Because It's Pretty (Seeking Subscriptions)

"Am I that strange?" Xiao Yu asked, feeling a bit puzzled as he observed the look of utter astonishment on Xiao Yi Xian's face.

I held back last night, otherwise, would you even be able to speak today?

You are definitely strange!

Xiao Yi Xian's gaze was complex; last night, she had assumed she had run into an experienced and powerful mercenary.

Because she had been subdued the moment she crawled through the window, even her greatest reliance—her medicinal powder—hadn't had a chance to take effect.

"Can you untie me? I didn't mean to ambush you yesterday." Xiao Yi Xian twisted her body, revealing her hands and feet bound by rope.

"I can untie you, but you must answer a few questions first," Xiao Yu said, looking at her.

Xiao Yi Xian replied, "Ask away."

Xiao Yu stared at her. "Who are you? What did you take from the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, and why are they trying to capture you?"

Xiao Yi Xian pondered for two seconds before saying, "My name is Li Fei. I didn't take anything from the Myriad Medicine Pavilion; they are slandering me. In fact, it is because I discovered a major secret of theirs."

"You aren't lying to me?" Xiao Yu asked, looking suspicious.

Xiao Yi Xian said firmly, "I am telling the truth."

"Then what is this secret?" Xiao Yu asked with curiosity.

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian hesitate, he threatened, "If you don't speak, then prepare to stay tied up forever."

"I'll tell you, I'll tell you!" Xiao Yi Xian said, sounding anxious. "Xiao Yi Xian didn't die in an accident while gathering herbs; she was murdered by the owner of the Myriad Medicine Pavilion."

"Is that for real? The entire Green Mountain Town says Xiao Yi Xian died in an accident." Seeing how serious Xiao Yi Xian looked, Xiao Yu played along with a look of feigned shock.

Xiao Yi Xian said, "I am Xiao Yi Xian's assistant, so what I say is naturally the truth. If you don't believe me, you can take me into town for a stroll; those mercenaries all know me."

Take you out?

Xiao Yu chuckled inwardly, but said aloud, "The Myriad Medicine Pavilion is still looking for you."

"It doesn't matter; they wouldn't dare go against all the mercenaries in Green Mountain Town." Xiao Yi Xian was full of confidence. She had once hoped to become an alchemist and had studied many medicinal herbs, which had led her to help many mercenaries along the way.

As long as she could show herself to them, she believed those mercenaries would surely help her.

"I didn't expect you to have such a high status in the hearts of the mercenaries in Green Mountain Town, Xiao Yi Xian," Xiao Yu said with a faint smile.

"Of course, back then I..." Xiao Yi Xian's lips parted, but the next second, her smile froze on her face.

She stared blankly at Xiao Yu. "Y-you, what are you spouting? My name is Li Fei, I am Xiao Yi Xian's assistant. You, you have the wrong..."

She had wanted to quibble, but seeing the half-smiling expression on Xiao Yu's face, she immediately gave up.

"Are you going to hand me over to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion? Please, don't give me to them. I have a secret I can trade with you," Xiao Yi Xian said nervously.

For a long time, she had known that Mr. Yao harbored improper intentions toward her, but because she was valuable, he hadn't acted recklessly.

However, he had already fabricated the news of her accidental death. If not for the fact that she held the secret to that cave dwelling, and the emergence of the Xiao Clan Medicine Shop which made the Myriad Medicine Pavilion need her to concoct medicinal powder, she likely would have already been violated by him.

Having finally escaped, if she were caught and dragged back, she would have neither the time nor the opportunity to concoct medicinal powder again.

Thinking of the outcome if she were captured, Xiao Yi Xian's eyes couldn't help but well up.

"Why are you crying? When did I say I was going to hand you over to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion?" Xiao Yu asked, feeling bewildered.

Xiao Yi Xian froze, then asked in astonishment, "You aren't afraid of the Myriad Medicine Pavilion?"

"Let me introduce myself. My surname is Xiao, and my name is Xiao Yu," he said calmly.

Xiao?

Xiao Yi Xian was confused for a moment, but suddenly, a bolt of lightning flashed through her mind, and she blurted out, "You are from the Xiao Clan Medicine Shop?"

