Restoring Her Memories

As she watched Queen Medusa battle Chen Mo in the sky, Die's mind went blank for a moment.

She had realized that Queen Medusa's appearance looked remarkably similar to her own.

Vaguely, an image surfaced in her mind.

Inside a dim, chilling hall that resembled an altar, her hands were shackled by two thick chains of ice. Around her stood Snake-People soldiers armed with spears and blades.

At the very top of the hall stood three Snake-People elders wearing terrifying masks and cloaked in black robes.

One of the elders bent slightly. His respectful yet commanding voice echoed through the hall. "She has given up. From today onward, you are the new Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Clan."

"The Snake-People Clan can only have one Queen Medusa. Your Majesty, you must kill her!"

The scene shifted, and a graceful figure slowly walked toward Die.

Die slowly raised her head. Just as she was about to see the figure's face clearly, a fierce gust of wind pulled her back to reality.

She saw the man Queen Medusa had called Ice Emperor Hai Bo Dong reaching out to seize her.

Yet in the next instant, a figure descended before her like a god, accompanied by an incomparably domineering voice.

"You're not taking her!"

Then, a palm carrying lightning and blood flames blasted toward Hai Bo Dong.

"You... you're hurt again."

None of that mattered to Die.

What mattered was that she saw another injury on Chen Mo's left shoulder. It was blackened, and her heart ached at the sight.

Ding! Favorability +2. Obtained one Youth Preservation Pill.

Chen Mo had no time to answer Die. At that moment, he was exchanging blows with Hai Bo Dong.

"Bang!"

The yellow sand beneath their feet burst into the air. With a muffled boom, both men were forced backward, plowing two trenches five or six zhang long through the sand.

Hai Bo Dong's eyes narrowed as he stared at Chen Mo in the distance, surprise flashing in his gaze. Judging from the aura bursting from him, Chen Mo was only a One-Star Dou Emperor, yet he could contend with a Five-Star Dou Emperor like himself.

Catching sight of Queen Medusa approaching from the corner of his eye, Hai Bo Dong spoke.

"If I'm not mistaken, we were hired by the same employer. In that case, why don't we join forces and drive back Queen Medusa first? As for the payment afterward, I won't take a single share. It will all go to you. I only want to complete the mission."

The moment those words fell, the crowd erupted. Mo Bas, who had just climbed to his feet, changed expression.

Even Queen Medusa halted midair, staring frostily at Chen Mo and Hai Bo Dong. If not for the dignity of the Snake-People Clan, she would have wanted to reveal that she herself was the employer.

Die's pupils contracted. Covering her red lips with her slender hand, she looked at Chen Mo in disbelief, terrified that Hai Bo Dong might be telling the truth.

Ding! Favorability -1.

Hearing the system notification, Chen Mo's expression changed at once. He blurted out, "I don't know what you're talking about. What hiring? What employer? In short, you're not taking her!"

Ding! Favorability +2. Obtained 2 Favorability Coins.

Die was overjoyed, and a smile returned to her face. At the same time, she felt guilty for having doubted him.

"???"

Queen Medusa could not make sense of what was happening.

Hai Bo Dong frowned slightly, his expression turning unpleasant. Yet he knew full well that he was no match for Chen Mo and Queen Medusa together.

He gave Chen Mo a deep look, then beat his wings and shot into the sky.

"I don't want the person anymore. You can have her!"

With that, Hai Bo Dong vanished beneath the moonlight.

Mo Bas did not pursue him.

Neither did Queen Medusa.

Naturally, Chen Mo would not chase after him either.

Queen Medusa's bewitching eyes stared coldly at Chen Mo as she said indifferently, "Human, hand her over to This Queen, and This Queen may spare your life!"

Chen Mo's expression turned hesitant. Although the Queen's true intention was to protect Die, she had not yet completely changed.

In other words, Queen Medusa still had to heed the opinions of her clan.

Judging from how Mo Bas had tried to kill Die just now—

Chen Mo did not dare hand Die over to Queen Medusa.

As Die watched the scene before her, a trace of sorrow welled up on her face. After spending so many days together, it was time for them to part.

That was right. She wanted to leave with Queen Medusa. She could not bear to see Chen Mo injured again because of her.

Looking at the wounds across Chen Mo's back, Die felt as though her heart were being pierced.

Just as she was about to say that she would leave with Queen Medusa, Chen Mo's voice suddenly rang out.

"Impossible!" Chen Mo said in a deep voice.

Ding! Favorability +2. Obtained 2 Favorability Coins.

Queen Medusa's face darkened, and killing intent surged in her eyes. "You're courting death!"

Her figure flashed. Amid a sudden burst of red light, Queen Medusa had already reached Chen Mo. The red blade in her hand slashed toward his head.

Chen Mo beat his wings, rapidly retreating as he hurried into the sky.

At the same time, Chen Mo retrieved the Profound Middle-Rank Dou Technique—Swordfall of Nine Heavens—from his inventory.

A vast flood of memories instantly poured into Chen Mo's mind. All seven sword forms of Swordfall of Nine Heavens flashed through his thoughts.

Chen Mo mastered them in an instant.

With a clench of his hand, a black-and-white Dou Qi longsword appeared in his grasp.

"Seventh Form, Swordfall of Nine Heavens!"

Just as Queen Medusa's blade was about to reach him, the Dou Qi longsword in Chen Mo's hand suddenly trembled. Endless energy surged forth between heaven and earth, pouring into Chen Mo's sword.

In an instant, a dazzling and immense radiance, like a galaxy falling from the heavens, shot violently from the sword.

At that moment, even space seemed to tremble faintly.

"Boom!"

The radiance collided with Queen Medusa's blade, shattering the red sword instantly. Her eyelashes trembled, and in the next moment, the sword light struck her body.

"Bang!"

A tremendous explosion bloomed in the sky like fireworks.

A moment later.

A streak of light shot downward, plunging into the yellow sand below.

Everyone turned to look in unison.

It was a crown.

"T-That's Her Majesty's crown!" a Snake-Person cried out, then stared at the sight in disbelief.

Had the Queen lost?

Everyone's eyes turned toward the sky.

As the disturbance gradually dispersed, a figure flew backward.

When they saw that it was not Her Majesty, Mo Bas and the others let out sighs of relief.

"Human, you have thoroughly enraged me!"

Once the disturbance completely faded, a graceful figure flashed out and shot toward the retreating Chen Mo.

It was Queen Medusa.

Aside from the dress covering her proud curves being somewhat torn and her hair slightly disheveled, she had not suffered any injury.

Chen Mo, on the other hand, was pale and listless.

At this critical moment of life and death—

"Stop!"

A dazzling purple radiance surged from Die's body and soared straight into the heavens!