A sleepless night she would never forget

Xiao Yi Xian's abrupt change in attitude caught the bewildered Xia Kong off guard. Still, he was not the sort to get to the bottom of everything. Much like his tangled grudge with the Ao Ba Family, he would not have pursued it further if they had not barged into his life again. This time, too, he did not probe the reason, simply assuming that his earlier explanation had dispelled most of Xiao Yi Xian's wariness.

Besides, he had never expected Xiao Yi Xian to trust him without reservation. That was a vain hope to begin with. All he wanted was for her not to guard against him every waking moment as though he were a thief.

"All right. Since you're willing to go with me, let's settle on a departure time. How about we leave tomorrow?"

At the thought of the Purple Cloud Wings, a Flying Dou Technique hidden within the cave abode, Xia Kong could barely contain his longing to soar freely through the sky.

But then Xia Kong remembered that once Xiao Yi Xian learned the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, she would gradually become the cold, aloof Heavenly Poison Woman, with the whole world arrayed against her. Tender sympathy welled up in his heart. As he looked at the gentle, lovely girl before him, so lively and playful, his gaze unconsciously softened, as though he wanted to engrave this image of her deep in his heart.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yi Xian was still immersed in her earlier romantic imaginings, agonizing over whether to accept Xia Kong's feelings outright or observe and test him a little longer first. In truth, her subconscious had already overlooked the fact that she still had every right to refuse.

Only when she heard Xia Kong suggest heading into the mountains to seek the treasure tomorrow did she snap out of her reverie and look up at him in surprise.

"Tomorrow? Isn't that a little rushed? I've only just returned from gathering herbs. I doubt Mr. Yao would readily let me leave the Myriad Medicine Pavilion with a stranger like you. Besides, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group has been watching me all this time..."

Xiao Yi Xian abruptly stopped halfway through her words.

What was that look in his eyes? Why was he staring straight at me like that?

Xia Kong's complicated gaze made Xiao Yi Xian uncomfortable all over, and she grumbled inwardly, Don't look at me like that. You're making it seem as if I'm about to be laid in the ground...

Xia Kong paid no attention to the little thoughts running through her mind. He knew perfectly well that the awakening and eruption of Xiao Yi Xian's woeful poison body were all but inevitable. But with him here, the outcome would at least be different from the original story, and the suffering and torment she would have to endure would certainly be greatly reduced. At that thought, he quickly reined in his emotions, his expression and tone returning to normal.

"With me backing you up, you don't need to fear Mr. Yao at all, much less worry about the Wolf Head Mercenary Group coveting you."

Seeing the assurance and confidence in Xia Kong's words, Xiao Yi Xian quietly grew a little fonder of him.

"It's just that Mr. Yao took me in years ago, and he's generally looked after me well." Xiao Yi Xian raised a hand and gently smoothed the damp, soft strands beside her neck, a hint of appraisal in her eyes.

"Over your years at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, the earnings your kindness and medical skills have brought in have long since repaid that debt of gratitude. If you still feel you owe him, I can make up the difference for you."

"There's no need to trouble you to repay it for me." The corners of Xiao Yi Xian's lips lifted slightly.

How could she not know that Boss Yao was not sincere? She knew even better that the value she had created for the Myriad Medicine Pavilion over the years far exceeded the kindness he had shown by taking her in. Her words just now had merely been a test of Xia Kong's character.

She had to admit that Xia Kong's answer pleased her greatly. Rather than throwing his weight around and forcing Boss Yao to let her go, he had considered her feelings and shown her ample respect.

How could anyone be so thoughtful and gentle, yet so confident and commanding? And he was a handsome young man who liked me, too!!!

"Then it's settled. We leave at dawn tomorrow." Xia Kong finalized the plan, and Xiao Yi Xian offered no further objections.

Afterward, Xia Kong asked Xiao Yi Xian about the general route into the mountains, as well as the dangerous areas and magical beasts they might encounter along the way. She held nothing back, explaining each of the supplies they needed to prepare and the risks they faced.

About an incense stick's worth of time later, they finished discussing their business, and a strange silence suddenly settled over the room.

Quite apart from the fact that a man and woman had spent so long alone together, the tub she had just bathed in still stood nearby. Steam and fragrance drifted through the room, making the atmosphere increasingly delicate.

"We've discussed everything. Why haven't you left yet?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, her voice slightly tight, her small hands nervously clasped together.

She could even clearly sense that Xia Kong's breathing had grown a little quicker than before; her own heart was beating nearly twice as fast as usual.

"Once we leave tomorrow, we'll be traveling together for the next several days, eating and sleeping together. If I stay tonight, you can get used to having me around in advance, right?" Xia Kong spoke with perfect conviction, considering his reasoning entirely sensible.

"No! Absolutely not! Hurry up and leave!!!"

Xiao Yi Xian hurried forward and pushed Xia Kong toward the door.

Feeling the small hands against his back, weak yet surprisingly forceful, Xia Kong followed her push and rose from his seat.

"All right, then. I'll come find you at daybreak tomorrow."

Turning and leaving her with those words, Xia Kong abruptly vanished before Xiao Yi Xian's eyes. He was not planning to rush back to the inn in town that night, but to enter the farm space and stay there instead.

He disappeared in less than the blink of an eye, startling Xiao Yi Xian so badly that a thought sprang into her mind: Had I encountered some spirit or monster? Could everything that happened tonight have been nothing more than an illusory dream?

She hurried back into the room. The teacup Xia Kong had used still held a trace of warmth, as did the seat where he had sat. Every lingering trace proved that tonight's encounter had been no dream.

Xia Kong's sudden arrival and equally bizarre disappearance, his unreasonable, shameless behavior, and his perfectly timed tenderness and consideration-all of it left the young girl's heart unable to find peace.

For Xiao Yi Xian, tonight was destined to be a sleepless night she would never forget.