Chapter 228: An Embrace Beneath the Moonlight
"Trying to run?"
A cold glint flashed in Xiao Yi Xian's gray-purple eyes as her slender fingers moved suddenly. Four sharp, fierce gales of energy shot from her fingertips. The force contained within each blast was enough to kill lower-ranked Dou Huang experts—clearly, she was furious over the betrayal of Wu Ya's four men.
Sensing the approaching danger, the four fleeing elders paled. They hadn't expected Xiao Yi Xiang to be so ruthless. It was obvious she intended to kill them on the spot.
Just as they were about to use all their strength to defend and escape, Xiao Yuan—standing beside Xiao Yi Xian—raised his fair hand and gently snapped his fingers.
Snap!
A flicker of orange-red flame danced across his fingertip, and in the next instant, the fleeing elders suddenly froze in place.
Their faces flushed, their features contorted in pain, and steam poured from their heads as sweat drenched their bodies.
An instant later, the four blasts of energy launched by Xiao Yi Xiang pierced through their backs and emerged from their chests.
"Ah!"
Their screams rang through the air as the attack landed. The robes on their bodies tore apart, and their flesh rapidly dissolved from the powerful poison. Within a minute, only eerie white bones remained. The four dropped dead as horrified eyes looked on.
All around them, Poison Sect members stared at the merciless attack, and at the tall figure beside Xiao Yi Xiang whose hand still hung loosely at her side. The onlookers felt their scalps tingle and a chill creep through their bones.
These two women… were terrifying.
"Detain everyone who defected from Centipede Sky Mansion. Verify each identity thoroughly. What happened today—I don't want to see it happen again."
Xiao Yi Xian's voice was cold, her beautiful face frosty and filled with killing intent. With that, she led Xiao Yuan and Zi Yan on the Blue Eagle toward her residence.
"Yes, Sect Leader!"
None of the elders dared be negligent now. Four Dou Wangs had been instantly eliminated by the combined efforts of the Sect Leader and her consort. Such terrifying power was enough to strike awe in anyone's heart.
"You think that little girl might be the Sect Leader's child?"
Some of the disciples whispered curiously below.
"Are you stupid? Both the Sect Leader and her consort are women—how would they have a kid? Watch your tongue! You don't care about dying, but I do!"
A steward from the sect slapped the speaker across the face, scolding angrily. Did they not just witness how vicious those two were?
"Aren't you going to handle sect matters?"
Xiao Yuan asked, a little curious.
"No need. You're new here, so you might think I should handle the follow-up myself. But what's the point of having all those people if I have to do everything myself?"
Xiao Yi Xiang shook her head, tone cool.
"Where'd you get that intel from?"
She then turned to Xiao Yuan with a curious expression.
"Before I came, I studied intelligence from the Jia Ma Empire about the Cloud Empire. I looked into things and made a few guesses. When I arrived, I quietly investigated a bit more. There wasn't any solid proof, but I could tell from his attitude that the old bastard was trouble. You couldn't kill him yourself, but I could. Turns out I was spot on!"
Xiao Yuan chuckled.
In truth, he hadn't done any of that. He just remembered bits from his past life and didn't like Wu Ya's face. Knowing he'd be a threat to Xiao Yi Xian's authority, he acted decisively.
"Well, you always do things brilliantly."
She nodded without doubt. Back when they were in the valley, she'd already believed Xiao Yuan could do anything—building huts, cooking, washing clothes, even wiping out mercenaries.
"Haha, of course. How else could I win your heart?"
He teased with a grin.
"Ugh, you still have the nerve to bring that up? You bullied a helpless girl like me back then!"
She huffed in mock annoyance.
"Helpless? You had poison sachets stashed all over your body!"
Xiao Yuan tightened his hold on her slender waist with a mischievous smirk.
"I'm a girl, you know! That was the only way I could protect myself!"
She said confidently.
"Heh, good thing I didn't actually give you real poison back then. If it had triggered your Poison Body early, I'd have been in big trouble!"
Xiao Yuan sighed, reminiscing about when they first met.
"Hmph. I didn't even realize it wasn't poison at the time. I thought you'd used some unfamiliar ingredients or methods to hide the toxins. Turns out you were bluffing!"
She sounded a little annoyed but also relieved. She wasn't the same fragile wildflower anymore—she had become a rose with thorns. But even now, this lecherous guy remained as thick-skinned as ever, still willing to hold her tight.
"Hehe, I really don't know anything about using poison."
Xiao Yuan shrugged with a grin.
"You're still a student at Canaan Academy, right? You probably can't stay here for long?"
She suddenly changed the topic.
"I'm not a student anymore. With my strength, staying a student would be unfair to others. So they made me an Elder instead. I've got more freedom now—don't have to go back on a set schedule."
He explained with a smile.
"So… you can stay here with me for a while?"
Her eyes lit up with joy.
"Mm. That depends on you. If you want to stay and lead the Poison Sect, I'll help you make it the strongest sect in the Cloud Empire. But my journey won't end here. I'll still need to travel to find materials that can help you control the Calamity Poison Body. I can't limit my search to just the Northwest Continent.
But if you're willing, I'd like to have you by my side. That way, if your Poison Body acts up, I can help suppress it right away. Once we get the materials, I'll help you control it completely, and your cultivation will soar."
