Xiao Se gently inhaled the faint fragrance lingering in Queen Medusa's hair. Resting his cheek lightly against her forehead, he spoke softly,
"Shasha… can I still call you that, like before?"
"As you wish," Medusa replied coolly.
"I have a feeling… this time, you might end up carrying my child," Xiao Se said in a low, gentle voice. "So once things in the Black Corner Region are settled, I'll go back to the Snake-People Tribe with you. We'll hold the wedding properly."
"You—who says I'll be carrying your child?! And who says I'm marrying you?!"
Queen Medusa's face flushed a deep red as she snapped back, completely contradicting her own emotions.
If anyone who knew Medusa were present, they would be utterly stunned. The infamous, fearsome Queen Medusa—who struck terror into countless hearts—was actually leaning in a young man's arms, showing the shy embarrassment of a young girl.
"If that's the case, then we'll leave it at this for now," Xiao Se said helplessly with a smile. "When you truly accept me in your heart, I'll come and marry you properly. After all… we've already gone that far. No matter what, I'll take responsibility."
"What do you mean by 'leave it at this'?" Medusa's expression changed instantly. "What—did you think you could just take advantage of me and be done with it?"
As she spoke, her jade-like hand reached to his waist and twisted sharply. Only after Xiao Se hissed in pain did she snort angrily and pull back.
"S-so… it's settled, then?" Xiao Se rubbed his waist, asking cautiously.
"…Mm." Medusa nodded faintly.
Suddenly, she raised her brows as if remembering something and asked, "Then what about the Little Doctor Fairy and Bibi Dong? What are you planning to do with them?"
"I'll marry all of them," Xiao Se answered honestly.
"Shameless!"
Even though she had already expected this answer, Medusa couldn't help but flare up. With an angry snort, she stomped hard on Xiao Se's toes, then vanished into his storage pouch—out of sight, out of mind.
Before disappearing, she still left behind a cold warning:
"Remember this. I don't care about your other women—but you are not allowed to lay a finger on my sister. If you do, I'll castrate you."
"…Uh, all right," Xiao Se replied stiffly, his face darkening as his lips twitched.
He had no intention of making a move on Die.
But if Die ended up making a move on him… well, that wouldn't be something he could control.
"Big brother, are you really planning to marry Sister Medusa?"
Almost the moment Medusa entered the storage pouch, Long Kui's voice rang out in Xiao Se's mind.
"Yes," Xiao Se replied. "After all, what happened already happened. I have to take responsibility. Besides, she's no longer the same Queen Medusa as before."
"That's true," Long Kui nodded. "Ever since she fused with Xiao Cai's soul, she's changed a lot. Beneath her cold pride, there's now a bit more warmth."
Then her tone shifted—dangerously so.
"But big brother… it seems you've forgotten something important, haven't you?"
"…Ah."
Xiao Se's heart skipped. His face turned pale, then flushed, then pale again. Finally, he straightened up and said solemnly,
"Before marrying Queen Medusa, big brother will definitely marry you first."
"Hmph~ at least you know what's good for you," Long Kui snorted in satisfaction.
Xiao Se smiled helplessly and shook his head before turning back toward the cave.
The moment he stepped inside, he saw Die kneeling beside a colorful flower, her slender figure quiet and still. A trace of melancholy lingered in her long, beautiful eyes.
Seeing Xiao Se return, she smiled softly.
"You're back."
"Mm," Xiao Se replied with a smile as he sat down beside her. "Something on your mind?"
Die nodded, then shook her head again.
"I don't really know… it just feels like lately, a lot of people have been trying to capture me."
"It's all right," Xiao Se said gently. "From now on, I'll protect you."
"You?"
Die blinked in surprise, then stood up and slowly circled him, looking him over from head to toe while nodding.
"You do look pretty decent, I'll give you that. But little brother, why would you protect me? We only just met."
Xiao Se answered honestly,
"Because I promised someone I would protect you. And because… I don't want to see you end up with a tragic fate."
The latter half, he only said in his heart.
"Promised someone?" Die asked curiously. "Who?"
"You'll know in two days," Xiao Se said with a smile.
"So mysterious…" Die pouted slightly. "By the way, I still don't know your name."
"Xiao Se. Se as in the ancient zither," he replied.
"Xiao Se?" Die repeated softly, then smiled brightly. "It sounds nice."
"What about you?" Xiao Se asked. "Do you have a name?"
"…Me?"
Her expression dimmed as she fell into thought.
Did she have a name?
Why had she suddenly appeared in the desert?
Who were her family?
Just as Die's thoughts drifted, a sudden flutter of wings came from the cave's ventilation opening. A colorful butterfly flew in and landed on the flower before them.
The beautiful butterfly instantly brought a spark of light to Die's eyes. She slowly extended her slender finger toward it.
As if sensing something, the butterfly gently flew onto her fingertip.
"It seems this butterfly really likes you," Xiao Se said with a smile. "If you can't remember your name… how about 'Die'?"
"Die?"
Her eyes lit up. A gentle, warm smile bloomed across her beautiful face.
"Then… from now on, I'll be called Die."
"Mm. Die," Xiao Se echoed with a smile.
In his heart, he silently added:
Once you remember everything, everything will be all right again.
Time flowed quietly, and before they realized it, the third day had arrived.
These past few days, Queen Medusa had been grinding her teeth in fury.
As time passed, Die and Xiao Se grew closer and closer.
Especially on the night of the second day—
While Medusa was outside sternly warning Xiao Se not to lay a finger on her sister, Die had secretly followed him out.
She didn't find Xiao Se.
Instead, she ran into a group of second-tier desert-dwelling magical beasts—Sand Scorpions.
In the moment of danger, Xiao Se appeared and saved her like a hero descending from the heavens.
From that point on, Medusa noticed something she absolutely did not want to see.
The way Die looked at Xiao Se had changed.
There was now a faint, unmistakable trace of affection in her gaze.
This was a very bad sign.
But Medusa couldn't reveal herself right now. If she did, just as Xiao Se had warned, it might destabilize Die's emotions—and summon her past self.
Left with no other choice, Medusa could only grit her teeth and silently swear that once they returned, she would keep a very close eye on Die and make sure she stayed far away from Xiao Se.
[Ding. Doupo Travel Voucher is about to expire. Forced return will occur in five minutes. Please prepare.]
"Die, it's time for us to leave," Xiao Se said.
"So soon?" Die stretched lazily, her perfectly curved figure on full display. "Time really flies."
"Hurry up," Xiao Se said with a teasing smile. "If we're late, I'll just leave you alone in the desert."
"Don't!"
Die panicked immediately.
"If you leave, I won't survive alone out here!"
As she spoke, she hurriedly reached out, shyly wrapping her arms around Xiao Se's neck.
(End of Chapter)
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