Moment of Parting

When Lin Yuan brought Qinglin to the small valley, Xiao Yi Xian had already regained consciousness. She was standing before a sea of flowers, gazing into the distance.

Lin Yuan held back Qinglin, who wanted to run over to Xiao Yi Xian, then took a thick book from his storage ring and placed it in Qinglin's hands. After giving her a few instructions, Qinglin's expression turned a little bitter, but she still obediently opened the book and began reading.

Lin Yuan walked to Xiao Yi Xian's side and stood with her, watching. After glancing at the dead butterfly by Xiao Yi Xian's feet from the corner of his eye, he looked toward the sea of flowers ahead.

"Has the Woeful Poison Body awakened?"

"Mm."

"How do you feel now?"

"Worried, relieved, expectant, determined... it's complicated. I can't explain it clearly all at once."

"Do you regret it?"

"No. I knew it would awaken sooner or later. The moment I learned that I carried the Woeful Poison Body, this was already destined."

"There's no turning back once the bow is drawn. Since you've made your choice, then walk on bravely. I'll help you."

The two of them turned slightly, their gazes meeting. Xiao Yi Xian revealed a moving smile and said softly, "Thank you, Lin Yuan. Thank you for being willing to help me. Thank you for being willing to continue being my friend."

"No need to be polite. We're friends, aren't we?" Lin Yuan also gave Xiao Yi Xian a smile.

After that, Lin Yuan's tone suddenly changed, and he began sharply critiquing Xiao Yi Xian. "Xiao Yi Xian, your dou qi control won't do. That butterfly died because of your poison, right? How can you not even control your own dou qi properly? Isn't controlling your own dou qi the most basic thing? Your fundamentals aren't good enough. Looks like you need to practice more."

Lin Yuan's barrage of merciless criticism shattered the emotion Xiao Yi Xian had just felt because of his words of trust, and also shattered that whole pile of complicated feelings inside her. Xiao Yi Xian rubbed her forehead and looked somewhat speechlessly at Lin Yuan, who was earnestly critiquing her. How many times had this happened now? Why was this person always like this?

Xiao Yi Xian could only stare intently at Lin Yuan for a while. Only when Lin Yuan stopped his critique did she sigh faintly at him. "You really don't understand a young girl's heart."

Having said that, Xiao Yi Xian turned and walked toward Qinglin. She had already completed her initial control over the newly awakened Woeful Poison Body. Barring accidents, it would not go so far as to accidentally injure others, so she could come into contact with Qinglin.

And after she turned away, Lin Yuan also turned his head and looked toward the distant sky, his eyes deep and dark in a way Xiao Yi Xian had never seen before.

Of course Lin Yuan was not some fool lacking romantic sensibility who did not understand the mood. He understood the atmosphere just now very clearly. It was just that now was not the time, not the time to transform the friendship between the two of them into feelings between a man and a woman. Lin Yuan's expectation for Xiao Yi Xian was that, in the near future, she could become a comrade-in-arms capable of standing on her own. Among the promising seeds he had his eye on, Xiao Yi Xian was the most suitable candidate. She had no other attachments and was extremely intelligent. Although Qinglin and Zi Yan had potential, they were still far from maturity of character.

Transforming their friendship into romantic feelings too early would disrupt Lin Yuan's plans. Therefore, Lin Yuan chose to maintain his relationship with Xiao Yi Xian at a level above friends but not yet lovers. Moreover, he also wanted to see the woman who would break out of the cocoon and become a butterfly after being tempered by worldly experience, the beautiful woman who was both Xiao Yi Xian and the Heavenly Poison Woman.

Shaking his head, Lin Yuan walked toward Qinglin and Xiao Yi Xian.

Watching Lin Yuan approach, Xiao Yi Xian stroked Qinglin's head in her arms and said to Lin Yuan in annoyance, "Are you the devil? Not only are you making Qinglin cultivate, you're also arranging so many study tasks for her. How is she supposed to learn all of this?"

"There's no helping it. Although Qing'er has excellent cultivation talent, she has some shortcomings in cultural lessons. I have to tutor her." Lin Yuan gave a bitter laugh and explained. Because of her family circumstances, Qinglin had not had the conditions to receive a more formal basic education since childhood, so during this period of time, Lin Yuan had been making up for this weakness.

Xiao Yi Xian walked in front of Lin Yuan, extended a jade-like finger, tapped Lin Yuan's chest, and sharply critiqued, "Your standards are set too high. Look at what plans you arranged for her. It feels like you made them using yourself as the standard. Is that something an ordinary person can do? Leave this aspect to me. I'll make a plan for Qinglin."

