"Delay?"
Little Fairy Doctor clearly had no intention of letting him off easily; her sharp gaze swept over every detail of Mo Yuhan's body like a probe.
First, she saw the daily necessities Mo Yuhan had purchased, which was nothing strange.
Little Fairy Doctor knew Mo Yuhan often went to the Monster Mountain Range, so buying some long-distance supplies was perfectly normal.
Suddenly, her gaze fixed on a corner of the package in Mo Yuhan's arms that wasn't completely hidden—a touch of light purple fabric that seemed overly exquisite.
"Oh?"
Little Fairy Doctor's almond eyes instantly widened, filled with undisguised surprise and scrutiny. She extended a slender finger and unceremoniously pointed at the exposed fabric, "This material… this color…"
She took a step closer, tilting her head like a little fox who had discovered some earth-shattering secret, and lowered her voice with a mischievous smile, "Little rascal, you can't wear this, can you? It looks… like it's for a girl?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was like a small stone dropped into Mo Yuhan's heart, making his heart skip a beat.
He subconsciously tried to hide the entire package behind him, but his movements were clumsy and only served to draw more attention due to the large backpack on his back.
"That's not true, you're mistaken." Mo Yuhan's small face was taut, but a suspicious blush uncontrollably crept onto his cheeks. His tone was childishly stubborn, trying to hide his inner panic.
"Oh?"
Little Fairy Doctor drew out the end of her words, crossing her arms and watching his embarrassed expression with a leisurely air. The mischievous smile in her eyes deepened, "It really has nothing to do with me?"
She deliberately walked a circle around Mo Yuhan, her gaze sweeping over the rice, beast meat, and several packets of herbs clearly meant for seriously injured people in his backpack, which were obviously more than a child his size would need.
"Buying so much food, and also hemostatic grass, muscle-regenerating powder… Tsk tsk, this amount doesn't seem to be prepared for yourself, does it? And these clothes…"
Her gaze once again fell on that annoying light purple, with a knowing look that understood everything, "Who exactly did you buy them for? Confess and be lenient, resist and be dealt with severely."
Mo Yuhan's heart sank. Little Fairy Doctor was too smart, and her observational skills were terrifyingly sharp.
He didn't have a storage ring, so with so many things he bought, he couldn't possibly hide it from her.
Mo Yuhan looked up, meeting Little Fairy Doctor's clear almond eyes that seemed to see through people's hearts.
On second thought, taking his severely injured aunt to Wutan City, for an eight-year-old child to traverse the perilous Monster Mountain Range, was extremely difficult.
Moreover… the things in the cave… it wouldn't be a problem for him to take them out alone, but if he left, who would take care of his aunt?
Even when he came out to buy things, he had taken many protective measures before daring to leave for a short while.
An idea flashed through his mind instantly.
He needed a helper, someone familiar with the outer reaches of the Monster Mountain Range, who also had the ability to protect themselves, and… someone trustworthy.
The Little Fairy Doctor, standing with her hands on her hips and an expression that said, "You're not going anywhere until you explain," seemed to be the only option.
Although it was risky, and he hadn't discussed it with his aunt…
Mo Yuhan took a deep breath, as if having made a certain decision.
He raised his head, the childish panic on his face receding, replaced by a solemnity unbefitting his age.
He cautiously looked around at the noisy crowd, lowering his voice, every word clear: "Little Fairy Doctor Sister, I… I'm in trouble. Big trouble."
He paused, his eyes showing a hint of pleading, "I need your help, but it's not convenient to talk here. You have to come with me to a place… You'll understand when we get there."
The mischievous smile on Little Fairy Doctor's face instantly froze.
She looked at Mo Yuhan's suddenly serious little face; there was no joke in his dark eyes, only genuine pleading, and even a hint of imperceptible worry.
This was completely unlike the precocious and always confident Mo Yuhan she knew.
The clamor of the market seemed to be isolated by an invisible barrier at this moment.
Little Fairy Doctor's smile completely disappeared, her nimble almond eyes narrowing slightly as she carefully scrutinized Mo Yuhan's expression.
