novelraw Chapter 53 : . Ambush
Chapter 53 : . Ambush
"What's this? Couldn't sleep, so you came to play thief?"
Hearing this teasing voice, the figure froze for a moment, then replied in a coquettish tone: "You're awake?"
This voice, wasn't it Gu Xun'er from next door?
Xiao Han chuckled lightly, saying with mock seriousness: "With a thief in the house, how could I sleep? Hm?"
She deliberately dragged out the last "hm," infusing it with a hint of tenderness that inexplicably sent a tingling sensation through Gu Xun'er's body.
Slightly annoyed, Gu Xun'er pouted: "So what if I'm a thief? What are you going to do about it?"
Xiao Han pondered for a moment, then suddenly exerted force with her hand, pulling Gu Xun'er into her embrace amid a soft gasp of surprise.
With Gu Xun'er in her arms, Xiao Han rested her chin on her shoulder, relishing the soft body against her. She narrowed her eyes contentedly: "Hmm... what should I do with you..."
"Reporting to the school is out of the question. The thief got into my room without me noticing immediately; reporting it would only embarrass me." Speaking with mock seriousness, Xiao Han adopted a pensive expression. "So tell me, what should I do with you?"
Gu Xun'er pouted, allowing Xiao Han to lift the blanket and wrap her in it. Inhaling the familiar fragrance of the other, she curled her lips slightly, turned to face Xiao Han, and lightly pecked her lips: "How about you submit yourself to me?"
Xiao Han found it amusing. She hugged Gu Xun'er tightly and said: "Heh, for a little thief, you're quite bold. You sneak into my room to steal, and now you want me to give myself to you as compensation?"
Gu Xun'er buried her head in Xiao Han's embrace: "I don't care, will you or won't you?"
"Where in this world are there so many good things?" Xiao Han chuckled helplessly. "You're just taking advantage of the fact that I won't do anything to you."
Gu Xun'er giggled, pulling the blanket over her head: "No more talking. I'm going to sleep now."
Xiao Han teased her: "Did the bed in your room collapse? Coming to mooch off mine."
Gu Xun'er retorted: "Will you let me or not?"
Xiao Han yawned. Holding the person she liked, inhaling her familiar scent, she found herself feeling drowsy: "I will."
Gu Xun'er snuggled closer to Xiao Han, but before she could say anything more, she heard Xiao Han's voice: "But I'll have to charge a fee."
Her face reddened slightly, and without looking up, she asked: "What kind of fee do you want?"
Xiao Han released one hand and pulled the blanket down a bit: "Don't sleep with your head covered. You might suffocate."
Gu Xun'er said in a coquettish tone: "You still haven't told me what fee you want."
Xiao Han shifted, moving back a bit to reveal Gu Xun'er's face. She raised her hand, placing her thumb on Gu Xun'er's red lips, gently rubbing them.
Feeling the plump texture beneath her finger, Xiao Han's gaze deepened.
Gu Xun'er's face suddenly reddened, her eyes darting about, not daring to look at Xiao Han.
Xiao Han leaned in, pressing her lips against Gu Xun'er's, but quickly pulled away.
Xiao Han tucked in the blanket and said: "Alright, let's sleep."
Gu Xun'er made a soft sound, seemingly surprised that Xiao Han had only given her a quick peck.
Noticing Gu Xun'er's surprise, Xiao Han said softly: "Sleep now."
There would be plenty of opportunities in the future. She wouldn't tease her tonight.
Gu Xun'er nodded obediently, hugged Xiao Han tightly, and closed her eyes.
Xiao Han gently patted her back, took one last look at Gu Xun'er, and then closed her eyes as well.
⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱
Another sunny day dawned.
Yun Yun glanced out the window, then stood up.
Feeling Yun Yun get out of bed, Medusa lazily lifted her eyelids, yawned, and rolled over, wrapping herself in the blanket like a cylinder.
"What are your plans for today?"
Medusa lifted her chin and asked haughtily.
Yun Yun looked at her with gentle eyes and said: "Didn't we agree yesterday that I'd take you to play in the Holy City?"
Snakes don't like sunlight; they prefer to sleep in damp environments. Even though Medusa had evolved into the ancient beast, the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, she couldn't change this ingrained habit.
"This Queen doesn't want to go anymore," Medusa said lazily, changing her sleeping position. "Unless you let this Queen sleep in your sleeve."
It's so hot outside, it would roast a snake.
Selectively forgetting that she once aspired to evolve using Heterogeneous Flame, Queen Medusa spoke these whiny words without any psychological burden, although the Queen herself didn't realize it.
Yun Yun chuckled: "If you sleep in my sleeve, how will you tour the Holy City?"
Queen Medusa insisted: "Whatever this Queen says goes."
Yun Yun shook her head helplessly. She was about to say something when a disciple's urgent voice came from outside the door: "It's terrible, Sect Master! Alchemy King Master Gu He has come to Cloud Mist Sect to propose marriage again, and he says he must see you today!"
Hearing this, Medusa's face suddenly darkened. She gritted her teeth and glared at Yun Yun: "This Alchemy King Gu He's affection for you runs quite deep, doesn't it?"
Yun Yun's face also darkened, her delicate brows furrowing: "I've already told him that I will absolutely never marry him. How can this person be so obstinate?"
After thinking for a moment, she said: "Fine, I'll go see him. Today, no matter what, I must put an end to his delusions."
Medusa transformed into a small snake, quickly coiling around Yun Yun's wrist: "This Queen will go with you. I want to see just how thick-skinned this person can be."
Yun Yun didn't refuse. After tidying up, she left the room with Medusa.
