Breaking Down Barriers, Wavering

Someone like him probably wasn't a bad person, right?

Xiao Yi Xian thought to herself, a smile appearing on her face.

She looked at Lu Xia and said earnestly,

"Whatever the case, I still have to thank you."

"Oh, right. Let's formally introduce ourselves."

"My name is Xiao Yi Xian. I'm a healer at Myriad Medicine Hall in Green Mountain Town."

As she spoke, she held out one hand to Lu Xia, her face bright with a radiant smile.

After what had happened today, her impression of Lu Xia had improved considerably.

Though she still could not trust him completely, at least she was willing to be his friend.

Lu Xia stared at her small outstretched hand, stunned for a moment before he smiled.

He reached out and gently clasped her fingertips, then quickly let go.

"My name is Lu Xia. I'm from the Chu Yun Empire, and I'm a... Poison Cultivator."

He gave her a simple introduction, saying neither what his cultivation was nor anything about Wu Tian Manor.

If he told her those things now, they would only frighten her.

"A Poison Cultivator?"

Xiao Yi Xian blinked, looking at Lu Xia in surprise.

She truly had not realized that he was a Poison Cultivator.

In her mind, Poison Cultivators should have all been sinister-looking, ugly people who carried poison aura all over their bodies.

But Lu Xia was so handsome, with a gentle, jade-like temperament. No matter how she looked at him, he did not seem like a Poison Cultivator.

Seeing her surprise, Lu Xia could not help laughing. "What, I don't look like one?"

Xiao Yi Xian nodded and answered honestly,

"No, not really."

"The Poison Cultivators I imagined were all... rather frightening."

She put it rather tactfully.

Lu Xia burst into laughter. "That's because you haven't met enough Poison Cultivators."

"Besides, we both have Woeful Poison Bodies. We were born to deal with poison."

"If a Woeful Poison Body doesn't cultivate poison, what else could it cultivate?"

Xiao Yi Xian froze for a moment, then suddenly understood.

That was true.

The Woeful Poison Body was the Body of Ten Thousand Poisons, naturally best suited for cultivating the path of poison.

All these years, she had kept the poison within her body suppressed and did not dare use it carelessly, afraid she might lose control and hurt others.

But if she could control poison as well as Lu Xia did and use it for cultivation, would that not be perfect?

Xiao Yi Xian's heart stirred, and she began to waver toward the path of a Poison Cultivator.

The two sat in the cave and began chatting back and forth.

Lu Xia told her about the customs and scenery of the Chu Yun Empire, as well as some interesting tales about Poison Cultivators.

Xiao Yi Xian listened with great interest, asking a few questions from time to time.

As they talked, Xiao Yi Xian felt the pain in her body lessen considerably, and her spirits improved as well.

Before they knew it, the sun was nearly setting.

Lu Xia glanced at the sky outside the cave, rose to his feet, and said,

"It's getting late. We should head back."

"Otherwise, it'll be troublesome if we can't leave the Magical Beast Mountain Range before dark."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded and rose with him.

The moment she stood, she was still a little unsteady, and her body swayed.

Lu Xia reacted quickly and reached out to support her. "Be careful."

"Are you all right?"

Xiao Yi Xian steadied herself and shook her head, her face slightly red. "I'm fine. Thank you."

Lu Xia looked at her, thought for a moment, and said, "How about I carry you on my back?"

"That way, we can move faster."

"No, no!"

Xiao Yi Xian hurriedly waved her hands, her face turning even redder. "I can walk by myself. Really, there's no need."

Letting an unfamiliar man carry her on his back was far too embarrassing.

Seeing how shy she was, Lu Xia did not force the matter. "All right, then. We'll walk slowly."

"If you can't keep going, tell me."

"Mm."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded, warmth filling her heart.

The two left the cave together and headed toward Green Mountain Town.

Along the way, Lu Xia walked very slowly, deliberately matching Xiao Yi Xian's pace.

Whenever they encountered rough paths, he would reach out to help her.

Xiao Yi Xian had felt a little embarrassed at first, but she gradually got used to it.

She could tell that Lu Xia was a very kind person who knew how to take care of others.

Being with him made her feel safe.

They walked and talked the whole way, so it did not feel boring at all.

By the time they reached Green Mountain Town, it was almost dark.

At the town gate, Lu Xia stopped.

"I'll see you off here."

Looking at Xiao Yi Xian, he smiled and said, "Hurry home."

"Remember to change your medicine on time when you get back. Rest well for a few days, and you'll be fine."

His reminder came naturally, as though they had been friends for a long time.

Xiao Yi Xian nodded, feeling somewhat reluctant to part.

She looked at Lu Xia, bit her lip, and, as though making up her mind, asked, "Lu Xia, can I ask you something?"

"Hmm? Go ahead."

Lu Xia looked at her, somewhat puzzled.

Xiao Yi Xian took a deep breath and asked seriously,

"Do you... do you have any cultivation techniques suitable for me?"

After what had happened with the Snake-Tailed Leopard today, she had felt the importance of strength.

If she had possessed enough strength, she would not have been pushed to the brink of death by a mere second-tier magical beast.

She wanted to become stronger too.

But she had no suitable cultivation technique.

Now, Lu Xia also had a Woeful Poison Body, and he could control his constitution so well. He surely had a suitable cultivation technique.

When Lu Xia heard her question, his eyes lit up.

He had known that after what had happened today, Xiao Yi Xian would surely develop a desire for strength.

A meaningful smile appeared on his face as he looked at Xiao Yi Xian and said slowly, "Of course I do."

"And it's the cultivation technique best suited for a Woeful Poison Body!"

"Really?"

Xiao Yi Xian's eyes brightened.

"Then... can you teach me?"

She asked impatiently.

Lu Xia smiled and looked at her.

"Of course... not."

"I never teach people casually."

"If you want me to teach you a cultivation technique, it's simple."

"Take me as your master."

Xiao Yi Xian was stunned by his words.

Taking a master again...

She hesitated inwardly.

But when she thought of how she had nearly died today, and of the suffering brought by her Woeful Poison Body, she felt tempted again.

If she could truly learn a suitable cultivation technique, control her constitution, and become stronger...

Perhaps... it was not entirely out of the question.

Xiao Yi Xian lowered her head and struggled for a long time before finally raising it to look at Lu Xia and slowly saying,

"Can I... think about it some more?"

"I-I'll go back and think it over carefully."

Seeing her conflicted expression, Lu Xia did not urge her. He nodded and smiled. "Of course."

"I'm not in a hurry. Take your time."

"When you've thought it through, come find me anytime."

"Mm."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded and waved to Lu Xia. "Then I'll head back first."

"Thank you for today."

"You're welcome."

Lu Xia smiled. "Go on home."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded, turned, and walked into town.

After taking a few steps, she could not help looking back.

Lu Xia was still standing where he was, watching her. When he saw her turn back, he even waved at her.

Xiao Yi Xian's face reddened, and she quickly turned away and hurried off.

Watching Xiao Yi Xian disappear into the night, Lu Xia revealed a triumphant smile.