Chapter 63: Do You Want It or Not?
Tap tap tap!
Holding Xiao Yixian in his arms, Xiao Yuan darted swiftly through the interior of the mountain. All around, stones tumbled and the ground trembled—no one knew if the next moment would bring a full collapse.
"Aren't we going back the way we came?"
Clinging tightly to Xiao Yuan's neck for safety, Xiao Yixian raised her voice over the noise to ask.
"The main passage is already collapsing. Besides, it took us over fifteen minutes to descend—if we go back that way, I'll have to carry you the whole way. Even then, it'd take too long. Every second we stay in here is dangerous!
There's another exit deeper in. It's closer. We're heading there."
Having just gained a Heavenly Flame, Xiao Yuan was in high spirits and answered her patiently.
"Mm, okay."
Xiao Yixian naturally didn't want to die either. Regardless of how this guy had treated her before, at least he hadn't abandoned her in the critical moment. That already made him better than the creeps back in Qing Shan Town.
Meanwhile, up on the cliff, the mercenaries of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group stumbled out of the collapsing cave. Mu She stood grim-faced.
It really felt like someone was deliberately working against him. The moment he came to investigate, the entire place began collapsing!
Damn it!
"Go draw portraits of those two. Issue a bounty! Say that Yuan Xiao found high-tier Xuan-level techniques and cultivation methods in the cave that rightfully belonged to the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Anyone who provides information on him will be heavily rewarded!"
Mu She ordered coldly.
"Yes, Captain!"
When Xiao Yuan finally escaped with Xiao Yixian through a narrow passageway that could only fit one person at a time, they found themselves standing in a secluded mountain valley.
Mist hung heavily overhead. Even though it was daytime, the valley remained dim and shrouded.
"That's some thick mountain mist..."
Still clinging to his neck, Xiao Yixian looked upward and frowned slightly.
"It's safe for now. Let's eat something. Once the mist clears up a bit, we can think about our next move."
Xiao Yuan gently set her down.
"Hey! Aren't you going to give me the antidote?!"
The moment her feet touched the ground, Xiao Yixian suddenly remembered she was still "poisoned" and reached out pitifully, demanding it.
"Oh, right—the antidote."
Xiao Yuan put on a mock "oh-I-forgot" face and tossed her a piece of rock candy.
Xiao Yixian: "???"
"Go ahead, that's the antidote. It's sweet!"
Xiao Yuan even popped one into his own mouth.
Xiao Yixian stared at the candy. At first, she thought he was messing with her. Then she realized—he actually was messing with her.
"You—you didn't poison me at all?!"
Grinding her teeth, she glared at him.
"Of course not. I don't know how to make poison. I mean, sure, I know which herbs are toxic, but why would I waste rare ingredients poisoning a silly girl like you? If I really wanted to deal with someone, I'd go straight in with my spear. Poisoning? Not my style."
Xiao Yuan smiled, palms raised innocently.
Xiao Yixian's chest heaved in anger. She pointed at him, trembling with rage.
She wasn't just mad at him—she was mad at herself for being so gullible and falling for his trick so easily.
She squatted down, hugging her knees, and began quietly sobbing.
Seeing her cry, Xiao Yuan's eye twitched.
He may have taken it a bit too far...
After hesitating for a moment, he finally crouched beside her and gently poked her arm.
"Don't touch me!"
She flung her arm and nearly knocked him over.
"Sigh... I'm a softhearted guy. I hate seeing girls cry. Here."
He handed her a handkerchief.
"Then why did you bully me like this?"
Taking the cloth, she clutched it and sobbed.
"If it were anyone else, I would've kicked them off the cliff and taken the treasure alone. I couldn't exactly say I wanted to share it because you looked like my dream girl at first sight, right?"
Xiao Yuan sighed.
"Oh... so it's my fault for being too weak. Don't worry about me. Just let me cry for a while."
Still red-faced, Xiao Yixian glanced at him, then slowly turned away, curling up further as her shoulders trembled and her sniffles echoed.
Watching her sulk like a small animal, Xiao Yuan felt a flicker of affection. Honestly, he had been somewhat tempted by her appearance from the start.
But that was also why she survived. If the one sneaking around in the woods had been anyone else, he really would've sent them flying with a Wind Hawk Kick.
In truth, Xiao Yixian had no strength, no backing. The only thing she had that was worth anything—was herself.
Of course, he also knew she possessed the Calamity Poison Body, with limitless future potential. And she did match his aesthetic.
"Well, this won't do. There's no one else here. If I don't take care of you, who will?"
Xiao Yuan smirked and suddenly scooped her into a bridal carry again.
"You—! Put me down! I didn't ask for this!"
Flushed, she squirmed in his arms.
Her soft chest occasionally bumped into his as she struggled.
"Don't move. If you get me too fired up, I might really take you right here. I'm taking you back to yesterday's basin. This valley isn't safe—no herbs, weak energy. Not worth staying."
Suppressing his inner stirrings, Xiao Yuan activated the Purple Cloud Wings and soared into the sky.
Hearing his crude teasing, Xiao Yixian's face burned even redder. As she felt herself lifting off the ground, she stopped struggling and clung tightly to his neck, face full of reluctant submission.
"One day I'll definitely poison you to death..."
She cursed silently.
"By the way, one of the scrolls I found in the stone room was a Poison Scripture. You might find it useful. It can't help you cultivate Dou Qi, but it'll give you better defensive options. Of course... if you don't want it, that's fine too."
Xiao Yuan said as he flew.
"You're being that generous?"
Xiao Yixian eyed him suspiciously.
"Maybe I should just sleep with you—that way, you won't doubt me giving you stuff."
Xiao Yuan looked down at her expression, shook his head, then slowly scanned her body and muttered.
"You perverted thief! Is that all your brain is filled with?!"
Flustered, she punched him in the chest, cheeks puffed.
"So? Do you want it or not?"
"I do! I earned it fair and square helping you find that treasure!"
"Heh."
"Hmph!"
(END CHAPTER)
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