By the time more than an hour had passed, Queen Medusa had already left the Jia Ma Empire.
She flew back toward the Snake-People Tribe Empire on her Dou Qi Wings, considerably faster than when she had come.
Her mind was a jumble, filled with images of that bastard kissing her just now.
Queen Medusa could not help raising a hand to touch her face, where a trace of warmth still seemed to linger.
To think she had actually been taken liberties with by that bastard!
He had gone too far!
That had been her first kiss!
The more Queen Medusa thought about it, the angrier she became, and her wings beat a little faster.
In all her years, no man had ever dared do such a thing to her.
Every human expert who met her treated her with the utmost respect, not even daring to look her straight in the eye for a moment longer.
Yet this bastard named Lu Changfeng had actually leaned right in and kissed her!
Queen Medusa bit her lip, her expression a mixture of embarrassment and anger.
What angered her even more was that she had been completely unable to move, let alone resist.
Even now, recalling that feeling of being utterly suppressed left her with lingering dread.
Just how strong was that fellow?
Why had he been able to suppress her Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor Dou Qi so easily?
Countless questions churned in Queen Medusa's mind, but no matter how she thought about them, she could not make sense of it.
Before long, Queen Medusa had returned to the Snake-People Tribe Empire.
She had only just landed at the entrance to the great hall when Yue Mei and several elders immediately came forward to greet her.
"Your Majesty, you're back!"
"How did it go? Did that alchemist agree to help refine a Sect Breaking Pill?"
"What conditions did he set? Can our Snake-People Tribe meet them?"
They all asked at once, their faces full of anticipation.
Queen Medusa said nothing, walking straight to her throne and sitting down.
She leaned against the back of the throne, and Lu Changfeng's smiling face surfaced in her mind again.
Even now, remembering the way that bastard had teased her made her grit her teeth in anger.
Seeing Her Majesty react like this, Yue Mei and the elders were all at a loss.
What was wrong with Her Majesty? How had a trip to the Jia Ma Empire left her like this?
Her Majesty normally acted with the force of thunder and the speed of the wind, never so distracted as she was now.
"Your Majesty?" Yue Mei ventured cautiously.
"Did that alchemist refuse? Or did he set some outrageous condition?"
At the words "outrageous condition," Queen Medusa's expression shifted slightly.
Was that fellow really expecting her to bear him a child in exchange for a Sect Breaking Pill?
The thought made Queen Medusa even angrier.
That bastard!
How could the dignified queen of the Snake-People Tribe possibly bear a human's child!
But then she thought again: his strength was unfathomable, and he could even refine Sect Breaking Pills.
If she really could obtain a Sect Breaking Pill in exchange and break through to Dou Zong...
Queen Medusa hurriedly shook her head, driving away that absurd thought.
No, no, absolutely not!
She must not even consider such a thing!
Seeing Queen Medusa react this way only left everyone more puzzled.
Her Majesty sat there alone, her expression shifting between anger and conflict. What on earth had happened?
"Your Majesty, are you all right?" Yue Mei asked again.
Only then did Queen Medusa come back to her senses. She glanced at them and waved a hand.
"I'm fine. You may leave."
"I have my own arrangements for the Sect Breaking Pill. There is no need to ask again."
Yue Mei and the elders exchanged glances. Although they still had many questions, seeing that Her Majesty did not wish to say more, they did not press her further.
They bowed and withdrew from the great hall.
Once they had left, Queen Medusa was alone in the hall.
She leaned against her throne, lightly tapping her fingers on the armrest as her mind raced through her calculations.
Just what level of strength did that young man named Lu Changfeng possess?
He had suppressed her Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor Dou Qi so easily. Could he truly be a Dou Zong expert?
Queen Medusa's brows drew tightly together at the thought.
But how could a place like the Jia Ma Empire produce a Dou Zong expert?
And he was only in his early twenties. Even if he had started cultivating in his mother's womb, he could not possibly have reached Dou Zong at that age, could he?
Unless... he had some tremendously powerful background.
The more Queen Medusa thought about it, the more likely this seemed.
A young man in his early twenties, a seventh-tier alchemist who could refine Sect Breaking Pills, with unfathomable strength to boot.
Such a person could not possibly have appeared out of thin air. Some superpower had to be standing behind him.
Perhaps he was a genius nurtured by some ancient clan or super sect in the Central Plains.
At this thought, Queen Medusa's feelings grew even more complicated.
If he truly came from a superpower in the Central Plains, the Snake-People Tribe had even less room to offend him.
But if she had to agree to that sort of condition...
Queen Medusa bit her lip, torn beyond measure.
As the dignified queen of the Snake-People Tribe, she could not truly bear a human's child, could she?
If word of such a thing got out, how could she retain her standing among the Snake-People Tribe?
But the opportunity to obtain a Sect Breaking Pill lay right before her. If she missed this chance, who knew how long she would have to wait for another?
Queen Medusa sat on her throne and thought for a long time, but ultimately reached no conclusion.
She rose and walked to the hall's window, gazing out at the scenery of the Snake-People Tribe Empire, all five flavors mingling in her heart.
What exactly did that bastard want?
If he merely wanted a child, why had he singled her out?
The more Queen Medusa thought about it, the less sense it made, so she simply stopped thinking about it.
In any case, he had told her to seek him out once she had made up her mind, so she would put it off for now.
Perhaps after a while, he would forget about the whole thing.
Queen Medusa shook her head, turned, and headed toward the rear hall.
She decided to rest first. Too much had happened today, and she needed to digest it all properly.
Meanwhile, far away in the Jia Ma Empire's imperial capital, Lu Changfeng was drinking tea in the courtyard.
Xiao Xun'er sat beside him. Seeing how relaxed he looked, she asked him a question.
"Brother Changfeng, did someone come by outside just now?"
"I think I sensed a very powerful presence."
Lu Changfeng set down his teacup and answered casually.
"Yes, Queen Medusa came to discuss something with me."
"But she's already left."
Xiao Xun'er froze for a moment when she heard the words "Queen Medusa."
"Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Tribe? What did she want with you?"
Lu Changfeng smiled. "She wanted me to help her refine a Sect Breaking Pill."
"But she wasn't quite sincere enough, so I told her to go back and think it over."
Xiao Xun'er nodded and asked no further questions.
By now, she had developed a kind of blind trust in Lu Changfeng. Whatever the matter was, she felt he could handle it well.