Because She Was Pretty (Please Subscribe)

"Am I that strange?" Xiao Yu asked, puzzled by the astonishment on Xiao Yi Xian's face.

He'd gone easy on her last night. Otherwise, would she even be able to talk today?

Of course you're strange!

Xiao Yi Xian's gaze was complicated. Last night, she'd thought she'd run into an experienced, powerful mercenary.

She'd been subdued the moment she climbed through the window, and even the medicine powder she relied on most had been useless.

"Can you untie me? I didn't mean to sneak up on you yesterday." Xiao Yi Xian twisted her body, showing him her hands and feet bound with rope.

"I can, but you have to answer a few questions first." Xiao Yu looked at her.

"Ask away," Xiao Yi Xian said.

Xiao Yu studied her. "Who are you? What did you take from the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, and why are they hunting you?"

Xiao Yi Xian thought for two seconds before answering. "My name is Li Fei. I didn't take anything from the Myriad Medicine Pavilion. They're framing me. The truth is, I know one of their big secrets."

"You're not lying to me?" Xiao Yu asked suspiciously.

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

"Then what secret do you know?" Xiao Yu asked curiously.

Xiao Yi Xian hesitated.

He threatened her. "If you don't tell me, you can stay tied up forever."

"I'll tell you, I'll tell you!" Xiao Yi Xian hurriedly said. "Xiao Yi Xian didn't die in an accident while gathering herbs. The Myriad Medicine Pavilion's owner killed her."

"Really? Everyone in Green Mountain Town says Xiao Yi Xian died in an accident." Seeing how serious she looked, Xiao Yu played along, feigning shock.

"I was Xiao Yi Xian's assistant. Of course I'm telling the truth. If you don't believe me, you can take me around town. All the mercenaries know me."

Take you outside?

Xiao Yu smiled to himself. "The Myriad Medicine Pavilion is still looking for you."

"That doesn't matter. They wouldn't dare make an enemy of all the mercenaries in Green Mountain Town." Xiao Yi Xian was brimming with confidence. She'd once hoped to become an alchemist and had studied many herbs. She'd also helped plenty of mercenaries along the way.

As long as she showed her face in front of them, she was sure they'd help her.

"I didn't realize you had such a high standing among the mercenaries in Green Mountain Town, Xiao Yi Xian." Xiao Yu smiled faintly.

"Of course. Back then, I..." A smile tugged at the corners of Xiao Yi Xian's mouth, then froze on her face the next moment.

She stared blankly at Xiao Yu. "You—you're talking nonsense. My name is Li Fei. I'm Xiao Yi Xian's assistant. You—you've got the wrong..."

She'd been about to keep denying it, but Xiao Yi Xian saw the knowing smile on Xiao Yu's face and gave up.

"Are you going to hand me over to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion? Please don't. I have a secret. I'll trade it to you."

Xiao Yi Xian spoke nervously.

She'd always known Mr. Yao had designs on her. He'd held back only because she was useful to him.

But he'd already spread the news that she'd died in an accident. If she hadn't known about that cave dwelling, and the Xiao Clan Medicine Shop hadn't opened—giving the Myriad Medicine Pavilion a need for her to prepare medicine powder—she might already have been violated by him.

She'd barely managed to escape. If she was caught again, she wouldn't have the time or chance to prepare medicine powder.

Thinking about what would happen if she were captured, Xiao Yi Xian's eyes began to fill with tears.

"Why are you crying? When did I say I'd hand you over to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion?" Xiao Yu asked, baffled.

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

"Allow me to introduce myself. My surname is Xiao. I'm Xiao Yu," he said calmly.

Xiao?

Xiao Yi Xian was confused. Then a flash of insight struck her, and she blurted out, "You're from the Xiao Clan Medicine Shop?"

In Green Mountain Town, the place that had left the deepest impression on Xiao Yi Xian was undoubtedly the newly opened Xiao Clan Medicine Shop.

When she'd worked as a physician at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, she'd prepared medicine powder every day, but the work had been fairly easy.

Ever since the Xiao Clan Medicine Shop opened, she'd been exhausted.

The medicine powder had to work well and cost little.

Several times, Xiao Yi Xian had wanted to say that she was a physician, not an alchemist. She really couldn't do it!

Xiao Yu nodded slowly. "Correct, but there's no prize."

"If you're not going to hand me over, why keep me tied up? I'm no match for you anyway." Xiao Yi Xian's hands were bound behind her back, and the rope dug painfully into her body.

Xiao Yu thought for a moment. "Because you're pretty."

Pretty?

Xiao Yi Xian was full of questions. She strained to sit up and saw the rope crossing her chest. Her face flushed with anger. "You're a lecher! You're disgusting!"

She remembered what had happened last night. Her chest still seemed to ache faintly from that punch.

"Tell me your secret. This time, make sure you tell the truth. Otherwise, I won't untie you," Xiao Yu said.

Xiao Yi Xian seemed to realize that Xiao Yu wasn't easy to fool. This time, she behaved herself and told him about finding the cave dwelling, though she didn't reveal its exact location.

Xiao Yu untied the ropes around her. His lingering gaze made Xiao Yi Xian snatch up the blanket on the bed and cover herself.

Not long afterward, Xiao Lin brought food to the room.

Before leaving, he heard the young clan leader ask him to help find out how to get to Soul-Severing Ravine. He paused, but seeing that Xiao Yu had no intention of explaining, he closed the door without asking anything.

Xiao Yi Xian sat opposite Xiao Yu and ate in small bites. The red marks on the fair skin of her wrists stood out clearly.

They'd been silent for a while.

"You're going to Soul-Severing Ravine?" Xiao Yi Xian finally asked, curious.

Xiao Yu nodded.

Xiao Yi Xian thought for two seconds. "I can take you there."

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

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

She had some idea of where Soul-Severing Ravine was. She could have Xiao Lan fly them there when the time came; that ought to be safer than going through the dense forest.

"Getting out of Green Mountain Town is easy," Xiao Yu said calmly.

Xiao Yi Xian's eyes brightened, and she could hardly wait. "When are we leaving?"

As long as she hadn't left Green Mountain Town, she didn't feel safe.

"After we eat." Xiao Yu tapped his chopsticks against the plate, making a crisp sound.

"Boss, Xiao Yu's come out. There's someone with him. Her face is covered, but it should be her."

A burly man hurried into the Myriad Medicine Pavilion and found Yao Da, his voice alight with excitement.

A middle-aged man sat in a chair. His face was pale, and his left arm was slung in a bandage.

Yesterday, he'd tried to force Xiao Yi Xian to reveal the cave dwelling's exact location. He hadn't expected that woman to have secretly prepared medicine powder. He'd gotten no answer, and she'd nearly killed him. Fortunately, he'd blocked the attack with his own strength.

His arm had still been injured, though.

Yao Da had been furious last night and sent everyone from the Myriad Medicine Pavilion out to search. Despite their efforts, they hadn't found Xiao Yi Xian.

But one of his men had seen someone run into the Xiao Clan Medicine Shop. He wasn't sure if it had been Xiao Yi Xian.

Wary of the Xiao Clan behind Xiao Yu, Yao Da hadn't led anyone to force their way in last night. Instead, he'd ordered his men to keep watch.

"Which way are they headed? Toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range?" Yao Da asked.

He'd just heard that Xiao Yu was asking about the route to Soul-Severing Ravine.

The burly man nodded vigorously.

"Have your men follow them carefully. Don't let them notice you. Also, send someone to notify Commander Mu of Wolf Head."

Yao Da gave the order.