Suddenly, Queen Medusa's grip tightened around Chen Mo's fingers.
The pressure was... intense.
Chen Mo grimaced in pain, his face flushed red as he barely managed to keep his composure.
"Is she that good-looking?"
Behind her white jade mask, Queen Medusa's bewitching face was as cold as ice.
Though her tone was calm, Chen Mo could feel the overwhelming chill in her voice.
"No matter how pretty she is, she can't compare to Your Majesty. You're the most beautiful woman in the world," Chen Mo replied with a flattering grin.
Only then did Queen Medusa relax, releasing his hand.
Chen Mo sucked in a sharp breath and quickly rubbed his sore fingers.
"Ya Fei-jie really is getting more and more charming. She's turning every man's head," teased Nalan Yanran, now a graceful and elegant young woman in a moon-white robe.
The woman referred to as Ya Fei-jie covered her mouth with a soft laugh. Her slightly smiling face carried a trace of allure as she said:
"Miss Nalan isn't bad herself. Give it a few more years, and you'll have all the men swooning too."
Nalan Yanran smiled lightly and dropped the topic, instead saying:
"Then I'll trouble Ya Fei-jie to prepare those medicinal ingredients for me. The price isn't an issue."
"I'll do my best," Ya Fei replied with a nod. Her peach blossom eyes shimmered with natural seduction.
Standing next to Nalan Yanran was Yun Yun, who remained silent. Her only purpose in this trip was to let Yanran visit her clan. The next few years were prime for cultivation—she couldn't let Yanran be distracted by trivial matters.
The reason they came to the Miteer Auction House today was simply to purchase a batch of cultivation materials for Yanran's future breakthroughs.
After a polite smile, Yun Yun was about to lead Yanran away—
"Let go! I said LET GO!"
A sharp voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention away from Ya Fei, Yun Yun, and Nalan Yanran.
They turned toward the source of the commotion—and were stunned.
A pale-faced youth in luxurious clothes, clearly suffering from overindulgence, was having his wrist tightly gripped by a figure in a black cloak.
Behind the black-cloaked figure... was a long, green serpent tail.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Behind the young man lay a snake-woman on the ground. Her clothes were revealing, and though her face was beautiful, there was a bright red palm mark on her cheek.
At a glance, it was obvious—the youth had been punishing her when the black-robed snake-person stepped in to stop him.
"Leilei..." Ya Fei frowned slightly, recognizing the youth. Disgust flashed openly in her eyes.
Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran also turned their attention to the scene.
Yun Yun's willow-like brows furrowed slightly as she looked at the exposed section of the purple snake tail.
That seems... oddly familiar.
But soon, all three women turned their gazes to the white-robed youth standing beside the snake-person.
After all, he was far too handsome to go unnoticed.
[Ding! Affection +2. You have gained 2 Affection Coins.]
"Huh... gaining Ya Fei's affection is easier than I thought," Chen Mo murmured inwardly.
After Queen Medusa's extreme jealousy episode earlier, he had carefully considered his options—and decided to bind Miteer Ya Fei.
His reasoning was simple: once he left the Tagor Desert, it would be much easier to meet Ya Fei again.
Binding Yun Yun would require going to Mist Cloud Sect, which would be far more difficult.
So after weighing his options, he chose Ya Fei first.
Now that the binding was done, Chen Mo had no desire to remain at the auction house.
Okay, fine—the real reason was that he didn't want Queen Medusa's jealous streak to erupt again.
But just as they were about to leave—
A young man in luxurious robes descended a staircase guarded by several guards.
The youth had an arm around a scantily clad snake-woman, clearly taking advantage of her.
But when he grabbed her backside, she lightly resisted.
Enraged, he slapped her to the ground—which immediately triggered Queen Medusa's fury.
As he raised his hand again, Queen Medusa caught his wrist in a flash.
She was still wearing her iron claw gloves. When she squeezed, even Chen Mo could barely handle the pain.
Let alone this brat—who was only a one-star Dou Shi.
Chen Mo could even hear the faint sound of bones cracking.
The staircase guards and nearby enforcers quickly swarmed in, surrounding Chen Mo and Queen Medusa.
The young man's name was Lei Le, and his grandfather, Lei Ao, was a respected elder in the Miteer Clan.
There was no way the guards could ignore this.
Apparently emboldened by their presence, Lei Le gritted his teeth and yelled through the pain:
"Hey, kid! That snake-woman is yours, right? Tell her to let go of me!"
The onlookers murmured again.
Though Queen Medusa was shrouded in a black cloak, her slender figure and delicate build made it clear she was a female snake-person.
Chen Mo's brows furrowed slightly.
Lei Le, undeterred, turned to Queen Medusa and shouted:
"You filthy snake-wench! How dare you hurt me?! Just wait—see how I'll play with you later!"
His grin turned vile.
Hearing this, Chen Mo's face darkened.
"Let go of him," he said to Queen Medusa.
She blinked, thinking she had misheard him.
Lei Le, on the other hand, laughed triumphantly. "Hah! You heard that, you bitch? Even your master told you to let go!"
"I said—let go," Chen Mo repeated. Then he added coldly, "People like him... aren't worth dirtying your hands. I'll handle it."
Hearing this, Queen Medusa released Lei Le.
But the brat wasn't done. "You bastard! Who do you think—"
A deafening crash interrupted him.
Everyone turned in shock.
Lei Le was sent flying by a punch from Chen Mo, slamming hard into a display counter behind him.
The crystal counter shattered. Lei Le spat blood violently.
"You little shit! Do you even know who I am?! Even if the heavens themselves come down today, you're not walking out of this auction house in one piece!"
He coughed up another mouthful of blood and collapsed to his knees, curling up in agony.
Just as he managed to lift his head—
A dark figure loomed before him.
It was the black-robed snake-person.
With a flick of her cloak, a burst of Dou Qi surged forth.
Lei Le's body was flung like a ragdoll, crashing hard into the distant wall at the back of the hall.
Another mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips.
He passed out on the spot.
Absolute, crushing silence.
The entire crystal-clear hall was dead still.
Even Yun Yun, Ya Fei, and Nalan Yanran looked visibly stunned.
Behind her white jade mask, Queen Medusa's ruby lips moved slightly as she said in a cold, raspy voice:
"You... think you're worthy of insulting him?"
The guards exchanged uncertain glances... but ultimately, still surrounded Chen Mo and Queen Medusa in a tight circle.
"How dare you injure my grandson in the Miteer Auction House!"
At that moment, a cold and aged voice echoed from the staircase.
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