"Then thank you, Xiao Yi Xian." Lin Yuan's eyes brightened. Thinking about it, that made sense. Because his innate soul power was far too outstanding, he learned everything very quickly, so his perspective and standards were somewhat biased. Having Xiao Yi Xian, a woman he himself acknowledged, make Qinglin's study plan should be more suitable.

"Qing'er!" Lin Yuan called out.

Qinglin immediately understood what Lin Yuan meant. She revealed a brilliant smile and threw herself into Xiao Yi Xian's arms. "Thank you, Older Sister Xiao Yi Xian!"

Xiao Yi Xian glanced at Lin Yuan proudly, then pulled Qinglin toward the wooden house Lin Yuan had built when he came a few days ago. "Let's go, Qinglin. Let your older sister understand your current situation first, then I'll help you make a suitable plan."

"Then I'll make you two a delicious meal as a reward." Saying this, Lin Yuan took out a strangely shaped "medicinal cauldron" he had modified himself. It was called strange because, compared to a medicinal cauldron, this cauldron looked more like a uniquely shaped pot. Then he took out some ingredients and began a different kind of "refining" work.

At night, the three of them sat around the table, which was filled with a whole spread of delicious delicacies.

Qinglin ate the delicacies before her with great relish.

Xiao Yi Xian ate the delicious food in her mouth. She had not expected Lin Yuan's cooking skills to be so outstanding, but when she recalled the way this guy used a medicinal cauldron and alchemy to refine food, her feelings became very complicated. Lin Yuan's actions gave Xiao Yi Xian, who had always yearned to become an alchemist and believed alchemy to be very sacred, a feeling that her dream had been shattered.

"If other alchemists knew you were using a medicinal cauldron in such a rebellious way, desecrating sacred alchemy, you would definitely be jointly boycotted by everyone!"

"I'm happy to. Besides, isn't it fine as long as they don't know? Just wait. After I become a grandmaster, watch me directly open up an alchemy branch called medicinal cuisine studies."

"Mm, Young Master is right. The things Young Master makes are really delicious."

One month later.

In the valley, Xiao Yi Xian was saying goodbye to Lin Yuan and Qinglin. In the end, she had decided to travel abroad. Her first stop would be the Chu Yun Empire, the base camp of poison masters.

Qinglin looked at Xiao Yi Xian with moist eyes and bit back her lips. After this month together, this woman who had loved and taught her like an elder sister had been deeply engraved in her heart.

Seeing this, Xiao Yi Xian held Qinglin in her arms, also somewhat reluctant to part. Stroking her head, she reminded her, "After I leave, Little Qinglin has to obediently listen to your young master. If he bullies you, remember to tell me the next time we meet, and I'll help you teach him a lesson."

"Mm, Older Sister Xiao Yi Xian, don't worry. I know. But Young Master won't bully me." Qinglin spoke with a slight sob in her voice.

"You little girl, you really make people want to cherish you. Lin Yuan, this guy, really picked up a treasure." Xiao Yi Xian gently stroked Qinglin's long hair and glanced at Lin Yuan.

After holding her for a while, Xiao Yi Xian reluctantly loosened her hold and walked in front of Lin Yuan. The two looked into each other's eyes, and an indescribable emotion flowed between them.

"I'm leaving."

"Mm. Be careful while training and traveling outside."

"Don't worry. I have Xiao Lan, and I'll be able to break through to Dou Shi very soon. You've also given me so many things. Medicinal pills, a human skin mask, a secret technique to hide my cultivation..."

"And this. These are some small techniques I summarized to strengthen dou qi control. And this is some of my insight into the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture." Lin Yuan took out two handwritten notebooks and handed them to Xiao Yi Xian.

Xiao Yi Xian accepted the handwritten notebooks and placed them into her storage ring. Looking at Lin Yuan, warmth filled her heart. She clearly had many things to say, yet it also seemed as if she could not say anything at all.

In the end, Xiao Yi Xian extended her hand and clasped Lin Yuan's. Pretending to sound lighthearted, she said, "Then I'm leaving. When you miss me, take out that strand of hair I gave you as a witness to our friendship."

"Mm. No matter what happens, no matter what you become, I will still be your friend. Don't be afraid. As for the Woeful Poison Body, I'll think of a way to help you resolve it," Lin Yuan said in a deep voice.

"Friend... is it? Farewell." Hearing Lin Yuan's words, Xiao Yi Xian murmured softly, then nimbly mounted Xiao Lan.

Suddenly, just before Xiao Lan was about to take off, Xiao Yi Xian suddenly jumped down from Xiao Lan and rushed in front of Lin Yuan. Standing on tiptoe, she gently touched Lin Yuan's cheek with her lips. After the brief touch, she mounted Xiao Lan and flew into the distance without looking back, leaving only her voice echoing through the valley.

"Lin Yuan, the next time we meet, I'll surprise you!"

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