"Deal!"
Gu Changqing agreed without hesitation.
"Now then, call me 'Master,' and let me hear it," Gu Changqing said, stepping on Queen Medusa's regal head.
"Let go of me first!" Queen Medusa gritted her teeth, barely containing the fury that surged within her. She wanted nothing more than to tear Gu Changqing apart.
"Hmph, if you're going to submit, then show some respect. Otherwise, why would I keep you alive?" Gu Changqing didn't loosen his hold; instead, he stepped down harder.
"You!" Queen Medusa clenched her silver teeth so hard she could hear them crack. But, knowing Gu Changqing's strength and the fate of her Snake-People tribe, she had no choice but to endure.
"Master, please lift your foot," she said through gritted teeth.
"Good, you're learning. From now on, in my presence, you'll always address me as 'Master.' Otherwise, don't blame me for humiliating you in front of your tribe!" Gu Changqing finally removed his foot from her head, his tone cold and dismissive.
"Yes, Master," Queen Medusa replied reluctantly, slowly rising to her feet. However, as soon as she stood, a groan escaped her lips, and she collapsed again, her face contorting in pain.
Her serpentine body was riddled with wounds from Gu Changqing's earlier attack, and her blood dripped freely. If she weren't a Dou Emperor and part of the resilient Snake-People tribe, she would've passed out long ago.
"Here, take this healing pill. Consider it a reward. Heal up quickly and lead me to the Green Lotus Core Flame." Gu Changqing crouched beside her, lifting her chin with two fingers, turning her head to face him. He gently fed her a sixth-tier healing pill he had refined himself.
"Mm…" Queen Medusa swallowed the pill instinctively. Her scarlet tongue flicked across her lips, grazing Gu Changqing's fingers briefly. The soft, moist touch made Gu Changqing's body tremble slightly.
"You even know about the Green Lotus Core Flame?" Queen Medusa's eyes widened, her gaze now fixed on Gu Changqing in surprise.
Before she could react, Gu Changqing's hand had moved, grasping her breast firmly. He smirked, "Not bad. Just a little wounded."
"You!" Queen Medusa's eyes flared with anger as she tried to lash out.
"You wanted my help to evolve, didn't you?" Gu Changqing interrupted calmly.
"And how does that involve you touching me?!" Queen Medusa demanded coldly.
"I possess the Innate Divine Demon Physique," Gu Changqing said shamelessly, "My body's essence can help beings evolve. If you want my help, you'll need to offer yourself to me. Since you belong to me now, what's the harm in me touching what's mine?"
As he spoke, he shifted his hand to her other breast, covering it gently while channeling his battle energy to heal her injuries.
"Ahh..." Queen Medusa let out an involuntary moan, her body trembling from the sudden surge of healing energy.
"If your body can help me evolve, why don't you just give me your blood essence? Why demand that I give myself to you? At the end of the day, you're nothing but a shameless rogue!" Queen Medusa bit her lip, trying to maintain her composure despite the overwhelming humiliation.
She was well aware of her allure to men. Her beauty was a weapon, a power few could resist. Most men wouldn't have dared act as boldly as Gu Changqing, not with the strength he possessed.
"It's true, and yet not," Gu Changqing replied, still manipulating the energy to heal her. "While I am interested in your body, that's not the main reason. The amount of blood essence you need to evolve is far beyond what I can currently provide. Unless you intend to devour me whole, which we both know isn't possible."
"You shameless..." Queen Medusa was seething, trying to suppress her anger.
"Are you referring to the Heavenly Flame?" Gu Changqing asked, changing the topic without a care for her fury.
"What else?" Queen Medusa glared at him, still biting her lip in frustration.
"Heavenly Flames can indeed help with evolution, but the risk is incredibly high. One mistake and you'll be reduced to ashes. If you're determined to try that route, I won't stop you. After all, I can always nurture a new leader for the Snake-People tribe if something happens to you."
Gu Changqing's tone was indifferent, his hands still moving, but his words hit her hard.
"How long will it take you to help me evolve through your method?" Queen Medusa asked, her voice trembling slightly, not only from the pain but also from the conflicting emotions within her.
"Hard to say. It could take half a year, maybe a year, possibly longer. However, as my strength grows, that time will shorten." Gu Changqing responded casually, his hand now resting on her smooth, flat stomach.
"What if you fail? What happens then?" Queen Medusa shot him a cold look, but this time, she didn't move his hand away.
"You're in no position to negotiate. Your only choice is to trust me or face death." Gu Changqing's voice was calm, but his words were final.
Queen Medusa fell silent. Gu Changqing's assessment was correct; she had no bargaining power. As much as she despised the man touching her, she couldn't stop him. She was entirely at his mercy.
"I can agree to let you help me evolve," she said at last, "but if you want my tribe to serve you, you must first help me reach a higher level."
She had weighed the options and made her decision. Offering herself was a small price to pay if it meant saving her people and getting them out of the desolate Tagore Desert. If it secured their future, her pride meant nothing.
"Agreed," Gu Changqing finally withdrew his hand, allowing her to focus on healing.
"Recover quickly. Afterward, take me to the Green Lotus Core Flame," he ordered.
"How do you even know about the Green Lotus Core Flame? And why do you want it?" Queen Medusa asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't. Just focus on healing," Gu Changqing shot her a cold glance, shutting down her inquiry.
"You bastard!" Queen Medusa cursed under her breath. As queen, she was unused to such treatment, but with no power to resist, she could only close her eyes and focus on absorbing the pill's medicinal power to heal herself.