The Only One

Since Ya Fei had recognized him, there was no point in Xiao Yan keeping up the act. With a helpless sigh, he removed his hood, revealing his youthful face.

"Sister Ya Fei, how did you recognize me?"

His build had been concealed beneath the cloak, and he had deliberately lowered his voice to make it hard to identify. He should have hidden himself well, yet Ya Fei had recognized him on the spot.

"Hmm~ How did I recognize you~?" Ya Fei smiled and leaned towards Xiao Yan's face, gazing at his gradually reddening cheeks. "You guess~"

"S-Sister Ya Fei!"

As Ya Fei drew closer, the unique fragrance on her body nearly made the innocent Xiao Yan lose himself. He suddenly came to his senses and moved a little farther away from her.

Yao Chen could only shake her head at the sight, inwardly cursing her disappointing disciple.

Since she was teasing you, tease her back! Why were you chickening out? At this rate, any woman you met in the future would have you wrapped around her finger!

Xiao Yan, naturally, had no idea what Yao Chen was thinking. Ya Fei's distinctive scent still lingered around his nose. As if he had understood something, his pupils suddenly contracted.

"From this afternoon?!"

"Though there was only a faint trace left, Sister's nose is very sharp, you know~"

Ya Fei narrowed one eye slightly, causing a thin sheen of cold sweat to form on Xiao Yan's cheek.

She could still smell the scent left behind by just a brief moment of contact, even after an entire afternoon...

"So, little brother, you came to see Sister so late at night and dressed up to hide your identity. What is it?"

Ya Fei loosely folded her arms and asked Xiao Yan with an enchanting smile.

Xiao Yan's mind whirred continuously. In the end, he looked towards Ya Fei with a serious expression.

"Sister Ya Fei, can you keep what I'm about to say a secret?"

"..."

Seeing Xiao Yan's earnest expression, Ya Fei put away her smile and quietly met his gaze.

After quite a while, Ya Fei's crimson lips parted as she answered solemnly.

"Yes."

That single word contained Ya Fei's complete sincerity.

Ya Fei knew how to use sweet words to make others believe her, but she would never use such methods on Xiao Yan.

Since childhood, Ya Fei had been taught by her grandfather to remain wary of everyone, including the grandfather who had taught her that very lesson.

Three years ago, Ya Fei had been sent to Wutan City to gain experience at one of the Clan's businesses. Through business dealings, she came to know Xiao Yan, who was then still prosperous and served as the Xiao Family's representative. They had gradually become acquainted afterward.

Even after Xiao Yan's Dou Qi regressed and he became a good-for-nothing, Ya Fei's impression of him had not diminished in the slightest.

After all, Ya Fei was a merchant. Although she had dabbled in cultivation, she had never placed much importance on it.

Compared to that, she valued this youthful boy's character far more.

In just three short years of knowing him, Ya Fei had come to realize that Xiao Yan might be the only person in this world worthy of her sincere treatment.

This boy was too upright, so upright that he seemed unlike someone from this world.

If she used on Xiao Yan the methods she employed in the Clan business, Ya Fei would never be able to forgive herself.

She was not qualified to tarnish such integrity.

Thus, in answer to Xiao Yan's question, one word spoken from the heart was enough.

Having received Ya Fei's answer, Xiao Yan no longer hesitated. He took out the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid and handed it to her.

"Sister Ya Fei, this is called Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. Dissolving it in water and soaking in it while cultivating can increase the speed of Dou Qi cultivation. I hope to auction it at the Miter Auction House."

Ya Fei reached out and accepted the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. Staring at the emerald-colored droplet inside the bottle with her alluring eyes, she suddenly thought of the Wood Attribute Magic Core she had given Xiao Yan that afternoon.

"You refined this?!"

Ya Fei's eyes lit up as she leaned towards Xiao Yan's face. Xiao Yan gave an awkward laugh and leaned his body back slightly.

"I'm not that capable. I only recently met an alchemist, and she accepted me as her disciple. I only brought this Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid here for auction after obtaining my teacher's permission."

Accepted as an alchemist's disciple?!

Ya Fei was immediately stunned. Then she came back to herself and pointed at the bottle of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid in her hand.

"Shouldn't you keep this for yourself? Why auction it off?"

"W-Well... it's because..." Xiao Yan became incredibly embarrassed at Ya Fei's question. Lightly scratching his cheek, he answered, "I need money."

"..."

Ya Fei was stunned for a moment, then covered her mouth and laughed.

"Ha ha ha ha~ My dear little brother~ You're not only the son of the Xiao Family Clan Leader, but you've also been accepted as an alchemist's disciple. Yet you're selling medicine that should be for your own use because you lack money. Who would believe that?"

Though she said so, Ya Fei did not doubt Xiao Yan's reason in the slightest.

Because he was simply that upright, so upright that he would not tell even a single lie.

With Xiao Yan's character, he would never reach out to his father for money over his own private affairs, even if Xiao Zhan were entirely willing.

As for still lacking money after becoming an alchemist's disciple, there were only two possibilities.

The first was that Xiao Yan's teacher was extremely stingy, so stingy that she was unwilling even to pay for her disciple's materials.

But if that were the case, this teacher probably would not have allowed Xiao Yan to sell the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid either. Thus, the first possibility was unlikely.

If so, there was only the second possibility.

Xiao Yan's teacher truly had no money, not even a single Gold Coin on her.

And that was what shocked Ya Fei.

Alchemists were absolutely not in a profession that lacked money. Even the lowest-grade medicinal pills would have people scrambling to buy them.

But alchemists could still have no money.

High-grade medicinal pills were not things that could be measured by money, so they were mostly traded for other items.

In other words, a high-level alchemist might indeed have no money on her, but she would definitely possess countless Rare Treasures!

Could the alchemist who had accepted Xiao Yan as her disciple be of that level?

Though she harbored such doubts in her heart, Ya Fei did not ask.

She was a very intelligent woman. She clearly knew what should be asked and what should not.

"I understand. I'll take this for now." Ya Fei put away the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid and looked at Xiao Yan with a light smile. "When Uncle Gu Ni arrives tomorrow, I'll have him appraise it."

"Thank you for the trouble, Sister Ya Fei."

As Xiao Yan spoke, he was just about to cup his fists in salute when he noticed Ya Fei's slightly displeased expression and quickly withdrew his hands.

Seeing Xiao Yan lower his hands, Ya Fei nodded in satisfaction. Then her enchanting smile returned to her face.

"Now that business is finished, would little brother like to go to Sister's room?"

"Farewell!"

Before Ya Fei could finish, Xiao Yan, drenched in sweat, pulled up his hood and fled the room without daring to pause for even a moment.

Though he was still underage, he was a male after all. Staying with an irresistible beauty like Ya Fei any longer, Xiao Yan truly could not guarantee that he would not make a mistake.

Watching Xiao Yan flee in a panic, Ya Fei could not help finding it amusing.

"Why run? Sister won't eat you." The moment those words left her mouth, Ya Fei paused slightly before revealing a meaningful smile. "No... that might not necessarily be true~"