In Yao Yue and Yao Ye's room.
The two sisters sat on the edge of the bed, both looking troubled.
Yao Yue bit her lip, her eyes full of unease.
"Do you think Queen Medusa might really marry us off to that Snake-Person?"
Yao Yue asked in a hushed voice.
Yao Ye fell silent for a moment, not answering directly.
She thought of Xiao Chen, the Snake-Person who looked barely older than they were, whom she had seen in the hall.
At the time, she hadn't believed the elders when they said he was a Dou Zong powerhouse.
But when she thought about it carefully afterward, Xiao Chen really had exuded a powerful aura as he entered the hall.
That aura was stronger than their imperial grandfather Jia Xingtian's.
Jia Xingtian was a Peak Dou Emperor.
If someone was stronger than a Peak Dou Emperor, he could only be a Dou Zong.
"That Xiao Chen really is strong."
Yao Ye spoke.
Yao Yue stared at her in surprise.
"What did you say, Sister?"
Yao Yue asked.
"I said he's powerful,"
Yao Ye replied. "To reach the Dou Zong realm at such a young age is truly remarkable."
Yao Yue pursed her lips.
"So what?"
Yao Yue stubbornly retorted. "He's a Snake-Person, and we're human."
"The Snake-People Tribe and humanity are sworn enemies. I'll never marry him."
Yao Ye looked at her and gave a bitter smile.
"This isn't about whether we're willing or not anymore."
Yao Ye said, "Queen Medusa captured us and sealed our Dou Qi. We can't even fight back."
"Even if we refuse, what can we do?"
Yao Yue gritted her teeth, unable to answer.
She knew her sister was telling the truth.
They were like fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.
But she couldn't bring herself to willingly marry a Snake-Person.
"Sister, are we really just going to accept our fate?"
Yao Yue asked, her voice on the verge of tears.
Yao Ye looked at her and gently patted her shoulder.
"Don't be afraid."
Yao Ye said. "No matter what happens, I'll be right here with you."
Yao Yue nodded and leaned against her shoulder.
The sisters fell silent, each lost in her own thoughts.
A complicated look flashed through Yao Ye's eyes.
Truthfully, she knew that with Xiao Chen's strength as a Dou Zong, he was more than worthy of marrying either of them.
The strongest person in the Jia Ma Empire was only a Peak Dou Emperor.
There wasn't a single Dou Zong powerhouse to be found in the entire Jia Ma Empire.
And Xiao Chen was so young.
A Dou Zong in his early twenties—talent like that was top-tier across the entire continent.
If Xiao Chen weren't a Snake-Person, but a human,
their imperial grandfather would probably be eager to marry them off to a genius like him.
Unfortunately, he was a Snake-Person.
The hatred between the Snake-People and humanity couldn't be resolved overnight.
Yao Ye looked away and sighed inwardly.
At Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran's lodgings.
Nalan Yanran sat across from Yun Yun, her expression troubled.
"Teacher, have you heard?"
Nalan Yanran began.
Yun Yun looked at her.
"Heard what?"
Yun Yun asked.
The two princesses from the Imperial Family, Yao Yue and Yao Ye, had also been captured."
Nalan Yanran said, "Queen Medusa intends to marry them off to Xiao Chen too."
Yun Yun's eyes flashed with shock.
"The Imperial Family's princesses?"
Yun Yun asked.
"Yes, Jia Xingtian's two granddaughters."
Nalan Yanran nodded. "Yao Yue and Yao Ye."
Yun Yun fell silent.
The princesses of the Jia Ma Empire's Imperial Family had been captured too.
Jia Xingtian was a Peak Dou Emperor and the guardian of the Jia Ma Empire.
Even he couldn't stop Queen Medusa.
"Looks like even Jia Xingtian is helpless."
Yun Yun said.
Nalan Yanran nodded.
"Queen Medusa is a Dou Zong powerhouse. Jia Xingtian is no match for her."
Nalan Yanran said.
Yun Yun gave a bitter smile.
"True."
Yun Yun said. "Even Teacher Yun Shan was defeated. How could Jia Xingtian possibly stop Queen Medusa?"
She remembered the scene of Xiao Chen defeating Yun Shan with a single palm strike, and felt a jumble of emotions.
Yun Shan was a Dou Zong powerhouse, practically invincible in the Jia Ma Empire.
But against Xiao Chen, he hadn't even managed to withstand a single move.
Xiao Chen had become that powerful.
"By the way, Teacher, has your strength improved again?"
Yun Yun nodded.
"Peak Eight-Star Dou Emperor."
Yun Yun said.
Nalan Yanran drew in a sharp breath.
Peak Eight-Star Dou Emperor.
Before marrying Xiao Chen, her teacher had only been a Three-Star Dou Huang.
In just a few days, she had advanced by five stars.
That speed was simply astonishing.
Yun Yun looked away and said nothing.
The day of the wedding.
Xiao Chen stood in the middle of the hall, dressed in a red robe.
Yao Ye stood beside him in a red wedding gown.
Her hands were bound with red silk. Her face was pale, but her expression remained calm.
Yao Yue stood to one side; she hadn't been scheduled to marry today.
Watching her sister in her wedding gown, she was filled with worry and resentment.
Queen Medusa sat in the seat of honor, watching the two of them.
Several elders stood on either side, all smiling.
The First Elder called out loudly.
"The ceremony is complete."
Xiao Chen took Yao Ye's hand and prepared to lead her to the bridal chamber.
Just then, Yao Yue suddenly rushed forward.
"Stop!"
Yao Yue blocked Xiao Chen's path and glared at him.
Xiao Chen looked at her, expressionless.
"What is it?"
Xiao Chen said coolly.
"Don't you dare bully my sister."
Yao Yue gritted her teeth. "I'm warning you—don't you dare bully my sister."
Xiao Chen looked at her but said nothing.
His gaze made Yao Yue feel uneasy, but she stood her ground anyway.
"Did you hear me?"
Yao Yue said. "If you dare bully my sister, I won't let you get away with it."
Xiao Chen looked away and said coolly,
"Are you done?"
Yao Yue was taken aback.
"You..."
Yao Yue started to say more.
But Xiao Chen had already led Yao Ye around her and toward the bridal chamber.
Yao Yue stood rooted to the spot, trembling with anger.
"Xiao Chen, stop!"
Yao Yue shouted after him.
Xiao Chen didn't look back.
Yao Yue tried to chase after them, but several Snake-People blocked her.
"Please stop."
One of the Snake-People said.
"Move!"
Yao Yue snapped.
The Snake-People didn't budge.
Yao Yue could only watch as Xiao Chen took her sister away.
She bit her lip, her eyes full of anger and resentment.
"Xiao Chen, if you dare bully my sister, I'll never forgive you!"
Yao Yue shouted after him.
Xiao Chen didn't even turn around. He disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Inside the bridal chamber.
Xiao Chen closed the door and looked at Yao Ye.
Yao Ye stood in the room with her head lowered, saying nothing.
Her hands were still bound with red silk, but her expression remained calm.
Unlike Yao Yue's willful, hotheaded nature, the elder princess Yao Ye was much more composed.
Xiao Chen stepped forward and untied the red silk around her hands.
Yao Ye raised her head and looked at him.
"Thank you."
Yao Ye said.
Xiao Chen looked at her without speaking.
After a moment of silence, Yao Ye slowly spoke.
"I know there's no point in resisting."
Yao Ye said. "You could force yourself on me if you wanted."
Xiao Chen raised an eyebrow.
"But I hope your Snake-People Tribe won't make things difficult for the Jia Ma Empire's Imperial Family..."
Yao Ye said.
Before you continue