Chapter 23: Go and finish him off!

Familiar Qingshan Town, familiar Ten-Thousand Herb Hall.

Stepping into this small town once again, recalling the scenes experienced here two and a half years ago, Chen Xiao felt as if it were all a dream.

The town remained unchanged; the faces of the mercenaries were different, yet they were just as boisterous as the generations that had come and gone before them. As for himself, he had gone from a mere Dou Zhe to a Seven-Star Dou Shi!

Such progress was inseparable from natural talent, but his discoveries in the stone chamber within the Magical Beast Mountain Range had also played a vital role. Thanks to that staggering fortune, Chen Xiao had never lacked for essence-enhancing pills over the past two years, and the resources he consumed were, if anything, even greater than those available to Xiao Yan as the third young master of the Xiao clan. Even more interestingly, by selling off rare herbs he had no immediate use for, his wealth had actually increased rather than diminished; currently, the gold coin cards in his storage ring still held nearly a million gold coins available for his use.

Collecting his thoughts, Chen Xiao looked into the Ten-Thousand Herb Hall. Despite it being high noon, a long line had formed in the main hall—a scene vastly different from what he remembered. As he approached, he saw there was only one queue, leading directly to a familiar young girl in a white dress. A look of "as expected" appeared on his face.

Entering the hall, Chen Xiao glanced through the gap beneath the counter and finally saw that the wooden box once used to give her height was gone. The busy Little Fairy Doctor did not notice Chen Xiao’s entry. Several physicians in the hall, who had nothing to do despite the abundance of patients, spotted him; however, upon realizing that he had no intention of seeking their services, they could only exchange helpless, wry smiles.

Over the past few years, thanks to the various formulas Chen Xiao had gifted her, the Little Fairy Doctor’s reputation in Qingshan Town had grown increasingly prominent. After all, poison is also medicine, and when used correctly, it can be just as effective. Coupled with the way she had blossomed into a stunningly beautiful young woman, her popularity had skyrocketed.

Chen Xiao did not step forward to disturb her. He sat on a nearby chair and waited quietly. Having nothing to do, he took an ancient text from his storage ring and read it carefully to enrich his mental reservoir. The environment can indeed change a person's habits; this was no lie. During his years with the Xiao clan, he and Xun'er had influenced each other. It had led Chen Xiao to take up reading, while Xun'er had picked up a mild case of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Immersed in the ancient text, time passed quickly. By the time Chen Xiao finished the book, the Little Fairy Doctor had finally cleared her queue, a tired but satisfied smile gracing her delicate features. Chen Xiao put away the book, rose, and walked over.

"Huh? Are you that... Chen Xiao?"

Looking at the youth approaching her, the Little Fairy Doctor felt a sense of familiarity. She tilted her head slightly, searching through her memories, and soon called his name with perfect accuracy. Chen Xiao was somewhat surprised. Unlike Xun'er, she encountered dozens of people every day at the Ten-Thousand Herb Hall. Moreover, his appearance had changed—he was taller and more handsome.

Knowing that she remembered him after all this time was enough to put anyone in a good mood. Little did he know, the reason she remembered him so clearly was because his demeanor was so fresh and clean, standing in such stark contrast to the rough mercenaries of the town that he seemed to exist in a different world, making him very easy to remember.

"That’s right. Long time no see," Chen Xiao nodded in response.

"It really has been a long time, nearly three years. Are you here in Qingshan Town for training again?" the Little Fairy Doctor asked with a happy smile.

It is a joy to have friends visit from afar. Influenced by her, Chen Xiao smiled brightly, his mind feeling completely at ease. The girl in the white dress before him was unlike anyone else he had ever met.

*A sudden joy upon first meeting; a lingering warmth after long acquaintance.*

"I'm just passing through this time, and I wanted to come by and see you," Chen Xiao said, shaking his head slightly and speaking with honesty. He added, "The outer perimeter of the Magical Beast Mountain Range is no longer useful for my training, and the depths are too dangerous, so I plan to head toward the Tagor Desert."

"Tagor? I’ve heard that is the territory of the Snake-People, and there are plenty of venomous insects in the desert. Wait here, I’ll get you some antidote pills and insect repellent," the Little Fairy Doctor said, realizing his intent, and immediately turned to head toward the second floor.

