After thinking for a moment.
Xiao Yuan still decided to sneak back to the Xiao Clan.
Under cover of darkness, he slipped into Xun'er's courtyard.
Perhaps he felt guilty and wanted to make it up to her; perhaps he believed in sharing the blessings around. Either way, he left Xun'er two packets of Marrow Cleansing Powder.
Only then did he quietly slip away from the Xiao Clan and leave Wutan City, setting out alone on a journey to pursue the story.
However, he hadn't noticed at all.
As he stepped through Wutan City's gates, a figure quietly appeared high in the sky, its gaze fixed on him the entire time.
"...Safe travels, Brother Xiao Yuan."
Beneath the moonlight, a pair of golden wings stood out, like gilded flames flowing quietly with the Dou Qi.
Xun'er, dressed in an elegant pale gown, pressed her lips together tightly. Her tender lips nearly formed a thin line, and her eyes brimmed with reluctance and longing, along with deep worry.
Like a newlywed wife watching her husband leave on a long journey.
Only when Xiao Yuan's figure had completely vanished did she slowly draw her gaze back.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the porcelain bottle in her hand.
Inside were the two packets of Marrow Cleansing Powder Xiao Yuan had given her.
"Xun'er has quite a few rivals..." Xun'er murmured softly.
Nalan Yanran was one thing. After all, Brother Xiao Yuan didn't like her.
But now there was also Ya Fei Mittal...
At the thought of this, her indifferent gaze fell on the Mittal Auction House below. Golden flames flickered faintly in her deep, shadowy eyes.
But in the end, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
"Forget it... I'll spare you for now, since you and Brother Xiao Yuan still have an agreement. I hope you'll remember your place... Brother Xiao Yuan, you really are a flirt."
Xun'er's voice was soft, yet full of resentment.
Her wings beat behind her, and she shot away like a golden meteor, slicing through the pitch-black night in an instant...
Xiao Yuan had left in a hurry. He hadn't seen anyone or said goodbye to anyone.
If Xun'er hadn't suddenly noticed someone sneaking into her courtyard in the middle of the night, even she wouldn't have known he was leaving that day.
It was because he hated goodbyes.
Even the Xiao Clan's elders had only learned that Xiao Yuan had left Wutan City to venture out on his own after Xun'er told them.
But neither the elders nor Xiao Zhan, his adoptive father, said anything.
They knew all too well that staying in a little place like Wutan City would only hold back Xiao Yuan's growth.
Besides—
The fledgling had grown its wings and was ready to dance in the open sky!
Xiao Yuan's carefree departure filled Xiao Yan with envy. He had already decided that a year later, he would go out and make his own way in the world!
Qingshan Town, an ordinary little town on the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
The people who came and went were mostly mercenaries who lived by the blade. They dressed even more roughly and savagely than the mercenaries in Wutan City.
Because it stood at the edge of the Magical Beast Mountain Range and was often attacked by magical beasts, the town wasn't particularly prosperous.
The mercenaries made their living by hunting magical beasts.
Yet beneath the blazing sun, a figure unlike any of the passing mercenaries appeared on the streets.
He was a handsome young man with striking features. Just one look at his clothes made it clear he was the son of a wealthy family.
But at odds with his status, the young man carried a long halberd on his shoulder.
Its entire length was a deep, mysterious black. A red tassel danced in the breeze, and the two crescent-shaped blades gleamed with a chilling light beneath the blazing sun. A blood-red gem was set into the weapon.
Three ancient characters were carved into the shaft—
Heaven-Slaughter Halberd.
The man carrying the Heaven-Slaughter Halberd was, naturally, Xiao Yuan.
After traveling at a leisurely pace for a month, he had finally reached Qingshan Town. A few days earlier, he had also broken through to the Dou Ling realm.
As for why he'd chosen this as his first stop, it was naturally because he wanted to meet the legendary Xiao Yi Xian.
He was quite curious about her.
In the original novel, the author had devoted a great many words to describing her. Both her story and her background were especially tragic.
At one point, her popularity had nearly surpassed that of Xun'er, the heroine.
The fact that she hadn't joined the protagonist's harem, appearing only as a so-called kindred spirit, made her one of the novel's few lingering regrets.
But most importantly, to the very end, no one knew what her real name was.
Everyone simply called her Xiao Yi Xian.
Throughout the history of online novels, it was rare to see a character with no name who was still so wildly popular. He only knew of two.
One was the Ruthless Empress, the most talented woman of them all, waiting in the mortal world for her brother to return.
The other was this beautiful and kind Xiao Yi Xian.
Before long, Xiao Yuan found the medicinal herb shop known in the original novel as the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.
He put away the Heaven-Slaughter Halberd and went inside. Though the shop wasn't very large, it was exceptionally clean.
Every herb was neatly arranged on spotless shelves.
Most importantly, the mercenaries who spent their days risking their lives had been outside just a moment ago, talking without restraint about which women in town had the most flavor, where the strongest liquor could be found, and which magical beasts were the most vicious...
But the second they stepped into the shop, they turned into well-behaved little boys, patiently lining up without shoving or jostling.
It was because a woman was seeing patients there.
She wore a pale white dress. Though she couldn't be called a peerless beauty, she was even prettier than the actresses he'd seen in his previous life, with the kind of looks that grew on you.
Her aura was elegant and ethereal, yet she wasn't cold or distant.
The gentle smile on her face made people feel a little closer to her.
Unlike Ya Fei's bewitching, seductive smile, or Xun'er's cool aloofness.
The warmth that seemed to come from deep within her made her feel like the kind older sister next door.
Especially among the mercenaries, all soaked in the stench of blood—she was like a clear spring, quietly nourishing their parched hearts.
This is the beautiful and kind Xiao Yi Xian? The ache of unrequited love doesn't hold a candle to the allure of a white moonlight.
The moment that thought crossed his mind.
Xiao Yi Xian, who was treating patients, suddenly looked up and glanced around, a faint trace of puzzlement between her brows.
She thought she'd just heard something, as if someone had called out to her.
The voice had sounded young, nothing like the mercenaries who came here.
When she looked toward the line again, she noticed Xiao Yuan, and their eyes met.
Could that voice have belonged to the young man?
But she didn't think she knew him.
And judging by his clothes, he didn't seem to be from town. He looked more like the young master of some clan.
Xiao Yi Xian had plenty of questions, but with so many mercenaries waiting for treatment, she didn't dwell on it.
She gave him a polite smile, then continued treating the wounded mercenary in front of her.
She called over a shop assistant, who brought a pill and placed it in front of the mercenary. In a gentle voice, she advised him:
"Go home and take this pill. Rest for a few days, and you should be fine."
"All right. Thank you, Lady Xiao Yi Xian!"
"You're welcome."
Xiao Yi Xian smiled as she saw the mercenary off, then welcomed the next person waiting for treatment.
Xiao Yuan's notification sounded again.
[ Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained the Dou Technique—Taixu Sword Qi ]