Luring Poison, Burning Mist, I Like You.

A sharp knock at the door cut through Xiao Yan's thoughts.

His perception spread out in an instant.

He shot to his feet and withdrew the cauldron.

At that moment, purple toxic mist seeped silently through the crack in the door like a specter.

"Sizzle."

The sturdy wooden door let out a corroding creak.

The mist crept into the room.

Xiao Yan's expression hardened, and a Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame erupted in his palm.

The scorching blaze instantly incinerated the encroaching poison into nothingness.

He reached out and pulled the door open.

The once-solid wooden door was now riddled with dense, web-like holes from the poison's erosion.

The power of this toxic mist far exceeded his expectations.

"Xiao—"

A weak voice came from behind him. Xiao Yan spun around.

Purple toxic mist swirled around Xiao Yi Xian's frail figure!

Ice-like purple crystals had formed at the tips of her dark hair.

She staggered, lost her balance, and collapsed into the young man's arms.

As she fell, her hairpin dropped to the ground.

With a few "pfft" sounds, it burned black, pitted holes into the thick beast-hide carpet.

Xiao Yan quickly caught her limp body.

He had somewhat anticipated this scene. Xiao Yi Xian, having awakened her Calamity Poison Body, had taken the Fourth-Grade Poison Pill he gave her.

Combined with the toxic herbs she regularly consumed, her cultivation had soared to Dou Master One Star.

Periodic flare-ups of the poison body were inevitable—he just hadn't expected them so soon.

He was still missing a few key ingredients for the pills to delay her symptoms.

But heaven never seals off all roads. He still had the encyclopedia of the Dou Qi Continent—Old Yao!

"Teacher!"

Old Yao's phantom swiftly materialized from the Bone Flame Ring, his expression grave.

"Two options!"

"First, directly use the Strange Fire to burn away the toxins inside her body for temporary suppression."

"But it would cause her significant harm."

"Second, draw the toxins into your own body, then burn them with the Strange Fire. This spares her."

"But the pain involved..."

Xiao Yan didn't let Old Yao finish. He laid Xiao Yi Xian flat on the bed.

The toxic mist around Xiao Yi Xian couldn't touch Xiao Yan at all, wreathed as he was in Strange Fire.

Without hesitation, Xiao Yan moved quickly and gently to undo her outer robe.

There, on her flat, pale abdomen, a purple poison line was slowly surging toward her heart.

A crimson flame flickered at his fingertip. He pressed his hand lightly against her Dantian.

Carefully, he drew the dense poison from her body into his own.

The blazing fire crept slowly along the girl's meridians.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice.

"Bear with it."

With that, he commanded the Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame to pull at the toxins inside her.

The Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame transformed into a crimson dragon in an instant.

It raced through Xiao Yi Xian's meridians, madly expelling the rampaging poison gas wherever it passed.

The temperature in the room soared.

The surrounding Highly Toxic Mist visibly dissipated.

But a Strange Fire is still a Strange Fire, even with Xiao Yan controlling it with all his might.

It wasn't something a young girl could simply endure.

Xiao Yi Xian bore immense pain, her arms tightly wrapped around Xiao Yan's neck.

Suddenly, she bit down on his shoulder, her voice muffled and tearful:

"Xiao Yan."

"It hurts."

Her voice carried a sob, her hands clawing at his back.

Her little actions had no effect on Xiao Yan's body, which rivaled a Fifth-Tier Magical Beast.

Naturally, it did nothing.

But her voice packed a real punch:

Xiao Yan felt his heart tremble, his control growing gentler.

Time ticked by, minute after minute, until the seventh wave of poison surged and was purged.

Outside the window, the sky had begun to pale with dawn.

It wasn't that Xiao Yan lacked strength; it was that he couldn't bear to harm Xiao Yi Xian.

He could only stretch out the time, guiding with delicate precision.

This was something only Xiao Yan could do, after all—the Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame was a Strange Fire born from his own being.

His mastery over it had long been maxed out.

If anyone else possessed a Strange Fire, achieving this level would be utterly impossible.

That's why Yao Lao had proposed this plan—burning it away, not suppressing it.

Xiao Yi Xian collapsed limply in Xiao Yan's arms.

Her breathing gradually steadied, and a hint of color returned to her pale face.

Only then did she notice that Xiao Yan's right arm was covered in spiderweb-like purple spots.

Her heart clenched, and her eyes reddened:

"You..."

"Why go this far..."

"I'm sorry... I'm..."

Before she could finish, Xiao Yan suddenly leaned down and kissed her on the lips.

This time, she didn't resist. She just stayed quietly in his arms.

Her hands tightly gripped his neck.

After a long moment, their lips parted:

Xiao Yan raised a hand and fed her a pill.

Her earlobes were already bright red, and only then did she notice her own clothes were a bit disheveled.

A faint blush crept down to her neck.

She quickly hugged Xiao Yan tighter, burying her entire face in his chest.

As if that would keep him from seeing.

Her head buried in his arms, her voice was muffled, still carrying a hint of tears:

"Xiao Yan, why are you so good to me?"

"I'm just..."

"Listen to me..."

Before she could finish, Xiao Yan cut her off.

He gently rested his head on Xiao Yi Xian's shoulder, his right hand softly stroking her back.

His voice was warm and tender, brimming with affection, completely unlike his usual self:

"I like you."

Xiao Yi Xian's body went rigid, mist filling her eyes.

Feeling Xiao Yan's presence, her voice softened:

"You rogue. Who confesses to a girl like that?"

"Too blunt, not subtle at all."

"Then will you say yes?"

"Mm."

Her gentle whisper reached his ears, and a smile tugged at the corner of Xiao Yan's lips.

He gently released her waist and straightened Xiao Yi Xian's body.

Cupping her face in both hands, he looked straight into her violet eyes.

A hint of playfulness crept into his tone:

"That easy, huh?"

"What if I found a few more?"

"Would you still agree?"

"Mm."

This time, it was Xiao Yan's turn to be startled:

"Why?"

Xiao Yi Xian pried his hands away and straddled him, settling onto his lap.

Her hands climbed to his cheeks and gave them a pinch.

A soft laugh escaped her:

"Because I know I can't sway what's in your heart."

"But I can't leave you anymore."

Xiao Yan's heart trembled as he gazed into those beautiful purple eyes:

"I won't let you down."

Xiao Yi Xian's eyes curved into crescents as she gave a gentle nod.

The wind swept through, carrying yellow sand in a wild swirl.

The Flying Magical Beast slowly descended onto the established outpost. Xiao Yan took Xiao Yi Xian's hand and led her to the ground.

Looking up, they could faintly make out something in the distant sand.

A city stood tall in the midst of this desert.

The rest of the way, they'd have to go on foot.

But after riding the Flying Magical Beast for so long, it was time for a rest.

The two of them headed toward a restaurant in the outpost.

They'd only taken a few steps when, under a nearby awning, twelve members of the Sand Scorpion Mercenary Group were squatting in the shade, gnawing on watermelon.

They looked perfectly at ease.

A scar-faced man spat out a watermelon seed, then his murky eyes suddenly went wide.

His gaze locked onto Xiao Yi Xian, heat surging in his chest and a gleam flashing in his eyes: