Chapter 2: Snake capital

Thinking of the beauty of Yue Mei, Jian An once again thanked the heavens for still being a kid without hormones.

Looking around, he tried to understand more about the culture of the snake- people, after all, if everything goes according to plan, he will be staying here for a long time. As for the fact that he may not be treated well, he's not too worried, after all, as long as he gives enough benefits, no one will say anything, even if they're unhappy with his presence.

He could not see much from where he was. Even if he was just a kid, it's impossible to let him enter the place where civilians live.

All he could see around was sand, sand, and more sand. He immediately understood why the snake people hated so much humans. If he were to be forced to live here, he would go crazy, much less them, who require a more humid environment.

After the lady snake finished talking, she directed her gaze towards him.

- I've heard that you are an alchemist? You want to help us?

When Jian An heard her voice, he immediately tensed his body. The pressure she exerted on him made him feel as dying at any second.

'I cannot lie!'

- Good day! My name is Jian An, and no, I'm not an alchemist. I also cannot say that I want to help you.

- If you're not an alchemist. How are you supposed to make pills?

- Yes! I think it would be better if you allow me to demonstrate directly.

Yue Mei stopped and looked at him for a moment. She would have killed him in an instant if not because of the words of her subordinate. The pill he showed her was true, and the fact that Jian An wanted to show her the process added him points of trust.

He snake-people were in a bad situation and any addition their power was welcomed. If it was another person then there was nothing they could do, but a kid was too easy to control. Even if it was a warrior trained by some power, he was too young to entrust a supposed mission of infiltration. At this age, they are not ready yet. If it was assassination, it would be easier, but a prolonged plan was too much.

However, regardless of anything, she could not make any decision. It's better to take him directly to the Queen.

Whether he's of benefit or not, if he lives or dies, it's in her hands.

- What do you require?

Only the thing that are on my furnace?

Turning her head, Yue Mie was wondering what that thing was.

'Is that a furnace?'

A furnace was something normal people without cultivation use to cook and it's normally made of mud with a cavity to put the food. If it's to make weapons, then clay or adobe were used.

But it's the first time Yue Mei saw a furnace like this, it was made of metal, like the cauldrons for alchemy, but she could see some things that were out of the ordinary there.

- Is that thing a furnace?

- Yes, it's my most proud creation.

When Jian An answered, he could not hide the pride he felt for having achieved something extraordinary.

Only yours?

Yue Mei, of course, could see the way he felt, but it was impossible to a kid. It's not that she was feeling contempt, although she was indeed doing so, but more that although she could not understand all those things, the craftmanship was exquisite, which reflected that it was created by arms with decades in the art.

- He he he

As soon as he heard the question, Jian An could only dry shyly. But he could not explain anymore, at least for now. If there's a misunderstanding, forget not meeting Queen Medusa, it would be a miracle if he's not directly killed.

He was already very puzzled about why they were so "friendly" towards him and did not wish to push his luck.

Yue Mei also understood him. In fact, the reason was very simple.

Alchemists were people extremely arrogant and of high social status. They would never set foot on enemy territory if it's not necessary.

So, it was understood that any alchemist who stepped into the desert was because they were willing to serve under the snake people because of some circumstances or had no other path of survival.

It's just that until the moment, no alchemist was so stupid to offend so many people that not even escaping to another human country was enough to save him. But looking at the situation now, it seems there indeed are such people.

- … Let's go!

Yue Mei only looked at him for a few seconds more and then ordered her soldiers to march to the capital. The soldiers who brought Jian An returned to their positions to patrol.

- Umm... Sorry but… Could you please cover me with something please? I'm afraid I might faint with this heat.

- … Cover him!

Immediately, a soldier came closer to Jian An with a robe to protect him from the sun.

During the travel, there was not much to talk about.

Yue Mei wanted to know more about Jian An, but she refrained because she simply had no idea of how to treat him, should she hate him because he's human? But he's just a kid and he says he can make pills, but at the same time, she could not bring herself to treat him well. On the other hand, Jian An wanted to talk more to understand the situation of the snake people to adjust his speech but was too afraid to open his mouth, who knows, maybe he will be impaled by a spear the next second he makes a sound.

In the silence, Jian An hoped they not only recognized his invention, but also his brain and ideas. It would not be funny if he's discarded after they take possession of the basic concepts.

