"But teacher, I already told you I won’t take part in a war between the two sides." Yun Yun thought for a moment as she listened to the ambition in his voice, then replied.
"You are the sect leader of the Yunlan Sect, and a disciple of the Yunshan household. This is your duty. If you won’t do it, then marry Gu He." Yunshan frowned when Yun Yun refused again.
Since Gu He returned from the Tagore Desert that day he had secluded himself in retreat and no longer threw himself into the Yunlan Sect’s affairs as before.
When the war began and Yunshan asked him to use the influence of a Sixth-Rank Alchemist to help the Yunlan Sect, Gu He refused.
Yunshan had already sensed Gu He growing distant from the Yunlan Sect, so the old man began entertaining the idea of marrying Yun Yun to Gu He.
Once they were family, Gu He wouldn’t be able to refuse.
"Teacher..." Yun Yun had been demoted from Sect Leader to Deputy Sect Leader after the last war. She couldn’t understand why, given Yunlan Sect’s exalted status, she should be dragged into such worldly quarrels.
"Different clans think differently; their hearts are not the same as ours. I’m not asking you to slaughter anyone — only to deal with the Serpent Tribe. You’re only to stall their three great elders." Yunshan wasn’t pressing too hard; he knew his disciple’s temperament and didn’t want a sudden, irreversible clash.
"All right, then." Yun Yun gave in.
A city built on ten thousand li of yellow sand. Amid the swirling dust came the crisp sounds of drills and the metallic ring of weapons colliding.
The city lord’s mansion had been transformed — dark sentries surrounded every inch. Anyone who stepped inside would immediately feel they were being watched from hidden eyes.
It had become a fortress with extremely strict defenses.
This place was the Serpent Tribe’s stronghold.
Except for a few who handled negotiations, the Serpent Tribe’s elite forces were gathered here.
Inside the main hall of the mansion many sat in silence, eyes filled with a cautious awe as they stared at the woman in the high seat — a red-robed figure wearing a crown — not daring to make a sound.
The woman narrowed her eyes slightly; long, elegant fingers tapped the armrest in a steady rhythm. Her rose-red lips were pressed into a thin line, exuding a dangerous, seductive charm.
But in her indifferent gaze a chilling sharpness flashed that made anyone who met it break out in cold sweat; they hurriedly averted their eyes.
Who in the Serpent Tribe could hold such prestige, apart from the Medusa Queen?
Beside the Medusa Queen sat another woman in a red dress — identical in appearance. The difference was that this woman had a blue serpent’s tail. She carried little of the queen’s seductiveness and instead had an air of innocence and sweetness that made one want to protect her.
"What news from Mobas?" the Medusa Queen asked, breaking the long silence. Her tapping stopped and she spoke with a cool, measured voice.
At her words everyone in the hall straightened. Yue Mei rose and answered respectfully, "Your Majesty, no news has arrived from Mobas yet. They must still be arranging the handover."
"Your Majesty, those humans are dragging their feet in Mobas. Half a month has passed. Aside from the handover at the Beast Mountain, which went smoothly, the northwestern and northeastern provinces of the Kama Empire are stalling. I think they have no intention of ceding them." Du Qianteng’s temper was short; he’d been in charge of the northeastern transfer and, because of the humans’ dilatory attitude, had killed many of them.
To avoid more trouble, Her Majesty had removed him and sent Yin Shi in his place.
So when the topic turned to the transfer, Du Qianteng couldn’t help but speak up. "Your Majesty, I say we stop wasting time — push the army forward and see if they still dare hold the line."
"Your Majesty, leader Du Qianteng speaks sense. They’re just prolonging this. Send troops to force them out." Another tribal leader chimed in.
The Medusa Queen’s brows contracted and her tone cooled. "That old Yunshan seems to be testing my patience. I agreed to negotiations only because I don’t want to slaughter too many humans. Otherwise, does he really think I can’t trample the Kama Empire flat?"
"If he is so ungrateful, then destroy them."
The Medusa Queen rose, her red skirt sweeping as she spoke with authority and ice: "Issue the order — full army attack. Crush the Kama Empire!"
At the queen’s command all present rose and answered in unison.
Northeastern Province of the Kama Empire.
The border where the Serpent Tribe and the Yunlan Sect’s armies were to carry out the handover.
A makeshift camp had been set up.
"Bang! Yun Leng, what tricks is your Yunlan Sect trying to pull? Stop stalling!" Yin Shi slammed his fist down on the negotiation table.
The table shattered with the impact.
"Heh heh, Chief Yin Shi, don’t be impatient. We have so many people here in the northeast; naturally we need time to withdraw. Once our forces are out, we can carry out the handover properly, can’t we?" Yun Leng replied with a forced smile.
"Cut the nonsense. If the handover isn’t finished today I’ll report to Her Majesty and have the Yunlan Sect trampled flat." Yin Shi understood Du Qianteng’s mood; he, too, had murderous thoughts.
"I told you: once our people have withdrawn, we will begin the handover." Yun Leng’s face darkened.
At that moment a thunderous explosion cracked in the sky above the camps.
The blast rolled on, drawing everyone’s gaze upward.
In the place where the sound billowed, a cloud of condensed energy formed. Beside that cloud, a longsword radiating a fierce sword qi stabbed straight downward.
It was Yunlan Sect’s signal.
From the Serpent Tribe’s side the assembled group, including Yin Shi, saw the mark in the sky.
Yin Shi scowled at Yun Leng’s increasingly jubilant expression. "Yun Leng, what are you trying to do?"
Yun Leng laughed heartily. "You stinking snake, today will be your burial place. Yunlan Sect disciples, follow me — slay these serpents!"
He raised his arm and shouted the order.
At the same time another thunderous explosion cracked above, and from the rolling sound an energy-formed serpent head gave a hoarse roar.
At that roar Yin Shi’s hand coalesced a great blade. He shouted, "Brothers, kill!"
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