Ten Thousand Flowers Touch, I Want It All!

The bronze door ring was scorched to a ruddy glow under the blazing sun.

Heat waves rippled across the signboard of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

Xiao Yi Xian's veil was lifted by the hot wind, revealing the faint purple poison mark on her neck.

The guard mercenary instinctively pressed his hand on his sword hilt and stepped back half a pace:

"Halt! Who goes there?"

From the seemingly frail young woman, they sensed an utterly lethal threat.

There was no helping it—Xiao Yi Xian had advanced too quickly to fully conceal her aura.

Xiao Yan chuckled lightly:

"Go report to your regimental commander and deputy regimental commander. Tell them Xiao Yan has come to see them."

The two mercenaries froze, their expressions sharpening:

Xiao Yan?

Both surnamed Xiao—could he be the regimental commander's oft-mentioned younger brother?

"Alright, please wait a moment."

As the two entered, Xiao Yi Xian suddenly felt the hand holding hers tighten slightly.

She looked up to find that the youth's usually piercing gaze had softened.

No sooner had the mercenaries left than:

"Xiao Yanzi!"

A thunderous shout tore through the courtyard.

Xiao Li burst out of the main hall, bare-chested and muscular, his bronze skin covered in scars.

He charged forward in two strides, eyes blazing with excitement.

But as he drew close, his broad, fan-like hand hung in midair, hesitant to land.

Was this tall, sharp-featured youth before him—

Really the third brother with those clear, innocent eyes from childhood?

"Second Brother!"

At the familiar voice, Xiao Li snapped back to reality.

His heavy hand came down:

"Good lad!"

"I heard you awakened overnight and soared straight up."

"Took over all of Wutan City in one go."

"Spinning tales that tall—let Second Brother test your cultivation!"

The moment the words left his mouth, his thunder-attribute Dou Qi erupted as he slapped Xiao Yan's shoulder.

But Xiao Yan didn't dodge. The instant that hand touched his black robe—

A surging cultivation exploded outward:

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Xiao Li was sent stumbling back three steps, leaving deep impressions in the sand:

"Damn!"

"You're tougher than a Thunder Horn Rhino!"

"Come on, come on—let's go see Big Brother."

Inside the mercenary group's main hall:

Xiao Ding, seated in the host's position, cast his gaze at the girl sitting beside his third brother.

He spoke softly, his tone inquiring:

"Third Brother, who might this young lady be?"

Xiao Yi Xian's heart tightened. The hand holding the celadon teacup trembled slightly.

She was still a little nervous—after all, as Xiao Yan had told her, When they first met, he already had a beloved companion by his side.

She wondered what impression she'd made on his two elder brothers.

Xiao Li also turned his gaze to Xiao Yan; he'd noticed her earlier.

But with his temperament, he hadn't felt comfortable asking.

Xiao Yan didn't answer right away. Instead, he boldly and openly took Xiao Yi Xian's hand.

She shot him a glare, her eyes filled with shyness.

"What are you doing?!"

"There are people here!"

Ignoring the small hand in his grasp, its struggle utterly feeble.

Xiao Yan's tone carried certainty:

"This is my betrothed wife."

The words had barely left his mouth before Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were startled.

Even the Little Doctor's expression froze in shock, then crimson quickly crept to her earlobes:

Isn't this—

So blatant? That wasn't what we agreed on when we came!

Xiao Li was taken aback, blurting out without thinking:

"Then what about Xun'er?"

Xiao Yan calmly lifted his teacup, taking a light sip:

"Also."

"Pfft!"

On the dais, Xiao Ding sprayed out the tea he'd just drunk.

His eyes, fixed on his third brother, were filled with shock:

Good heavens!

He'd thought his third brother was a devoted lover.

Now he realized he was actually a fickle one.

Snapping out of it, Xiao Li burst into laughter:

"Hahaha!"

"Third brother, you're something!"

"Passing through a sea of flowers and coming out drenched—that's a skill you've mastered well!"

"But don't let it slacken your training."

"I wonder how much your strength has improved over these years?"

Xiao Yan chuckled lightly:

"Your little brother is unaccomplished; my strength barely reaches Four-star Dou Ling."

"Four-star Dou Ling, that's still—"

"What?!"

"How much did you say?"

