Chapter 227: Medusa: He Is My Husband!
At the top of the Black Mountain Fortress, the highest point!
This place, originally a grand hall, had been converted into three rooms and a smaller conference chamber. The rooms were allocated to the Jia Ma Empire, the Snake People Tribe, and the Poison Sect, respectively, so they could meet and discuss matters at any time.
Jia Xingtian stood by the window, looking down at the bustling crowds below, sighing heavily.
He deeply regretted it. Once upon a time, a sturdy and reliable "big leg" had been right in front of him, but he hadn't clung to it. Now... there was no chance to fix his mistake!
Look at Yunlan Sect. They not only had Yun Shan, a Dou Zong powerhouse, but also a Dou Zong level puppet and an endless supply of exceptional pills. That old scoundrel Yun Shan had even received a Lesser Assistance Pill. When he emerged from seclusion, he would undoubtedly be a three star Dou Zong!
Look at Hai Bodong. He had taken both the Snow Soul Pill and the Breaking Zong Pill and also gone into seclusion. With good luck, he might emerge as a Dou Zong. Even with bad luck, he would at least become a peak Dou Huang, equaling Jia Xingtian.
And that Snow Soul Pill it was a seventh tier pill that accelerated cultivation speed! Jia Xingtian had never even touched a seventh tier pill before!
If time could be rewound, Jia Xingtian would gladly work for Lu Bu for free, forgoing any payment he'd initially received, just to cling to that big leg.
Too bad... even the princesses of his royal family weren't competent enough, nowhere near the level of Yun Yun, who was not only incredibly strong but also stunningly beautiful. Otherwise… he would've made Lu Bu his son in law for sure!
"Hm?" While thinking, Jia Xingtian's gaze suddenly sharpened as he spotted Medusa walking alongside Lu Bu, the two heading toward the Snake People Tribe's territory, previously the Mulan Empire.
"Even Medusa, the Queen, has been won over by Lu Bu…" Jia Xingtian was dumbfounded before letting out a heavy sigh. Great, now the Snake People Tribe is about to soar as well!
Below, Lu Bu and Queen Medusa soared together. In no time, they spotted a fortress erected at the former border. Atop the fortress, a squad of Snake People soldiers patrolled, their spears at the ready.
Although the Snake People Tribe had fought alongside the Jia Ma Empire for some time, centuries of conflict and mistrust weren't easily erased. It would take significant time and interaction to smooth things over.
Hearing the sound of wind, the Snake People soldiers instinctively turned their gazes toward it, gripping their spears tightly. However, when they recognized the approaching figure as Queen Medusa, their eyes lit up with fervent admiration, and they reflexively bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty, even after being away from your tribe for so long, your prestige hasn't diminished one bit!" Lu Bu said with a chuckle as he observed the scene.
Medusa snorted softly and gave Lu Bu a sideways glance without responding. She was naturally cold and distant, and in front of her tribe or outsiders, she wouldn't display affection toward Lu Bu.
When the soldiers on the fortress heard Lu Bu's casual tone, they finally noticed him. Their brows furrowed instantly, their expressions revealing undisguised hostility. Who does this pretty boy think he is, daring to speak to Her Majesty like that?!
"Let's go inside," Medusa said, descending gracefully to the ground.
In the Snake People Tribe's territory, only patrolling soldiers had the right to fly in the air or those dealing with emergencies. For others, flight was prohibited.
As the Queen and leader of the Snake People Tribe, Medusa wasn't subject to this restriction. However, allowing Lu Bu to flaunt this privilege would make him seem arrogant, possibly souring the tribe's opinion of him.
While Medusa valued Lu Bu far more than her tribe, she didn't want unnecessary friction between them.
As they entered the fortress, two male Snake People emerged to greet them.
The one on the left was burly and fierce looking, with black serpent tattoos coiled around his bare arms, exuding a violent aura.
The one on the right had sharp, triangular eyes and a cold, sinister demeanor. His snake tail was jet black, and though less physically imposing than the man on the left, his presence was far more intimidating.
"Looks like trouble," Lu Bu remarked lightly, leaning toward Medusa and speaking softly by her ear. The two Snake People noticed this and immediately turned green with envy. Their jealousy quickly gave way to rage.
"Hei Du, Mobas, what is the meaning of this?" Medusa's voice turned icy as she addressed the two men.
Hei Du and Mobas stiffened, realizing they had angered their queen. Yet, their purpose here was precisely to confront the human standing beside her.
Exchanging a glance, they gritted their teeth and ignored Medusa's question. Instead, they turned to Lu Bu and barked, "Human! You are not welcome here in the Snake People Tribe. Leave immediately, or don't blame us for being rude!"
