Dongfang Xue's sudden kiss left Xiao Chen frozen, his eyes widened, and his face flushed as if scalded by boiling water, as red as if painted with fresh blood. Xiao Chen quickly pushed Dongfang Xue away and urgently said, "Little White Tiger, quickly control her, don't let her move."
"Got it!" The Ancient White Tiger extended its white tail and wrapped it around Dongfang Xue.
Xiao Chen swiftly channeled his soul power and Black Flame into Dongfang Xue's body, continuing to expel the effects of the Hehuan Powder from her system.
"Xiao Chen, her body is so hot. What exactly is this Hehuan Powder? Why does it make such a calm and elegant woman act like this?" the Ancient White Tiger asked in confusion, feeling the heat emanating from Dongfang Xue's body through its tail.
"Hehuan Powder is a shameless drug targeted at women. Once affected by it, a woman loses control over herself and must find a man to copulate with to dispel the drug's effects. However, I once read in ancient texts that the true fire of an alchemist can destroy the potency of Hehuan Powder," Xiao Chen explained.
"I see, those people are truly despicable," the Ancient White Tiger said angrily, understanding Xiao Chen's intentions.
As time passed, after about half an hour, the effects of the Hehuan Powder began to weaken, and Dongfang Xue slowly regained her senses, no longer exhibiting the extreme behavior from before. However, her body continued to tremble, indicating that the drug was still tormenting her.
"Xiao Chen, she's waking up! I'll withdraw now," the Ancient White Tiger said, quickly retracting its tail.
"Great! Miss, you're regaining consciousness. It seems the drug's effects are weakening significantly. Hang in there! I'll help you completely expel the drug soon!" Seeing Dongfang Xue slowly regaining her senses, Xiao Chen sighed in relief and smiled.
"Thank you, young master, for saving me," Dongfang Xue said weakly, still feeling powerless despite regaining consciousness.
"Don't talk for now! I'll help you expel the drug quickly!" Xiao Chen smiled faintly, continuously channeling his soul power and Black Flame to burn away the effects of the Hehuan Powder in Dongfang Xue's body.
After more than two hours, Xiao Chen finally succeeded in expelling the Hehuan Powder from Dongfang Xue's body. However, he was also exhausted, his face pale, breathing heavily, and his soul power greatly depleted, leaving him too tired to move.
"Phew! Finally succeeded," Xiao Chen exhaled deeply, looking visibly strained.
"Young master, are you alright? Did I... did I do anything inappropriate earlier?" Dongfang Xue asked with concern, secretly worried.
Xiao Chen was startled and quickly shook his head and waved his hands, saying, "No, no, don't worry, miss. You didn't do anything inappropriate; you were fighting hard to resist the drug's effects."
"Thank you, young master, for risking your life to save me," Dongfang Xue thanked again, her face blushing slightly, feeling a bit shy. She noticed the faint red mark on Xiao Chen's lips, clearly from her own lips, but Xiao Chen was trying hard to cover it up, making her deeply grateful.
"Hehe, don't call me 'young master.' I'm younger than you, so just call me Xiao Chen," Xiao Chen said with a faint smile, relieved that Dongfang Xue hadn't noticed anything more.
"By the way, miss, what is your name?" Xiao Chen asked afterward.
"My name is Dongfang Xue," Dongfang Xue replied with a gentle smile.
Xiao Chen nodded and then asked, "Who were those people earlier? They were so despicable."
Hearing this, Dongfang Xue's face showed a trace of sadness as she explained, "They are from the Fang family. The one earlier was Fang Yunchong, the young master of the Fang family, the most powerful family in Dongfang City. He has proposed to my father several times but was rejected each time. He has tried to harm me repeatedly. If it weren't for your timely rescue today, I might have been defiled by him."
"Xiao Chen, you've gotten yourself into big trouble this time! The Fang family is the most powerful in Dongfang City; they might have experts at the Nascent Soul stage!" the Ancient White Tiger transmitted, worried for Xiao Chen.
Knowing that Fang Yunchong wouldn't let Xiao Chen off, Dongfang Xue added, "The Fang family is powerful. You've offended them by saving me, so you must be careful. Fang Yunchong will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. How about this, come with me to Dongfang City. My father is the city lord, and with him around, the Fang family wouldn't dare harm you."
"Xiao Chen, the Dongfang City Lord is indeed powerful, but if Fang Yunchong dared to act this way, it means the Fang family isn't afraid of him. Even if you saved Dongfang Xue, the city lord might not necessarily protect you. I think you should leave here quickly and head to the cultivation world," the Ancient White Tiger suggested.
"Miss Dongfang, thank you for your kindness, but I don't plan to stay here. I was just passing by and saw you in trouble, so I helped. They should have gone far by now; let's go up," Xiao Chen said with a faint smile, leading Dongfang Xue out of the underground.
"Is this an escape technique?" Dongfang Xue asked in surprise.
Xiao Chen nodded and smiled, "Yes, Miss Dongfang, you have good eyes."
"It's not that my eyes are good; I read about escape techniques in ancient texts," Dongfang Xue said with a gentle smile, showing a captivating fairy-like smile.
