The One-Year Agreement

As soon as Ye Xiu said those words, Medusa was completely stunned.

She had lived for so many years, yet she never expected such a thing to happen to her.

Medusa's expression turned icy in an instant, her gaze fixed coldly on Ye Xiu. "Say that again?"

Ye Xiu was not afraid, looking her straight in the eye: "I said, let me be your husband."

"Presumptuous!"

The aura of a Dou Zong exploded from Medusa's body, and the surrounding air seemed to solidify. She glared at Ye Xiu, saying coldly: "Who do you think I am? How dare you provoke me repeatedly!"

Ye Xiu was not intimidated by her aura; instead, he flew forward a few steps, closing the distance between them.

"Queen, don't be so quick to lose your temper. Can you let me finish what I have to say?"

Medusa didn't speak, just stared at him.

Ye Xiu continued: "Look, with how things are between us now, everything that should have happened—and everything that shouldn't have—has already happened. You chased me for over a thousand miles to find me. Do you really believe you have no feelings for me at all?"

Medusa's expression faltered, though her words remained sharp: "I came to settle the score with you!"

"Fine, fine, settling the score it is." Ye Xiu waved his hand. "But once you've settled the score, what are you going to do next? Kill me? Can you actually bring yourself to do it?"

Medusa gritted her teeth, remaining silent.

Seeing her reaction, Ye Xiu knew he had the upper hand and continued: "Queen, let's be open about this. You know your current situation well. The Snake-Person Race is holed up in the desert, the Jia Ma Empire is eyeing you like a tiger, and the neighboring countries don't have good intentions either. Now that you've become a Dou Zong, no one within the Jia Ma Empire can match you, but that also makes you a target for everyone. The neighboring empires have several Dou Zong of their own!"

Medusa's expression darkened: "What do you mean?"

"My meaning is simple." Ye Xiu said, "If you are with me, I will be part of your Snake-Person Race from now on. I am fifteen this year, a seven-star Dou Huang, and it won't be long before I break through to Dou Zong. By then, with two Dou Zong and your clansmen, who would dare to touch you?"

Medusa didn't speak, but her eyes flickered.

Seeing her expression soften, Ye Xiu struck while the iron was hot: "And think about it, you've seen my potential. A fifteen-year-old seven-star Dou Huang—can you find another one in the entire Northwest Continent? Breaking through to Dou Zong is a certainty, and it won't be long before I reach Dou Zun either. Being with me won't be a grievance for you, right?"

Medusa looked at him, her gaze complex.

This man was right. With his talent, not to mention the Northwest Continent, even in the Central Plains, he would be a rare monster. The future achievements of such a person would definitely go beyond Dou Zong.

But she was, after all, the Queen of the Snake-Person Race, accustomed to being proud and aloof; how could she easily give in?

"Are you so sure that I will agree to you?" Medusa said coldly.

Ye Xiu smiled: "I'm not sure. But I need you to know my intentions. If you are willing, we can get along properly. If you aren't..."

He paused, looking at her earnestly: "Then I will pursue you until you are."

Medusa was taken aback, then turned her head away.

"Smooth talker."

Seeing her reaction, Ye Xiu knew there was a chance. He flew one step closer to her.

"Queen, one year."

Medusa turned her head to look at him.

Ye Xiu said seriously: "Give me one year. After a year, I will personally come to the Snake-Person Race to propose. I will bring betrothal gifts and come in a dignified manner. Whether you are willing or not, you can give me a definitive answer then."

Medusa stared at him for a long time.

This man's eyes were very clear, devoid of any messy distractions, just pure sincerity.

She remained silent for a long time before finally saying:

"We'll talk about it in a year."

With that, she turned and left.

Ye Xiu shouted from behind: "Then I'll take that as a yes!"

Medusa didn't even look back, but the speed at which she flew away was noticeably faster.

Ye Xiu stood in mid-air, watching the red figure grow smaller and smaller until it disappeared into the horizon, and couldn't help but grin.

This woman, her mouth is the only thing about her that's hard.

Ye Xiu descended from the sky and returned to the inn.

Pushing the door open, Little Doctor Fairy was sitting in the room and stood up the moment she saw him enter.

"Master! Are you alright?"

Ye Xiu waved his hand: "I'm fine."

Little Doctor Fairy looked him over, and only when she saw he wasn't injured did she breathe a sigh of relief. But her face still held that expression of wanting to ask but not daring to; after holding it in for a long time, she finally couldn't help but ask:

"Master... what exactly happened between you and that Snake-Person Queen?"

Ye Xiu glanced at her and said casually:

"You can call her Mistress from now on."

The expression on Little Doctor Fairy's face froze instantly.

She stood there, mouth agape, unable to utter a single word.

After several seconds, she finally squeezed out a sentence: "Mis... Mistress?"

"Mm."

Little Doctor Fairy felt her brain buzz, and her entire being felt unwell.

Mistress?

That Dou Zong-level Queen Medusa, was she going to be her mistress in the future?

She stood there blankly, her small face slowly turning pale, and the light in her eyes fading away.

Ye Xiu saw her like that and was stunned for a moment: "What's wrong with you?"

Little Doctor Fairy shook her head, forcing out a smile that looked worse than crying: "No, nothing, Master. I'm happy for you..."

Though she said she was happy, her eye sockets were already turning red.

She lowered her head, biting her lip, desperately trying to hold back her tears.

Seeing her like this, how could Ye Xiu not understand?

This little girl had feelings for him.

He sighed, walked over, and reached out to rub her head.

Little Doctor Fairy's body trembled. She looked up at him, and her tears finally couldn't be held back, falling down drop by drop.

"Mas... Master... I..."

Ye Xiu looked at her and said earnestly: "You are my disciple. No matter how many mistresses there are in the future, your position with me is something no one can replace."

After hearing this, Little Doctor Fairy cried even harder.

Ye Xiu patted her head: "Alright, stop crying. Pack up; we still have to be on our way tomorrow."

Little Doctor Fairy wiped her tears vigorously and nodded.

However, what Ye Xiu didn't know was that what happened in Mo City that night had spread as if it had grown wings.

Those hiding in the city, though afraid to come out, were not deaf. The words spoken by those two in the sky had been heard, to some extent, by the experts below.

Especially the line, "In one year, I will personally come to the Snake-Person Race to propose marriage," which had been heard clearly.

Consequently, early the next morning, the entire Mo City exploded.

"Have you heard? That black-robed youth fought the Queen Medusa, and after the fight, he said he was going to marry her!"

"It's not about marrying; he said he was going to propose!"

"My goodness, that's Queen Medusa! The nightmare of the Jia Ma Empire for so many years, and she's going to be taken home by a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy?"

"That boy is no ordinary person! I heard he is a seven-star Dou Huang! A fifteen-year-old seven-star Dou Huang!"

"Holy crap!"

Similar conversations were happening everywhere in the streets and alleys of Mo City.

The news spread faster than the wind.

The next day, Heiyan City knew.

The third day, Wutan City knew.

A week later, the entire Jia Ma Empire knew.

Jia Ma Holy City, Yun Lan Sect.

Yun Yun was sitting in her room drinking tea when suddenly the door was pushed open and a disciple rushed in.

"Sect Leader! Something terrible has happened!"

Yun Yun frowned: "What is it that you are so flustered about?"

The disciple panted and said: "It's being rumored everywhere outside that a person named Ye Xiu is going to propose to the Queen of the Snake-Person Race!"

The teacup in Yun Yun's hand fell to the floor with a "clatter," shattering into several pieces.

She froze there, not moving for a long time.

The disciple looked at her cautiously: "Sect Leader? Are you alright?"

Yun Yun came back to her senses, her face somewhat pale.

"It's nothing... You may leave."