Cave

As the Blue Eagle carried Xiao Yi Xian toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Lin Yuan, somewhere Xiao Yi Xian could not see, also spread his Azure Flame Wings and followed like a streak of azure light.

And beneath the spot where he had just been standing lay several figures, collapsed and sound asleep.

A while later, one of them slowly got up, patted his own head, and muttered under his breath.

"Strange. Weren't Old Li and I discussing things outside town? How did I suddenly fall asleep? Where is this? And who are these people? Hey, Old Li, wake up."

Under Xiao Yi Xian's guidance, Xiao Lan carried Xiao Yi Xian, and not long after, they flew to the cliff where the cave was located.

After arriving, Xiao Yi Xian checked the mark she had made last time, then took out a prepared torch and drew a fire starter from her robes to light it.

After that, Xiao Yi Xian guided Xiao Lan to descend slowly toward the pitch-black cave below.

Not far away, Lin Yuan also spread out his Soul Perception to monitor the situation over here.

At this moment, Xiao Yi Xian was directing Xiao Lan closer to the cave entrance, and just as Xiao Yi Xian was only a few meters away from it...

Suddenly, a long black shadow pounced at Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Lan. It was the First-Tier Magical Beast Rock Serpent that had been waiting to hunt. The Rock Serpent slammed into Xiao Lan at once, coiled around it nimbly, and Xiao Lan lost its balance. Xiao Yi Xian, on its back, also fell downward.

"Ah!"

A young girl's cry of alarm rang through the night sky.

Just then, a streak of azure light flew toward Xiao Yi Xian and caught her before she made intimate contact with the ground.

It was Lin Yuan. He had acted at the critical moment and caught Xiao Yi Xian.

Lin Yuan wrapped an arm around the willow waist of the deathly pale Xiao Yi Xian, gave his wings a beat, and with a nimble turn, flew back near the cave. At this moment, a thrilling eagle-serpent fight was playing out here, and the Rock Serpent, which had seized the initiative, had already taken the upper hand.

"Xiao Lan." Seeing the Blue Eagle in danger, Xiao Yi Xian immediately came back to her senses, somewhat anxious.

Lin Yuan chuckled and flicked his finger. An azure spark was born from thin air at his fingertip, then landed on the Rock Serpent's seven-inch spot in a snap of his fingers. Immediately, the azure spark turned into an azure flame spark and instantly ended the Rock Serpent's life. The Blue Eagle also broke free of its restraints and looked fearfully at Lin Yuan, who was holding Xiao Yi Xian. The instincts of a magical beast told it that the existence before it was extremely dangerous.

Seeing Xiao Lan escape danger, Xiao Yi Xian, in Lin Yuan's arms, also relaxed. Only then did she secretly look at Lin Yuan's face. It was the face of a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old youth. Her nose twitched, and she smelled an extremely faint but deeply memorable scent. Her heart jolted. This faint herbal smell is exactly the same as that expert from yesterday. Could it be...

Suppressing the doubt and shock in her heart, Xiao Yi Xian only then noticed the Azure Fire Wings behind Lin Yuan, and she was even more astonished. The youth before her looked around the same age as her, yet he was already a Dou Wang? Such a young Dou Wang?

Lin Yuan brought Xiao Yi Xian down to the cave entrance, then set Xiao Yi Xian down and loosened his hold on that willow waist with its excellent feel.

Xiao Yi Xian pushed down all her tangled thoughts, performed a bow toward Lin Yuan, and said, "Many thanks, my lord, for saving my life. Xiao Yi Xian is infinitely grateful."

"You've figured out who I am, haven't you?" Lin Yuan asked directly. Although it was a question, his tone was quite certain. His intuition told him Xiao Yi Xian had discovered that he and the person who had gone to Myriad Medicine Pavilion yesterday were the same.

Xiao Yi Xian was silent for a moment, then answered frankly, "You are the lord who came to Myriad Medicine Pavilion yesterday, aren't you?"

"That's right, it was me. Xiao Yi Xian is indeed intelligent. Can you tell me how you discovered it? Our appearances are clearly completely different." Lin Yuan was also somewhat curious. His disguise should not have had any flaws.

"The smell. When I'm very close, I can smell that very, very faint but very unique herbal scent on you. It's exactly the same as yesterday. I'm a physician. I wouldn't mistake that smell," Xiao Yi Xian honestly answered Lin Yuan's question.

