"What's up?" Ye Xiao looked at Fang Jing.

"If I become a martial artist, can I preserve my youth forever?" Fang Jing asked.

"I don't know about eternity, but you can probably keep your current looks until you're about fifty," Ye Xiao replied with a smile.

Hearing Ye Xiao's words, both Fang Jing and Xia Mingyue looked at him in disbelief.

"Are you joking?" Fang Jing glared at Ye Xiao.

Ye Xiao laughed and said, "Of course I'm not joking. What? Are you two considering giving it a try?"

Fang Jing and Xia Mingyue exchanged glances, then looked at Ye Xiao again. Xia Mingyue said, "If it really helps with beauty and skincare, of course, we could give it a try."

Ye Xiao looked at Xia Mingyue and Fang Jing, feeling a bit skeptical. Were they really interested just for the beauty and skincare benefits?

It was the first time Ye Xiao heard of someone wanting to practice martial arts for the sake of beauty and skincare.

"You guys aren't joking, right?" Ye Xiao asked, looking at them.

"Do we look like we're joking? Besides, joking with you isn't going to pay the bills," Xia Mingyue rolled her eyes at Ye Xiao and then looked at Fang Jing, saying, "Jinger, if we try it out, we might save a lot of money on beauty products, and we could donate the savings to the Hope Project. What do you think?"

Fang Jing immediately nodded enthusiastically, "Sure, sure, I love doing good deeds. Ye Xiao, don't you think you should do something too?"

Ye Xiao looked oddly at Fang Jing and Xia Mingyue and said, "What does this have to do with me?"

"We're thinking about the Hope Project, aren't you going to sponsor us a bit?" Fang Jing looked at Ye Xiao and said, "At least show some support."

Ye Xiao said, "I have no money."

"We're not asking for money!" Fang Jing said with a mischievous smile.

Ye Xiao saw Fang Jing's mischievous smile and was startled, quickly crossing his arms defensively and seriously said to Fang Jing, "I'm telling you, I, Ye Xiao, am not just any random guy. If you plan to sell my body for money, I won't agree. While it's right to contribute to the Hope Project, this is no way to do it."

"Who's going to sell your body for money? And honestly, how much do you think your body is worth?" Fang Jing said disdainfully, "Do you think you're more valuable than us?"

Hearing this, Ye Xiao was taken aback, glanced up and down at Fang Jing, and quickly retorted, "You... you..."

"What about you, what are you thinking?" Fang Jing immediately said to Ye Xiao, "Let's do the math. If we practice martial arts, we'll save a lot on beauty products. So, can't we use that money to treat you to a meal?"

"Uh, weren't you just talking about donating to the Hope Project?" Ye Xiao quickly said.

Fang Jing quickly responded, "In our eyes, you're like a Hope Project, got any objections?"

"No objections, with such a title, I really have no objections," Ye Xiao quickly said.

"Of course, the Hope Project isn't just you; there are many others. So we'll give you one-tenth, and the remaining nine-tenths will contribute to the country. Now surely you understand what I mean, right?" Ye Xiao said.

"Uh!" Ye Xiao looked at Fang Jing, finally shook his head, "I really don't understand."

Fang Jing, hearing Ye Xiao still not getting it after all this prompting, got a little angry and said, "For us to save on beauty costs, we first need not to need beauty products, right?"

"Oh, I get it now!" Ye Xiao said with a chuckle.

"You got it, right," Fang Jing said, "So now..."

"I'll think about it!" Ye Xiao said.

"You..." Fang Jing glared at Ye Xiao, not expecting him to still be considering.

Ye Xiao said, "To be honest, my sect has rules; we rarely take female disciples, and there must be no romantic entanglements with female disciples, so it's a no!"

"Who wants to be your disciple," Fang Jing immediately retorted with wide eyes.

Ye Xiao got even more puzzled and looked at Fang Jing, saying, "Then what do you mean?"

Fang Jing said, "We're not looking to become your disciples, just want you to teach us a bit. We don't intend to fight like you."

"But it still seems like I need to teach you guys," Ye Xiao said.

Fang Jing immediately crossed her arms and glared at Ye Xiao. Ye Xiao could clearly see the rise and fall of her chest; this girl was angry.

Ye Xiao glanced at Fang Jing, then at Xia Mingyue, then plucked a still-green leaf from some branch, put it in his mouth, turned around, standing by the tree with his back to Fang Jing and Xia Mingyue, without saying a word.

