Lin Ze and the two girls, Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yu, walked out of the plaza.
Xiao Yu was poised and generous as she asked them, "Are you really not coming to the Xiao Clan as guests?"
"No. We're leaving tomorrow, and you should spend some time with your family, too. We'll be classmates in the future, so we'll have plenty of time to see each other."
Lin Ze said with a smile.
Xiao Yu thought it over and agreed that made sense.
"Then I'll be going. See you tomorrow."
Xiao Yu waved goodbye to the two of them. Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian watched her until the crowd hid her from view, then slowly turned away.
"You'd never guess she was a young lady from a great clan. She's surprisingly approachable."
Xiao Yi Xian said with a sigh.
Lin Ze smiled faintly.
"The main reason is that we're all students of the academy. That gives us a natural sense of belonging."
Xiao Yi Xian nodded thoughtfully.
The two of them walked along the bustling streets.
"We don't have to hurry back today. Buy whatever you'd like."
"Once we get to Jia Nan Academy, things may be different. The local specialties may not be the same."
Lin Ze said to Xiao Yi Xian.
Xiao Yi Xian had no objections and nodded in agreement.
The two of them spent most of the day wandering around Wutan City. They only stopped when they had filled their Storage Rings more than halfway, still reluctant to call it a day.
After arriving in Wutan City, Lin Ze had also bought Xiao Yi Xian a Storage Ring.
It would make it easier for her to carry her belongings and store the tools and medicinal materials she used to make poison.
There was no denying that a bigger platform offered access to more cultivation resources.
In a small town like Qingshan Town, even real pills were hard to come by, let alone rare treasures like Storage Rings.
Back at the Small Courtyard they had rented, Lin Ze glanced at Xiao Yi Xian. She was smiling, but there seemed to be a trace of distraction in her eyes.
Ever since they'd returned from the Enrollment Plaza, Lin Ze had noticed something was off about her.
That was why he'd taken her around Wutan City to shop and pick up a few things.
But it seemed not to have helped much.
After a brief hesitation, Lin Ze took Xiao Yi Xian's hand and led her to the small Stone Table in the courtyard.
Xiao Yi Xian was startled, but she didn't resist. She followed Lin Ze to the table.
"Sit down."
Lin Ze gestured.
Xiao Yi Xian was at a loss, but obediently sat down and looked at Lin Ze in confusion.
"What's going on, Lin Ze? Why are you suddenly being so serious?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing. Why have you seemed so down ever since we left the Enrollment Plaza? Is something bothering you?"
"N-no, nothing."
Xiao Yi Xian denied it instinctively.
But under Lin Ze's gaze, she lowered her eyes and pressed her soft, rosy lips together.
"I..."
"If it's too hard to talk about, I won't force you. But if something's troubling you, I'd be happy to listen as your friend."
Lin Ze smiled, his gaze sincere.
Xiao Yi Xian took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
"It's because of my strength. My cultivation talent isn't as good as yours, and I only just barely meet the academy's admission requirements."
Lin Ze smiled reassuringly. "That's nothing to worry about. The Dou Qi Continent is full of people who achieved greatness later in life."
"Talent may be important for becoming a strong cultivator, but it isn't everything. Fortuitous encounters, opportunity, and even one's character can all help someone go further on the path to strength."
At Lin Ze's words, Xiao Yi Xian didn't seem comforted. Instead, she fell into even deeper thought.
Seeing her like this, Lin Ze realized that cultivation talent might not be the only thing weighing on her.
He thought of the Seven Colored Poison Scripture. Even if Xiao Yi Xian had been reading it carefully and slowly, surely she'd reached the final volume by now.
But Lin Ze didn't bring it up. He simply stayed silent.
"Lin Ze, there's an opportunity in front of me right now, and I don't know if I should seize it."
Xiao Yi Xian suddenly spoke, her voice full of uncertainty.
She sounded like a child lost about which way to go, hoping an elder would guide her.
"Could you tell me more about it?"
Xiao Yi Xian fell silent for a moment, as if making up her mind. She stood, said, "Wait here," and hurried back to her room.
Lin Ze sat on the stone stool, his thoughts in turmoil.
Before long, Xiao Yi Xian's voice came from her room.
"Lin Ze, could you come in for a moment?"
Lin Ze raised an eyebrow, stood, and went to Xiao Yi Xian's room.
He gently pushed the door open.
Lin Ze walked in and saw Xiao Yi Xian sitting at the table in a close-fitting outfit.
The Seven Colored Poison Scripture lay open on the table.
"Lin Ze, take a look."
Lin Ze's heart stirred. As expected, this had to do with the Seven Colored Poison Scripture. He sat down across from Xiao Yi Xian.
He picked up the scripture and skimmed through it. Then he looked at Xiao Yi Xian.
"A born poison body... or should I say, a Woeful Poison Body?"
Xiao Yi Xian nodded, her expression troubled.
She stood up and, looking embarrassed, lifted the hem of her top to reveal her stomach.
A Seven Colored Hidden Line crossed Xiao Yi Xian's fair, flat stomach.
With her stomach exposed, Xiao Yi Xian looked at Lin Ze nervously.
She was afraid she'd see disgust or fear on his face.
But Lin Ze only glanced at her stomach, then at the Seven Colored Poison Scripture in his hand. He merely put on an appropriately surprised expression.
Xiao Yi Xian finally let out the breath she'd been holding.
She quickly lowered her top to cover her flat, fair stomach.
"So this is what's been bothering you?"
"Exactly. Ever since I learned I had the Woeful Poison Body, I've been torn over whether I should activate it."
Xiao Yi Xian said dejectedly.
"Today, during the enrollment assessment, I saw the difference in our potential scores. I thought that maybe in the future, I wouldn't even be able to see your back..."
After Xiao Yi Xian finished speaking softly, Lin Ze pondered for a while before replying.
"To activate the Woeful Poison Body, you have to take poison. Whether you want to activate it or not, taking poison will activate it."
"But if you don't want to activate it, that means you'll have to avoid poisonous medicinal materials as much as possible from now on... But that'll be very difficult."
"Completely avoiding poison is almost impossible. Eventually, your Woeful Poison Body will activate whether you want it to or not."
"Rather than having it activate against your will, why not..."
Xiao Yi Xian furrowed her brows and asked cautiously, "Lin Ze, what do you mean?"
"I think that since the heavens gave you the Woeful Poison Body, and you can't change that, why not try to accept it?"
"But the Woeful Poison Body brings misfortune and disaster. It can easily cause devastation among living beings."
Lin Ze shook his head. "There are almost no problems in this world that can't be solved. Perhaps someone with a Woeful Poison Body found a perfect way to control it in the past."
"Or perhaps you'll be the one to create a perfect way to control it in the future."
Lin Ze's words made Xiao Yi Xian's eyes brighten.
Lin Ze continued, "Of course, whatever you choose, I'll support you as your friend."
"Even if I lose control of the Woeful Poison Body in the future?" Xiao Yi Xian asked apprehensively.
"Then, as your friend, I'll do everything I can to help you control it!"
Lin Ze said firmly.
At his words, Xiao Yi Xian's eyes gradually grew misty. Her voice caught in her throat as she said,
"Thank you, Lin Ze."
Before you continue