Queen Medusa suppressed her fury and spoke each word with sharp clarity.
Inwardly, she seethed. *This vixen. When Xiao Tian was not around, she was honey-tongued, forever calling me Elder Sister.*
Xiao Tian and Ya Fei turned their heads and glanced at her. Both instinctively rubbed their foreheads, as though realizing they had indeed been far too absorbed in one another.
Ya Fei still wished to bicker a little longer, but Xiao Tian patted her shapely bottom and whispered, "Enough. Stop stirring trouble. Put away your little schemes, or you will be utterly miserable the next time she drills you in Dou Techniques."
They knew one another inside and out. He understood perfectly what she was attempting to do—nothing more than prodding Medusa yet again. Truly, a first-rate wingwoman.
"Oh, Cai Li, Elder Sister, how is it that you look even more beautiful today?"
Ya Fei registered Xiao Tian's words and recalled how mercilessly strict he could be when it came to mastering Dou Techniques and abilities—though he always comforted them thoroughly afterward.
She had been careless and nearly let the moment slip.
Ya Fei plastered on a girl-next-door smile and approached Queen Medusa, deploying her formidable social skills. In barely half a minute, a hidden smile surfaced on Queen Medusa's face, though her expression outwardly remained frosty.
Xiao Tian observed Queen Medusa and thought to himself, *Such a tsundere.*
"Very well. Since you are also out, Cai Li, let us prepare to depart. It grows late."
Xiao Tian stepped ahead of the two, casually taking Ya Fei's hand. He smiled at Queen Medusa.
Witnessing this, Queen Medusa pursed her lips. She said nothing, merely gazing silently into the distance.
A peculiar glint flickered through Ya Fei's eyes, and a subtle smile graced her lips. It seemed Queen Medusa had indeed fallen for Xiao Tian. She simply had yet to realize it herself.
"Oh my, it is so lovely having a man hold your hand. Elder Sister Cai Li, would you like one as well? Just say the word and I shall send him straight over."
"You are mistaken. I harbor no such thoughts. This Queen does not require it, does not desire it, and it is utterly impossible..."
"Alright. Prepare yourselves. We should head out now."
Xiao Tian eyed the mischievous one and the tsundere before him with helpless resignation.
Without further preamble, Xiao Tian smoothly and directly took Queen Medusa's hand. She did not resist. She merely averted her gaze elsewhere, pretending not to register what was happening.
Ya Fei winked at Xiao Tian. Still clasping her hand, he secretly returned a thumbs-up.
With a single thought, Xiao Tian materialized within a chamber of the Mittel family estate.
The sole drawback of the small world was this—wherever one entered, one reemerged at that exact same location upon exiting.
Once outside, Xiao Tian tactfully released Queen Medusa's hand. Their relationship remained undefined. It had to be kept at a measured distance to endure.
"Was it warm, Elder Sister Cai Li?"
Ya Fei strode directly to Queen Medusa and gently linked arms with her.
"It was passable. I was merely preventing him from leaving me behind when we emerged, so I granted him an opportunity."
Queen Medusa lifted her chin slightly and spoke with indifference. Had her face not been faintly flushed, it might have passed for the truth.
Xiao Tian chuckled and shook his head, then led the two off to find Miteer Tengshan.
At that moment, Miteer Tengshan was in conference with Hai Bodong. Both sensed Xiao Tian's aura manifest just beyond the door and hurriedly rose to open it.
Miteer Tengshan, his face wreathed in smiles, declared with delight,
"Young Brother Xiao Tian, it has truly been far too long. It seems your cultivation has advanced even further of late."
Tengshan detected an even more intense pressure radiating from Xiao Tian's presence.
"Q-Queen Medusa?" A voice saturated with disbelief and bone-deep terror rang out.
Hai Bodong's body went rigid. His face drained of all color in an instant, as though he had seen a specter.
His expression was one of pure horror. This was his nightmare. That battle in the desert years ago had condemned him to decades of reclusive existence, transforming him from a lofty, untouchable figure into the proprietor of a shabby map shop.
