Chapter 157: Antlion Whisperer

A massive antlion colony was marching through the desert with heavy footsteps.

Antlions were insects that dug little pits in the ground. Whenever ants passed by their traps, they would hurl gravel at them and drag them into the pit for food.

However, the antlions marching across the desert were nothing like that. They were much larger, with their pincers as big as halberds. Cavalrymen would have to flee with fearful hearts when faced with such terrifying monsters.

A mage dressed in a silk robe was resting atop the largest antlion with closed eyes.

Tak tak tak, tak tak tak!

Weird sounds suddenly echoed from afar. It sounded like heavy footsteps treading on sand.

“...” The mage dressed in a silk robe opened his eyes. “The Lizard Queen?”

He quickly cast Voice Amplification and shouted over, “Lizard Queen! Please don’t misunderstand. It’s me, Antlion Whisperer. I don’t mean any ill intent. I came with my servants to...”

Despite his anxious explanations, the Lizard Queen didn’t slow down.

“I know that it’s you, Antlion Whisperer, but there’s no misunderstanding. You’re the one I’m attacking. Go, my babies!”

The sand monitors charged forth.

The soft sand was not an easy surface to travel on, but they didn’t slow the sand monitors at all. With ferocious hisses, they split into two teams and flanked the antlions.

“Dig, dig!”

The Antlion Whisperer realized that the Lizard Queen intended to fight him.

Eyy, the Lizard Queen is too fiery-tempered. Otherwise, she would have been perfect.

He wasn’t intending to become a punching bag, but his antlions needed time to dig holes whereas the sand monitors traveled faster than horses on sand. It wouldn’t be fun to bear the brunt of their charge.

So, the Antlion Whisperer downed a potion, murmured a chant, and pointed on the sand.

“Crumble!”

The sand collapsed, forming dozens of giant pits.

“Those rag tags encircling Zhujubo won’t be our match, and I doubt that cowardly scrooge will dare to break his promise...”

“I’m not interested,” the Lizard Queen coldly interjected.

“By then... Ah?” The Antlion Whisperer was stunned by the Lizard Queen’s rejection. “My beautiful queen, won’t you reconsider the matter? I...”

“Hmph!” The Lizard Queen eyed at the Antlion Whisperer with upshot eyebrows. “I know what’s in your mind. This cooperation is just a pretext for you to approach me. Don’t even think about it! Look in the mirror! You’re a toad lusting over swan flesh. Know your place! I have no interest in you whatsoever.

“Scram as far as you can with your antlions, or else I’ll be getting serious!”

“My beautiful queen, why are you so heartless?”

The Antlion Whisperer smiled with an embarrassed blush. As a powerful mage himself, he had no interest in taking a mortal as his companion. He thought that only someone as powerful and enchanting as the Lizard Queen was worthy of his stature.

Yes, the Lizard Queen was stronger and younger than him, but in the first place, very few mages were at their level, and he was considered young among those who did. Even fewer were at the Lizard Queen’s level of talent.

So, the Antlion Whisperer figured that as long as he humbled himself to coax the Lizard Queen, he might just be able to win the beauty over.

“I concede that I’m lacking in terms of looks, but shouldn’t a mage be more interested in wisdom and inner beauty? My beautiful queen, if you’re willing to give me a chance, I trust that you’ll find that I’m not as...”

“Shut up!” the Lizard Queen roared. “Who do you think you are?! I don’t need a man!”

She didn’t think there was anyone in this world worthy of her. She believed that she could rise to the top as a mage with her talent.

“Hm?” The Lizard Queen suddenly fell in a daze.

The Antlion Whisperer noticed the Lizard Queen staring in a certain direction, so he reflexively looked over too.

Under the cold moonlight, a beautiful man was galloping along the dunes on a dashing steed. His smooth complexion emanated a faint glow under the moonlight.

“Found it!” Shu Yichao chuckled upon seeing the sand monitors and the antlions. “So these are the red dots on the map! A monster army? I haven’t seen one since the wolf cavalrymen.”

That was a laugh that could dazzle even a nation.

The Lizard Queen, despite her earlier proclamation that she didn’t need a husband, suddenly thought that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to find a man.