People are Fighting to Break Their Diaries! They Forced Me to Eat Soft Food

37: Chapter 37: Each Showing Off Their Acting Skills! Xun’er’s Name is Still the Best”Xun’er.”

Xiao Ting rose to welcome her, letting Xun’er take the seat between him and Xiao Yi Xian.

He wasn’t at all surprised by Xun’er’s arrival; this childhood sweetheart of his had always been a bit domineering and possessive.

The guards surrounding Xun’er would certainly have reported his initiative to contact a beauty immediately. They were probably fantasizing in their hearts that Xun’er might dump him because of it.

”I was just startled by what Xiao Yi Xian said,” Xiao Ting answered the question she had asked when she entered, once Xun’er had sat down.

”Xiao Yi Xian?” Xun’er looked at Xiao Yi Xian with a few hints of scrutiny.

”She is a resident physician from Wan Yao Pharmacy in Qingshan Town. You know that my uncle put me in charge of several market streets on the west side of the Xiao Family’s territory. The third market’s Old Physician Zhang is getting on in years and needs someone to take over his position. A few days ago, I heard Miss Ya Fei of the Mittel Auction House mention Xiao Yi Xian with much praise, so I decided to test her skills...” Xiao Ting explained in detail to Xun’er.

His reasons for contacting Xiao Yi Xian were based on existing circumstances; he had simply followed the natural flow of things to provide some guidance, and not a single detail was fabricated.

His goal was to make the matter appear natural. Whether it was Xiao Yi Xian or Xun’er, any investigation would show that everything was perfectly reasonable.

If they felt there were ”schemes” hidden behind the scenes, it could easily lead to unnecessary misunderstandings.

”So you are a sister who studies medicine.” The smile on Xun’er’s face softened a bit, and the wariness in her eyes, which was hard for others to detect, faded. ”My name is Xiao Xun Er, hello.”

”Hello, Miss Xun’er,” Xiao Yi Xian said in a cool tone, her words carrying the polite formality one would show to a young lady of a main household.

Xun’er’s eyes crinkled with a smile as she said, ”You are a physician hired by Brother Xiao Ting, not a servant of the Xiao Family. Just call me Xun’er.”

Xiao Yi Xian didn’t agree immediately, but instead cast an inquiring look toward Xiao Ting.

”We are in an employer-employee relationship; listen to Xun’er,” Xiao Ting nodded.

”Hello, Xun’er.” The expression on Xiao Yi Xian’s face relaxed.

At this moment, Xun’er asked again, ”Brother Xiao Ting, what did Xiao Yi Xian say just now that made you lose your composure?”

”She brought me news of a cave dwelling left behind by a strong expert,” Xiao Ting said, having no intention of hiding it from Xun’er. He told the truth: ”I only just hired her as a resident physician, and before she’s even become familiar with the family, she tells me such a piece of news. Tell me, wouldn’t you be surprised?”

Xiao Yi Xian’s action was indeed beyond his expectations.

On the Fighting Qi Continent, one is only considered to have truly stepped into cultivation as a Dou Practitioner. A Dou Master is the foundation of low-level cultivators, and a Great Dou Master is their mainstay.

Only upon reaching the level of a Dou Spirit can one barely transcend the bottom tier and be considered a strong expert, someone of note within a third-rate empire who might leave behind a cave dwelling or inheritance.

In other words, any cave dwelling found in the wild would have belonged to someone who was, at the very least, a Dou Spirit during their lifetime.

This opportunity that Xiao Yi Xian was handing over was also worth a fortune to the current Xiao Family.

”I see.” A look of perfectly timed surprise appeared on Xiao Yi Xian’s face. ”This truly is an unexpected pleasant surprise.”

”Mhm.” Xiao Ting nodded slightly and stared at Xiao Yi Xian, asking, ”What is the specific situation with that cave dwelling?”

He didn’t question whether Xiao Yi Xian had ulterior motives; such things couldn’t be asked directly but had to be deduced through his own observation.

”That day...” Xiao Yi Xian recounted the process of how she discovered the entrance to the cave dwelling.

”So, you only discovered a cave entrance on a cliff that is suspected to be left by a strong expert?” Xiao Ting didn’t show any disappointment; in fact, his tone sounded a bit more convinced.

Xiao Yi Xian and Xun’er thought: *What an actor!*

”I can be certain it is the entrance to a cave dwelling left by a strong expert, and there is a high probability it hasn’t been discovered or explored by anyone else,” Xiao Yi Xian said with a certain tone. ”I am very familiar with that herb-gathering area, and it wasn’t my first time at the cliffside, but I had never seen that cave dwelling before.”

”If I’m not mistaken, the entrance was previously hidden by rocks and vines. Some recent change must have brought it back to light. One look at its shape tells you it was man-made, but quite old.”

Having already gained a ’God’s eye view’ through the journal copy, Xiao Yi Xian spoke without any worries or fear of being exposed.

