Slave

Snake-People Clan.

A race that adhered strictly to ancient traditions. For generations, there had always been a queen within the clan—Medusa.

They were exceptionally gifted, leading the Snake-People in resisting invasions by foreign races and allowing the entire clan to survive to this day. Queen Medusa's fearsome reputation had also spread across the continent.

Every generation of Medusa descended into the world from an egg, with their immense power passed down in this manner.

But the Medusa who had descended with this egg was actually an identical twin.

"I remember now. I remember who I am."

"Stop!"

Die suddenly appeared between the two, purple Dou Qi wings unfurling from her back.

"Ah!"

Chen Mo and Queen Medusa both cried out in surprise before saying in unison, "Move!"

Queen Medusa hurriedly withdrew her attack, but it had been too fast. By the time it reached Die, she had only managed to pull back seventy percent of its power.

At that moment, Chen Mo beat his wings and grabbed Die, curling her into his embrace. Then, with his back turned, he took Queen Medusa's blow.

"Bang!"

The tremendous force sent their bodies plummeting like meteors.

They crashed deep into the yellow sand below, blasting out an enormous crater.

At that instant, heaven and earth fell silent.

Queen Medusa was stunned as well. That human had actually gone so far for her younger sister.

With a sweep of his hand, Mo Bas led a group of Snake-People over to surround them.

Under the beautiful moonlight, on the calm sandy plains, a heart-wrenching cry rang out. The energy in the surroundings surged, stirring sand into the sky.

"No—"

Within the enormous sand crater, Die half-knelt in the sand, holding Chen Mo as tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes and fell onto his face.

Looking at Chen Mo's pale face, weak breath, and the blood froth spilling from his mouth, Die gently stroked his cheek and sobbed, "Why? Why? Why are you being so foolish?"

"Cough, cough. I said... said I would protect you." Chen Mo gave a pallid smile, his words coming out in broken fragments.

For a moment, Die's tears stopped. Then she cried even harder as she recalled the first time she had met Chen Mo. He had smiled at her and said, "I'm here to take you away."

Then.

He had endured his injuries to take her away.

He had given her a cooked fish to eat.

When danger came, he had let her leave first.

And whenever there was no way to escape, he had repeatedly said he would protect her. Yet every time he protected her, he would end up injured...

Scene after scene flashed rapidly through Die's mind. She realized that, without noticing, she had fallen for this human.

Ding, Favorability +2. Obtained 2 Favorability Coins. Intimacy bonus triggered. Obtained Incense Stick's Worth of Enlightenment Time.

Ding, Favorability +2. Obtained 2 Favorability Coins. Intimacy bonus triggered. Obtained 1 bottle of Accompanying Amethyst Source.

Ding, Favorability +8. Obtained a Low-Grade Spirit Flying Sword. Intimacy bonus triggered. Obtained Mystic High-Rank Dou Skill - Senluo Death Seal.

"...Cough, cough. Don't cry. You won't be pretty if you cry." Chen Mo raised his hand, wanting to wipe away Die's tears, but it tugged at the injuries all over his body. His lifted arm fell weakly back down.

Suddenly, Die grabbed Chen Mo's hand and pressed it against her cheek.

"Your Majesty!"

Mo Bas and the others surrounding Chen Mo hurriedly bowed and stepped aside, opening a path.

Queen Medusa walked forward, her expression indifferent.

When she reached the edge of the sand pit, Queen Medusa stopped. With a distant pull toward the crown, it instantly flew into her hand.

Die gently laid Chen Mo down. Holding his hand, she said softly, "You were always the one protecting me before. Now, it's my turn to protect you."

Die stood up, spread her arms, and stood before Chen Mo. With a resolute expression, she said, "Sister, you are not allowed to hurt him."

Queen Medusa slowly put on the crown and looked down at Die with peerless grace. Her seductive red lips parted slightly. "Come back with me, and I will agree."

"Your Majesty, but—"

Mo Bas wanted to say something, but before he could finish, Queen Medusa gave him a cold glare.

Her sharp gaze frightened Mo Bas into taking a step back.

"Thank you, Sister. I'll go back with you," Die said.

"Cough, cough. Die, no. They'll kill you."

The Dou Emperor experience card had not yet expired. Chen Mo circulated his Dou Qi and tried to stand, but his injuries were more severe than he had imagined. A mouthful of bloody froth spilled from his lips.

"Do you want to die?"

Queen Medusa frowned upon hearing this and said coldly.

Die turned back to look at Chen Mo and forced a smile. "Don't worry. My sister won't hurt me."

"She won't hurt you, but what about your clansmen? He was trying to kill you just now—"

Chen Mo laboriously raised a finger and pointed at Mo Bas before saying, "I said I would protect you. If you really want to go back, then I'll go with you."

Beneath his sincere words lay his true purpose.

Ding, Favorability +1. Obtained 1 Favorability Coin.

Mo Bas's expression changed. "Kid, you're courting death."

Die was deeply moved by his words. Her gaze shifted as she looked toward Queen Medusa.

But before she could speak, Queen Medusa said, "Impossible."

Queen Medusa looked at Chen Mo indifferently. "Protect her? In your current state, how do you intend to protect her?

"And if This Queen is not mistaken, your true cultivation is not that of a Dou Emperor at all. Your present state likely cannot be maintained for much longer."

As soon as those words fell.

Everyone's expressions froze, and their gazes turned toward Chen Mo in unison.

Chen Mo's expression shifted slightly, but he remained neither servile nor overbearing. "So what? Besides, there is one thing Your Majesty got wrong: I can protect her. Didn't Your Majesty witness it with your own eyes earlier?"

Queen Medusa's expression darkened. She knew the human was referring to the blow he had taken for her sister. Yet the pride of a queen would not allow her to lower her head to a human. Still, the frost on her face lessened somewhat as she sneered, "Little one, I have to say, you are the first human who has dared speak to This Queen like this."

Chen Mo listened quietly, waiting for Queen Medusa's next words.

As Die's twin sister, she could hear the change in her sister's tone. She spoke again, "Sister, please. His injuries are so serious. Take him back to the palace and treat him."

Hearing her younger sister's plea, along with the plan that had surfaced in her mind earlier, Queen Medusa said impassively, "Little one, don't you humans love taking our Snake-Women as slaves? In that case, from now on, you can try being This Queen's slave!"

Queen Medusa waved her hand. "Take him back to the palace."

"Your Majesty."

"How dare you, Mo Bas? You are becoming bolder and bolder!"

Mo Bas's expression changed in fright, though his cold eyes remained fixed on Chen Mo, a trace of killing intent flashing through them. "I wouldn't dare, Your Majesty!"