Medusa

"Xiao Fan! Xiao Fan!"

"Let me have a taste, please? Please?"

Zi Yan had been craving those high-grade medicinal herbs from earlier. She clutched Xiao Fan's arm and kept shaking it.

"No. The energy in those herbs is considerable. If you want to digest them, you'll need to sleep for a full day and night."

The two of them were currently traveling through the Tagor Desert. This was hardly a place where they could sleep whenever they pleased.

"Awoo..."

Zi Yan was a little downcast, but Xiao Fan could not bear to see her like that. He took out a small bottle of Amethyst Birth Source from his Storage Ring.

"Drink only a little. Its energy isn't low either."

"Got it!" Zi Yan snatched the Amethyst Birth Source away.

"Hot..."

Zi Yan was in a terrible mood. The scorching heat of the Tagor Desert had robbed the little girl of even her appetite.

She could only lazily lean against Xiao Fan's back.

"Here, an Ice Heart Pill. It can ease the heat."

Zi Yan swallowed the Ice Heart Pill, yet she still felt unbearably hot.

The Tagor Desert was scorching, while the Snake-People Tribe was naturally cold-natured. No wonder Medusa had remained so determined to find a better settlement for the Snake-People Tribe.

"Xiao Fan, how much longer..."

Xiao Fan took out a map, compared it with their current location, and said, "Soon. Once we pass through the oasis ahead, we'll reach Stone Desert City."

"It should still take about a day."

Hearing that there was still a day left, Zi Yan became even more dejected. She complained, "There aren't any treasures in this desert. It's nothing but sand everywhere. Boohoo, I'm not walking anymore!"

"Xiao Yan'er, ever since we entered the desert, I've been carrying you. When did you ever walk?"

If Xiao Fan had not been somewhat tired himself, he would definitely have given this lazy Little Dragon Maiden a knock on the head.

"Let's rest at the oasis ahead for a while..."

By the time the two reached the oasis, it was already night. The desert was blisteringly hot during the day, but at night, there was a trace of coolness in the air.

At the sight of the oasis lake, Zi Yan excitedly dragged Xiao Fan into the water with her.

"So comfortable~" Zi Yan floated lazily on the lake's surface.

"I really don't know whether you came here for a vacation or to torment me."

Xiao Fan also felt a little sore in his back and waist, though it was much better than when he had been in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. It seemed that after carrying Zi Yan so often, his body had truly become stronger.

"I don't know whether I've gotten used to it or actually grown stronger."

Rarely, Xiao Fan simply sat there in a daze with Zi Yan, half-lying in the water as they gazed at the tranquil sky.

"Xiao Fan, what do you think lies beyond the sky?" Zi Yan asked, pointing at the star-filled night sky.

"I don't know. Maybe other worlds."

There was an invisible barrier around the Dou Qi Continent. It was impossible to escape this Dou Qi Continent.

"Xiao Fan, then take me to see it someday, okay?"

Without realizing it, Zi Yan had quietly moved to Xiao Fan's side and gently leaned against him.

Though she seemed to be looking at the stars, the corner of her eye had been watching Xiao Fan all along.

"Sure. Once my Xiao Yan'er breaks through to Dou Emperor, I'll take you there."

"Xiao Fan, you said it!"

"As long as I break through to Dou Emperor, you'll take me!"

"Of course. I never lie to you."

"..."

"Not good! Someone's coming." Xiao Fan grabbed Zi Yan and hid in a bush beside the water.

"Mmph!" Before Zi Yan could react, Xiao Fan had tightly covered her mouth.

"Shh, Xiao Yan'er. The people coming aren't weak!"

Through his soul perception, Xiao Fan discovered that one of the newcomers was a Dou Emperor and the other a Dou Wang.

For such strength to appear on the Snake-People Tribe's territory, they could only be Snake-People. And that Dou Emperor was very likely Medusa.

Before figuring out why Medusa was looking for him, Xiao Fan had no desire to have too much contact with her.

"Your Majesty, this is against the rules."

"Yue Mei, what are you afraid of? My sister won't find out."

From within the bushes, Xiao Fan saw the newcomers. More precisely, they were two Snake-Person women.

The moonlight, obscured by clouds, was rather dim. Xiao Fan could only hope they would not discover him.

"Fine." Yue Mei made a gesture toward the darkness, and a shadow beside her suddenly moved.

"There are guards too... This is troublesome."

"Xiao Fan, Xiao Fan." Zi Yan softly called his name.

"What is it, Xiao Yan'er?"

"Why don't we just beat them away?" Zi Yan was enjoying this rare chance to rest. Who cared whether they could win? They could beat them up first and talk later.

"Beat them up? That's a Dou Emperor. You won't have an easy time dealing with her, and there's also a Dou Wang beside her!"

"Hmph, who are you looking down on?" Zi Yan made as if to show Xiao Fan what she could do.

But Xiao Fan held her tightly. "Stay here quietly. They won't discover us."

What a troublesome Little Dragon Maiden.

"Awoo." Zi Yan sat beside Xiao Fan sulkily. "We can obviously beat them."

When the moonlight emerged from behind the clouds again and shone upon that breathtaking face, Xiao Fan inwardly cursed his luck. Damn it, it really is Medusa...

Zi Yan also saw the face beneath the moonlight and thought to herself, Sister Medusa...

At the shore, Medusa was slowly removing her clothes. A thin veil barely concealed that imagination-stirring body, while her purple, Cai Lin-covered snake tail swayed as it slowly sank into the water. Her long hair was slightly disheveled, falling freely around her. Moonlight seemed to grind the rosy clouds into powder and brush them over her face. Queen Medusa, who should have been full of seduction and charm, instead resembled a delicately carved elf flushed with wine.

Her delicate body emerged from the water, wrapped in that thin veil. Her soft, willow-like waist accentuated her flat abdomen, like a still lake stirred by the spring breeze, tracing two perfect curves before rippling into plump, graceful waves.

"Gulp." Xiao Fan unconsciously swallowed from within the bushes.

Zi Yan was furious when she saw this and punched Xiao Fan.

The pain nearly made Xiao Fan cry out. "Xiao Yan'er, what are you doing?!"

Zi Yan turned her head away and ignored him.

Xiao Fan ruthlessly ruffled Zi Yan's hair, making her already messy hair even more disheveled.

Zi Yan was not someone who could hold back her temper. She immediately retaliated, baring her teeth and claws as she pounced on Xiao Fan.

But with that little scuffle, the two had already stumbled out of the bushes.

Awkwardly, Medusa in the lake had just removed her final undergarment and was now staring wide-eyed at the two bickering figures.

"So white..."

"Who are you?!"

Medusa immediately crossed her arms over her chest. An unnatural blush rose to her face, and she submerged her entire body beneath the lake.

Xiao Fan froze slightly. "This shy reaction is Medusa?"

But that was not something Xiao Fan should be considering right now.

"No! Xiao Yan'er, run!" Xiao Fan almost instantly grabbed Zi Yan and used his movement Dou Technique to flee swiftly away from the oasis.

Yue Mei, who was on guard, also spotted the intruders and immediately appeared beside Medusa. "Your Majesty, what happened?!"

Medusa pointed at the two fleeing figures in the distance.

"Humans?" Yue Mei was slightly stunned, but she quickly released Dou Qi wings and chased after Xiao Fan and Zi Yan.

Only Medusa remained in the lake, still dazed as she poked half her head above the water and kept murmuring, "I was seen completely... But that man looks somewhat familiar..."