Hai Bodong

As an Alchemist, he was not that foolish. Besides, the Mite'er Family had caused quite a stir in the Imperial Capital recently, even purging quite a few people within the family itself. Rumor had it that all of this had been orchestrated by a woman from the family.

Yet such a family had chosen to ally with the Xiao Family. No matter how foolish he was, he knew something was amiss.

He had no desire to wade into this muddy water, so he packed his things and fled.

"Damn it!"

Jia Liebi grabbed another wineglass and smashed it viciously onto the floor, scattering glass shards everywhere.

The Aoba Family Patriarch sprang to his feet. "Jia Liebi! What do you mean by this?"

"Hmph, the Alchemist you found was utterly useless!" Jia Liebi showed no courtesy whatsoever.

"Hehe, Jia Liebi, you really have gone senile!"

The Aoba Family Patriarch mercilessly threw Jia Liebi out, then instructed his subordinates, "Pass down the order. We will leave Wutan City within the next three days!"

"Patriarch! Patriarch!" The senior elders all began trying to persuade him. Leaving Wutan City was no small matter.

But the Aoba Family Patriarch had no intention of changing his mind. He merely said solemnly, "The Mite'er Family is not someone we can afford to provoke!"

The elders froze for a moment, then shook their heads and left the meeting hall.

The foundation and savings accumulated over so many years in Wutan City had been destroyed in a single day. It was impossible not to feel heartbroken.

Unlike the Aoba Family, Jia Liebi returned to his clan and sat down furiously in the seat reserved for the patriarch.

"Damn Xiao Family!"

"This old man will never let this go! So what if it is the Mite'er Family? As long as I spread the news, the Mite'er Family's reputation will surely suffer greatly!"

"You dared to harm my son. I will make your Xiao Family pay!"

"Oh? You have quite the backbone."

Jia Liebi's heart jolted. He had not noticed anyone standing behind him at all. "Who is it?!"

Before Jia Liebi could turn around, ice-cold Dou Qi curled around his neck.

The chill instantly sobered Jia Liebi. His voice trembled as he said, "M-Milord, has the Jialie Clan ever offended you?"

"Oh? Weren't you just saying that you would fight the Xiao Family and the Mite'er Family to the death?"

"I... I would never dare." The killing intent was nearly tangible. Jia Liebi could sense that the moment he made any improper move, he would die.

"Hehe... This old man will give you three days to leave Wutan City. I can guarantee that the rest of the Jialie Clan will not have to die."

"Yes..."

Then Jia Liebi felt the person behind him inject a thread of icy Dou Qi into his body.

A brilliant azure light then illuminated the entire hall. Jia Liebi dropped to his knees in an instant, his expression complicated as he watched that departing figure.

"A... Dou Emperor."

What right did the Jialie Clan have to contend against a Dou Emperor...

"Supreme Elder."

Ya Fei respectfully poured tea for the person before her.

"That is enough, Ya Fei. There is no need for you to act like this. Since this old man supports you becoming an elder of the Mite'er Family, you should display the authority of a family head. There is no need for you to personally pour tea."

"Thank you for your favor, Supreme Elder." Ya Fei bowed slightly.

With Ya Fei's less-than-outstanding cultivation talent, becoming an elder of the Mite'er Family should have been nearly impossible. No matter how gifted she was in business, it would have been useless.

Yet not long ago, the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong had returned to the family and specifically appointed Ya Fei to manage it. Anyone with eyes could see that Ya Fei had become the one calling the shots in the Mite'er Family.

Ya Fei had also realized that this world differed from her previous life. Everything had undergone unpredictable changes, but one thing remained unchanged: her heart, the heart that sincerely loved Xiao Fan.

Hai Bodong set down his teacup and said to Ya Fei, "Return to the family in a few days."

"Yes."

Hai Bodong vanished from the Mittel Auction House. The once-imposing Hai Bodong was instantly overcome with worry. What exactly is that woman Medusa trying to do?!

Hai Bodong was speechless as well. He had originally been defeated by Medusa and waited for death, only to discover that Medusa had no intention of killing him. Instead, she had planted a Snake Seal on him.

He looked at the snake-shaped mark on his shoulder, which still throbbed faintly with pain.

Medusa wore a regal purple brocade robe. Beneath it, her graceful, voluptuous body resembled a ripe peach, exuding a faint seductive charm. Her long black hair fell casually from her fragrant shoulders to her slender waist. Below the robe, a section of her purple snake tail was exposed, swaying slightly. Its wild, bewitching allure made one's entire body inexplicably burn hot.

At that moment, she coldly watched Hai Bodong, whose lower body was buried in the sand, and spoke.

"Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, I will spare your life. After returning to the Mite'er Family, promote a woman named Ya Fei. I know you have the ability to do so."

"Do not dream of escaping my control. No one but me can remove this Snake Seal. You may find someone to try if you wish."

"Medusa, what exactly are you trying to do?!" Hai Bodong used his spear to shakily push himself to his feet.

"What I intend to do is not something a defeated opponent like you has the right to ask about."

"I will contact you later."

Medusa swayed away on her seductive snake tail covered in purple scales, paying no heed to whether Hai Bodong lived or died.

Staring at Medusa's departing figure, Hai Bodong felt incomparably bitter. He had thought he could exchange a few moves with Medusa, but he had been defeated in a single strike.

"Even that old fellow in the palace is probably not this terrifying..."

"The Imperial Capital is about to undergo a change."

Using his remaining Dou Qi, Hai Bodong flew back to the Imperial Capital...

In the Tagor Desert, within the Snake-People Palace.

"Big Sister, you're back!"

"Mm."

"Why do you seem unhappy, Big Sister?"

"Do I?"

"Could those four old fellows be giving Big Sister trouble again?"

"Those four old fossils dare order me around?" Queen Medusa's tone carried anger and disdain.

"Then why is Big Sister unhappy? In those human picture books I read, Big Sister's state seems a little like..."

"Like..."

"Oh, right! Being in love!"

"Big Sister, you've fallen in love!"

Medusa rolled her eyes at the woman who looked identical to her and said irritably, "Go play somewhere else."

"Tch, Big Sister won't even tell me her secret anymore. I'll go play with Yue Mei."

Though she possessed the same breathtaking beauty as Medusa, her bewitching charm carried a playful cuteness. Twisting her exquisite snake tail that made one want to touch it, she played with a blue butterfly in her hand and swayed out of the Snake-People Palace.

"..."

"Patriarch, the clansmen do not want to leave Wutan City..."

"Hehe, do you think I want to? After this, I will voluntarily step down as patriarch." Jia Liebi's hair was now entirely gray, and he had visibly aged considerably.

"Patriarch..."

Unlike the despondent Aoba Family and Jialie Clan, the Xiao Family was currently holding a lively banquet.

Xiao Zhan was the first to rise and address the Mite'er Family's guests. "Master Guni, Miss Ya Fei, Xiao Zhan is not good with words, but thank you for the Mite'er Family's help."

Xiao Zhan drained the wine in his cup in one gulp, and Guni stood to return the toast.

As for Ya Fei, she merely sat there watching. Given her status, she had no need to show the Xiao Family much courtesy. She had helped the Xiao Family only because of Xiao Fan.

Xiao Zhan was not embarrassed. He knew very well just how much resolve and skill the woman before him possessed. She had purged the entire family and, in just a few months, transformed the Mite'er Family into a great clan that controlled the economic lifeline of the Jia Ma Empire.

He had learned more or less about this information.