The clamor of the Xiao family's coming-of-age ceremony had already passed, and it was now the third day.
Xiao Bai woke up from his cultivation, feeling the progress of the refinement within his body, and couldn't help but shake his head.
At this pace, it would take at least a few more months. Xiao Yu's appearance the day before yesterday indicated that the enrollment period for Jia Nan Academy was approaching. He wasn't sure if he could complete the refinement by then.
As his cultivation improved, the energy feedback from the Thunder Seed no longer allowed him to make rapid progress like before, which was why a trip to Jia Nan Academy was necessary.
After all, the dean of Jia Nan Academy, Mang Tian Chi, was from the Lei Clan. The academy would surely have resources useful for thunder cultivators, not to mention other opportunities that would be helpful in the future.
However, if he were to go to Jia Nan Academy, some matters needed to be settled early. Thinking of Xun'er and Xian'er, Xiao Bai felt a headache coming on.
Xun'er's behavior recently felt somewhat enigmatic. Based on her actions over the past few days, Xiao Bai guessed that she likely knew something, but this girl just kept silent, leaving him with the feeling of a sword hanging above his head, not knowing when it would fall.
The immediate problem was: if he went to Jia Nan Academy, Xun'er would undoubtedly go as well. So, what should be done about Xian'er?
"Forget it, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. If worse comes to worst, I'll just take them both with me!" After thinking for a moment, Xiao Bai cheered himself up. If he couldn't handle these two, what would happen when Cai Lin came later? It would be chaos!
Standing up and changing his clothes, he decided today was the day to visit the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Yesterday, Ya Fei had delivered the medicinal herbs—worth about than 200,000 gold coins. She was quite considerate, charging only the cost price. In return, Xiao Bai had paid with a fourth-grade pill.
He had just left the courtyard when he heard a voice.
"Xiao Bai gege!"
Xiao Bai's mouth twitched. He quickly turned around to see Xun'er standing not far away, looking lively and charming. A warm smile appeared on his face. "Xun'er, good morning!"
"It's quite early. I wonder where Xiao Bai gege is going this early in the morning?" Xun'er's eyes flashed with an unreadable emotion as she spoke softly.
"Ahaha... just taking a stroll, just strolling!" Xiao Bai laughed nervously, trying to brush it off.
"Oh? Then Xun'er will go with you!" Xun'er walked over and glanced at him indifferently. "Let's go!"
"..." Xiao Bai immediately understood. This girl was ready to confront him today.
"What's wrong? Is Xiao Bai gege not want Xun'er to come along?" Xun'er lowered her eyelids slightly, her tone calm.
"It seems I can't avoid it today!" Xiao Bai sighed inwardly. Well, if it's going to happen, it's going to happen. This day was bound to come; he just hadn't expected it so suddenly.
"Can we leave Wu Tan City?" Xiao Bai asked softly, unsure of the extent of the Gu Clan's protection over Xun'er and whether leaving the Xiao family would have any repercussions.
"I can," Xun'er replied coolly, as if understanding his unspoken question.
"Then let's go." Seeing her expressionless, stern face, Xiao Bai tentatively reached for her hand. When Xun'er merely glanced at him without resisting, he secretly exhaled in relief.
Half an hour later, the small valley in the Magic Beast Mountain Range was within sight. Xiao Bai's mood grew tense. Sensing his unease, Xun'er, who was nestled in his arms, suddenly spoke:
"What's wrong? Are you afraid I'll fight with her?"
Xiao Bai stiffened. This girl hadn't said a word since leaving the Xiao family. Suddenly, hearing this, his Dou Qi faltered, and he nearly fell from the sky.
"Hmph... fly steadily. You scared me!" Xun'er wrapped her arms around his neck, grumbling unhappily.
Xiao Bai quickly steadied his Dou Qi circulation, inwardly sighing. This girl was acting too strangely today, making her impossible to read.
A short while later….
"Xiao Bai!"
As soon as their feet touched the ground, a joyful voice came from a thatched cottage, and Xiao Bai instantly felt a slightly cold gaze pierce through him like an arrow.
"Still not putting me down, Xiao(Little)... Bai... gege..." Xuner's eyes flashed with cold light, her silver teeth gritting as she spoke in a low voice near his ear.
Xiao Bai hastily set Xun'er down gently, his eyes darting around nervously.
"Hmph!" Xun'er shot him a glance, snorted coldly, and ignored him further, smoothing out her slightly disheveled clothes.
At that moment, a woman in a white dress stepped out of the cottage. Her demeanor was gentle and ethereal, her lovely face adorned with a soft smile. But when she spotted Xun'er, her expression froze in surprise.
"And this is...?"
"Ahem." Xiao Bai stepped forward, clearing his throat awkwardly. To Xun'er, he said, "This is Xiao Yixian." Then, turning to Xiao Yixian, he introduced, "And this is Xun'er."
Upon hearing Xiao Bai's introduction and seeing his awkward expression, Xiao Yi Xian instantly began to understand the relationship between this girl and him..
She glanced at the graceful figure in green, standing like a pristine as an untainted lotus, and a flash of amazement crossed her eyes. She had never seen such a beautiful girl before!
A complicated feeling welled up in her heart. During their time together, she had already suspected Xiao Bai's behavior hinted at something like this. Though she had anticipated such a situation, she hadn't expected her rival to be so extraordinary.
Xun'er looked at the woman in white before her, a hint of surprise appearing in her eyes. Although the woman's appearance couldn't match hers, her ethereal and gentle demeanor made her appear delicate and utterly captivating.
"No wonder he couldn't forget her!" Recalling how evenly Xiao Bai had split his time between them, Xun'er couldn't help but feel indignant.
This scoundrel was truly a master at balancing his affections—two days with one, two days with the other, perfectly impartial, not a drop spilled!
She wasn't a fool. Xiao Bai would return for two days, then disappear for two—it was practically a blatant announcement that something was up!
Suspecting it had something to do with those ten days, she had asked Ling Ying to investigate. And sure enough, it turned out to be quite the surprise!
Noticing the silence in the air, Xiao Bai wanted to say something but suddenly realized the two girls' gazes had already locked onto each other.
He wondered if he was imagining it, but the clash of their eyes seemed to spark with electricity, and the surrounding temperature appeared to be rising.
Just as Xiao Bai was about to intervene, Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian, almost in perfect synchronization, smiled faintly.
Under his stunned gaze, they both took a few steps forward, extending their fair, jade-like hands to lightly clasp each other's.
"You are Xiao Yi Xian, right? A while ago, when my Xiao Bai gege was injured, Xun'er would like to thank you for taking care of him," Xun'er Xun'er patted Xiao Yixian's hand gently, smiling softly.
"Taking care of Xiao Bai was a pleasure. There's no need for thanks," Xiao Yi Xian replied with a serene smile, her tone calm and composed.
Hearing this, Xun'er's smile deepened, a glint of golden light flashing in her eyes. Xiao Yixian, though startled, remained unruffled, responding with a gentle smile as wisps of gray mist swirled in her own gaze.
In that instant, both girls were inwardly astonished.
Xun'er could sense the deadly poison hidden within that gray mist. She had heard that Xiao Yi Xian was a physician, but she hadn't expected her mastery of poison to be so formidable.
Xiao Yi Xian, too, was surprised. This girl's cultivation level was actually lower than hers, yet the golden light in her eyes gave off an intense sense of danger.
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