He gathered up all the belongings, then stepped out of the cave. It was midday outside, the intense sunlight pouring down, warming the cave walls to a steaming heat. As he stepped down from the cave entrance and took a few paces, he just happened to meet a young physician carrying a flower basket, returning from her herb-gathering duties. A light green cloth band was tied around her head, giving her the appearance of a graceful village maiden. Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile quietly, shaking his head and greeting her warmly. Seeing him, the young physician returned a sweet smile, her gaze briefly sweeping over the cave entrance. Yet wisely, she didn't ask any questions—after all, everyone has their own secrets, even she herself. So, she simply let it go, as if nothing had happened. Though she didn't say a word, Xiao Yan found himself deeply pleased with her quiet demeanor. "Hungry?" she asked, "I'll prepare lunch for you." With Xiao Yan slowly walking to the outside of the thatched cottage, Xiao Yixian turned her head, gave Xiao Yan a charming smile, then knelt down, raised her sleeves, and lit a fire beneath the stone stove, neatly arranging all the ingredients for cooking. Sitting on the stone beside her, Xiao Yan watched Xiao Yixian, who, even while busy, softly hummed a tune, her delicate nose slightly twitching. He couldn't help but smile gently—indeed, she was a woman of remarkable culinary talent. Of course, Xiao Yan didn't forget that, when she entered the kitchen, the pure and graceful woman had hands as white and smooth as jade, which, when used to administer poisons, were equally graceful and mysterious. As a poison specialist, her reputation on the Continent of Qi was not particularly favorable—many people harbored fear when dealing with her, due to her subtle and often imperceptible methods of poisoning, which could leave even one's opponents or friends feeling uneasy, unable to sleep or eat. Similarly, if it weren't for Xiao Yan having Yao Lao, a master-level alchemist, serving as both assistant and bodyguard, he would never have dared to eat any of the food or items prepared by Xiao Yi Xian. After all, when one is away from home, caution is paramount—no matter what, life itself remains a single, precious thread. And perhaps precisely because Xiao Yan has accepted every dish and offering that Xiao Yi Xian has prepared without hesitation, Xiao Yi Xian's attitude toward Xiao Yan has grown increasingly kind and gentle over the course of fifteen days. Of course, this gentleness is entirely free of any romantic sentiment—Xiao Yan himself is fully aware that Xiao Yi Xian sees him merely as a close male friend. In this sensitive woman's heart, she doesn't actually need much—just a little trust is enough to make her smile beautifully. Unfortunately, her profession inevitably means she will rarely receive such things. Regarding this, Xiao Yan felt a slight sense of humility; without the help of Yao Lao, he truly wouldn't have been able to secure the friendship of Xiao Yi. Sitting on the stone, Xiao Yan watched the graceful figure busily preparing lunch for the two of them, and gently exhaled. After a while, he suddenly asked, "When do you plan to leave here?" "Hmm?" Hearing Xiao Yan's question, Xiao Yi turned around, brushed back her hair with her jade hands, and stared at him with a puzzled expression, softly asking, "What's wrong?" "Please don't misunderstand—this is your home ground. I certainly wouldn't dare to send you away." Shaking his hand, Xiao Yan first teased a bit, then said, "Due to some circumstances, I might stay here an additional ten to fifteen days, perhaps even a month. If you have any urgent matters, you could... " "Never mind, however long you'd like to stay—I actually don't have anything urgent. I simply wanted some time to explore the Continent of Qi. But that's not urgent either; my schedule isn't particularly tight." With a sense of relief, Xiao Yin turned around and smiled casually. "Exploring the Continent? That sounds like a wonderful idea." Xiao Yan nodded thoughtfully, feeling a sense of resonance—exploring and seeking treasures was also one of his own dreams. "Would you be interested too? Then perhaps we could go together." Adding some wood to the fire, Xiao Yin smiled warmly. "Hmm, I still have a few things I need to attend to, so I won't have the time or leisure in the near term." Xiao Yan shook his head and smiled. "That truly is a pity—such a rare friend, someone so well-matched to you." With a slightly惋惜 shake of her head, the young physician sighed, her expression weary. "Traveling abroad... you'd have to approach it as a friend, gently concealing your identity as a toxin specialist. Otherwise, your journey would be quite solitary." After a brief pause, Xiao Yan suddenly spoke with earnestness. The young physician's body slightly stiffened. She tossed a few non-toxic mushrooms from the basket into a small pot, then stared intently at the bubbling contents, taking a deep breath. She was well aware of how her profession might provoke aversion in many people. "Hm... actually, you still aren't quite a toxin specialist yet, are you? Heh, you could certainly travel under the title of a physician—after all, doctors are generally more respected." Observing the young physician's quiet demeanor, Xiao Yan couldn't help but offer a dry smile. "I'll eventually become a toxin specialist, and perhaps even the most disliked one of all." With a soft sigh, the young physician murmured. "...Whether or not you become a poison master really comes down to yourself. And at least, no one will force you, right?" said Xiao Yan, somewhat puzzled. "Ah, you won't understand...," murmured Xiao Yisheng, lowering her dark hair to cover her delicate face. "If we meet again, I just hope you'll still consider me a