"A high-level hired muscle?"
Somewhat surprised, Xiao Yan looked toward the supposed woman in white at the entrance to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion... she couldn't see her.
Still, although she couldn't see her, the strongest person she sensed in the crowd was only a Dou Zhe.
Hmm... maybe she's just young?
If Apothecary thinks so highly of her, her talent must be pretty good, right?
Meanwhile, seemingly because of the appearance of the "woman in white" Apothecary had mentioned, a sudden stir broke out at the entrance to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.
"Wow, it's Xiao Yi Xian!"
"She's so pretty. Tsk, tsk, that waist is so slim..."
"Idiot, do you have a death wish? Xiao Yi Xian has treated more than half the mercenaries in Qingshan Town. Watch out, someone might hear you and cut out your tongue!"
"Ahem, I was just talking nonsense... heh heh..."
Seemingly noticing the unfriendly looks around him, the man paled slightly. His face full of embarrassment, he was dragged away by his companion and disappeared into the crowd.
"That Xiao Yi Xian or whatever has that much prestige here?" Watching the crowd's reaction, Xiao Yan couldn't help raising her eyebrows.
Standing at the entrance to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, she tilted her head slightly and caught a faint glimpse of a woman in a white dress through a gap in the crowd.
Hey, you know what? This woman in white might not be a peerless beauty, but she's certainly a rare beauty with real charm.
And that little waist really is... ahem... getting sidetracked, getting sidetracked.
At a glance, there was only one woman in white in the crowd. She had to be the person Apothecary had mentioned.
So Xiao Yan quietly released her soul power to probe this "Xiao Yi Xian's" strength.
Hmm... this...
Seventh-stage Dou Qi?! (Xiao Yi Xian wasn't a Dou Zhe when she first appeared.)
Several "¿" appeared above Xiao Yan's head.
Wait, this "Xiao Yi Xian" looks older than me. She's at least seventeen or eighteen!
This supposed "special constitution," this future "high-level hired muscle," should at least be a Dou Zhe at her age, right?
By then, Xiao Yi Xian had already entered the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, "escorted" by a crowd of mercenaries.
As she passed Xiao Yan, she gave Xiao Yan's "peculiar" getup a curious once-over.
A veiled beauty: head-turning rate ≤ 100%.
A veiled beauty + sky-high heels + the Heavy Xuan Ruler: head-turning rate 100%+.
Xiao Yan instinctively withdrew her "peeping" gaze. Xiao Yi Xian paid no further attention to the "weirdo" at the door, sat behind a table, and began treating the mercenaries' illnesses and injuries.
The rowdy mercenaries actually lined up of their own accord, a sight Xiao Yan couldn't help marveling at.
After all, the mercenaries who visited the Xiao Family Market never showed such a "well-behaved" side.
It wasn't really hard to understand, though. Nearly every rough fellow wanted to hide his smut-stained heart in front of a girl and pretend to be a gentleman-a big-tailed wolf in disguise.
It was like those boys at school in her previous life, whose conversations were always fragrant with profanity, invoking someone's relatives every other word. Yet the moment a reasonably pretty girl passed by, entire family trees automatically vanished from their vocabulary.
Besides, even Xiao Yan had to admit that the kind smile Xiao Yi Xian wore while treating the injured was genuinely infectious.
No wonder these normally fierce mercenary brutes became as docile as little lambs in front of her.
Xiao Yan continued sneaking glances at Xiao Yi Xian from the side, while Xiao Yi Xian focused on treating the person before her. Some of the mercenaries in line and passing pedestrians also studied Xiao Yan's "peculiar look"... that wasn't important.
"Teacher, are you sure she has... a special constitution?" Xiao Yan glanced at "Xiao Yi Xian" again and asked inwardly with some hesitation.
However I look at her, she's just a charming little beauty with not-so... average talent, isn't she?
