"Who exactly are you?" Hearing the soft, delicate tone of the young girl, the cloaked man sighed and shrugged, then after a brief silence, his weathered voice slowly emerged, "I think you must have seen me before at the Xiao family, haven't you?" Gently swaying her slender, snow-white leg, Xun'er's eyes sparkled as she casually asked, "What brings you to the Jiale family?" "I've been entrusted with a few matters to attend to," he replied. "By whom?" With a slight arch of her brows, Xun'er pressed on. "Hmm, that one I can't quite reveal just yet," the herbalist waved his hands with a smile. "I'd like to know, though," she added, a gentle smile playing on her refined features. Stepping forward, her body suddenly lifted and hovered mid-air, golden flames spiraling and forming sharp points rapidly coalescing on her delicate hands. "Heh, young lady, I know you're strong now, but I'd say you're still a bit short of what it takes to hold me off," the herbalist chuckled. Xun lightly furrowed her brows, yet said nothing, raising her slender hand—golden flame spines spiraling at high speed continued to emerge at her fingertips. Watching Xun's persistent demeanor, the two figures in black robes immediately felt a headache, sighed, and the elderly physician lamented, "I really don't want to fight you. If I even slightly injure her, that person will be deeply pained." "Alright, alright, I'm starting to see it now. Tonight, some rather clumsy fellow has been bothering a girl who's extremely important to someone—someone who just happens to know me well. So, I've been called in to serve as a mere laborer. Honestly, how hard is it for an old man to run around all night long just to show up?" Gently blinking her long lashes, a soft blush slowly rose on her gradually thawing delicate face. Xun flicked her hand, and the spiraling flame spines gradually faded away. She glanced at the man in black robes, smiling warmly, "Indeed, you must be closely related to Xiao Yan brother." "Hmph—this title of yours has truly changed so quickly." "Master Pharmacist smiled and said, 'You must have already guessed that I have some connection with Xiao Yan, haven't you?' 'Previously, I only speculated, but wasn't quite certain,' Xun'er shook her head with a smile, bowing gracefully in the air before him, and said softly, 'Though I don't know your background, I'm sure that a year ago, Xiao Yan's transformation from his previous state of decline must have been influenced by you in some way.' Master Pharmacist offered a calm, understated smile, neither confirming nor denying. Fixing her beautiful eyes on the black-robed man, Xun'er smiled sweetly and said, 'Regardless of your intentions in meeting Xiao Yan, I kindly ask that you not conceal any other feelings or intentions toward him. Otherwise, I shall hold deep resentment toward anyone who threatens him. Perhaps you are strong, but believe me—my words carry weight.' 'Hmm, quite a determined young lady,' Master Pharmacist murmured, momentarily surprised by the subtle yet firm tone of Xun'er's words, then chuckled. "I just don't want Brother Xiao Yan to be deceived or injured." With a gentle smile, Xun'er bowed once more to the medicine elder, and with a composed tone said, "It's getting late now. I must be going. As for what the elder has seen today, please don't mention it to Brother Xiao Yan." "Rest assured, I won't say a single word." The medicine elder nodded, then added playfully in his mind, "Since he's already heard it himself." Seeing the elder agree, Xun'er smiled slightly, just as she turned to leave, a green figure suddenly burst through the air, causing her to slightly pause. She waved her hand, and the figure was instantly drawn into her palm. Holding the small jade bottle in her hand, Xun'er paused, then turned her gaze toward the black-robed figure on the roof. "You've used a secret technique, so you've likely been quite weak these past few days. Keep this bottle of Qi-Reviving Powder. Restore your strength as soon as possible, so you don't look unwell—someone will surely be worried." The medicine elder said calmly. Hearing this, Xun'er's cheeks flushed slightly. She gripped the jade bottle tightly and nodded gratefully toward the black-robed figure. With a light tap of her foot in the air, her figure shot swiftly into the darkness, gradually vanishing. Standing atop the roof, gazing at the retreating silhouette fading into the horizon, the herbal elder suddenly sighed softly and murmured, "Back then, you sneaked into a girl's room, accidentally established a warming meridian that did nothing at all—yet by sheer chance, you managed to bring her very heart back. Indeed, you're a truly fortunate one—so fortunate that it's almost envy-worthy." Beneath the black robe, Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. He knew well that without that childhood incident, he likely wouldn't have seen such a difference in Xun'er's attitude toward him compared to her treatment of Xiao Ning and the others. Of course, these assumptions fall flat in the face of reality—haha, who could have thought that he would quietly slip in during the most vulnerable moments of the girls' hearts, leaving an unintentional mark upon her soul. With a slightly smug smile, Xiao Yan casually held his head with both hands, then allowed the old doctor to guide his body as he swiftly shot toward the Xiao family's estate. Upon arriving at the Xiao family's compound, to avoid detection by Xun'er, Xiao Yan carefully wound his way past her residence, landing just outside his own room before swiftly darting inside and gently closing the door and windows. Once inside, he quickly removed his large black cloak and stored it in his storage amulet, then exhaled deeply, sinking softly onto the bed with a lazy, gentle murmur: "Ah, what a wonderful night." ... The following morning, dawn, at the Jialei family. The look on Jialebi's face was dark, almost terrifying, with a cold, piercing aura radiating from within his body, sending the beautiful maid kneeling on the ground shivering. As his eyes swept slowly over the room where the Li Xi family resided, Jialebi said in a cold tone, "You say Li Xi has gone missing?" "Yes, Lord Jialebi. Last night, for no apparent reason, I suddenly lost consciousness and only regained awareness when dawn broke. But as soon as I woke up, I found Li Xi gone. I asked the guards on duty outside, but none of them had seen Li Xi." The maid spoke in a trembling voice. "Since Li Xi entered the house last night, I've noticed he hasn't come out. Moreover, the Jiale family has only two main gates, each guarded by a strong cultivator of Duke-level strength. With his abilities, it's absolutely impossible for him to have slipped out of the family unnoticed!" Jialebi said, his voice cold. "I don't know either," the maid replied, her face pale, fearing that Jialebi might blame her for the incident. The corners of her eyes fluttered anxiously, her heart nearly tangled in a knot of confusion. Galibis took a deep breath, ignoring the trembling maid, and slowly moved through the corners of the room. Seeing Galibis' actions, the maid dared not speak, remaining motionless on her knees. Step by step, she walked through the quiet room. As she reached a corner, Galibis stopped abruptly, her pupils narrowing as she fixed her gaze on a small cluster of white powder at the wall's corner. With her heart pounding, she knelt down, picked up a bit of powder with her fingers, and lightly inhaled it. Instantly, the cold expression on her face transformed into one of shock. Taking a deep breath, Galibis suddenly realized her heels were growing weak, a coldness spreading from her core, rising uncontrollably. "Li Xie... killed right under my eyes?"