Showing off before the fairy

"Do you still remember me?"

Xiao Yan pointed at himself with a slight smile.

As he spoke, he walked toward her, took a second-rank Body Recovery Pill from his Storage Ring, and offered it to her.

Xiao Yi Xian's injuries were neither minor nor particularly severe.

A first-rank pill could heal them, but it would most likely leave scars on her body.

It would be such a shame for a remarkable woman like her to be left with scars.

"Of course. You left quite an impression on me... Huh, is this for me?"

Xiao Yi Xian replied with a smile, then froze slightly when she saw Xiao Yan offering her a second-rank pill.

As a physician-and one who aspired to become an Alchemist-Xiao Yi Xian naturally recognized the pill in Xiao Yan's hand as a Wound-Healing Pill.

And one of absolutely perfect quality, at that.

If this pill were put on the market, it would cost several thousand gold coins at the very least.

At that thought, Xiao Yi Xian came to her senses and gave Xiao Yan an odd look, thinking to herself:

This fellow looks so young. Could he be some young master from a powerful clan, out traveling the world? He's far too generous. He practically treats second-rank pills as worthless.

Only because Xiao Yi Xian saw no lust or greed on Xiao Yan's face did she refrain from suspecting ulterior motives, wondering whether he coveted her beauty.

After all, Qingshan Town was full of such people.

Mu Li, the young leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, was a prime example.

In the end, Xiao Yi Xian still politely declined the pill Xiao Yan offered.

"Thank you for your kindness, but this is too precious. I can't accept it."

Xiao Yan smiled at her reply. "Just take it. I casually refined this pill myself. It's nothing special."

As he spoke, Xiao Yan pointed at the Medicine Cauldron nearby.

"You refined this Wound-Healing Pill yourself?" Xiao Yi Xian's first reaction was that Xiao Yan was boasting.

After all, Xiao Yan looked far too young, probably only fifteen or sixteen. How could he be an Alchemist?

And a damn Second-Rank Alchemist, at that.

Who was he trying to fool?

But a moment later, when she looked in the direction Xiao Yan indicated, she actually saw a Medicine Cauldron sitting quietly there.

Judging by appearances, this ridiculously young youth had been about to refine pills, and she had happened to stumble into this place.

"You... you're really an Alchemist?"

Xiao Yi Xian's voice trembled slightly. She aspired to become an Alchemist herself, so she knew perfectly well how terrifying a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old Second-Rank Alchemist was.

"The genuine article!"

"So, are you still going to turn it down?

"It would be a shame for a woman as beautiful as you to be left with scars."

After hearing him out, Xiao Yi Xian imagined herself with scars and immediately accepted the Wound-Healing Pill from Xiao Yan without further hesitation.

"Thank you!"

With that, she swallowed the Wound-Healing Pill in one gulp.

The instant she swallowed it, color returned to her pale face, and a warm sensation spread throughout her body.

The wounds on her right hand and back tingled pleasantly, and she no longer felt any pain at all.

"How amazing. So this is a second-rank pill?"

Xiao Yi Xian murmured to herself, a trace of envy and longing appearing deep in her eyes.

As a physician, she often prepared healing medicines, but their effects could not compare even to the most ordinary first-rank pill, let alone a second-rank Wound-Healing Pill with its even more astonishing potency.

"By the way, I'm Xiao Yi Xian. What's your name?"

"Xiao Yan!"

After they chatted for a while and grew somewhat more familiar, Xiao Yan asked curiously, "Xiao Yi Xian, what's your original name? Surely you weren't named Xiao Yi Xian?"

Xiao Yi Xian tapped her fair chin and pondered for a moment before saying slowly, "Hmm... Well, I don't know why, but I lost my childhood memories. My adoptive parents only called me by my nickname, too.

"Later, I became a physician and came to Qingshan Town. Because I helped so many people, they all called me Xiao Yi Xian. After a while, I started treating Xiao Yi Xian as my name."

Although a faint smile remained on Xiao Yi Xian's face throughout, Xiao Yan still saw sadness and loneliness in her eyes.

Xiao Yan suspected this had something to do with her Woeful Poison Body, so he immediately changed the subject.

"Xiao Yi Xian is a lovely name. It suits you very well.

"Although this is my first time in Qingshan Town, even I know how respected you are here," Xiao Yan praised her.

At Xiao Yan's praise, Xiao Yi Xian's pretty face flushed slightly.

"It's really not that impressive!"

"By the way, were you about to refine pills just now?"

"That's right."

"I'm so envious. My dream has always been to become an Alchemist, but unfortunately, I don't meet the requirements."

Xiao Yi Xian looked dejected. The most basic requirement for becoming an Alchemist was possessing fire attribute Dou Qi that contained a trace of wood attribute.

Xiao Yan comforted her with a smile. "You may not be an Alchemist, but you're a beautiful, kindhearted physician. You heal people and save lives, and everyone supports and loves you."

Xiao Yan's recognition undoubtedly eased the disappointment in Xiao Yi Xian's heart, and a radiant smile appeared on her pretty face.

Xiao Yan raised a hand and pointed at the wooden cabin nearby, continuing, "You can go into the cabin and change your clothes first."

Feeling the sticky fabric clinging to her body, Xiao Yi Xian did not stand on ceremony and quickly entered the cabin.

Before long, she emerged in a clean white dress, a thin pink sash tied around her slender waist fluttering in the breeze.

Xiao Yan was briefly stunned at the sight, then teased, "No wonder you're the goddess in the hearts of every man in Qingshan Town. You really are beautiful."

Xiao Yi Xian rolled her lovely eyes at Xiao Yan, then stepped forward to ask him.

"Are you still going to refine pills? If you are, would you let me watch from the side?"

Xiao Yan could practically see the longing in Xiao Yi Xian's eyes.

"Of course. As long as you don't find it boring."

"Really? That's wonderful!"

Xiao Yi Xian spoke excitedly. She could watch an Alchemist refine pills in person! She could barely contain her delight-how could she possibly find it boring?

Seeing her reaction, Xiao Yan said no more. He walked over to the Medicine Cauldron and began refining Energy-Gathering Pills.

Energy-Gathering Pills refined from second-tier magic cores could reach the third rank.

With Xiao Yan's skill in alchemy, refining them was naturally a breeze.

As she watched Xiao Yan's relaxed expression and movements that flowed like drifting clouds and running water, indescribable envy appeared on Xiao Yi Xian's face.

Several hours later, Xiao Yan raised his hands and slapped both sides of the Medicine Cauldron.

The pills emerged from the cauldron!

Perfect quality!

Xiao Yi Xian could not help clapping and cheering.

"That's amazing!"

Having shown off before the fairy, Xiao Yan did not grow smug. Instead, he gestured around them and said, "I'm going to start cultivating now. You can wander wherever you like in this Little Mountain Valley. Just don't disturb me."

With that, Xiao Yan walked to an open patch of ground and began cultivating.

Beside him, Xiao Yi Xian puffed out her cheeks slightly, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"What an utterly unromantic fellow."

Seeing that Xiao Yan had already immersed himself completely in cultivation, Xiao Yi Xian could not help beginning to question her own charm.

This fellow called her beautiful, yet his heart did not stir in the slightest.