Leaping down from the cave to the bottom of the valley, Xiao Yan scanned the area. The small thatched hut was still brightly lit. Outside the hut, a graceful figure in a plain white dress sat on a small chair, leaning against the door, engrossed in a colorful scroll by the light of the fire.
Hearing footsteps nearby, Little Healer Immortal slightly furrowed her delicate brows, looked up from the scroll, and smiled at the young man approaching under the moonlight. “Finished your cultivation? There’s still some warm food inside.”
These soft words tugged at Xiao Yan’s heart. It was like a little wife waiting for her husband’s return, full of care and anticipation. His expression softened as he walked over and plopped down beside Little Healer Immortal. He glanced at the Seven-Colored Poison Manual in her hands, then at her beautiful face. After a moment, his brows furrowed, and he sighed lightly, reaching out to wipe a speck of nearly invisible black powder from her rosy lips. He shook his head ruefully.
Seeing this, Little Healer Immortal’s cheeks flushed. She noticed the black powder on his finger and shyly looked away. Moments later, she took out a white silk handkerchief from her pocket and carefully wiped his finger clean.
“… I might have to leave tomorrow,” Xiao Yan suddenly said, watching her wipe the poison.
Her delicate hands paused for a moment, then resumed their motion. Little Healer Immortal nodded slightly and whispered, “Having stayed here for so long, it is indeed time to go.”
“Where do you plan to go after leaving here?” Xiao Yan broke the silence with a smile.
“I think, after leaving the Jia Ma Empire, I might go to the Chu Yun Empire and then travel around the continent,” Little Healer Immortal forced a smile.
“Chu Yun Empire…” Xiao Yan murmured, smiling bitterly. Though he had never been there, he knew the empire was known for its abundance of poison masters, more than any other empire.
“I will go to the Tager Great Desert to continue my cultivation. It’s in the eastern border of the Jia Ma Empire, while the Chu Yun Empire is to the west. So, if we leave tomorrow, we’ll part ways,” Xiao Yan rubbed his forehead and looked up at the stars.
“Alright,” Little Healer Immortal nodded, her spirits a bit low. “Take care. I don’t know when we’ll meet again. Maybe I won’t come back. But if I reach a point where everyone despises me, I’ll return to this small valley and wait for the fate of the Calamity Poison Body to end.”
Looking at her sad, smooth profile, Xiao Yan opened his mouth to say something but couldn’t find the words. After all, according to Pharmacist Elder, the woman who had the Calamity Poison Body had caused terrifying disasters.
After a long silence, Xiao Yan gently patted her shoulder, trying to comfort her. “It won’t happen. Although the Calamity Poison Body can be frightening when it matures, as long as you stay in control and don’t use poison to kill tens of thousands in a fit of rage, no one will dare provoke you.”
Little Healer Immortal shook her head, remaining silent. She didn’t tell him that once the Calamity Poison Body matured, the toxins could cause occasional mental confusion, and she couldn’t guarantee what she might do in that state.
Shaking her head, Little Healer Immortal pondered for a moment before rising and going into the thatched hut. She returned with a carefully wrapped sachet and a small jade bottle.
“This is called ‘Soul Scattering Powder.’ Despite its scary name, it’s not pure poison. I found it in the Seven-Colored Poison Manual. It’s the most advanced medicinal powder I can make. It releases a very strong smell, and I added some special ingredients. If you ever encounter a strong opponent, throw it at them. Even a great warrior would be temporarily blinded by the smell, giving you a chance to escape.”
Curious, Xiao Yan took the sachet but was stopped by Little Healer Immortal when he tried to open it. She handed him the jade bottle, chiding, “This poison doesn’t distinguish between friend and foe. When using it, take the antidote I made, or you’ll also be blinded.”
Xiao Yan awkwardly put both items away, realizing they might come in handy someday.
After giving these to Xiao Yan, Little Healer Immortal fished out another jade bottle from her pocket and tossed it to him. “The Tager Great Desert is the territory of the Medusa snake people. They are best at using snake venom. This is an antidote I made. Though it won’t completely neutralize snake venom, it should work for less powerful snakes.”
Smiling, Xiao Yan caressed the warm bottle. Though the antidote wasn’t very useful to him, her thoughtfulness touched him deeply.
“Alright, that’s all I have. No more squeezing me,” Little Healer Immortal said playfully, spreading her hands.
Xiao Yan chuckled, fiddled with his ring, and produced another small jade bottle containing seven Replenishment Pills left over from his cultivation.
Raising the bottle, Xiao Yan showed it to Little Healer Immortal. “I bet you haven’t seen real pills in the Qing Shan Town, have you?”
Little Healer Immortal’s eyes lit up. Staring at the bottle, she exclaimed, “Is this a pill?”
“Yes, here, it’s for you.” Smiling, Xiao Yan tossed the bottle to her, and she caught it carefully.
“Be careful, what if it breaks?” Little Healer Immortal scolded, then quickly opened the bottle and tipped out a slightly green, round pill. Sniffing it, she was captivated by the fresh medicinal aroma, a scent she had longed for but only smelled in poisons.
“So, this is a pill? It’s not like the crude ones I make with ordinary flames,” Little Healer Immortal sighed, admiring the pill’s smooth, glossy surface.
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself. This is a Replenishment Pill. It quickly restores the energy used in combat, saving you a lot of effort,” Xiao Yan said, shaking his head.
“No wonder you could hold out so long against Mu She last time. You had this treasure,” Little Healer Immortal said, tucking the bottle away with a smile.
Xiao Yan laughed, leaned against the door, and gazed at the stars. Little Healer Immortal also fell silent, wrapping her arms around her legs, her bright eyes blinking in sync with the stars above.
In the enchanting moonlit valley, a man and a woman gazed at the night sky in silence until the moon dimmed and sleep overcame them. They nestled against each other, leaning on the door, and drifted off to sleep.
When Xiao Yan woke up the next day, he found himself on the bed. Shaking off sleep, he got up and went outside, where he saw the blue eagle circling in the sky, its loud cries echoing as if it knew they were leaving.
“Are you awake?” A clear voice came from the left. Xiao Yan turned to see Little Healer Immortal, her basket filled with herbs. He shook his head, smiling, and retrieved a storage ring, placing it on her hand. “A parting gift. It’ll make storing herbs easier.”
Little Healer Immortal smiled, putting the herbs into the ring. She then packed the Seven-Colored Poison Manual and other items, looking up at Xiao Yan softly. “Shouldn’t you prepare some herbs? It’s hard to find such a good place outside.”
“Already done,” Xiao Yan grinned, raising his ring proudly.
Little Healer Immortal looked at his bright smile, put a bamboo whistle to her lips, and blew, sending a faint sound wave through the air. The blue eagle, hearing the sound, swooped down, its wings creating a breeze that flattened the plants around them.
“Let’s go, our last ride together,” Little Healer Immortal said, stepping forward and pressing her soft body against Xiao Yan’s.
Smiling, Xiao Yan put his arm around her waist and pushed off the ground, landing smoothly on the eagle’s back.
Standing on the eagle, Xiao Yan looked back at the small thatched hut in the valley, sighing softly. “Farewell!”
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