After becoming friends, the distance between the two of them shortened noticeably, and their conversation became much more casual.
Lin Yuan asked Little Fairy Doctor, "What do you plan to do? Do you intend to remain as you are now, or to awaken the Woeful Poison Body?"
Little Fairy Doctor frowned slightly, a trace of bitterness appearing on her delicate face as she shook her head. "I don't know. My mind is in a mess right now, there are too many thoughts."
Lin Yuan could understand her hesitation. After all, the Woeful Poison Body was different from the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. The latter had no side effects whatsoever, while the former began a countdown to death the moment it was awakened, every increase in power meant taking another step closer to the end of one's life.
"Then take your time and think it through," Lin Yuan said with a hearty smile, offering his advice. "Think about what you truly want, what your decision will cost you, and what it will give you in return."
From Lin Yuan's own standpoint, he naturally hoped that Little Fairy Doctor would awaken the Woeful Poison Body. Only then would she have the possibility of becoming his support in the future. Moreover, Lin Yuan was certain that no matter what, Little Fairy Doctor would inevitably walk the path of awakening her poison body. Her exceptional beauty alone destined her to never live an ordinary life.
As for how to resolve the side effects after awakening the Woeful Poison Body, he already had solutions in mind, but there was no need to tell her yet. Confusion, struggle, and decision were all excellent trials for forging a strong person. This process of contemplation and choice would bring about her transformation.
"If you were in my position, what would you choose? And how would you act?" Little Fairy Doctor asked, looking into her friend's deep eyes. She was genuinely curious about what choice the boy before her would make.
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow and pondered for a moment before answering honestly, "I am someone who pursues power, someone who wants to climb to the peak. If there is a means to obtain strength, I would naturally not give it up."
Placing his right hand over his heart, Lin Yuan's tone grew distant. "In fact, I've already paid a price in my pursuit of power. In order to become strong as soon as possible, this body of mine has less than four years of lifespan remaining."
"You…" Looking at her friend, Little Fairy Doctor felt both shocked and worried, but even more so, regretful. Such a brilliant person, yet only four years of life remained. A sense of shared fate arose within her heart, though she did not know what to say.
Seeing her expression, Lin Yuan chuckled lightly. "Heh, don't worry. I've already found a way to resolve it. This continent is filled with strange people and wonders. When problems arise, you solve them. There isn't necessarily no solution to the Woeful Poison Body either."
"I hope so," Little Fairy Doctor said with a bitter smile. Deep down, she vaguely sensed that she would inevitably awaken the Woeful Poison Body, and when that time came, she would have to face its destined fate.
"Take this. You can also take everything else here," Lin Yuan said as he handed the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture to Little Fairy Doctor. He had already memorized the parts he needed.
"You're only taking the flying Dou Technique? After putting in so much effort?" Little Fairy Doctor asked in surprise as she accepted the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture.
Lin Yuan merely smiled without replying. Other than the remnant map of the Heavenly Flame and the flying Dou Technique, nothing else here was particularly worth his attention. Black-Class Dou Techniques, medicinal ingredients—he had piles of those in his storage ring. As a Sixth-Grade alchemist, these treasures were hardly worth mentioning, and giving them to Little Fairy Doctor made no difference to him.
'Debts of favor are the hardest to repay. The seed planted in one's heart will sprout sooner or later and that is when the real harvest comes.'
In the end, this treasure hunt came to a close after Lin Yuan leisurely watched Little Fairy Doctor's graceful labor from the side. He even deliberately gave her two storage rings. The amusing sight of her chest bulging from being stuffed full of items was recorded by Lin Yuan with a recording stone.
The two walked out of the cave side by side, where the blue eagle, Xiao Lan, was waiting at the entrance.
Upon seeing Xiao Lan, Little Fairy Doctor trotted over and checked on its condition. The massive blue eagle was unusually gentle in her presence.
"Although it's only a First-Rank magical beast, this little fellow is quite spirited. How did you subdue it? In terms of strength, you're not even a match for it," Lin Yuan said as he walked over, praising the eagle before asking Little Fairy Doctor a question.
"Xiao Lan, this blue eagle was one I happened to save a few years ago. Later, through our time together, I earned its loyalty and friendship. I suppose this is what you'd call fate," Little Fairy Doctor said as she stroked Xiao Lan's feathers, reminiscing about their first encounter, her tone tinged with nostalgia.
