Zi Yan instantly felt the familiar warmth envelop her as she landed in Xiao Jietian's embrace. For a fleeting moment, her heart softened.
But she quickly shook her head—no! She was still angry right now. How could she just give in like this?
Absolutely not!
Zi Yan immediately began to struggle, flailing her arms and legs like a freshly caught New Year's pig—impossible to hold steady.
"Alright, alright, I know I was wrong this time. Don't be mad anymore. I've prepared a gift for you."
A small jade bottle appeared in Xiao Jietian's palm. Through the translucent jade, one could faintly make out pills of various vibrant colors inside.
"What gift?" Zi Yan's struggles ceased in an instant. Her eyes sparkled as she stared fixedly at the bottle in his hand.
Realizing she had reacted far too eagerly, she hurriedly tried to salvage her dignity. Turning her head away with forced indifference, she huffed, "No gift is going to work. I'm not that easy to bribe."
"Is that so? What a shame. These are really good pills—and they're fruit-flavored, too."
The moment "fruit-flavored" left his mouth, Zi Yan's eyes instantly turned into glittering stars. She couldn't help swallowing hard, but she stubbornly refused to turn back around.
Xiao Jietian, of course, noticed every tiny movement. He knew Zi Yan's greatest weakness all too well—this trick never failed.
"Since no one wants them, I guess I'll just throw them away."
"Don't!"
Zi Yan's hand shot out like lightning, snatching the jade bottle from his grasp. She quickly popped the stopper, poured out one pill, and tossed it straight into her mouth, chewing happily.
Even as she ate, she didn't forget to wriggle into the most comfortable position in Xiao Jietian's arms, nestling against his chest like a contented kitten.
Xiao Jietian looked down at her adorable, puffed-cheek appearance and reached out to gently stroke her twin ponytails.
Coaxing Zi Yan with treats—this method was the most effective. Of course, it only worked on him. If anyone else tried, they would have long since been beaten to a pulp by her fists.
Xiao Huiying, still focused on flying at breakneck speed, cast a sidelong glance with an odd look in her eyes.
She secretly thought: I already know everything. I watched the whole thing from start to finish.
If I hadn't asked earlier to ease your mind, wouldn't it be even harder for you to coax Master if you knew I saw?
Zi Yan: Sisters are supposed to be heart-to-heart, yet you're playing mind games with me?
…
After flying for half a day, Xiao Jietian and the others had finally entered the borders of the Jia Ma Empire.
As expected of the Heavenly Thunder Dragon's speed—a journey that would take ordinary experts four or five months had taken her only half a day.
"Hui Ying, head to the Snake-People Tribe first."
"Yes, Master."
"Hm? Are we almost there?" Zi Yan, who had dozed off in Xiao Jietian's arms, slowly opened her eyes when she heard his voice.
"Yes, we're almost there. We're going to the Snake-People Tribe first."
"Is that Fei Yan-jie's tribe? I thought we were heading straight to the battlefield. Should we call Fei Yan-jie out?"
Zi Yan instantly perked up, her curiosity about Medusa's homeland shining brightly in her eyes.
"Not yet. We'll decide when we arrive. If there are no enemies there, we'll head directly to the front lines."
Xiao Jietian gently shook his head.
Hearing this, Zi Yan's energy surged. "Great! Later I'm going to take on ten Dou Kings at once—and even fight Dou Emperors if they show up! I'll let them taste the power of my fists!"
"Alright, I'll leave it all to you then." Xiao Jietian rubbed her soft purple hair affectionately.
As expected of a born warmonger—the mere mention of battle had her fully recharged.
Xiao Jietian lifted her easily with one arm and walked to the edge of the dragon's back, gazing out at the distant landscape unfolding below.
Zi Yan also leaned forward, staring curiously at this empire—Xiao Jietian's homeland—with bright, eager eyes.
…
Heishan Fortress.
Cloud Sky Emperor—no, Yun Shan—and Jia Xingtian stood side by side atop the city wall, staring at the dense sea of enemy camps stretching across the horizon. Both their expressions were heavy with worry.
"Fortunately, young friend Xiao Yan happened to return at this time. Otherwise, the situation would have been truly dire."
Jia Xingtian furrowed his brows and let out a long sigh. He still remembered how Xiao Yan had intervened earlier, severely wounding the three great elders of the Mulan Empire. Without that blow, Heishan Fortress might have already fallen.
