"Alright, we've arrived at the Snake-People Tribe. Here, eat these—they're just right for you right now."
After a short flight, Xiao Jietian produced two pills and handed them over. These were something he had casually refined on the way; their effect was barely stronger than chewing gum and didn't even qualify as a first-grade pill.
"Ah~"
The moment the Little Fairy Doctor heard that Xiao Jietian had something for her to "eat," her instinctive reaction was to part her lips slightly and wait to be fed. Of course, this only happened when she was alone with him—or with her closest sisters.
"I meant for you to feed me. Don't get the wrong idea," the Little Fairy Doctor quickly corrected, cheeks tinting pink as she realized her habitual response had slipped out again.
Beside her, Xiao Huiying had already quietly opened her mouth as well.
Xiao Jietian placed one pill on each waiting tongue. They chewed a few times and swallowed.
"Oh… it's cool and has a faint fragrance. Master, what is this?" Xiao Huiying asked after carefully sensing the lingering sensation in her mouth.
Xiao Jietian gave a brief explanation of its function.
Both girls immediately lowered their heads, faces burning red.
"Master… could you give me a few more? That way I can take them afterward," Xiao Huiying murmured, suddenly remembering how Zi Yan had sniffed something odd on her the day before.
"No problem." Xiao Jietian directly handed her an entire small bottle. Something this simple could be mass-refined without any effort.
He then took out another bottle and placed it into a second pair of fair, slender hands that had silently reached out.
"Let's head down. We'll go find Fei'er first."
The three of them straightened their clothes. Xiao Huiying and the Little Fairy Doctor sniffed each other carefully to make sure nothing was amiss, then followed behind Xiao Jietian.
…
In the next instant, the three of them appeared directly inside the Snake-People Tribe's grand temple.
At that moment, Medusa was reclining lazily on the throne.
The moment she saw them arrive, her eyes lit up. In a flash, she teleported straight to the Little Fairy Doctor's side and wrapped her arms tightly around her.
Xiao Jietian stood there with arms spread wide, face dark with black lines.
Xiao Huiying, meanwhile, was desperately trying to hold back her laughter, cheeks puffed out like she was about to explode.
"Ohhh, Xiao Jietian, you're here too!" Medusa finally turned her head, feigning surprise as though she had only just noticed him.
Seeing her deliberately provocative attitude, Xiao Jietian reached out and delivered a crisp slap to her perky rear.
Pa!
"How dare you strike this Queen's imperial rear!" Medusa immediately covered the spot with both hands, pouting in exaggerated embarrassment.
Though she still called herself "Queen," there was not a trace of regal dignity left—only the demeanor of a little woman who had been bullied.
Xiao Jietian pulled her into his arms and captured her rosy lips in a deep kiss.
Under his skillful guidance, Medusa's body gradually softened and melted against him.
"Is this what you wanted?" he whispered against her lips.
Medusa's face was overflowing with happiness, yet she stubbornly huffed, "Impossible. This Queen never wanted it at all, hmph!"
"Then I won't do it next time," Xiao Jietian said with a teasing smile.
"You wouldn't dare!" Medusa instantly straightened, voice rising sharply.
Only after she spoke did she catch the half-smile on his face and realize she had fallen into his trap again. She stomped hard on his foot in frustration.
Meanwhile, the Little Fairy Doctor and Xiao Huiying were secretly snickering behind their hands.
Every time Medusa tried to put on her majestic Queenly airs in front of Xiao Jietian, the result was always the same—utter failure.
"Xiao Jietian, the elders said they wish to see you. There's something they want to discuss," Medusa said softly, gently stroking his cheek.
Hearing this, the Little Fairy Doctor giggled from the side. "Ohhh, so the ugly son-in-law is finally meeting the in-laws, hehe."
Xiao Jietian reached over and rubbed her head affectionately, knowing she was deliberately stirring the atmosphere. Then he turned to Medusa.
"Hm. When should we go?"
"Right now," Medusa replied after a moment's thought.
