Qing Shan Town, Xiao Yi Xian

Half a month later,

After a long journey, Xuan Qing saw a fairly large city appear before him.

To avoid drawing too much attention, Xuan Qing had put away his Dou Qi wings early on and chose to enter the city on foot.

This time, he had come to gather information about Xiao Yan, fearing Xiao Xun'er would discover him.

Otherwise, with Xuan Qing's cultivation as a Dou Emperor and his top-tier techniques and combat skills, he would probably be as wild as Homelander in the Jia Ma Empire!

Wu Tan City.

Guards stood watch at the city gates, while carriages and pedestrians streamed endlessly in and out.

After paying the entrance fee, Xuan Qing slowly entered the city.

Rather than approaching the Xiao Family, he found a moderately sized tavern.

Going to the Xiao Family to inquire about Xiao Yan would be too obvious. A tavern filled with people and well-informed patrons was clearly a better place.

As he entered the tavern, a waiter came up and warmly said,

"Welcome, sir. Please come in. What would you like to eat?"

Xuan Qing found a seat by the window and sat down.

"Bring me one of each of your signature dishes."

"Right away, sir. Please wait a moment!"

Before long, a table full of sumptuous dishes was laid out before Xuan Qing.

Xuan Qing took out a bag of gold coins, shook it from side to side, and looked at the waiter.

"I want to ask you something. If your answer satisfies me, this bag of gold coins is yours."

The waiter's gaze swayed along with the coins in Xuan Qing's hand as he said excitedly,

"Go ahead, sir. I'll tell you everything I know!"

"I heard there's a Xiao Family in this city. Do you know whether anything interesting has happened to them recently?"

At the mention of the Xiao Family, the waiter's expression turned somewhat strange. He leaned close to Xuan Qing's ear and said quietly,

"Sir, you may not know this, but the Xiao Family really did have quite a scandal before."

"About three or four years ago, the Xiao Family's genius, Xiao Yan, suddenly became a cripple. Then, a year ago, Nalan Yanran of the Nalan Family came to break off their engagement! I heard they even made a three-year agreement!"

"Sir, that's all the major gossip there is. So, you see..." The waiter stared fixedly at the bag of gold coins in Xuan Qing's hand.

Xuan Qing's body stiffened slightly.

He had become a cripple three or four years ago, and his engagement had been broken off a year ago!

That meant Yao Chen had already awakened. It seemed he could no longer obtain the Bone Chilling Flame without a sound.

If Xiao Xun'er learned that someone dared lay a hand on her Brother Xiao Yan, she would probably find him even if he fled to the ends of the earth.

"Fine, I understand. You may leave." Xuan Qing handed the gold coins to the waiter.

"It's my honor to have been of help, sir!" The waiter happily accepted the coins and headed away.

Xuan Qing propped up his head and stared at the bustling street outside the window, deep in thought.

Originally, he had estimated that he and Xiao Yan were about the same age, so he should have been able to get the ring before Yao Chen awakened, seize the Bone Chilling Flame and the Flame Mantra.

Then he could destroy the evidence and return to the Pill Tower, claiming that he had found Venerable Yao's place of death on the Northwestern Continent...

Yet he was still a step too late. It seemed he would have to make a long-term plan!

After eating a few bites, Xuan Qing rose and headed toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

"Forget it. I'll find Xiao Yi Xian first, or I'll end up one step behind Xiao Yan again."

Half a day later,

Qing Shan Town.

Myriad Medicine Hall was filled with the fragrance of medicinal herbs. Many travelers came and went; some bought and sold herbs, some traded magical beast cores, and others came to seek treatment...

Naturally, the largest crowd consisted of mercenaries who lived with their lives on the line.

They gathered in groups, arms hooked around one another, spitting as they talked on the streets.

They brazenly discussed which women in town had the most charm, where the strongest liquor was sold, and where the fiercest magical beasts could be found...

Xuan Qing headed toward the bustling Myriad Medicine Hall.

At that moment, more than a dozen mercenaries were lined up before the counter of Myriad Medicine Hall to have their wounds treated.

Every one of those mercenaries was big and burly, looking extremely hard to deal with. Yet they sat quietly before the counter and waited in line, creating a striking contrast.

A young girl in a plain white dress stood behind the counter, bandaging the wound of a seriously injured mercenary.

She looked around sixteen or seventeen. Though she could not be called breathtakingly beautiful, she was still a rare beauty.

Her faintly smiling face exuded a fresh, ethereal aura. That distinctive temperament greatly enhanced her charm.

Most enticing of all was her willow-thin waist, bound by a green ribbon and slender enough to fit in one hand. Its delicate fragility made one want to toy with it after only a glance!

This person was none other than Xiao Yi Xian!

Xuan Qing did not step forward. He merely found a stool at the entrance and watched quietly.

Xiao Yi Xian, who was bandaging a mercenary's wound, looked up and noticed Xuan Qing at the doorway.

As she looked at the young man before her, a trace of amazement could not help rising in her eyes.

The young man had sword-like brows, starry eyes, slightly long tousled hair, and sharply defined features. Though he still retained a trace of youthful immaturity, it could not conceal his handsomeness.

He was the most handsome man she had seen in Qing Shan Town all this time.

He wore nothing but a simple black robe without any adornments, yet he somehow made it look refined and luxurious.

For a moment, Xiao Yi Xian could not help staring at him for a few more seconds.

It was not until the mercenary before her spoke to remind her that she came back to her senses.

"N-no... I'm sorry, I got distracted."

Xiao Yi Xian hurriedly lowered her head and smiled apologetically at the mercenary before her. Her slender, fair fingers nervously continued wrapping the bandage.

The burly mercenary sitting opposite her felt flattered and hurriedly waved his hands. "It's fine, it's fine."

Xiao Yi Xian took a deep breath and quickly finished bandaging the mercenary's wound.

The mercenary thanked her, left behind a few copper coins, and departed.

Myriad Medicine Hall gradually quieted down. Xiao Yi Xian put away the medical tools on the table before slowly raising her head, her gaze falling once more upon the silent figure seated at the entrance.

After finishing her work, Xiao Yi Xian slowly walked over to Xuan Qing, brushed back the strands of green hair by her ear, and asked softly,

"Young master, are you here to buy medicine, or...?"

"My name is Xuan Qing. I came here specifically for you." A gentle smile appeared on Xuan Qing's face as he spoke bluntly.

"Young master, do I know you?"

Hearing that Xuan Qing had come specifically for her, Xiao Yi Xian looked puzzled.

She examined Xuan Qing carefully again and was certain that she did not know him at all.

Xuan Qing did not answer her. He merely glanced over her exposed delicate hand, where her fair skin faintly revealed an unnatural hue.

Following his gaze, Xiao Yi Xian instinctively withdrew her hand into her sleeve, unwilling to let anyone discover her abnormality.

Xuan Qing stared into Xiao Yi Xian's eyes for a moment before saying, "This is our first time meeting!"

Xiao Yi Xian became even more confused and asked curiously, "Then, young master, you..."

Though Xiao Yi Xian did not finish her question, Xuan Qing already understood what she wanted to ask.

Since the two of them did not know each other, why had he come looking for her?

Xuan Qing looked at the mercenaries around them. It was not convenient to directly reveal the poison lines on Xiao Yi Xian's body.

So, he changed his approach.