu Shenge stunned. He'd only said he was leaving the Snake-People Tribe to travel. Why was Medusa reacting so strongly, as if he'd betrayed her?
Seeing their queen reprimand her husband, the surrounding Snake-people pretended they hadn't noticed and promptly cleared out.
"My beloved wife, let go first and hear me out. I'm only going traveling. I'm not abandoning you."
Gu Shenge tried to get his beloved wife to let go, but Queen Medusa was too angry to listen. She gave a cold snort and continued questioning him.
"Hmph! Gu, don't forget that you and I received blessings at the Sacred Altar. Before the Ancestral Spirits, we shared one heart. We just got married, and now you're leaving me. Where does that leave me? And where does that leave the Ancestral Spirits of my Snake-People Tribe?"
"Uh..." Gu Shenge was bewildered, though he seemed to understand at least some of what she meant.
The reason Medusa was so angry was that, according to the ancient marriage customs of the Snake-People Tribe, a couple married before the Sacred Altar couldn't separate for at least three months. To do so would disgrace the Sacred Altar, show grave disrespect to the Ancestral Spirits who had witnessed their vows, and insult one's spouse.
But this wasn't Gu Shenge's fault. How was he supposed to know? The original story had never mentioned that the Snake-People Tribe had such a custom!
"My beloved wife, calm down, calm down. I was wrong. I didn't know the Snake-People Tribe had this custom. Besides, weren't you about to go into seclusion yourself?"
Gu Shenge hurriedly apologized to Medusa. He also pointed out that she was about to go into seclusion anyway. They were both in the same boat, so neither of them should be angry with the other.
"That's different!" Medusa shouted at him again. Even if she went into seclusion, she'd still be in Snake-Person City, while Gu Shenge planned to leave the Snake-People Tribe.
Seeing how furious Medusa was, Gu Shenge decided not to provoke her further. He simply stepped forward, wrapped an arm around her slender waist, and drew her into his embrace, gently soothing her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't think things through. It was my fault. Don't be angry anymore~"
His soothing words eased Medusa's anger. She knew Gu Shenge was human, so it was only natural that he didn't know the Snake-People Tribe's marriage customs.
Still, she couldn't help feeling annoyed. Even without that custom, what did he mean by leaving right after they got married? Did he think her Snake-People Tribe was too poor? Was it not good enough for him? Was it not a place he could stay?
"Gu, tell me honestly. Why do you want to leave the Snake-People Tribe? Do you think we're too poor? Not good enough for you? Unsuitable for you to stay with?"
Medusa fired one question after another at Gu Shenge. In her eyes, mysterious as he was, he must have some formidable power backing him. Otherwise, how could he casually produce such peerless treasures as the Origin Points of the Nine-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python and an Emperor-Tier Cultivation Technique?
Her Snake-People Tribe lived in the harsh environment of the Tagor Desert. He probably saw it as a barren backwater and didn't want to stay. It was only natural that he wanted to leave.
Hearing her, Gu Shenge shook his head. He wasn't leaving because he disliked the Snake-People Tribe's home. On the contrary, the fire-element energy in this part of the world was abundant, making it an excellent place for cultivation.
He simply wanted to go out and see the world, to experience the different customs and cultures of the Dou Qi Continent.
But Gu Shenge wasn't going to say outright that he just wanted to go out and have fun. Instead, he put it another way.
"My beloved wife, don't misunderstand. How could I look down on you? As I traveled around the Snake-People Tribe today, I saw how hard and difficult your lives are, and how you suffer from the sandstorms. I couldn't bear it. Since I'm your husband, I should help shoulder some of your burdens. That's why I want to travel across the continent and find a fertile land rich in resources for the Snake-People Tribe, so you can move out of the desert and escape this harsh environment."
His words left Medusa stunned. She looked up at Gu Shenge's sincere, seemingly genuine eyes and fell silent for a long moment before slowly asking, "Really?"
Gu Shenge nodded earnestly. "Of course. How could I bear to deceive you?"
"Hmph! You're full of lies. I don't believe you."
Medusa gave a soft snort. Though she said she didn't believe him, Gu Shenge could still hear the faint satisfaction in his beloved wife's voice. He finally breathed a sigh of relief. He'd managed to soothe her.
But Medusa was still curious about Gu Shenge's background. Now that they were married, he still hadn't told her anything, which left her somewhat dissatisfied.
She questioned Gu Shenge again. "Gu, now that we're married, you should tell me where you come from, shouldn't you?"
"My background? If my beloved wife wants to know, shouldn't you change the way you address me first?"
Gu Shenge had already prepared an explanation for his curious wife. But first, he needed Medusa to correct the way she addressed him.
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