Take Me Along to Stone Desert City!

Mu She was dead, but the matter was not yet over.

Xiao Yan had a mercenary who had thrown down his saber lead the way and went straight to the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's compound.

He had no intention of leaving only for someone else to come trouble Xiao Yi Xian the moment his back was turned.

However quickly the news traveled, he moved faster.

Inside the compound, the second commander, Gan Mu, and the third commander, He Meng, had barely heard someone shout that something had happened to their commander before they rushed out with weapons in hand.

Seeing only a young man at the entrance, neither had yet grasped the situation when trusted subordinates drew their bows, aiming their arrows straight at Xiao Yan.

"Seize him!"

He Meng barked the order and brought his weapon crashing down at Xiao Yan's head, Dou Qi surging through it.

Xiao Yan raised his sword and swept it across.

A clear gleam flashed past, severing the heavy weapon in two. Before He Meng could even make out that sword stroke, a bloody line had appeared across his chest.

Gan Mu's expression changed sharply. He turned to retreat, but several arrows had already shot out from behind him.

Lightning flashed between Xiao Yan's fingers, and the arrows shattered together.

Then sword energy swept across the compound.

Gan Mu and several trusted bowmen fell one after another. The rest no longer cared about their mercenary group. They threw down their weapons and scrambled aside.

Moments later, the wolf-head banner fell from its pole, sliced in two by Xiao Yan's sword.

The force that had run rampant through Qingshan Town for years scattered just like that.

By the time Xiao Yan returned to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, the courtyard had already been cleaned up.

The injured attendant had taken his medicine and was resting against a chair. Xiao Yi Xian examined him once more before looking up at the young man entering the doorway.

"That quickly?"

"A few refused to put down their weapons, so I took care of them while I was there."

Xiao Yan placed a pouch of gold coins on the table.

"I took this from their compound. Use it to repair the door, replace anything broken, and pay for his medicine."

The attendant stared at the pouch, momentarily at a loss for words.

Before, when they encountered members of Wolf Head, they counted themselves lucky if they escaped a beating, let alone made them pay compensation.

Xiao Yi Xian took the pouch and nodded.

"I'll handle it."

The streets outside were still bustling, but everyone was talking about the same thing.

Mu She and his son were dead, the other two commanders were gone, and people were fleeing the Wolf Head compound.

At first, some refused to believe it. Only after seeing the severed wolf-head banner and hearing the accounts of mercenaries who had witnessed the lightning did the entire town boil over.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan, who had caused it all, was already eating dinner in the rear courtyard.

Xiao Yi Xian sat across from him. Watching him pick up his third piece of meat, she finally could not resist asking.

"Just what is your cultivation level?"

"Six-Star Dou Shi."

The chopsticks in the young woman's hand froze in midair.

"Six-star?"

She recalled how Mu She had been sent flying, then looked at the youthful face before her. Only after a long while did she shake her head and say:

"No wonder you weren't the least bit worried."

Smiling, Xiao Yan pushed the plate toward her.

"Eat first. If you keep staring, the food will get cold."

Xiao Yi Xian picked up some food, but did not eat it right away.

A moment later, she suddenly said, "Take me along to Stone Desert City."

Xiao Yan raised his head.

"You want to go too?"

"Yes."

The young woman nodded, her gaze settling on the small leather pouch beside the table.

"While reading that Poison Scripture today, I realized how many medicinal herbs I've never seen. Some grow in the desert, and some can only be found elsewhere. If I stay in Qingshan Town forever, I'm afraid I won't even learn what they all look like."

She paused, then continued with a smile:

"Before, I didn't have much money, or anyone to travel far from home with. Now I have the money and a traveling companion. It's about time I went out and saw the world."

As Xiao Yan looked at her, his smile deepened.

"All right. My two older brothers happen to be there, and they know the surrounding area well."

"But let's get this straight first. I'm going to visit family, not dig up herbs in the mountains all along the way."

"I know."

Xiao Yi Xian gave a soft huff.

"If we really spot a good herb, who knows which of us will be the first to stop?"

Xiao Yan opened his mouth, only to find that rather difficult to refute.

And so the matter was settled.

The next morning, Xiao Yi Xian left clear instructions for the medication of the injured patients under her care and prepared some commonly used medicinal powders for the shop. Only then did she return to her room to pack.

She did not have much to bring: a few dresses, some medical tools, and the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture.

Before leaving, she still felt uneasy and went to check once more on the attendant who had been beaten by Mu Li's men the day before.

Only after confirming that he could get up and walk on his own did she breathe a sigh of relief.

As she was leaving, several mercenaries who often came to her for treatment brought her a packet of provisions that would keep well. Someone asked when she would return. Xiao Yi Xian thought for a moment, then smiled and shook her head.

"I haven't decided yet. Be more careful when you enter the mountains. Don't wait for me to come back and patch up your wounds."

Everyone agreed with a laugh. She took one last look at the familiar medicine cabinets and long couch, hitched the herb basket higher on her back, and walked out.

Xiao Yan had already bought fresh water and provisions and was waiting for her at the side entrance.

"Everything packed?"

"Yes."

Xiao Yi Xian handed him her bundle so he could put it in his Storage Ring, then headed out of town.

"Come with me. I'll introduce you to my companion."

"Companion?"

Something stirred in Xiao Yan's mind, and he immediately remembered.

They left town and came to an open hillside.

Xiao Yi Xian took out a bamboo whistle, raised it to her lips, and blew several clear notes.

Before long, an eagle's cry rang out from the distant forest.

A blue figure burst above the treetops, spread its broad wings, and circled the hillside before slowly landing in front of them.

It was a giant eagle covered in blue feathers, with powerful talons and bright eyes. The wind stirred by its landing sent fallen leaves scattering across the ground.

"Xiao Lan!"

Xiao Yi Xian went forward and stroked the feathers around its neck.

The giant eagle lowered its head and affectionately nuzzled her palm.

"It's a First-Rank Blue Eagle and usually lives in the mountains. I treated its injuries once, and we grew close afterward."

The young woman turned to Xiao Yan with a smile.

"We can ride it to Stone Desert City. That'll save you walking all the way there."

Xiao Yan walked around Xiao Lan, studying it, and could not help asking, "If you have a companion like this, why did you walk into the mountains with me yesterday?"

"We were gathering herbs yesterday, not traveling a long distance. Herbs grow on the ground. How would we spot them from the sky?"

Xiao Yi Xian delivered her answer with complete confidence, then pointed into the distance.

"Besides, that cave entrance was so narrow that Xiao Lan couldn't have landed inside."

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose.

Fair enough.

He reached out to stroke the Blue Eagle, but Xiao Lan tilted its head at him and shuffled half a step back.

"This is Xiao Yan. He's coming with us."

Xiao Yi Xian patted its feathers.

After a moment's thought, Xiao Yan took a piece of dried meat meant for the journey from his Storage Ring.

Xiao Lan lowered its head and snatched it up. This time, when he reached out, it did not shy away.

"So I have to pay the fare first."

Xiao Yi Xian could not help laughing. Bracing herself against the Blue Eagle's wing, she swung herself onto its back, then held out a hand to him.

"Come on up. It'll need to rest after flying for a while anyway, so we can find places along the way to replenish our water."

With a light leap, Xiao Yan landed steadily behind her, deliberately leaving some space between them.

The Blue Eagle gave a long cry and beat its wings powerfully.

The hillside swiftly receded beneath them, and the buildings of Qingshan Town grew smaller and smaller.

Looking into the distance with the wind in his face, Xiao Yan could not help feeling a surge of anticipation.

Eldest Brother, Second Brother.

This time, I'm really coming to see you!