Damn human! If it weren't for you, how could we have upset the Queen?!
Their furious gazes locked onto Lu Bu, their hostility intensifying.
Medusa's elegant brows arched, and her expression turned cold. How dare they?!
"Your Majesty, shall I handle this?" Lu Bu smiled lightly, stopping Medusa just as she was about to explode in anger.
"Fine. Don't hold back on my account. Break them, kill them do as you wish," Medusa said coldly, casting a glance at Hei Du and Mobas.
The surrounding Snake People watching from the shadows shivered. The Queen was truly enraged! Even if Hei Du and Mobas managed to subdue the human, they would still face her wrath.
Hearing Medusa's words, Hei Du and Mobas' eyes turned bloodshot, their rage directed squarely at Lu Bu. Damn pretty boy! It's your fault we've angered the Queen!
"Come at me together," Lu Bu said calmly, taking a step forward. He smiled faintly and added, "If you're going to start trouble, be prepared to get beaten."
"How arrogant!" Hei Du roared, feeling insulted.
As a two star Dou Huang, he was stronger than Lu Bu by one star. Meanwhile, Mobas, at the peak of Dou Wang, was about equal to Lu Bu. For Lu Bu to act so brazenly was intolerable.
With a furious bellow, Hei Du's black Dou Qi erupted from his body. His snake tail lashed out, and he shot forward like a streak of black light.
Dou Qi coiled around his arm as he delivered a powerful punch aimed straight at Lu Bu's head. The whistling fist carried tremendous force, roaring like thunder.
Meanwhile, Mobas moved silently. As Hei Du attacked openly, Mobas circled to Lu Bu's side. Unlike Hei Du's flashy aggression, Mobas was as stealthy as a venomous snake preparing to strike.
In an instant, a shard of white venomous fang materialized in his hand, its black glow revealing its lethality.
The surrounding Snake People gasped, their expressions darkening. Have Hei Du and Mobas lost their minds? That's the Queen's honored guest! How could they attack so recklessly?
"Ha…" Lu Bu chuckled softly. As the two men attacked simultaneously, he stepped forward, raising his right hand. Azure flames danced to life around his fist, which he launched directly toward Hei Du's oncoming punch.
"Courting death!" Hei Du sneered, confident in his overwhelming strength.
Boom!
Before Hei Du could process the thought, the two fists collided.
"Y You !" But in the next moment, Hei Du let out a muffled groan. Contrary to his expectations, the scorching flame, coupled with the terrifying force behind it, caught him completely off guard and left him at a significant disadvantage.
"Heh..." Lu Bu chuckled softly. With a flick of his wrist, a surge of energy shot forth.
Boom!
A dull explosion erupted from their clashing fists, as azure flames and rippling energy spread out in all directions.
Hei Du's body was sent hurtling backward, slamming into the wall with a loud crash, leaving a deep indentation.
Before Hei Du could recover, Lu Bu's eyes gleamed as he lightly tapped the ground with his foot. Twisting his body, he spun in place, his right leg whipping out like a lash with a sharp whistle.
Smack!
Just as Mobas, who had circled to Lu Bu's side, was beginning to feel smug about his sneak attack, he was struck directly by Lu Bu's kick. He tumbled across the ground like a rolling gourd and crashed into a large tree before finally coming to a stop.
Since these were Medusa's people, Lu Bu showed restraint and didn't kill them outright. He simply gave them a harsh lesson. However, the power of the Heavenly Flame wasn't something they could easily shrug off.
Against the wall, Hei Du's face flushed red as he struggled to suppress a mouthful of blood rising in his throat, unable to swallow or spit it out. His swollen fist, burnt crimson like a pig's trotter, throbbed with an unbearable heat that left him writhing in pain.
Mobas was slightly better off, but his right arm was bent at an unnatural angle, hanging limp at his side, clearly broken.
The scene fell silent.
The surrounding Snake People were stunned, frozen in disbelief. The Second Commander Hei Du and Chief Mobas, two of the tribe's most renowned powerhouses, couldn't even last a single round against this human?
This… this was absurd! That pretty boy looked so young and fragile!
"Let's go," Lu Bu said with a smile, turning to Medusa.
For a Dou Wang or Dou Huang, broken bones weren't a serious injury just a few days of rest and they'd be fine. Lu Bu had been precise, ensuring it was merely a lesson without putting Medusa in a difficult position.
"Mm." Medusa nodded lightly, leading Lu Bu toward a distant grand hall.
Behind them, Hei Du struggled to climb down from the wall, while Mobas staggered to his feet from the ground. Overcome by pain and humiliation, the two momentarily lost all reason. Their eyes burned red with rage, and they prepared to attack again.