Xiao Yuan laid out two paths.
"I want to go with you."
She didn't hesitate for even a moment.
"And the Poison Sect?"
He was a bit surprised.
"I only ever used them, and they used me in return."
She shook her head.
She hadn't trusted anyone in the Cloud Empire—until Xiao Yuan came along. Only then did she finally let down her guard.
"Then how about this? Let's use Wu Ya's death as a reason to declare war on the Ten-Thousand Scorpion Gate. They're the Poison Sect's biggest remaining threat. Once that's settled, we'll at least have loyal people in place for when we return."
Xiao Yuan suggested after thinking for a moment.
"That's a good idea. Only the Scorpion Gate is left now. I've already absorbed the other forces, but they need time to be consolidated. Wu Ya was a real pain—now that he's gone and you're helping me, I just need half a month to prepare for the purge."
She smiled with delight.
"Oh? Half a month? That gives me a chance to train, see if I can break through to Dou Huang. Extra insurance, right?"
Xiao Yuan nodded thoughtfully.
Zi Yan would need time to wake up anyway—having a break was ideal.
"We're here. This is my place."
The Blue Eagle landed in a secluded valley. Xiao Yi Xiang pulled Xiao Yuan down with her. Not far ahead stood a modest two-story wooden house.
"Looks like you haven't forgotten the happy times we had."
Xiao Yuan grinned.
"I've spent so long pretending to be the merciless Heavenly Poison Woman in the Cloud Empire… without those memories, I might have really changed completely."
She lowered her gaze. Her long lashes trembled slightly.
"Don't worry. With me, you'll always be Xiao Yi Xian—not some 'Heavenly Poison Woman.' The suffering your Poison Body caused you ends here."
He gently wrapped an arm around her shoulder and spoke softly.
"Mm. I believe you."
With no outsiders around, she no longer needed to pretend. She leaned gently into his arms, smiling peacefully.
The two of them entered the house together, arms around each other.
Though Xiao Yuan was a known flirt, he wasn't reckless—he wouldn't put his life in danger. After all, Xiao Yi Xiang was still full of poison. Getting too close could be deadly.
He laid the sleeping Zi Yan gently onto a bed, covered her with a blanket, and placed some freshly refined pills by her pillow. Then he followed Xiao Yi Xiang upstairs.
Even though she lived there alone, the house was spotless. It was also quite simple—no signs of regular daily life.
She'd been away for some time, and most of what she needed was stored in her spatial ring. Clothes, food—nothing was left out to avoid unwanted eyes.
"What do you want to eat? I'll cook."
They'd been eating dry rations on the road. Xiao Yuan figured she hadn't had a proper meal either.
"Just like before."
She smiled, pulled out bedding from her ring, set up the spare bed, then tugged him downstairs. They brought out cooking utensils and ingredients and began preparing dinner together.
Their eyes met more than once during the process, and every time, they shared a knowing smile.
After the meal, they sat together. Though it wasn't the same valley as before, the starry sky above was just as familiar—just like old times.
"Your cooking tastes exactly the same. It's perfect."
Xiao Yi Xiang looked visibly happy. She was like a completely different person from the cold leader of the Poison Sect.
"You must've had it rough these past years. Tonight, I'll stay up and watch over you—get some good sleep."
Xiao Yuan's voice was soft and gentle.
"You won't take advantage of me while I'm sleeping, will you?"
She blushed, but still crossed her arms and put on a mock-wary look.
"No promises~"
Xiao Yuan smirked and leaned in slightly.
Seeing his mischievous eyes, she puffed up her chest with confidence. "My poison arts are perfected now. Don't think your Heavenly Flame can save you—I might just poison you to death. Try me!"
If she'd gone silent like in the past, Xiao Yuan might've backed off. But her current playful confidence only made him more excited.
Under the moonlight, her white hair shimmered silver. Though she tried to hide it, her gray-purple eyes held a flicker of fear—not fear of him, but fear of hurting him.
Yet if he did nothing, she might be left disappointed.
Looking at her slightly parted lips and the faint breaths they released, Xiao Yuan suddenly laughed.
"Xiao Yi Xian, I've always wondered… what exactly does the Calamity Poison Body taste like?"
She froze, a flicker of joy flashing in her heart. But then she worried for his safety and quickly turned her head away.
"D-Don't do anything rash… At least wait until I've learned to control it, and then… then…"
Her voice trailed off into a whisper. Xiao Yuan's lips curled upward uncontrollably. He reached out and pulled her into his arms. Gazing into her hesitant yet expectant eyes, he gently lifted her chin.
Under the moonlight, two white-clad figures locked eyes, their breaths growing heavy.
The distance between them vanished until they pressed close. The joy of reunion, fermented over four long years, overflowed.
Though her toxic kisses numbed him, Xiao Yuan had his Heavenly Flame to protect him. He didn't care. From sitting, they slowly moved into each other's embrace, eventually lying together. In the distance, the Blue Eagle covered its eyes with its wings—but peeked through the feathers.
In the room, Zi Yan slept soundly. She sniffed at the pills beside her pillow and licked her lips in her sleep.
On Xiao Yuan's arm, the rainbow-colored snake didn't react outwardly—but deep in her soul, ripples spread.
You silver-tongued, lecherous brat!
(END CHAPTER)
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