Each Putting on an Act! Xun'er's Name Was Still More Useful

"Xun'er."

Xiao Ting rose to greet her and had Xun'er sit between him and Xiao Yi Xian.

Xiao Ting was not at all surprised by Xun'er's arrival. This childhood sweetheart of his had always been somewhat domineering and possessive.

The guards around Xun'er would surely have reported his initiative in approaching a beautiful woman at the first opportunity. For all he knew, they might even have fantasized about Xun'er dumping him over it.

"I was startled by what Xiao Yi Xian said just now." After Xun'er sat down, Xiao Ting answered the question she had asked upon entering.

"Xiao Yi Xian?" Xun'er looked Xiao Yi Xian over with a hint of scrutiny in her gaze.

"She is the resident physician at Wan Yao Zhai in Qingshan Town. You also know that Uncle put several of the Xiao Clan's marketplaces on West Street under my management. Physician Zhang at the Medicine Hall in the Third Marketplace is getting old and needs someone to take over his position. A few days ago, Miss Ya Fei of the Mittal Auction House mentioned Xiao Yi Xian to me and spoke highly of her, so I tested her a little..." Xiao Ting explained in detail to Xun'er.

As for his reason for contacting Xiao Yi Xian, he had merely followed the existing circumstances and guided them along. Not a single detail had been fabricated out of thin air.

His goal was to make everything seem natural. Whether Xiao Yi Xian or Xun'er investigated, they would find everything perfectly reasonable.

If either of them suspected some hidden "scheme," it could easily lead to unnecessary misunderstandings.

"So she is an older sister who studies medicine." The smile on Xun'er's face softened somewhat, and the wariness in her eyes, difficult for others to notice, faded as well. "My name is Xiao Xun'er. Nice to meet you."

"Miss Xun'er, nice to meet you." Xiao Yi Xian's tone was cool, carrying the polite formality one used toward a young lady of the master's household.

Xun'er smiled, her eyes curved with amusement. "You are a physician hired by Brother Xiao Ting, not a servant of the Xiao Clan. Just call me Xun'er."

Xiao Yi Xian immediately agreed, then cast Xiao Ting an inquiring look.

"We are in an employment relationship. Listen to Xun'er." Xiao Ting nodded.

"Hello, Xun'er." The tension in Xiao Yi Xian's expression eased.

Xun'er asked again, "Brother Xiao Ting, what did Xiao Yi Xian say just now that made you lose your composure?"

"She brought me information about a cave dwelling left behind by an expert." Xiao Ting had no intention of hiding it from Xun'er and told the truth. "I had only just hired her as a resident physician, and before she had even become familiar with the clan, she told me such news. Wouldn't you be surprised?"

Xiao Yi Xian's actions had indeed caught him off guard.

On the Dou Qi Continent, one only truly stepped onto the path of cultivation upon becoming a Dou Zhe. Dou Shi were the foundation of low-level cultivators, while Da Dou Shi were their backbone.

Only upon reaching the Dou Ling level could one barely rise above the lower ranks and be considered an expert. In the powers of a third-rate empire, such a person would count as somebody important and might leave behind a cave dwelling and inheritance.

In other words, the owner of any cave dwelling discovered in the wilderness had been, at the very least, a Dou Ling in life.

This opportunity Xiao Yi Xian was offering up was also priceless to the current Xiao Clan.

"So that was it." A perfectly timed look of surprise appeared on Xiao Yi Xian's face. "That truly is an unexpected delight."

"Mm." Xiao Ting gave a slight nod and stared at Xiao Yi Xian. "What exactly is the situation with that cave dwelling?"

He did not question whether Xiao Yi Xian had ulterior motives. Such a thing could not be asked outright; he could only observe and reason for himself.

"That day..." Xiao Yi Xian recounted how she had discovered the entrance to the cave dwelling.

"So, you merely found what seemed to be the entrance to a cave left behind by an expert on a cliff?" Xiao Ting did not show disappointment. Instead, judging from his tone, he seemed to believe her even more.

Xiao Yi Xian and Xun'er: He really could act!

"I can be certain that it is the entrance to a cave dwelling left by an expert, and there is a high chance it has never been discovered or explored." Xiao Yi Xian spoke with certainty. "I am very familiar with that area where I gather herbs, and it was not my first time going to that cliffside. I had never seen that cave dwelling before."

"If I am not mistaken, the entrance was previously concealed by rocks and vines. Some recent change must have exposed it again. Its shape makes it obvious that it was carved by human hands, though it has been there for some years."

Having already gained a heavenly eye through the Notebook Copy, Xiao Yi Xian had no concerns when she spoke and was not afraid of being exposed.

