Xiao Jietian recalled their previous conversation, looked into Zi Yan's eyes, and spoke seriously:"Of course it's true. From the moment I met you, I've considered you family, a loved one. Otherwise, why would I bother making delicious pills for you?"
As a Void Ancient Dragon, Zi Yan's perception was extremely strong. She could tell from Xiao Jietian's eyes that he was speaking the truth.
Zi Yan lowered her head slightly, her eyes reddening. She had been alone since she was little. Her insufficient strength often made her a target for other magical beasts, some even wanting to eat her.
Until one day, she accidentally ate a Shapeshifting Grass, turning into a child, and was eventually picked up by the Grand Elder.
The word "family" had always been foreign to her, something she had longed for.
Xiao Jietian's words touched the softest part of her heart. Now she had a family: Xiao Jietian, and even Old Su could be counted as one.
"Why do you look like you're about to cry?" Xiao Jietian squatted down, gently looking at Zi Yan, whose eyes were red with a few tears.
"Hmph, I'm not crying. It's just that the wind was too strong just now."
Zi Yan secretly wiped her tears, showing a fierce yet cute expression, as if to say, You're mistaken.
"So, Little Zi Yan sheds little pearls, and they go 'plip-plop, plip-plop,' huh?" Xiao Jietian teased.
"I didn't, I'm not! You're lying! Do you believe I'll bite you to death?"
Zi Yan bared her small fangs, looking utterly fierce.
"I believe you. I trust you the most."
Zi Yan pounced on the half-squatting Xiao Jietian, biting his shoulder. Though it looked fierce, she used very little strength and simultaneously wiped her tears on his clothes.
Xiao Jietian winced in mock pain, crying out dramatically:"Ow! It hurts so much, my shoulder is going to be crippled!"
After wiping her tears and hearing his cries, Zi Yan secretly rejoiced. She released him, snorted lightly, and said proudly:"Hmph, who told you to slander me? This is a small lesson. I'm in a good mood now, so I'll forgive you."
Xiao Jietian inwardly thought: No wonder you two get along—you're both so arrogant.
He circulated his Dou Qi, and the faint teeth marks, saliva, and tear stains on his clothes instantly evaporated, returning them to their clean state.
"Let's continue our herb hunt! Go, Pikachu!!"
Xiao Jietian smiled, patting Zi Yan's head, and pointed forward with his other hand.
"What's a Pikachu?" Zi Yan asked curiously.
"It means you're very capable," Xiao Jietian explained casually.
"Do I look like an idiot?" Zi Yan gave him a skeptical side-glance.
"Do you still want to eat pills?"
Ultimately, Zi Yan succumbed to the allure of pills and walked deeper into the forest, her little face flushed with excitement at the thought of having many, many pills in the future.
Zi Yan diligently sniffed left and right, her expression full of concentration.
The two of them were like a swarm of locusts, leaving nothing behind. Any medicinal herbs suitable for Tier 4 or higher pills were collected, even uprooting tree-like herbs.
Xiao Jietian truly witnessed Zi Yan's treasure-hunting ability. She was a bane to heavenly spiritual treasures; even herbs buried dozens of meters underground couldn't escape her detection.
At one point, the two stood atop a tree as tall as a person, picking fruits. The tree bore nine Earth Spirit Fruits.
Nearby, a dejected ape-like magical beast squatted—a Demonic Spirit Ghost Ape, guardian of the Earth Spirit Fruits.
Today, the fruits had just matured, and the ape was preparing to enjoy them. But two unreasonable bandits—one big, one small—suddenly arrived.
One blow to its nose sent it flying. Then, they held it down and beat it mercilessly. Its ape-face was hardly recognizable.
In a fit of rage, the ape raged a little. That sudden nose hit caused serious pain—it already felt its ape-life had no meaning.
Zi Yan looked at the honest, pitiful Tier 5 Magical Beast. It was the only one they had encountered that behaved properly. After discussing with Xiao Jietian, they decided to leave three fruits for it.
After they left, the Demonic Spirit Ghost Ape squatted by the tree pit with a mournful face. It saw the three white fruits and a look of gratitude appeared in its eyes.
"Xiao Jietian, you can't embezzle my half, you know!" Zi Yan reminded him anxiously, eyeing the golden-red storage ring on his hand.
"Don't worry. I won't take your things. I'll refine them directly into pills for you—you can come get them later," Xiao Jietian reassured her, pinching her little face.
"Then I'll wait for you, hehe…" Zi Yan fully trusted him, happily skipping forward, her twin ponytails swinging behind her in perfect parabolas.
Xiao Jietian smiled, infected by her joy.
"Zi Yan, this is enough. No more searching."
Although they had gathered plenty, for this huge forest, it was only a small fraction.
Zi Yan tilted her head, thinking. The things they had collected today would last her a long time. The pills Xiao Jietian refined were all sweet, and each herb gave a different flavor—she would never get tired of them.
"Do you want some?" Zi Yan handed a pill to Xiao Jietian.
He looked at the pill in front of him. It was Zi Yan's lifeblood, and she was willing to share it with him. She truly accepted him.
"You eat it yourself. It would be a waste for me, and it's not suitable for me."
Xiao Jietian put the pill into his mouth.
"Alright, if I find other delicious things later, I'll share them with you," Zi Yan said, chewing happily.
"Let's go. It's getting dark soon, or we'll have to sleep in the forest," Xiao Jietian said gently, patting her head.
"Mm-hmm, let's go."
They walked toward the forest exit.
"Xiao Jietian, I'm sleepy." While flying, Zi Yan's eyes drooped, her flight unsteady. She was tired from constantly sensing herbs all day.
Xiao Jietian didn't speak. He picked her up, forming a Dou Qi shield to block the resistance of flying.
Looking down at the sleeping Zi Yan, her mouth occasionally smacked as if dreaming of delicious food, Xiao Jietian felt she was incredibly cute.
They returned to the Inner Academy in about half an hour.
Back at the pavilion, Xiao Jietian handed her over to Xun'er and asked her to arrange a room for Zi Yan.
After finishing, Xun'er returned to their room. Following some intimate moments, she even performed a little stand-up comedy routine.
The two lay in each other's arms, Xiao Jietian feeling Xun'er's delicate skin as he recounted the day's events. Eventually, they fell asleep together.
In the morning, after parting with Xun'er, Xiao Jietian arrived in front of a black pavilion.