"Hiss~"
Xiao Jietian had not anticipated that Medusa would so boldly seize his vital point—right in front of Han Xue, no less.
Taken utterly off guard, his body gave an involuntary shudder. A sharp breath of cold air rushed into his lungs as he gasped.
The hand that had been gently soothing Han Xue's earlier "pain" abruptly tightened in reflex.
Han Xue's slender frame instantly went rigid as a board.
Her eyes flew wide. She buried her burning face even deeper into the crook of his neck. Yet within those widened pupils flickered the tiniest spark of strange, hidden excitement—as though some long-dormant talent had quietly awakened.
Observing Xiao Jietian's reaction, Medusa promptly covered her lips and let out a delighted chuckle. She released her grip with playful nonchalance.
Winking at him, her serpentine eyes gleamed with open challenge:
"I shall not disturb your little tryst any longer. This Queen must go and see how well the Snake-People Tribe fares in their integration with Boundless Heaven Hall."
Medusa's three greatest joys in life were, in no particular order: cultivation, displaying her proud tsundere nature, and teasing Xiao Jietian before swiftly fleeing the scene.
Yet on most occasions, her teasing ended with her being caught, thoroughly "punished" several times over, and finally reduced to tearful begging for mercy.
Come morning, however, when the sun rose anew, she would forget every lesson learned and revert to her original mischievous self.
She was, in truth, slightly better than certain others who forgot the moment daylight touched them—she could at least admit her faults with utmost sincerity… though she remained utterly unrepentant in her heart.
Having spoken, Medusa activated the Void Piercing Steps. Her crimson figure glided smoothly toward the palace gates.
When the Snake-People Tribe first began merging into Boundless Heaven Hall, she had personally executed several of the most defiant clansmen, making bloody examples of them before all.
This act served to demonstrate her iron resolve: integration into Boundless Heaven Hall was non-negotiable. No special privileges would be granted merely because their Queen happened to be the Hall Master's wife.
Fortunately, the vast majority of the Snake-People held no objections. The cultivation environment and living conditions here surpassed their former desert homeland by dozens of times over. Moreover, the inhabitants of Eternal Heaven World displayed no hostility or rejection toward them.
Xiao Jietian called after her retreating silhouette:
"Come to my chambers tonight. I have something good prepared for you."
Queen Medusa, who had already taken several steps, immediately stumbled mid-stride. A faint blush crept involuntarily across her peerless features.
He had used exactly this trick the last time—luring her in with sweet words, only to leave her utterly disheveled and boneless by dawn.
She whirled around and shot him a fierce glare, her expression screaming: *Do not even dream of deceiving this Queen again.*
"You think this King will obediently come just because you command it? Does this Queen have no dignity left? Hmph! No matter what honeyed words you speak, I will not fall for it again!"
Xiao Jietian could tell at a single glance that she still bore psychological scars from his previous "ambushes."
"Truly, it is something very good—something of great importance to you. Come tonight, and you shall see for yourself."
"Hmph!!"
Medusa paid him no further heed. With a light snort of disdain, she turned and departed without another word.
She had been in seclusion for so long; in truth, she missed him dearly.
Yet with an outsider present earlier, how could the proud Queen lower herself to act like some lovesick maiden before witnesses?
"Hmph!"
Her graceful figure swiftly vanished into the night.
Xiao Jietian watched her retreating form, the corners of his lips curving into a soft, knowing smile.
No outright refusal meant tacit agreement.
Sometimes there was no need to speak too plainly.
Women, after all, tended to be thin of face in such matters.
To outsiders, Medusa appeared decisive, ruthless, and unyielding. Yet in affairs of the heart, she remained an utter novice—full marks in theory, yet zero in practice.
"I am still an innocent maiden… Is it truly appropriate for the two of you to flirt so brazenly right before my eyes?"
Seeing Medusa depart and leave only herself and Xiao Jietian behind, Han Xue bravely suppressed her shyness. Resting her small head upon his shoulder, she spoke in a voice soft and bashful.
"There was no such thing. I merely intended to give her a gift, nothing more."
"I am not speaking of that… It is… it is…" Han Xue stammered, her voice growing smaller and smaller. "I know… about those little gestures between you and Sister Fei Yan…"
She knew perfectly well.
Moreover, she had felt it quite clearly—Medusa had deliberately shifted her stance earlier, ensuring the sensation was unmistakable.
She was no ignorant little girl. This young lady had long since perused the *Spring and Autumn Annals* of such matters; naturally she understood everything.
"You two are truly too wicked!!"
Having spoken, she slid down from his embrace, covered her scarlet face with both hands, and fled hurriedly toward Han Yue's palace.
Xiao Jietian watched her departing figure, rubbing the bridge of his nose with a helpless chuckle.
Of course he knew.
In response to Han Xue's parting words, he merely smiled faintly:
"Later on… you shall discover there are even worse things yet."
Deep night. All was silent under heaven.
A streak of crimson glided swiftly across the moonlit sky, heading straight toward the grandest palace within Eternal Heaven Palace.
The figure murmured under her breath:
"If he dares trick this Queen once more… this Queen shall truly grow angry and never forgive him."
Beneath the silver moonlight, the speaker was none other than Medusa.
Though her words spoke of wrath, her face glowed with an irrepressible smile, even tinged with faint anticipation.
Within the palace, the Little Fairy Doctor—who had been quietly cultivating—slowly opened her eyes.
Catching sight of that furtive crimson silhouette, she could not help but chuckle softly.
Han Xue had already recounted the earlier events beneath the peach tree.
Tonight, she had no intention of joining the fray. Medusa had only just emerged from seclusion; let her enjoy some rare private time with him.
Xiao Jietian reclined leisurely upon the bed. Every movement of the approaching queen fell clearly into his perception. A meaningful smile played upon his lips.
Medusa, who had been advancing stealthily, suddenly felt her body grow rigid—uncontrollable.
In the next instant, a gentle yet irresistible pulling force seized her, drawing her directly through space and into the chamber before her.