"If it's just a small favor, this Queen can consider it."
Medusa lightly flicked her purple snake tail and crossed her arms over her chest, looking aloof and cold.
She had eaten his food and taken his gifts—short mouth after eating, short hands after taking. Helping with some small matters was no problem.
"Trouble Queen to join forces with the Dou Ancestor powerhouse beside me to bring back the Green Lotus Core Flame completely intact. What do you think?"
After all, Ling Yue was Xun Er's guard. Ling Yue felt embarrassed to truly treat her as his subordinate.
Since the free tool known as Queen Medusa had appeared, it would be a waste not to use her.
"The Green Lotus Core Flame is deep within the magma world. Taking it away will definitely provoke its attacks. It won't be easy," Medusa did not refuse outright, but her expression clearly said "add more payment."
"If there's an opportunity in the future, I'll personally cook for you again." Xiao Ting was very sensible and generously raised the stakes.
Queen Medusa: "..."
Did she really look that gluttonous? Would she risk her life for mere food?
"Until this Queen is fully satisfied." Medusa made it clear that her service fee was not cheap.
"Naturally." Xiao Ting agreed readily.
He would definitely feed Queen Medusa until she was full.
Everyone present knew very well that Queen Medusa was already willing to help. She was simply being stubborn and needed a step down, which was why she agreed so easily.
"When do we set off?" Medusa asked.
Xiao Ting looked at Xun Er. The two exchanged a glance before he spoke, "How about tomorrow?"
"Up to you." Medusa had no objections. "From now on, this Queen will follow you until you fulfill your promise to me."
…
[Xun Er]: At that time, Sister Medusa will have to think of a new excuse to keep staying by Brother Xiao Ting's side.
[Medusa]: It's not like I have to stay with him all the time. Occasionally is fine too.
[Little Fairy Doctor]: Become friends with us and use visiting us as an excuse to freeload meals at Xiao Ting's place.
[Medusa]: I'm just visiting you all as friends. There's no need to freeload.
[Little Fairy Doctor]: Xiao Ting was right. The only hard part on your entire body is your mouth.
[Qing Lin]: There were so many dishes earlier. Sister Medusa is strong, so she ate faster and more than us.
[Medusa]: This Queen was simply appreciating each dish. Eating a few more bites was to avoid making any wrong judgments.
[Xun Er]: Understood. Next time there's good food, we won't tell you. We'll notify you after we finish eating.
[Medusa]: ...
[Yun Yun]: When can I appear openly and also get a bite to eat?
…
The girls had already learned how to multitask—chatting normally on the surface while secretly plotting through the Journal group chat.
After the meal, Xiao Ting personally arranged a private small courtyard for Medusa and even assigned her two mixed-blood maids—one from the Snake-People tribe and one from the human race.
"You actually have some thoughtfulness."
Sensing the somewhat familiar aura on the two women, a flash of satisfaction appeared in Medusa's eyes. She quite liked this kind of attention to detail.
"It's only right." Xiao Ting stood at the courtyard entrance without entering and said sincerely, "After all, Queen will be staying by my side for quite some time. I must take good care of your daily life."
"Since you're so sensible, this Queen can give you a small reward." Medusa stared at Xiao Ting from a distance of one zhang. The tip of her purple snake tail flicked gently with clear teasing intent. "If you encounter any trouble you can't solve, this Queen can take action for you."
Queen Medusa, you're not usually this easy to talk to.
Being so nice to me—aren't you afraid I'll get suspicious?
I still need to patch this up for you.
"Queen truly is beautiful, kind-hearted, generous, and decisive." Xiao Ting smoothly delivered some rainbow compliments, his smile full of attentiveness. "In the future, whenever there's delicious food, I'll have someone send a portion to Queen."
Medusa: It's not like I'm doing this for the food.
…
After bidding farewell to Queen Medusa, Xiao Ting returned to his own small courtyard.
Before starting his cultivation, he didn't forget to add a patch and conveniently stir the emotions of the Journal.
The patch had to be added. Otherwise, after a long time, those women might suspect he had long known that others could see the Journal and deliberately wrote ambiguous content.
He only wanted to be a qualified world observer. That point would never change in the future.
But accidentally mixing in some private goods was also understandable, right?
..
[Queen Medusa is truly a woman who says one thing but means another.]
[She kills without blinking an eye toward others, yet she appears approachable and easy to talk to with me.]
[But if I really foolishly believe she's easy to talk to, then death wouldn't be far away. That beauty snake is full of traps from head to toe.]
…
Medusa: ?
…
[Her good attitude stems purely from strength. She's wary of Senior Ling Yue beside Xun Er and the many powerful guards.]
[Women admire the strong, and Queen Medusa especially so. However, she doesn't simply fall for those stronger than her. Strength greater than hers is only the prerequisite for conquering her.]
…
"Not bad." Medusa lazily leaned against the bed, supporting her cheek with one hand as she looked out the window.
She, Queen Medusa, indeed admired the strong. There was no opposite sex in this world that could make her fall in love.
There were only those she took a fancy to and then conquered with her strength, or those who conquered her with overwhelming power.
But this kind of conquest couldn't be done with brute force just because one was stronger. In that case, she would rather die than submit.
In short, being stronger than her was a necessary condition for her to take interest, but not the only one.
…
[To make her attitude good, my current outward performance isn't enough. I'm merely borrowing Xun Er's light.]
[But what's Xun Er's is mine. We don't distinguish between each other. Queen Medusa still lowered her head to me.]
…
Medusa: "..."
This Queen clearly lowered her head to the Journal copy.
But you can think whatever you want. You don't know that this Queen can see the Journal.
…
"Big Brother Xiao Ting is right."
Xun Er cupped her cheeks with both hands, her eyes sparkling.
She and Xiao Ting really didn't distinguish between each other.
…
[I need to think about how to persuade Xun Er to cultivate the Flame Mantra.]
[This is a broad and smooth path straight to Heavenly Sovereign, or even stronger realms.]
…
Heavenly Sovereign?
Even stronger realms!?
Seeing these unfamiliar terms, the eyes of all the girls holding Journal copies widened.
They didn't understand how high this realm was, but they could be certain it was above Dou God.
This was the first time Xiao Ting mentioned information outside the Battle Qi Continent. Although it was only a realm title, it showed that the information he knew was not limited to the Battle Qi Continent.
He was truly a man they knew they couldn't grasp, yet still desperately wanted to grasp tightly.
…
In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived.
After breakfast, Xiao Ting, Xun Er, Qing Lin, and Medusa set off together for Rock Desert City. Hidden in the dark were Xun Er's guards following them.
There was no sightseeing this time. The Blue Eagle Xiao Lan flew at full speed. Even with three people on its back, it did not affect its velocity.
When the sun was setting in the west, the outline of a majestic city appeared faintly in the distance.
Xun Er's eyes curved into crescents as she suddenly spoke, "Brother Xiao Ting, why don't we stay in Desert City for one night first?"
Xiao Ting, who was about to speak, was stunned. He thought to himself: Well done, you little heart-stealing thief.
"We really are of one mind." Xiao Ting smiled brightly. "I was just about to say the same—we'll stay in Desert City tonight, rest and recuperate, then head to the vicinity of Rock Desert City tomorrow to obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame."
In the air beside them, Medusa's lips twitched.
What one mind?
She simply knew what he was thinking.
Knowing he had proper business in Desert City, she proactively gave him the opportunity.
This Queen wanted to see how he would bring it up to her.
…
…
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