Maybe he sounds a little too paranoid, but the prejudice between humans and snake-people runs too deep.

He revised again and again the process he will present. The last thing he wants is that due to being too nervous he makes a mistake and all of his efforts go down the drain.

When they were near the capital he could see that the houses, compared to the tribe he just visited, were grander and more prosperous, the streets more ample and kids were playing by the side, which talks a lot about the security here.

He was pretty impressed about how socially advanced they were, not less than human society, even in some aspects they were more, for example, Jian An could see people here feel closer to each other, maybe because they are facing being ostracized and are surrounded by the human empires.

They did not waste any more time and went directly to the palace.

- I am Yue Mei! I request an audience with Her Majesty!

Just as she finished talking, the guard immediately ran inside to notify Queen Medusa. Yue Mei was known for being a steadfast supporter of the Queen, so any visit she made was treated as important and they did not dare to delay it.

- Please come with me!

Not long passed and the guard came back. Only she and Jian An advance inside. The passage was, although not luxurious, grand and reflected power. Finally, they came in front of an imposing double door.

*Toc* *Toc* *Toc*

— Come in!

Some people say the voice of a siren is one of the most beautiful ones in the world, capable of captivating the soul, but now Jian An dares to say that if Queen Medusa proclaimed her voice was the second most beautiful, then no one would dare to say they are the first.

The door was opened slowly and they both went in. Yue Mei was in front and Jian An walked behind looking down, he had no confidence in his self-control, if he went stupid while looking at the queen, who knew if his little life would come to an end the next instant.

- Greetings! Your Majesty!

Yue Mei knelt and Jian An followed her actions. He did not have the so-called pride of the traversers, mostly because most of them were too stupid to use as a reference. Maybe if he knew this world, he could have a little more confidence, but the moment he heard the word "cultivation", he knew he was f*cked up. Even then he would not risk his life for a moment of impulse. Also, he was never a fan of Chinese novels. The only information he remembered of this world was that the protagonist was called Xiao Yan…that's all.

No, even then he was only deceiving himself. This queen is the one who among the pitiful number of members of her race was capable of reaching the peak of cultivation of this region of the continent, protecting her race and winning a place for them to live.

Compared to her, he was a nobody who had not achieved anything neither on his first nor actual life.

Honestly, now that it's his turn to be in front of a monarch, he relied that if the people in novels did not die was only because of plot armor.

So, he was quite humble.

- Stand up! What's the reason you came all the way here?

- Responding to your majesty. Some of my people found this boy in the desert. He claims to be capable of refining pills.

- Oh?

Queen Medusa felt her curiosity being picked. Right now, she was the most powerful warrior of her race and she alone was enough to deter all the surrounding nations. But the grass and middle level of combatants were nothing compared to the vast number of human fighters. That's why alchemists are so important to her, sadly, the conflict between races makes it extremely difficult to purchase pills, even when someone is willing to trade, the price is astronomical.

She straightened her posture and the aura of a true ruler was displayed.

- Your name?

- Your majesty, I'm am Jian An.

- Are you an alchemist?

Queen Medusa asked in a stern tone and Jian An knew that lying to a person who is much more stronger than him was a waste of time and he would only get distrust in return.

- I can make pills!

Queen Medusa frowned because that was not the answer she wanted. But she could guess that maybe he was an extremely genius little alchemist, but due to some circumstances, he was forced to escape his birthplace.

Thinking of that, her mode improver a little, but it immediately soured.

- Why don't you raise look up?

Jian An tensed and he could not express that he was afraid to be stunned by her beauty, he still wanted to live, and teasing an empress would be enough to cut that dream.

- Ummm…

- Whatever, just start now!

She did not waste time and immediately asked him to concoct pills. She waved her palm and the next second, silence involved them. She knew that concentration and silence were paramount to success for any alchemist.

Jian An looked around and noticed the look of the guards and started to ponder on how to ask the queen to dismiss them. He now knew how dangerous was his knowledge and did not wanted other people to give him much attention. As for the guards of the village, he was not worried. For them, who did not know anything about pills, he was just a little alchemist who tried to highlight his merits. As long as Queen Medusa realized his importance, one word of her and they would be dealt with, as for how that would be, he could only pray she is merciful enough to her people.

If they died, he would feel uncomfortable because he would have implicated them. He has to admit that he did not think much about it, but now he has no power to protect them.