She gently lowered her hands from her hips, adjusted the medicine basket that had slipped slightly on her shoulder, and her voice also quieted, carrying a hint of solemnity: "Alright, lead the way."
Leaving the bustling market, and following the rugged path outside the town, the hustle and bustle of Qingshan Town were quickly replaced by the unique, earthy silence of the outer Monster Mountain Range.
The further they went, the more tense Mo Yuhan's expression became, and his steps were extremely light.
Little Fairy Doctor silently followed behind him, her keen eyes scanning the surroundings. The curiosity she had felt earlier was now replaced by deep vigilance and doubt.
This little rascal, who exactly was he hiding in a place like this?
Finally, in front of a mountain wall half-obscured by dense vines, Mo Yuhan stopped.
He cautiously looked back the way they came, confirming no one was following, before carefully pushing aside the vines, revealing a passage just wide enough for one person.
"Inside."
Mo Yuhan's voice was very low, with an imperceptible tension, "Little Fairy Doctor Sister, you… once inside, no matter what you see, don't be too surprised, and don't… don't talk nonsense."
He hesitated, then added, "The person inside is my aunt… she's very seriously injured and in a very bad mood."
Little Fairy Doctor nodded, her confusion deepening. This was the first time she had heard Mo Yuhan mention he had an aunt.
Although she knew his background was a mystery, two years of getting along still made her choose to trust him.
And at the same time, a doctor's instinctive concern arose within her.
She composed her expression, followed Mo Yuhan, bent down, and squeezed into the passage, revealing the small room inside.
Entering the small room, though it was tiny, it was like a world of its own. A small bonfire quietly burned in a corner, emitting faint light and warmth. A strong medicinal scent mixed with a feminine fragrance wafted over them.
By the flickering light of the bonfire, Little Fairy Doctor's gaze was instantly captivated by the figure on the stone bed.
The person was covered with several of Mo Yuhan's old outer robes, but even so, it couldn't completely conceal the breathtaking contours beneath.
The neck and a small patch of shoulder skin exposed outside the robes were as pale as the finest cold jade, shimmering with a luster in the dim light.
However, upon this breathtaking beauty were several hideous, dark red scars that had not yet fully healed. One of them even diagonally cut across the edge of the exquisite collarbone, the sight of the raw, exposed flesh being shocking.
The person on the stone bed seemed to have heard the movement and turned her face extremely slowly and with great difficulty.
The moment that face fully entered Little Fairy Doctor's vision, even she, who was a beauty herself, was instantly stunned for a moment.
What an astonishingly beautiful face this was.
Every line of her features seemed to have been painstakingly carved by the Creator, so exquisite that not a single flaw could be found.
Her brows were like distant mountains veiled in mist, her nose bridge was straight and delicate, and her lips were well-shaped but appeared pale and cracked from blood loss and pain.
Most breathtaking were her eyes, a deep purple, like a vast galaxy contained within, or like an unfathomable cold abyss. Even though they appeared dim now due to her severe injuries, and even carried a chilling haze of pain, they still exuded an indescribable, high-and-mighty majesty and… a fragile beauty.
This beauty blended ultimate nobility with a tragic allure on the verge of shattering, carrying a fatal attraction, yet also radiating a coldness and danger that warned others to keep their distance.
Little Fairy Doctor had never seen such a person before; this was definitely not the demeanor that could be cultivated in Qingshan Town, or even in the Gama Empire.
Those scars, far from detracting from her radiance, were like cracks in precious porcelain, revealing an even more breathtaking, maddeningly alluring, yet terrifyingly fragile, peerless grace through the fissures.
Little Fairy Doctor stood rooted to the spot, her almond eyes wide, her mouth slightly agape.
On the stone bed, Bibi Dong's hollow purple eyes slowly focused on Little Fairy Doctor.
Under Mo Yuhan's care, she gradually regained some of her former spirit, although sometimes still appearing slightly dazed.
At this moment, under Little Fairy Doctor's gaze, Bibi Dong felt a hint of displeasure at being disturbed.