He had even been forced to live in perpetual dread that Queen Medusa might one day decide to kill for amusement and come to finish him off. The person Hai Bodong feared most—the one he least wished to encounter in this lifetime—was Queen Medusa.
He feared her like a venomous serpent. Not merely seeing her—even thinking of her filled him with lingering terror. Had he not spotted her standing behind Xiao Tian, he would already have bolted.
Beside him, Miteer Tengshan trembled as well, scarcely daring to draw a deep breath. Queen Medusa was a cold and merciless woman. In the past wars between the Gama Empire and the Snake-People Tribe, she had slain countless individuals far stronger than himself.
"Old Hai, there is no cause for alarm. She is one of us."
Xiao Tian's voice drifted over, like a spring breeze brushing their faces.
"Xi-Xiao Tian, is sh-she truly one of us?"
Xiao Tian nodded with a smile, signaling him not to fret.
Hai Bodong darted a glance at him, then at Queen Medusa, who stood arm-in-arm with Ya Fei. He covertly released a sigh of relief deep within his heart. At least for the present, he was safe. There was no need to flee.
"Qu-Queen Medusa, it has been a long time. Thank you for sparing my life back then."
Hai Bodong forced a strained smile toward Queen Medusa, his greeting delivered in a trembling voice.
*Family, who understands? You open the door and find the person you dread above all others.*
"Oh? So it is the Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong. I did not expect you to still draw breath. And your seal has actually been broken."
Queen Medusa's gaze settled upon Hai Bodong. The moment she saw that face, she recognized him. After all, he was one of the scant few Dou Emperors in the entire Gama Empire. She still retained a vivid impression.
A trace of surprise flickered through her eyes, and a scornful smile curled her lips.
"The aura of my seal still clings faintly to you. It seems it has not been long since it was shattered. Did you assist him in breaking it?"
Queen Medusa's stare shifted to Xiao Tian. Surprise glinted in her gaze before a mocking smile curved her lips. Once she had spoken, she turned to look at Xiao Tian, the hint of a smile lingering in her eyes.
"Yes. By a stroke of fortune, I encountered him and we struck a deal. We became friends."
Xiao Tian underscored the word *friends* to convey the nature of his relationship with Hai Bodong.
"What method did you employ to break it? At your present Dou King strength, you should not be capable of forcibly shattering my Snake Seal."
Queen Medusa regarded Xiao Tian with curiosity.
"I shall tell you once we return. Let us attend to the main business first."
Queen Medusa nodded. Residing under another's roof, she naturally had to grant Xiao Tian face.
"Old Hai, Elder Tengshan, do you intend to entertain us standing in the doorway like this?"
Xiao Tian looked at the two before him, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"We were remiss, Hall Master. Quickly, please enter."
Hai Bodong and Tengshan collected themselves, smiles spreading across their faces as they beckoned them inside. Hai Bodong spoke with an easy warmth.
"Young Brother Xiao Tian, Elder Sister Cai Li and I shall not disturb you. We will go inspect the medicinal ingredients."
Ya Fei leaned close to Xiao Tian as she spoke. He nodded.
Ya Fei offered a slight bow to Hai Bodong and Tengshan, then departed with Queen Medusa.
Xiao Tian, without any pretense of ceremony, strode directly into the study.
The entire study was furnished in an antique and elegant fashion. Numerous landscape paintings and scrolls of calligraphy adorned the walls, lending the space an air of exceptional tranquility.
To the right of the study stood an antique tea table. The three men chose their seats. Miteer Tengshan poured Xiao Tian a cup of tea and asked with a light chuckle,
"May I inquire as to the purpose of your visit this time?"
"I have come this time regarding Ya Fei's matter."
Xiao Tian took a gentle sip of his tea, set down the cup, and spoke with a solemn expression.
"Ya Fei?"
Miteer Tengshan paused briefly, the teapot suspended in midair. Then he gently refilled Xiao Tian's teacup to precisely seven-tenths full.