"The intelligence we've gathered points to the Three Great Empires, yet Yan Luotian himself has yet to appear. Is he plotting something?"
Jia Xingtian gazed into the distance, voice low and grave.
Yun Shan shook his head—he had no idea either.
Truthfully, Yun Shan wasn't particularly anxious. He was simply biding his time, waiting for reinforcements.
If worst came to worst, he would just play the coward for a while. How could the dignity of the so-called "Cloud Sky Emperor"—bah, Cloud Mist Sect Leader—possibly compare to his life?
Below the city walls, a man stood flanked by two women.
One wore pitch-black armor—Yao Ye, the eldest princess of the Jia Ma Empire. She occasionally checked military reports while stealing glances at the man beside her.
The other, dressed in a light green short skirt—Nalan Yanran—leaned intimately against the man, her eyes flicking warily toward the armored woman from time to time.
The man himself wore black robes, a massive black ruler strapped across his back. He stood with eyes closed, seemingly resting.
On the surface he appeared calm, but in reality, he didn't dare open his eyes. The atmosphere around him felt… off.
The armored woman was Yao Ye. The one in green was Nalan Yanran.
As for why Xiao Yan was here—well, he had originally come to propose marriage. Unfortunately, he had walked straight into this war.
As a hot-blooded youth, he had followed Marshal Lionheart to Heishan Fortress to lend his strength.
Nalan Yanran, meanwhile, had gradually realized that Yao Ye seemed to have taken a fancy to her man. If she wasn't careful, he might actually get stolen away.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Without warning, she reached out and viciously twisted the soft flesh at Xiao Yan's waist.
Xiao Yan immediately felt a sharp sting. His expression twitched slightly.
Yao Ye noticed the change and, after quietly observing what had happened, a faint, meaningful smile curved her lips.
"Mr. Xiao Yan, are you feeling unwell? Would you like to rest in my tent? I know a little about healing techniques—I could help you."
"No need. I was just lost in thought for a moment," Xiao Yan replied with a polite smile toward Yao Ye.
"Very well. If Mr. Xiao Yan needs anything at all, feel free to come find me." With that, Yao Ye turned and left, resuming her command of the army's formations.
"What? You've taken a liking to her now? Do you want to go try her 'healing techniques'?" Nalan Yanran stared at Xiao Yan with a dangerous, teasing smile.
Xiao Yan inwardly groaned and frantically shook his head.
…
Snake-People Holy City, deep within the Snake-People Tribe territory.
A fierce battle was currently raging—and it was completely one-sided.
Ten people were attacking one, yet the side with numbers was being utterly suppressed.
"Yan Luotian! Even though you are a Dou Zong, the Snake-People Tribe is not a place where you can run rampant!" The three great elders of the Snake-People Tribe glared coldly at the middle-aged man before them and roared in fury.
The man was none other than Yan Luotian—Sect Master of the Golden Geese Sect of the Falling Geese Empire.
"I came here simply to see how beautiful your queen truly is. If she satisfies me, I intend to take her as my concubine. In exchange, I will extend my protection over your entire Snake-People Tribe."
"Courting death!"
The eight great tribal leaders and two great elders were instantly enraged. They attacked Yan Luotian with reckless abandon.
"Eight Snake Poison Seal—Activate!"
The eight leaders joined forces, summoning a colossal serpent of venomous energy. This giant snake was clearly far more powerful than the Five Snake Poison Seal and lunged straight toward Yan Luotian.
The two elders also unleashed their signature Dou Techniques at the same moment.
"Falling Geese Soaring Sky!"
Yan Luotian threw a single punch. A massive golden goose materialized, charging forward with terrifying momentum.
The three combined attacks were instantly shattered by the golden goose, dissolving into countless specks of light that scattered across the sky.
The undiminished force surged onward like a tidal wave, sending all ten Snake-People experts flying backward.
They tumbled helplessly through the air, mouths spraying blood, and crashed to the ground in a miserable heap.
"I advise you to hand over Queen Medusa obediently. Otherwise—"
Just as Yan Luotian opened his mouth to deliver his threat, he suddenly sensed something.
The ten people he had just blasted away were gently caught mid-air by an invisible force.
Then, a cold, indifferent voice drifted down from above:
"Oh? Otherwise what? I'm quite curious to hear the rest."