Chapter 128: The Cliff
"Why thank me? Just marry me," Xiao Yan quipped with a grin, making Xiao Yi Xian's delicate face flush red again.
"The corpses of these Azurewood Wolves hurry up and take care of them. Other than the Wolf King's magic core, I don't care about the rest," Xiao Yan said with a casual wave to the mercenaries.
Hearing this, the mercenaries' eyes lit up.
If Xiao Yan didn't even want the magic cores from the regular wolves, this could mean a huge payday for them. Even though not every wolf had a core, harvesting all the materials from the pack could earn each of them three to four hundred gold coins a year's income for most of them.
With Xiao Yan's permission, the mercenaries quickly got to work dismembering the wolves. Many of them started to look at Xiao Yan in a different light. Their initial hostility turned into admiration.
People are like this when someone brings enough benefits, even former enemies can become allies. What's more, these mercenaries hadn't truly had a personal grudge against Xiao Yan.
As the corpses were processed, many mercenaries began to feel that this young man might actually be a suitable match for Xiao Yi Xian. Compared to someone like Mu Li, who relied on his father's reputation and was stingy with his wealth, Xiao Yan's generosity stood in stark contrast.
When the work was done, the group resumed their journey. After some hesitation, Xiao Yi Xian pulled out a glossy fruit from her satchel and handed it to Xiao Yan.
"Thank you for earlier," she said softly.
"Saving a girl I like that's just the natural thing to do," Xiao Yan replied with a playful grin, taking the fruit from her.
"If you keep acting like this, I won't talk to you anymore," Xiao Yi Xian scolded, her cheeks tinged with pink.
"Sigh, seems like my heroic rescue didn't work as I'd hoped," Xiao Yan lamented, shaking his head.
"I've told you I'm not interested in boys like you," Xiao Yi Xian said firmly. But despite her words, a flicker of melancholy crossed her eyes.
"You're not interested, or… you don't dare to be?" Xiao Yan asked, his tone light yet piercing.
Her body stiffened at his words. Her gaze faltered for a moment, but seeing Xiao Yan's seemingly indifferent expression, she quickly composed herself.
"Crunch."
Xiao Yan took a bite of the fruit in his hand, the sound breaking the silence. He smiled playfully.
"Sweet, just like you."
"Ugh, disgusting! So corny," Xiao Yi Xian huffed, rolling her eyes. Yet a faint smile played at her lips.
"Xiao Yan, damn you!" Mu Li fumed from the back of the group, his eyes blazing with jealousy as he watched their interaction.
How dare this brat act so smug! Just wait I'll kill you when the chance comes. No matter how strong you are, even a high level Dou Fighter wouldn't survive my secret weapon.
After the Azurewood Wolf encounter, the group faced no further threats from strong magical beasts. A few weaker beasts crossed their path but quickly scurried away upon spotting the humans.
"Hmm, that's Burning Vein Lotus."
Xiao Yi Xian noticed a black lotus blooming in a small pond by the roadside. She carefully plucked the darkest, largest leaf from the plant.
"This Burning Vein Lotus is extremely poisonous. Its leaves, when boiled on low heat for three days and three nights, produce a liquid so toxic that just one drop can sever a person's meridians. Even a Dou Fighter would be crippled after drinking a single cup," Xiao Yi Xian explained, waving the dark leaf at Xiao Yan in mock warning.
"If you keep teasing me, I'll brew some for you."
Xiao Yan chuckled. "The Burning Vein Lotus may be poisonous, but its root has detoxifying properties. Eating two slices can neutralize its poison though it might cause a bit of diarrhea."
"You even know about medicine?" Xiao Yi Xian looked at him in surprise.
Ignoring her astonishment, Xiao Yan continued with a cheeky grin. "But if it's a poison you brewed, no matter how toxic, it would still taste sweet to me."
"How does someone your age know so much? And this smooth talk of yours you've definitely deceived a lot of girls, haven't you?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, narrowing her eyes.
"And if I've deceived you, does that mean I win?" Xiao Yan replied with a laugh.
"Dream on," she retorted with a snort, though her tone lacked malice.
Taking the black leaf from her hands, Xiao Yan examined it. "The Burning Vein Lotus may be highly toxic, but when combined with Nine Toxin Grass and Green Poison Cicadas, it can be used to refine an effective second tier detoxifying pill, the Toxin Dissolving Pill.
"It's also an ingredient in many other first and second tier pills that are mostly beneficial."
"You're a pharmacist? Wait are you actually an alchemist?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, her eyes wide with surprise.
Xiao Yan smirked, his expression mysterious. "Want to learn? I can teach you."
She shook her head, a faint sadness passing over her features. "No… I'm not suited for it, even if it's my dream."
"If you can't be an alchemist, being an alchemist's wife is basically the same thing," Xiao Yan said, his tone teasing yet oddly earnest.
"If you keep being a rogue, we won't even be friends," Xiao Yi Xian quipped, glaring at him. Then, curiosity sparked in her eyes.
"What tier of alchemist are you?"
"Just a humble seventh tier," Xiao Yan replied nonchalantly.
"You liar!" Xiao Yi Xian laughed, lightly kicking him.
But before she could retract her leg, Xiao Yan caught her slender ankle.
"What are you doing? Let go!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing.
"Feels nice," Xiao Yan said with a satisfied grin, before releasing her.
The group continued walking, the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves above casting golden patterns on their surroundings.
Xiao Yi Xian's white dress remained spotless despite the muddy terrain, while Xiao Yan's black outfit gave him an air of calm authority.
A gentle breeze swept through the forest, lifting her skirt's hem slightly and tousling his dark hair. Together, they made a striking image like a fairy tale couple lost in an enchanted forest.
Behind them, the mercenaries watched with mixed emotions, some envious, others resigned.
After traveling for another half hour, the group reached a cliff. Xiao Yi Xian's gaze wavered for a moment, a flicker of unease crossing her face.
"Can we rest here for a bit?" she asked, looking at Xiao Yan with an almost pleading expression.
"Sure. Whatever my wife says," Xiao Yan replied with a casual wave.
"Go to hell!" Xiao Yi Xian shot back, her face turning red once again.
(End of Chapter)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/LightKira10