Chapter 58: A Single Hair

In the silent forest, the Medicine Gathering Team moved quietly, every guard's eyes sharply scanning the dark shadows among the trees, hands tightly gripping their waist weapons, ready for any sudden emergency.

Those mercenaries who truly dared join the escort weren't just naive chicks dazzled by Xiao Yixian's beauty—they were veterans who had roamed the Mo Shou Shan Mai for years, and even a glance exchanged between them could convey signals of danger or safety.

Except Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan struggled forward, burdened by the Xuan Heavy Ruler; its unimaginable weight and its special ability to seal Dou Qi made even his Foundation Establishment-level steps slow and heavy, his breathing not frantic but clearly strained.

Wiping sweat from his face, Xiao Yan turned back to look at Xiao Yixian, who directed the team from its center—every move the team made was her decision.

The Medicine Gathering Team didn't need many people; what it needed was knowledge and keen eyesight.

Xiao Yixian, like a delicate beauty, lightly brushed sweat from her forehead, her flushed cheeks and light panting evoking deep pity.

After speaking briefly with Xiao Yixian, a young man in the guard force gave a faint smile and waved his hand, barking: "Wolf Head men, pay attention—we're about to enter the Mo Shou Shan Mai; don't capsize in a ditch!"

"Yes, Young Boss!"

Xiao Yan's eyes flicked to the Wolf Head Class Badges hanging on the guards' chests—the very emblem of the Wolf Head Mercenary Corps, one of Qingshan Town's three major mercenary groups.

From other mercenaries nearby, Xiao Yan learned that Mu Li, the Young Boss of the Wolf Head Mercenary Corps, had long pursued Xiao Yixian, and recently his advances had grown even more aggressive—he always followed wherever she appeared.

"Damn it, he's just relying on his father being the boss of the Wolf Head Mercenary Corps—does he really think that's enough to win Xiao Yixian's heart?"

"Exactly—Xiao Yixian would never look at a common mortal like him."

Hearing the envious mutterings of the mercenaries, Xiao Yan merely glanced indifferently, showing no real interest in the relationship between the young man and Xiao Yixian.

The outer edges of the Mo Shou Shan Mai remained calm, mostly inhabited by First-Rank beasts; aside from occasional herds of First-Rank beasts causing minor trouble, most situations didn't even require Xiao Yan to act.

With a roar, a foolish beast lunged at Xiao Yan; as he sidestepped and leapt back, he spun and kicked hard, sending the Snake-Tailed Leopard flying.

Watching the beast, after its failed attack, cleverly flee, Xiao Yan made no move to pursue—if he'd wanted, that single kick could have used Ba Ji Beng to shatter the beast outright.

"Young brother, impressive—you dodged the attack and kicked the beast away!"

"Wow, so strong at such a young age—what'll you be like later?"

"Haha, this kid's the youngest two-star Dou Zhe in the team, right? Look at his skill—no lie!"

Even Xiao Yixian cast him a curious glance—such a young boy had not only dodged a First-Rank beast's attack but seized the chance to counter. Many two-star Dou Zhe would panic and get wounded.

Seeing Xiao Yixian's curious expression, Mu Li's eyes flickered with a cold glint.

Facing these glances of praise, envy, and curiosity, Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly and nodded—he'd heard too many such compliments; nothing new.

Neither coy nor proud, he simply followed the team, silently heading toward the medicine-gathering site.

"Everyone, we're nearing the medicine zone—take a rest." After walking a stretch, Xiao Yixian's soft, clear voice suddenly rang out in the quiet team.

Hearing Xiao Yixian's words, all the mercenaries halted simultaneously, scattering to watch the surroundings.

Xiao Yan exhaled, sat cross-legged, calmed his mind, and began cultivating the Soul Gathering Scripture for the Spiritual Heart; his vision shifted as his Soul Force became threads, capturing spiritual light points in the air.

"The deeper we go, the more spiritual light points there are—perhaps I can cultivate here in the Mo Shou Shan Mai to raise my Soul Realm."

Xiao Yan noticed that the more beasts there were, the more spiritual light points appeared—likely, the birth of the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame had some connection to these light points.

"Huh? Where is she going?"

After cultivating for a while, Xiao Yan frowned slightly, opened his eyes, and looked toward a cliff face—during cultivation, his Soul Force had caught a shadow descending the cliff.

Xiao Yan gave a wry smile, thinking: "This guy isn't as simple as he looks—this medicine gathering isn't just about gathering medicine, is it?"

Xiao Yan smiled, rose slowly, slipped past everyone's sight, and slipped into the dense forest, heading toward the cliff.

Soon, Xiao Yan reached the cliff, crouched at its edge, and watched the slender figure below with interest, smiling: "Xiao Yixian, what are you doing down there?"

!!!

Xiao Yixian, standing below the cliff, clearly startled, trembled visibly.

Xiao Yixian looked up, her eyes tinged with a hint of resentment, and said: "You're trying to scare me to death—what if I fell?"

She pointed to a pale white flower beside her; within its faintly blooming petals, a crimson fruit shimmered in and out, releasing a faint medicinal fragrance.

"This is White Orchid Fruit—a mid-grade medicinal material, worth four thousand Gold Coins."

Xiao Yan blinked his innocent big eyes, said "Oh," and asked: "Need help?"

Xiao Yixian's Jade Hand gently plucked the White Orchid Fruit and placed it in her medicine pouch; then she raised one delicate hand: "Could you… pull me up?"

Xiao Yan smiled, reached out, grasped her Jade Hand—warmth and softness flowed into his palm; with a gentle tug, a white figure was pulled up the cliff.

"Thank you."

After her feet lightly touched the ground, Xiao Yixian whispered thanks, quickly snatched her hand away, her cheeks flushed with a shy red—obviously embarrassed by the physical contact.

"We should head back—I've been gone too long."

Xiao Yan kept a confident smile, nodded, and as Xiao Yixian took one step forward, he turned his head sideways to look beneath the cliff—the spot she'd just blocked—wanting to see what lay below.

Suddenly, Xiao Yixian's eyes sharpened; she spun around and sprayed a handful of white powder at Xiao Yan.

"You're launching a surprise attack, Xiao Yixian." Facing this sudden ambush, Xiao Yan showed no surprise or panic—only a cold smile.

In Space, a black flame suddenly appeared, like a miniature black hole, sucking every speck of white powder into itself.

!!!! Xiao Yan grabbed Xiao Yixian's wrist, twisted her right arm behind her back, and pinned it down—no mercy shown.

"Ow!"

"Good—that's the point."

Xiao Yan hadn't fallen for her beauty trap; he spoke coldly: "If you don't want to become the One-Armed Nun, tell me exactly what's down that cliff."

Xiao Yixian glared, snarled: "How dare you? If I lose even a single hair, the Wan Yao Zhai and every mercenary will never let you go!"

Xiao Yan burst out laughing, then deliberately plucked one of her hairs, grinning: "I think I really dare."