Chapter 15: Taking Xiao Yi Xian Away
"Careful, you'll catch a cold."
A simple greeting seemed to rouse Xiao Yi Xian's submerged consciousness. Her ashen eyes regained focus, a glimmer of clarity surfacing.
Bang!
The skull in the air shattered, and the eerie gray Dou Qi retreated into her body.
"I… what's happening…?"
Xiao Yi Xian gazed around, bewildered. The blood-soaked scene of scattered corpses flooded her mind with memories.
Did I do this?
"Waaah!"
With a terrified scream, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted again.
___
On the Thick-Winged Bird
Yun Xian's group resumed their journey to Yun Lan Sect, now with an additional member.
"Little Uncle-Master, what's going on?"
Nalan Yanran stared at Xiao Yi Xian, lying pale and unconscious on the cot. It was hard to believe this frail girl had wiped out the entire Wolf Head Mercenary Group.
"I once read in an ancient text called Battle Through the Heavens…"
Yun Xian began, his tone serious. "In ancient times, a woman with the Calamity Poison Body appeared. In a fit of rage, she turned an entire empire into a thousand miles of toxic wasteland, where hundreds of thousands of restless spirits lingered…"
Hiss!
Nalan Yanran and the others gasped.
"The Calamity Poison Body is that terrifying?" Xiao Mei's face was etched with fear.
"If it's so dangerous, why bring her along, Little Uncle-Master?" Xiao Yu asked, puzzled.
Most would steer clear of such a threat, avoiding it at all costs.
"Danger and opportunity often coexist," Yun Xian explained. "The Calamity Poison Body cultivates at an astonishing speed. By consuming toxins, it can grow rapidly. This girl was only at eight-segment Dou Zhi Qi before, but after absorbing the venom of a fourth-tier beast, she's now a four-star Dou Zhe."
In the original story, Xiao Yi Xian, after parting with Xiao Yan, reached Dou Zong in just seven years—a pace faster than the cheat-enhanced Xiao Yan, utterly defying logic!
"So fast?!"
The girls' faces lit up with shock.
"So, Little Uncle-Master brought her to have her join Yun Lan Sect?" Nalan Yanran mused.
"I bet Little Uncle-Master's got his eye on her waist…" Xiao Mei muttered under her breath.
"What's that?"
Yun Xian playfully pinched Xiao Mei's waist, making her stick out her tongue and beg for mercy.
With the Calamity Poison Body, Xiao Yi Xian's potential was at least Dou Zun, with a shot at Dou Sheng later—a prime investment!
As for whether this was poaching from Xiao Yan, Yun Xian didn't see it that way. In the original story, Xiao Yan's encounters with Xiao Yi Xian were 70% peril, 30% gain. Early on, clashing with the Wolf Head Mercenary Group and being chased into the Magical Beast Mountain Range would've killed a Dou Zhe Xiao Yan without Yao Lao's protection. Mid-story, helping Xiao Yi Xian in the Chu Yun Empire got him cursed with a "Demonic Poison Spot" by Xie Bi Yan's lifelong Dou Qi—survival only possible due to his multiple Heavenly Flame. Later, in Central Plain, her ties led to a feud with Glacier Valley, narrowly escaped thanks to Gu Xun'er's timely rescue.
In short, Xiao Yi Xian was more trouble than she was worth for Xiao Yan.
Alright, that's just an excuse.
The real reason? Yun Xian's got a thing for Xiao Yi Xian!
Xiao Yi Xian's depths are too much for you, Xiao Yan. Let me handle it! Yun Xian thought. He'd left the Dou Wang's cave in Qing Shan Town untouched, giving Xiao Yan resources. Fair enough, right?
Meanwhile, at the Xiao family, Xiao Yan, soaking in Foundation Elixir, sneezed.
"Who's that? Some girl thinking of me?"
Feeling his Dou Zhi Qi reach four-segment, Xiao Yan grinned confidently, dreaming of reclaiming his genius status from three years ago and winning over countless admirers.
Slap!
Yao Lao's Dou Qi whip cracked across his back. "Focus on cultivating, not women!"
"Ow!"
Xiao Yan grimaced, chuckling. "Teacher, you promised to help me win the Three-Year Agreement."
"That depends on your effort!"
Yao Lao glared, thinking, Nalan Yanran's a six-star Dou Zhe at her age—her talent's exceptional. Training Xiao Yan to surpass her in three years is no small feat.
"But I promised Xun'er I'd go shopping with her tomorrow…"
"No way! Women only slow your cultivation!"
To catch up to a stronger-than-original Nalan Yanran, Yao Lao devised an intensified training regimen for Xiao Yan, amplifying the butterfly effect…
___
Jia Ma Empire Capital
After days of flight, the Thick-Winged Bird reached the capital.
Xiao Yi Xian had awakened, but realizing what she'd done left her emotionally shattered.
"It's not your fault," Yun Xian comforted. "Mu She triggered your Calamity Poison Body."
"But… I'm the one who killed them—a walking disaster!"
Xiao Yi Xian stared at her hands, as if stained with endless blood. A healer dedicated to saving lives, she couldn't accept becoming a Calamity Poison Girl who snuffed them out.
"You're not a disaster. You have a rare, prodigious physique in the Dou Qi Continent," Yun Xian said.
"Wahhh! I don't want this physique!"
Xiao Yi Xian's helpless sobs drew pitying looks from Nalan Yanran and the others. According to Yun Xian, the faster the Calamity Poison Body grew, the closer its next outbreak loomed—a tragic life cursed with calamity.
"Don't be afraid."
"Since I've decided to save you, I'll take responsibility for your life."
Yun Xian gently lifted her tear-streaked face.
"Really… can you…?"
A spark flickered in Xiao Yi Xian's hollow eyes. Like someone drowning in an abyss glimpsing sunlight, she couldn't resist reaching for him.
"The pact is sealed. Betrayers shall face the punishment of rock-devouring."
Yun Xian pressed their foreheads together, his expression solemn.
"Mmm~"
Xiao Yi Xian's cheeks flushed. Staring into his gentle, handsome face up close, her heart surrendered hopelessly.
"!!!"
Nalan Yanran's lips pursed high. I haven't even gotten that close to Little Uncle-Master! Who do you think you are?
"So dashing!"
Xiao Mei's eyes sparkled with hearts, the young girl swooning over the romantic gesture.
"Boo~ This is the feeling of love!"
Xiao Yu clutched her pounding chest.
____
If you want to support me and read advanced chapters and other stories: patreon.com/Caluem