Xiao Yi Xian: Hold Me!

Ignoring the increasingly fierce battle behind him, Xiao Yan gave a beat of his golden wings and shot into the cave.

Inside, a miniature Amethyst Winged Lion King huddled in a corner. The little beast blinked up at Xiao Yan, watching him timidly.

Behind him lay piles of dazzling Purple Spirit Crystal.

That was what Yun Yun wanted. Xiao Yan would give it to her when they got out, but it wasn't what he had come for.

He glanced at the cub. Perhaps the Golden Crow bloodline within him had given the little fellow a taste of an ancient power. Otherwise, a mere Dou Shi shouldn't frighten him. Xiao Yan could kill him despite the gap in their ranks, but only by using his trump cards.

He strode past, knocked loose several pieces of Purple Spirit Crystal, then hurried toward the amethyst platform on the other side.

A head-sized lump of Companion Amethyst Source rested quietly atop it.

"Should be able to... smash it open." After a moment's thought, Xiao Yan took out a piece of Purple Spirit Crystal and brought it down without hesitation. Rich purple liquid immediately seeped through the cracks.

"Gulp."

Even Xiao Yan swallowed, his eyes gleaming with desire.

What a treasure!

In the original story, Yao Lao had searched eight Amethyst Winged Lion King caves for this stuff and still hadn't found any. The fortune of a child of destiny truly was beyond compare.

He quickly took out several Jade Bottles and carefully collected the Companion Amethyst Source in them.

Now he had bait for Cai Lin!

He glanced at the trembling Little Lion King in the corner. A shame the cub's talent was so poor. Xiao Yan really could use a mount.

Without lingering, he spread his golden wings again and vanished from the cave.

Outside the cave.

The two Dou Emperors were still locked in a battle that shook heaven and earth.

Even Yun Yun was struggling to withstand the Amethyst Winged Lion King's desperate counterattack. Her brows drew together as she glanced toward the cave. She had no idea when that fellow would emerge, and her Dou Qi was nearly spent...

Then a streak of golden light burst from the cave and shouted to her, "Retreat!"

"Phew. Farewell!"

Yun Yun let out a slow breath. After one glance at the enraged Amethyst Winged Lion King, she spread her pale-blue Dou Qi Wings and sped away, following the golden figure.

"You wretched humans! Just you wait!"

The Amethyst Winged Lion King's furious roar rang out behind them, but he had no choice but to return to the cave. He could still sense his son inside. His opponents had taken the Companion Amethyst Source but left the cub untouched. If he pursued them, they might lure him away only to send someone else after his son.

He couldn't take that gamble.

Besides, with two Dou Emperors against him, all he could do was shout threats.

"You... aren't a Dou Emperor?"

Yun Yun studied Xiao Yan with astonishment in her beautiful eyes. He wore no disguise, nor was he a Dou Emperor. Judging by his aura, he was plainly an ordinary Dou Shi.

Then how could he fly as fast as a Dou Emperor?

He had fooled her, and the Amethyst Winged Lion King's failure to pursue them was likely because he had misjudged the young man's strength too.

"That's right. I was lucky enough to acquire a Flying Dou Technique." Xiao Yan smiled and tossed her several pieces of Purple Spirit Crystal. "Your payment for holding off the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Please take it."

"Yun Yun, of the Misty Cloud Sect."

After a brief hesitation, Yun Yun parted her red lips. "I owe you a favor for this. If you run into trouble in the Jia Ma Empire, come find me at the Misty Cloud Sect."

"Xiao Yan."

Xiao Yan paused. Since Yun Yun had given him her real name rather than a false one, he fell silent for a moment before offering his own.

"Xiao Yan?" Yun Yun blinked. She vaguely recalled that a few months ago, her dear disciple had gone to break off an engagement. Her fiancé's name had been Xiao Yan, and his age matched too.

But she shook her head. That Xiao Yan supposedly couldn't cultivate. His talent had been ruined. He was worlds apart from this young man. They clearly just shared a name.

"In that case, I'll be going." Yun Yun gave a slight nod, beat her wings, and flew into the sky.

Xiao Yan watched her recede in silence. Then he spread his golden wings and headed toward the valley.

"What took you so long?"

Xiao Yi Xian gave Xiao Yan a surprised glance. With practiced ease, she straightened his slightly rumpled clothes and brushed off the dust, as naturally as if he were her husband.

"Wait... you smell like another woman."

Xiao Yi Xian froze. Biting her lip, she looked at him with jealousy in her eyes. "Have I done something wrong, brother? You've grown tired of me already, so you went flirting with another woman in the woods?"

Xiao Yan: "..."

"I met a Dou Emperor. We joined forces to retrieve a treasure from the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave. That's all."

"Also, I'm planning to go home for a while." Xiao Yan hurriedly changed the subject. "What about you?"

"Me? I suppose I'll come along and have a look. It's not as though I can do without your Netherworld Poison Flame now."

Xiao Yi Xian shot him a resentful look. The fierce potency of his Netherworld Poison Flame had left her craving more. In just two months, she had soared from the Third Stage of Dou Qi to the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi!

She had sampled all kinds of poisons recently, but none felt like Xiao Yan's Netherworld Poison Flame.

She was thoroughly hooked.

"Then we'll leave after we eat."

Xiao Yan shrugged.

More importantly, Jia Nan Academy's enrollment date was approaching. They needed to arrive early. In his previous life, he had been the sort to get to the airport half a day ahead of his flight; he had no intention of leaving this until the last moment.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill.

Xiao Yan looked helplessly at Xiao Yi Xian. Her cheeks were flushed, and the sweet rice wine had left her a little tipsy. "Why did you drink so much? Can you still walk?"

"Carry me!"

As though emboldened by the wine, Xiao Yi Xian fixed her hazy violet eyes on him. She abruptly stood, came around the wooden table, and looked down at him.

"You can fly, can't you? Hold me."

Before Xiao Yan could respond, she slumped softly into his arms. Her fragrance filled his nose, and she seemed to be murmuring something.

"Is she really drunk?" Xiao Yan stared in surprise at the lovely woman in his arms.

How much did she drink?

Two cups, maybe.

She ate poison like candy, yet had no tolerance for alcohol. A smile tugged at Xiao Yan's lips. If poison won't bring you down, I can always get you drunk next time.

He looked at the flushed beauty squirming in his arms, then glanced at the sky outside.

"Forget it. Time to go. We've spent too long here already. It'd be something if we actually missed Jia Nan Academy's enrollment."

With a sigh, Xiao Yan scooped the still-restless Xiao Yi Xian into his arms. His golden wings spread, and he rose into the air, flying toward the far horizon.

Through her haze, Xiao Yi Xian opened her eyes a sliver. Seeing his handsome face so close and breathing in his mature scent, she felt even her pale earlobes turn red. Her arms slipped around his neck of their own accord.