After a full day of much-needed rest, Xiao Yao found himself seated beneath the wide, overhanging branches of a red-leafed tree, its canopy filtering the afternoon sunlight into warm golden rays. The quiet rustle of leaves above formed a tranquil backdrop as he sat beside Xiao Yi Xian. A gentle breeze blew past, carrying with it the faint fragrance of wild herbs and blooming flowers. It was a moment of serenity, one that felt detached from the chaos and danger of the world beyond.
Xiao Yao's voice was calm and warm as he spoke to Yi Xian, occasionally teasing her with light-hearted jokes. His easygoing demeanor seemed to pull a laugh from her lips every so often — soft, genuine, and unguarded. In that brief moment, Xiao Yi Xian looked nothing like the cold, distant poison user she had always been forced to become. Her expression had softened, and in her pale violet eyes danced a flicker of warmth — a trace of peace she hadn't known in years.
To Xiao Yao, this side of her was rare and precious. Over time, without making a show of it, he had quietly stopped calling her by her full name. "Xiao Yi Xian" felt too heavy, as if every syllable dragged the weight of her cursed fate along with it. To him, she was simply Yi Xian — unburdened, unchained from the past, and deserving of a future free of the sorrow that had clung to her like a second skin.
Time flowed by like water in a quiet stream, and the sun had begun to dip toward the horizon, painting the sky with streaks of amber and rose. It was in this gentle silence, as birds chirped lazily in the trees and the wind caressed the grass, that Yi Xian finally summoned the courage to voice what had weighed on her heart.
"Xiao Yao," she began, her tone a blend of firmness and uncertainty, "I want to go to the Chu Yun Empire… to improve my strength."
The words lingered between them, caught in the stillness of the afternoon like a stone dropped into still waters, sending ripples through the delicate atmosphere they had built.
Xiao Yao didn't respond right away. His expression remained unreadable, though his gaze was trained on her, deep and steady. He didn't frown or object immediately, but the silence stretched just long enough for Yi Xian to start second-guessing herself.
She looked down at her hands, nervously fidgeting with the hem of her sleeves. The decision hadn't been easy, but it was something she had thought long and hard about. Xiao Yao had mentioned the Chu Yun Empire many times — how it revered poison masters instead of fearing them. There, her skills wouldn't be shunned; they would be respected. Celebrated, even.
More than that, it was Xiao Yao who had changed the way she saw herself. For years, she had believed her Woeful Poison Body to be nothing more than a harbinger of death. But through his gentle guidance, she had begun to realize that poison, like any tool, could be used to heal as much as harm. That she could choose what she wanted to be — not a cursed existence, but a force for good.
And yet... strength. She needed more of it. Not just to survive, but to truly live. To protect herself. To walk beside Xiao Yao, not as a burden, but as an equal.
Still, she had not expected the silence. She had hoped, maybe even believed, that he would support her instantly.
To her surprise, Xiao Yao's lips curled into a faint smile. His golden eyes remained gentle, and when he finally spoke, his voice was soft — but the content of his words struck her with the force of thunder.
"I've found a method to resolve your Poison Body."
Yi Xian froze. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, her mind went completely blank.
"W-What…?" she stammered. Her voice trembled with disbelief.
All her life, she had read over and over again in ancient texts and sect scrolls — especially the Rainbow Poison Sutra — that the Woeful Poison Body had no cure. It was a fate sealed by the heavens themselves. A slow death in disguise. Yet here he was, telling her there was another way?
Without a word, Xiao Yao pulled out a jade scroll from his ring and handed it to her. "It's called the Poison Pill Method," he said with a faint smile. "Take a look."
Yi Xian's fingers trembled slightly as she unrolled the scroll. Her eyes scanned the densely packed characters, absorbing the contents rapidly. At first, her heart leapt in cautious hope. But that fragile hope quickly shattered as her expression turned pale.
"Body Transformation Saliva… three Heavenly Flames… and the Magic Core of a 7th-rank Dragon Scorpion Beast…?" she muttered, her voice hollow.
Each of these requirements was absurd. She had never even heard of the first ingredient, and the second — three Heavenly Flames? Even acquiring one was the stuff of legends! And as for a 7th-rank Dragon Scorpion Beast... that was a creature comparable to a Dou Zong. Facing it with her current strength would be no different from suicide.
Her grip on the scroll tightened, her nails digging into the parchment. Just when she had dared to hope, reality had reared its cruel head again.
"I… I can't do this," she whispered, her voice cracking.
But before she could spiral further, Xiao Yao reached out and placed his hand gently over hers. His touch was warm and grounding, anchoring her in place.
"You don't have to," he said with quiet confidence. "I'll handle everything."
She looked up at him, stunned. His golden eyes were unwavering — not arrogant, but filled with a calm certainty that made her heart tremble.
It was that same light she had seen in him so many times before. The unwavering belief that he would carve his path through heaven and earth, no matter how impossible the journey. And now, he offered that same strength to her.
A warmth bloomed inside her chest — gentle, persistent. It wasn't poison. It was something far more dangerous, far more precious.
It was hope.
"And… what was it you wanted to say, again?" Xiao Yao asked, his tone suddenly lighter, tilting his head with a confused expression. "Something about heading out?"
Yi Xian blinked, caught off-guard. She hesitated, then straightened her back slightly. "I still want to go to the Chu Yun Empire," she said calmly. "To improve my strength."
Xiao Yao sighed and looked away, a bit dramatically. "Can't you wait just a little longer?"
"I can, but I won't," she said firmly, her violet eyes holding his. "I need to become stronger now, not later."
There was a beat of silence, then Xiao Yao let out a helpless chuckle, shaking his head. "Then I can't stop you. But… just be careful, alright? Chu Yun Empire isn't without its dangers."
"I will," she nodded, her voice quieter now.
Xiao Yao looked at her again, his gaze softer than before. Slowly, something unspoken passed between them. His eyes held a touch of vulnerability, and then — without a word — he leaned forward, his hand still resting lightly on hers.
Yi Xian's breath caught in her throat.
"Xiao Yao…?" she murmured, her heart pounding.
He was close now, impossibly close, his presence enveloping her. And then, without hesitation, he gently pressed his lips to hers.
It wasn't urgent or demanding. It was soft — sincere. A kiss that didn't need words or promises. It simply was.
She closed her eyes, melting into his touch, her heart fluttering wildly in her chest. For someone who had spent her life fearing her own existence, this moment felt like salvation.
Not overly passionate. Not awkward.
Just right.