"Han'er, who is she
Bibi Dong's pale, yet still breathtakingly beautiful face, was especially striking under the sunlight, her deep purple eyes, carrying scrutiny and a hint of cold weariness from being disturbed, landed on the Little Fairy Doctor who had suddenly intruded.
Seeing this, Mo Yuhan quickly stepped forward, his small body blocking the line of sight between the two, his voice carrying comfort and explanation: "Aunt, this is Little Fairy Doctor, she is a physician from Wan Yao Pharmacy in Qingshan Town."
He paused, then added, "She is very kind, and has helped me many times... she is a friend I made here."
"Friend?"
Bibi Dong's gaze shifted slightly; after several days in this World, Bibi Dong could occasionally get up and walk around, and she was already certain that this was indeed not the Douluo Continent.
However, Yu Han had a friend here and even brought her over, indicating that she was definitely not an ordinary friend.
With a hint of scrutiny, her gaze swept over the Little Fairy Doctor's delicate face and simple attire, her eyes seemingly able to penetrate the surface.
The Little Fairy Doctor always felt that this gaze was full of majesty, as if an Empress of an Empire was sizing her up. She suppressed the shock and countless questions in her heart, trying to show a friendly and professional smile, and bowed slightly:
"Hello, I am the Little Fairy Doctor, a friend of Mo Yuhan. I heard from him that you are injured. May I help you examine your injuries?"
In fact, Mo Yuhan had considered asking the Little Fairy Doctor for help before, but he did not believe that the Little Fairy Doctor's skill level could resolve the damage caused by an attack from a Super Douluo, which was comparable to a high-level Dou Emperor.
So he did not do so.
Bibi Dong looked at Mo Yuhan, and Mo Yuhan nodded.
Only then did Bibi Dong nod slightly, indicating her agreement.
The Little Fairy Doctor looked at that face, breathtakingly beautiful yet fragile, as if it could vanish at any moment in the dim light, and a strong medical instinct and protective desire rose within her.
However, after she stepped forward to examine, and her fingertips moved away from Bibi Dong's ice-jade-like wrist, she shook her head helplessly: "No, the injury is too severe. If it weren't for your strong vitality and cultivation, along with the Care Vessel Pill and Bone-Generating Pill protecting you, you would have probably lost all life force long ago."
Mo Yuhan had long expected this.
"Qian Xunji..." Mo Yuhan's fists clenched suddenly, his knuckles making a faint cracking sound.
A ferocity unbefitting his age erupted from his small body, and in the depths of his dark pupils, there was a flame that could incinerate everything. "I know of a pill, the Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill, with it, Aunt will definitely recover completely."
"Little Fairy Doctor, do you still remember the cave I mentioned to you?"
The Little Fairy Doctor naturally remembered. Just as Mo Yuhan finished speaking, a faint yellow Dou Qi suddenly rose from around him, like a nascent flame, though weak, it was solid and scorching, enveloping his small figure.
"I am already a One-Star Dou Zhe. I will go explore the cave. You help me look after Aunt."
Bibi Dong did not ask why, and neither did the Little Fairy Doctor.
Although she was somewhat worried about Mo Yuhan going to that steep cliff alone, she understood even more that his Aunt needed care more at this moment.
The figure enveloped in yellow light had already shot out like a lightning bolt tearing through the night, violently pushing aside the vines, and instantly vanishing into the deep darkness.
The vines shook violently, rustling, leaving only the suddenly elongated shadows within the cave, and the faint sounds of footsteps coming from the distant Monster Mountain Range.
Time flowed slowly in the dead silence. After only two incense sticks, the vine passage was suddenly torn open, and that small figure, carrying the earthy smell of soil, shot in like a swallow returning to its nest.
Mo Yuhan's breathing was slightly hurried, and a few fresh smudges of mud clung to his forehead, but his eyes were astonishingly bright, as if they had absorbed all the starlight from outside the cave.
Without stopping, he heavily dropped a bulky, heavy gray cloth package, stained with the damp, cold scent of moss, from his back to one side, stirring up a small cloud of dust.
