Green Mountain Town.
An ordinary town near the Magical Beast Mountain Range, it mainly survived by hunting magical beasts.
Ten Thousand Herb Pavilion was one of Green Mountain Town's four largest forces. Like the town's three major mercenary groups, it had Dou Master experts stationed there.
Having built its business on selling medicinal goods, Ten Thousand Herb Pavilion had not only avoided conflicts with the three major mercenary groups, but also maintained good relations with them. Its status throughout Green Mountain Town was faintly above the rest.
Yet today, Mr. Yao, the owner of Ten Thousand Herb Pavilion, was humbly receiving a young man.
"Young Master Xiao, this is all the Yellow Lotus Essence in our Ten Thousand Herb Pavilion. Please take as much as you like!" Mr. Yao said with boundless enthusiasm.
Xiao Yan nodded blandly, sweeping his gaze over all the Yellow Lotus Essence in the pavilion's warehouse. A trace of disappointment appeared in his eyes.
Suddenly, he seemed to think of something and said to Mr. Yao, "This isn't all the Yellow Lotus Essence, is it? Didn't you bring over the pieces in the display cases?"
Mr. Yao froze, then quickly said, "Oh my, that's my mistake. You asked for all the Yellow Lotus Essence, Young Master Xiao. How could I forget the ones in the display cases? I'll have someone deliver them right away."
After saying that, Mr. Yao called outside, "Someone, bring all the Yellow Lotus Essence from the display cases to Young Master Xiao!"
Mr. Yao's words carried great authority. The instant he spoke, everyone began moving.
Before long, three figures arrived at the warehouse, each carrying some Yellow Lotus Essence.
The three consisted of two men and one woman.
There was little to say about the two men. They wore the yellowish-brown uniforms of Ten Thousand Herb Pavilion clerks.
As for the young woman, Xiao Yan could not help taking several extra looks at her.
Her looks were slightly inferior to Xiao Xun'er's. She wore a simple white dress, and her temperament was elegant and ethereal. A polite, faint smile hung on her face, her crescent eyes gently curved.
Most noteworthy was her soft, slender willow waist, which made one want to draw her into an embrace and added greatly to her charm.
Xiao Yan stared at her naturally not because of her beauty.
Within the Xiao Clan, Xiao Mei and Xiao Yu were both beautiful girls no less striking than Xiao Yi Xian before her Woeful Poison Body awakened.
But... this girl was Xiao Yi Xian!
The bearer of the Woe Poison Body, Xiao Yan's greatest protector during the middle stages of the original story.
Now that he had truly seen her, it was inevitable that his heart stirred.
Seeing Xiao Yan staring at Xiao Yi Xian, Mr. Yao's eyes rolled as he gave a lewd smile. "Young Master Xiao, this is Xiao Yi Xian, the finest physician in our Ten Thousand Herb Pavilion. She's practically the goddess of all the mercenaries in town."
Xiao Yi Xian shyly brushed back her hair and nodded at Xiao Yan. "Hello, I'm Xiao Yi Xian."
Xiao Yan returned the greeting. "Hello, I'm Xiao Yan."
After that, Xiao Yan stopped looking at Xiao Yi Xian and began examining the Yellow Lotus Essence that had just been brought over. When he saw one particular piece, delight surfaced in his eyes.
It was a piece of Blood Lotus Essence! One of the main ingredients for refining a Fifth Tier Blood Lotus Pill!
Seeing that Xiao Yan was no longer looking at Xiao Yi Xian, Mr. Yao was slightly disappointed. But when he noticed the gleam in Xiao Yan's eyes, joy immediately filled his face. "Young Master Xiao, have you taken a liking to all this Yellow Lotus Essence?"
"Mm, they're all quite good."
"Then, about what you promised earlier..." Mr. Yao trailed off.
Xiao Yan raised his head and glanced at him. He had no intention of reneging, so he casually took a Tier 2 Medicinal Pill from his Storage Ring and tossed it to Mr. Yao.
Mr. Yao was startled and hurriedly caught the pill with utmost care, letting out a breath of relief.
He examined the pill closely. It carried an unusual fragrance, and its color was smooth and lustrous. It truly was an excellent Tier 2 Medicinal Pill.
Exchanging a pile of Yellow Lotus Essence for a Tier 2 Medicinal Pill—he had practically made a fortune.
