After leaving the auction house, he looked at the crowded city, took a deep breath, and felt its clamor and vitality. A complicated emotion rose in his heart as he sighed.
"Ever since I came to this world, I've grown deeply attached to this place. Now that I'm about to leave for a while, I actually feel a little reluctant. But I know this departure is for experience and growth. A man must learn to grow up."
After preparing all his supplies, Xiao Yao headed toward the courtyard where Xiao Zhan lived.
When Xiao Yao arrived, he told his father that he would be leaving for a while. Xiao Zhan looked at him and asked doubtfully, "Yao'er, why are you preparing to leave? Is there something you need to deal with?"
"Father, a few years ago, an old man noticed my exceptional bones and that I possessed an Alchemist Physique, so he took me as his disciple. These past few days, he said he wanted to take me outside to gain experience and broaden my horizons. I'll be back within a year at most."
After speaking, Xiao Yao secretly used the Divine Concealment Technique to suppress his cultivation to One-Star Battle Master, then released his battle qi and displayed his cultivation.
Seeing this, Xiao Zhan smiled. "Yao'er, with me at home, you can go train without worry."
"Alright, Father." Xiao Yao answered with a grin.
After leaving his father, Xiao Yao headed toward Xun'er's courtyard and ran into Xiao Yan along the way.
Xiao Yao said, "Little Flame, I'm about to go on a long journey, so you don't need to come looking for me anytime soon."
Xiao Yan stared at Xiao Yao in confusion and asked, "Brother Yao, what are you going out for? How long do you plan to be away?"
"This pill is called a Fighter Pill. It suits your current cultivation and can raise your strength by one star. As for how long I'll be gone, I'm not telling you."
After taking the pill from his Storage Ring and handing it to Xiao Yan, Xiao Yao continued toward Xun'er.
He walked into the courtyard where Xun'er was staying. Xiao Yao gently pushed open Xun'er's door and entered.
Xun'er was sitting in the courtyard reading. When she saw Xiao Yao enter, a delighted smile appeared on her face.
"Brother Xiao Yao, you're here!" Xun'er closed her book and came forward, saying excitedly.
Xiao Yao nodded and replied with a smile, "Yes, Xun'er. I came to see you."
The two sat down, and Xiao Yao told Xun'er that he would be going away soon. "Brother Xiao Yao, are you really leaving?" Xun'er asked reluctantly.
Xiao Yao gently held her hand and comforted her. "Don't worry, Xun'er. I'm only leaving temporarily and will be back soon. I also prepared some tasty snacks for you." After speaking, he took out yesterday's potato chips and ten portions of small snacks from his Storage Ring and handed them to Xun'er.
Seeing them, Xun'er felt somewhat comforted. Yet reluctance still showed in her eyes as she said softly, "Brother Xiao Yao, be careful on the road and come back early. Xun'er doesn't want to wait that long."
Hearing Xun'er's words, Xiao Yao rubbed her head and reassured her, "Don't worry. Brother Xiao Yao will take good care of himself and definitely return early. After all, my Xun'er will be waiting for me to come back."
Xun'er felt a little more at ease after hearing Xiao Yao's words. She nestled against his chest and said softly, "I'll miss you, Brother Xiao Yao."
Xiao Yao gently stroked her silky hair and said tenderly, "I'll miss you too, Xun'er. Take good care of yourself and wait for my return."
The two stood quietly like that, enjoying their brief embrace.
Some time later, Xiao Yao, dressed in ordinary robes, walked out through the gates of the Xiao Clan. Under the respectful gazes of the clan guards, he slowly disappeared at the end of the street.
Xun'er watched Xiao Yao's departing figure until he vanished, then softly called out, "Elder Ling, secretly protect Xiao Yao for me. Remember not to let him discover you."
A black shadow formed in the courtyard, and an elderly man in black robes appeared. "Miss, I was sent by the clan leader to protect your safety. If I go protect Young Master Xiao Yao, what if you encounter danger?"
The young lady said in an icy tone, "Elder Ling, I'm very safe in the Xiao Clan. No one can hurt me. I have the things Father gave me to protect myself. Just make sure Xiao Yao is safe. You don't need to concern yourself with anything else."
"Yes, Miss." As soon as he spoke, Ling Ying turned into a shadow and disappeared from the spot.
In the pitch-black night sky, a crescent moon hung alone, its faint, chilly moonlight spilling across the earth.
Within a dark little forest, a faint campfire flickered lightly, bringing a trace of warm light to the silent night.
Beside the campfire, a young man dressed in black leaned against a tree trunk, idly poking at the flames with a fire stick in his hand.
Counting today, Xiao Yao had already been away from Wutan City for five days. The initial freshness of the journey had faded amid the lonely travel, and a faint longing slowly crept into the young man's heart.
Xiao Yao casually tossed another piece of firewood into the flames, making the campfire burn much brighter. He sighed, "So I've already grown used to having a little girl by my side. Without Xun'er's company all of a sudden, I actually feel lonely."
Xiao Yao smiled, shook off the melancholy in his heart, and began planning this training journey.
During these days, Xiao Yao had traveled while cultivating, consolidating his Da Dou Shi cultivation. By this evening, he had finally arrived at the town closest to the Magic Beast Mountain Range, a small town called Green Mountain Town.
Because it was so close to the Magic Beast Mountain Range, most of the people in this town were mercenary groups who lived with their lives on the line.
Xiao Yao walked along a small bluestone path that led toward a large marketplace bustling with people. He had already put on his Disguise Mask and wore a black robe. His refined appearance naturally drew quite a few looks.
However, he paid them no mind. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he slowly walked along the street.
There were many shops on both sides of the street, and because of the town's location, business was quite bustling. Xiao Yao's gaze swept with interest across the signs above the shops. When his eyes landed on a spacious herbal shop, he stopped. After a brief moment of thought, he stepped into the herbal store named "Myriad Medicine Pavilion."
Seeing this, Xiao Yao realized, Could this be where Xiao Yi Xian is? But she's only eight or nine years old now, so she probably hasn't appeared here yet.
Xiao Yao had little interest in weapons and armor, but he was extremely interested in all kinds of precious medicinal herbs. As long as he could find rare herbs, with his current alchemy skills, he could refine them into all sorts of pills that enhanced strength or assisted cultivation. In the danger-filled Magic Beast Mountain Range, pills were the most practical things for preserving one's life.
Xiao Yao entered the spacious shop, which was illuminated as brightly as day by Moonlight Stones hanging on the walls. There were quite a few customers in the store, and the clerks were all extremely busy, so no one came to greet the newly arrived customer for the moment.
As Xiao Yao looked over the medicinal herbs and pills displayed on the counters, he suddenly heard two clerks whispering. One male clerk said, "Did you know? A few days ago, the owner of Myriad Medicine Pavilion brought back an eight- or nine-year-old girl. I heard she's a little healer who knows medicinal herbs very well and can distinguish which herbs can treat injuries, bruising, and blood stasis."
The other clerk chimed in, "Of course I know. I also heard that this little girl is as beautiful as a fairy and kind-hearted, so the people of Green Mountain Town call her Xiao Yi Xian."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yao thought, So Xiao Yi Xian had already arrived in Green Mountain Town this early.
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