She looked at Qing Lin and slowly spoke.
"Come with me."
Medusa said.
Qing Lin froze.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's expressions changed dramatically.
"Queen Medusa, Qing Lin..."
Xiao Ding had just started to speak.
Medusa glanced at him.
Xiao Ding promptly shut his mouth, not daring to say another word.
Medusa looked at Qing Lin and said coolly, "You have Snake-People blood in your veins, so you're one of us."
"Coming back to the Snake-People Tribe with me will be better than staying here."
Qing Lin looked at Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, then at Medusa, and bit her lip.
"I..."
Qing Lin hesitated.
"Let's go."
Medusa turned and walked out of the tent.
After a moment's hesitation, Qing Lin followed. She didn't dare refuse.
Otherwise, the Moti Mercenary Group would surely face annihilation.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stood where they were, neither daring to stop them.
After leaving Shimo City with Qing Lin, Medusa flew toward the Tagor Desert.
Qing Lin followed behind Medusa, her heart filled with unease.
Medusa seemed to see through her thoughts and spoke coolly.
"Don't worry. I won't hurt you."
Medusa said.
Qing Lin nodded without saying anything.
A moment later, Medusa spoke again.
"I'm taking you back to the Snake-People Tribe to marry someone and become his wife."
Medusa said.
Qing Lin froze.
"M-marry someone?"
Qing Lin's voice trembled.
"That's right."
Medusa said coolly.
Qing Lin bit her lip, her heart even more unsettled.
The more she thought about it, the more afraid she became, but she didn't dare ask.
Medusa glanced at her and said nothing more.
Moti Mercenary Group's camp.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stood outside the tent, staring in the direction Medusa had gone. Their expressions were grim.
Xiao Li punched the sand, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Damn it!"
Xiao Li gritted his teeth. "We don't even have the strength to fight back."
"Queen Medusa's taking Qing Lin away, and all we can do is watch."
Xiao Ding remained silent.
He clenched his fists.
"Big brother, do you think something will happen to Qing Lin?"
Xiao Li asked, his voice full of worry.
Xiao Ding was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"Probably not."
Xiao Ding said, "Queen Medusa is a Peak Dou Emperor. If she wanted to kill us, she could have done it just now."
"She didn't attack, which means she didn't come looking for trouble."
"Besides, Qing Lin has Snake-People blood in her veins. To the Snake-People, she's one of their own."
"She should be safe."
Xiao Li nodded, but the worry still hadn't left his face.
"I hope so."
Xiao Li said.
The two fell silent for a while before Xiao Li suddenly spoke.
"Big brother, have you heard?"
Xiao Li asked.
"Heard what?"
Xiao Ding looked at him.
"About Xiao Yanzi."
Xiao Li said, "Nalan Yanran broke off their engagement."
Xiao Ding's expression darkened.
"I heard."
Xiao Ding said coldly, "That girl from the Nalan Family broke off the engagement in front of the Xiao Clan, humiliating Xiao Yanzi."
"She's gone too far!"
Xiao Li gritted his teeth. "What's so great about Nalan Yanran? She just took the Misty Cloud Sect's sect master as her master."
"When Xiao Yanzi gets stronger, he'll make her regret it!"
Xiao Ding nodded.
"Xiao Yanzi isn't the type to give up easily."
Xiao Ding said, "The broken engagement must have hit him hard."
"Once things settle down here, we'll go back and see him."
Xiao Li nodded.
They fell silent again, each lost in his own thoughts.
Medusa flew with Qing Lin for a long time before they finally reached the Snake-People Tribe in the depths of the Tagor Desert.
She landed and headed toward the great hall at the center of the tribe.
Qing Lin followed behind, curiously taking in her surroundings.
It was her first time visiting the Snake-People Tribe, and Snake-People were everywhere.
When they saw Medusa, they all bowed respectfully.
"Queen!"
Everyone greeted her in unison.
Medusa nodded and walked straight into the great hall.
Several elders were in the middle of a meeting.
When Medusa entered, they all rose to their feet.
"Queen!"
They greeted her in unison.
Medusa sat on the throne and glanced at Qing Lin beside her.
"This is the girl I brought back from the human empire."
Medusa said coolly, "She's quite pretty, and she has the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils."
"She'll be Xiao Chen's concubine."
The elders were stunned.
They looked at Qing Lin, their eyes full of surprise.
The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils?
They were the stuff of legends, an extremely rare gift.
Those who possessed the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils could counter snake-type magical beasts and even control them.
Such a talent would be among the very best in the Snake-People Tribe.
The Second Elder was the first to speak.
"Queen, you're giving someone with such rare Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils to Xiao Chen in marriage?"
The Second Elder asked incredulously. "What has he done to deserve that?"
The First Elder's expression darkened.
"There you go again."
The First Elder said coldly.
The Second Elder ignored him and continued, "Queen, Xiao Chen has indeed gained some strength, but he's still not..."
"Enough."
Medusa said coolly.
The Second Elder promptly fell silent.
The Third Elder spoke up.
"Second Elder, Xiao Chen is already a Nine-Star Dou Wang."
The Third Elder said, "He defeated Mo Basi. With strength like that, he's more than qualified to be our leader."
"What's wrong with taking a concubine?"
The Fourth Elder nodded as well.
"That's right. Xiao Chen's strength speaks for itself."
The Fourth Elder said, "You objected when he married Yue Mei, and now you're opposing this too?"
"Second Elder, don't you have it in for Xiao Chen?"
The Second Elder's expression turned grim. He wanted to argue, but couldn't think of what to say.
Seated on the throne, Medusa frowned slightly as she listened to the elders.
"What are you talking about?"
Medusa asked. "Xiao Chen defeated Mo Basi?"
The elders were all stunned.
"What happened?"
The First Elder hurriedly explained the whole matter.
He made a point of mentioning that Mo Basi had taken a Blood Burst Pill to reach Nine-Star Dou Wang, yet Xiao Chen had still defeated him with a single palm strike.
When the First Elder finished, Medusa's expression darkened.
"Where's Mo Basi?"
Medusa asked coldly.
"He's recovering at his residence."
The First Elder said.
Medusa nodded.
"Pass on my order."
Medusa said coldly. "Strip Mo Basi of his position as leader and have him reflect on his actions."
"He isn't to leave his residence without my permission."
"Yes."
The First Elder replied respectfully.
The Second Elder opened his mouth as if to say something, but when he saw Medusa's expression, he shut it again.
Medusa looked at them and said coolly, "Anything else?"
No one spoke.
"Then you may all leave."
Medusa said.
They bowed in unison and left the great hall.
Qing Lin stood where she was, unsure what to do.
Medusa looked at her and said coolly, "Come with me."
Qing Lin nodded and followed Medusa.
Medusa brought Qing Lin to a residence.
"You'll stay here for now."
Medusa said, "In a few days, I'll arrange for you to marry Xiao Chen."
Qing Lin bit her lip, then finally gathered the courage to speak.
"Queen, how old is Xiao Chen? He isn't one of the older elders in the Snake-People Tribe, is he?"
Qing Lin asked cautiously.
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