The night was silent.
The dark clouds covering the vast Tagor Desert gradually dispersed, revealing the bright and clear moonlight.
Under this moonlight, a slender and elegant woman hovered in midair. A pair of fiery red wings spread from her back, and her crimson dress accentuated her breathtakingly alluring curves, radiating an almost otherworldly charm.
Her face was stunningly seductive, with a pair of phoenix-like eyes glimmering with cold light. She gazed down at the massive sandpit below, where Mo Bas lay covered in blood, his breath weak as if he could perish at any moment. Her voice was icy as she spoke:
"You have repeatedly defied my orders. Do you truly believe I won't kill you?"
"Your Majesty, as the Queen of the Serpent Tribe, not only do you refuse to kill that human, but you also constantly protect him. In that case, I ask you to kill me instead."
Mo Bas spat out a mouthful of blood, his gaze fixed on his completely severed right arm. Resolutely, he addressed Queen Medusa.
He simply did not believe that Her Majesty would actually take his life.
"Then I shall grant your wish!"
Queen Medusa's eyes turned sharp. With a slight motion of her jade-like hand, a longbow, condensed purely from Dou Qi, materialized in her grasp.
She had tolerated Mo Bas for far too long.
As a tribal leader, he had sought to become the commander of the palace guards. Despite her explicit refusal, he petitioned the Elder Council and forcibly took the position—she endured it.
She ordered him to capture her sister alive, but he attempted to kill her instead—she endured it.
Even after she stripped him of his title as palace guard commander, he continued to meddle in palace affairs—she endured it.
But step by step, her tolerance had only emboldened him further.
Even now, he remained the same.
Holding the bow in her left hand and drawing the string with her right, Queen Medusa pulled the bow to its full extent. Between the bow and string, a crimson arrow of Dou Qi condensed into form.
Mo Bas's expression shifted, his heart filled with dread.
Several hoarse voices rang out:
"Your Majesty, please stop!"
The three Great Elders spoke in unison as they swiftly rushed toward Mo Bas.
The Grand Elder then added, "Your Majesty, please spare Mo Bas. Not long ago, you yourself enacted a decree forbidding infighting among our kind."
Queen Medusa frowned slightly before loosening her grip. The crimson arrow shot forth.
Mo Bas flinched in terror.
The three Great Elders were equally startled.
Even Yue Nu, observing from below, was shocked. Was Her Majesty truly willing to kill Mo Bas over that human?
The crimson arrow tore through the air, grazing past Mo Bas's cheek before embedding itself deep into the yellow sands, where it soon dissipated.
Mo Bas felt as though he had just brushed past death itself. The arrow had missed his head by less than a centimeter, and the wind it generated had sliced his cheek open, drawing fresh blood.
"Leave the royal city and return to your tribe."
Queen Medusa's voice was cold as she dismissed the longbow in her hands. Turning around, she looked at the pale-faced Chen Mo and spoke indifferently, "Come with me."
With that, she took the lead and flew toward the palace below.
Chen Mo quickly followed.
Mo Bas struggled to his feet despite the pain of his severed arm.
The Serpent Tribe's Grand Elder, wearing a fanged mask, rasped, "Mo Bas, return to your tribe. Her Majesty has now fully consolidated her authority. The ancient laws of our people can no longer restrain her."
"But if I leave... what about that human?" Mo Bas clenched his teeth in resentment. "Grand Elder, you must kill him and avenge my lost arm!"
The Grand Elder shook his head. "I already told you before: if the assassination failed this time, there would be no second chance."
"Here are some healing medicines. Take them and return to your tribe immediately." The Grand Elder retrieved several bottles from his sleeve, then, along with the other two elders, turned and left.
Chen Mo followed closely behind Queen Medusa, his gaze fixed on her enchanting figure, not daring to breathe too loudly.
As they passed by the side palace where he had been staying, Queen Medusa suddenly halted. Gazing at the shattered door and the wrecked chamber within, she said coolly, "You won't be staying here tonight."
"Then... where will I stay?" Chen Mo thought to himself, Don't tell me I have to go back to that tiny room?
Just as he was about to suggest that he could clean up the place and still stay there, Queen Medusa declared, "You'll stay in my chambers."
Chen Mo swallowed hard.
Queen Medusa naturally exuded an irresistible charm. For any man, being near her could easily ignite certain thoughts.
Hearing her words, Chen Mo couldn't help but overthink.
"My chambers are spacious. Just find a corner and sleep there." Queen Medusa's next sentence instantly extinguished any lingering thoughts he had.
"Uh... This side palace... I could just clean it up a bit and stay here..." Chen Mo laughed sheepishly.
Queen Medusa's cold voice left no room for negotiation.
Inside the royal bedchamber.
Queen Medusa reclined lazily on her throne, resting her head on one hand as she gazed down at the somewhat nervous Chen Mo. Her red lips curved into a playful smile.
"What's the matter? Have you lost your nerve after nearly being assassinated? You were quite bold when you climbed into my bed the other night."
Chen Mo's face darkened as he forced a smile. "Wasn't I only concerned about Your Majesty's well-being that night?"
Queen Medusa let out a cold chuckle before saying, "Are you satisfied with how I dealt with Mo Bas?"
Deep down, Chen Mo wasn't entirely pleased. After all, Mo Bas had tried to kill him. But on the surface, he smiled and replied, "Very satisfied."
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"As long as you're satisfied."
For some reason, upon hearing Chen Mo's response, Queen Medusa felt a slight sense of relief. Her gaze shifted to the wound on his chest, and her previously cold tone softened slightly.
"Compared to the wounds I suffered a few days ago, this is nothing more than a scratch."
Despite the pain evident in his expression, Chen Mo retrieved a bottle of medicinal powder from his storage ring and found a place to sit down, intending to apply it.
However, Queen Medusa frowned slightly, sensing the subtle blame in his words. Sitting upright, she commanded, "Come here!"
"What for?" Chen Mo, regaining some of his boldness, looked up at her, his voice tinged with defiance.
Queen Medusa's expression remained cold. "When I tell you to come, you come."
Chen Mo put the bottle back into his storage ring and walked up to her.
As he approached, Queen Medusa's unique fragrance filled his senses.
"What now? Don't tell me you want a shoulder massage despite my injuries?" Chen Mo quipped.
"Give it to me." Queen Medusa extended her jade-like hand.
"What?" Chen Mo looked puzzled.
"The medicine you took out earlier," she said.
Chen Mo handed her the bottle.
"Weren't you braver before?"
"Who's afraid? Fine, I'll sit."
As soon as he sat beside her, Queen Medusa gently pushed his shoulder, making him lean back against the armrest of the throne.
Then, she opened the bottle and personally began applying the medicine to his wound.
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