Woeful Poison Body

The colorful glow on Xiao Yi Xian's face slowly faded, and life began returning to her body little by little.

Xiao Yan's eyes widened. Even the toxins spreading out from her were enough to kill a Dou Shi. She was only a low-star Dou Zhe, yet she had survived such poison. He found it utterly inconceivable.

A few seconds later, Xiao Yi Xian slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yan, is that you? It seems this poison was still too potent. It even made me hallucinate."

A bitter smile surfaced on Xiao Yi Xian's face. Xiao Yan had entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range a month ago and had yet to return. He might already have died there.

And even if he was still alive, he could not possibly withstand the poisonous mist erupting around her.

"It's me."

Xiao Yan answered softly, making Xiao Yi Xian's eyes widen at once. She struggled to reach out and touch him, to confirm that he was not a hallucination.

But the poison had yet to dissipate, leaving her body stiff and unable to move.

"Impossible. Even if you were a Da Dou Shi, you couldn't stay in this poisonous mist for so long. This must be a hallucination."

Xiao Yi Xian shook her head. Even his voice was probably nothing more than her own longing taking shape.

"It's a Heavenly Flame. I subdued one in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Its power is immense, and it can protect me from the toxins."

A layer of red Dou Qi covered Xiao Yan's body at all times. It was a special Dou Qi fused with the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame. Any toxin that approached him would instantly evaporate.

"A Heavenly Flame? If it's you, I'm not surprised at all. But I look so awful right now."

Xiao Yi Xian was still very weak, and her voice was even softer than usual.

Just as Xiao Yan was about to keep asking why she had taken poison, a clamor suddenly rose outside the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.

Now an Eight-Star Great Dou Master, Xiao Yan had exceptionally keen hearing. Even across the inner courtyard, he could hear the conversations outside the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.

With poisonous mist erupting from it, the Myriad Medicine Pavilion had come to be regarded as a place of terror. Some mercenaries had gathered on their own initiative, planning to burn it down to stop the mist from spreading.

"There are people outside. They seem to be planning to burn this place down. I'll go stop them."

But before Xiao Yan could turn around, Xiao Yi Xian called him back. "Don't go. Could you stay with me a little longer?"

Her words stopped Xiao Yan in his tracks. In the end, he did not leave.

"All this poisonous mist came from my body. I'm actually the source of those deadly toxins."

A trace of sorrow colored Xiao Yi Xian's voice. As she spoke, she instinctively averted her gaze, not daring to look at Xiao Yan.

"Am I evil?"

"I've never thought so. How could a girl who feels sympathy even for an injured magical beast be evil?"

Xiao Yan gave her his answer without even a second's hesitation.

"Thank you..."

Xiao Yi Xian seemed to want to say more, but in the end, she could not bring herself to speak.

"You're very weak right now. I want to take you away from here."

If Xiao Yi Xian was the source of the deadly poison, danger would inevitably follow wherever she stayed.

Xiao Yan knew she would never want to slaughter innocent people, so he intended to take her away.

"Don't touch me!"

Just as Xiao Yan was about to act, Xiao Yi Xian suddenly grew agitated and shouted for him to stop.

"We've known each other for a while now. Surely you don't think I'm the kind of person who takes advantage of someone in distress?"

Xiao Yan hesitated, but still stopped.

"I'm sorry, that's not what I meant. I can't even control my own body right now. If you touch me, you'll be in danger."

Instead, Xiao Yan smiled at her words. "That means I'm the only one who can touch you, and the only one who can take you away."

With that, Xiao Yan scooped Xiao Yi Xian into his arms. Her body was ice-cold, its temperature scarcely resembling that of a normal person.

Streams of toxins seeped from her skin, trying to enter Xiao Yan's body.

But the moment they touched him, the Heavenly Flame burned them away, reducing them to nothing.

"So warm."

Feeling the warmth of Xiao Yan's body, Xiao Yi Xian instinctively nestled closer into his arms. Once she confirmed that he was unharmed, she relaxed completely, leaning against him without reservation.

"Let's go."

Holding Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Yan walked outside. By then, the people outside the Myriad Medicine Pavilion had drenched the place in lamp oil and strong liquor, ready to set it ablaze.

Xiao Yan had no time to stop them. He activated his Flying Dou Technique, and a pair of Eagle Wings sprouted from his back.

"Take one last look at Qingshan Town. It might be a very, very long time before you return."

The moment the Myriad Medicine Pavilion was set alight and roaring flames rose, Xiao Yan had already soared into the sky, carrying Xiao Yi Xian away.

With Xiao Yi Xian's unusual constitution, they could not go anywhere inhabited. In the end, Xiao Yan flew into the Magical Beast Mountain Range with her, returning to the herb field in the basin they had visited before.

"Let's stay here. Deep in the valley, there's a thatched shelter I built before. We can settle there for now."

After flying for a while, Xiao Yi Xian had recovered considerably, and sensation gradually returned to her body.

Xiao Yan nodded and followed her directions to the thatched shelter.

Spiritual energy was abundant here, and fragrant flowers bloomed all around. Magical beasts rarely appeared nearby, making it a quiet, peaceful place.

"Put me down. I can walk on my own now."

As Xiao Yi Xian recovered, the poison emanating from her body gradually withdrew.

"Be careful."

Xiao Yan set Xiao Yi Xian down and supported her as she walked into the thatched shelter.

"Rest here for now. I'll go find something to eat."

After settling Xiao Yi Xian onto the straw bed, Xiao Yan left the shelter.

He went to the stream beside the valley and caught two large fish swimming in it.

After cleaning them, he began roasting them a short distance from the shelter.

While Xiao Yan was roasting the fish, Xiao Yi Xian slowly emerged, dragging her weakened body along.

"There you are. Don't push yourself when you're still weak. The fish are ready, too. One each."

Xiao Yan handed Xiao Yi Xian one of the roasted fish and placed a stool made from a wooden stump beneath her.

"Thank you, Xiao Yan."

Xiao Yi Xian accepted the fish. None of those terrifying toxins remained on her now, and she seemed to have once again

become the Xiao Yi Xian everyone adored.

"So, is it time to tell me about yourself? I imagine there's a lot you want to tell me."

In this quiet moment, Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yan sat facing each other. He did not press her with questions. If she did not want to speak, he would not keep probing.

Xiao Yi Xian took a small bite of the roasted fish and stared at the still-burning fire, seeming to reach some sort of decision.

"Xiao Yan, have you ever heard of... the Woeful Poison Body?"