Wooden House

Though his words were polite, Xiao Heng did not feel that his actions matched his tone. The man directly pushed open Xiao Yi Xian's door, with four or five people standing behind him, all eyeing Xiao Heng and Xiao Yi Xian with unfriendly expressions.

Xiao Yi Xian stepped forward as well and said, "Mr. Yao, look at your right palm. Is it faintly turning blue?"

Hearing Xiao Yi Xian's words, the Middle-aged Man's expression changed slightly. He hurriedly opened his right hand and indeed saw that his palm had faintly turned blue. He immediately shouted, "You... you poisoned me?"

Smiling as she shook her head, Xiao Yi Xian said softly, "Mr. Yao should know the effects of the medicine I prepare. If I do not tell you the antidote formula, in at most another month, the poison will flare up. At best, you will be mentally paralyzed; at worst, you will lose your life."

Her gentle voice echoed through the room. Though the blazing sun hung overhead, Mr. Yao felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. He had not expected that, despite being sufficiently careful, he had still fallen for Xiao Yi Xian's scheme.

After struggling for a long while between life and greed, Mr. Yao finally said through gritted teeth, "Give me the antidote formula, and I'll let you leave."

"After staying at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion for so long, Mr. Yao, don't expect me to trust how faithfully you keep your promises. Let us leave, and I will naturally give you the formula." Xiao Yi Xian shook her head, utterly composed.

Xiao Heng had now seen what this beautiful girl was capable of. Shaking his head, he stepped forward as well. Dou Qi surged, forming a gauze-like layer over his body. He said confidently, "No need to make this so troublesome. I'll just ask you one thing: are you moving aside or not?"

The Middle-aged Man had wanted to curse in anger, but swallowed the words before they left his mouth. He said coldly, "I hope you can stay this smug forever!" Then, with an unwilling snort, he said, "Make way!" and took the initiative to move aside from the doorway.

Xiao Yi Xian looked at Xiao Heng in surprise. She had thought they would have to waste more effort, but she had not expected this guy to be so formidable that Boss Yao had directly made way for him—and Boss Yao had actually backed down.

"Let's go!"

Seeing that he had truly moved aside, Xiao Heng was somewhat surprised. He had thought they would have to fight. Still, this was better—it saved them some trouble. With that thought, he led Xiao Yi Xian toward the exit.

But accidents could happen at any time. Just as one of Xiao Heng's legs stepped out the door, the Middle-aged Man suddenly circulated his Dou Qi and shouted in a low voice, "Green Wood Palm!"

A sharp wind struck from behind. It was already too late to dodge. In his haste, Xiao Heng threw Xiao Yi Xian away, while covering himself in a Dou Qi gauze and taking the blow head-on. He was sent flying several meters away!

Only then did the Middle-aged Man walk out. With a gloomy expression, he said, "Kid, blame your bad luck. You shouldn't have meddled in this matter."

Then he looked at Xiao Yi Xian and said, "Once I deal with him, I'll deal with you."

Xiao Yi Xian had been flung aside by Xiao Heng. Seeing him get hit, she forgot everything else and immediately ran to his side, supporting him as she asked worriedly, "Are you alright?"

Xiao Heng straightened up and shook his head to show that he was fine. He drew the White Sword, covering it with Dou Qi, and said coldly, "I was originally planning to spare your life. I didn't expect you to court death!"

The Middle-aged Man laughed disdainfully. "Kid, you're still putting on a brave face. Let's see who dies!"

As he circulated his Dou Qi, intending to end the kid's life completely, he thought, This kid wiped out the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. He must have plenty of good things on him. Once I get his possessions, as well as Xiao Yi Xian's, I can dominate Qingshan Town.

"Hundred Pace Flying Sword!"

Unfortunately, his ambitions ended after only two steps. A flash of white suddenly appeared before his eyes, blinding him. Then that streak of white sliced open his throat.

He clutched his throat desperately, but the thin line of blood slowly widened. In the end, blood sprayed forth, and he collapsed to the ground, closing his eyes.

Seeing their boss killed with a single sword strike, the people nearby were so frightened that they did not dare move. Cold sweat poured down them like rain. They feared that Xiao Heng would strike again and kill them as well.

Xiao Heng sheathed the White Sword and removed the Storage Ring from Boss Yao's hand. He looked at the people inside and said, "Take me to the warehouse, and I'll spare your lives!"

How could the remaining men dare resist? They had never expected their boss to suddenly attack, much less that he would be killed in a single blow. It reminded them of the destruction of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group—the corpses filling the entire courtyard seemed to appear before their eyes again. Hearing that Xiao Heng would not kill them, they all breathed sighs of relief and scrambled to lead him to the warehouse.

The warehouse was not far away. They encountered few people along the way. Those who did not attack were spared; those who did were killed directly. Xiao Heng was no helpless lamb now.

As for the few people guarding the warehouse, they refused to open the door and were killed by Xiao Heng as well. Then he split the main gate open with a single slash.

The Myriad Medicine Pavilion was far wealthier than the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Xiao Heng found more than forty first- and second-tier Magic Cores, then took away all the more precious medicinal herbs. As for the rest, he did not have that much time. He would leave them for whoever was fated to find them!

Half an hour later, news of the Myriad Medicine Pavilion's destruction spread, and the culprit was still that same youth! In two days, he had destroyed the two greatest forces in Qingshan Town. Perhaps, many years from now, this place would have a legend that belonged to him.

At that moment, Xiao Heng and Xiao Yi Xian were sitting atop the Blue Eagle's back. Looking at the still-dazed Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Heng irritably smacked her on the head and said, "What, did I scare you?"

That smack brought Xiao Yi Xian back to herself. She shook her head and said, "Not really. I just didn't expect you to act so decisively. I thought you..."