Fang Jing originally wanted to pretend to be angry to make Ye Xiao react, but unexpectedly, Ye Xiao didn't even look at them.

Fang Jing and Xia Mingyue exchanged a glance, feeling a bit troubled.

Practicing martial arts is not an easy thing. In other words, it is extremely difficult. Ye Xiao found it easy because he was cultivating the Nine Yang Divine Skill, a heaven-defying cultivation technique. However, for many martial artists, it's not that simple. They might practice for months, even years, without any improvement in their strength. That kind of pain is something ordinary people cannot comprehend.

"Ye Xiao, what's wrong?" Xia Mingyue suddenly asked Ye Xiao.

"Are you really doing this for so-called eternal youth?" Ye Xiao asked.

Hearing Ye Xiao's words, the two were slightly taken aback. Xia Mingyue forced a smile and said, "Of course, what else would it be?"

"Actually, it's not necessary," Ye Xiao said with a smile. "You know, besides being a martial artist, I am also an alchemist. As long as you wish, I can ensure that you achieve eternal youth without harming your body."

Xia Mingyue and Fang Jing fell silent.

"Actually, it's not about your appearance," Ye Xiao suddenly said.

When Xia Mingyue and Fang Jing heard Ye Xiao's words, they were stunned and looked at Ye Xiao.

Ye Xiao still did not turn around; he was a meticulous and sensitive person.

Whether it was Xia Mingyue or Fang Jing, they were both unparalleled beauties with excellent skin. It was unheard of that they used any skincare or maintenance products. In fact, Ye Xiao recalled that when he visited Xia Mingyue in the morning, even though they hadn't gotten out of bed yet, they looked beautiful even with a slight trace of sleepiness, more beautiful than many who wore makeup.

So, was it really about eternal youth and maintaining appearance? That's just an excuse. They are only in their twenties, not yet at the age where they need to worry about maintaining looks. How can they be lacking confidence in their skin? If so, how are the less attractive supposed to cope?

There's only one possibility!

"You want to help me!" Ye Xiao said calmly.

Hearing Ye Xiao's words, Xia Mingyue and Fang Jing fell silent.

They didn't speak because they knew that Ye Xiao had seen through their intentions.

After everything that happened, Xia Mingyue, who had always been headstrong, had the illusion of being overly sheltered by her parents again.

She left home and went to Minghai City alone, step by step returning to Bird City without going home but staying elsewhere, to prove she is strong, not needing protection.

However, during the time after meeting Ye Xiao, everything seemed to return to that sheltered era.

Especially tonight, Xia Mingyue found herself talking the least. She didn't know what to say. While she could strategize in her career, she was at a loss when facing these so-called martial artists.

As someone who dreams not of needing protection but of protecting others, Xia Mingyue felt she should strive in a direction.

"We don't want to help you," Xia Mingyue said seriously, looking at Ye Xiao.

Fang Jing also put away her previously feigned overbearing attitude and looked seriously at Ye Xiao, saying, "We just want to prove we're not a burden."

"No one said you're a burden!" Ye Xiao said.

Fang Jing said, "No, our wish is simple, at least to have the ability to protect ourselves. We are not children who need to be sheltered at all times."

Ye Xiao slowly turned around, looking at Fang Jing and Xia Mingyue.

He thought Fang Jing's words were the best explanation.

"Haha, I didn't expect you both to be so determined, but the path of martial arts is truly tough," Ye Xiao said, looking at Fang Jing and Xia Mingyue. "There are countless benefits, but martial arts relies not just on effort but also on understanding and talent. I'm not saying you're incapable, but it is very difficult, really difficult."

There was a time when Ye Xiao was not considered a prodigy; he was seen as mediocre.

That was before he obtained the Nine Yang Divine Skill—a time when he was an insignificant disciple of the Qiu Mountain Sect. Well, he did stand out by being prone to creating troubles.

Back then, cultivation was something Ye Xiao hated the most because, often, after many, many days of training, there would be no progress at all, absolutely no progress, not even a little.

At that time, Ye Xiao once believed he was forgotten by the heavens.

It's like when you're in school, working hard day and night, and then still failing an exam. You begin to doubt your intelligence.

That kind of pain is indescribable!

"We are not afraid of hardship!" Xia Mingyue said, looking at Ye Xiao. "We just want to try, at the very least, not to become your burden."

"I said, you're absolutely not my burden," Ye Xiao said. "I am a man; I should protect you both!"

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