The Little Fairy Doctor was picking herbs, her eyelids drooping and her head lowered. Her long hair cascaded down her sides, and her serious expression made her look exceptionally beautiful.
Yet, such a simple girl...
Gu Fei closed his eyes. He knew that the Little Fairy Doctor possessed Woeful Poison Bpdy. As of now, Xiao Yixiang wasn't aware of this fact.
The Seven-Colored Poison Sutra, which she had recently obtained, contained descriptions of this unique physique. Once she finished her task and read the sutra, she would come to understand the truth.
The poisonous body had been feared by countless people throughout history, but it was also coveted by those who sought power through evil means. With such a body, one hardly needed to cultivate in the traditional sense; simply absorbing poisons was enough to rapidly increase one's strength.
But poison was poison, after all. While cultivation advanced quickly, it also took a toll on the body. Moreover, the process was incredibly painful.
The evil poison body would erupt unpredictably. During an outbreak, if the person couldn't control it, they would lose their mind and be consumed by a desire to kill, often ending their own life in the end.
Many who had possessed this cursed body ended up destroying their loved ones before taking their own lives in despair.
This poisonous body had chosen Xiao Yixiang, and it was her fate to bear it.
For now, the seal on her poison body remained intact, allowing her to live as though nothing had happened. She could return to Qingshan Town, live an ordinary life, and pretend this burden did not exist.
Or, driven by a desire for power, she could break the seal and confront the unknown path ahead.
Gu Fei did not intend to interfere with her choice. Whether she decided to awaken her physique or not was entirely up to her.
However, while the evil poison body was terrifying, it wasn't beyond saving. Gu Fei remembered that, in the original story, Yao Lao had a way to suppress its negative effects. By creating a poison pill, the hidden dangers of the body were neutralized, leaving only the beneficial power behind.
Gu Fei leaned against the cave wall, deep in thought. He was soon pulled from his reverie by the cheerful voice of the Little Fairy Doctor.
"Sir, I've collected all the herbs! Here they are!" she said, approaching with a bundle of herbs in her arms.
Gu Fei opened his eyes. The Little Fairy Doctor was smiling brightly, sweat beading on her forehead from her efforts. Her purple hair was damp and clung to her neck and cheeks. Despite the hard work, she had the serene beauty of a lotus emerging from water, her natural charm enhanced by her gentle demeanor.
Gu Fei smiled, placing the herbs into his storage ring without hesitation. "Let's return to the herb-picking team. If we stay out too long, someone might grow suspicious."
Xiao Yixiang nodded quickly, realizing they had been away for quite some time. Mu Li and his group of Wolf Head Mercenaries had also been missing for a while. If they didn't return soon, others might start to suspect something had happened.
Gu Fei followed Xiao Yixiang as they made their way out of the cave, walking in single file. They reached the platform at the base of the cliff, and, just as before, Gu Fei wrapped his arm around her slender waist and flew them upward.
He was careful to hold her lightly, yet firmly enough that she wouldn't struggle and fall.
[Xiao Yixian's mood improved, happiness increased by 100.]
The flight was brief, but Xiao Yixian seemed to enjoy it, much to Gu Fei's surprise. He glanced at her secretly; her face was flushed, her lips curled into a contented smile, and she looked completely relaxed.
When they landed, Xiao Yixiang seemed reluctant to part from his hand, her gaze lingering before she turned away.
After this experience, her feelings for Gu Fei had deepened. She wasn't entirely aware of it yet, but these emotions were already starting to grow beyond simple friendship, with hints of romantic affection beginning to take root.
Once they reached the top of the cliff, they saw Mu Li's cold, lifeless body lying there. His eyes were still open in death, but he was now just another corpse left to rot in the dense forest, soon to be devoured by wild beasts.
The remaining members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, whose cultivation had been destroyed by Gu Fei, had already fled as soon as Gu Fei and Xiao Yixiang descended the cliff. They hadn't dared to stick around and, too afraid to face their leader after failing to protect the young captain, didn't even attempt to retrieve Mu Li's body.
Their only option was to escape the Warcraft Mountains and live as ordinary people, forever abandoning the mercenary life.
Gu Fei paid no mind to these matters and returned with Xiao Yixiang to the herb-picking team as if nothing had happened. His expression was calm and collected.
Xiao Yixiang, though still new to such dangerous experiences, managed to maintain her composure. Although her performance was a little stiff, she successfully deceived the others.
While some noticed that several members of the Wolf Head Mercenaries were missing, no one suspected Gu Fei or Xiao Yixiang.
…
On a dusty road, a hundred miles away from Qingshan Town, a young man in black trudged forward. His face was youthful, but his eyes held a fierce determination.
Strapped to his back was a large black sword. However, calling it a sword didn't feel quite right; it was more like a massive iron ruler, lacking both sharp edges and a pointed tip.
The sword's flat, black surface was marked with strange, indistinct patterns that spread across its length, creating a mysterious aura. The sword was nearly as tall as the young man himself, making it seem as though it might crush him at any moment.
The peculiar sight of this boy carrying such a heavy burden drew curious stares from passersby.
This young man was Xiao Yan.
"Teacher," Xiao Yan began, speaking to himself as he continued down the road. "You once told me to cross the Monster Mountain Range. Is it because you want me to experience danger and awaken my true potential?"
But no answer came.
"It seems that teacher is still asleep. I'll have to rely on myself for now" Xiao Yan sighed, his expression resolute as he pressed onward.