In Green Mountain Town, the most impressive thing in Xiao Yi Xian's mind was undoubtedly the newly opened Xiao Clan Medicine Shop.

Previously, as a physician for the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, her work had been relatively easy, even though she concocted medicinal powder every day.

Ever since the Xiao Clan Medicine Shop opened, she had become exhausted.

The medicinal powder not only had to be effective, but it also had to be low-cost.

Xiao Yi Xian had wanted to say many times that she was a physician, not an alchemist, and that it was truly impossible for her to do that!

Xiao Yu nodded slowly. "Correct, but there is no reward."

"Since you don't intend to hand me over, why are you still keeping me tied up? I'm not your match anyway." With her hands tied behind her back, the rope was digging into her body, making her very uncomfortable.

Xiao Yu thought for a moment. "Because it looks good."

Looks good?

Xiao Yi Xian was filled with question marks. She struggled to prop her body up, saw the ropes crossing over her chest, and said with shame and anger, "You pervert! You're despicable!"

She remembered what happened last night; that punch from back then still made her chest ache faintly even now.

"Tell me your secret. Remember to tell the truth this time, otherwise, I won't untie you," Xiao Yu said.

Seeming to realize that Xiao Yu was not easy to fool, Xiao Yi Xian became honest this time and told him about the discovery of the cave dwelling, though she did not mention its specific location.

Xiao Yu untied the ropes on her body, his lingering gaze causing Xiao Yi Xian to pull the quilt from the bed to cover herself.

Shortly after, Xiao Lin delivered food to the door of the room.

Before leaving, he heard the Young Clan Head asking for information regarding the route to the Soul-Severing Ravine. He paused, but seeing that Xiao Yu had no intention of explaining, he simply closed the door without asking further questions.

Xiao Yi Xian sat opposite Xiao Yu, eating the food in small bites, the red marks on the fair skin of her wrists appearing exceptionally distinct.

The two had been silent for some time.

"You want to go to the Soul-Severing Ravine?" Xiao Yi Xian could not help but ask, her curiosity piqued.

Xiao Yu nodded.

Xiao Yi Xian pondered for two seconds, "I have a way to take you there."

"You know a safe route?" Xiao Yu glanced at her.

Xiao Yi Xian replied, "You don't need to worry about that. As long as you can get me out of Green Mountain Town, I can take you there."

He had a vague impression of the general location of the Soul-Severing Ravine; having Xiao Lan fly them there would likely be much safer than trekking through the dense forest.

"Leaving Green Mountain Town is simple," Xiao Yu said indifferently.

Xiao Yi Xian's eyes brightened slightly, and she seemed somewhat impatient, "When do we set off?"

As long as she had not left Green Mountain Town, she felt unsafe.

"Finish eating," Xiao Yu tapped the plate with his chopsticks, producing a crisp sound.

"Boss, Xiao Yu has come out, and there is someone with him. Although her face is covered, it should be her."

A burly man ran into the Myriad Medicine Pavilion and found Yao Da, speaking with excitement.

A middle-aged man sat in the seat, his face somewhat pale, his left arm hanging in a sling across his chest.

Yesterday, he had intended to force Xiao Yi Xian to reveal the location of the cave dwelling, but he hadn't expected the woman to secretly concoct medicinal powder. Not only did he fail to get the location, but he was also nearly killed, only managing to block the attack thanks to his own strength.

However, his arm had been injured as a result.

Yao Da had been furious last night and ordered everyone in the Myriad Medicine Pavilion to go out and search, but after a thorough hunt, they had not found a trace of Xiao Yi Xian.

However, a subordinate had seen someone run into the Xiao Clan Medicine Shop, though they were unsure if it was Xiao Yi Xian.

Wary of the Xiao Clan backing Xiao Yu, Yao Da had not led his men to storm the place last night, choosing instead to keep it under surveillance.

"Which way are they heading? Is it toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range?" Yao Da asked.

He had just heard reports that Xiao Yu was inquiring about the route to the Soul-Severing Ravine.

The burly man nodded vigorously.

"Take some men and follow them carefully, but don't let them discover you. Also, send someone to notify Commander Mu of the Wolf Head," Yao Da ordered.