Encounter Again

He rested well that night.

The next day, Wei Yang did not crawl out of bed until noon.

He stretched comfortably.

He had slept soundly and peacefully.

In nearly ten years since coming to this world, this was the first time Wei Yang had slept so soundly.

Perhaps it was because he had gained a little confidence. Even his mindset had changed somewhat.

He got up, went through his daily cultivation, washed up, and ate lunch.

After lunch.

Wei Yang decided to go out for a walk and have a proper look around. While he was at it, he would sell off some of the low-grade herbs and first-tier Magic Cores he had obtained in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, so they would not take up space.

He would also see whether he might get lucky and find a bargain.

Of course, the chances of finding one were slim to none.

Wei Yang strolled leisurely down the street, looking here and asking around there, completely at ease.

This was a rare chance to relax, and he was enjoying it.

After struggling for nearly ten years, he finally had a little strength and confidence. Could he not enjoy himself a little?

Before he knew it, he had arrived near Myriad Medicine House. The town itself was not large, with only a few relatively bustling streets in total.

Ahead, a delicate figure in white came into view.

Hmm?

Wei Yang halted.

They had met again already?

However, Xiao Yi Xian was not doing well at the moment. Three burly mercenaries with lewd grins had blocked her path and were verbally harassing her.

"What a pretty little beauty."

"Hehe, little beauty, where are you going? Big brother likes you. How about coming home with big brother?"

"No, little beauty, don't go with him. Come with big brother instead. Big brother will take good care of you."

"Come with big brother..."

"Little lady, pick any one of the three brothers, or take all three of us if you want. Hahaha."

The three mercenaries had formed a ring around Xiao Yi Xian, lewd smiles plastered across their faces as they spewed increasingly filthy remarks.

Xiao Yi Xian had washed away the dust covering her from yesterday.

She wore a simple white cloth dress, a pale green sash outlining the curve of her exquisite waist. Her long hair reached her waist, and she stood there with a graceful, slender figure. Her fresh, ethereal aura made one's eyes light up at first glance.

Faced with the three mercenaries' harassment, she appeared somewhat panicked. Her small face was pale, her hands tightly clutching the corners of her dress. She lowered her head without speaking, though a trace of stubbornness remained in her expression.

Her pitiful, delicate appearance only made her more moving, making people want to pull her into their arms and protect her.

Naturally, the three mercenaries grew even more eager, their gazes turning hotter and their behavior more brazen.

"This is too much, bullying a little girl."

"Hmph, they're from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. They've always been arrogant."

Among the onlookers, some showed indignation at the sight.

But more of them merely watched the spectacle with an attitude that it had nothing to do with them.

No one stepped forward to stop it.

Seeing this, the three mercenaries became even more unscrupulous, their faces full of arrogant pride.

The Wolf Head Mercenary Group was one of the foremost powers in Green Mountain Town, and they had long been accustomed to acting tyrannically.

Wei Yang frowned as he watched it all, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.

Annoyed.

Damn it, she was one of my greatest regrets back then!

Since when did little Karamis like you get to harass her?

Even if I had been indifferent about it, it still wasn't your place, small fry like you, to bully her.

"The same old hero-saving-the-beauty routine." Wei Yang shook his head and strode forward.

"Little sister, big brother will take you to—ah!"

Bang!

Wei Yang raised a hand from behind and chopped down with a slap, striking the mercenary's face and sending him tumbling to the ground. The man passed out immediately.

Wei Yang had not used any Dou Qi, but his physical strength alone was more than these two- and three-star Dou Zhes could endure.

A commotion broke out among the surrounding crowd.

"Who is that youth? He actually dares provoke people from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group."

"Saving a beauty is all well and good, but you have to consider who you're dealing with."

"He's in trouble now. After offending the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, no one in Green Mountain Town would dare protect him."

Xiao Yi Xian was startled as well. Looking up at Wei Yang, she could not help but feel a warmth rise in her heart.

So many people were present, yet he was the only one who had stepped in to save her.

"Come here." Wei Yang beckoned.

"Ah?" Xiao Yi Xian was stunned for a moment before realizing what he meant. She hurriedly ran behind Wei Yang to hide.

"Kid, who are you? How dare you meddle in our business? Do you know we're from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group?" One mercenary glanced at his unconscious companion and shouted darkly.

"You dare offend our Wolf Head Mercenary Group? Are you tired of living?" the other mercenary snapped.

"Noisy." Wei Yang's expression turned cold. He stepped forward and sent each of them flying several meters with a kick.

The two mercenaries who had just been arrogantly questioning him now lay on the ground, their bodies curled like shrimp. Their faces went from red to white, then from white to green. Large beads of cold sweat rolled down their foreheads, and the pain left them unable to speak.

The scene made all the surrounding spectators fall silent.

"I'm staying at the inn. Tell your commander to come find trouble with me if he has the guts. But the price will be steep," Wei Yang said calmly.

After saying that, he turned around and glanced at Xiao Yi Xian, who looked like a startled deer. "Let's go," he said gently.

With that, he headed toward the inn. This incident had ruined his interest in continuing his stroll.

Behind him, Xiao Yi Xian hurriedly followed.

As they walked, she occasionally looked up to steal a glance at Wei Yang's back. After doing so several times, her face began to redden.

Xiao Yi Xian was only a little over twelve years old now. She had just suffered a great upheaval in her life, lost her family, and been left all alone.

This was precisely the time when she was most emotionally vulnerable, helpless, and in need of security.

She was not yet the Xiao Yi Xian from the original story, four years later—the one renowned throughout Green Mountain Town and worshipped as a goddess by countless mercenaries.

What should I do? Wei Yang pondered as he walked.

In the end, he made a decision.

He could not let her get away!

Since they had met.

Now that he was here, could he really take the initiative to push her away?

Wasn't it just the Body of Calamitous Poison?

It was troublesome, but not impossible to resolve.

Thinking that, Wei Yang took a light breath. He had already made up his mind.

"What's your name?" Wei Yang asked, turning his head slightly.

He truly was very curious about this question.

The original story had never mentioned it. Everyone simply called her Xiao Yi Xian.

"Ah?" Xiao Yi Xian had been walking with her head lowered, lost in thought, her little face slightly red.

When she suddenly heard Wei Yang's question, she looked up blankly, clearly not having reacted yet.

"Hmm?" Wei Yang turned around. Seeing her expression, he found it amusing and could not help reaching out to rub her little head.

She looked adorable when she was so dazed.

A sense of tenderness also rose in his heart. She was a very strong girl.

Gentle and kind by nature, yet strong and independent.

Thinking of everything she had gone through in the original story, Wei Yang's expression softened further, and his eyes held a trace of pity.

Before this, he truly had regarded her with an indifferent attitude. After all, Xiao Yi Xian had merely been a character existing in his imagination.

Now that he had made up his mind and was facing her in the flesh—a real, living person of blood and bone—his mindset had quietly changed without him even realizing it.

Feeling the warmth of his palm atop her head, Xiao Yi Xian froze in place.

She looked up and met Wei Yang's eyes, seeing the handsome face of the youth before her, his gentle smile, and the tenderness in his gaze.

At that moment, she felt as though her heart, which had nearly turned cold, was beginning to melt. The wall of defense she had built crumbled in an instant, and a mist of tears welled up in her eyes.