Mo Li of the Mo Clan; Gu He Invades

"Junior Sister Yanran, are you still worried about the Three-Year Agreement?" a handsome young man asked with a smile.

The sect's joint training had ended, and the disciples had dispersed. Only he remained, quietly waiting for Nalan Yanran.

"Senior Brother Mo Li, were you waiting specifically for me?" Nalan Yanran glanced at him with her beautiful eyes, her voice cool.

"I was." Mo Li gave her a bright smile. "I was worried about you. I happen to be returning to the Mo Clan soon, and I might bring back something interesting..."

"Then you needn't wait for me again, Senior Brother." Nalan Yanran's tone was calm, but it left no room for closeness.

"Well..." Mo Li's eye twitched.

He had been the one who urged Nalan Yanran to break off her engagement. He had even gone with her that day and seen the Xiao Clan's useless son cower with his own eyes. After that, he had pursued her ever more brazenly. His clan needed the Misty Cloud Sect as a backer, and one disciple's place in the sect, even with treasures offered every year, was probably not enough.

He also had to win over the sect's future leader.

His grandfather had reminded him of that many times. The clan would spare no resources to make it happen.

But as Nalan Yanran grew older, she became colder toward him. It was as though she had noticed something.

"Farewell." Nalan Yanran glanced at Mo Li, then strode away with her head held high.

In her snow-white robes, with a blue-green sword at her sleeve, she was beautiful in face and figure. She was the Misty Cloud Sect's senior disciple and its future leader. Her suitors could have lined up around the sect. Even Liu Ling, Pill King Gu He's personal disciple, fawned over her.

Her future husband would be a Powerhouse, a hero. Breaking off her engagement with the Xiao Clan did not mean Mo Li had any right to lay a hand on her.

Mo Li watched Nalan Yanran walk away, proud as a swan.

The warmth faded from his smile, and a sinister, crazed look flashed in his eyes. Their ancestor had even cultivated an evil technique that fused his body with an Ink Beast. What wouldn't the Mo Clan dare to do?

Before long, their ancestor would hold his birthday celebration. Yun Yun probably would not attend in person, so she would send her favorite disciple to the Mo Clan instead.

Then... the Mo Clan would have its chance.

Benevolence, honor, and propriety were all bullshit. What mattered was what he could seize and hold in his own hands.

The Snake-People Tribe.

The heart of the settlement.

Xiao Yan yawned and glanced toward the rear courtyard. Queen Medusa had been in there for nearly half a month. A Ninth-grade Pill was worthy of its name; refining it was no easy task.

By his estimate, the Pill Old Lord had made would do more than let her advance beyond the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. It might even bring her to the Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, a stage she reached only much later in the original story. Perhaps he had mixed something else into it too...

But Old Lord had said nothing, and Xiao Yan had not asked. Whatever it was, it could only be good.

"Ahh..." He yawned again, bored, and toyed with a Storage Ring as he waited for his father and Eldest Brother to arrive. He was getting married for the first time in his life. There ought to be some celebration.

But Xun'er... Xiao Yan's eye twitched. She wouldn't come storming over here, would she?

"Report! Humans have attacked the Charm-People Tribe! Commander Yue Mei was wounded and escaped. One Dou Emperor, four Dou Wang, and six Dou Ling are heading toward the Main Altar! We request reinforcements!"

The anguished cry suddenly rang through the air. Even Xiao Yan froze for a moment.

An attack? Hai Bodong?

It couldn't be. Without the pill I gave him to break his seal, he couldn't have made it inside, much less wounded Yue Mei. Could it be...

Pill King Gu He?

Xiao Yan came back to himself and saw Hua She'er outside the door, her eyes anxious. She looked ready to charge out and fight.

After a moment's thought, he said, "Watch over her. Don't let anyone into this courtyard. I'll go take a look..."

"But... yes!" Hua She'er hesitated, then resigned herself to guarding the gate as Xiao Yan left. In the past, she would never have let him go. But he was about to marry their queen, and he had gone to the trouble of inviting his teacher from the Central Plains to make a pill that would advance her bloodline.

The Grand Elder had already ordered them to treat their future royal consort as they would Queen Medusa. They were not to disobey any of his commands.

Xiao Yan stepped out of the courtyard. A pair of pale-gold wings trembled behind him, and he shot into the air at a terrifying speed. He became a streak of golden light across the night sky, heading toward the Charm-People Tribe.

"..."

Hua She'er stared after him, stunned and speechless.

Her throat bobbed. "How... is that possible?"

How could a Dou Ling form wings from Dou Qi? And that speed was beyond even her. Perhaps Her Majesty could catch him if she drove her Dou Qi with all her strength.

Only then did Hua She'er realize that the master alchemist she had thought incapable of defending himself might have more tricks than any of them could imagine...

Elsewhere.

A snake-woman with a bewitching figure sped across the desert, her tail twisting beneath her. Yue Mei glanced back at the familiar figures pursuing her through the air. She gritted her teeth, swallowed the taste of blood rising in her throat, and pushed onward.

Fortunately, she had already sent word through a Snake Avatar. Her Majesty must know by now.

The other Seven Great Snake-People Tribes would come to their aid as quickly as they could.

"Stop her!" Gu He barked, his brow furrowed. Then he turned to the two men beside him.

"Old Yan, Wind Walker Feng Li..."

"Understood!"

Both men halted and saluted with clasped fists.

Neither held back. Yan Shi roared, unleashing a sound wave that shook the mind. Wind Walker Feng Li swept his hand forward, sending a dense storm of powerful wind blades to seal off Yue Mei's path.

This group should be enough to save that kid. Once the fighting starts, I'll slip through their defenses in the chaos. I just hope the kid realizes what's happening. Among the group, Hai Bodong was wrapped from head to toe in a black robe. He pressed his lips together and gazed into the distance, his expression troubled.

He had even called Teng Shan in this time. They should have more than enough strength. He only hoped the kid was still alive.

Up ahead, Teng Shan chatted with Gu He, occasionally glancing toward Hai Bodong for his opinion. When he saw Hai Bodong shake his head, he made no move to chase Yue Mei. A pleasant smile remained on his face.

He, too, wanted to meet the remarkable man Elder Hai and Ya Fei spoke so highly of.

"Damn it!"

Yue Mei wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and glared at Yan Shi. Her voice, though, remained soft and alluring. "Several of the Ten Great Experts of the Jia Ma Empire, hunting down one frail woman? Isn't that beneath you?"

"Better that than losing my life." Yan Shi sneered and swung his broadsword at her again.

"Back then, Old Lei fell victim to your poison. He survived, but he lost the use of an arm."

We can't delay any longer...

Gu He's expression darkened. He turned to the black-robed woman beside him. "Sect Master Yun, please lend us a hand."