"I don't have any more formulas for you," Chen Xiao joked.

The Little Fairy Doctor glanced back at him. "No need. This is a gift. The formulas you gave me before helped me a lot."

Listening to the crisp sound of her footsteps ascending the stairs, Chen Xiao took the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture from his storage ring, hesitated for a moment, and then put it away again. Perhaps it was still too early to give it to her. If Chen Xiao possessed the Fire attribute, relying on his foresight and the knowledge from his previous life, he would have been confident in resolving the hidden danger of the Woeful Poison Body even earlier than Xiao Yan had in the original timeline.

Unfortunately, he possessed the Ice attribute. Under these circumstances, rashly encouraging her to start practicing with the Woeful Poison Body—whether it would be helping her or harming her—was impossible to say for sure. Thus, after a moment’s thought, Chen Xiao decided to shelve the matter for now.

The footsteps returned, and the Little Fairy Doctor, her white dress fluttering, appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Since you know so many formulas, I won't embarrass myself by bringing out standard protective medicine. You surely know more than I do. Take these for daily use; while their value is limited, they are at least comprehensive."

Chen Xiao nodded in thanks. He had also concocted some defensive poisons during his spare time over the past few years. For example, a poison called "Soul-Shattering Powder" released an extremely pungent odor; even if the enemy were a Dou Shi, they would be forced to seal their senses, effectively becoming "blind" and seeing their combat effectiveness drop instantly. Of course, this was just the description from the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture; he hadn’t had the chance to use it yet, and its true effectiveness remained to be seen.

"This is insect repellent; sprinkle some around you, and common snakes and insects won't dare approach. This is an antidote pill; as the name implies, no explanation needed. This is sleeping powder; it can make ordinary magical beasts and insects lethargic and drowsy. As for people... the effect is even more pronounced..."

Just as before, the Little Fairy Doctor explained everything and carefully labeled each bottle. Watching her handle things so methodically, a thought occurred to Chen Xiao: if one had such a gentle and attentive person by their side, life would surely be very comfortable, right?

With a silent laugh, Chen Xiao cast the thought aside.

"We are friends, so there is no need for thanks. I can't help you with anything more, so I wish you success in whatever you hope to achieve on this trip."

Seeing Chen Xiao open his mouth to speak, the Little Fairy Doctor anticipated him and interrupted with a bright smile. Chen Xiao smiled knowingly and did not press the point.

"Then I shall take your good words to heart."

...

Meanwhile, inside the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.

A mercenary with a bandaged hand ran quickly into the training ground, finding the leader, Mu She, and his son.

"Leader! Young Leader! I think I saw him!"

"Hmm? Saw who? Speak clearly."

"That kid Tie Shan talked about two and a half years ago. Handsome, refined—he’s the only one of his kind in Qingshan Town. It couldn't be anyone else!" the messenger gasped, breathless.

At these words, a flash of confusion crossed Mu She’s eyes. His son, Mu Li, thought back carefully and finally recalled that such a thing had indeed happened. Two and a half years ago, several members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group had been blinded by greed, only to gain nothing and lose two lives in the process. Mu Li had ordered the mercenary Tie Shan, who had seen Chen Xiao, to describe his appearance in detail so they could settle the score if they ever saw him again. But so much time had passed that even Mu Li had almost forgotten, yet the members of the group remembered it clearly.

"So it’s that brat. After two years, he’s finally appeared again. But I remember he was already at least a six-star Dou Zhe back then. His current strength is likely..."

"Li’er, don’t overthink it. Leaving a grudge unavenged is not the style of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Here is what we’ll do: Wang San, I’ll give you ten members at the six-star Dou Zhe level or higher. Go and finish that kid off! Even if his strength has improved, the chances of him breaking through to become a Dou Shi are slim. With this many men, it’s more than enough. To be safe, wear the badges of the Mad Lion Mercenary Group when you act!"

Hearing the leader’s words, the mercenary known as Wang San looked at the bandage on his right hand and pointed a trembling left hand at himself.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. With those ten men, you don't even need to fight; just lead the way."

"Very well."