"Boy, remember this. Sooner or later, your life will be mine!"
Mo Bass drew a deep breath before finally suppressing the killing intent surging within him. His cold gaze fixed on Su Tian as he spat out each word.
Su Tian merely curled his lips dismissively at the threat, stepping back with a faint smile.
"I'm afraid you might end up disappointed, Commander Mo Bass."
Boom!
The moment his words fell, a powerful, chilling aura erupted from Mo Bass and engulfed Su Tian.
Hua She'er's beautiful eyes flashed. Her brows knitted, and impatience crossed her lovely face. "Have you all had enough yet?!"
In an instant, a formidable aura surged from Hua She'er's slender body and slammed into the presence enveloping Su Tian, shattering it outright.
The shock wave struck Su Tian as well. His feet thudded backward several steps, and he could not hold back a mouthful of blood.
"Pfft..."
"If there's a next time, don't blame me for not saving you!"
Watching Su Tian's bedraggled state, Hua She'er furrowed her brows tightly and parted her red lips to snap at him.
Were it not for Queen Medusa's and the Great Elder's orders, Hua She'er would have been only too happy to let Su Tian die at Mo Bass's hands. Why else would she save him time and again?
Yet Su Tian kept exploiting that protection to provoke him. How could Hua She'er possibly show him a pleasant face?
Heh, I've recorded every one of these debts. Sooner or later, I'll make you pay them back with interest, you little bitch!
Su Tian drew a deep breath, settling the violently fluctuating energy within him. He cast Hua She'er a calm glance, though icy resolve filled his heart.
If an opportunity arose in the future, he would repay every bit of this.
As for now...
Enduring the agonizing pain throughout his body, Su Tian straightened and slowly walked over to Qing Mu. A wise man doesn't swallow a loss right before his eyes. For a gentleman seeking revenge, even ten years isn't too late!
"To think even Hua She'er came to save you. Little fellow, you're becoming harder and harder for this old man to fathom."
Seeing Su Tian's concerned gaze, Qing Mu smiled faintly and shook his head to indicate he was all right. Then he studied Su Tian from head to toe, giving him a searching look as he spoke meaningfully.
Su Tian could only offer a bitter smile. There were some things he naturally could not let others know.
Even though Qing Mu had shown him kindness several times, there was nothing wrong with remaining cautious when he was alone in such dangerous surroundings.
"You flatter me, Senior Qing Mu. As I see it, it was only a matter of sooner or later."
"Heh, perhaps so."
Seeing that Su Tian had no intention of elaborating, Qing Mu did not press him. A strange gleam flashed through his eyes and vanished, and he moved past the subject with a faint smile.
Inwardly, however, his regard for Su Tian had grown considerably.
It seems this little fellow is hiding quite a few secrets. Even Queen Medusa personally ordered that his life must be preserved. Knowing her as I do, she must be after something substantial this time.
Naturally, Su Tian had no way of knowing any of this.
Thinking again of his future plan, Qing Mu could barely contain his eagerness. Now it seems this little fellow really is an excellent candidate!
At that same moment, Su Tian suddenly felt a chill rise up his back and hurriedly turned around.
What met his eyes, however, was the kindly smile on Qing Mu's aged face.
Strange. Why did I suddenly feel as though someone had set their sights on me?
Su Tian smiled politely at Qing Mu before turning away, but doubt lingered in his heart.
Meanwhile, despite his fury at Hua She'er's repeated intervention, Mo Bass dared not make another move against Su Tian because of Queen Medusa's orders.
"Boy, don't get too smug. Once I've seen Her Majesty, I'll come back to take your life!"
Su Tian's eyes flickered at those words. An icy chill spread through his gaze as he silently watched Mo Bass.
Just as Su Tian was about to speak, a harsh voice, like stone scraping across glass, slowly rang out beside everyone's ears. "Mo Bass, there's no need for you to seek out Her Majesty. If he loses his life, you will pay for it with yours."
