A predecessor's cave abode

After hearing Xia Kong's shameless self-introduction, Xiao Yi Xian not only remembered the youth's name and gained a deeper appreciation of his thick skin, but also found a succession of doubts churning in her heart.

What do you mean, we have plenty of time ahead of us?

Don't you know perfectly well how we became friends? You make it sound as though we've known each other for ages.

You came specifically for me? Has my reputation really spread to a big city like Wutan City? What exactly are you plotting, coming all the way to Qingshan Town? What do you want from me? Could you also be after the treasure in that cave abode?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible. I only discovered that place two days ago, and I haven't even confirmed whether it's a predecessor's cave abode. How could he know the future without divining it?

Though questions crowded her mind, Xiao Yi Xian had now learned that too many words could lead to mistakes. She did not press him further, merely gazing quietly at Xia Kong with her lively eyes, waiting for him to continue.

Xia Kong did not keep her waiting long. Meeting her suspicious gaze, he nodded earnestly. "You heard me right. I really did come here for you."

Xiao Yi Xian rolled her eyes prettily in exasperation. An inexplicable chill rose in her heart, and she instinctively drew her thin dress tighter around herself.

"Haha!"

Her adorable reaction softened Xia Kong's heart, but he quickly reined in his laughter and grew more serious.

"Xiao Yi Xian, have you recently found a place that seems to be a cave abode left behind by a predecessor?"

The question came so abruptly that Xiao Yi Xian was utterly unprepared, and her expression changed drastically.

He really is after that cave abode in the cliff! Yet she had only stumbled upon it while gathering herbs in the mountains two days ago and had never mentioned it to anyone. How on earth had he learned of it? The doubts in Xiao Yi Xian's heart deepened.

Seeing her expression change, Xia Kong felt a surge of delight. He had arrived in Qingshan Town more than half a year before Xiao Yan and had been prepared to spend considerable time searching for the cave abode alongside Xiao Yi Xian. He had never expected her to have found it so early. This truly was heaven's decree-he had gained it without the slightest effort.

"It seems you really did find an ancient cave abode near a cliff."

Xia Kong looked utterly certain.

But to Xiao Yi Xian, this was simply too inconceivable. Even at the risk of displeasing him, she could not help asking, "How did you know? I only discovered it on this herb-gathering trip. I haven't gone inside to investigate and confirm it yet."

"Heh, I have my own sources of information." Xia Kong smiled faintly, unwilling to elaborate. "In any case, you discovered the cave abode, so I'll take you along on this treasure hunt. Don't worry. I'm already a Five-Star Dou Master, stronger than Mu She of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. I'm more than capable of keeping both of us safe."

"What?"

Xiao Yi Xian no longer had the attention to spare for his source of information. There could be any number of explanations for that; perhaps someone else had noticed the area. But Xia Kong's claim that he was a Five-Star Dou Master truly stunned her.

As Qingshan Town's best-known physician, she had dealt with countless mercenaries. Yet more than ninety-nine percent of them were below the Dou Shi level, and most were not even Dou Zhe. Mu Li, the town's acknowledged genius, had only reached Six-Star Dou Zhe in his twenties. His father, Mu She, the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, was nearly fifty and merely a two-star Dou Shi, yet he was already someone no one in Qingshan Town dared provoke lightly. Precisely because she knew all this, she understood what an astonishing prodigy a youth who had already become a Five-Star Dou Master must be.

But why would someone so powerful bring her along on a treasure hunt? A chill rose in Xiao Yi Xian's heart. Most likely, once he found the treasure, he would kill her to silence her and eliminate all future trouble-perhaps he would not even spare her corpse.

At that thought, fear entered her eyes, but beneath it lay a stubborn refusal to accept her fate, a determination to fight to the death.

"Since you're so powerful, why seek my cooperation? Wouldn't going alone and pocketing all the treasure be more in keeping with human nature?"

