Chapter 1184: Golden Crow Crown Prince

Everyone's expressions changed, struck by the speaker's incredible audacity. The Serpent Clan leader was still alive, yet this person was openly clamoring for a new one to be elected.

Yu Yanluo's face was impassive as she walked straight inside. Xiaobai and Xiaoqing, the two young girls, playfully stuck out their tongues before attending to her, walking in by her sides.

Knowing Yu Yanluo was injured, Zu An followed close behind, his senses sharp and vigilant.

Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen exchanged glances, both with an air of enjoying a good spectacle, and followed them in.

The more intense the internal strife within the Demon Race, the better.

The group entered the assembly hall to find two old men standing in the center. One wore white robes, the other green, their garments noticeably finer than any worn by the Serpent Clan members they had encountered earlier.

Both men had steady breaths and restrained sharpness in their eyes, clearly indicating they were formidable masters.

These were, no doubt, Elder Bai and Elder Qing, whom Xing Nu had previously mentioned.

Yet, neither man resembled the powerful officials Xing Nu had described. Instead, they were both slightly bowed towards a young man seated at the head of the room, as if respectfully listening to his teachings.

The young man's entire attire shimmered with golden light, and he was overwhelmingly yellow, truly blinding.

He was otherwise valorous and extraordinary in appearance, but a prominent, beak-like mouth disrupted his overall harmony, making him appear exceptionally fierce and sinister.

On either side of him stood several golden-armored warriors, each with resolute eyes. Their gazes, unlike those of ordinary guards, seemed to carry an extra hint of arrogance.

Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen both frowned, a flicker of worry in their eyes. This young man was likely the imperial envoy from the Demon Imperial Court whom Xiaobai and Xiaoqing had mentioned. Had the Demon Race's power truly reached a point where even an envoy was a Grandmaster, and not a newly ascended one at that?

“Who was it that spoke of re-electing our clan leader?” Yu Yanluo looked coldly at the man, thinking, *Hmph, he’s nowhere near as good as my Ah Zu.*

Upon seeing her, the white-robed and green-robed old men turned, their faces lighting up with joy. They hurried over to bow. “Greetings, Clan Leader!” they exclaimed.

Zu An was even more surprised. The respectful demeanor of these two men was drastically different from Xing Nu's description.

He glanced at Xing Nu, who looked just as bewildered.

Yu Yanluo was slightly taken aback, but immediately gestured for them to rise. “You are elders of our clan; there’s no need for such formalities,” she said.

At that moment, the golden-clad young man’s eyes lit up. “I’ve long heard that the Medusa Queen of the Serpent Clan is unrivaled in beauty across the land. Seeing you today, her reputation truly precedes her.”

Yu Yanluo frowned slightly, feeling deeply uncomfortable under his blatant gaze. “And you are?” she asked.

At this, Elder Bai and Elder Qing introduced him: “This is Crown Prince Jinwu.”

“What?” Not just Yu Yanluo, but Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue also blanched.

No one had expected the envoy from the Demon Imperial Court to be Crown Prince Jinwu.

It was well known that the current Demon Emperor’s true form was a Jinwu, or Golden Crow, and Crown Prince Jinwu was the designated heir.

Why would a figure of such importance come merely as a messenger?

Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen were completely baffled, pondering if perhaps there was internal strife within the Demon imperial family, and if the Crown Prince had lost favor and been banished to the frontier.

Yet, his arrogant and domineering demeanor hardly suggested someone who had fallen from grace.

“Greetings, Crown Prince Jinwu,” Yu Yanluo said, giving a slight bow. His esteemed status within the Demon Race necessitated showing him this deference.

Despite her dislike for him, as a clan leader, she could not risk bringing disaster upon her tribe.

Crown Prince Jinwu appraised her from head to toe, his gaze lingering on sensitive areas such as her chest, waist, and hips. “You appear to be injured,” he remarked. “I have some excellent spiritual pills here that could aid your recovery.”

Yu Yanluo replied coolly, “There’s no need. I’ve already taken the finest elixir in the world, so there’s no need for the Crown Prince to go to any trouble.”

“Oh, the finest elixir in the world?” Crown Prince Jinwu’s interest was piqued. “What kind of medicine earns such a title?”

Yu Yanluo’s face flushed slightly. “It’s only the best medicine for me personally; it may not be applicable to others.”

Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue exchanged peculiar glances. They, of course, knew exactly how she healed, but why had she chosen to use the word “taken”?

Could it be…?

Yun Jianyue, having been steeped in the Demonic Cult, understood immediately. Even Yan Xuehen, a seasoned figure who had traversed the world for years, was certainly no naive young girl. Certain images flashed simultaneously in both their minds.

Pah, that woman truly has no shame!

Crown Prince Jinwu merely took it as an excuse to refuse his medicine and couldn't help but feel a flicker of annoyance. To reject medicine offered by him personally – this woman truly didn't know her place.

However, her unparalleled beauty significantly boosted his patience. Someone this stunning had the privilege to be willful.

This Crown Prince, I find such spirited women rather appealing.

The man’s persistent gaze made Yu Yanluo deeply uncomfortable. She abruptly changed the subject. “What was this about the Crown Prince mentioning the election of a new clan leader?”

“Medusa Queen, no offense intended,” Crown Prince Jinwu said with a smile. “I’m here on an imperial decree, to summon the leaders of all tribes to the Imperial Court. My imperial father has important matters to discuss with everyone. Since you weren’t within the Serpent Clan at the time, I thought they would need to elect someone else to attend the assembly. But now that the Queen has returned, naturally there’s no longer a need for a new selection.”

“An Imperial Court assembly?” Yu Yanluo asked gravely. “May I inquire about its purpose?”

Crown Prince Jinwu replied, “My imperial father stated that he hasn’t seen any of you for many years and, now being advanced in age, misses everyone. He wishes for you all to come and join a lively gathering.”

Yu Yanluo’s expression changed. What he said sounded pleasant enough, but for many years, the leaders of the various tribes had reigned supreme in their own territories, enjoying their freedom. Who would truly want to go to the Imperial Court?

Furthermore, who knew what might happen at the Imperial Court? It was entirely possible they could be detained as hostages.

Zu An suddenly understood. No wonder Elder Bai and Elder Qing had deviated from Xing Nu's description and were instead respectfully welcoming Yu Yanluo back. It seemed there was a particularly hot potato they needed her to handle.

Having just returned to the Serpent Clan only to face such a daunting task, Yu Yanluo stated, “As the Crown Prince can see, I am currently injured, and the Serpent Clan has recently undergone significant changes, with many urgent matters requiring my attention. I’m afraid I cannot attend this assembly. I hope the Crown Prince will speak favorably on my behalf to the Demon Emperor.”

Crown Prince Jinwu’s expression instantly darkened. He stated grimly, “When I departed the Imperial Court this time, my imperial father explicitly declared that the monarchs of all tribes must be present. Failure to do so will be considered an act of rebellion, punishable by all races. I hope the Medusa Queen does not bring ruin upon herself.”

Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen exchanged glances, both detecting the shock in the other’s eyes.

What exactly was the Demon Emperor planning with such a grand maneuver this time?

Could it be that he intended to coerce the various Demon tribes into attacking the human world?

Yu Yanluo’s expression changed. “Since the Demon Emperor has summoned us, our Serpent Clan will naturally attend.”

Only then did Crown Prince Jinwu nod with satisfaction. “Good, the official business is concluded. This Crown Prince has heard that the scenery around the Serpent Clan territory is quite beautiful. I wonder if the Queen would be willing to act as my guide and show me around?”

Xiaobai and Xiaoqing rolled their eyes. The area around the Serpent Clan was desolate; there was no beautiful scenery whatsoever. Any discerning person could see he merely desired Yu Yanluo’s company.

Before Yu Yanluo could answer, Zu An interjected, “The Queen is unwell and cannot conveniently go out. Moreover, she rarely stays here and is unfamiliar with the local terrain. If the Crown Prince requires a guide, Elder Bai and Elder Qing would be far more suitable.”

Elder Bai and Elder Qing, standing nearby, blanched. They cursed Zu An profusely in their minds, but unable to openly contradict him, they quickly chimed in with their agreement.

After all, it would be a terrible look if it became known that they were siding with an outsider against their own Queen.

To everyone's surprise, Crown Prince Jinwu’s face darkened. “What are you?” he snapped. “This Crown Prince is discussing important matters with your Queen. How dare a mere guard like you interrupt?”

Before his arrival, his subordinates had gathered intelligence on the Serpent Clan, and he was aware of all important figures. Since there was no information about this man, he assumed him to be merely an ordinary guard.