Return to Wu Tan City

Several days later.

Wu Tan City.

The carriage slowly entered the city amid the flow of people.

After five months away, Wei Yang had returned once more.

When he left, he had been a Six-star Dou Master. Now that he had returned, he was still a Six-star Dou Master, yet he was no longer comparable to his former self.

The gap in strength was like that between clouds and mud. He felt he could easily beat up ten of his former selves.

The carriage window was open, revealing a perfect couple within, instantly drawing the attention of many passersby.

The young man was handsome and dashing, while the young woman was breathtakingly beautiful. Dressed in white, she possessed an ethereal, fairy-like air.

Wei Yang lightly held Ye Xian'er's slender waist, while Ye Xian'er obediently leaned against his chest. A sweet smile flickered across her lips, and her pretty face carried a trace of happiness as her beautiful eyes curiously watched the bustling sights outside.

Through their days and nights together over the past few days, Ye Xian'er's heart had long since been won over by Wei Yang. She had fallen for him completely.

Their relationship had become very intimate. Other than not having taken that final step, things like hugging and holding hands had already become commonplace.

"Brother Yang, is this Wu Tan City? It's so lively!" Ye Xian'er said excitedly, her voice clear and melodious as her beautiful eyes blinked.

This was the first time in her life that she had seen such a bustling large city.

The liveliest place she had ever been to before was no more than Green Mountain Town.

"Yes, I grew up here." Wei Yang smiled and lowered his head to plant a light kiss on her cheek. "From now on, this will be your home too."

Caught off guard by Wei Yang's public sneak attack, Ye Xian'er's little face flushed. She lightly pinched him with her jade-like hand and shot him an adorable glare, then gripped Wei Yang's hand tightly. Her gaze became somewhat dazed. "Home?"

"Yes, home." Wei Yang's arm around her waist slowly tightened. "From now on, we'll be family. We'll be each other's closest and most important family in this world."

"Family..." Ye Xian'er murmured softly as she looked up at Wei Yang.

"Xian'er, are you willing?" Wei Yang kissed her forehead and asked gently.

"I am. I'm willing." Ye Xian'er nodded firmly, mist filling her eyes as her face bloomed with a happy smile.

"Then it's settled. No backing out." Wei Yang reached out and lightly flicked her little nose.

"Mhm. I won't back out." Ye Xian'er shook her head and curled entirely into Wei Yang's embrace. Pulling his arms around herself, she rested her head against his chest, her little face filled with happiness and dependence.

A maiden who had fallen in love was already helplessly immersed in the sweet words of the one she loved.

Wei Yang tightened his arms around the girl in his embrace and looked out at the scenery beyond the window. He ignored the envious looks from passersby, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

His heart had also been filled with the girl's tenderness, overflowing with affection and pity.

He made up his mind that he would protect the girl in his arms in the future, stay by her side, and not let her face and bear everything alone as she had in the original story.

The carriage stopped at the entrance to an alley.

After gathering his belongings, Wei Yang led Ye Xian'er out of the carriage.

After tossing the driver a bag of Gold Coins, Wei Yang took Ye Xian'er's hand and walked into the alley.

Soon, they arrived before a two-courtyard residence.

"We're here." Wei Yang smiled and took out the key to open the door.

Ye Xian'er's eyes lit up, full of curiosity and anticipation.

Creak~

The courtyard gate swung open.

"This is our home." Wei Yang took Ye Xian'er's hand.

"Mhm." Ye Xian'er nodded with a smile.

The two entered the courtyard.

After five months away, quite a few weeds had grown through the cracks between the stone slabs in the courtyard. When they pushed open the house door, they found a thin layer of dust covering the furniture inside as well.

"Ahem." Wei Yang felt a little embarrassed at the sight and explained, "We haven't been back for a few months, so it's a little dirty."

"Mhm." Seeing Wei Yang's expression, Ye Xian'er held back a laugh and nodded.

"Wait here. I'll clean it up right away." Wei Yang released her hand and hurriedly grabbed a broom to begin sweeping.

