Taking Yao Chen as Master

Taking Yao Chen as Master

Xiao Yan considered himself absolutely not someone who lusted after beauty.

Even with Xiao Mei, Xiao Xun'er, yesterday's Nalan Yanran, or even those gorgeous women Xiao Ning had taken him to see at Ningchun Tower that day, Xiao Yan had never felt any greed or longing in his heart.

Yet this Phantom Woman before him made Xiao Yan let out a deep sigh from the bottom of his heart for the first time.

How could there be such a flawless, perfect woman in this world?

Xiao Yan was only stunned for a moment before coming back to his senses. He hurriedly cupped his fists and lowered his head.

"Junior has offended you! Please forgive me!"

"It's fine, it's fine~ Every man who sees me reacts like that~" The Phantom Woman did not Care About Xiao Yan's offensive gaze. She lightly waved a hand and smiled. "Actually, if you didn't react that way, I'd be sad instead~"

It was obvious that the Phantom Woman had absolute confidence in her appearance—enough to be called narcissism.

But it was the truth!

The Phantom Woman's beauty absolutely gave her every right to be narcissistic!

Xiao Yan did not dare look at the Phantom Woman's exquisite face again, afraid that he would fall under its spell once more. Keeping his head lowered, he respectfully asked,

"May Junior ask why Senior has appeared before me?"

"You're too serious, Kid. No little girl will like you if you keep acting like this~"

The Phantom Woman seemed somewhat dissatisfied with Xiao Yan's respectfulness and teased him softly.

Xiao Yan merely replied calmly,

"Etiquette must not be neglected."

"..."

This left the Phantom Woman speechless.

It was the first time she had encountered someone as rigid as Xiao Yan. But when she had observed him before, he had not seemed this rigid, had he?

After thinking briefly, the Phantom Woman immediately understood why Xiao Yan was treating her with such respect.

Looks like he considered me an outsider.

When dealing with acquaintances, Xiao Yan was not exactly reckless, but he was fairly casual.

When dealing with strangers, however, Xiao Yan was always exceedingly proper, leaving the other party unable to find even Half a Bit of discourtesy.

"Forget it, let's put that aside for now." The Phantom Woman lightly shrugged and looked towards Xiao Yan. "Do you know where I came from?"

"Junior boldly guesses that Senior emerged from the ring my mother left behind for me."

Xiao Yan answered solemnly, word by word.

Xiao Yan had keenly Noticed it earlier. After the Phantom Woman appeared, the ring around his neck—his mother's keepsake—also emitted the same aura as the Phantom Woman.

"Your soul strength is pretty impressive. You could sense even that?"

Upon hearing Xiao Yan's answer, the Phantom Woman was truly surprised. She did not believe Xiao Yan had merely guessed; he must have sensed the aura on the Ring to answer so precisely.

At that moment, the Phantom Woman truly became deeply interested in Xiao Yan.

"Then guess again. Why did I come out?"

"If Junior's guess is correct, Senior must have only recently awakened and specifically chose to appear before Junior while Junior was alone."

Xiao Yan's answer made the Phantom Woman pause, her brows knitting slightly.

"Since you could even guess that, you should also be able to guess what caused the abnormal change in your body, right?"

"..."

This time, Xiao Yan fell silent. The Phantom Woman did not press him, merely watching him quietly.

It was not that Xiao Yan did not know the answer. It was precisely because he knew that he could not say it, because Xiao Yan did not know what kind of person she was.

If she was narrow-minded, then stating the answer would be an offense against her, a reproach of her, and would very likely arouse her dissatisfaction.

Therefore, Xiao Yan could only remain silent.

Such a steady temperament was truly rare even among the powerful experts she had once known. If Not for Xiao Yan's stature, the Phantom Woman truly could not believe he was merely an underage child.

Of course, Xiao Yan could also have chosen to say he did not know.

But the Phantom Woman, who had secretly observed Xiao Yan for many days, clearly knew that Xiao Yan Would Never lie, no matter whom he faced.

This youth not only publicly promoted the Righteous Path he believed in; he himself adhered to it with strict discipline.

If even he violated his own Righteous Path, then this so-called Righteous Path would be false and unworthy of belief.

From the bottom of his heart, he wanted to spread the Righteous Path within his heart.

"Meeting a child like you makes me feel even more guilty."

The Phantom Woman sighed deeply. To take without asking was theft. Over the past three years, she had continuously stolen Xiao Yan's Dou Qi. Xiao Yan had every right to condemn her, even hate her.

Yet Xiao Yan did not. That was one reason the Phantom Woman felt guilty.

In turn, this made the Phantom Woman even more willing to take a gamble on Xiao Yan!

"I don't feel like keeping you in suspense anymore." The Phantom Woman spoke softly, then her expression turned serious as she Looked Towards Xiao Yan. "Kid Xiao Yan, I can help restore your strength to what it once was. In exchange, I hope you can agree to one condition."

Hearing the Phantom Woman's words, Xiao Yan could not help but feel exhilarated.

He wanted to spread his Righteous Path, and the foundation for spreading it was strength!

Strength was indispensable!

"Please speak, Senior!"

"Learn alchemy from me."

!!!

The instant the Phantom Woman finished speaking, Xiao Yan's heart jolted.

An alchemist!

The most prestigious profession on the Dou Qi Continent!

"Senior, you are an alchemist?!"

"That's right~ As for what rank... too much time has passed, so I've forgotten." The Phantom Woman lightly shrugged, then continued, "In any case, as long as you agree to learn alchemy from me, I will certainly help restore your strength to what it once was. I will even give you my full support on your future path of cultivation."

"Are you willing?"

The Phantom Woman's question was completely unnecessary.

An alchemist personally seeking you out to teach you the art of alchemy—who would refuse?

Unless that person had rocks for brains!

Xiao Yan immediately dropped to one knee and respectfully bowed to the Phantom Woman.

"Disciple greets Master!"

"Mm~ Very good." Seeing Xiao Yan act so decisively, the Phantom Woman nodded in satisfaction. Then a trace of displeasure appeared on her face. "But don't call me Master. It makes me sound old."

Though she truly was not young, the Phantom Woman could not stand hearing even Half a Bit of wording associated with aging linked to her, even an honorific like Master.

This put Xiao Yan in a difficult position.

If he could not call her Master, then what should he call her?

The Phantom Woman saw Xiao Yan's confusion and spoke first.

"My surname is Yao, and my given name is Chen. Just call me Sister Chen. It sounds younger, and I don't Care About formal honorifics that much."

"This..." Xiao Yan paused, then asked uneasily, "Wouldn't that be too disrespectful?"

"Stop! If you want to learn alchemy from me, you have to follow my rules!"

Yao Chen immediately cut Xiao Yan off. Although she truly appreciated Xiao Yan's respect for his teacher and his devotion to the proper way, it was genuinely irritating at times.

Xiao Yan lowered his head and pondered for a moment before asking,

"For my future teacher, Xiao Yan truly cannot use such a disrespectful form of address. May I respectfully call you Elder Yao?"

"Mm... barely acceptable. At least it doesn't have the word 'old' in it."

After considering it for a moment, Yao Chen lightly nodded, accepting Xiao Yan's chosen form of address.

Given Xiao Yan's personality, this was probably the furthest he could compromise.