Xiao Yan’s shout, like the roll of thunder, echoed through the mountain range. The black shadow that was about to disappear paused slightly. Xiao Yan watched the figure pause from a distance, confirming his suspicions. He never expected that after so many years, he would still meet her here. But why was she so different now? Had her so-called calamity poison body finally erupted?
His thoughts swirled as Xiao Yan, without hesitation, flared his fiery wings and bolted towards the black shadow. Sensing his movement, the black shadow trembled slightly but did not turn back. A dense gray fog burst out from its body, and with a faint thud, the fog exploded, and the figure vanished eerily into thin air. As the figure vanished, the gray fog dispersed quickly, fading into nothingness.
Xiao Yan streaked across the sky, but by the time he caught up, the black shadow had disappeared completely. His face tensed, his fists clenched, and he muttered, “Why doesn’t this person dare to see me?”
Behind him, Medusa swiftly caught up, her eyes cautiously scanning the horizon. She frowned and asked, “Do you know the person from before?”
“If my guess is right, it should be a friend I knew many years ago. But…,” Xiao Yan chuckled wryly, thinking for a moment before deciding not to mention the matter of Little Healer Immortal’s calamity poison body.
“This person’s poison skills are unpredictable. But in the earlier confrontation, their mental state seemed to fluctuate between clarity and confusion. Perhaps that’s why they didn’t want to see you.” Medusa didn’t pry further and changed the subject thoughtfully.
Xiao Yan, with a frustrated expression, searched the area one more time but found nothing. He sighed and said, “It seems the worst-case scenario she mentioned when we parted has come true today.”
“He has already left. Let’s go back; Zi Yan is still in the valley,” Medusa suggested.
Xiao Yan nodded, turned around, and hesitated for a moment before turning back to the vast forest. In a deep voice, he declared, “Little Healer Immortal, I don’t know what happened to you all these years, but I once said that no matter what you become, I will still consider you a friend. This promise has never wavered!”
Xiao Yan’s voice, amplified by his battle qi, reverberated through the mountains, gradually dissipating after a long while. There was no response. With a bitter laugh, Xiao Yan turned and flew towards the valley with Medusa.
On a peak adorned with peculiar rocks, a black shadow gazed at the retreating figure. Her pale hand gripped a boulder, and as she clenched, a puff of white fog emanated from the stone, accompanied by sizzling sounds. As she watched Xiao Yan return to the valley, the black shadow slowly released the boulder, leaving a deep black handprint on its surface.
Under the dark cloak, a hint of confusion flickered in those cold eyes. Buried memories quietly resurfaced, bringing forth the image of the young man named Xiao Yan. “Xiao Yan…”
From under the cloak, a clear, feminine voice laced with memories spoke, different from the harsh, grating voice heard earlier. It was clear this was a deliberate disguise.
“I never thought I’d see you again… I come here every year for half a month, but since you’ve appeared, I won’t come anymore…”
The pale hand slowly lifted the hood, revealing cascading snow-white hair and a pale, slightly gaunt face. Her features still had a vague resemblance to her former self, but the warmth and gentle smile were gone. Her eyes, tinged with gray and purple, exuded a demonic and cold indifference. Yet, on this face, often seen as the face of a reaper, a hint of bittersweet nostalgia lingered.
“Don’t blame me for not seeing you. I just wanted you to remember the kind Little Healer Immortal forever, not the blood-stained… poison maiden I am now.”
“Little did I expect that what I said then has come true. I hope we never meet again. My fate is to live and die in calamity…”
With a distant look at the small valley, recollections filled her mind, and a warm, gentle smile slowly spread across her face. In that smile, one could still see the celestial maiden admired by countless mercenaries in the Green Mountain Town.
The smile faded like a fleeting flower, and she closed her eyes. When they opened again, the cold detachment returned. She gave the valley one last look, then put on her cloak, and her form dissolved into a cloud of gray mist, vanishing silently.
In the valley, when Xiao Yan and Medusa returned, they found Zi Yan with a slightly purplish-red face. Both were alarmed at the potency of the poison. Despite only inhaling a little, Zi Yan showed symptoms. Poison experts were indeed both feared and detested.
Though Zi Yan’s face was purplish-red, her consciousness seemed clear. Seeing them return, she hurriedly greeted them, though her breathing was noticeably heavier.
Xiao Yan grabbed Zi Yan’s arm and sent a thread of battle qi into her body, finding no trace of poison. His face darkened, realizing his antidote pill was ineffective.
“How is it?” Medusa asked anxiously.
“There’s no sign of poison, which means it’s hidden deeply. I’m not sure about the toxicity yet,” Xiao Yan replied, shaking his head.
“That person’s poison even makes me wary. What do we do now?” Medusa asked, worried.
Xiao Yan hesitated, then pulled out the jade vial thrown by Little Healer Immortal. Medusa frowned and said, “You want to use something given by such a mysterious person? What if it’s not an antidote and harms Zi Yan? Who will take responsibility?”
Seeing her protective stance, Xiao Yan shook his head. “I don’t know what happened to her, but I trust she wouldn’t deceive me. Besides, do you have any other suggestions? We can’t delay treating the poison.”
Medusa hesitated but ultimately agreed. “If the antidote is a problem, I’ll make whoever it is pay, regardless of who they are.”
Xiao Yan nodded, gave Zi Yan the red pill, and she obediently swallowed it, grimacing at its taste. The pill, though unpleasant, worked immediately. Zi Yan’s face returned to normal in moments, to the relief of Xiao Yan and Medusa.
Xiao Yan sighed, pondering the years of trials Little Healer Immortal must have endured, becoming a formidable poison master, her gaze now cold and unfeeling. He walked to the small hut, where she once secretly took poison. Recalling her past kindness, Xiao Yan felt a pang in his heart.
Shaking off his thoughts, Xiao Yan resolved to focus on advancing his strength to the Battle Emperor level. Deep down, he felt he might encounter Little Healer Immortal again someday, wondering what that meeting would be like.
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