The instant he heard that voice, Mo Bass's expression changed drastically. Intense fear appeared in his eyes as he thought of a presence that filled him with dread.
That voice... could it be the Great Elder?!
To Mo Bass, the elders of the Snake-People Tribe were terrifyingly powerful figures who lived in seclusion. Unless something important happened, they almost never appeared before commanders like him.
Yet now, the life of a human boy had actually drawn the Great Elder herself here.
At that thought, an ominous suspicion rose in Mo Bass's heart. Damn it! Just who is this bastard? Why is even the Great Elder standing up for him?!
It was hardly surprising that Mo Bass thought this way. The Great Elder held an exceptionally exalted position within the Snake-People Tribe.
On important decisions, even Queen Medusa would sometimes choose to heed the advice of the Great Elder and the other elders.
That alone showed just how daunting the Great Elder's prestige was!
By now, Hua She'er, Su Tian, and Qing Mu had all reacted to the Great Elder's arrival. They hastily bowed and cupped their fists, greeting her respectfully.
"Greetings, Great Elder!"
"Mm. Master Qing Mu, it has been some time. Your soul power seems to have improved considerably."
The Great Elder slowly descended into the courtyard, and the Dou Qi Wings behind her vanished. Her gaze swept over Su Tian and the others before settling on Qing Mu.
She had met Qing Mu, a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, several times before, and her attitude toward him was not overly cold.
After all, the value a Fifth-Rank Alchemist could bring to the Snake-People Tribe was not to be underestimated.
"Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts, Great Elder. It was merely a fortunate coincidence."
Qing Mu smiled faintly, his expression humble. As a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, he was qualified to converse with the Great Elder on such terms.
The Great Elder simply smiled and nodded. "Our Snake-People Tribe will doubtless have much to thank you for in the future, Master Qing Mu."
"You're too kind, Great Elder. I take it you haven't come here today merely to reminisce with me?"
Qing Mu cupped his fists. After a brief pause, he glanced at Su Tian, then looked at the Great Elder with a faint smile.
The Great Elder made no attempt to evade his question and nodded calmly. "I came today to find him."
Su Tian?
Following the Great Elder's gaze, Qing Mu looked at Su Tian, his brows lifting in surprise.
Wisely, Qing Mu refrained from saying more. He merely nodded and stood quietly to one side, a strange gleam passing through his eyes, his thoughts unreadable.
The Great Elder came to find me?
Su Tian froze for a moment, then seemed to think of something. Could the Great Elder and the others have discovered something important in my blood?
That was the only possibility Su Tian could think of that would bring the Great Elder here in person.
After all, judging by her reaction back then, his bloodline seemed to conceal some important, unknown secret.
Once he realized this, confidence immediately rose in Su Tian's heart.
"Mo Bass, was it? Pah! If you've got the guts, come kill me! If you don't, you're my grandson!"
Su Tian sneered at Mo Bass and glanced at the Great Elder nearby. His lips moved slightly, his quiet voice reaching Mo Bass's ears.
Boom!
Mo Bass's rage ignited instantly. But a cold snort suddenly rang out, followed by an even more formidable aura that enveloped him and extinguished his own in an instant.
"Hmph. This is the last time."
It was unmistakably the Great Elder's warning to Mo Bass!
No wonder this damned brat dares to be so arrogant. He has the Great Elder backing him! Doesn't that mean I'll never have another chance to kill him?
Mo Bass drew a deep breath, struggling to calm his emotions. His eyes flickered as he quickly swept his gaze over Su Tian, silently weighing the implications.
Now that the Great Elder had spoken, any attempt to force the issue would likely not only fail to kill Su Tian but also incur her displeasure.
For Mo Bass, that would mean losing more than he gained.
Offending the Great Elder over Hei Meng, a mere Three-Star Dou Ling, was hardly a worthwhile bargain.
After all, against the Great Elder's strength, Mo Bass had no hope of victory. He could only endure a one-sided thrashing.
