Chapter 48: Nature's Gift
Under the night sky, Yue Mei flew at full speed, her Dou Qi wings cutting through the air. She had already sent a message to her tribe to prepare for the intruders, but she knew the truth whether she was there or not, her tribe stood no chance against enemies of this level.
Lu Bu sat comfortably on Yue Mei's waist, the howling wind brushing past them as the world below blurred into a rapid retreat. Yue Mei's speed was impressive, enhanced by her wind element Dou Qi. Moreover, her movements were unrestrained by caution.
Such blatant flying had already drawn the attention of the Snake People Tribe's air patrols. However, upon spotting Yue Mei's signature serpent tail, the guards hesitated and refrained from attacking.
This was the advantage of capturing Yue Mei not only did Lu Bu have a personal "transportation device," but there were also no obstacles or attacks to impede their journey.
"Master, my Dou Qi is nearly depleted," Yue Mei called out.
"Here!" Lu Bu flicked his finger, and a pill flew directly into her mouth.
Covering nearly 100 kilometers at the cost of just two pills was fairly efficient, though Yue Mei's single passenger capacity was a limitation. Fortunately, Lu Bu was her only "passenger," making the downside negligible.
Yue Mei thought bitterly, You dare treat me as mere transportation?
Her mind fumed. I'm a stunning beauty, capable and resourceful. What a waste of your eyes!
Unbothered by her frustration, Lu Bu tapped his chin thoughtfully. With Yue Mei leading the way, he was bound to arrive faster than Gu He and his group. Her knowledge of the terrain meant they could navigate the region with ease, avoiding unnecessary delays.
However, Lu Bu wasn't entirely carefree. The Snake People Tribe was not lacking in high level experts. Aside from Medusa, the tribe boasted four former leaders at the peak of Dou Huang, a chief commander, and the current Medusa herself all of whom had the power to rival peak Dou Huang fighters.
Caution was essential. If not for these obstacles, Lu Bu would have simply brought Qing Lin along. Her unique talents would have allowed them to sweep through the entire Snake People Tribe unchallenged, making subduing the tribe's leaders as easy as squashing bugs.
"It all comes down to insufficient strength," Lu Bu muttered, lamenting his current limitations. He patted Yue Mei's back. "Faster!"
Yue Mei cursed under her breath, but with no choice, she flicked her serpent tail and accelerated further.
…
Half an hour later, they arrived at the Snake People Tribe's Holy City.
In a secluded corner of the city, Lu Bu and Yue Mei stealthily made their way toward the temple at the city's center.
Thanks to Yue Mei's guidance, they easily avoided patrols, serpent scent detection traps, and various formations. Not that Lu Bu feared the formations the Snake People Tribe's barriers were negligible in his eyes but avoiding unnecessary confrontation was always preferable.
Lu Bu couldn't help but be impressed. Despite the tribe's weak defenses, their detection methods were truly sophisticated. Without Yue Mei, infiltrating this deeply would have been exceedingly difficult.
"It seems Gu He and his group haven't arrived yet," Yue Mei observed, glancing at the city's orderly preparations. Although the city was already on high alert, the patrols and guards were clearly responding to her earlier warning rather than any immediate intrusion.
"So, this is the temple..." Lu Bu muttered softly, his gaze landing on the towering structure piercing the sky.
The Snake People Holy City was built around a mountain, and the temple stood atop its peak, dominating the entire city.
"I'll take you inside," Yue Mei whispered cautiously. "But remember, you promised not to harm Her Majesty. You only want the Heavenly Flame."
Her expression was solemn. Yue Mei didn't trust Lu Bu entirely, but his actions thus far had been consistent with his words. The arrival of Gu He and his companions further corroborated his claim that he was after the Heavenly Flame, easing her doubts somewhat.
"If the Heavenly Flame hadn't been taken, I wouldn't even be here!" Lu Bu muttered under his breath, annoyed.
With Yue Mei as his guide, they navigated a complex route through the temple grounds, bypassing guards and incapacitating any serpents used as sentries. Thanks to the heightened alert, many of the temple's forces had been deployed elsewhere, making Yue Mei's task significantly easier.
"You seem very familiar with this place," Lu Bu remarked, raising an eyebrow.
"The temple was built by the Eight Great Tribes," Yue Mei explained in a low voice. "I have my own palace here."
"I knew I wasn't wrong about you!" Lu Bu said with a grin, clearly pleased.
Yue Mei's face darkened. Was this a compliment or just self praise?
At that moment, two powerful presences rapidly approached.
Yue Mei's expression tightened. "It's Mo Ba Si and Yan Ci..."
"Mo Ba Si and Yan Ci," Lu Bu repeated, his eyes narrowing. They were two of the Eight Great Tribe Leaders tools of the plot, as far as he was concerned.
"Her Majesty must still be preparing for her evolution," Yue Mei murmured to herself. "She hasn't appeared yet..."
"Don't worry," Lu Bu said with a faint smile. "With me protecting her, she'll at least preserve her soul."
This was precisely why Yue Mei was cooperating so obediently. Lu Bu had revealed Medusa's plans to evolve using the Heavenly Flame and promised to intervene at a critical moment to save her soul.
Since Medusa's evolution was destined to succeed in the original timeline, Lu Bu saw no harm in offering assistance. It cost him nothing but earned him Yue Mei's reluctant cooperation.
Having witnessed Lu Bu's expertise in soul related techniques, Yue Mei believed him. If not for this assurance... well, she had plenty of ways to retaliate. Even with her soul bound by his fire imprint, Yue Mei would find a way to sabotage Lu Bu or at least ensure mutual destruction.
In truth, their relationship was less that of master and servant and more like a begrudging partnership under duress.
As Yue Mei worked through a barrier, she muttered, "She only answers to Her Majesty. She treats the rest of us the same way."
"Let's move," Lu Bu said impatiently, uninterested in their internal hierarchy.
But as he turned his gaze, something caught his eye a massive storage room filled with rare herbs, scrolls, and techniques.
"This... this..." Lu Bu's eyes widened in shock before a grin spread across his face.
"Could this be a gift from nature itself?"
(End of Chapter)
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