Hai Bodong and the Snake-Person Tribe

"The City Lord of Desert City is a nine-star Dou King, right? One of the top ten experts of the previous generation..."

Yun Zimo, now dressed in a crisp, clean outfit, walked slowly forward. The closer he drew to the massive, earth-yellow city on the edge of the desert, the more intense the inexplicable, sweltering heat became.

"Hurry up! Move faster!"

Because of its proximity to the Tagor Desert, where the Snake-Person Tribe frequently raided nearby small towns, the soldiers stationed in Desert City were all elite troops of the empire. Perhaps due to the year-round scorching weather, however, the guards appeared rather irritable.

Tossing a gold coin, he heard a clink as it landed in the payment box. Not wanting to invite unnecessary trouble, Yun Zimo stepped through the city gate. Whether it was due to his lavish tip or the noble aura he exuded, the guards surprisingly refrained from shouting, even offering a respectful bow.

Standing at a fork in the road, Yun Zimo hesitated for a moment before heading toward the map shop; the other path led toward the City Lord's Mansion...

"Old sir, do you have the most detailed map of the desert?"

Before Yun Zimo had even fully stepped into the dimly lit map shop, his voice had already preceded him.

Under the faint glow of a luminescent stone, an elderly man with white hair and blue robes sat hunched over the counter, meticulously drawing a map.

"The goods are on the shelves. Help yourself."

The old man did not even lift his head. His cold, indifferent voice made one feel as if they were standing in an ice cellar.

"These aren't detailed enough!"

Yun Zimo flipped through the maps on the shelf, speaking with a hint of dissatisfaction.

Hearing the challenge, the old man straightened his back and slowly raised his head, revealing a face as cold as frost and covered in wrinkles. His eyes were like ice that had remained frozen for eons—dead, dull, and devoid of spirit.

Pulling a map from a dusty, weathered shelf, the old man shook off the grime and handed it to Yun Zimo.

"This still isn't detailed enough..."

Yun Zimo spoke again, leaning down to stare at the figure who had already begun to hunch over once more, before slowly adding, "I want a detailed map of the desert's center—the territory of the Snake-Person Tribe."

The old man, who had just lowered his head to pick up his pen, froze for a moment, but immediately resumed his work as if nothing had happened.

"None. No human has ever walked out of the core territory of the Snake-Person Tribe alive."

The old man's voice remained indifferent and calm, yet a sense of inexplicable loneliness seemed to weigh upon his shoulders like a mountain range.

Looking at the old man, who appeared no different from an ordinary person, Yun Zimo frowned slightly. How could Hai Bodong have become so decadent?

The spirit he once displayed at the sect assembly, where he fought two opponents at once, and the courage he showed in daring to challenge Medusa alone—all of it was gone.

"This plant looks quite nice. What is it called?"

Yun Zimo paced around the shop, his sharp eyes catching sight of a potted plant resembling a dandelion in the corner.

"Freedom Butterfly. Not for sale."

"..."

Yun Zimo finally understood which version of Hai Bodong this was.

A lover dead, his Dou Qi sealed, left with only a sliver of obsession, he had remained on the edge of the desert as a map merchant, never willing to return to the Mite'er Family...

"Senior Ice Emperor, my master asked me to convey his greetings to you."

Yun Zimo sighed and offered a solemn bow.

"A brat from the Misty Cloud Sect? For the sake of Yun Shan, I'll give you a piece of advice: don't even think about going deep into the desert."

Having understood Hai Bodong's stance, Yun Zimo took the map, bowed once more, and left the quaint shop named "Ancient Map."

"Straight to the heart of the desert it is!"

In full view of the public, white mist swirled around Yun Zimo's body. Cyan-white wings of Dou Qi unfurled, and he soared into the sky, leaving the desert border city behind amidst the shocked and reverent gazes of the passersby.

The Tagor Desert was the largest and only major desert in the eastern provinces of the Jia Ma Empire.

It had once served as a natural barrier between the Jia Ma Empire and other empires. A previous emperor, striving for prosperity, had pushed the border beyond Yixiantian and established the Black Mountain Fortress to guard against foreign nations, but this had also reignited the war between humans and the Snake-Person Tribe, which had continued until the current Jia Ma Empire...

"That human is far too arrogant!"

Strange creatures with human heads and torsos but trailing snake tails, clad in armor, patrolled the depths of the desert in squad after squad.

"A single human broke through eight major tribes. Such a feat—even that human from over twenty years ago couldn't have done it, right?"

"What do you mean 'broke through'? I heard that human is a Wind-attribute Dou King. He used his speed advantage to force his way through; he didn't even give the elders time to send a message!"

"Otherwise, how could a mere human Dou King reach the depths of our desert? Now that all eight of our elders have arrived at the Holy City, I doubt that human would dare show his face again!"

The squad of snake-people chatted wantonly as they moved away, never noticing the slightly distorted heat waves around them.

