When a Dou Di Started Acting Cute...

"Ah!!!"

Somewhere in the Tagor Desert, a massacre was underway. Human screams, pleas for mercy, and cries of despair... echoed endlessly across the scorching, merciless sands. Blood had stained vast stretches of sand red...

"Hmph, vermin..."

Yue Mei looked at the more than twenty human corpses before her, her diamond-shaped pupils filled with cold indifference. Her fair skin showed no redness despite the blazing sun. Her seductive face, proud figure, and slender willow waist made her the most eye-catching sight in this endless desert...

"Reporting to Big Sister, the five carts of goods have been checked. One cart of tea, one cart of seasonings, one cart of spices, and one cart of cloth. In the last cart, we found only a human boy. Big Sister, this human is somewhat unusual..."

Yue Mei lazily stretched her slender waist, enough to drive any man mad, listening to her subordinate's report with some boredom. The first four items meant nothing to her; it was only a small merchant caravan, after all. Otherwise, she would not have personally led the raid. But when she heard the warrior Snake-Woman become bashful while reporting the final "item," Yue Mei grew interested...

"Oh? An unusual human boy? Bring him over for me to see..." A natural charm and a faint hint of anticipation appeared in Yue Mei's diamond-shaped eyes. She was very curious what kind of boy could make even her battle-hardened female warriors act so shyly...

"Big Sister, this is the human boy who was hiding in the last cart..." Unlike how they treated ordinary human captives, they were exceptionally gentle with this boy. Setting aside their identities, the way they escorted him over looked like a shy young girl going on a date with the man she loved. It was an especially bizarre sight amid the bloodstained sand...

Behind the Snake-Woman warrior, a peerlessly handsome young man with a gentle, jade-like air slowly appeared before Yue Mei. The instant Yue Mei saw this boy, who was only thirteen or fourteen, she felt her heart stop—before it began pounding at a frantic rate!

She had to admit that this time, she truly was smitten. Her green snake tail twisted restlessly behind her, while an irresistible allure rippled through her diamond-shaped pupils...

"What an adorable little fellow~ Come, let Big Sister hold you."

"Mmph, mmph! (Big Sister, I admit I'm handsome, but you don't have to be this enthusiastic, do you? I'm going to suffocate!!)"

That was right. This boy was Gu Xia, who had previously hidden in the sky and watched the Snake-People Tribe finish slaughtering the humans. He had not intervened to save them. It was not as though he had graduated with a degree in being a saint. Besides, Gu Xia knew perfectly well how humans had treated the Snake-People Tribe in the past. So, he had no intention of wasting his sympathy on them—not to mention that he still needed these Snake-Woman ladies to lead the way...

"Big Sister, you won't kill me, right? I'll be very obedient..."

Finally breaking free from Yue Mei's "deadly" embrace, a certain peak Dou Di shamelessly began pretending to be a helpless young boy. His timid voice, tearful eyes that seemed ready to cry, handsome face, and gentle jade-like temperament struck directly at the softest part of Yue Mei's heart. She could not help pulling Gu Xia into her arms again, speaking to a human in an unusually gentle tone...

"Of course not, little brother. How could Big Sister hurt someone as adorable as you? Actually, Big Sister is a very gentle person!"

Upon hearing Yue Mei's words, Gu Xia felt that if he had not personally seen how she tortured an unnamed Da Dou Shi to death, he might have actually believed her! Though he was mocking her inwardly, his plan still had to continue. Thus, a certain peak Dou Di resumed his journey as an award-winning actor...

"R-Really? Big Sister really won't kill me? Can I trust Big Sister?..."

Using a frightened tone, Gu Xia raised his ultimate weapon, which he had long prepared—misty, tear-filled eyes—like an abandoned kitten afraid of being cast aside. In an instant, Yue Mei's protective instincts were stirred.

"Of course! You can trust Big Sister forever!"

"Mhm! Little Xia will always trust Big Sister!"

"Wow! How can there be such an adorable human? From now on, you can stay with Big Sister! Oh, right, little one. How did you end up hiding in that carriage?"

Although Gu Xia appeared to possess only the ninth stage of Dou Qi, Yue Mei still had to confirm his background. It was the innate vigilance Snake-People held toward humans. Looking at the "wounds" on Gu Xia's body and his tattered clothes, she had already guessed roughly who he was...

"I... I was captured by them. That day, I went to buy medicine for my little sister. Then these bad people suddenly rushed out and captured me. They said they were going to auction me off. Even my little sister was burned... burned to death..."

The more Gu Xia spoke, the more invested he became, nearly bursting into tears by the end. That final choked sentence was the perfect finishing touch—he had truly acted with his soul! Though if Xun'er found out, exactly how well-done he would be roasted was something no one knew for now...

"What a pitiful child. Don't worry. Follow Big Sister from now on, and Big Sister will protect you, all right?"

"Mhm! Big Sister saved Little Xia, so Little Xia trusts Big Sister! Big Sister is the best!"

At this moment, someone's inner thoughts went like this:

Damn, I can actually be this mushy? Come to think of it, does this make me seem kind of disgusting? I won't get beaten up, will I? Whatever. For my Heavenly Flame! A little image is nothing! Green Lotus Core Flame, here I come!

A certain Heavenly Flame ranked fourth had already cried itself unconscious in the restroom...

"Such a good boy! Come, let Big Sister kiss you... Mwah~"

Yue Mei felt as though she had found happiness. She thought today was the luckiest day of her life! During her vacation, she had encountered a weak merchant caravan, robbed it, and obtained an adorable little brother... She felt she had reached the pinnacle of snake life! Unable to contain her excitement, she planted a vivid, beautiful red lip mark directly on Gu Xia's forehead!

As for what a certain someone thought, only he himself knew...

But judging from how he decisively wiped it off the moment he got the chance, he was still the same boy as before, without the slightest change.

Gu Xia's inner thoughts:

Wow, this enchantress really is after my peerless looks! Hmph, for my Heavenly Flame, I'll let you have this once! Is my handsomeness something you gaudy wenches can possess?

Very good, just as expected of you. Afterward, Yue Mei assigned the tasks to her subordinates. She herself pulled Gu Xia back to the oasis where they were spending their vacation, beginning certain exciting developments...

By the time Yue Mei pulled Gu Xia back to the oasis, night had just fallen...

Tonight's moon was destined not to shine too brightly.