Taking Xiao Yi Xian Away and the Blood Mist Technique

Once Xiao Yi Xian had taken it all in and gradually calmed down, Xiao Yan set down his teacup. "Well? Can we talk now?"

"Talk about what... You already know, so you must be here to kill me." Xiao Yi Xian's face was ashen, her voice tinged with despair.

"Kill you? Why would I?" Xiao Yan asked.

"The Woeful Poison Body brings disaster. It brings misfortune to everyone around me... As long as I live, I'll only bring calamity to the world." Xiao Yi Xian spoke each word slowly, her voice fading as her spirits sank.

"What if I told you I could treat it?" Xiao Yan asked gently.

"Really? But... no one with the Woeful Poison Body has ever survived." A spark of hope lit Xiao Yi Xian's eyes, only to fade again.

"Looks like I'll have to show you." Seeing that she did not believe him, Xiao Yan took her wrist and activated the powers of the Horse Talisman and the Tiger Talisman together.

Caught off guard, Xiao Yi Xian instinctively tried to pull free. Then she felt a gentle force flow through her entire body.

In an instant, it swept away every trace of pain inside her.

Warmth spread through her from head to toe, so soothing that a soft gasp escaped her lips.

A few breaths later, Xiao Yi Xian's body had fully recovered. Color returned to her face, and she felt lighter than she had in a long time.

"What... what did you do?" Xiao Yi Xian cried, startled by the change in her body.

Xiao Yan smiled faintly. "What do you think?"

"What do you want in return?" Xiao Yi Xian asked after a moment's silence.

She was a clever girl. She knew Xiao Yan must want something from her in exchange for his help. Kindness without a motive did not exist.

"I want you." Xiao Yan pointed at Xiao Yi Xian, a wicked grin tugging at his lips.

"You... you... you're shameless!" Xiao Yi Xian pointed at him, her face flushing scarlet.

"What were you thinking? I just see potential in you and plan to train you." Xiao Yan dropped the grin at once and put on an earnest expression.

"You... you said it that way on purpose!" Xiao Yi Xian huffed, her chest rising and falling with indignation.

Their banter brought them a little closer without either noticing. Much of the earlier awkwardness fell away, and conversation came more easily.

Xiao Yan then took out the Poison Pill Method and handed it to Xiao Yi Xian to read.

The Woeful Poison Body was, after all, Xiao Yi Xian's own constitution. If she continued to cultivate by consuming poisons, the Horse Talisman and Tiger Talisman could only keep her condition in balance temporarily.

With prolonged poison intake, the balance within her would eventually break again. When that happened, Xiao Yan would have to intervene once more.

Strictly speaking, that was one way to deal with the backlash. But what if Xiao Yan was not there when she needed him?

It could not solve the problem at its root unless Xiao Yan gave Xiao Yi Xian the Tiger Talisman's power outright. That was out of the question. He needed it himself.

The better choice was the Poison Pill Method: a permanent solution. Until then, he could use the Tiger Talisman to regulate her condition while they slowly searched for the materials needed to refine a Poison Pill, or for the Netherworld Poison Flame.

"Then... should I come with you?" Xiao Yi Xian asked cautiously.

"Of course. From now on, you're mine," Xiao Yan teased with a smile.

"Can you stop making everything sound so improper?" Xiao Yi Xian gave him a playful punch.

"Ow! Is that how you treat your benefactor? With your fists?" Xiao Yan clutched the spot she had hit, pretending to be in agony.

"I'll do what I like! Hmph!" Xiao Yi Xian snorted, her mood much improved, then skipped into the house to pack.

Once Xiao Yi Xian had gone inside, Xiao Yan dropped the act and returned to his usual expression.

"You little brat, where did you learn all that?" Yao Lao had watched the entire exchange from inside the Storage Ring and could not resist speaking up.

"Teacher, some things you're born with. If you aren't, you'll have a hard time getting them later in life." Xiao Yan delivered the line solemnly, imitating a mysterious Golden Spear King from his previous life.

"Quit showing off." Yao Lao laughed as he scolded him.

Xiao Yan was about to boast some more when he sensed a group of people charging toward them.

"Teacher, some fools are coming right to us." The corners of Xiao Yan's mouth lifted.

In a flash, he vanished from the courtyard.

"Damn it! Someone dares go after the woman I've got my eye on? He must have a death wish! I'll break his arms and legs today!" Mu Li's face twisted with fury as he cursed and led his men toward Xiao Yi Xian's home.

He had just received word that someone had set his sights on Xiao Yi Xian. Enraged, he had grabbed a weapon and rushed over with several of his men.

"Li Fei, how much farther?" Mu Li roared at the woman leading the way.

"J-just ahead." Li Fei flinched at his shout and hurried to answer.

Li Fei was Xiao Yi Xian's assistant, but she was also Mu Li's woman. He had planted her at Xiao Yi Xian's side to keep watch on her.

The group hurried on until, in a quiet alley, a figure suddenly appeared ahead and blocked their path.

It was Xiao Yan.

"Out of the way, you blind fool!" Mu Li shouted impatiently.

"Brother Mu, that's him! He's the one after Xiao Yi Xian!" Li Fei recognized Xiao Yan and quickly pointed him out.

"Good. Saves me the trouble of finding him! Get him! Tear off his arms and legs, then come to me for your reward!" Mu Li waved his men forward, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he stared at Xiao Yan.

At the mention of a reward, the men he had brought lit up with excitement. They flexed their hands, eager to strike.

Weapons drawn and faces vicious, they charged Xiao Yan. Every blow was aimed to kill. They had been told to take his limbs; whether he survived was none of their concern.

"If you're determined to die, I'll oblige." Xiao Yan shook his head, killing intent flashing in his eyes.

Boom!

The first mercenary to reach him exploded into a cloud of blood.

Xiao Yan frowned. "What a troublesome opponent. He even used a Blood Mist Technique to escape."

The other mercenaries nearly spat blood at that. What Blood Mist Technique? You hit him so hard he turned into blood mist!

Xiao Yan gave them no chance to say it aloud. Two strides brought him before another mercenary, and his second punch crashed down.

This time, the man merely died from the punch. He did not explode into blood mist.

That sight was somehow even more terrifying. The nearest mercenaries wet themselves on the spot, then turned and ran.

Xiao Yan had no intention of letting them escape. He caught up and took them out one punch at a time, sending them all to their reward.

"Y-you..." Mu Li and Li Fei stared in shock, shaking uncontrollably. Their legs felt too heavy to move, and yellow liquid ran down the insides of their trouser legs.

"Don't worry. It won't hurt." Xiao Yan gave them a brilliant smile.

To them, it looked like a demon smiling. Terror seized them completely.

Boom! Boom!

Mu Li and Li Fei got their wish: Xiao Yan sent them to their reward.