The Last Ride Together

In the valley, Xiao Yu leaped down from atop a massive boulder. As his body fell with gravity, the Purple Cloud Wings on his back abruptly unfurled the instant he neared the ground, instantly halting his descent. He landed lightly on the ground, and the Purple Cloud Wings vanished once more, becoming a tattoo against his back.

Xiao Yu nodded in satisfaction. He had become even more familiar with deploying and retracting the Purple Cloud Wings. In future battles, he was confident he could move like a loach, leaving his enemies unable to grasp his movements.

Combined with his unpredictable spear techniques, he could practically toy with his enemies in the palm of his hand.

As he headed toward the thatched cottage, Xiao Yu caught the scent of food from afar.

Little Medical Fairy wore a white dress, and the table before the thatched cottage was already laden with sumptuous dishes. Like a wife waiting for her husband to return, she quietly waited for Xiao Yu to come home for dinner.

Warmth filled Xiao Yu's heart, but then he noticed a trace of black medicinal powder at the corner of Little Medical Fairy's lips.

He slowly approached her and reached out to wipe away the poison from the corner of her mouth.

"I told you, even though you cultivate with it, you still need to restrain yourself..."

Seeing the black medicinal powder on Xiao Yu's fingertip, Little Medical Fairy was seized by an inexplicable impulse and gently took it into her mouth.

Xiao Yu's words were interrupted by her action. He had not expected Little Medical Fairy to make such an intimate gesture.

Little Medical Fairy also came to her senses and hurriedly lowered her head, unwilling to let Xiao Yu see her expression. Yet her crimson earlobes still betrayed her shyness.

Xiao Yu seemed to still feel the soft touch on his fingertips, as well as the silky smoothness of that brief contact.

He raised his other hand and affectionately rubbed Little Medical Fairy's head, speaking to her gently.

"Let's eat first."

Because of what had just happened, the two of them ate dinner exceptionally quickly that day.

Under the setting sun, Xiao Yu sat on the steps before the thatched cottage. Looking at the busy Little Medical Fairy, he softly said,

"I... am leaving."

Little Medical Fairy, who had been tidying things up, suddenly froze. Then she pretended nothing had happened and said,

"Where do you plan to go next?"

Xiao Yu glanced at the last rays of the setting sun, then turned to Little Medical Fairy.

"The Tagor Great Desert! I'm going there to continue cultivating. What about you?"

Hearing Xiao Yu's answer, Little Medical Fairy's eyes dimmed. Then she replied,

"I might leave the Jia Ma Empire. I'll return to the Izumo Empire to cultivate."

Having expected this long ago, Xiao Yu was not surprised by Little Medical Fairy's answer. He continued, "Then we'll have to part tomorrow."

"Yes."

Little Medical Fairy gently walked over to Xiao Yu and sat beside him on the steps. Together, they watched the last of the sunset.

Xiao Yu took a storage ring from his chest and handed it to Little Medical Fairy.

"There are some things I prepared for you inside. It'll make it more convenient for you to carry things when you're traveling."

Little Medical Fairy accepted Xiao Yu's storage ring and smiled faintly. With a thought, a jade bottle appeared in her hand as she asked,

"This is?"

Xiao Yu scratched his head and said,

"These are pills I refined myself. They can quickly restore Dou Qi and will be very helpful to you."

Little Medical Fairy poured out several round, lustrous pills. They seemed to emit a faint glow.

"So these are pills? As expected, they can't be compared to merely blending medicinal liquids together."

Little Medical Fairy stared at the pills with shining eyes, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Her lack of talent in alchemy could be said to be Little Medical Fairy's greatest regret. She was proficient in medicinal principles, yet she could not refine genuine pills.

Looking at Little Medical Fairy, Xiao Yu smiled.

"Don't deny yourself like that. Perhaps you can also carve out an entirely new path in the way of poison masters."

Little Medical Fairy smiled faintly without answering. She took a bottle from her chest and handed it to Xiao Yu.

"Based on the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, this is the strongest medicine I can currently refine. If you encounter a powerful enemy in the future, you can use it to save your life. This bottle is the antidote. It can't distinguish friend from foe, so don't mix them up yourself."

Xiao Yu accepted the medicine bottles from Little Medical Fairy and said loudly,

"Do I look like the type to flee for my life in panic? They should be the ones running when they meet me!"

Then Xiao Yu seemed to say casually,

"If I come looking for you in the future, would you be willing to... join me?"

"Join you?"

Little Medical Fairy asked in confusion.

Xiao Yu said, "What if, in the future, I am hated by many people? Would you still be willing to follow me?"

Hearing Xiao Yu's words, Little Medical Fairy smiled.

"If anyone should be hated, it ought to be someone with a Calamity Poison Body like me. With your talent, how could you possibly end up like that?"

Xiao Yu smiled faintly but said nothing.

Little Medical Fairy glanced at Xiao Yu and softly said,

"If that day truly comes, I will definitely stand by your side."

Under the night sky, Xiao Yu and Little Medical Fairy leaned against each other on the steps before the thatched cottage, slowly passing their final night together.

In the morning, beneath the azure sky, Blue Eagle circled above the thatched cottage. Looking at Xiao Yu, Little Medical Fairy said,

"Let's go. This is the last time we'll ride together."

Xiao Yu smiled calmly, wrapped an arm around Little Medical Fairy's waist, and leaped onto Blue Eagle's back.

"We'll meet again."

Blue Eagle gradually rose higher. The little valley and thatched cottage below gradually shrank, finally disappearing amid the enveloping clouds and mist.

As they passed a mountain peak, Xiao Yu turned to Little Medical Fairy and said,

"Let's part here. The Izumo Empire lies to the east, while the Tagor Great Desert lies to the west. Take care of yourself."

"Take care, Xiao Yu."

A mischievous smile curled at Xiao Yu's lips. Before Little Medical Fairy could react, he leaned close and lightly touched his lips to hers. Before she could speak, the Purple Cloud Wings flashed behind his back, and he leaped from Blue Eagle's back.

"Little Medical Fairy, don't worry about the Calamity Poison Body. In the future, I will resolve it for you."

Watching Xiao Yu's figure gradually vanish, the corners of Little Medical Fairy's lips lifted imperceptibly.

"Then I'll wait for you..."

After leaving Little Medical Fairy, Xiao Yu identified his direction, spread the Purple Cloud Wings, and carefully sped along the outskirts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

This time, Xiao Yu's destination was Black Rock City, the nearest major city in the Jia Ma Empire.

After all, to reach the Tagor Great Desert, Xiao Yu did not intend to fly there himself and waste so much time. That simply was not worthwhile for him. Besides, judging by the time, Xiao Yan and Medicine Elder should have already gone to Green Mountain Town for training. If he did not hurry, Xiao Yan might swallow the Green Lotus Core Flame first. If that happened, Xiao Yu would suffer a tremendous loss!

After all, if he swallowed the Heavenly Flame himself, it would not affect Xiao Yan's advancement. But if Xiao Yan absorbed it first, he certainly would not leave even a sip for him.