friend." Xiao Yan, confused by her oddly worded remarks, gave an absent-minded twist of her head. "Ah, well..." said Xiao Yisheng, shaking her head lightly. She gazed at the bubbling pot, then smiled suddenly, reaching out with her delicate hands to take a small bowl from beside it. She filled it with mushroom soup and carefully presented it to Xiao Yan. Receiving it, Xiao Yan inhaled the fragrant aroma, and immediately felt his saliva flowing freely. He swallowed a gulp of water, raised his thumb in appreciation toward Xiao Yisheng, and then, without hesitating, drank the hot soup straight through. Watching Xiao Yan take a bowl of mushroom soup, drink it without hesitation, and gulp it down in one go, Xiao Yishen's delicate features bloomed with a warm smile—she truly appreciated his trust in her. Sitting on the stone, Xiao Yan sipped several bowls of the soup before finally handing the bowl back to Xiao Yishen, patting his slightly rounded stomach and smiling warmly. "Excellent work," he said. "Whoever marries you will truly be blessed!" "Marries me?" Xiao Yishen couldn't help but chuckle,掩着嘴笑道, "You should know that poison specialists are the least sought-after profession in marriage on the Qi Continent. Few people have the courage to share a bed with a wife who can release a lethal toxin with just a simple gesture." Shaking her head with a sigh, Xiao Yan found it hard to believe that Xiao Yishen was so pessimistic. Though poison specialists did carry a certain level of apprehension, he firmly believed her current strength had yet to reach that point. Master-level poison masters—those whose very name sends people into a state of dread, trembling so much they'd rather flee a distance of ten thousand or eight thousand li—are not something anyone can simply achieve. "Remember, now, should we meet again on the Qi Continent, you mustn't dislike me—otherwise, I'll be truly saddened," said Xiao Yixian, as she tidied up the bowl and pot. As she was about to enter the small thatched cottage, she paused, turned around, and smiled gently at Xiao Xiang. Then she stepped inside, leaving Xiao Xiang alone, bewildered, sitting on the stone. He stared at the cottage for a long while, shaking his head with a sigh. Even if she eventually became a master poison master, what then? Would he simply dislike her just because of that title? After sitting on the stone and brooding for a while, Xiao Yan lazily stood up and walked beneath a cliff face, gazing upward at the blazing sun in the sky. He gently moved his ankles, then suddenly planted his feet firmly onto the ground. With a crisp burst of energy, Xiao Yan shot upward like a projectile, soaring straight toward the cliff's edge. As his strength began to wane, he once again forcefully pressed his feet against the cliff wall, and with a thunderous roar, his body continued to surge upward along the rock face. After the fifth such explosion, Xiao Yan rose into the air, landing steadily on the summit of a mountain peak above the valley. At this point, the small thatched cottage nestled in the valley below had shrunk to less than half the size of a clenched fist. Since it was midday, the sun poured down its intense heat without restraint, and the exposed rocks, bathed in this relentless glare, were so hot that one could hardly touch them. Xiao Yan's landing spot happened to be a projecting stone platform, where he could perfectly enjoy the most intense solar rays. Wiping sweat from his forehead, Xiao Yan shook his head with a wry smile, silently sighing at the hardships of cultivation. He then sat down on the scorching stone surface, immediately finding the intense heat seeping through his buttocks, making him grit his teeth in discomfort. Sitting up straight, Xiao Yan no longer paid attention to the sweat continuously rolling down his face. He formed the cultivation hand seals and gradually stabilized his mind. As soon as he settled into his cultivation posture, he noticed that the fire-energy in the surrounding space began rushing toward his body. With practiced ease, he guided this incoming energy through his meridians, refining it and channeling it into the spiraling qi. After completing one full rotation within the spiraling qi, the energy was then immediately infused into the streak of purple flame at the very center of the qi spiral. Upon receiving this stream of fiery qi infused with the scent of summer sun, the purple flames instantly surged and swayed. After fully absorbing it, the fine purple flames seemed to grow slightly larger. Under the attentive gaze of his mind, the subtle growth of the flames was carefully observed by Xiao Yan. Seeing such a promising progress in his cultivation, he felt a sense of delight. After another while of absorbing external energy, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes and then retrieved a small jade vial from his storage ring, containing the Purple Crystal Essence. With gentle care, he dipped his fingers into the essence, placed a small amount into his mouth, swiftly stirred it with his tongue, and then swallowed it down with a steady stream of saliva. As soon as the Purple Crystal Essence entered his stomach, Xiao Yan's face instantly flushed deeply, his normally healthy skin beginning to glow with a faint red hue. Noticing the changes within his body, Xiao Yan quickly focused his mind once again and immediately began circulating his internal qi to dissipate the intense, powerful, and overwhelming heat. On the rocky slopes, beneath the scorching sun, the young man perspired profusely, gritting his teeth to endure the internal blaze—much like the silkworm enduring the painful struggle before its transformation into a butterfly. After the pain comes the near-rebirth of metamorphosis! Yet, this transformation is forged through the careful cultivation of suffering.