"Not the same before?" Little Fairy Doctor silently repeated the word in her heart, feeling an inexplicable tremor in her soul.
Seeing her remain silent, Xun Er continued, "If we really are just characters in a Novel, then the moment we gained the qualification to observe it, we already awakened. In Brother Xiao Ting's words, we're no longer just paper people. Our future lives will be led and written by our own will, and our fates will no longer be just predetermined settings under the author's pen."
"If our understanding is correct, and we truly are living people of this world, then the story in the book—just like Brother Xiao Ting said—is merely for reference. Yet we can still glimpse part of the related future, and thus defy the heavens to change our fate."
"No matter which of the two it is, you and I are the only true kindred spirits who can talk about anything without reservation."
In that instant, Little Fairy Doctor felt as if the clouds had parted and she could finally see the bright moon. A suffocating knot in her chest quietly loosened.
Ever since she obtained the Observation Copy, though she had been delighted by the ability to peek at the future, she'd mostly felt uneasy—like a frog in a well that was suddenly thrown out of the deep pit, forced to face the vast sky and boundless earth, at a complete loss of what to do.
But now, Xun Er's words made her face this stroke of fortune head-on, triggering a much deeper understanding.
As expected of the only daughter of a nine-star Dou Saint—her vision, breadth, and way of thinking were truly on another level.
If Little Fairy Doctor were also a transmigrator, she'd definitely add at this moment: "Too bad she's such a hopeless romantic."
"It seems Sister Little Fairy Doctor has already sorted things out," Xun Er said, nibbling on a pastry as she continued, "In the eyes of a lover, their beloved is always the most beautiful. Before, when I thought Brother Xiao Ting was the best and most outstanding man in the world, that might have been somewhat subjective."
Little Fairy Doctor: That's obviously purely subjective. At least you're self-aware.
"But the Brother Xiao Ting we see now is excellent enough to make any woman's heart flutter. That's objective."
Little Fairy Doctor: True enough. With that Journal in his hands and his awakened memories of a past life, Xiao Ting is even more exceptional than those born with Dou Emperor bloodlines.
"And this excellence—you can see it, and you even have the chance to touch it."
"If you want to maximize the benefits brought by the Observation Copy, you'll need to take the initiative to get closer to Brother Xiao Ting."
"Tell me, could I possibly stop you? And if I did, wouldn't you hate me for it!?"
Little Fairy Doctor fell silent. She wasn't stupid—far from it. After today, she understood even more clearly just how intelligent Xun Er was; at such a young age she could already see right through people's hearts.
If Xun Er used her own strength to block Little Fairy Doctor from approaching Xiao Ting, that would be a grudge of obstructing her path—an irreconcilable enmity.
Xun Er certainly had the ability to do so, and she didn't need to fear any resentment Little Fairy Doctor might hold.
But the problem was, Xun Er could not let Xiao Ting learn about the existence of the Journal copies—so she couldn't lay hands on Little Fairy Doctor directly.
Since she couldn't obstruct her, she might as well sit down and have an open, honest talk. If they worked together with one heart, there'd be less chance of exposing any flaws.
If she didn't stop her, then it was only natural that Little Fairy Doctor would end up spending long periods of time around Xiao Ting. In Xun Er's view, from both a subjective and objective standpoint, Little Fairy Doctor would definitely fall for him.
That was why she had said, "It's fine even if you become Brother Xiao Ting's cherished confidante."
She'd seen right through everything.
"You're… truly impressive," Little Fairy Doctor said with heartfelt emotion.
"I only learned it from books," Xun Er replied, the wariness in her eyes fading a little as she smiled. "During the period when I was tempering my body and bloodline with Heavenly Flames, I couldn't cultivate at all. I could only pass time by reading books—cultivation methods, battle skills, miscellaneous essays, biographies, tales of the strange and uncanny, all sorts of storybooks. I've read quite a lot of everything."
Roughly speaking, if you read a book a hundred times, its meaning will reveal itself.
If Xiao Ting were here, he'd definitely chime in: "Read so much you broke your brain. No wonder this top-tier young miss has such a romance-addled mind."
"The more you read, the more you understand." A surge of impulse rose in Little Fairy Doctor's heart.
She felt that if it was Xun Er, then Xun Er might know what was going on with her.
But then she remembered she would be meeting Xiao Ting tomorrow, and decided there was no need to rush.
Xun Er could tell she had something on her mind, but didn't pry. Instead, she asked, "Tomorrow, do you want to have a chance meeting with Brother Xiao Ting, or should I just bring him directly to meet you?"
"If you bring him to see me, won't that risk exposing something?" Little Fairy Doctor clenched her hands tightly, feeling this might be too risky.