The package opened, revealing a large pile of gold coins and other valuables, as well as dozens of jade bottles filled with spiritual energy-shrouded, strangely shaped medicinal herbs, and three stone boxes.
Mo Yuhan's gaze, however, directly bypassed these, and he reached into the stone box at the very bottom of the package, pulling out a scroll made of a peculiar material.
The scroll displayed an eerie, vibrant color, as if tanned from the hide of some highly poisonous magical beast, with a heart-palpitating seven-colored glow flowing across its surface. Just holding it gave a chilling, slippery sensation.
He unceremoniously shoved this scroll and a heavy, richly fragrant small cloth bag into the Little Fairy Doctor's cool hands.
"This is the Seven-Colored Poison Manual, and some medicinal herbs," Mo Yuhan's voice was low and decisive, carrying an undeniable tone. "These are all yours. The other two stone boxes contain a Profound-tier high-grade flying Dou Techniques, 'Eagle Wings,' and a Profound-tier high-grade Dou Techniques, 'Phoenix Flight Step.' If you want to learn them, you can take them too."
The Little Fairy Doctor only felt a chill in her hands; the seven-colored scroll seemed to be alive, with threads of cold energy seeping through her skin.
She looked down at the poison manual with its eerie glow and the vital medicinal bag in her hands, her apricot eyes filled with surprise.
Mo Yuhan didn't give her time to process, continuing: "In a few days, once Aunt has recovered, I will take her to Wutan City to await the Canaan Academy's enrollment."
"Little Fairy Doctor, would you be willing to come with us? It's okay if you don't want to, but Qingshan Town is too small after all, and I still hope you can come along."
Bibi Dong, hearing this, frowned slightly.
He hadn't mentioned the Little Fairy Doctor accompanying them to her beforehand.
However, she remained silent for now.
Inside the room, the Little Fairy Doctor heard these words, her gaze lingering repeatedly between the eerie poison manual in her hand, the heavy medicinal bag, and the pale, fragile, yet still breathtakingly beautiful face on the stone bed.
The familiar scent of herbs from Wan Yao Pharmacy's drying yard, the neatly arranged drawers in the storeroom, the concerned chatter of the town's aunties... a stable everyday scene flashed rapidly through her mind.
Leave Qingshan Town and go to the unfamiliar city of Wutan City?
Should she get involved?
Her gaze finally settled on Bibi Dong's slightly furrowed brow and bloodless skin.
After a brief silence, the Little Fairy Doctor suddenly took a deep breath, the sound exceptionally clear in the quiet cave, carrying a sense of resolve to cut off the past.
She no longer hesitated, swiftly stuffing the Seven-Colored Poison Manual and the medicinal bag into her portable medicine pouch, her movements neat and decisive, as if shedding an invisible burden.
Raising her head, her delicate face was no longer confused. Facing Mo Yuhan's nervous and expectant gaze, she broke into a smile mixed with the glow of adventure and the gentleness of a healer, nodding heavily: "Okay! I'll go with you!"
...
The morning light struggled to pierce through the year-round swirling gray mist of the Monster Mountain Range, sprinkling cold dew drops on the rugged mountain path.
A small, yet exceptionally steady figure led the way, faint yellow Dou Qi flickering in and out of view, vigilantly scanning every shadow in the forest.
Behind him, a delicate young girl carefully supported a woman draped in a large, coarse cloth cloak, almost completely shrouded in shadow.
The woman's steps were unsteady, each one accompanied by suppressed pain, and the weight she leaned on the young girl revealed her extreme weakness.
The wide hood concealed her stunning beauty, revealing only a few scattered strands of purple hair, like the finest silk, reflecting a faint luster in the morning light.
The young girl steadily supported her arm with one hand, while her other hand remained poised over her bulging medicine pouch at her waist, her vigilant gaze occasionally sweeping her surroundings, yet also openly showing worry as she looked at the person in her arm.