"So that's how it is. The smell of herbs. To be able to notice that, you really are excellent. Since you've satisfied my curiosity, then in return, I'll also answer your question. Is there anything you want to ask?" Lin Yuan looked with great interest at Xiao Yi Xian, whose expression was somewhat confused, anticipating her performance.

Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian pondered for a moment, then looked at Lin Yuan with slight distress. "You've been following me all along, haven't you? How did you discover it? I clearly hadn't mentioned this matter to anyone yet."

Lin Yuan lightly clapped his hands, his expression very pleased, and chuckled. "That's right, I've been following you since yesterday. As for why I knew, it's very simple. I'm an alchemist. Yesterday, when I brought up the question about the cave, I was using Soul Perception to sense everyone in Myriad Medicine Pavilion. At that time, the sudden, rapid change in your emotions told me you knew something related to this place, while your behavior on the spot showed complete ignorance. So I knew you had your own ideas about this cave. All I needed to do was lure the snake out of its hole."

"So that's how it is. The Soul Perception of alchemists mentioned in books? It seems that later, setting a deadline for Steward Yao to make the map was also to make me act as soon as possible." When she mentioned alchemists, a trace of envy flashed through Xiao Yi Xian's eyes. That was her own dream.

"Yes and no. That was an idle chess piece. If following you could find this cave, naturally that would be good. If following you couldn't find this cave, it still wouldn't be too late for me to search through the map afterward. At that time, the map would come in handy."

Xiao Yi Xian completely understood. It seemed that the fact she had not encountered anyone after leaving Qingshan Town should also have been this person's doing. And to think she had believed she was fated with the treasure.

After Xiao Yi Xian figured everything out, a sense of powerlessness surged into her heart. So she had long since been caught in the schemes of a powerful person she could not resist. Somewhat discouraged, her voice also carried a bit more dullness. "How do you plan to deal with me?"

"Since you're here, let's go take a look together. You can be considered to have some fate with this place. As for the treasure, I don't mind sharing some with you." Looking at the sorrowful Xiao Yi Xian, Lin Yuan could not help wanting to laugh. He quietly took out an Image Stone and recorded this expression.

Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian asked in some surprise, "You're not going to hold it against me for wanting to get there first? And you're still willing to share the treasure with me?"

"Looks like my way of doing things and attitude yesterday gave you the wrong impression." Lin Yuan rubbed his forehead, looked at Xiao Yi Xian, and said seriously, "Whether you believe it or not, I can only tell you that I should count as a kind person. The reason I acted so high and mighty in Myriad Medicine Pavilion was because some people are better dealt with that way. After all, under that kind of attitude, the person in charge of Myriad Medicine Pavilion paid more attention to what I ordered, didn't he?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian could not help nodding as well. She still understood Mr. Yao very well. Lin Yuan's method was indeed the most effective.

After a pause, Lin Yuan continued, "So there's no need to treat me like some bad person. In any case, you've rendered merit by bringing me here. Sharing with you some of the treasure I don't want is no big deal. Besides..."

"Besides?" Xiao Yi Xian was somewhat doubtful.

"Besides, you're a beauty. A beauty naturally has some qualifications to receive a little preferential treatment. Also, your waist was quite comfortable to hold. Haha." A clear laugh came from Lin Yuan, and the teasing in his tone dispelled the dull atmosphere between the two of them.

"You!!!" Hearing Lin Yuan's words, Xiao Yi Xian also recalled the scene just now when Lin Yuan had saved her and held her in his arms. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and much of the worry in her heart also faded. After all, both her life and Xiao Lan's had been saved by the youth before her.

After relaxing, Xiao Yi Xian asked curiously, "So casual? Are all geniuses like you this kind of person?"

"It's not the personality of a genius, but the willfulness of the strong. Within the range of what one's ability can control, doing the things one likes—that is the willfulness of the strong, and strength is the qualification for that willfulness."

The words, casual yet carrying a hint of deeper meaning, reached Xiao Yi Xian's ears, making her thoughts wander despite herself.

"The willfulness of the strong? Will I have a day like that too?"

These two days, I may be going on the recommendation list, so follow-up reading data is extremely, extremely important. Everyone, please help out. Please keep reading, and try to read up to the latest chapter. Qing Ping is infinitely grateful here.