With that realization, however fiercely he wanted to kill Su Tian, Mo Bass could only force his murderous intent down. He dared not reveal even a trace of it for fear of displeasing the Great Elder.
"I have committed many offenses. Please punish me, Great Elder!"
Mo Bass gave Su Tian a long look, then turned and bowed respectfully to the Great Elder, cupping his fists to admit his wrongdoing.
His earlier actions had clearly already displeased her.
If he wanted today's incident to end peacefully, all he could do now was try his best to dispel her displeasure.
"Keep your people in line. Don't spend all day stirring up trouble in Temple City. You should know what the consequences will be if this happens again."
The Great Elder cast a cold glance at Mo Bass as he knelt on the ground. Her expression eased slightly, and she gave a cold snort before speaking slowly.
Mo Bass hurriedly accepted her command, not daring to object in the slightest. "I will remember. Thank you for your mercy, Great Elder!"
"You aren't qualified to kill him."
The Great Elder walked past Mo Bass without stopping, her voice cold. "Enough. Take your people and leave. You may collect a third-rank pill for repairing the body from the pill chamber. As for the rest, that will depend on his own fate."
"Thank you for your gift, Great Elder!"
Mo Bass froze at her words. Once he recovered, delighted surprise appeared on his fierce face, and he hurriedly thanked her respectfully.
After all, Hei Meng belonged to the Snake-People Tribe, no matter what. Although he had provoked Su Tian first, his fate was so miserable that the Great Elder could hardly ignore him altogether.
When the Great Elder said nothing more, Mo Bass understood her meaning. After thanking her again, he hurried away with Hei Meng and Base.
"Hua She'er, take Master Qing Mu to the pill chamber to select some precious medicinal ingredients as a small token of our apology. We should help him recover from his internal injuries as quickly as possible, lest they leave any hidden ailments or lingering damage."
The Great Elder looked at Qing Mu, finally forcing an ugly smile onto her face, which was as dry and withered as tree bark, as she gave her instructions.
Qing Mu immediately assumed a solemn expression and cupped his fists to the Great Elder in earnest thanks. "Thank you for taking such care, Great Elder!"
"It is only right. There is no need to be so polite, Master Qing Mu."
The Great Elder shook her head, then smiled. "I still have some matters to discuss with Su Tian, so I will not accompany you personally."
"I understand."
Though her words were tactful, Qing Mu recognized the dismissal. He smiled faintly and said no more. Crimson Dou Qi Wings sprang from his back, and with a slight beat, he shot away.
Before leaving, Qing Mu gave Su Tian a deeply meaningful look.
Is he telling me to be extra careful?
Su Tian had naturally noticed that look. His eyes narrowed slightly as he pondered its meaning.
Just then, the Great Elder slowly turned to face Su Tian. The ugly smile gradually faded from her face, and a cold, stern aura spread out in an instant.
"Crack... crack..."
Beneath that crushing pressure, Su Tian felt every bone in his body crackle, as though subjected to a terrifying force, giving off faint sounds of unbearable strain.
"G-Great Elder... what... do you mean by this?"
"Tell me. Who exactly are you?"
The Great Elder's expression was icy. Her grating voice pierced Su Tian's eardrums, and her chilling gaze seemed intent on seeing straight through his heart.
Su Tian clenched his teeth, desperately driving his Dou Qi against the immense pressure. "I'm just... an ordinary... One-Star Great Dou Master. In this world... I'm nothing but... an orphan."
"An orphan?"
At Su Tian's answer, the Great Elder narrowed her eyes, an inscrutable gleam flashing within them.
Su Tian nodded with difficulty. At that moment, he felt as though his body was about to be crushed flat, his internal organs squeezed together into a single mass.
"For now, I will disregard your origins. Remember this: from today onward, this marriage contract will bind you to Queen Medusa as her spouse!"
As she finished speaking, a sheet of paper covered in writing appeared out of thin air in the Great Elder's hand.
She then tossed it to Su Tian, whose face was filled with shock at her words.
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