"Mm, that girl in white-find a way to get acquainted with her. Best if you can lure her away. I'll tell you the rest later."
"Uh... lure her away..."
Xiao Yan looked at the wildly popular "Xiao Yi Xian" nearby, rubbed her nose, and gave an awkward yet polite smile.
If I want to lure this "Xiao Yi Xian" away, I'll have to get to know her first, right?
How... do I do that?
This situation truly ventured into a blind spot in her knowledge-how was she supposed to chat up a pretty girl she had just met?
Back when she had still been a "genius," everyone else had eagerly sought her out. During her years as "trash," she hadn't bothered with "socializing" either.
Her circle had always been small. At present, Xun'er was her only close girlfriend, and that had come from love blossoming over time... pfft, from gradually growing close.
So, although she had been chatted up more times than she could count, and although she could spin a yarn to fool the Imperial Family without a moment's hesitation, Xiao Yan was still a complete novice in this area.
Besides, my first impression already got rejected, okay?!
What respectable girl carries a lump of iron almost as tall as she is on her back? Isn't that some punk freak look?!
Originally, since she was out gaining experience alone and nobody knew her anyway, Xiao Yan hadn't cared much about other people's looks.
Veil on, affection gone.
But now, looking at Xiao Yi Xian nearby, who had just eyed her with a look that said, "You city folk really know how to have fun," she still had to go up and strike up a conversation...
It was pretty embarrassing, honestly.
How do I "chat her up" so I spark her interest rather than her disgust? Waiting for answers online. Pretty urgent.
Go over and make conversation out of nothing?
Walk straight up and say, "Little sis... ahem, miss, you look like an old acquaintance of mine"?
That probably won't work.
Just go knock her out and carry her away?
In theory, that was feasible. After all, according to Apothecary, the strongest person she had sensed in Qingshan Town was only a two-star Dou Shi.
But she wasn't the sort of person who could "abduct an innocent maiden." She couldn't do that.
Tsk, this is tricky.
Xiao Yan took the Heavy Xuan Ruler off her back and casually put it into her Storage Ring, making herself look friendlier... ahem, she was already very friendly, thank you.
"Honored guest, you..."
Just as Xiao Yan was pondering how to get acquainted with Xiao Yi Xian, a clerk from the Myriad Medicine Pavilion spoke timidly beside her.
It couldn't be helped. With the nearly body-length Heavy Xuan Ruler on her back, Xiao Yan looked "frail and delicate, but actually capable of unscrewing your skull with ease."
Such an "eccentric" had suddenly planted herself motionless at their entrance and even put away her "weights," looking as though she was preparing to make a move...
Who wouldn't panic?!
If a burly man who could punch you dead inexplicably stood outside your shop, any ordinary person's heart would surely give at least a little lurch.
Even if Xiao Yan was a sweet-looking girl whose figure hadn't yet grown into anything jaw-dropping.
"Hmm? Something wrong?" Xiao Yan turned her head.
"N-no!" The clerk shuddered. "Is there... anything I can help you with?"
"No." Xiao Yan waved a hand, then walked toward Xiao Yi Xian.
Since the line was very long, the mercenaries near Xiao Yi Xian didn't notice Xiao Yan approaching.
At that moment, the previous patient left. Just as the next person was about to step forward, Xiao Yan suddenly walked over from the side and sat down in the chair first.
"Hey! You..."
Seeing someone cut in line, the mercenary instinctively wanted to offer a few choice greetings, only to realize the offender was a girl wearing a veil.
"You... young lady, could you get in line?"
Xiao Yi Xian glanced at Xiao Yan and frowned slightly, clearly recognizing her.
"Pa... guest, please get in line first."
"It's fine. I won't take up much of everyone's time." Xiao Yan released a faint trace of her Dou Shi aura, cowing the clerks and mercenaries.
Then Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Yi Xian and said solemnly:
"Do you want to become an Alchemist?"
Xiao Yi Xian: "???"
Before you continue