"By the way, Miss Dongfang, why were you here playing the zither alone?" Xiao Chen asked.
"Speaking of playing the zither, you are the first person to be moved to tears by it. Although I am the daughter of the Dongfang City Lord, I feel lonely and have few friends, so I travel alone," Dongfang Xue said with a slight sadness, then smiled at Xiao Chen, "I guess you have had lonely and desolate times too."
Hearing this, Xiao Chen couldn't help but think of his time as a 'waste.' He was also lonely and desolate, not knowing any friends, and no one was willing to talk to him.
Dongfang Xue's zither music, imbued with a trace of sadness, had stirred up his past loneliness and desolation, making him tear up at the scene.
"Miss Dongfang's zither music is very beautiful. It is my honor to hear it," Xiao Chen said with a faint smile.
"Thank you for your praise, young master," Dongfang Xue said with a gentle smile, her sweet smile seeming to dissolve all the world's pain, leaving a lasting impression.
"Alright, Miss Dongfang, the drug in your body has been expelled, and it's getting late. You should go back early and not worry your father. I'll go divert the Fang family members so you can safely return to Dongfang City," Xiao Chen said, ready to leave.
"Young master, can we be considered friends?" Dongfang Xue asked quickly.
"Of course!" Xiao Chen replied with a smile.
"Thank you, young master. Please be careful," Dongfang Xue said happily.
"Miss Dongfang, don't worry. They won't catch me so easily. Don't travel alone in the future. Farewell," Xiao Chen said, his figure quickly darting into the forest.
Watching Xiao Chen leave, Dongfang Xue's eyes flashed with reluctance. She thought to herself, "Thank you, Xiao Chen. I will remember you, for you are the first friend I've made."
As Xiao Chen darted through the forest, he quickly located the Fang family guards searching the area with his divine sense.
Xiao Chen appeared before a Fang family guard who was part of the group attacking Dongfang Xue earlier. Xiao Chen asked calmly, "What are you looking for?"
"It's you!" The guard immediately recognized Xiao Chen and shouted, "Young master! I found the boy! He's here!"
Xiao Chen didn't rush to escape; he stood still, and the Ancient White Tiger transmitted, "Xiao Chen, are you deliberately revealing yourself to lure all the Fang family members here so Dongfang Xue can escape smoothly?"
"Of course," Xiao Chen chuckled softly.
Soon, dozens of people surrounded him from all directions, and a figure appeared in the air above them — it was Fang Yunchong.
Fang Yunchong wore a luxurious blue brocade robe, with a jade pendant at his waist, exuding nobility, though his face, with its vicious and sinister expression, did not match his noble attire.
"Young master, it's this kid who injured us!" a guard angrily pointed at Xiao Chen.
Fang Yunchong asked in a deep voice, "Boy, what's your name?"
"Xiao Chen," Xiao Chen replied calmly, his face showing no worry, as if he didn't care about these people at all.
"Kid, your look is really irritating me. Tell me! Where did you take Dongfang Xue? If you don't say, I'll cripple you today!" Fang Yunchong shouted angrily, seeing Xiao Chen's indifferent look, which made him even angrier.
"Cripple me? With just you? Catch me first," Xiao Chen sneered, his figure flickering as he darted in one direction.
"Hmph! Trying to run? It's not that easy! After him!" Fang Yunchong shouted angrily, activating his true essence and transforming into a black streak, chasing after Xiao Chen.
How could those guards possibly catch up to Xiao Chen? Only Fang Yunchong had the speed to pursue him, but Xiao Chen's agile and nimble body darted through the dense forest, making it difficult for Fang Yunchong to catch him.
"This kid's movement technique is strange, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Every time I think I've caught up to him, he suddenly turns into a black mist and vanishes! It seems he really is in the Golden Core stage. How could someone so young reach the Golden Core stage?" Fang Yunchong thought to himself, becoming more furious the more he couldn't catch Xiao Chen.
"Competing with me in speed? You're far behind!" Xiao Chen sneered inwardly, weaving through the forest at high speed while occasionally glancing back.
Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye, with the two of them running and chasing, crossing one mountain after another, but Fang Yunchong still couldn't catch Xiao Chen.
"Brat, I don't believe I can't catch you!" Fang Yunchong roared angrily, his face becoming extremely gloomy.
"Fang Yunchong, by now, Dongfang Xue is probably almost back in Dongfang City. How long do you plan to keep chasing me?" Xiao Chen stopped on a large tree in the distance, looking back at Fang Yunchong with a smile.
"What? Damn it! Luring the tiger away from the mountain! I fell for it!" Fang Yunchong immediately realized, understanding why Xiao Chen was sometimes fast and sometimes slow. It was all to lead him away, allowing Dongfang Xue to safely return to Dongfang City.
"Hehe, thanks for your cooperation. Otherwise, Dongfang Xue wouldn't have been able to return so smoothly." Xiao Chen said with a faint smile.
"Xiao Chen! I won't let you off! Remember this! One day, I, Fang Yunchong, will tear you to pieces!" Fang Yunchong's face twisted with rage, glaring fiercely at Xiao Chen before flying back.
"Haha! What an idiot!" the Ancient White Tiger laughed heartily.