Subduing Queen Medusa

"Is that... Soul Power?" Queen Medusa's beautiful brows drew together, her expression growing grave.

Hai Bodong started at the sight, then broke into a look of wild delight.

"Correct, but there's no prize." The corners of Xiao Yan's mouth lifted.

Knowing she was no match for him, Medusa turned to flee.

"Trying to run? Too late!" Xiao Yan chuckled.

Before his words had faded, he stamped his right foot, and Spatial Power surged outward.

Medusa had barely begun to move when that power pinned her in midair. She dropped to her knees, unable to budge.

So this is the difference between a Dou Emperor and a Dou Zong... Under that overwhelming pressure, despair welled up in Medusa's heart.

They were only one rank apart, yet the gulf in strength was vast.

Xiao Yan flickered into view before Medusa and looked down at her.

Feeling his gaze on her, the queen, who had always been treated with the utmost reverence, felt a humiliation unlike any she had known.

"Weren't you acting awfully arrogant just now?" Xiao Yan tipped up Medusa's chin and teased her with a smile.

"Kill me if you want!" Medusa turned her face away, seething.

As queen of the Snake-People Tribe, she had her pride. She could not bring herself to beg, nor did she fear death.

"Kill you? What a waste that would be. A beauty like you could be useful in all sorts of ways. Heh heh heh!" Xiao Yan pinched Medusa's alluring cheek and let out a villainous laugh.

"Brat, that laugh doesn't make you sound like a good guy!" From inside the ring, Yao Lao could not resist commenting on the strangely familiar tone.

"Ahem. Sorry, Teacher. I got a little carried away." Yao Lao's reminder brought Xiao Yan back to his senses, and he wiped the wicked grin from his face.

Then he pressed a finger against Medusa.

Medusa gave a muffled groan as the Dou Qi within her drained away like air from a punctured ball.

Before long, the queen who had stood at the Peak Dou Emperor level had become an ordinary person through and through.

Once he was sure the Sealing had taken hold, Xiao Yan lifted the pressure restraining her.

"You... you sealed my Dou Qi!" Finding nothing left inside her, Medusa finally began to panic.

For the first time, there was a trace of fear in her eyes as she looked at Xiao Yan.

Without Dou Qi, she could not even blow herself up. She was entirely at his mercy, a fate worse than death.

The panic on Medusa's face was a stark contrast to her earlier icy pride.

For some reason, the more flustered she became, the more Xiao Yan wanted to tease her.

At that thought, Xiao Yan shook his head, wondering if he was being a little too wicked.

With the matter settled, Qing Lin trotted over to Xiao Yan.

"You're not hurt, are you, Qing Lin?" Xiao Yan stroked her head and asked gently.

"No." Qing Lin shook her head and smiled.

Hai Bodong limped over as well.

"Thanks for the effort, Elder Hai." Xiao Yan patted Hai Bodong's shoulder, channeling the Horse Talisman's power through his palm into him. It began rapidly healing his injuries.

The wounds across Hai Bodong's body closed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Within a few breaths, he was completely healed.

Though this was not the first time Xiao Yan had treated him, the astonishing result still made Hai Bodong's heart pound.

Medusa, watching nearby, was just as stunned.

She had inflicted every one of Hai Bodong's injuries, so she knew better than anyone that they—especially the internal ones—could not be healed easily, much less in an instant.

Even the finest pills were unlikely to work so quickly.

Despite his youth, Xiao Yan possessed remarkable strength, a secret art that could instantly raise him to the Dou Zong level, and now this unbelievable healing ability. Each new revelation made him more mysterious in Medusa's eyes.

After healing Hai Bodong, Xiao Yan walked toward Medusa, smiling as he went. "Your Majesty, it's time for us to leave."

"Wh-where are you taking me?" Medusa grew more panicked as he approached.

She instinctively wanted to flee, but how could an ordinary person with no Dou Qi escape him?

A moment later, Xiao Yan hoisted her over his shoulder.

Mortified and furious, Medusa thrashed against his shoulder, lashing her snake tail and pounding him with her fists.

Smack!

"Hold still!"

When she would not stop struggling, Xiao Yan raised a hand and slapped her bottom.

Medusa went limp and fell still at once, her flushed face growing redder.

She was Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Tribe. Snake-People revered her, and humans feared her. Never had she suffered such humiliation.

Watching from the side, Hai Bodong's eyelid twitched. The young master has some nerve.

With that settled, Xiao Yan carried Medusa straight back to the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

Hearing that Xiao Yan had returned, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li hurried out to meet him.

At the sight of Medusa over Xiao Yan's shoulder, both brothers were struck by her naturally cool, captivating bearing.

"Little Yanzi, what's this...?" Xiao Ding asked, puzzled.

"Nothing. I picked up a Snake-People maid on the way back." Xiao Yan set Medusa down and answered with a smile.

His smile was innocent, without a hint of guile.

But to Medusa, it sent a shiver down her spine.

"Not bad, Little Yanzi!" Xiao Li clapped a large hand on Xiao Yan's shoulder and raised his brows, wearing a look that said he understood perfectly.

Xiao Ding glanced at Medusa, then remembered Qing Mian, whom Xiao Yan had brought back earlier, and Xun'er waiting at home. His expression turned strange.

After a moment's thought, he leaned close to Xiao Yan's ear and murmured, "Ahem. Little Yanzi, take it from your big brother. Some things are best done in moderation, especially when you're still so young..."

"Big Brother, Second Brother, I..." Left speechless by their assumptions, Xiao Yan tried to explain, but they waved him off.

Medusa heard every word Xiao Ding said, and humiliation and anger nearly made her head steam.

Though she had never been intimate with a man, she had lived long enough to understand what he meant.

But with Xiao Yan holding all the power, the queen did not dare lash out. She could only grit her teeth and stew in silence.

After saying goodbye to Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, Hai Bodong went to his room to rest, while Qing Lin trotted off to find her mother.

At last, Xiao Yan brought Medusa back to his own quarters alone.

He tossed Medusa onto the bed, turned to shut the door tight, then took a proper look at the queen whose name was known throughout the desert.

"Wh-what are you going to do?" Medusa backed into a corner, panic in her voice.

With all her Dou Qi gone, Medusa was like a frightened little rabbit, without the slightest sense of safety.

"You." Xiao Yan answered with a wicked grin, looking every bit the big bad wolf.