My Female Leads Seemed to Be Acting Strange

"So, you're only ten years old now?"

After a brief exchange, Xiao Yi Xian sat beside Xiao Yan at the foot of a tree and stared at him wide-eyed.

Xiao Yan was not the sort of person who used his own suffering to win sympathy, so Xiao Yi Xian had initially known nothing about the three-year blank period in his cultivation.

It was only after she later arrived in the Chu Yun Empire, when the people who had helped her died one after another and those who wanted to harm her grew ever more numerous, that she began to cherish her only friend all the more. She had someone investigate Xiao Yan, learning everything that had happened before he met her, as well as some things afterward.

Although she could not cultivate the Woe Poison Body, with her mastery of poison arts, if she wished, she was confident she could at least reach the Dou Wang realm within three years. If she forcibly triggered an outbreak of the Woe Poison Body, she might not be able to kill a Dou Zong expert, but she was certain she could wipe out the Misty Cloud Sect by herself!

She had originally intended to cultivate for a few more years before going to Wutan City to find Xiao Yan. Who would have thought that he would arrive at the Monster Mountain Range before her? Moreover, unlike in her past life, his cultivation progress seemed even faster?

In that case, if there was no so-called blank period, he should not need her help, right?

Then there was no need for her to activate the Woe Poison Body. Even if her cultivation was slower, as long as she could live a few more years and remain friends with him for a few more years, that would be good enough.

In an instant, Xiao Yi Xian thought of many things.

"This is a secret. Don't tell anyone, or I'll be in trouble."

Xiao Yan had an instinctive trust in Xiao Yi Xian. Xiao Yi Xian herself seemed not to realize that this trust was somewhat inappropriate, but Old Yao was so anxious that he practically blew his beard and glared.

Wasn't the little girl from an Ancient Clan at home enough? He had come outside and was going to provoke another one too?

At such a young age, instead of learning properly, he was doing this sort of thing?

"Alright, I'll keep it secret." Xiao Yi Xian nodded. Then a meaningful smile suddenly appeared on her face. "Speaking of which, I'm fourteen this year. How about calling me big sister?"

"No!" Xiao Yan refused without even thinking, then asked, "You look younger than me. Why shouldn't you call me big brother instead?"

"Brother Xiao Yan?"

Xiao Yi Xian did not seem burdened by the suggestion at all and called him that directly.

Hiss!

The moment Xiao Yan heard that form of address, he immediately wilted.

"Forget it. Just call me Xiao Yan."

If Xun Er heard that, he would be finished!

The kind of finished that could not be coaxed away!

"Alright." Xiao Yi Xian nodded and kept the latter half of her sentence to herself. I was actually used to calling you that too.

"Xiao Yan, you're only ten. Why did you enter the Monster Mountain Range to train? Normally, children your age would be cultivating at home, wouldn't they?"

Xiao Yi Xian looked curious. She had already begun to notice that the Xiao Yan before her differed somewhat from what the intelligence in her memories had said about him.

She did not find that strange. After all, if even she could travel through time, then Xiao Yan cultivating a little faster and leaving home early to train was hardly an issue. What truly worried her was that his Dou Qi realm might suddenly fall. Traveling through the Monster Mountain Range with only three stages of Dou Qi was extremely dangerous.

"Oh, I'm planning to find a secluded place in the Monster Mountain Range to cultivate. While I'm at it, I'll hunt some magical beasts and gain a little combat experience."

Xiao Yan replied with a smile.

"I see..."

That matched the circumstances she remembered.

But how was she supposed to tell him about the three years of regressing Dou Qi?

She could not exactly lay everything bare, could she? Tell him, "Big sister came back from the future. I know you'll definitely become powerful, but before that, you'll experience a three-year blank period in cultivation?"

Why did that sound like some swindler selling fake medicine?

No, no.

"If you're looking for a secluded place, I do know a good spot. I discovered it by chance while gathering herbs before, but first, I'd like to ask you for a favor."

After pondering for a moment, Xiao Yi Xian decided to wait and see.

At worst, she could protect Xiao Yan when the time came.

If anyone dared to hurt or humiliate him, then even if she became the Heavenly Poison Maiden once more—the figure whose name struck terror into all who heard it—she would make those ignorant fools pay the price!

Those years in the Chu Yun Empire had ultimately changed her too much.

Even if she wished to return to being Xiao Yi Xian, the mark of the Heavenly Poison Maiden had already been deeply branded into her soul, impossible to erase.

For him, what was so bad about standing against the entire world?

As she spoke, Xiao Yi Xian pulled Xiao Yan to the edge of a cliff and pointed toward a rather peculiar section of the rock face. Her red lips parted slightly.

"Look over there. I discovered it by accident while gathering herbs once. Behind those strange trees is a hidden cave that is difficult to notice.

"The cave should have been left behind by some predecessor, but I've never entered it, so I don't know much about its interior. Still, judging from certain traces, the predecessor who left that cave behind should have been very powerful.

"But the cliff is too steep, and I can't get in. I want you to take me inside."

After saying that, Xiao Yi Xian looked at Xiao Yan expectantly. With those eyes and that expression, she was simply impossible to refuse.

"Sure, but... do you trust me that much?"

Xiao Yan nodded, yet he found it rather strange. Could Xiao Yi Xian truly trust him so much merely because of the Healing Medicine, the matter with Mu Li, and a few casual words just now?

Could she have been reborn too, like Nalan Yanran?

Xiao Yi Xian smiled faintly. "If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't expose my back to you without any defenses."

"Why?"

Xiao Yan already had his answer.

"That's my secret. I'll tell you when I want to tell you!" Xiao Yi Xian said with a sweet laugh. Then she stood and urged him, "Let's go. We've stayed here long enough. It's time to head back."

"Alright. You go first. I'll circle back later."

Xiao Yan nodded and waved to Xiao Yi Xian.

"Alright."

Xiao Yi Xian waved back, then turned and disappeared into the dense forest.

"Ah!"

Watching Xiao Yi Xian's retreating figure, Xiao Yan rubbed his brow.

He was finished.

For now, Xun Er showed no signs of having been reborn.

Nalan Yanran had definitely been reborn.

Yun Yun did not seem to show anything unusual for the time being.

Xiao Yi Xian had most likely been reborn as well.

The huge question now before Xiao Yan was this: if Queen Medusa had also been reborn, would she come chop him to death, or capture him and take him back to the desert as her queen?

Or would she wait for him to deliver himself to her?

Right, there was also Ya Fei. Could she have been reborn too?

Mm, probably not. At least, not yet.

Otherwise, she definitely would not have passed up the perfect opportunity to come to Wutan City and invest in him. Setting personal feelings aside, his potential alone was enough for Ya Fei to personally stay in Wutan City for a while.

The more Xiao Yan thought about it, the worse his headache became.

His female leads really seemed to be acting strange!