The Curvaceous Beauty and Xiao Yi Xian's Departure

The woman—or, more precisely, the curvaceous beauty dressed in purple—sat in the wooden cabin, looking a little ill at ease.

She held the tea Xiao Yi Xian had served her, clearly unaccustomed to using a human teacup.

Xiao Yi Xian looked at the woman, her mood taking a turn for the worse.

The woman had suddenly entered the valley that day, insisting she was looking for her master. Xiao Yi Xian had no idea who that might be, though from her description, she guessed it had something to do with Xiao Yan.

Her gaze fell on the woman's ample chest, then on her shapely figure. Xiao Yi Xian could not help comparing herself to her, and a pang of envy rose in her heart.

Footsteps sounded outside the cabin. The woman and Xiao Yi Xian both looked toward the door.

Xiao Yan, fresh out of seclusion, stepped inside.

The moment he entered, he felt Xiao Yi Xian's lingering gaze on him. Then he spotted the woman seated in the room.

The woman's eyes lit up at the sight of him. She hurried to her feet and approached in small, still-unpracticed steps before bowing respectfully. "Master!"

"Holy shit, you're the Amethyst Winged Lion King!" Xiao Yan blurted, startled by the curvaceous beauty before him. Disbelief filled his face.

"Yes, Master. It's me." The woman nodded, still looking somewhat uneasy.

Xiao Yan focused on her aura. There was no mistake: she was the Amethyst Winged Lion King.

His expression turned strange. "You were clearly a male lion in your original form. How did you become a woman after transforming?"

A blush slowly rose to the woman's cheeks.

"You brat, who told you that you could tell an Amethyst Winged Lion King's sex by its appearance?" Yao Lao's teasing voice sounded in Xiao Yan's mind.

Xiao Yan scratched his head in embarrassment. He really had judged her by what he knew from his previous life, forgetting that this was a Magical Beast of the Dou Qi Continent, not an ordinary animal from his old world.

Once that was cleared up, Xiao Yan gradually accepted it and explained the woman's true identity to Xiao Yi Xian.

"A sixth-rank Magical Beast! The Amethyst Winged Lion King!" Xiao Yi Xian covered her mouth, shock written across her pretty face.

The revelation had thoroughly frightened her.

She had lived in Qingshan Town for years and had plenty of experience with Magical Beasts.

Even a first-rank Magical Beast could kill her with ease, let alone a sixth-rank one comparable to a human Dou Huang expert. A single glance from her might be enough to end Xiao Yi Xian's life.

And she had just shared a roof with such a terrifying being, poured her tea, and even secretly admired her figure...

At the thought, Xiao Yi Xian sucked in a sharp breath, silently grateful she had done nothing out of line.

Seeing how shaken she was, Xiao Yan smiled and patted her back. "Don't worry. She's already been brought under control. You're with me, so she wouldn't dare hurt you."

The woman nodded in earnest. "That's right, Mistress."

At the word "Mistress," Xiao Yi Xian's face flushed scarlet. "I... I'm not!" she protested.

Then she fled, red-faced.

Watching her retreat, Xiao Yan could not help grinning mischievously.

"Master, did I say something wrong?" the woman asked cautiously, looking nervous.

"No, you got it right. Once you reach Wutan City, there's another woman there who's also your mistress," Xiao Yan told her.

"Yes." The woman nodded obediently.

For now, all she needed to do was follow Xiao Yan's orders and stick close to him. Someone who could casually refine a seventh-grade pill was not easy to find.

"Now that you've taken human form, I can't keep calling you the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Let me think..." Xiao Yan paused. "From now on, I'll call you Little Purple."

The name was nowhere near as imposing as "Amethyst Winged Lion King," but the woman accepted it readily. It was only a name, after all.

With that settled, Xiao Yan gave Little Purple her first order.

"I'll write two letters. Take them to Wutan City and give them both to Xiao Zhan of the Xiao Clan. After that, your job is to protect the Xiao Clan for me..." Xiao Yan said gravely.

"Take your child and this mistress with you. You must keep her safe on the road. If anything happens to her, you'll end up as Lion's Head." His gaze sharpened, the threat in his voice unmistakable.

Little Purple had no idea what Lion's Head was, but the warning frightened her enough to promise again and again that she would take good care of the mistress.

After the threat came the promise. "Don't worry. Do this well, and my teacher and I will refine pills to increase your strength and your child's. Breaking through to Dou Zong—even Dou Zun—won't be a problem someday."

Little Purple was, after all, only a Magical Beast. She had never learned the hard lessons of human society, nor did she know what manipulation was. All she knew was that following her master meant good things to eat.

She had only just received a Transformation Pill. With its remaining medicinal power and the advantages of cultivating in a human body, her breakthrough to Dou Zong was already within reach.

Satisfied with the arrangements, Xiao Yan nodded and turned to write the letters.

That evening, Xiao Yi Xian prepared dinner, and Xiao Yan told her his plan.

When Xiao Yi Xian heard they would be separated, her expression fell.

Seeing her disappointment, Xiao Yan gently explained, "The place I'm going is dangerous. It wouldn't be safe to bring you along..."

"I understand..." Xiao Yi Xian managed a smile.

She knew that with her current strength, traveling with him would only make her a burden.

If she wanted to stand proudly at Xiao Yan's side one day, she had to grow stronger—even stronger than him. Then she could protect him in turn.

That night, Xiao Yan used Talismans to carefully regulate Xiao Yi Xian's body once more, making sure her Woeful Poison Body would not suddenly erupt while he was away.

The next day arrived in the blink of an eye, and it was time for Xiao Yi Xian and the others to leave.

Little Purple had already returned to her original form and waited in the valley with her young Amethyst Winged Lion King.

"This shows where the Xiao Clan is in Wutan City. Everything's arranged. Someone will meet you when you get there." Xiao Yan handed Xiao Yi Xian the map and went over the details with her.

Parting was hard to bear, and the reluctance showed on Xiao Yi Xian's face. "Then I'll be going... Please be careful while you're out training."

Before she left, Xiao Yi Xian caught Xiao Yan off guard, rose onto her toes, and quickly planted a light kiss on his cheek.

Her surprise kiss landed. Blushing, she turned and ran.

"That girl..." Xiao Yan touched the cheek she had kissed. A trace of warmth lingered there.

"You brat. Your teacher can't help feeling envious," Yao Lao sighed from within the ring.

Hearing him, Xiao Yan smiled. "Don't worry, Teacher. Once I'm capable enough, I'll make sure you and my teacher's wife are reunited."

"Will you? Then my happiness rests entirely on you." At Xiao Yan's words, long-buried memories stirred in Yao Lao's mind, and the figure of the woman who had once discussed alchemy with him gradually emerged...

After seeing Xiao Yi Xian and the others off, Xiao Yan had little left to do in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. It was time to head somewhere new in search of opportunity.

"Next stop: the Tagor Desert!"