After stabilizing his cultivation at 1-Star Dou Spirit, Xiao Feng slowly exhaled a long breath.
Feeling the steady and powerful Dou Qi flowing within his body, he clenched his fist slightly and smiled.
"Finally stabilized… this strength is much more reliable."
He stood up, stretched lazily, and glanced toward the thatched hut.
"It's about time… she should be preparing something again."
Walking back to the hut as usual, Xiao Feng pushed open the door lightly.
Inside, Xiao Yi Xian was busy near the small wooden table, arranging dishes. A faint medicinal fragrance mixed with the aroma of food filled the air.
"You're back?" she said without turning her head.
Xiao Feng leaned against the door frame and smirked. "Smells good… seems like I came at the right time."
"Hmph, you always do," Xiao Yi Xian replied softly.
He walked over and sat down casually.
"So? Did I miss anything these past few days?"
Xiao Yi Xian placed a bowl in front of him. "Nothing much. Just stayed here… waiting for someone who locked himself up for a week."
Xiao Feng chuckled. "Sounds like someone was worried."
"I wasn't!" she immediately denied, then lowered her voice, "I just didn't want trouble if something happened to you…"
Xiao Feng picked up his chopsticks. "Alright, alright. I'll take that as concern."
"Eat before it gets cold," she said, avoiding his gaze.
Taking a bite, Xiao Feng raised his eyebrow slightly.
"Not bad."
"Only 'not bad'?" Xiao Yi Xian frowned slightly.
Xiao Feng nodded seriously. "Yeah… barely meets my standard."
"You—!" She glared at him, but seeing the faint smile on his face, she couldn't help but sigh.
"…Then don't eat."
"Too late," Xiao Feng said calmly as he continued eating. "I already started."
Watching him, Xiao Yi Xian's expression softened slightly.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Feng suddenly spoke again.
"By the way… after this, I might stay here for a while longer."
Xiao Yi Xian paused. "Still not leaving?"
"I just broke through. I need to consolidate… and maybe look into something else."
"Something else?" she asked curiously.
Xiao Feng smiled faintly but didn't answer directly.
"Nothing urgent."
Then he looked at her and added lightly,
"But for now… your cooking is reason enough to stay."
Xiao Yi Xian was slightly stunned, then quickly turned her head away.
"…Just eat your food."
After speaking, Xiao Yi Xian specifically added a sentence.
"Don't misunderstand."
After Xiao Yi Xian added that sentence, Xiao Feng's gaze became even stranger.
Seeing Xiao Feng's eyes, Xiao Yi Xian took out her medicinal herbs, lowered her head, and stopped speaking.
Xiao Feng also stopped looking at Xiao Yi Xian.
He took the few stalks of medicinal herbs and examined them.
In fact, when he was in the stone chamber earlier, he had already looked at the types of these medicinal herbs.
Therefore, he basically understood these medicinal herbs.
However, if he didn't take them now, he was afraid Xiao Yi Xian would become extremely embarrassed right there in the thatched hut.
Xiao Yi Xian didn't know what to do standing there, so she simply took out the Seven-Colored Poison Manual and started reading.
When she first started reading, she was still a little absent-minded.
However, after seeing the introduction regarding the Calamity Poison Body, her face immediately turned deathly pale.
This description... wasn't it talking about herself?
Looking at the introduction of the Calamity Poison Body, Xiao Yi Xian couldn't help but freeze in place.
She felt fear when she saw the descriptions in the book.
Especially the consequences that the outbreak of the Calamity Poison Body would bring.
Furthermore, she also discovered that the Calamity Poison Body was not something she could simply choose not to activate.
If, one day, she unfortunately came into contact with poison, her Calamity Poison Body would be activated.
Even accidentally touching it would cause it to activate.
One must know that there are many poisons in this world.
However, setting aside the dosage, some poisons might only cause ordinary people to have diarrhea or feel slightly itchy.
Moreover, a physician like Xiao Yi Xian was the most likely to come into contact with poisons.
Not only the ones she formulated herself, but also the Mercenaries who needed treatment might have poisons on them.
Once activated, the allure of poison would grow stronger and stronger for the Calamity Poison Body.
The more potent the poison, the greater the temptation.
Almost no Calamity Poison Body could resist the temptation.
Once the Calamity Poison Body was activated, the need for poison would also increase exponentially.
Ultimately, she would also perish due to the outbreak of the Calamity Poison Body.
Thinking of the scene where no living thing would survive after the Calamity Poison Body erupted, Xiao Yi Xian's face became even paler.
