The venom from the wounds slithered into Yun Yun's body like tiny snakes. One gash, perilously close to her heart, sat just below her right breast.
As the poison spread, Yun Yun's movements grew sluggish, and she began to lose ground.
The five snake tribe powerhouses had no intention of sparing this woman who'd disrupted Queen Medusa's ascension. Their eyes burned with resolve, their coordination seamless. They manipulated the giant energy snake, launching relentless assaults, determined to bring her down.
The energy snake combined venomous rain with direct attacks, unfazed by its own poison. No matter how deftly Yun Yun dodged or how fast she moved, new wounds marred her body. One cut on the inner thigh drew the snake Dou Wangs' attention to her snow-white, slender legs.
"Heh! Heh! Heh! Maybe we'll get a taste of a human Dou Huang woman," the green-robed middle-aged snake Dou Wang, battered the worst, sneered.
The gray-robed snake elder, recognizing the black-robed woman's identity, shot him a glare. Even if captured, she'd only be traded for techniques or skills. With Queen Medusa absent, they had to act cautiously.
The green-robed snake misunderstood the elder's look. "Elder Yin Shi, you go first!" he blurted.
"Idiot, shut up!" the gray-robed elder snapped.
The energy snake's tail lashed out, hurling Yun Yun into the sand. Deeply poisoned, she swallowed a pill to delay the venom's effects, but her antidote pills couldn't quickly neutralize the snake's toxin.
As the energy snake prepared its final strike, the five snake Dou Wangs thought victory was theirs. A silver flash erupted, and a cyan-robed figure appeared before Yun Yun, bare-handedly halting the charging green energy snake.
"Damn it, another Dou Huang!" the gray-robed elder cursed. Success had been so close, only for a new variable to emerge.
"How's the poison? Not too deep, I hope," Xiao Heng asked.
"Why save me?" Yun Yun asked, baffled.
"Compared to you falling into their hands, I'd rather you fall into mine," Xiao Heng said with a grin. Blue flames surged from his hands, swiftly engulfing the energy snake.
Moments later, the snake dissipated, leaving a cluster of pure energy in the flames. Xiao Heng bottled it in a jade vial—food for the seven-colored snake.
The snake's destruction backlashed on the five snake powerhouses, who coughed up blood.
"That flame… a Heavenly Flame?" the gray-robed elder gasped, incredulous at seeing two Heavenly Flames in one day.
"Who are you, sir? Will you agree to stay out of snake tribe affairs?" the elder asked.
"I saw her first, and I won't kill you. Vanish within three breaths!" Xiao Heng's body ignited with blue flames, as if everything around him could be consumed.
"Let's go!" A red-clad snake man started to speak but was silenced by the gray-robed elder. The five sprouted Dou Zhi Qi wings and fled.
"You let them go just like that? Aren't you afraid of retaliation?" Yun Yun asked, meditating to suppress the poison.
"A Two-Star Dou Huang like me, scared of five Dou Wangs? Next time we meet, I might be a Dou Zong," Xiao Heng said dismissively.
"Young, but bold," Yun Yun said, shooting him a sidelong glance.
"Your antidote pills are mediocre. I've got better ones. Dare to try?" Xiao Heng offered.
"No need. And don't expect gratitude. At best, we're even for you blocking me," Yun Yun said.
"Blocking you? You didn't lose anything. It's not like you need the Heavenly Flame," Xiao Heng retorted.
"You…" Yun Yun was speechless, stumped by his twisted logic. Yet, reflecting on it, she found herself quietly agreeing. Poor Gu He, still dreaming of his Heavenly Flame.
"It's not safe here. Let's find a better spot to detoxify," Xiao Heng said. Before she could react, he hoisted her over his shoulder and soared into the sky.
"What are you doing? Put me down!" Yun Yun protested, her chest heaving against him.
"You sure?" Xiao Heng climbed higher, knowing she couldn't use Dou Zhi Qi while detoxifying.
"You…" Yun Yun bit back her words, glaring as he ascended.
An hour later, Xiao Heng carried her to a cave. His "accidental" brushes against her snow-white thighs earned him a barrage of curses along the way.
"Detoxify here. I'll find dinner," Xiao Heng said.
"I have rations!"
"I prefer fresh food." Xiao Heng sprouted pale blue wings and flew out. As the sun set, he returned with a Flame Sheep.
Ignoring Yun Yun, he prepared the first-tier beast. Desert Flame Sheep meat was tough, so he tenderized it with precise strikes. Using Devouring Blue Flame to start a fire, he roasted mutton skewers. Night had fallen, and the desert's daytime heat gave way to bone-chilling cold. When Yun Yun finished detoxifying, Xiao Heng handed her a skewer.
"Try it. Tastes good," he said.
"What, scared I spiked it?" Xiao Heng asked, noting her hesitation despite the enticing aroma. Yun Yun stayed silent—she meant it but didn't want to admit it. After all, he'd saved her today.
His appearance and strength didn't repulse her. "Fine, how's this?" Xiao Heng mixed several skewers on a plate, tasted a few pieces, and pushed it toward her.
Seeing him shuffle and sample the food, Yun Yun picked up a piece with chopsticks. The flavor was exceptional. The plate was soon empty—Xiao Heng's spices, crafted from medicinal herbs, rivaled the value of a first- or second-grade pill.
At midnight, Xiao Heng slept. Suddenly, he felt a weight on him, a faint fragrance filling his nose.
"What the—?" He opened his eyes to find a stunning face inches away, delicate hands gripping his throat.
"What did you put in the food?" Yun Yun's face flushed, her snow-white skin starkly visible.
"Nothing!" Xiao Heng said, feigning innocence.
"Don't lie! Did you use that kind of drug? My third-grade Clear Mind Pill can't suppress it!" Her hands tightened.
"Heehee, just a little fifth-tier aphrodisiac I whipped up by accident. Works even on massive magical beasts," Xiao Heng said, dropping the act.
"And I'm going down with you!" he laughed.
___
The night passed in silence, save for the steady drip of stalactites in the cave. At dawn, Yun Yun, legs numb from an awkward sleeping position, limped out and flew away.
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