This time, Alchemy King Gu He had chosen the Cloud Mist Sect's plaza as the location for his proposal—the very place where Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan had their duel for the three-year agreement.
Seeing the middle-aged man sitting in the center of the plaza, Nalan Yanran was furious, wishing she could draw her sword and give him a couple of slashes. Fortunately, Xiao Yi Xian was quick to restrain her.
"How-how can this person be so shameless?" Nalan Yanran trembled with anger. "Master has rejected him so thoroughly, yet he still makes such a grand spectacle. Is he afraid our Cloud Mist Sect isn't embarrassed enough?"
Xiao Yi Xian's eyes swept over the prominent figures from the Gamma Empire who seemed to have come to watch the commotion, a trace of displeasure flashing in her eyes.
The disciples and elders of the Cloud Mist Sect had also mostly gathered. Many disciples, like Nalan Yanran, glared angrily at Gu He. The elders' faces were also grim. If not for Gu He's status as a sixth-grade alchemist, they would have thrown him out long ago.
Gu He, sitting in the center of the plaza, didn't look particularly pleased either. His brows were slightly furrowed as if he was pondering something.
The crowd didn't have to wait long before Yun Yun appeared in the plaza.
"Sect Master, what should we do about this..."
Seeing that someone who could take charge had arrived, the elders quickly gathered around her.
Yun Yun waved her hand: "I'll handle this."
Upon seeing Yun Yun, Gu He's eyes brightened. He quickly stood up, straightened his clothes, and took a couple of eager steps forward: "Yun'er..."
Yun Yun coldly stopped his advance: "Master Gu He and I don't seem to be close enough to use such familiar terms. Please show some respect, Master Gu He."
Hearing Yun Yun's unforgiving words, Gu He's face paled slightly. Still unwilling to give up, he asked: "Our relationship of over ten years... Yun'er... Sect Master Yun Yun, don't you wish to consider it at all?"
Feeling Medusa's growing discontent on her wrist, Yun Yun soothingly stroked her with her finger before continuing to address Gu He: "If Master Gu He could respect others' opinions, I believe we could still be friends. However, Master Gu He has repeatedly offended my Cloud Mist Sect and crossed my bottom line. In doing so, isn't it you, Gu He, who first disregarded our old friendship?"
Gu He's face grew paler. He seemed to involuntarily take two steps back, his gaze suddenly fixing on the small snake on Yun Yun's wrist that looked like a fine jade bracelet: "You have someone you like?"
Yun Yun paused, then nodded: "Yes."
Hearing this answer, Gu He's face instantly turned somewhat twisted.
"The person you like, is it Medusa?!"
Gu He's words, spoken through gritted teeth, instantly caused an uproar in the plaza.
Those who had been informed beforehand looked at Yun Yun with complex expressions, seemingly still unable to believe it. The Cloud Mist Sect members and those unaware exploded like fireworks, all glaring fiercely at Gu He.
Yun Yun hadn't expected Gu He to know about her and Medusa. She quickly scanned the surroundings, soon focusing her gaze on a figure completely wrapped in a black robe mixed in with the crowd.
For some reason, the moment she saw that person, a strong sense of unease welled up in her heart.
"Why do you say that?" Yun Yun collected herself, neither confirming nor denying, but instead asked a question.
Gu He, his face full of anger, pointed at Yun Yun's wrist and shouted: "That snake on your wrist, with its seven-colored body, slightly purple eyes, fragrant aura, and heaven-piercing power, is none other than the ancient beast, the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. And on that day, Medusa evolved into a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. In this world, there's likely only one such creature—Medusa. You keep her by your side at all times. If that's not love, what is it?"
"Or is it that Medusa willingly became your contract beast?"
These words instantly ignited the entire plaza. Even the Cloud Mist Sect elders looked at the colorful small snake on Yun Yun's wrist with uncertainty.
At this moment, a gray-robed elder stepped forward. This person was unremarkable in appearance, but the aura around him commanded respect: "Sect Master Yun Yun, is what Gu He says true?"
Seeing this gray-robed elder, Yun Yun's face suddenly darkened: "What's this, Elder Jia? Have you come to join the commotion as well?"
Elder Jia Xing Tian, the Guardian Elder of the Gamma Empire, stroked his beard and said softly: "Sect Master Yun Yun, you should know about the grudge between Medusa and our human empire. If what Gu He says is true, then I'm afraid we'll have to ask you to hand over Medusa."
Yun Yun bit her lip, glancing at the gloomy-faced Gu He, finally realizing that this was nothing but an ambush aimed at her and Medusa!
The aura of a Dou Ancestor was unleashed without reservation. Elder Jia, his hands behind his back, fixed her with a burning gaze: "Surely the Sect Master of Cloud Mist Sect doesn't intend to shelter Medusa?"
"Ugh--" Yun Yun, only a Dou Emperor, was no match for a Dou Ancestor. She felt as if the air had solidified, an incomparable pressure suddenly assaulting her.
A bead of sweat slowly slid down her cheek, but her eyes remained bright.
Seeing that Yun Yun showed no signs of repentance, Elder Jia frowned slightly and took another step forward. Just then, a seven-colored light suddenly exploded, instantly shattering the pressure Elder Jia had exerted on Yun Yun!
A dazzling seven-colored light appeared, and as it dispersed, a woman of such exquisite beauty that it left everyone dazed appeared beside Yun Yun. She lightly supported Yun Yun with one hand, her clear golden snake eyes filled with world-dominating majesty as they swept across everyone present.
Seeing the bewitchingly beautiful woman, everyone present drew in a sharp breath, unconsciously taking a step back.
"Medusa!"