Hobbies

After seeing Xiao Yan and Yao Lao off, Xiao Bai noticed Xun Er looking at him with a faintly reproachful gaze.

At first, he was a little baffled, but then he seemed to remember something and slapped his forehead.

He had just promised the little girl he would keep her company over the next few days, but now he had also promised Yao Lao that he would refine the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid during that same time.

After thinking it over, Xiao Bai took her hand and smiled gently.

"All right, I'll be refining medicine in the little courtyard these next few days. If you're not afraid of getting bored, you can stay with me. How about it?"

When Xiao Xun Er heard that, the resentment in her eyes vanished, and a smile appeared on her face. She had thought Xiao Bai would run off to the back mountain again for the next few days. If that happened, it would probably be very hard for her to see him before he left.

"Xun Er won't disturb Xiao Bai Gege, will she?"

Although the little girl's heart was leaping with joy, she still could not help asking.

Xiao Bai knew what she meant. She was asking whether there was anything inconvenient for her to know.

Looking at the sensible young girl before him, Xiao Bai's gaze softened, and he said quietly, "In this world, Xun Er will always be the person Xiao Bai trusts most. That was true in the past, it is true now, and it will remain true in the future!"

He was no longer worried about Ling Ying now. As long as that fellow appeared within a hundred-meter range around him, he would sense it.

It was just that ever since he had finished telling that story last time, whenever Xun Er came to his place, she seemed to stop bringing that guy with her. He had no idea what was going on.

When Xun Er heard Xiao Bai's words, her large eyes instantly turned watery as she gazed at him, deeply moved.

Over the next few days...

Xiao Xun Er came to Xiao Bai's place very early every day. Sometimes she read quietly at the side, and sometimes she propped up her little chin and watched Xiao Bai refine medicine with great interest.

She was very happy these days, because she could stay with Xiao Bai every day. It reminded her of the days when they were children, and for a moment, it was as if she had returned to that time.

Xiao Bai kept trying to refine the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid in the little courtyard.

The other medicinal ingredients were not much of a problem. It was the magic core that exploded a few times, leaving Xiao Bai in quite a sorry state.

At first, when Xiao Xun Er saw the medicine refining furnace explode and Xiao Bai's face and clothes covered in soot, her heart was full of worry.

But after seeing that Xiao Bai was completely fine, every time she saw his furnace explode afterward, she would stand to the side and giggle.

Whenever Xiao Bai saw that, he would lightly knock her on the head and say with a smile, "You heartless little thing!"

Xiao Xun Er did not argue back. She only looked at him with smiling eyes.

However, when she saw the clothes Xiao Bai changed into each time the furnace exploded, Xiao Xun Er seemed thoughtful.

Although Xiao Bai Gege always dressed cleanly, his clothes all seemed rather old.

The days passed one after another just like that, and at last, the day agreed upon with Yao Lao arrived. They would set out tomorrow.

At this moment, Xiao Bai looked at the several Jade Bottles before him. There had been twelve sets of ingredients in total, and he had successfully refined seven portions. The main issue was that the magic cores had been consumed a little too heavily, exploding five times.

However, by now, he had gained some understanding of using magic cores in medicine. If he had another twelve sets of ingredients now, he would not dare guarantee a hundred percent success rate, but successfully refining ten portions would be no problem.

From now on, he could also call himself a Second-Rank Alchemist. The prescription for the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid that Yao Lao had given him was originally a peak second-rank pill formula.

After completing this transaction with Yao Lao, his alchemy skills would likely improve very quickly. After all, he now possessed all the hard requirements an alchemist needed. All he lacked was knowledge and experience.

Looking around the room and not seeing that graceful figure, Xiao Bai was a little puzzled and muttered, "Where did that little girl Xun Er go?"

When he had been refining the final batch of ingredients just now, the girl had still been watching with great interest at the side. How had she disappeared in the blink of an eye?

Shaking his head, he decided not to worry about her. He stood up, preparing to deliver the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid to Yao Lao.

Presumably, the old man still needed to test its effects so he could tell Xiao Yan how to use it during the days he was away.

However, before Xiao Bai could leave, he saw Xun Er rush in like a gust of wind.

Seeing that Xiao Bai had already finished refining medicine, a smile appeared on her lovely face. With light lotus steps, she came before Xiao Bai and said mysteriously, "Xiao Bai Gege, are you still busy right now?"

Seeing her like this, Xiao Bai knew she had something in mind, and he smiled warmly.

"I'm free now. What is it? Does our Xun Er need something?"

Xiao Xun Er did not say anything. She took several cloth bundles out of her Storage Ring, handed them to Xiao Bai, and said sweetly, "I saw that Xiao Bai Gege's clothes were already old, so I went and bought you a few outfits. Hurry and change into them so Xun Er can see!"

As she spoke, she stuffed the clothes into Xiao Bai's hands and pushed him toward the back of the screen.

"Hurry, hurry!"

Xiao Bai looked at the clothes in his hands, speechless. He had not expected this girl to be so thoughtful.

After pushing him behind the screen, Xiao Xun Er withdrew.

Xiao Bai opened the cloth bundles and looked at the clothes inside, feeling a little helpless. Why were they black?

He sighed. Black it was, then! This was still the little girl's heartfelt intention.

Standing outside, Xiao Xun Er was full of anticipation. She had originally wanted to buy white ones, but then she suddenly thought that Xiao Bai's hair was grayish-white now, which would match black clothes better, so she had chosen a different color.

Before long, Xiao Bai changed into the clothes and walked out. Xiao Xun Er's eyes immediately lit up.

At that moment, Xiao Bai wore a black robe, its edges traced with a ring of golden patterns, making him look mysterious and noble. His brows carried a heroic air, his long gray-white hair falling down, two locks hanging before his chest. Even without anger, he exuded authority.

Compared with the gentleness he had when wearing white robes, he now seemed colder and sterner. His posture was tall and straight as a pine, and his cool, aloof aura made people afraid to approach him lightly.

Xiao Xun Er only felt her heartbeat quicken. She had never seen Xiao Bai Gege like this before; she felt that this kind of aura from him was far too deadly.

Seeing the little girl's expression, the corner of Xiao Bai's mouth curved into a wicked smile.

Then he slowly walked toward her, his steps steady, his face cold and stern, his eyes like icy stars. His whole person was filled with an air of looking down upon the world.

He gently lifted her delicate little chin, lowered his head, leaned to her ear, and said in a slightly domineering tone:

"Little girl, remember this. You are this king's person. Even your breathing has to do with this king. Understand?"

At that moment, Xiao Xun Er's eyes were filled with a dazed haze. From childhood until now, whenever Xiao Bai spoke to her, he had always been gentle and soft-spoken. When had he ever had this kind of domineering feeling? She could not help thinking:

No, I can't. Xiao Bai Gege dressed all in black is too overwhelming. Xun Er can't take it anymore!

Xiao Xun Er suddenly threw her arms around Xiao Bai, buried her little head in his embrace, and panted softly as she murmured in a sweet voice:

"Xiao Bai... Gege!"

Seeing Xun Er like this, Xiao Bai almost laughed. This girl was usually so cool and detached; he had not expected her to like this domineering-CEO style.

He stroked her dark hair and said with a smile:

"Little girl, I didn't expect you to have this kind of hobby!"

Xiao Xun Er twisted her delicate body in his arms, her face flushed red. She let out a soft whimper and said a little petulantly:

"Stinky Xiao Bai Gege, you only know how to bully Xun Er!"

Xiao Bai held her and whispered by her ear:

"Xiao Bai Gege can't even like this kind of Xun Er enough. How could I bear to bully you?"