Xiao Heng smiled and finished for her, "Thought I was rather kind, right?"

"Mm." Xiao Yi Xian lowered her head and answered.

Xiao Heng raised his head and looked into the distance. "Actually, I'm very afraid of people dying. I never imagined I would kill anyone before. But this is a world that devours people! If you don't kill others, they'll kill you. Just like earlier—if I hadn't killed him, he definitely wouldn't have let us go!"

Xiao Yi Xian nodded as if she understood, then looked into the distance as well. "Yes... a world that devours people."

Xiao Heng suddenly smiled again. "Still, there's no need to be so pessimistic. This world has plenty of beautiful things, and plenty of kind people too!"

Xiao Yi Xian nodded. "I know!"

With his hands behind his head, Xiao Heng lay on the Blue Eagle's back and looked at the blue sky. "Why think so much? Live in the present. Besides, I'm not going to draw my sword against you!"

Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian smiled sweetly. "Really? You'll never draw your sword against me?"

"Mm. I won't."

Turning toward Xiao Heng, Xiao Yi Xian said, "Then promise me that you'll never draw your sword against me."

Xiao Heng closed his eyes, leisurely enjoying the moment as he replied perfunctorily, "Mm, I promise."

Xiao Yi Xian looked into the distance again. "You're my only friend. If you ever drew your sword against me, I would be very sad!"

"Don't worry," Xiao Heng replied perfunctorily again.

Though his tone was somewhat absentminded, Xiao Yi Xian still smiled happily. She was beautiful—but Xiao Heng did not see it.

Guided by Xiao Yi Xian, the Blue Eagle flew straight toward a valley. Jumping down from its back, Xiao Heng sensed the dense spiritual energy around him and saw medicinal herbs growing everywhere. He sighed, "It really is a good place!"

"Well? I didn't lie to you, did I?" On the way here, Xiao Yi Xian had said she would bring Xiao Heng to a good place. Seeing his admiration, she was naturally delighted.

Then she added, "Next, I need to prepare some poisons from the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, so I may need to stay here for a while longer." Her tone carried a hint of negotiation.

"No problem!" Xiao Heng naturally had no objection. He had wanted to come here in the first place. Next, he also needed to spend some time consolidating what he had gained over the past two months. This place had dense spiritual energy and abundant medicinal herbs. There were no Magical Beasts to disturb them, and he had a beautiful woman by his side. Naturally, he was more than willing!

Seeing Xiao Heng agree, Xiao Yi Xian smiled happily, then quickly composed herself. Raising her little fist, she said, "And let me tell you this! Don't think you can try anything just because it's only the two of us here. I'm not someone you can bully!"

Seeing this, Xiao Heng hurriedly raised his hands in surrender and put on an obedient expression. "How could I? Don't worry, I'm absolutely a good person!"

Xiao Yi Xian was amused by Xiao Heng's ridiculous appearance, though she still said haughtily, "It'd better be! Fine, turn around first. I need to tidy up!"

"Mm!" Xiao Heng answered, then began carefully examining the valley. The more he looked, the more he realized that this truly was an excellent place.

Meanwhile, in Qingshan Town, Gan Mu had just consolidated the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's remaining forces when he received news that the owner of the Myriad Medicine Pavilion had died—and that the one responsible was that young man. He quietly rejoiced over his earlier choice. Then his eyes shifted, as though he had thought of something else.

"Wang Hu, gather all the brothers immediately. We're going to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion."

An ordinary-looking man beside him stepped forward. "Yes, Commander!"

Afterward, relying on his strength as a Nine-star Dou Practitioner and borrowing Xiao Heng's prestige, Gan Mu barely managed to take in most of the Myriad Medicine Pavilion's remaining forces. In one leap, he became the greatest force in Qingshan Town.

Of course, he did not dare directly mention Xiao Heng's name. He merely guided others into thinking along those lines. As the only surviving higher-up of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, people naturally began making such assumptions, so it was not too difficult.

To cement the impression that he was working for that great man, he even named his faction the Blood Sword Mercenary Group. Blood Sword was the nickname people here had given Xiao Heng. It was said that whenever Xiao Heng drew his sword, someone would die beneath its blade, hence the title Blood Sword.

Xiao Heng knew nothing of this. He was busy repairing the house! After thinking it over, Xiao Yi Xian decided that a piece of cloth was still too unsafe, so she forced Xiao Heng to upgrade the thatched hut.

In the valley, a voice as clear as silver bells rang out repeatedly!

"Over there!"

"The roof is crooked!"

"Hey! Hey! Xiao Heng, why is that pillar leaning? Hurry up and straighten it!"

Xiao Heng had only just fixed one spot when the little beauty below immediately ordered him to work on another. Xiao Heng rolled his eyes helplessly.

"Grandma, spare me! I can't do this anymore!"

Blue Eagle beside him was also panting heavily. The entire eagle lay sprawled on the ground, letting out a few weak cries to show that it could not continue either.

Reaching out to stroke Blue Eagle, Xiao Yi Xian said gently, "Thank you, Xiao Lan. I'll give you something tasty later!"

Xiao Heng shamelessly edged over as well, indicating that he wanted to be petted too! Xiao Yi Xian sent him retreating with a single look. Even Blue Eagle looked at Xiao Heng disdainfully, as though saying, "This human has no shame."

In the end, through the combined efforts of two people and one eagle, the thatched hut had been upgraded into a wooden house by noon! Don't ask why there was an eagle involved—there was not much wood in the valley, so who do you think carried it in?

Also, Xiao Yi Xian was quite a good cook. The food was delicious, and after eating, he did not even have to wash the dishes. What a wonderful life!