But that had nothing to do with him. After witnessing Xiao Chen's strength with his own eyes, he fully believed what Xiao Chen had said. He hurried back to the mercenary group's base and told his father the news.
The Wolf Head Mercenary Group's efficiency didn't disappoint Xiao Chen. In just half a day, news about the Woe Poison Body had spread throughout Qingshan Town.
The sun drifted west, and night gradually blanketed all of Qingshan Town. Yet at that moment, a special guest arrived at Qingfeng Inn. Li Tianyang looked at the delicate-looking girl before him, his eyes full of confusion. "Xiao Yi Xian? What brings you here...?"
In Qingshan Town, everyone knew Xiao Yi Xian by name. She usually stayed at the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion and only went out occasionally to gather herbs. He never expected her to come to his inn today.
"I want to meet that esteemed lord. I have information about the Woe Poison Body!"
Though Xiao Yi Xian was pure-hearted, she knew better than to reveal too easily that she possessed the Woe Poison Body. She hadn't met Xiao Chen yet, so she couldn't judge his intentions.
At her words, Li Tianyang's eyes lit up. He hurriedly led Xiao Yi Xian upstairs. When they reached Xiao Chen's door, Li Tianyang knocked. "My lord, Xiao Yi Xian, a pharmacist from Qingshan Town, requests an audience. She says she knows some clues about the Woe Poison Body!"
"Let her in. No one else is to come near my room!"
Xiao Chen used the Battle Qi within him to push the door open. Xiao Yi Xian looked at the young man sitting before the tea table and couldn't help staring blankly.
She had only heard that this influential figure was a Dou Wang. She never imagined he would be so young. Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be about her age.
"What's wrong? Didn't you say you had some clues? Why aren't you coming in? Are you afraid I'll eat you?"
Seeing Xiao Yi Xian standing there in a daze, Xiao Chen couldn't help teasing her. At the sound of his voice, she came back to her senses and hurried into the room, giving him a respectful bow. "Xiao Yi Xian, a physician from Qingshan Town, greets you, senior. I was rude just now. Please forgive me!"
[ Ding! Important character detected. Simulation character "Xiao Yi Xian" has been activated. Currently available simulation character: Xiao Yi Xian. Begin simulation? ]
Xiao Chen didn't rush to begin the simulation. Instead, he used his Battle Qi to shut the door, then looked at Xiao Yi Xian and got straight to the point. "Xiao Yi Xian, you're the current inheritor of the Woe Poison Body, aren't you?"
Xiao Yi Xian's body trembled violently at his words. She fought down the urge to turn and run, because she knew all too well that with Xiao Chen's strength, fleeing to the ends of the earth would be useless if he wanted to harm her.
Besides, since she had come here, she had already prepared for the worst. Now that he had seen through her, she didn't hide it. "Your insight is remarkable, senior. If what you said is true, then I must be the one who possesses the Woe Poison Body."
"But there's something I don't understand. You said I'm the current inheritor of the Woe Poison Body? Does that mean I'm not the only one with it?"
Xiao Yi Xian was undeniably sharp. From just a few words from Xiao Chen, she had picked out the crucial information.
Xiao Chen had no intention of hiding anything about the Woe Poison Body. But he wasn't in a hurry to explain, either. He pointed to the chair opposite him, inviting Xiao Yi Xian to sit and talk.
After Xiao Yi Xian sat down, Xiao Chen slowly explained the Woe Poison Body's legacy and its terrifying talent for growing stronger by devouring poison. Xiao Yi Xian listened, utterly dumbfounded.
"The previous inheritor of the Woe Poison Body was besieged and killed before she could break through to Dou Zun. Fortunately, she left behind her legacy!"
Xiao Chen lifted his teacup and took a small sip, then held up two fingers. "I currently have two ways to solve the problem of the Woe Poison Body erupting."
"May I ask, senior, what are the two ways? What would you need me to give in return?"
Xiao Yi Xian understood that there was no such thing as a free lunch. Xiao Chen had come all this way at his family's behest to find someone with the Woe Poison Body. Surely he hadn't come just to do good deeds?
Xiao Chen set down his teacup and looked up at Xiao Yi Xian. "Xiao Yi Xian, if I told you I came here for you, would you believe me?"
"????"
Xiao Chen's words exploded in Xiao Yi Xian's mind like a thunderclap, leaving her head spinning. She looked at him, utterly confused and bewildered.
If those words had come from a Dou Zhe, or even a Dou Shi, she might have been willing to believe them. But Xiao Chen was a young Dou Wang.
For such a heaven-blessed prodigy to say he had come for her—it completely upended Xiao Yi Xian's understanding of the world.
As far as she was concerned, if Xiao Chen wanted to, he only had to crook a finger and countless women would come running. What kind of woman couldn't he find? How could he possibly have come for her?
Perhaps afraid that she might misunderstand, Xiao Yi Xian took a deep breath and tamped down her tangled feelings. She cautiously sounded him out. "What do you mean, senior? Xiao Yi Xian doesn't quite understand. Please explain."
"Then I'll be direct. I like you, so I came to save you!"
Xiao Chen couldn't be bothered with more talk. He sent the words straight at Xiao Yi Xian like a fastball, leaving her completely stunned.
It was a while before Xiao Yi Xian came back to herself. Seeing how serious Xiao Chen looked, a blush crept across her face. "Sen—" But before she could finish, Xiao Chen cut her off. "Don't call me senior. We're about the same age. You can call me Xiao Chen, or Big Brother Xiao Chen!"
"All right, Xiao Chen... ge... ge. Did you know all along that I had the Woe Poison Body?"
Xiao Yi Xian didn't really resist his suggestion. She was just a little shy, and the words "Big Brother Xiao Chen" came out haltingly.
What puzzled her was that, judging from their conversation, Xiao Chen seemed to have known all along that she possessed the Woe Poison Body.
Even she hadn't known she had the Woe Poison Body. How had Xiao Chen found out?
Xiao Chen had already prepared an answer: he could foresee the future. And it was true. Having read the original story, he naturally knew everything that would happen.
While Xiao Yi Xian was still reeling from the shock, Xiao Chen stood and walked over to her, pulling her into his arms. He gently stroked the top of her head. "I'm sorry, Xian'er. I came too late. I couldn't save your parents or the villagers!"
His words struck the tenderest place in Xiao Yi Xian's heart. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. Xiao Chen said nothing more; he simply held her in silence and let her give vent to her feelings.
After half a cup of tea's time, perhaps worn out from crying, or perhaps comforted by a sense of security she had never felt before, Xiao Yi Xian fell asleep in Xiao Chen's arms.
Looking at the sleeping Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Chen had no unseemly thoughts. He picked her up, laid her on the bed, returned to his chair, and entered the simulator.
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