"You value my talent, but aren't you worried I might harm you?"
Meeting Gu Han's resolute gaze, Little Fairy Doctor felt as if she'd been burned, an absurd sensation rising in her heart.
Over the years, influenced by her constitution, merely showing signs of possibly being a Poison Master would cause former "friends" who'd been close to her to distance themselves.
This had left the entire Jia Ma Empire scattered with places that held painful memories for her, forcing her into a rootless, wandering life while still young.
It was only in recent years, perhaps due to maturing and gaining better control over herself, that she hadn't caused any further incidents.
Having honed considerable medical skills, she finally managed to establish herself in Qingshan Town, this gathering place for mercenaries.
Yet now, Gu Han—a heaven's favored son—knowing full well she possessed the terrifying Woeful Poison Body and was a natural-born Poison Master, was determined to take her as his maid.
The Seven-Colored Poison Scripture clearly detailed both the advantages and disadvantages of the Woeful Poison Body. Shouldn't normal people keep their distance, or even fear and reject it!?
"I'm not worried." Gu Han met Little Fairy Doctor's gaze, his tone as solemn as a vow. "I stayed at the Miteer Trading Company's relay station in Qingshan Town for seven days and heard about your deeds. Little Fairy Doctor of Qingshan Town, who has saved countless mercenaries."
"I don't believe a constitution can change your inherently kind nature or alter your gentle disposition. Using poison is merely a method—it doesn't define who you are."
Gu Han's words fell upon Little Fairy Doctor's heart like heavy hammer blows.
They also shone into her heart like rays of sunlight she had never known, sweeping away shadows and forcefully claiming their place with vibrant color.
For so many years, this was the first time someone had spoken to her like this, genuinely accepting and recognizing her—including her "flaw."
"I... I don't even dare to guarantee it myself." Little Fairy Doctor turned her back, not letting Gu Han see her flustered state.
Seeing her reaction, Gu Han knew the matter was seventy to eighty percent settled.
Little Fairy Doctor carried childhood shadows and the miserable experiences of recent years, having long erected high walls around her heart—soft on the outside but firm within.
In Gu Han's view, all of this was because she lived within the borders of the Jia Ma Empire.
After all, the Jia Ma Empire and the Chu Yun Empire were mortal enemies, and the Chu Yun Empire was teeming with Poison Masters.
People of the Jia Ma Empire naturally despised Poison Masters, so upon discovering Little Fairy Doctor might be one, their attitudes would inevitably shift.
Even Little Fairy Doctor herself would fall into self-doubt and self-loathing.
But if she were to go to the Chu Yun Empire, she would become an object of worship among Poison Masters.
In fact, Little Fairy Doctor did later go to develop her skills in the Chu Yun Empire.
So sometimes, relying on one's own efforts alone isn't enough—environment matters greatly.
"Take your time to consider becoming my Sword-bearing Maiden. There's no need to decide right away."
"I'm confident my growth speed won't lag behind the Woeful Poison Body."
"The master of the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture never heard of a solution—that was his own lack of strength."
"In the future, if we can become Dou Ancestors, Dou Venerables, or even stronger, who's to say we won't find a way?"
"I'll leave now to take care of some matters and return tomorrow for your definite answer."
"Consider this 'Seven-Colored Poison Scripture' my gift to you."
With those words, before Little Fairy Doctor could respond, ethereal wings materialized behind Gu Han, and he soared into the sky once more.
Little Fairy Doctor quickly turned around, but only caught sight of his rapidly receding figure.
"Why so impatient?" Little Fairy Doctor lowered her head to look at her toes, murmuring softly, "I never said I needed more time to consider..."
After learning about her Woeful Poison Body, meeting someone so outstanding in every aspect who didn't despise her but even wanted to help her - she had no reason to refuse at all!
Ling Ying, hidden in the shadows: "..."
Only two words echoed in his mind: utterly absurd.
First, Gu Han directly found a cave left by a predecessor on the cliff containing an inheritance. Then, upon leaving the cave, he coincidentally encountered a woman with the Woeful Poison Body, and the cultivation method he obtained in the cave happened to help him identify it.
Each of these opportunities seemed to just fall into Gu Han's lap!
"Woeful Poison Body," Ling Ying thought without much concern.
It was an extremely rare constitution that allowed rapid progress in the early stages, but ultimately led to suffering the agony of being devoured by countless poisons, tortured to death. Most Woeful Poison Body possessors could only reach the Dou Ancestor level at most. Although the constitution had no theoretical upper limit, as their strength increased, ordinary poisons became almost useless for further advancement. To progress further, they would need poisons that could threaten even Dou Venerables or Dou Saints, but such poisons were almost non-existent on the Dou Qi Continent and beyond the reach of Dou Ancestor-level Woeful Poison Body possessors.
Despite its high potential, it was limited by resources, ultimately leading to a painful death as slaves to poison, potentially even bringing disaster to surrounding regions.
To imperial clans, such a constitution was nothing special, not even worth the effort to help solve its problems.
"Young friend Gu Han is still limited by his narrow perspective, thinking solving the Woeful Poison Body problem is simpler than it actually is," Ling Ying felt that Gu Han had almost no shortcomings.
If there was one, it was his origin from a small place like the Jia Ma Empire, lacking sufficient understanding of the wider world.
In terms of cultivation value alone, Little Fairy Doctor's Woeful Poison Body was nothing remarkable.
But within the Jia Ma Empire, it was indeed worthy of some attention.
"Whoosh!"
A blue-white streak of light swiftly crossed the sky above the Magical Beast Mountain Range, soon landing beside a lake.
Gu Han examined the surroundings according to the opportunity's guidance. After confirming the location, his true form entered the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm. Activating his soul perception, he easily found the hidden passage entrance.
"Splash!"
Without any hesitation, Gu Han used Dou Qi Gauze and plunged into the lake, descending rapidly.
After ten breaths, he reached a rock at the lake's edge. Placing his hand on it, he willed it into the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm.
A dark, deep passage about three meters wide appeared before him, resembling the gaping maw of a giant snake ready to devour its prey.
Gu Han dove in, moving swiftly along the passage. When he needed air, he would enter the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm to breathe.
Since he could leave a phantom outside, he wasn't worried about anyone discovering this method of his.
After about fifteen minutes, he finally emerged from the water-filled passage, coming out from the other side.
Surfacing revealed a small cave about six meters high and roughly nine meters in both width and length.
"Huh."
Gu Han looked around and noticed something resembling a snake slough on one of the rocks, emitting a faint glow.
"This is... Azure Flame Snake Slough!"
Gu Han leaped out of the water, landing before the rock.
After careful examination, he confirmed he hadn't mistaken this treasure.
This object is the shed skin left behind when a fourth or fifth-tier snake-type Magical Beast undergoes its once-in-a-century major physical growth. It serves as an auxiliary material for refining many fourth and fifth-grade pills and can replace most fourth-tier fire-attribute spiritual materials.
However, snake-type Magical Beasts generally consume and refine this layer of shed skin after completing their transformation to replenish themselves.
Thus, it is extremely rare for humans to obtain this material.
But compared to the Symbiotic Amethyst Source, it's nothing significant.
"So, the opportunity only reveals the greatest reward, but not what the minor gains are?"
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