Xiao Yi Xian: I'm not some strange woman

At the edge of the steep cliff, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian stood side by side.

"What do you think?"

Lowering his head to survey the pitch-black abyss below, Xiao Yan turned and asked Xiao Yi Xian with a smile. She wore tight black clothes that made her ample chest and slender waist stand out perfectly.

But when he had seen Xiao Yi Xian during the day, her chest had not seemed this... sizable, had it?

Xiao Yan gave her another puzzled glance.

Then Xiao Yi Xian shot him a glare.

Awkwardly lowering his head and rubbing his nose, Xiao Yan then saw Xiao Yi Xian pull a large bundle of rope from her bosom and toss it all to him.

Oh, now the size matched.

To ease the awkwardness, Xiao Yan lowered his head and seriously fiddled with the rope in his hands, pondering where best to secure it.

"Did you prepare any torches?"

Xiao Yi Xian asked.

"No need. I have a Moonlight Stone, and I can see in the dark."

With the help of his soul perception, Xiao Yan naturally did not need a torch. But since Xiao Yi Xian could not do the same, he took a Moonlight Stone from his Storage Ring and handed it to her.

"That works. Then let's begin."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded. After hesitating for a moment, she stepped forward and opened her arms.

"Hm?"

Xiao Yan had just secured the rope and tied it around his own waist. When he looked up, he saw Xiao Yi Xian earnestly waiting for a hug.

"It's too dark. I'm a little scared."

Xiao Yi Xian spoke softly.

With that pitiful expression, no one would have guessed that not long ago, she had smilingly administered an extremely bizarre and lethal poison to a Nine-Star Dou Zhe herself.

That poison devoured its victim's life force and caused hallucinations, turning them into beasts that knew only slaughter during the final quarter-hour of their lives.

As a master of poison arts, Xiao Yi Xian had measured the dosage perfectly. Unless something unexpected happened, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group would be almost entirely dead by now. As for the other innocent mercenaries, they would be fine so long as they did not touch Mu She's corpse. She would return to camp in time to extract the poison from Mu She's body.

"Come here."

Hearing that, Xiao Yan smiled and opened his arms as well.

Without the slightest hesitation, a fragrant breeze immediately rushed toward Xiao Yan, followed by a soft, fragrant body crashing into his embrace.

She had supposedly crashed into him, but with Xiao Yan's physique, it was really no different from throwing herself into his arms. The soft body in his embrace carried the scent of medicinal herbs, making Xiao Yan unable to resist taking a deep breath.

After wrapping an arm firmly around her slender willow waist, Xiao Yan softly reminded the little beauty in his arms,

"Hold on tight. I'm about to move."

"Okay."

Curled completely into Xiao Yan's embrace, Xiao Yi Xian felt the long-familiar warmth of his arms and suddenly felt a sting in her nose. She nodded obediently, her arms around Xiao Yan's waist tightening considerably.

Even through their clothes, Xiao Yi Xian could feel how reassuring the tough, muscular body she held was.

What a pity, he was still a child...

She sighed helplessly inwardly, but her feet had already left the ground. A slight sense of weightlessness came over her, leaving her a little dazed.

The fierce wind by her ears pressed their clothes tightly against their skin. Xiao Yan held Xiao Yi Xian with his left arm while abruptly yanking the rope that had been wound several times around his right hand. Their rapidly falling bodies slowly came to hang in midair beside the cliff.

Letting out a light breath, Xiao Yan used his soul power to confirm their position. Then he kicked off the cliff face, swinging out once more. After shifting several times, Xiao Yan released the rope and fell downward with Xiao Yi Xian.

Hiss!

However, the moment they landed, a foul wind suddenly swept toward them.

"Ha!"

Xiao Yan let out a deep shout and drew the Heavy Profound Ruler, slamming it upright before him.

Duang!

The Heavy Profound Ruler shook violently. A muffled impact rang out alongside a pained hiss. Xiao Yan struck out with his palm, and the Dou Qi within him, no longer suppressed, surged forth wildly. A powerful blast of wind directly sent the ambusher in the shadows flying. Faintly, Xiao Yan heard a desperate shriek.

"Was that a Rock Snake?"

Xiao Yi Xian had been protected in Xiao Yan's arms the entire time. She saw nothing and had no time to do anything before realizing that the battle was already over.

"No. It seemed to be a Vine Snake, hiding inside a fallen tree. That thing can't fly. It must be dead for good after falling down there."

Xiao Yan shook his head and released the arm around Xiao Yi Xian.

But Xiao Yi Xian did not let go.

Seeing that, Xiao Yan did not remind her just yet. He used a Fire Blowing Palm to blow the shattered rocks and fallen branches at the cave entrance into the ravine, then gently patted Xiao Yi Xian's back. "All right, it's time to go in."

"Ah? Oh, right!"

Xiao Yi Xian came back to her senses and hurriedly released Xiao Yan. Holding the Moonlight Stone, she turned and quickly walked into the cave.

She could not let Xiao Yan notice that she was blushing.

Otherwise, he might think she was some strange woman, right?

The cave was not wide, only enough for two or three people to pass through. Though the interior was pitch-black, a faint glow shimmered within. Under the Moonlight Stone's illumination, it seemed as though starlight sparkled throughout the cave, making for a rather strange sight.

A faint chill filled the cave and curled around them, making Xiao Yi Xian involuntarily hug her arms.

The next moment, Xiao Yan took a blanket from his Storage Ring and draped it over Xiao Yi Xian.

"...Thank you."

Xiao Yi Xian was somewhat surprised, but she soon replied with a beaming smile.

"It was nothing."

Xiao Yan shook his head, then placed a hand on Xiao Yi Xian's shoulder. Fire-attributed Dou Qi flowed out, instantly dispelling the chill from her body.

"Let's go. We should be close."

Sweeping his gaze over the deep cave ahead, Xiao Yan spoke softly.

"Okay."

Xiao Yi Xian followed with a smile. The two quickened their pace and soon reached the end.

A stone door emitting a faint yellow glow stood before them.

"Judging by the yellow glow on the door, this place should have an earth-element mechanism. I know a little about this sort of thing, so leave it to me!"

Xiao Yi Xian smiled, tightening the blanket around herself with one hand while her other slender hand lightly touched the stone door and slowly moved across it.

"Found it!"

Before Xiao Yan had even properly examined their surroundings, Xiao Yi Xian had already crouched down. One slender hand touched a small protrusion beneath the stone door. She pressed it down slightly with her finger, and after a series of mechanical sounds, the stone door opened.

As the stone door rose, a faint glow spilled from within, completely driving away the darkness nearby.

Looking at the brilliantly lit interior beyond the stone door, Xiao Yi Xian tucked the Moonlight Stone into her clothes. Then she took two steps back, placed Xiao Yan in front of her protectively, raised her snow-white chin, and said with a light laugh, "Shall we go in?"