The three walked in silence on the slippery mountain path, their figures appearing and disappearing in the swirling mist, steadfastly moving towards the land of hope beyond the Monster Mountain Range, the city named Wutan City
As dusk crept through the window lattice, Mo Yuhan was meticulously wiping his newly acquired Storage Ring with a fine cloth. His fingertips brushed over the smooth, dark patterns on the ring's surface. He turned to look at Bibi Dong, who was curled up on the soft couch, his voice tinged with excitement: "Auntie, look! This Storage Ring is a new arrival at the Mittel Auction House. Although it's not a high-grade item, it can hold half a room's worth of things, which should be enough for you for now."
Bibi Dong's fingertips gently touched the Storage Ring offered to her lap, and a cool sensation spread up her fingers.
Counting the travel time, she had only been on this unfamiliar continent for two months. From the treasure-filled cave in the Monster Mountain Range to this stone house with a small courtyard, Mo Yuhan had handled everything.
Listening to his rambling now, she didn't frown as she had when they first met. Instead, she just looked up and asked, "This house... is it close to the Mittel Auction House you mentioned?"
"It's just on the back street!"
Mo Yuhan leaned over, spreading out a simple map he had just drawn on the low table as if presenting a treasure. His fingertip pointed to a marked spot, "Turn left out the door and go two streets, and you're there. It's said that the Mittel Family is behind that auction house, and there's someone named Ya Fei there. She's a formidable character; half of Wutan City's medicinal ingredient business goes through her hands."
"There's also the Xiao Family in the west of the city. They used to be a prominent family, but unfortunately, this generation..."
He paused, glancing at Bibi Dong's expression. Seeing that she didn't show impatience, he continued, "They produced someone named Xiao Yan. I heard he was a genius when he was young, but then his cultivation regressed for some unknown reason, and he became a cripple. Not long ago, Nalan Yanran of the Nalan Family from the Imperial Capital even came to break off their engagement."
"Little rascal, you certainly enjoy digging into these trivial matters." Bibi Dong shook her head helplessly, turning slightly to get closer to the low table.
The glow of the sunset outside the window bathed her face, softening her usually somewhat cold contours—after all, she was only twenty, and shedding those heavy past burdens, her brows should naturally hold a hint of the charm belonging to her age.
Mo Yuhan secretly breathed a sigh of relief at this sight.
These past few days, he had been trying various ways to tell her common knowledge and interesting facts about the Dou Qi Continent, just to help Auntie relax.
Seeing her actively lean closer now, he quickly continued, "On the day of the engagement annulment, that Xiao Yan even stuck out his neck and said, 'Don't bully a young man for being poor.' Many people heard it at the time!"
As he spoke, he imitated Xiao Yan's rumored appearance, sticking out his neck and raising his chin, which made Little Fairy Doctor, who was organizing medicinal ingredients nearby, unable to help but curve her eyes in a smile.
Bibi Dong was initially reserved, but seeing Mo Yuhan's gesticulating manner, a faint smile finally escaped her lips, quick as a shooting star, yet accurately caught by Mo Yuhan.
"You smiled!"
Mo Yuhan took advantage of her reaction and moved closer to her, softening his voice, "I told you this was interesting, didn't I? Oh, right, tomorrow the Mittel Auction House is having a special medicinal ingredient auction. Shall we go take a look? I heard there are some things that would be perfect for Little Fairy Doctor sister to refine medicine."
Bibi Dong didn't answer immediately. She just picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.
The tea was specially brewed for her by Mo Yuhan, with a bit of honey, not as bitter as what she usually drank. She lowered her eyes, looking at the ripples swaying at the bottom of the cup, and softly said, "You decide. I'll follow."
Her words were natural, carrying a hint of compliance that even she didn't notice.
Mo Yuhan's heart warmed, knowing that this layer of ice had finally begun to melt.
He reached out to smooth Bibi Dong's slightly messy sideburns, his fingertips accidentally touching her earlobe, feeling only warmth and coolness: "Then it's settled. Tomorrow I'll take you to the Mittel Auction House, and we can try the sugar cakes from the south of the city on the way. They're sweet when they're fresh out of the oven. I guarantee you'll love them."