"That depends on how I phrase it." Xun Er remained fully confident. "I'll say I came here this morning for breakfast and found you in a tough spot because you didn't have enough money, so I stepped in to help you out. After that we got along and became friends, and then I'll introduce this friend to him."
"Doing it this way will also deepen his impression that reality and the Novel are not exactly the same."
"If something happens in the future that doesn't fit his current understanding, we'll have more room to explain it away."
"After all—what would the author know about Heavenly Flames and the Battle Continent?"
Pfft.
Little Fairy Doctor couldn't hold back a chuckle.
That last line really was the finishing touch.
At the same time, she also understood Xun Er's intention—Xun Er wanted to train Xiao Ting's capacity for acceptance.
"I think we should skip it this time." After a brief moment of thought, Little Fairy Doctor shook her head. "We don't know what kind of person I am in his version of events, nor what kind of relationship we have there."
"If, in the story, our relationship is bad, or if he feels my behavior is off and starts to suspect something, that wouldn't be good."
Xun Er nodded slightly. "That's true. Caution never hurts."
"Then tomorrow, Sister Little Fairy Doctor, you come here for breakfast first. Around the third of the hour of the Dragon (about 7:45 a.m.), I'll bring Brother Xiao Ting here, and you can have a chance encounter with him at the entrance. How about that?"
"That works." Little Fairy Doctor felt there was no problem with this plan, but she still had one concern. "But his impression of me is based on the Novel. Do you think he'll be able to recognize who I am just by seeing me?"
It was indeed a problem. Xiao Ting couldn't possibly pick a girl out on first meeting just from some vague description in a book—unless she had some very distinctive trait.
Xun Er had been able to recognize Little Fairy Doctor because she had already arranged for hidden guards to investigate her beforehand and had formed a preconceived impression.
Little Fairy Doctor, on the other hand, had mental preparation; add to that Xun Er's extraordinary bearing and looks, plus the way Xun Er acted as if she already knew her—and only then could Little Fairy Doctor guess her identity.
"Then we prepare three layers of backup," Xun Er said after a moment of thought. "First, dress as close as possible to how you normally do. Maybe he'll feel a connection just seeing you."
"If he can't recognize you, then I'll think of a way to let him hear the name 'Little Fairy Doctor'. This time you came with the Thousand Medicine House's owner to sell medicinal herbs at the Miteer Auction House. Coincidentally, Brother Xiao Ting took note of this matter the other day—he should be able to link the two together."
"If that still doesn't work, then we'll just go with the 'accidental acquaintance' route, and I'll introduce you to him."
"All right." Little Fairy Doctor felt Xun Er's arrangements were solid.
"Then let's deepen the details," Xun Er said with great interest.
…
Xiao Ting, meanwhile, knew nothing of what was happening between the two girls.
After receiving the notification from Xun Er's maid that she'd already gone out on some business, he went straight to find Xiao Yan.
The two of them grabbed a quick bite at the clan's small dining hall, then once again headed to the back mountain to start training.
"Senior, I'd like to cultivate a low-tier Earth-rank battle skill today. Could I trouble you to give me some pointers?" Xiao Ting summoned Yao Lao out from within the Bone-Flame Ring.
"Have you ever practiced this type of battle skill before?" Yao Lao asked.
"No." Xiao Ting shook his head. "This Earth-rank skill was something Xun Er gave me the other day."
Yao Lao nodded slightly, thinking to himself that this was a great opportunity.
Earth-rank battle skills involve the manipulation of the energy between heaven and earth. The core reason why cultivators below the Dou King realm can try to kill those above their level with Earth-rank skills lies precisely in this.
Xiao Ting was only a Dou Master. The first time he cultivated an Earth-rank skill, he would certainly run into many problems.
It was the perfect chance to establish his own prestige.
He also wanted Xiao Ting to understand that there are always higher mountains and stronger people in this world, so he wouldn't grow arrogant and complacent.
…
But about half an hour later, Yao Lao's expression had already become very interesting.
Not far in front of him, Xiao Ting had formed hand-seals with both hands; and with only the cultivation of a mere Dou Master, he actually managed to briefly rise into the air, buoyed by the energy of heaven and earth.
"Serpent Seal!"
A massive tide of Battle Qi surged out from Xiao Ting's body, taking the form of a three-meter-long serpent of interwoven red and violet energy.
A small amount of energy from heaven and earth was passively drawn into the serpent's body, allowing it to molt and transform into an even more substantial four-meter flood-dragon serpent.
Yao Lao: "…"
With a monster like this, how was he supposed to "knock him down a peg"?
Ling Ying (Hidden): "…"
Could it be that the abandoned Dou Emperor bloodline of the Xiao clan had reawakened?
…