Of course, if he had known that one piece among that Yellow Lotus Essence was Blood Lotus Essence, he would have regretted it until his intestines turned green.
This outcome was naturally the best. Both he and Xiao Yan felt that they had profited.
"Mr. Yao, what is Young Master Xiao's identity?" Xiao Yi Xian asked Mr. Yao curiously.
Mr. Yao replied in a low voice, "He's so generous, paying directly with a Tier 2 Medicinal Pill. Either he's an Alchemist himself, or he's a descendant of some great family out gaining experience."
"I'd guess it's the latter. He's so young—how could he possibly be an Alchemist?"
Xiao Yi Xian nodded, looking thoughtful.
Xiao Yan put away all the Yellow Lotus Essence, including the piece of Blood Lotus Essence that had been mistaken for Yellow Lotus Essence.
He did not linger at Ten Thousand Herb Pavilion and turned to leave.
After walking some distance away from Ten Thousand Herb Pavilion, he suddenly heard someone call out behind him.
"Young Master Xiao, please wait!"
Xiao Yan turned around and discovered that Xiao Yi Xian had chased after him. He stopped and asked, "What is it?"
Xiao Yi Xian said, "Sorry, Young Master Xiao. I just wanted to ask, are you an Alchemist?"
The moment he heard that, Xiao Yan understood.
Though Xiao Yi Xian possessed the Woe Poison Body and was naturally suited to become a poison master, she deeply yearned to refine medicine.
So...
"That's right. I only became an Alchemist a year ago," Xiao Yan said openly.
Xiao Yi Xian's eyes lit up, and she immediately asked, "Young Master Xiao, to be honest, my dream is to become an Alchemist. Could I trouble you to tell me about Alchemists? Perhaps even teach me some alchemy techniques."
Seemingly feeling that her request was rather shameless, Xiao Yi Xian hurriedly added, "Don't worry, Young Master Xiao, I won't take advantage of you for nothing. Some time ago, when I went out to gather herbs, I discovered a hidden cave in the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range."
"I am willing to tell you the cave's location. If there is some opportunity inside, then after you gain something from it, you can teach me alchemy techniques."
Xiao Yi Xian looked at Xiao Yan eagerly.
Xiao Yan recalled the cave from the original story and immediately nodded. "Of course. But the requirements to become an Alchemist are extremely strict, and you likely do not meet them. Learning alchemy techniques would be useless as well, so you should prepare yourself mentally."
Xiao Yi Xian nodded. "Even if I don't have the talent, I still want to try. At the very least, I won't be left with regrets."
Xiao Yan said no more.
He had no intention of missing out on the flying Dou Skill and the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Map Fragment.
Especially the flying Dou Skill.
Most of his current strength came from his physical body, while his cultivation was not particularly high. As a result, the ability to fly would become his weakness.
Once he obtained a flying Dou Skill, that weakness would no longer exist.
Since Xiao Yi Xian had already considered it carefully, there was no need for him to dissuade her further.
Xiao Yan said, "Let's each go back and make preparations. We leave tomorrow?"
Xiao Yi Xian's eyes shone. "Yes! I'll go back and prepare at once. Goodbye, Young Master Xiao!"
After saying that, Xiao Yi Xian happily left.
Xiao Yan did not stay either and planned to find an inn for the night.
However, before he had gone far, five figures surrounded him.
"Kid, Xiao Yi Xian is someone our young regiment leader likes. You'd better stay away from her, or don't blame us for getting rough!" said a mercenary who looked to be in his forties.
Xiao Yan had wanted to say, "I'd like to see how you plan to get rough," but swallowed the words before they left his mouth.
He still felt that saying something like that was too childish.
"Sigh, it seems I'm not very good with words," Xiao Yan sighed, then clenched his fists.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Five punches shot out in rapid succession. Before the five mercenaries could say another word, they had all been sent flying and knocked unconscious.
With Xiao Yan's physical strength comparable to that of a Tier Four Magical Beast, not turning the five into bloody mist was already an act of mercy.
But he would only give them one chance.
He had already displayed his strength. If they still failed to recognize their place and came looking for trouble again, he would not mind killing them.
Of course, wiping out a mercenary group while he was at it would not be a problem either. One had to pull weeds out by the roots.
Before you continue