Ignoring his two brothers' stunned expressions, Xiao Yan pulled a badge from his robes:

"Oh, and I also happened to pass the exam for Rank 5 Alchemist."

"Rank 5?!!"

The moment their shocked exclamations faded!

Xiao Yan casually tossed out three jade bottles, and the fragrance of pills instantly overwhelmed the room:

"Rank 5 Dragon Strength Pill, Rank 5 Heaven Heart Pill, Rank 4 Ice Heart Powder, and—"

He deliberately drew out the last syllable:

"—a special Bone-Corroding Poison Powder made by your sister-in-law."

"Knocks out a Tier 3 Demonic Beast in five seconds!"

"Coated on a weapon, it's unstoppable!"

The jade bottles landed on the stone table with a crisp clatter.

Xiao Li's hand trembled as he reached out and uncorked a bottle.

Purple poison mist condensed into a skull that rose up, corroding the roof beam into a honeycomb of holes.

The two elder brothers stood dumbfounded, as Xiao Yi Xian's soft laugh reached their ears:

"This is a small gift from me to my two elder brothers."

"I had limited time to prepare; I hope you won't think little of it."

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had already risen, crowding around the table of pills.

They reached out, hands hovering as if wanting to touch but afraid to:

"You, this..."

"I..."

Some words were incoherent!

After a long pause:

"A Rank 5 Alchemist?!"

Xiao Ding finally snapped back to reality:

"How long have you been away from home?"

"Back then, you couldn't even roast a chicken over a fire without burning it half-raw."

"And now you're telling me you can refine a Fifth-grade pill?"

Xiao Yan chuckled without a word, letting them chatter on for a while longer.

Only then did the two brothers fully accept the fact that their younger sibling was blessed with unmatched talent.

Once that was settled, Xiao Yan brought up the real matter:

"Big Brother, Second Brother, I'm looking for a young girl."

"There's a three-petal flower reflected in her left pupil."

He deliberately omitted Qing Lin's name:

"Have you seen her by any chance?"

Xiao Ding's command flag suddenly snapped in his hand:

"You mean Qing Lin?"

He signaled for someone outside to bring the roster:

"I vaguely remember rescuing a little girl from a Bandit Den last month. Her eyes were indeed—"

Before he could finish, the Messenger burst through the door, his armor stained with blood.

"Captain!"

"The Sand Scorpion Mercenary Group has detained our Herb Gathering Team!"

The soldier's Adam's apple bobbed:

"And a few of the orphans we took in are among them."

"Is Qing Lin there too?"

"Yes!!"

The tea cup in Xiao Yan's hand instantly vaporized, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes:

"Lead the way."

Under the high-hanging Waning Moon, two factions met at the edge of Desert City.

The Sand Scorpion Mercenary Group's Darksteel Heavy Shield shimmered with a Gleaming Blue Poison Light.

Dozens of men surrounded the Herb Gathering Team in the middle.

Mo Xing stepped out from the crowd:

"Listen up, Desert Iron scum—these people are ours now."

"You're not even qualified to bark here. Call your—"

Before he could finish, a brilliant red light caught his eyes.

The moment the Fire Wings tore through the night, all sound ceased.

Xiao Yan descended at the front lines atop Flowing Fire, the Heavy Black Ruler carving a Ten-Zhang Scorch Mark into the sand.

Mo Xing's Scimitar clattered to the ground with a clang, the fat on his face twisting in terror.

He stood frozen, his voice trembling:

"Dou... Dou Qi Manifested Wings!?"

"A Dou King!?"

Mo Xing signaled a subordinate to notify the captain immediately.

Then, forcing down his fear, he spoke:

"Th-this, milord!?"

"We merely have some grievances with the Desert Iron Mercenary Group."

"Your sudden arrival—could there be some misunderstanding?"

Xiao Yan paid the burly man no heed, turning his gaze instead to the encircled crowd.

There stood a frail young girl, helpless in the center.

Above her head, a worn-out Hood had slipped off.

Under the moonlight:

Three-petal patterns slowly rotated within jade-green pupils.

The shackles around slender ankles clinked and clattered.

Xiao Yan's expression instantly turned cold, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips:

"Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, we'll set that aside for now."

"Let's go by what you just said."

"Am I qualified enough?"