"So, I've reached the Holy City of the Snake-Person Tribe. Good, that saves me the trouble of hunting them down one by one."

As the vision blurred and twisted, a young man in white robes appeared out of thin air in the previously empty desert.

Using the Mirage Feather Technique, Yun Zimo distorted the air with his Wind-attribute traits and combined it with his Cloud-attribute mist to simulate the effect of a desert mirage.

Seeing the faint outline of the massive city in the distance, Yun Zimo no longer flew recklessly; that would be making himself a living target for the snake-person guards.

He had no desire to test the feeling of being turned into a pincushion by crossbow bolts capable of piercing Dou Qi armor, even as a Dou King.

"Attention, someone is approaching!"

"It's... it's a human!"

Many giant boulders stood before the Snake-Person Holy City, concealing scout units tasked with guarding the city against surprise enemy attacks.

"Human! Halt your advance! Take one more step, and we shall retaliate according to our laws!"

The captain of the Snake-Person guard shouted a stern warning; unless absolutely necessary, they had no desire to offend a human Dou King.

"Yun Zimo of the Jia Ma Empire's Misty Cloud Sect requests an audience with the leader of the Snake-Person Tribe, Queen Medusa!"

Yun Zimo stood at the outer perimeter of the Snake-Person territory, his voice carried by Dou Qi, echoing throughout the entire Snake-Person Holy City.

"Please wait! We must seek instructions from Her Majesty the Queen!"

Even though the two races had been at war for over a century, both sides treated envoys with the proper decorum.

"Forcibly intruding upon our Holy City and still expecting an audience with the Queen? Tell him the Queen will not see him!"

Mo Basi, an elder of the Ink Snake Tribe, grunted in a muffled voice. His tribe was the furthest from the Holy City and naturally the first to be overrun during conflicts, which left him with no shred of goodwill toward Yun Zimo.

"It would be better to consult Her Majesty the Queen."

Yue Mei, an elder of the Charm Snake Tribe, spoke up. "Mo Basi, if the Queen finds out you dared to fabricate a royal decree, your position as an elder will likely be forfeit under tribal law!"

"Yue Mei, you!"

The indignant expression on Mo Basi's face stiffened, yet he found himself unable to retort.

"Her Majesty the Queen has decreed: those who come are guests. Welcome him!"

Just as the Snake-Person elders were bickering, Hua She'er, captain of the Medusa Snake Guards, had already ascended the city walls and issued a crisp command.

Immediately, several figures leaped out from behind the giant boulders, and the half-upright Snake-Person guards bowed slightly.

They held their long spears at an angle, and a melodious, ethereal, and ancient melody began to resonate from all directions.

Stepping into the Snake-Person Holy City, one could see devout Snake-Person citizens kneeling and chanting before the stone statues of the Python God that were scattered everywhere.

This was Yun Zimo's first time officially entering this place, and the many architectural designs and layouts, so distinct from human cities, filled him with a deep sense of novelty.

"Hmph!"

Mo Basi, whose entire body was ink-black, let out a cold snort. As he passed Yun Zimo, he attempted to do something, but was intercepted by the alluring snake-woman at his side.

This left Yun Zimo feeling somewhat bewildered; he did not recall ever offending this Snake-Person elder.

"When meeting the Queen, why do you not bow!"

Mo Basi's voice rang out once more. As Yun Zimo stepped into the Snake-Person Temple, his brows furrowed, and a hint of coldness appeared in his eyes. Did this snake really think he had no temper?

"Mo Basi, stand down!"

A cold, aloof, and crisp female voice suddenly echoed through the great hall. At that moment, the many snake guards and the several elders bowed their heads toward the high throne, chanting in unison.

"We welcome Her Majesty!"

The throne, which had been empty just a moment before, now held a graceful and luxurious figure in purple robes that had appeared out of thin air.

Draped in a thin purple gauze shawl over her shoulders with red garments partially covering her form, Queen Medusa sat upon her throne, her purple robes flowing down to her coiled snake tail as she looked down upon those in the hall.

"Human, what business do you have seeking This Seat?"

Medusa's cold voice reached him, carrying a hint of unquestionable nobility.

"Your Majesty Queen Medusa, Yun Zimo has come to propose a trade with you!"

Yun Zimo bowed slightly; when asking for a favor, one must naturally maintain the proper etiquette.

"What kind of thing are you! How dare you think yourself worthy of trading with Her Majesty the Queen!"

Yan Ci, the elder of the Flame Snake Tribe—known for his explosive temper and deep hatred for humans—shouted harshly.

In his eyes, these despicable and shameless humans were best dealt with by total annihilation.

This time, Queen Medusa did not speak to reprimand him. The laws of the Snake-Person Tribe were strict, but they placed few constraints on speech.

Moreover, it was clear that Medusa shared similar sentiments. A mere Dou King—what reason did This Seat have to believe you are qualified for an equal trade?