Her tears couldn't help but stream down at this moment.
After Xiao Feng finished examining the condition of the medicinal herbs, he was just about to speak.
The moment he raised his head, he saw Xiao Yi Xian silently crying while looking at herself.
Seeing her pitiful appearance, Xiao Feng couldn't help but be stunned.
Immediately afterward, he saw the colorful scroll in Xiao Yi Xian's hand.
In just an instant, he understood what had happened.
Xiao Yi Xian was originally a kind-hearted girl.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be working as a physician saving people in Qingshan Town.
But now, she realized that she was a ticking time bomb, capable of killing the people around her at any moment.
How could this kind girl endure this?
One must know that even when she created poisons for self-defense.
The poisons Xiao Yi Xian carried were basically those that caused unconsciousness, not those that were lethal.
"What's wrong?"
Xiao Feng was about to step forward and wipe away Xiao Yi Xian's tears.
But Xiao Yi Xian suddenly stepped back a few paces.
"Don't come closer!"
Xiao Feng looked at her gently.
"Tell me what happened."
"Is it because of Mu Li?"
"You don't need to fear the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Even Mu Li's father, I am not afraid of him."
He also couldn't say it directly.
After all, before the Calamity Poison Body erupted, only the colorful lines on Xiao Yi Xian's abdomen could prove that she possessed the Calamity Poison Body.
And he hadn't seen them.
Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian didn't speak; she just handed the colorful scroll in her hand to Xiao Feng.
Xiao Feng casually glanced at the contents of the Seven-Colored Poison Manual.
He already knew about the matters regarding the Calamity Poison Body mentioned inside.
"What's wrong?"
He finished reading the content and asked feignedly.
Xiao Yi Xian didn't speak, but just slightly lifted her clothes while crying.
He saw that on her lower abdomen, there was faintly a seven-colored line.
"This..."
Knowing that Xiao Feng had seen clearly, Xiao Yi Xian put down her clothes.
"For someone like me, you should stay far away."
"After all, I will only bring misfortune to the people around me."
Xiao Feng didn't speak, but quietly stepped forward and hugged Xiao Yi Xian.
Xiao Yi Xian wanted to pull away, but how could she escape Xiao Feng?
"Aren't you afraid of me?"
"If I accidentally activate the Calamity Poison Body, you might even be poisoned just by touching me later."
Xiao Feng gently patted Xiao Yi Xian's back and said.
"The Calamity Poison Body is not truly unsolvable."
"We can definitely find a solution."
"Don't worry, nothing will happen to you."
Xiao Yi Xian's eyes were red, and she looked up at Xiao Feng and asked.
"Aren't you afraid of me?"
Hearing this, Xiao Feng smiled.
"Why should I be afraid of you?"
"Even if the Calamity Poison Body is activated, the toxins can still be controlled."
"What? Are you going to poison me?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yi Xian immediately shook her head.
"No, I won't!"
"So, why should I be afraid of you?"
Hearing Xiao Feng's words, Xiao Yi Xian instantly froze.
"Then will you still dare to eat the things I cook in the future?"
When the two of them lived together in the valley, because Xiao Feng was busy refining medicine, the food was often prepared by Xiao Yi Xian.
"That depends on whether what you cook is delicious."
"I will only eat it if it's delicious."
Just as Xiao Feng finished speaking…
Xiao Yi Xian, however, hit Xiao Feng at this moment, breaking into a smile through her tears.
"You have to eat it even if it's not delicious!"
"Otherwise, I'll poison you!"
As she spoke, she deliberately made a fierce expression.
However, her face was truly unconvincing; this expression was not only not fierce but also somewhat cute.
Next, a hint of worry reappeared on Xiao Yi Xian's face.
"But the Calamity Poison Body can be activated accidentally. What should I do?"
Xiao Feng thought for a moment and said,
"I think you should cultivate first."
"The higher your cultivation level, the less effective those poisons will be against you."
"Moreover, if your cultivation is high, even if the Calamity Poison Body is accidentally activated, you can suppress it better."
Xiao Feng paused for a moment, then continued more seriously,
"As for a solution… it's not like there's no way at all."
Xiao Yi Xian immediately looked up at him, her eyes filled with hope.
"There are two methods I know."
"One is to refine a special medicinal pill that can completely control—or even neutralize—the Calamity Poison Body."
"But the requirements for that pill are extremely harsh. Not only are the ingredients rare, but the refinement process is also very difficult."