"You're right. If I knew the cave abode's exact location, I would naturally go alone. The problem is that I'm unfamiliar with the terrain of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and I don't know where the cave abode is. That's why I came to work with you. What's wrong with that?"

Although Xia Kong heard the wariness in her voice, he could not read her thoughts and could only answer truthfully.

"Heh. I lead you to the cave abode, and once you have the treasure, you kill me to silence me, destroy my corpse, and erase all traces. Since I'd meet such a miserable end, why should I take you there?" Xiao Yi Xian scoffed, her tone carrying something of a willingness to smash an already cracked jar.

"Ah!"

Xia Kong froze for a moment. He had not expected Xiao Yi Xian to be imagining such a thing. But putting himself in her position, he realized that those thoughts were only natural.

Cooperation rested on both sides having equal standing or strength. Xiao Yi Xian was now at an absolute disadvantage, and even poison, her only means of fighting back, was ineffective against Xia Kong. Her life hung entirely on a single thought of his. Unease and fear were only to be expected.

"Sorry, I didn't explain myself clearly. I have absolutely no intention of killing you to silence you, and I'm not that kind of villain. If we search for treasure together, you will certainly receive a share of whatever we find."

Although Xiao Yi Xian was surprised that Xia Kong would voluntarily apologize and patiently explain himself, she had seen far too many people whose outward appearance concealed a different heart-especially since someone surnamed Mu had been hovering around her all this time.

Xiao Yi Xian still refused to trust him readily.

"I don't believe you." Her expression was resolute.

Xia Kong felt a headache coming on. How could it be easy to convince someone who felt so profoundly unsafe to trust his character? In her place, he would never entrust his life to a stranger's goodwill either.

"Then tell me, what would I have to do for you to believe me?" Xia Kong simply handed the problem to Xiao Yi Xian.

Xiao Yi Xian fell silent, unable to think of a suitable solution.

Suddenly, inspiration flashed through Xia Kong's mind, and he thought of an argument that could dispel her concerns.

"Think carefully. That cliff cave must be near the Myriad Medicine Pavilion's herb-gathering route. With those clues alone, I could still find the cave abode if I spent a little more time searching. You aren't irreplaceable. If I truly wanted to keep all the treasure for myself, my best choice would be to kill you right now. Then no one else would know about it, and I could claim it all the more easily. Yet not only have I refrained from doing that, I've taken the initiative to invite you along. Isn't that enough to prove my sincerity?"

"Well..."

Xiao Yi Xian visibly hesitated.

By now, she had concluded that Xia Kong would not take her life, but she remained certain that he had some ulterior motive for approaching her.

If he did not want her life, nor covet her medical skills or poison techniques... then the only thing left was her.

He wants me, yet he refuses to use force and acts so sincerely. Could he genuinely like me? Desire at first sight, followed by love at first sight? Did that distant glimpse of me during the day set his heart stirring?

Once she reached that conclusion, Xiao Yi Xian felt most of the chill enveloping her instantly dissipate. Warmth surged into her cheeks, and her lovely face quickly flushed crimson.

Xia Kong had been watching her changing expressions all along and found them utterly baffling. A moment ago, she had been pale, yet now her face was covered in rosy clouds. A woman's heart truly was a needle at the bottom of the sea.

"Fine, then. Since you're unwilling, I'll head into the mountains and search alone. When I find the cave abode and take the treasure, don't go getting envious!"

Xia Kong had approached Xiao Yi Xian full of enthusiasm about working together, only to face repeated suspicion and rejection. Though he understood her reasons, he could not help feeling disappointed, and he turned to leave.

"Wait! Who said I wasn't willing to go?"

Xiao Yi Xian suddenly called him back.

Xia Kong looked over his shoulder.

Her expression had now changed completely. Her eyes shone brightly, carrying a strange hint of confidence.

"I discovered that treasure-filled cave abode. If you think you can keep it all for yourself, not a chance!"

P.S. I just discovered that QQ Reading allows illustrations, so I tried it out. I'll add some more later when I have time.