In the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Yan strolled through the forest with a thoroughly contented expression.
All that messy business in Wutan City was finally over!
At last, I can wander, seize treasures, run for my life, and level up, just like in my previous life!
What a familiar, comfortable feeling!
There was one difference, though. This time, Yao Lao accompanied him, making his journey of training a little less lonely.
Ah!
Come to think of it, Yao Lao has changed too!
He used to be such an honest, kindly elder, but now he keeps dreaming up new ways to tease me and stir up mischief!
Especially when it comes to men and women. Seeing me lose my composure seems to have become his greatest pleasure!
I really don't get it. Why do I have so many rotten romantic entanglements in this life?
Thinking of those rotten romantic entanglements reminded Xiao Yan of another headache.
Xiao Xun'er!
He had told no one except his father about taking leave.
Thus, Xiao Xun'er had been utterly surprised when she found out.
She had also applied to Jia Nan Academy this year, thinking they could enroll together, only for him to run off.
Remembering Xiao Xun'er's final, reproachful look, Xiao Yan felt a pang of guilt.
How am I almost a faithless lover in three women's eyes when I haven't even done anything?
Wait!
Counting Ya Fei, that makes four!
Still!
I won't fall for anyone!
How could women be more important than cultivation?
The thought of cultivation immediately lifted Xiao Yan's spirits.
"Teacher, how do you plan to have me train?"
Yao Lao smiled. "The first trial is the simplest: see into people's hearts.
"With your temperament, I'm sure you'll pass.
"But you should still give it a try. I'm afraid your caution is merely strategy on paper, and you don't truly understand how treacherous people's hearts can be."
Xiao Yan smiled. "Fair enough. I haven't ventured out much, after all. Let's see just how treacherous the world outside can be."
Following the map, the two prepared to stop first at Qingshan Town in the Magical Beast Mountain Range to rest and regroup.
Several days later, they arrived in Qingshan Town.
Mercenaries from various groups filled the streets, bustling about as they carried out all sorts of missions.
Most of the mercenaries were Dou Zhe, and their mission rewards amounted to only hundreds or thousands of gold coins.
After watching them, Xiao Yan remarked, "Since becoming an Alchemist, I've never had to worry about money.
"It's been a long time since I experienced this sort of life on the go."
Yao Lao smiled. "Your starting point was too high. You've long since left the bottom rungs behind.
"But the lower you go, the more clearly you can see human nature.
"And the mercenary system is a distinctive feature of the Dou Qi Continent. You could certainly experience it for yourself.
"There's no rush, though. Look around first and gather some information. Let's see just how muddy the waters of this Qingshan Town are."
Xiao Yan smiled and nodded.
After they had spent several days exploring Qingshan Town, Yao Lao asked with a smile, "Well? Have you figured anything out?"
Xiao Yan considered for a moment. "The situation is fairly simple.
"The Wolf Head Mercenary Group rules the roost in Qingshan Town, but they're overbearing and unpopular. Their three leaders are also rather dim-witted. I doubt they'll last long.
"Another prominent figure is Xiao Yi Xian.
"Her fate, however, is probably difficult to predict.
"She's beautiful, yet weak. And despite being weak, she's won over a great many hearts.
"Given time, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group will inevitably find her an eyesore. They'll either claim her or destroy her."
Yao Lao laughed heartily. "Good, very good. You really do have a discerning eye, lad.
"That's indeed the situation, but you've overlooked one thing about Xiao Yi Xian."
Xiao Yan smiled. "Do you mean that Pavilion Master Yao, her employer at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, has crooked intentions, that her maid Li Fei has been tempted by the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's bribes, or that Xiao Yi Xian seems to have some secret and keeps searching for something outside town?"
Yao Lao laughed even louder.
"You really are observant, lad. You even noticed details like those.
"Yes, Xiao Yi Xian is indeed surrounded by danger right now. But there's another great secret about her that you haven't seen."
This time, Xiao Yan was genuinely curious.
"There's something else I missed? What is it?"
Yao Lao smiled. "That's because your cultivation isn't strong enough. It has nothing to do with your insight."
After a pause, a nostalgic look crossed Yao Lao's face. "It's been so many years since I last saw a Woeful Poison Body. To think I'd encounter one in this tiny Qingshan Town."
Xiao Yan asked, "Teacher, what's a Woeful Poison Body? Is it powerful?"
Yao Lao smiled. "If she absorbs poisons without restraint, she can cultivate to Dou Zun in less than ten years. You tell me whether this Woeful Poison Body is powerful."
Xiao Yan was immediately stunned.
He felt that his own talent was already high enough, yet even by an optimistic estimate, he would need twenty or thirty years to enter the Dou Zun Realm.
This Woeful Poison Body could actually reach Dou Zun in less than ten years?
That's absurd!
Compared to his previous life, that would mean reaching the Tribulation Transcendence stage in less than ten years!
Is she even human?
Once his surprise passed, excitement burned in Xiao Yan's heart.
If I don't befriend a genius like this now, what am I waiting for?
From his observations over the past few days, Xiao Yi Xian was pure and kind by nature, a rare and remarkable flower in a place like Qingshan Town.
A kindhearted genius like her is the perfect person to shower with friendship and invest heavily in while she's still insignificant, before her rise!
At that thought, Xiao Yan said excitedly, "Teacher, we should befriend a genius like her as soon as possible!"
Seeing Xiao Yan's enthusiasm, Yao Lao grew somewhat interested as well.
"You want to befriend her?"
Xiao Yan said, "If we become friends, I can pay for poisons to help her grow stronger. Once she's powerful, she can protect me in return. Isn't that a small investment with ten-thousandfold returns?"
Yao Lao thought for a moment, then sighed. "Perhaps this truly is your destined connection.
"Although the Woeful Poison Body allows her to advance at tremendous speed, the faster she advances, the faster the poison accumulates in her body. The moment she reaches her peak will also be the moment she dies.
"Normally, there's no solution.
"But if you can obtain Heavenly Flames and use them to refine a special Poison Pill for her, you might be able to resolve the drawbacks of her constitution.
"Looking at it that way, the two of you really are heaven-made partners."
Xiao Yan asked in surprise, "There's actually such a thing?"
Then his face lit up with delight.
"Teacher, if that's the case, joining forces benefits us both. Let's do it!"
Yao Lao regarded Xiao Yan with an ambiguous smile.
"Are you sure it isn't because the young lady is pretty?"
Xiao Yan said helplessly, "Teacher, stop stirring up mischief. I just want a powerful ally. I have no romantic intentions whatsoever."
Yao Lao thought, If you become partners and spend every day together, with that young lady's kind, lovable nature, I don't believe your heart will remain as still as water.
Heh. I'll bring you two together and keep enjoying the show.
After a pause, Yao Lao asked, "Then how do you plan to befriend her?"
Xiao Yan thought for a moment, then smiled. "The conflicts are already sitting right there. We only need to give them a little nudge to bring them to a head.
"Then I'll go to her side and do her a favor with the current already flowing my way. Won't that make us friends?"
Yao Lao roared with laughter but said nothing.
Lad, you're still a little green!
If you really help that young lady by playing the hero who rescues the beauty, even if you have no intentions, she may well give her heart to you!
Heh. Let's see what becomes of you two as you spend time together!
Before you continue