The Fourth Guardian under the King — Bai Ling

A vast, desolate desert.

In the distance, a magnificent ancient city was faintly visible. Its city walls towered high, guarded by the Snake-people tribe, who possessed human heads and snake bodies.

The RV parked outside the city gates.

Girls dressed in various floral skirts poured out of the RV all at once. Their complexions were much rosier than before, and their eyes no longer held that dead silence of the past. Clearly, their lives over the past few days had been quite nourishing.

Is everyone here? Count off.

Ye Shu stood with his hands behind his back, instructing Bingxuanzi to take roll call.

1... 2... 3...

During the roll call, Xiao Qingli glared deadly at the culprit who had caused her to miss out on her steamed buns. She bared her two little snake fangs and hissed, wishing she could pounce on him and take a vicious bite to satisfy herself.

What are you looking at? Do you want to taste the whip? Ye Shu glanced at her, his voice icy.

N-no, I just thought the director looked too handsome, so I couldn't help but look a few more times, hehe... Seeing him look over, Xiao Qingli quickly retracted her fangs and put on another face. Like a sycophantic lackey, she smiled rather flatteringly.

Pfft!

Seeing her split-second change of face, coupled with that flattering and ingratiating smile, Ye Shu almost couldn't hold back a laugh.

No, I can't.

Right now, his identity was the head of a circus. He had to be serious, he had to be evil, he was the villain—he absolutely could not laugh.

Endure! Force it down!

But how could he hold back when it was so funny?

Ye Shu kept a straight face and forcefully turned his back.

Beside him, Qingyuan was already grinning from ear to ear with joy. Even Bingxuanzi, who was counting the numbers, couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth twitch upward slightly.

This little girl was actually quite adorable.

After finishing the headcount, Bingxuanzi came to Ye Shu's side, stood at attention, and saluted. Reporting to the director, the headcount is complete. Twenty-three expected, twenty-three present.

Ye Shu nodded and then waved his hand.

Let's go.

The crowd immediately followed behind him in a scattered formation.

Reaching the city gates, two rows of Snake-people warriors raised their spears in unison, blocking their path.

Halt! What is your business here?

Ye Shu took a token out of his robes and handed it over.

This was searched from Pei Yong's body. It was said to be a token left by Bai Ling, the fourth guard under the Snake-people King, when she commissioned him.

As expected, the leading Snake-person took the token, examined it carefully, and then looked Ye Shu up and down. His gaze swept over the girls behind him, lingering for a moment on the fine scales on their exposed necks, before he finally waved a young Snake-person guard over.

They were invited by Lady Bai Ling to perform. Take them to see Lady Bai Ling.

After giving the order, he looked back at Ye Shu and said coldly.

Do not wander around, or you will bear the consequences.

Understood, understood. I know the rules.

Ye Shu immediately bowed his waist, smiling flatteringly. This lowly one will certainly not cause any trouble for milord.

When he stood back up and turned to the girls behind him, the smile on his face instantly vanished, turning dark and cold. All of you, behave yourselves! If you anger the lords, don't blame me for being ruthless!

The girls' pretty faces turned pale white, and they hurriedly followed in fright.

Even Xiao Qingli shrank her neck in fear, hiding behind Qingyuan. Sister Qingyuan, the director is so scary.

Qingyuan did not speak; she merely patted her hand.

Bingxuanzi, standing to the side, couldn't help but click her tongue.

When this kid pretended to be a bad guy, he really looked the part. To powerful people, he acted like a dog, but to his own people, he was as fierce as an evil wolf.

She seriously suspected he wasn't just acting.

The group followed the guard through the massive holy city. Along the way, many Snake-people curiously scrutinized this group of two-legged distant relatives and their close relatives dressed in feathered garments.

Half-snakes were not only rare to humans.

They were equally rare to the Snake-people.

However, unlike the human race, perhaps because they were similarly disliked, the Snake-people's attitude toward half-snakes was much milder. At the very least, there was no bone-deep discrimination.

They were sizing up Ye Shu.

Ye Shu was also silently observing them.

He could only say that the more he looked, the more silent he became. It was truly worthy of being the holy city of the Snake-people, known as their sacred land. Just now, he saw a passing dog that had the strength of the ninth level of Qi Condensation.

The guard leading them was at the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

That small squad leader from earlier was at the early stage of Core Formation.

Not far away was a massive palace complex. Four enormous palaces stood at the four corners, each bearing different crests on their roofs, and these four massive palaces collectively supported the largest royal palace in the center.

As Ye Shu walked, he silently memorized the route.

This would be crucial for running away in the future.

On the short journey from the city gates to the palace of the four royal guards, Ye Shu had already seen no fewer than dozens of Core Formation Snake-people. And this was only the strength he noticed from a cursory glance.

He had no doubt that if he ever exposed his intentions, he would definitely be finely minced into meat paste.

Soon, the group arrived in front of a side hall.

Welcoming them was Bai Ling, one of the four guards under the King.

She was a Snake-person clad in a snow-white robe. Her entire body was covered in scales as pure white as snow, and even her hair and eyebrows were white. Her features were picturesque, her waist slender, yet her attire was very conservative, revealing only that excessively beautiful face.

Regrettably, even her temperament was as cold as snow.

As for her cultivation...

Unfortunately, he couldn't see through it.

Lady Bai Ling, this is the theatrical troupe you invited, the leading Snake-person guard said respectfully.

Bai Ling raised her eyelids and swept her gaze over the crowd, her eyes lingering on Bingxuanzi and Ye Shu for a moment.

Just these people?

Wha...?

Still in a daze, Ye Shu suddenly realized she was speaking to him. He quickly stepped forward, wanting to shake her hand in an ingratiating manner, but then realizing his lowly status, he flicked his sleeves, cupped his hands, bowed ninety degrees, and smiled flatteringly. These are the best dancers of our troupe. Is milady satisfied?

The best dancers?

Bai Ling chuckled lightly. Your troupe only consists of these people in total. They are all here, aren't they?

Y-yes...

Having been exposed, Ye Shu immediately wiped the sweat from his forehead in embarrassment and laughed dryly, Milady is perceptive. Our troupe is a small business, so we really only have this many people.

Bai Ling didn't make things too difficult for them either. After all, she was the one who had sought out this troupe; what point was there in making things difficult?

She waved her hand to summon a maid.

Just follow her. She will arrange your accommodations. Rehearse well for these two months. By then, all the important figures of the Snake-people tribe will be present, including the Queen herself, who will grace us with her presence. Therefore, there absolutely cannot be the slightest mistake. Do you understand?

Understood, understood.

Ye Shu nodded repeatedly, continuously wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead.

Alright, take them away. Bai Ling waved her hand with a lack of interest, turned, and walked into the empty palace, softly murmuring:

The hall is empty, leaving only the cold snow; I once protected a single person's journey.

It is not that I sealed my sword, yet it leaves my heart unsettled.

What did that mean?

Why recite poetry for no reason? Could it be that she wanted to become a Venerable?

Before Ye Shu could react, the maid had already waved to them. Everyone, please follow me.

Once the group reached the side hall, the maid took her leave.

Ye Shu let the girls go ahead to pick their rooms first. He stayed behind, nudged Bingxuanzi's shoulder with his elbow, and asked out of curiosity, "So, how exactly did you manage to escape when your cultivation was sealed by Medusa? Even if she was heavily injured, the other royal guards wouldn't be so incompetent that they couldn't capture a mere Golden Core cultivator like you, right?"

At this question, Bingxuanzi fell into a rare silence.

After a moment, he finally spoke in a faint voice,

"That is a story that cannot be told."