Chapter 97: Medusa's Heart

"Are you really going to keep it around?"

Seeing Xiao Bai make a decision after probing the little golden dragon, Medusa's eyes flashed with a trace of barely perceptible concern, and she couldn't help but ask.

After Xiao Bai's question, the dragon's little eyes showed a hint of confusion. It wasn't entirely sure what was going on either.

Its memories were fragmented. It only recalled being a bolt of golden lightning, drifting aimlessly until it followed the thunder tribulation here. Then it discovered Xiao Yi and eventually transformed into an egg.

When it hatched, the sky darkened, and it felt something locking onto it, making it shiver in fear. But then, an aura from Xiao Bai shielded it from that gaze.

This aura lingered in its soul, filling it with an instinctive closeness to Xiao Bai. Its intuition told it that without this protection, it would be targeted again.

That was why it had declared Xiao Bai its master.

"Hey hey hey, Mistress! This dragon is majestic, brilliant, and peerlessly talented! With my help, Master is destined for greatness—what are you doubting?"

The little golden dragon immediately noticed Medusa's suspicious gaze and stood up on Xiao Bai's shoulder, waving its claws and shouting loudly.

Then, as if realizing something, it grinned mischievously and said, "Ohhh, Mistress, don't worry! I'm a thunder spirit—no gender here! I won't compete with you for Master's affection!"

Medusa's beautiful eyes turned cold as she glared fiercely at the little golden dragon, her fists tightly clenched. She wanted to beat this foul-mouthed dragon to death.

"Don't worry, Shasha, I've got this under control." Seeing Medusa on the verge of exploding, Xiao Bai quickly snatched the dragon into his palm, silencing it.

"Call me Queen!" Medusa's gaze turned icy as she shot him a sharp glare. "Truly, like master, like pet—birds of a feather!"

Mentioning pets seemed to remind her of something. She lifted her eyelids slightly, giving Xiao Bai a cool glance before snorting and turning away, her sleeves fluttering.

Xiao Bai watched her graceful figure, a slight smile on his face. After Medusa's evolution, her attitude toward him was certainly intriguing!

"Master, how'd I do? She didn't even deny being called 'Mistress' this time!" The little golden dragon planted its claws on its hips, grinning smugly.

"Not bad," Xiao Bai replied, glancing at the little golden dragon on his shoulder with a calm expression and the corners of his mouth slightly curving.

"Then—" The little golden dragon looked at Xiao Bai expectantly.

"Don't even think about it!"

Xiao Bai ignored it, sitting cross-legged and preparing to cultivate.

The concentration of thunder attribute energy here was quite good. Although it was still dissipating, any bit he could absorb would help—after all, cultivation was all about accumulating bit by bit.

Whenever there was an opportunity, Xiao Bai would never waste it.

"Damn it! You're abandoning me now that I'm no longer useful. I'm being abused! I'm running away! I'm—!"

The little golden dragon was furious and began rolling and throwing a tantrum on Xiao Bai's shoulder.

After a while, seeing Xiao Bai completely ignore it, the dragon sulked and lay down, closing its eyes. Soon, its breathing took on a rhythmic, almost mystical pattern as it began absorbing the surrounding thunder energy.

Xiao Bai's brow twitched. He didn't open his eyes but inwardly sighed, Another glutton…

—

Medusa reclined lazily on the throne in the Snake-People's shrine, feeling the vast energy within her. A smile curled her lips, her eyes alight with joy.

She had succeeded—she had fulfilled her decades-long wish and now had the hope of leading the Serpent People to rise again. This was the hope of countless generations of the Serpent People, and now she had seen it in her hands.

But soon, her thoughts shifted to the man who had helped her. A trace of confusion flashed in her narrow eyes.

She didn't know what to feel about him at this moment.

Back in the underground Heavenly Flames space, he had tricked her and controlled her. She had wanted to tear this cunning human into pieces!

She'd expected him to make outrageous demands, yet he hadn't—earning a sliver of her respect.

She was well aware of her own allure.

Why had her infamy spread so far over the years?

First, because too many coveted the Snake-People's lands.

But even more coveted her.

In this world, without ruthlessness, survival was impossible. Show weakness, and others would devour you whole.

The Snake-People were surrounded by human nations. If they showed even a hint of vulnerability, they would've been swallowed up long ago.

For the sake of her people and to deter those who coveted her, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and project an unyielding fierceness—a willingness to tear a chunk of flesh from anyone who dared cross her, even if it cost her life.

Because she was their queen. Behind her stood millions of Snake-People who relied on her protection.

Later, when Xiao Bai suggested using the Heavenly Flame to help her evolve, she felt both surprise and a bit of wariness in her heart. She didn't know what other conditions he might propose, aside from the three things he had already asked for.

Yet... he asked for nothing.

When she returned to her tribe to arrange affairs and needed time, she—for the sake of her people's survival—was forced to ask for help for the first time in her life.

Seeing his initial silence, she braced herself for rejection, even humiliation. But then, he agreed under the guise of a "trade," preserving her dignity.

To her, that "trade" was almost laughable. The Snake-People had no alchemists; their stock of herbs and magic cores was negligible. Yet he didn't seem to care.

On the night before her evolution, without her even speaking, he seemed to understand her unvoiced thoughts. Though he said nothing at the time, he still gave her Xiao Yi during the process.

And when she was on the brink of annihilation during her evolution, it was his intervention that pulled her back from the edge of death.

Of course, if it were just these things, she would have only seen it as a life-saving favor and would have helped him whenever he needed assistance in the future.

But everything changed because of that seal.

During her evolution, Xiao Bai's seal and her soul were attacked simultaneously, ultimately fusing together in some inexplicable way.

It seemed that she had developed some kind of connection with Xiao Bai!

She didn't quite know how to describe this connection, but after awakening in her sea of consciousness, she could sense his grief and joy.

Grief for her potential death. Joy for her survival.

Even among the Snake-People, her death would bring sorrow—but more for the loss of a ruler than for her.

This made her emotions complicated, and for a moment, she didn't know how to feel.

According to her original nature, if anyone who dared take advantage of her would've been torn to shreds long ago. Did they think her infamous reputation was for nothing?

Yet with Xiao Bai, she couldn't muster any killing intent. Worse, when she was dissatisfied with his actions, her anger felt... different. It unsettled her.

She didn't know what was happening to her. Had she truly developed some feelings for him?

Lost in thought amid the red mist, she impulsively unleashed her innate charm on him—partly out of spite, partly to test him.

If he succumbed, it would prove his emotions were no different from those of other lustful men. That would make it easier to sever this inexplicable attachment.

But to her surprise, not only did he resist it, but it seemed like he somehow ended up handling her instead.

"Sigh..."

"Is this connection one-sided, or does he feel it too?"

"From his behavior, it seems he doesn't know yet."

In the silent hall, Medusa murmured to herself after a soft sigh. Discovering that Xiao Bai couldn't sense her emotions, she felt an inexplicable... relief.

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