Let's Get Acquainted!

In the silent forest, a large group moved quietly. Countless vigilant eyes continuously swept the dark shadows among the surrounding trees, while hands gripped the weapons at their waists, ready to deal with any sudden situation.

Those who had joined the herb-gathering party were all veteran mercenaries who had roamed the Monster Mountain Range for many years. Although some of them might have been working together for the first time, they maintained a basic understanding. With just a meeting of eyes, they could grasp one another's general meaning.

"Huff..."

"Inhale..."

Although this was Xiao Yan's first time entering the Monster Mountain Range, his soul perception was far stronger than that of ordinary people. He did not need to rely on his eyes to determine whether his surroundings were safe.

After adapting over the past few days, Xiao Yan had worked out a simple breathing method that effectively reduced the additional drain on his stamina caused by the Heavy Profound Ruler's pressure.

Taking out a black handkerchief, Xiao Yan wiped the sweat from his face. He turned around and looked toward the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion's herb-gathering party, protected by layers of guards behind him. His gaze settled precisely upon the girl in the white dress, surrounded as though she were the center of the stars.

This was Xiao Yan's first time seeing Xiao Yi Xian. Though she was not as flawlessly beautiful as Xun Er, she was still a rare, gentle beauty. As she panted lightly, she gave off a frail, delicate air that made people instinctively want to cherish her.

At that moment, Xiao Yi Xian seemed to notice Xiao Yan's gaze as well. She turned to look at him, the corners of her lips curving into a gentle smile.

Xiao Yan smiled and nodded in return before withdrawing his gaze and continuing onward.

"Strange, Teacher. With my soul power, if I deliberately conceal myself, ordinary people shouldn't be able to notice my gaze, right?"

Xiao Yan asked inwardly.

"I don't know. I can't make out her aura clearly. She should still be in the Dou Qi stage, but if she doesn't make a move, it's difficult to sense anything."

After a moment, Old Yao's voice sounded, carrying a hint of uncertainty.

"Fine..."

Xiao Yan did not say anything further.

Xiao Yi Xian couldn't possibly be another transmigrator like Nalan Yanran, could she?

No way. No way.

Just as Xiao Yan's thoughts ran wild, his soul perception detected something slightly amiss.

Thus, he slowed his pace considerably and allowed the surrounding mercenaries to move ahead of him.

"Hiss!"

The next instant, three sharp whistles tore through the air in three different directions. Three crimson snakes with blue pupils fell from the tree trunks, accurately biting three mercenaries who had just reached the level of two-star Dou Zhes and easily injecting cold poison into their bodies.

In the blink of an eye, the cold poison froze the blood in the three mercenaries' bodies. Their skin turned as pale as ice sculptures, and they collapsed to the ground, their entire bodies icy cold.

Afterward, the three Red Ice Snakes were beaten to death by the crowd. Unfortunately, not one of the three snakes dropped a Magical Core.

The others merely sighed in slight regret. In the wilderness, it was nothing unusual to kill magical beasts only to return empty-handed after suffering heavy casualties, so no one was overly disappointed.

After the Red Ice Snakes were dealt with, the three mercenaries poisoned by the cold venom were quickly sent to the herb-gathering party at the rear. Xiao Yi Xian personally treated them and expelled the cold poison from their bodies.

Since he was too far away, Xiao Yan could not see clearly and therefore had no idea exactly how Xiao Yi Xian had removed the cold poison.

But if he had been beside Xiao Yi Xian, he would certainly have noticed that those methods of removing cold poison were absolutely not something a physician could accomplish!

After enduring several attacks by magical beasts, the herb-gathering party finally approached the herb-gathering area. Along the way, Xiao Yan had cleanly killed two first-rank magical beasts, earning quite a few respectful looks.

Yet mixed among those respectful gazes were several that were far from friendly.

Xiao Yan casually swept his gaze around and discovered that those looks indeed came from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.

The Wolf Head Mercenary Group had brought more than thirty people. This would be troublesome...

Xiao Yan frowned slightly, his soul power locking onto Xiao Yi Xian from afar.

He wondered whether she had discovered that mysterious cave yet. If she had not, he would make friends with her first. If she had, then obtaining the Purple Cloud Wings ahead of time would give him another trump card. At the very least, no one below the level of a Dou Wang would be able to keep him here.

"Everyone, we're already close to the herb-gathering area. We've been walking for so long, and everyone must be tired. Let's rest for a while first."

A moment later, Xiao Yi Xian's soft voice rang through the quiet party.

Naturally, no one objected to Xiao Yi Xian's order. After a quick discussion, more than ten mercenaries spread out around the area to stand guard, while the others sat down where they were, recovering the strength drained by traveling under intense mental strain and the Dou Qi expended during battle.

Xiao Yan found a large tree and casually leaned against it.

Because he cultivated an Earth Tier technique, and because he had been tempered by Heavenly Flames and the Heavy Profound Ruler, the quality and quantity of Xiao Yan's Dou Qi were terrifyingly high.

Traveling such a short distance did not affect him in the slightest.

Leaning sideways against the tree trunk, he closed his eyes and circulated his cultivation technique slightly, restoring the small amount of Dou Qi he had expended.

A while later, when Xiao Yan had returned to his peak condition, the surrounding mercenaries were still whispering among themselves as they waited for their strength to slowly recover.

At that moment, Xiao Yi Xian, marked by his soul power, also began to move.

After casually greeting the mercenaries beside him, Xiao Yan used the excuse of relieving himself to leave the temporary camp. Following the direction of his soul mark, he headed over.

Several mercenaries wearing Wolf Head insignias quietly followed after him.

But once they entered the forest, they discovered that Xiao Yan had vanished without a trace.

It was not that Xiao Yan had suddenly become kind-hearted and chosen not to kill them.

The main reason was that finding Xiao Yi Xian was more important to him than killing them right now. Unless he could not shake these tails, he would have no choice but to spend a little effort dealing with them.

Following the direction of the soul mark, Xiao Yan passed through the dense forest. His view suddenly opened up, revealing a steep cliff before him. At its edge sat the familiar girl in the white dress.

As expected, you still came.

Turning to look at the young face, even more immature than she remembered, Xiao Yi Xian murmured silently to herself.

Yet a gentle smile still appeared on her face as she went straight to the point.

"I heard that yesterday, you offended Mu Li of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group because you wanted to buy my Healing Medicine?"

Xiao Yan was stunned upon hearing this.

Was Xiao Yi Xian's information network really that efficient?

Still, that was understandable. What had happened yesterday was not exactly a secret. In mercenary circles, this sort of gossip always spread the fastest.

"Not exactly. Mu Li only came after I bought your Healing Medicine. I don't have the habit of handing what's in my possession over to someone else. Besides, he isn't qualified to take anything from me. If you insist on putting it that way, they provoked me, not the other way around."

Xiao Yan smiled faintly, his tone brimming with the spirited confidence of youth.

"So this was what you were like at an even earlier time..."

Xiao Yi Xian looked at Xiao Yan's high-spirited appearance, then suddenly smiled brightly and extended her hand toward him.

"Let's get acquainted. My name is Xiao Yi Xian."

Xiao Yan looked at the girl's fair little hand and paused for a moment. Then he smiled, reached out, took her hand, and pulled her to her feet. His voice became much gentler.

"Hello. My name is Xiao Yan."

Looking at the boy's brilliant smile and feeling the scorching warmth in her palm, Xiao Yi Xian suddenly felt incomparably lighthearted. To hell with the Heavenly Poison Maiden. Right now, she was simply the carefree Xiao Yi Xian of Green Mountain Town!

"Hello, Xiao Yan."