Conflicted

After returning to Green Mountain Town, Xiao Yan's tightly wound nerves finally relaxed somewhat.

After bidding farewell to several enthusiastic mercenary brothers, Xiao Yan headed straight for the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion's herb-gathering team.

With Xiao Yi Xian there to welcome him, naturally no one questioned Xiao Yan's joining.

However, the burly mercenaries who had just said goodbye to Xiao Yan were so jealous that their eyes practically turned red.

Damn it, why did those two seem so familiar with each other? Since when had that happened?

Yet no one developed any ill feelings toward Xiao Yan because of it. They had all witnessed Xiao Yan's strength. Though they had never seen any truly formidable experts, they knew that Xiao Yan's future might hold at least the rank of a Dou Ling, or perhaps even the lofty realm of a Dou Wang!

A genius youth like that was naturally someone worth befriending. Besides, Xiao Yan's combat strength alone was enough to earn their respect.

Of course, that did not stop them from watching Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian walk side by side and cursing bitterly, "Damn it, that brat deserves to die!"

Naturally, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian knew nothing of the mercenaries' thoughts. At that moment, they were discussing the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.

"Has the matter with the Wolf Head Mercenary Group been handled?"

Xiao Yan asked casually.

"Someone has already been sent to notify Qin Lang, the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group."

Xiao Yi Xian replied with a faint smile.

"What strength does he have? Is he easy to get along with?"

Xiao Yan raised his brows at that.

Xiao Yi Xian rolled her eyes at him. "If he were easy to get along with, how could he have a subordinate like Mu She?"

"That's true..."

Xiao Yan scratched his head awkwardly.

"Qin Lang is a three-star Dou Master and the strongest person in Green Mountain Town. Although Mr. Yao of the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion also has the strength of a one-star Dou Master, his combat power is still far inferior to that of the mercenary group leader, a three-star Dou Master. Otherwise, Mu Li would not have dared cause trouble on the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion's territory before."

Xiao Yi Xian explained softly.

"Three stars... That won't be easy to handle."

Xiao Yan frowned upon hearing that.

With his current combat power, he could use the explosive period of Dou Qi backlash after removing the Heavy Profound Ruler, along with his high-quality Dou Qi and various high-tier Dou Techniques, to fight a nine-star Dou Zhe head-on. His chances of winning should not be low.

But...

A three-star Dou Master was another matter entirely.

Once one reached the Dou Master level, one could condense Dou Qi Gauze. Their Dou Qi recovery speed and defensive power far surpassed those of a Dou Zhe.

The suppression of a realm was not something mere level suppression could compare to.

However, Xiao Yan still had the Heavenly Flames as a trump card. Even if the Myriad Beast Spirit Fire was only an infant-stage Heavenly Flame, it was still a genuine Heavenly Flame.

Still, rather than anxiously studying how to fight across ranks, Xiao Yan felt that mowing down enemies with overwhelming strength would be far more satisfying.

"Teacher, the medicinal ingredients are all ready. We can refine Blood Burning now, right?"

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yan asked inwardly.

"Mm. We can begin refining it tonight. Once you find a suitable place, you can start using it."

Old Yao's laughter rang out in Xiao Yan's heart.

"You won't need to deal with him. Mr. Yao will go negotiate with them."

Xiao Yi Xian's soft laughter also drifted into his ears.

"That's good."

Xiao Yan nodded. As they spoke, they had already returned to Ten Thousand Medicine Manor and met Mr. Yao.

He was an utterly unremarkable middle-aged man.

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian bring Xiao Yan back directly, he was somewhat surprised as well.

"This is...?"

Mr. Yao looked Xiao Yan over, then turned to Xiao Yi Xian and asked with a smile.

"My friend, Xiao Yan."

Xiao Yi Xian said calmly.

"So little brother Xiao Yan is Xiao... Xiao Yi Xian's friend. I'll have someone prepare a courtyard for you at once."

A smile appeared on Mr. Yao's face as he spoke quite amiably.

"There's no need for that trouble. He can stay with me."

Xiao Yi Xian smiled and shook her head, then led Xiao Yan deeper into the manor.

As he followed Xiao Yi Xian through the corridor, Xiao Yan could not help asking,

"Mr. Yao treats you with such respect?"

He could tell that Mr. Yao was extremely respectful toward Xiao Yi Xian. Though he had deliberately tried to conceal it, even their brief exchange just now did not sound like the way an owner and an externally hired physician would speak, nor did it sound like the manner of ordinary friends.

"Does he?" Xiao Yi Xian shrugged adorably, smiling brightly. "Considering how popular I am in Green Mountain Town, isn't that perfectly normal?"

"All right."

Xiao Yan nodded, though his thoughts stirred.

He would only take those words with a grain of salt. There was no way he believed them.

In his view, it was more likely that Xiao Yi Xian had used some method to warn or restrain Mr. Yao, making him treat her with such respect—or rather, fear.

Still, that was good too. It would save them trouble later.

After all, if Xiao Yi Xian could still be restrained by Mr. Yao after being reborn, then her rebirth would have been for nothing.

Led by Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Yan arrived at a rather secluded little courtyard.

"The eastern side room has always been empty. You can stay here for the next few days."

Xiao Yi Xian pointed at the room on the eastern side of the courtyard.

"All right."

Xiao Yan nodded, then followed Xiao Yi Xian into her room.

A faint medicinal fragrance lingered in Xiao Yi Xian's boudoir.

Pink bed curtains hung over the bed, while the furnishings were simple and antique.

"Will it be a problem if you stay away from the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion for too long?"

Xiao Yan sat beside the round table, placed the medicinal ingredients he had been keeping for Xiao Yi Xian on it, and asked.

"This was only ever a temporary place for me to stay. I can leave whenever I want, and if I want to return, I can return whenever I wish."

Xiao Yi Xian smiled lightly, brewed a pot of flower tea, and poured Xiao Yan a cup.

"This tastes great!"

After taking a small sip, Xiao Yan gave Xiao Yi Xian a thumbs-up and said with a smile.

Xiao Yi Xian sat down as well. Looking at the youth before her, her mind drifted slightly.

She truly wanted to cultivate with Xiao Yan, fight alongside him, and travel the world hand in hand with him.

But... that was not something that could be achieved simply by wishing for it.

Although she did not know how this ten-year-old Xiao Yan would develop, she clearly remembered that in her previous life, Xiao Yan had left after breaking through to Dou Master.

Later, she too had set off for the Chu Yun Empire. Many terrible things had happened along the way, and even now, recalling them still made her deeply uncomfortable.

However, Xiao Yan was clearly a cultivation genius, while her talent for ordinary cultivation was actually quite mediocre. If not for her profound understanding of poison arts, she could never have improved so quickly.

But if she wanted to keep up with Xiao Yan's pace, perhaps she would have to activate the Woe Poison Body. Yet she truly did not want to become that Heavenly Poison Maiden again, muddled and emotionless under the influence of poison.

"If you like it, drink more. You might not get to drink it again in the future!"

Suppressing the worries in her heart, Xiao Yi Xian smiled softly and refilled Xiao Yan's cup.