”Regardless, it’s a place worth exploring,” Xiao Ting’s expression turned solemn. ”There’s no time to lose; delays lead to complications. I’ll go tell my uncle about the cave dwelling now and lead a team to explore it first.”

”Why doesn’t Brother Xiao Ting take Xun’er along?” Xun’er took the opportunity to suggest following him, even giving Xiao Ting a suggestive wink.

If she went along, the guards by her side would follow as well, making it safer than if Xiao Zhan went personally.

Xiao Ting caught her meaning and immediately nodded in agreement. ”Alright, we’ll go together.”

”Help me look after Xiao Yi Xian. I’ll go tell my uncle that I’m going out for a few days of training.”

With Xun’er coming along, Xiao Ting didn’t plan to tell the family about the cave dwelling in advance.

”Go ahead, Brother Xiao Ting,” Xun’er nodded with a smile.

Once Xiao Ting left the courtyard, both she and Xiao Yi Xian showed expressions of relief.

The two shared a knowing look and both burst into laughter.

”Sister Xiao Yi Xian, that was a good performance.” Xun’er picked up the teapot on the stone table and proactively poured tea for Xiao Yi Xian. ”Brother Xiao Ting told me to look after you. Have some tea.”

”It was all thanks to your good teaching, Sister Xun’er.” Xiao Yi Xian picked up the teacup and drained the tea in one gulp.

The step of proactively reporting the expert’s cave dwelling was a suggestion given by Xun’er.

Xun’er had also coached her on what to say when facing Xiao Ting, lest she let the cat out of the bag.

”I just don’t want Brother Xiao Ting to worry too much,” Xun’er spoke her truest thoughts. ”Once you obtain the Seven-Colored Poison Manual, you can fully awaken your Calamity Poison Body sooner and more legitimately. Then Brother Xiao Ting can ask you to be his guard as soon as possible.”

”Relying on yourself, you were able to break through to the level of a Dou Ancestor in less than five years. With the help of Brother Xiao Ting and me, that time will surely be even shorter.”

”By then...”

A trace of darkness flashed in the depths of Xun’er’s eyes as she smiled. ”You can protect him well, allowing him to walk as he pleases in most situations.”

Xiao Yi Xian didn’t notice the strange look in Xun’er’s eyes and nodded seriously. ”Rest assured, once I become strong, I will definitely protect him with my life.”

Whether the calamity of her life could be resolved was entirely entrusted to Xiao Ting.

On the other side, Xiao Ting found Xiao Zhan and stated that he wanted to go out for training.

”You are a Dou Master now, so going out for training is no problem, but I’m afraid someone might target you,” Xiao Zhan said with a heavy expression.

None of the three major clans in Wutan City wanted the others to grow strong. Assassinating the geniuses of opposing families to ensure they had no successors was something they would certainly do if given the chance.

”That’s exactly what I came to discuss with you, Uncle,” Xiao Ting said with a relaxed expression. ”When the time comes, make sure the people of the Gale and Ao Ba clans ’accidentally’ learn of my specific whereabouts, and leak the information that I have reached the level of a four-star Dou Practitioner.”

Xiao Ting deliberately emphasized the word ”accidentally.”

Xiao Zhan was no fool; he froze for a moment before reacting, his expression turning grave. ”A gentleman does not stand under a crumbling wall. How can you use yourself as bait? This is not right, not right at all.”

”With your cultivation talent, the priority is to work hard to become stronger and reach the Dou Spirit level as quickly as possible. By then, the Gale and Ao Ba clans will be nothing more than dogs by the roadside, not worth a second thought.”

”Uncle, one must scheme when it’s possible to scheme,” Xiao Ting had a different opinion. ”Years ago, when our Xiao Family was still a Dou King family, we didn’t spare a glance for the Gale and Ao Ba clans; they were even our subordinates. But after the family suffered its disaster, those two families were the ones who stabbed us the hardest.”

”Experiencing that kind of thing once is enough. If these two dogs can be beaten to death, it’s better to do it sooner rather than later.”

”This...” Xiao Zhan was still conflicted. He felt nothing was more important than Xiao Ting and Xiao Yan growing up.

At this point, Xiao Ting added, ”By the way, Xun’er is coming with me.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhan’s face instantly changed. ”Ting’er, do you think we should spread a rumor that you ’accidentally’ discovered a cave dwelling left by a Dou Spirit expert and are preparing to explore it in secret, to lure both Ao Ba Pa and Gale Bi over?”

Xiao Ting: ”...”

There was no cave dwelling left by a Dou Spirit.

However, there was at least one cave dwelling left by a Dou King.

This Xiao Zhan was quite bold, actually planning to use Xun’er’s influence to kill with a borrowed knife.

”You would have to go personally for that to lead the snakes out of their holes, Uncle,” Xiao Ting shook his head. ”Killing a few Dou Masters will be enough.” pin