Turning the Tables

"Let's go tonight. There are too many people around right now, and it'd be troublesome if someone noticed us."

Wealth stirred people's hearts. Although Xiao Yi Xian had a high reputation in Green Mountain Town, there was no guarantee that no one would be tempted after discovering the cave dwelling.

With Xiao Jin and Xiao Yi Xian's strength, even slaughtering every mercenary present would not have been a problem.

But neither of them was bloodthirsty, much less took pleasure in killing. Avoiding trouble was what they preferred.

Xiao Yi Xian nodded. "You rest for a while. I'll look around and see if there are any suitable herbs nearby."

"I'll go with you?"

"No need. You should get some rest."

"Why are you being so polite with me? Besides, I'm not exactly welcome here." Xiao Jin shrugged and spread his hands helplessly.

Xiao Yi Xian looked around and found that the gazes everyone directed at Xiao Jin were indeed far from friendly.

Especially among the Wolf Head Mercenary Group led by Mu Li, the viciousness in several people's eyes was nearly impossible to suppress.

She could not help laughing. "I never thought our great Dou Wang would have a day when people hated him too."

"If you can't speak properly, I'll let you relive your punishment in that little valley." Xiao Jin raised his palm and glared "fiercely" at Xiao Yi Xian.

They said things never happened more than three times, yet this girl had already mocked him twice today!

If there was a third time, he would not mind reminding her exactly how she had been dealt with back in that little valley.

Xiao Yi Xian's pretty face flushed as she instinctively covered her pert backside with both hands.

After a long while, she finally squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth, her face red.

"Shameless rogue!"

What kind of person slapped a girl's butt at the slightest provocation?

Xiao Jin did not care. "Shameless rogue, then. If you dare mock me again, I'll make your butt bloom!"

"Hmph, I'm ignoring you!" The young girl rolled her eyes charmingly, then quickly walked toward a medicinal herb.

Xiao Jin followed closely at her side. They gathered herbs for over an hour before the girl finally stopped, breathing slightly heavily.

"Why do I feel like most of the herbs you picked are poisons?"

"What else would they be?"

"Aren't you a healer?"

"But I have the Woe Poison Body too."

"So you aren't gathering herbs to treat the mercenaries?"

"I'm not some charity worker. Besides treating mercenaries, I have to make sure my cultivation doesn't fall behind. What if I got surpassed by you, great Dou Wang... Ah!"

Before Xiao Yi Xian could finish her sentence, her pert curve was struck hard.

Tears rapidly welled up in the girl's eyes as she said aggrievedly, "You actually hit me!"

"Stop pretending. Don't I know how much force I used?" Xiao Jin was truly speechless. They said women were born actresses, and it really was true.

Just look at Xiao Yi Xian. Her tears came whenever she wanted them to, without even needing a windup.

The girl immediately put away her tears and replaced them with a pitiful expression. "I'm just angry. You hadn't come to see me for so long, and you won't even let me complain a little?"

"Back then, I asked you to come to Wutan City with me. Who was the one who refused no matter what and insisted on staying in the little valley?"

"Hmph, I'm not listening, I'm not listening. I don't want to see your little childhood sweetheart."

"What does this have to do with Xun'er? Over the past year, I already told Xun'er about you. She even blamed me for not bringing you back."

Xiao Yi Xian snorted inwardly. Are you really that clueless, or are you pretending to be stupid?

Do you really think your little childhood sweetheart wanted you to bring me back because she cared about me?

She was only testing you.

If you had really brought me back, she definitely would have tried to put me in my place!

That's what all the storybooks in town say. She would surely put on the airs of the official wife, wouldn't she?

Xiao Yi Xian's face turned red again without her control.

Who knew what improper thoughts had entered the girl's mind.

After some playful bickering, the two returned to the mercenary camp.

The mercenaries there had already begun preparing dinner. Though conditions were harsh, piles of bonfires had still been lit.

Compared to high-rank Magical Beasts, low-rank Magical Beasts feared fire down to their bones.

These bonfires could not only drive away First-Rank Magical Beasts; some Second-Rank Magical Beasts that hated heat and light would also stay away.

On the way back, Xiao Jin had gathered some firewood as well. After controlling the Three Thousand Burning Flame within his body to ignite a bonfire, the two sat on the ground around it and took out several pieces of dried meat to roast.

This was probably the least dignified moment of the Three Thousand Burning Flame. It was actually being used to light a bonfire like ordinary mortal fire.

Speaking of the Three Thousand Burning Flame, Xiao Jin could not help admiring the Pill Tower Ancestor's judgment.

Although this Heavenly Flame was not the strongest one in the Storage Ring, it was indeed the most suitable for him at his current stage.

After gaining the Three Thousand Star Physique, his physical strength had been improving rapidly at a visible rate.

In barely half a month since refining the Three Thousand Burning Flame, his physical condition had already improved by nearly ten percent compared to half a month ago.

Naturally, part of that was because the initial improvements were exceptionally effective, but it also showed just how heaven-defying the Three Thousand Star Physique was.

Do not forget that this physique operated at every moment. In other words, the earlier one obtained it, the more benefits one could gain from it.

In a few more years, even most Magical Beasts would likely be unable to compare to his physical strength.

According to the Pill Tower Ancestor's estimate, Xiao Jin could consider breaking through to the next realm in half a year at most.

If things went smoothly, he could consider refining a second Heavenly Flame within two years at the latest.

After night fell, aside from the few mercenaries patrolling and keeping watch, the entire camp was exceptionally quiet.

The mercenaries, exhausted after a day of hard work, fell into slumber one after another, recovering the strength they had spent on their labors.

At around one in the morning, Xiao Jin and Xiao Yi Xian quietly left the camp.

Their cultivation was several major realms above the mercenaries in the camp, so naturally no one could detect their movements.

If Mu Li had not arranged for people to keep watch on them beforehand, no one would likely have noticed that they had ever left the camp even after they returned.

Only after leaving the camp by roughly two or three li did Xiao Jin summon his Dou Qi Wings.

His Dou Qi was fire-attributed, and his Flame Wings were as conspicuous as a beacon at night. If he summoned them in the camp, the mercenaries would not get any sleep tonight.

Xiao Yi Xian decisively wrapped her arms around Xiao Jin's waist and pressed her body tightly against his.

"Uh, you can loosen up a little. I won't let you fall."

"No. I'm afraid of heights." Xiao Yi Xian answered with complete confidence, without the slightest trace of a girl's usual shyness.

Of course, that was only because it was Xiao Jin.

If it had been any other man, and he dared take such liberties with her, she would beat the shit out of him and force him to eat it afterward.

"You're afraid of heights?" Xiao Jin was deeply puzzled. Did Xiao Yi Xian have this problem when he had met her before?

Xiao Jin had not been a Dou Wang at the time, but he could still fly short distances using a flight Dou Technique.

Why had he never heard this girl say she was afraid of heights back then?

Before he could think it through, however, Xiao Yi Xian's urging voice sounded.

"Why aren't you leaving yet? Don't tell me you want to hold me a little longer?"

Xiao Yi Xian had truly learned how to turn the tables.

Not only had she learned it, she had mastered it to perfection.