He slightly narrowed his eyes before continuing,
"The second method… is to use a Heavenly Flame."
"A powerful strange fire can suppress the poison within your body, and even refine it for your own use."
Xiao Feng paused slightly, then added,
"There is even a type of flame especially suitable for your physique… the Ghostly Poison Flame."
Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian was stunned.
"A pill… and a strange fire…" she murmured softly.
Xiao Feng nodded and continued,
"The Ghostly Poison Flame is extremely compatible with poison-based physiques. If you can obtain it, not only can it suppress the Calamity Poison Body, but it may even allow you to completely control it and turn poison into your own strength."
"However…" he shook his head slightly,
"This kind of flame is extremely rare. It is even harder to find than most Heavenly Flames, and its whereabouts are almost unknown."
"So, although it's the best option for you… it's also the most difficult to obtain."
Xiao Yi Xian lowered her gaze, softly repeating,
"Ghostly Poison Flame…"
"A pill… and a strange fire…" she murmured softly.
Xiao Feng nodded.
"Both are difficult, but not impossible."
He looked at her calmly.
"So, before the outbreak, we just need to find one of these solutions."
"Then, before the outbreak, just find a solution for the Calamity Poison Body."
Xiao Yi Xian still looked worried.
After all, a solution for the Calamity Poison Body was not easy to find.
She took the Seven-Colored Poison Manual from Xiao Feng's hand, wanting to see if there were any other solutions for the Calamity Poison Body mentioned later in the book.
They continued living like this for a month.
During these days, the quiet valley became their small world.
Xiao Feng would cultivate during the day, occasionally refining medicine or studying the map and the strange flame clues. Whenever he had time, he would help Xiao Yi Xian gather medicinal herbs, sometimes even guiding her in cultivation.
"Your control over poison is too loose," Xiao Feng said one afternoon, watching her carefully mix herbs.
Xiao Yi Xian pouted slightly. "I'm not as talented as you."
Xiao Feng shook his head. "It's not about talent. Focus more… feel the flow, not just the result."
Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian nodded seriously.
"Alright… I'll try again."
At night, the two would sit outside the thatched hut.
The valley was quiet, with only the sound of wind and distant magical beasts.
"Do you ever plan to leave here?" Xiao Yi Xian suddenly asked softly one night.
Xiao Feng looked up at the misty sky.
"Yeah. I have things I need to do."
Xiao Yi Xian lowered her head slightly. "I see…"
After a brief silence, Xiao Feng added,
"But not yet."
Those simple words made her pause.
Over time, Xiao Yi Xian began to notice more and more.
No matter how busy Xiao Feng was, he would always come back on time to eat.
Even when cultivating, he would occasionally check on her condition.
He never avoided her because of the Calamity Poison Body… not even once.
When she lost control slightly while practicing poison, he didn't step back—he stepped closer.
"Careful," he said calmly, holding her wrist to stabilize her trembling hand.
"You'll hurt yourself first before anything else."
That moment stayed in her heart.
Gradually, something changed.
What began as dependence… quietly turned into something deeper.
Xiao Yi Xian found herself waiting for him without realizing it.
Waiting for his footsteps.Waiting for his voice.Waiting for him to sit across from her and casually comment on her cooking.
One evening, she looked at Xiao Feng from a distance as he cultivated.
The calm expression on his face, the steady aura around him…
A faint smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.
Although she was a few months older than him, they were still considered the same age.
At first, she even thought of herself as the slightly more mature one.
"Hmph, I'm older than you, you should at least show some respect," she once said half-jokingly.
Xiao Feng raised an eyebrow. "Older by a few months?"
"That still counts!" she insisted.
"Then act like it," he replied calmly. "Why do I feel like I'm the one taking care of you?"
"You—!" Xiao Yi Xian puffed her cheeks, unable to refute him.
But as time passed, she slowly realized…
Despite being "older," it was Xiao Feng who always remained calm, steady, and reliable.
While she—would worry, hesitate, and even feel afraid of her own condition.
And each time, it was him who reassured her.
"I really…" she murmured softly one evening, hugging her knees.
"…don't want to leave this place anymore."
Or perhaps—
It wasn't the place she didn't want to leave.
It was him.
From that moment on, Xiao Yi Xian understood something clearly.
Even if the future was dangerous…Even if her Calamity Poison Body could bring disaster…
She still couldn't bring herself to leave Xiao Feng.
Because somewhere along the way—
The small difference in age no longer mattered.
In her heart, she had already come to rely on him…to trust him…
and quietly—
fallen in love with him.