Bibi Dong looked up at him, her eyes reflecting the twilight outside the window.
Perhaps it was the rare stability of these past few days, or perhaps the genuine laughter of those around her, that allowed her to temporarily shed her heavy disguise and reveal a bit of the nature of a twenty-year-old girl.
She realized, with a start, that she was no longer the high and mighty Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall.
The next day, the flow of people in Wutan City's East Market was bustling and noisy. The peculiar scents of various medicinal ingredients mixed with sweat and dust assailed them.
Mo Yuhan held a greased paper package in his left hand, containing freshly baked, still-steaming sugar cakes from a sugar cake shop managed by the Xiao Family Market. The sweet caramel scent stubbornly permeated the paper. In his right hand, he tightly held Bibi Dong, who was draped in a wide grey cloak and leaned almost her entire weight on his small shoulder.
Little Fairy Doctor followed closely on the other side, her bright, almond-shaped eyes filled with a mix of novelty and vigilance as she surveyed this city, much more prosperous than Qingshan Town. One slender hand remained poised over the bulging medicine pouch at her waist, ready to deal with any sudden situations.
"Auntie, Little Fairy Doctor sister, want to try? These sugar cakes here are said to be exceptional; many mercenaries love them."
Mo Yuhan stood on tiptoe, trying his best to hand the greased paper package into the shadow of Bibi Dong's cloak hood, his voice light with a childish lilt.
The cloak moved slightly, and a hand as fair as jade slowly extended, its slender fingertips gently pinching a small piece of golden, glistening sugar cake, then quickly retreating back into the shadows.
Little Fairy Doctor also smiled and took a piece, biting off a small portion, the sweetness melting on her tongue.
Just then, at an intersection not far ahead, a sudden discordant clamor broke the market's noise.
"Miss Xun'er, this is a Wood Spirit Bracelet I specially bought in the market just now. Although it's not a valuable item, it's adorned with a first-grade wood-attribute magic crystal, which has a very good amplifying effect on Dou Qi recovery."
"Miss Xun'er hasn't become a Dou Zhe yet, so this is simply the most suitable accessory for you. It's a small token of my regard, Miss Xun'er, please don't refuse."
Not far away, Galeo's voice, clearly tinged with flippancy and self-satisfaction, was exceptionally grating. He, along with a few followers, blocked Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er in the middle of the road, dangling a necklace shimmering with a faint green glow in his hand, his gaze greedily lingering on Xun'er's exquisite and peerless face.
Xiao Xun'er was expressionless, a hint of cold disdain flashing deep within her clear eyes. Xiao Yan stepped forward, shielding Xun'er behind him, his face calm: "Young Master Galeo, Xun'er appreciates your kindness, but I'm sorry, please take your item back."
The few people exchanged words, and eventually, the group of subordinates behind Galeo had subtly surrounded the two.
And Xiao Yan also blew a whistle, summoning his guards.
The two sides immediately became confrontational, and the situation instantly became somewhat chaotic.
Mo Yuhan immediately shielded Bibi Dong and Little Fairy Doctor behind him, which made both of them simultaneously burst into laughter.
"You, you're so much younger than us."
Little Fairy Doctor's smile was like a blooming flower.
Bibi Dong also smiled helplessly. She was always the one protecting Mo Yuhan, but she never expected to be protected by him one day.
Mo Yuhan pouted: "Right now, I'm the one with the highest cultivation among us."
He was currently a two-star Dou Zhe, while Little Fairy Doctor was only at the eighth stage of Dou Qi.
As for Auntie, although her strength could be considered a nine-star Dou Spirit, she was severely injured and couldn't use it at all.
So, at this moment, he, an eight-year-old child, was actually the one with the highest combat power.
On the other side, the confrontation between Galeo and Xiao Yan was almost over. Hearing Galeo humiliate him about his cultivation, Xiao Yan's still-childish face was full of innocence: "Young Master Galeo, I'd like to ask, how old are you this year? You're twenty-one, and you're actually comparing yourself to a child who just turned fifteen like me. Wouldn't you be ashamed to say that out loud?"