This Was No Ordinary Gossip! Rumored to Have "Spent Three Days Together," Every Thug in Town Exploded!

"Don't touch it!"

Little Fairy's expression changed drastically, and she spun around as if struck by lightning. In a panic, she pulled a clean handkerchief from her clothes, grabbed An Yi's hand, and vigorously wiped every trace of black poison powder from his fingertips.

"Poison?"

An Yi let her wipe his fingers, looking at her with an amused half-smile. "Why are you eating poison first thing in the morning? Don't tell me... you saw that I hadn't moved for three days, thought I'd died in my sleep, lost all hope, and decided to poison yourself so you could join me on the road as a pair of doomed lovers?"

"Who's trying to kill herself?!" Little Fairy was both embarrassed and angry, her cheeks flushing bright red as she shot him a fierce glare.

"Then why are you eating poison like snacks?" An Yi's smile faded as he looked at her seriously.

Little Fairy's gaze darted away, and she did not dare meet the eyes that seemed capable of seeing through everything. Biting her red lips, she tightly clutched the hem of her clothes and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz:

"Have... have you read the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture?"

"I flipped through a few pages. Why?"

"I..." Little Fairy closed her eyes as though she had made an enormous decision. In a tone close to despair, she said, "I... am the Disaster Poison Body recorded in it."

Born under misfortune, fatal to the touch.

Living by consuming poison, only to inevitably die a miserable death when countless toxins backfired upon her.

A monster everyone avoided.

Yet An Yi merely nodded calmly. "Oh, so that's how it is. No wonder you eat poison. That really is your cultivation method."

Little Fairy cautiously opened her eyes. Seeing that An Yi's face showed no ripples of emotion, she found it hard to believe.

"You... you're not afraid of me?"

"Afraid? What am I supposed to be afraid of?" An Yi asked with a puzzled expression.

"Afraid I'll poison you to death! My whole body is poisonous..." Little Fairy's voice trembled.

"Come on, sis!"

An Yi rolled his eyes and helplessly tapped her forehead. "I'm your lifesaver, okay? You wouldn't repay kindness with hatred, would you? Besides, if you really wanted to poison me, you could've done it when I was sprawled out like a dead pig just now. Why wait until now?"

Hearing those unreasonable yet incredibly reassuring words, Little Fairy's taut nerves finally snapped completely.

Her eyes reddened, large tears welling up within them as her voice choked.

"Thank you..."

"Hey, hey, hey! Stop right there!"

Seeing this, An Yi immediately took half a step back and raised one hand in a stopping gesture. He put on a stern face and threatened her viciously.

"Don't cry! I'm warning you, my heart's too soft. I can't stand seeing girls cry. If you dare shed even one tear in front of me today, I'll knock you out with one slap and throw you back onto the bed!"

The tears Little Fairy had just worked up instantly got stuck in her eyes. She stared at him blankly. "Huh?"

"What do you mean, huh? If you dare cry, I dare hit you. Try me if you don't believe it!" An Yi raised his fist.

Little Fairy burst into laughter through her tears, her beautiful face full of bewilderment. "...Is that any way to threaten a girl?"

An Yi spread his hands righteously. "Comforting people is way too troublesome. Threatening them is simpler and more efficient. Besides, based on my extensive theoretical experience, girls usually cry harder the more you comfort them. So I'm not comforting you!"

Watching An Yi spout such nonsense with a perfectly serious face, the gloom in Little Fairy's heart miraculously faded by more than half.

"Alright, enough about that." An Yi pulled over a chair and sat down. "How much poison have you taken now? You didn't lose control and poison yourself unconscious, did you?"

Little Fairy lowered her head guiltily. "I only... ate a little. I just wanted to become stronger so badly..."

"For now, keep the amount under control. Don't eat too much."

An Yi's tone became more serious as he reassured her. "Later, I'll help you look for information and see whether there's a way to help you completely control this thing. Otherwise, if your poison body develops too quickly and you can't control it, the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture makes it very clear that in the later stages, you'll suffer the agony of ten thousand poisons devouring your body. Just thinking about it makes my scalp tingle."

Little Fairy suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with disbelieving hope. "Control it? This Disaster Poison Body... can really be controlled?"