"Fate…" Lin Yuan's voice sounded somewhat ethereal. He also believed in fate, but he did not force it. He trusted planning and strength far more.
He walked up to Xiao Lan and reached out to touch its beautiful feathers. Xiao Lan felt a bit fearful, but under Lin Yuan's aura, it did not dare to dodge. From this person, it sensed a faint yet extremely noble presence among magical beasts, leaving it with no thought of resistance.
Little Fairy Doctor watched from the side in surprise. Xiao Lan normally disliked strangers touching its feathers, yet it was so obedient under Lin Yuan's hand.
"Since it's fate, then I'll give you an opportunity as well. Little Fairy Doctor, step back a bit," Lin Yuan said.
Although she didn't know what Lin Yuan intended to do, Little Fairy Doctor obediently retreated a few steps, watching him with curiosity.
Lin Yuan took out a pill from his storage ring, then produced a drop of magical beast essence blood—specifically, the essence blood of a Sixth-Rank magical beast, the Gale Eagle King. With a thought, he summoned a cluster of Green Lotus Core Flame to envelop both the pill and the essence blood. As the flame refined them, the energies of the pill and the essence blood merged into a stream of pure, blood-colored energy.
Under Lin Yuan's control, the blood-colored energy enveloped Xiao Lan and slowly seeped into its body. During this process, Xiao Lan's bloodline and aura began to transform, and an aura surpassing that of a First-Rank magical beast started to brew.
Before long, as the blood-colored energy was fully absorbed and digested by Xiao Lan, a piercing eagle cry resounded through the night sky.
"Shriek!"
Xiao Lan let out a joyful screech and soared into the air. Its blue feathers seemed to gain an added hint of deep, lustrous radiance, while a powerful aura, one that could be considered outstanding even among second-rank magical beasts spread outward.
After circling the sky a few times, Xiao Lan flew back to Little Fairy Doctor's side, gently nudging her chest with its head to express its delight. Little Fairy Doctor smiled brightly and stroked its head in return.
When Lin Yuan approached, Xiao Lan docilely lowered its head toward him as well, expressing its goodwill. Lin Yuan reached out and patted the feathers on its head, examining his handiwork as he sensed its condition. A trace of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.
"So the method tested on Hong Yu really works. Using the essence blood of a High-Rank magical beast of the same type, combined with a suitable pill, can indeed elevate the bloodline and strength of a low-rank magical beast. Hong Yu probably hasn't completed its evolution because the accumulation still isn't sufficient."
Little Fairy Doctor looked at Lin Yuan with envy. So this was an alchemist… so this was a powerhouse. With a casual move, he had turned Xiao Lan into a second-rank magical beast now comparable to the strongest expert in Qing Shan Town.
Shaking her head, Little Fairy Doctor suppressed her turbulent thoughts and walked to Lin Yuan's side. Looking at him seriously, she expressed her gratitude.
"Thank you, Lin Yuan."
Lin Yuan looked at her and smiled freely.
"There's no need to be so formal. Although we haven't known each other for long, I feel a strange sense of familiarity with you. Perhaps this is the 'fate' you spoke of. Besides, helping Xiao Lan was simply something I did on a whim. You don't need to thank me."
"On a whim?" Little Fairy Doctor gazed at the stars in the night sky, recalling Lin Yuan's earlier words, and asked softly, "Is this what you mean by a strong person's willfulness?"
"Yes, you could understand it that way," Lin Yuan replied, looking up at the same starry sky.
"I see… a strong person's willfulness."
"If you really want to thank me, then give me a strand of your hair as a keepsake, to serve as a token bearing witness to our friendship."
"Is that also a strong person's willfulness?"
"Yes, you could understand it that way."
Beneath the starlit sky, the words of the young man and woman intertwined with the night breeze. Their hearts quietly drew a little closer, yet still maintained a subtle distance.
After a long while, the two exchanged smiles.
Little Fairy Doctor took out a dagger from her storage ring, cut off a strand of her green silk hair, tied it with a white ribbon, and handed it to Lin Yuan. Her gentle voice carried a hint of indescribable meaning.
"Here, this is the witness of friendship you wanted. Be sure to cherish it."
Lin Yuan accepted the strand of hair and looked at Little Fairy Doctor. A trace of curiosity arose in his heart, when Little Fairy Doctor awakened the Woeful Poison Body and her jet-black hair turned snow-white, what expression would she have when she saw this strand of green silk again?
That would truly be something to look forward to.
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