Faced with Xiao Yi Xian's hopeful, slightly pitiful expression, Xia Kong could not bear to leave her suffering any longer. He immediately nodded solemnly, his tone assured.
"That's right. I currently have two workable approaches for dealing with your Woeful Poison Body."
Hearing that there were actually two ways to resolve it, Xiao Yi Xian's spirits soared. Her eyes shone as she stared intently at Xia Kong, waiting for him to explain the details.
Under her eager gaze, Xia Kong could not help feeling pleased. He stopped deliberately keeping her in suspense and began with the Poison Pill Method from the original story.
Refining the Poison Pill required three supreme treasures: three types of heavenly flames, the magic core of a rank-seven Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast, and the Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva. Any one of these was a treasure ordinary people rarely even heard of. Given Xiao Yi Xian's current circumstances, gathering them all was practically a tale from the Arabian Nights. After hearing the requirements, she placed little hope in this method.
Xia Kong favored the approach he had devised himself, so he did not tell her that he actually had ways and channels to obtain all those treasures. Instead, he continued slowly explaining the second method.
The second method was to temper and raise her physical body, Dou Qi cultivation, and soul power together to a sufficient level, allowing her to rely on her own strength to gradually tame and control the woeful poison body.
As for whether the detoxifying cucumbers produced by the Farm could replace the Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva and become a crucial aid in transforming Xiao Yi Xian's constitution, Xia Kong planned to wait until she had established a solid foundation and advanced her cultivation further before bringing them out for her to try.
After hearing this plan, Xiao Yi Xian's eyes instantly brimmed with warm tears.
Only now did she suddenly understand. All those ingredients with miraculous effects that Xia Kong had kept bringing out these past days had never merely been treats for her. He had been laying the groundwork for this plan all along, quietly preparing to resolve her woeful poison body.
"Xia Kong, thank you... and I'm sorry. I kept suspecting you had some ulterior motive." Xiao Yi Xian's voice trembled slightly, the tip of her nose reddening. "Someone like me, born to bring disaster to everyone around her, should have been alone, dying in pain in some forgotten corner. You were the one who gave me the light and hope to face the future."
Xia Kong tightened his arms slightly, drawing the girl in his embrace closer. He gently rested his chin against her forehead, his voice steady and earnest.
"I promise you, no matter what happens in the future, I will never abandon you. Whatever hardships lie ahead, we'll shoulder them together."
Xiao Yi Xian's heart pounded wildly.
Was this... a confession? Wasn't this moving a little too fast? Then should I accept outright, or be a little more delicate about accepting?
"Mm..."
Her answer was as faint as a mosquito's hum, almost dissolving into the air.
Xia Kong failed to grasp the countless twists and turns in the girl's heart. He merely took her response to mean that Xiao Yi Xian had finally let go of her reservations and suspicions, and that their relationship had at last taken a great step forward.
Thinking he should show courtesy and restraint to win even more of her affection, he thought himself clever and slowly, gently eased Xiao Yi Xian out of his embrace, with a trace of reluctance that was barely perceptible.
When Xiao Yi Xian felt the outward pressure from Xia Kong's palms, she froze in bewilderment.
Wasn't he interested in me? We were perfectly happy holding each other, so why was he pushing me away instead?
But when she glimpsed Xia Kong's awkward, slightly stiff expression and movements, she immediately caught on and saw straight through his thoughts.
The little trace of astonishment in her heart vanished like smoke, replaced by a faint urge to laugh. She saw through him, but said nothing.
Before you continue