The sooner they dealt with this, the sooner she could return with him to the Eternal Heaven World.
She glanced at the Little Fairy Doctor and Xiao Huiying. "Xian'er, you two wait here for us. When we come back, I'll take you both to explore the Snake-People Holy City."
"Alright. But… should we call Yue'er and the others out now?"
Before setting off, they had already discussed visiting the Snake-People Tribe—because once the tribe eventually relocated, the ancient Snake-People Holy City would be lost to the flow of time.
Xiao Jietian considered for a moment, then sent a message through a transmission stone to Han Yue and the others.
In the next breath, Yun Yun, Ya Fei, and several more figures appeared—even little Xiao Ling and Xiao Meng were among them.
Xiao Jietian quickly explained that he was going to meet with the Snake-People Tribe elders and asked them to wait here for a while.
Medusa summoned Yue Mei to guide the group on a tour of the temple, then took Xiao Jietian's hand and led him deeper inside.
Along the quiet, winding corridor, Snake-People guards stood at regular intervals.
"Greetings, Queen! Greetings, King!"
Every guard they passed bowed deeply in salute.
When Xiao Jietian heard the title "King" and saw the barely-suppressible glee on Medusa's face—her smile practically recoiling like an AK-47—he immediately understood.
"This title… was your doing, wasn't it?!"
"How could it be? This is a traditional honorific of our tribe," Medusa replied innocently, eyes darting everywhere. "If you don't like it… how about 'Little Tianzi' instead? Haha!"
She finally couldn't hold it in and burst into laughter.
Xiao Jietian's mouth twitched.
At that moment, Mo Ba Si—the Grand Commander of the Snake-People Tribe—appeared before them and bowed respectfully.
After saluting, however, his gaze fixed intently on their clasped hands.
"Do you still have something to say? If not, withdraw," Medusa said coldly when she saw him lingering.
"Queen… not just anyone is worthy of becoming our tribe's King," Mo Ba Si gritted out through clenched teeth. Despite clearly sensing the other party was a Dou Zun, he stubbornly straightened his neck.
"My affairs are none of your concern. Withdraw!!" Medusa's expression darkened instantly at the challenge to Xiao Jietian's status. She roared, "By my command—as Queen—from this moment forward, Xiao Jietian is your King! Seeing him is the same as seeing me. Anyone who dares disobey may be executed on the spot!"
Xiao Jietian cast a single glance.
Mo Ba Si was instantly pressed flat to the ground, cold sweat pouring from his forehead like rain.
Xiao Jietian tugged Medusa along and walked past the trembling commander. He looked down with an indifferent gaze.
"Some people are not yours to covet. If there is a next time… death."
Only after the suffocating pressure vanished did Mo Ba Si scramble away in terror.
Medusa gazed at Xiao Jietian, the corners of her lips curving into a faint, satisfied smile.
The two continued along the quiet path, chatting idly. Fifteen minutes later, they reached the end.
Before them stood a simple bamboo house nestled in the heart of a dense bamboo grove.
Xiao Jietian's spiritual sense swept over it—four peak Dou Huang auras resided within.
Medusa stepped forward and gently knocked on the bamboo door.
"Come in."
An aged voice sounded from inside. The door opened on its own.
Xiao Jietian and Medusa stepped across the threshold.
The moment they entered, a faint light barrier rose around them.
In the spacious interior of the bamboo house, four ancient figures slowly came into view.
The old woman seated in the center gradually opened her eyes. Her diamond-shaped pupils—sharp and venomous like a serpent's—locked directly onto Xiao Jietian.
The other three old women opened their eyes as well.
The combined aura of the four instantly coalesced in mid-air, forming the towering image of a pitch-black giant python.
The python's cold eyes stared fixedly at Xiao Jietian.
Xiao Jietian merely lifted his head slightly and met its gaze.
A terrifying pressure erupted in an instant.
The giant python hissed once—then shattered and vanished without a trace.
Xiao Jietian said nothing. He simply looked indifferently at the four elders before him.
Medusa stood silently at his side, calm and composed.