"I'll help you." Ye Xian'er rolled up her sleeves as well and ran over with a grin.

"Then go fetch some water and wipe down the tables and chairs."

"Alright."

The morning sun rose.

Beneath the eaves.

Wei Yang sat cross-legged on a stool, cultivating beneath the rising sun. His entire body seemed to be coated in a faint golden glow.

The Mad Lion Blazing Flame Art was a Fire-Yang Attribute cultivation technique, making it a perfect match for Wei Yang.

As Wei Yang breathed rhythmically, faint threads of pale golden airflow were drawn into his body through his nose and mouth. They were refined and absorbed as the cultivation technique circulated, eventually entering his Dantian.

"Hmm-hmm..."

Not far away in the courtyard, Ye Xian'er hummed a little tune as she dried herbs on the medicine rack.

From time to time, she looked over at the youth cultivating cross-legged, her beautiful eyes brimming with affection and smiles.

She had begun cultivating as well, but she was only at Dou Zhi Qi Stage Two, so she did not need to cultivate for very long each day. As such, she spent most of her time studying medicine.

After drying the herbs, she quietly returned to Wei Yang's side and sat down. Picking up a medical book, she began reading in silence.

A moment later.

Wei Yang opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.

"Half a year after returning, I'm already at the peak of Eight-star Dou Master. It feels like Nine-star isn't far away." Wei Yang smiled.

"Your cultivation speed is so fast."

Ye Xian'er put down her medical book and looked over, smiling. "You're not even sixteen yet, but you're already an Eight-star Dou Master. In another year, you might even become a Da Dou Shi."

As she spoke, she could not help sighing. "A seventeen-year-old Da Dou Shi! There doesn't seem to have ever been one in the history of the Jia Ma Empire, right?"

Wei Yang smiled and rubbed her little head. "You're not bad either. In just half a year, you've reached Dou Zhi Qi Stage Two. And you're already a physician too—a thirteen-year-old physician, Little Physician Ye."

"Hehe." Ye Xian'er felt a little embarrassed by the praise. She rubbed her head against Wei Yang's palm and said modestly, "How could I be considered a physician? I still have so much to learn."

Wei Yang neither agreed nor disagreed. He had seen Xian'er's progress with his own eyes.

Not to mention her cheat-like Body of Calamitous Poison, even with ordinary cultivation, her talent was still astonishing.

Reaching Dou Zhi Qi Stage Two in half a year was already an incredibly exaggerated pace.

Moreover, Ye Xian'er was exceptionally talented in medicine. She had excellent comprehension, learned quickly, and could often draw inferences from one example to another.

After teaching her for only half a year, she had nearly learned everything Wei Yang had to offer.

Now, she mostly studied and learned on her own.

"You little girl." Wei Yang's eyes were full of amusement as he pinched her cheek.

"Hmph-hmph." Ye Xian'er adorably scrunched up her nose.

Wei Yang lifted her into his arms and placed her across his lap, then kissed her forehead.

Ye Xian'er leaned against his embrace affectionately as well, the corners of her lips curving up in delight.

Wei Yang lowered his head and carefully tucked the loose strands of hair by her cheek behind her ear, gently caressing her face.

The two quietly basked in the morning sun, enjoying the peaceful, heartwarming feeling.

They were both orphans. Having come together, they now depended on each other for survival, and in their hearts, they had long regarded one another as the most important person in the world.

"Xian'er," Wei Yang called softly.

"Mhm?" Ye Xian'er looked up.

"About your body... are you still unwilling to tell me?" Wei Yang lowered his head and looked at her.

At those words, the smile on Ye Xian'er's face instantly froze, and her complexion turned somewhat pale.

She lowered her head, pressing her little face tightly against Wei Yang's chest, and gently shook it. "I'm afraid that if I tell you, you'll despise me."

"You silly girl, I don't even have enough time to cherish you. How could I ever despise you?" Wei Yang held her tighter and said softly, "If there are difficulties, we'll face them together. I'll protect you forever. Tell me, alright?"

He had long known that Ye Xian'er possessed the Body of Calamitous Poison, but he could not say it outright.