"You listen here! Lu Bu is my husband! Show him any more disrespect, and I will have you executed!"
Medusa's cold, commanding voice rang out. She raised her delicate hand and grasped Lu Bu's arm, walking off gracefully without looking back.
Hei Du and Mobas froze mid motion, their bodies stiffening. They exchanged a glance, and in the next moment, their eyes reddened further as tears streamed down their faces.
"No ! Your Majesty!"
The two men clutched their heads in despair and began to bawl uncontrollably, their anguished wails echoing through the air.
"Snowflakes drifting, the cold north wind wailing…"
Watching the pitiful sight of the two grown men crying like defeated dogs, Lu Bu couldn't help but hum a mournful tune to set the mood.
In the distant grand hall, four elderly Snake People women exchanged grave looks.
They had overheard Medusa's declaration and were now observing her intimate demeanor with Lu Bu. Trouble was brewing. It seemed keeping her in the tribe would no longer be possible.
Meanwhile, Medusa led Lu Bu through the winding paths of the grand hall, eventually reaching a secret chamber deep inside.
As they approached, Lu Bu could sense four distinct presences within the room not particularly strong, only Dou Huang at their peak, but this was still the last line of defense for the Snake People Tribe.
Stepping into the chamber, dim flames flickered to life, illuminating four elderly Snake People women seated with their tails coiled beneath them. Their aged faces were stern, and the air around them carried a chilling aura.
The flickering fire cast eerie shadows on the walls, making the room feel sinister and oppressive.
Lu Bu rolled his eyes. With a casual flick of his wrist, a few luminous pearls flew out, embedding themselves in the walls and instantly illuminating the room as if it were broad daylight.
"..."
The four elders, who had been preparing to unleash their intimidating aura, froze mid action. This kid wasn't playing by the rules!
"Ahem… so, you're Lu Bu, are you?" The elder seated in the center cleared her throat, straightened her expression, and spoke in a cold tone.
No problem, she thought. Just try again to re establish authority!
"Elders, I've brought him here," Medusa said flatly, cutting through the tension. "But let me make this clear: no matter where he goes, I will follow. You will not keep me here."
The head elder's chest tightened as if something were lodged in it, leaving her utterly speechless.
It was clear now her queen was no longer theirs alone. She had married into someone else's family and was fully siding with her husband, leaving her tribe behind.
The four elders exchanged glances and sighed heavily. All their efforts to establish an intimidating atmosphere had been completely dismantled by this couple.
In such circumstances, let alone punishing this pretty boy, even showing him a hint of hostility would provoke Medusa's wrath.
"Ahem… So, Snake King, let us get straight to the point," the head elder began, breaking the silence. "As you know, with our Queen deciding to leave with you, our Snake People Tribe will lose its top combat power…"
Medusa's face flushed faintly at the term "Snake King," the respectful title for the queen's husband. The elders had tacitly acknowledged her relationship with Lu Bu, a recognition that filled her heart with warmth.
Lu Bu rolled his eyes. The head elder truly was shrewd. Just moments ago, she'd called him "boy," and now it was "Snake King."
"This is a matter you caused," the second elder interjected sternly. "We hope you have a solution. Without top tier strength, our tribe will lose its standing among the alliance and fall behind the Poison Sect and Yunlan Sect."
Indeed, the Poison Sect and Yunlan Sect each had Dou Zong powerhouses, and without one, the Snake People Tribe would inevitably lose influence in the alliance. Future distributions of resources would undoubtedly be unfair, even if Yun Shan or the Poison Sect leaders held no ill intent.
Medusa nodded slightly in agreement. The elders had a point this was an issue that needed addressing.
"Oh, that's not a problem," Lu Bu said with a light laugh. "You're asking for a dowry, right? That's fair. I understand."
He had no intention of leaving Medusa behind. She would accompany him on his journey across the continent, as battles were the best form of cultivation. Leaving her at home like in the original story would only waste her talent a mistake he refused to make.
"And how exactly do you plan to resolve this?" the head elder asked, her brows furrowing. Achieving Dou Zong wasn't easy, after all.
If it were that simple, their queen wouldn't have risked her life with the Heavenly Flame to break through the barrier between Dou Huang and Dou Zong.
Lu Bu lightly stroked the ring on his finger, and a jade bottle appeared in his palm. Inside were several light blue pills.
"And this is…?" The four elders felt their throats tighten as they stared intently at the bottle.
"Breaking Zong Pills. Six of them." Lu Bu smiled faintly.
The moment he spoke, the elders' eyes lit up like eight luminous pearls, instantly brightening the chamber even more than before.
(End of Chapter)