"No matter what, it is a place worth investigating." Xiao Ting's expression turned solemn. "The sooner, the better. Delays breed complications. I will inform Uncle about the cave dwelling immediately and lead people there to explore it first."

"Brother Xiao Ting, why not take Xun'er with you?" Xun'er naturally proposed accompanying him, blinking at Xiao Ting in a meaningful signal.

If she went with him, the guards at her side would accompany them as well. It would be safer than even Xiao Zhan going personally.

Xiao Ting understood and nodded at once. "All right, we'll go together."

"Help me look after Xiao Yi Xian. I'll go tell Uncle that I'm heading out to train for a few days."

With Xun'er accompanying him, Xiao Ting did not plan to tell the clan about the cave dwelling in advance.

"Go ahead, Brother Xiao Ting." Xun'er smiled and nodded.

Once Xiao Ting left the courtyard, both she and Xiao Yi Xian showed expressions of relief.

The two exchanged a knowing glance, then burst out laughing at the same time.

"Older Sister Xiao Yi Xian, that was well acted." Xun'er picked up the teapot from the stone table and poured tea for Xiao Yi Xian herself. "Brother Xiao Ting asked me to look after you. Have some tea."

"It was all because you taught me so well, Little Sister Xun'er." Xiao Yi Xian picked up her teacup and drained it in one gulp.

The suggestion to proactively report the expert's cave dwelling had come from Xun'er.

Xun'er had also coached her on what to say when facing Xiao Ting, so she would not give herself away.

"I just do not want Brother Xiao Ting to rack his brains too much." Xun'er voiced her truest thoughts. "If you obtain the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture sooner, you can properly and completely awaken your Woeful Poison Body sooner. Then Brother Xiao Ting can hire you as a guard sooner."

"You were able to break through to Dou Zong in less than five years on your own. With Brother Xiao Ting and me helping you, that time will definitely be even shorter."

"When that time comes..."

A trace of darkness flashed through Xun'er's eyes, but she smiled. "You can protect him properly, so he can swagger around whenever he wants."

Xiao Yi Xian did not notice the oddity in Xun'er's eyes and nodded seriously. "Don't worry. Once I become stronger, I will protect him with my life."

Whether her life of misfortune could be lifted depended entirely on Xiao Ting.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ting went to find Xiao Zhan and told him that he wanted to go out and train.

"You are now a Dou Shi, so there is no problem with going out to train. But I am afraid someone has their eye on you." Xiao Zhan's expression was grave.

The three great clans of Wutan City all hoped the others would not grow stronger. Given the chance, they would certainly assassinate the other clans' geniuses to leave them without successors.

"Uncle, that is exactly what I came to discuss." Xiao Ting looked relaxed. "When the time comes, make sure the Jia Lie and Aoba Clans learn of my exact whereabouts by accident, and leak the news that I have already reached four-star Dou Zhe."

Xiao Ting deliberately emphasized the words "by accident."

Xiao Zhan was no fool. After a brief pause, he understood, and his expression darkened. "A gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall. How can you use yourself as bait? No, absolutely not."

"With your cultivation talent, your greatest priority is to become stronger and reach Dou Ling as soon as possible. By then, the Jia Lie and Aoba Clans will be nothing more than roadside dogs, not worth a second glance."

"Uncle, if we can scheme against them, we should." Xiao Ting held a different opinion. "Back when the Xiao Clan was still a Dou Wang clan, we did not consider the Jia Lie and Aoba Clans worth our attention. They were even affiliated clans of the Xiao Clan. But after the clan suffered disaster, these two were the ones who stabbed us hardest in the back."

"One such lesson is enough. If we can beat these two dogs to death, we should do it sooner rather than later."

"This..." Xiao Zhan still hesitated. He believed nothing was more important than Xiao Ting and Xiao Yan growing up safely.

At that moment, Xiao Ting added, "Oh, right. Xun'er is going with me."

Upon hearing that, Xiao Zhan's expression changed instantly. "Ting'er, should we spread word that you accidentally discovered a cave dwelling left behind by a Dou Ling expert and are preparing to explore it in secret, then lure both Aoba Pa and Jia Lie Bi over?"

Xiao Ting: "..."

There was no cave dwelling left behind by a Dou Ling.

There was, however, one left behind by at least a Dou Wang.

Xiao Zhan was quite bold indeed. He actually intended to use Xun'er to kill with a borrowed knife.

"That would require Uncle to go personally if we are to lure the snakes from their holes." Xiao Ting shook his head. "It is enough to quietly kill a few Dou Shi."