"Maybe others can't do it, but if I say it can be done, then there'll definitely be a way. Trust me."

Looking at the young man's sunny, handsome face, Little Fairy's eyes reddened as she asked softly:

"Why... why are you so good to me?"

An Yi rubbed his chin and pretended to think seriously for a while. Then he raised an eyebrow with a sly grin.

"Didn't you say we were fated? We're both drifters with the world as our home. Besides, you accepted my betrothal gift, the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, yesterday. Didn't you already decide to give yourself to me?"

"As a responsible man, shouldn't I treat my little wife better?"

"Pfft..."

Little Fairy finally laughed through her tears.

She no longer avoided him, nor did she feel inferior.

The girl suddenly stepped forward, opened her arms, and threw herself tightly into An Yi's embrace.

Because of their absurd height difference of nearly one meter ninety, Little Fairy could only bury her warm cheek deep against An Yi's broad, solid chest.

Listening to the young man's strong, steady heartbeat and feeling an unprecedented sense of safety, a beautiful smile curved her lips.

"Thank you, An Yi."

Just as Little Fairy buried her cheek deep in An Yi's broad, solid chest, greedily savoring this rare sense of safety amid the chaos of the world...

"Grrrrumble—"

A thunderous protest suddenly came from An Yi's stomach. It echoed through the quiet room, instantly shattering the tender, rosy atmosphere.

Little Fairy stiffened and raised her head with a strange expression. Her bright, watery eyes were full of surprise and amusement.

An Yi's old face reddened. Somewhat embarrassed, he scratched the back of his head and coughed twice in an attempt to save face. "Ahem... well, I slept for three days straight without eating or drinking. I'm indeed a little hungry."

"Pfft."

Seeing how awkward he looked, Little Fairy could not help laughing.

She stepped back half a pace and smoothed her skirt, laughter spilling from her eyes. "With the terrifying appetite you showed at the restaurant, Ten Thousand Medicine Hall's kitchen probably can't fill you up anytime soon. Come on, let's go eat outside."

After that, An Yi washed up briefly.

Before they left, Little Fairy looked at his white hair, which had become messy from sleeping. Naturally rising onto her toes, she reached out with slender fingers and retied his high ponytail, smoothing the loose strands by his ears.

She looked gentle and virtuous, like a little wife seeing her husband off.

Once she was done, the two left Ten Thousand Medicine Hall side by side and headed toward the biggest restaurant in town.

However, the moment they stepped out of Ten Thousand Medicine Hall, An Yi's keen senses noticed that something was wrong.

The looks from the hall's clerks and guards were no longer merely unfamiliar. They now carried a strange mix of wariness and even undisguised hostility.

More obviously, as soon as the two of them reached the street, several sneaky "tails" appeared in hidden corners behind them.

At the restaurant, Little Fairy skillfully ordered a table full of signature dishes.

While they waited for the food to arrive, An Yi lifted his teacup and took a sip. He casually glanced out the window and asked indifferently:

"Did something happen at Ten Thousand Medicine Hall? Why does it feel like everyone's guarding against thieves today? And there are quite a few rats following behind us."

At his words, Little Fairy's relaxed expression immediately became a little unnatural. She gently stirred the tea leaves in her cup and explained quietly:

"Something did happen. While I was studying the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture these past few days, I was accidentally discovered by Manager Yao of Ten Thousand Medicine Hall. He tried to probe me about the scroll's origins and contents, but I kept giving vague answers and never told him."

"I imagine he's become greedy for the poison scripture. But since you were sleeping in my room, he couldn't figure out your background and was wary of you. So he couldn't openly make a move against me and could only send people to watch us."

An Yi nodded in understanding. "An innocent man gets in trouble for possessing a treasure. What about the other group?"

Little Fairy bit her lip, a trace of embarrassed anger coloring her cheeks.

"And then... you slept in my room for three whole days without coming out. Somehow, word got out, and the rumors have only gotten worse."

"One of Qingshan Town's three major mercenary groups is the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Their young leader is called Mu Li. Ever since I came to Qingshan Town, he's been relentlessly pestering me with ill intentions. Now that he's heard this rumor, he's probably gone completely mad..."