Teasing Ya Fei

By his reckoning, Nalan Yanran would be coming to the Xiao Family to break off the engagement in another week or two.

And Xiao Yan would proclaim those words that would echo through the ages: "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—never mock a young man's poverty."

Speaking of Xiao Yan, his cultivation talent had suddenly returned three months ago.

He had now cultivated to the Sixth Stage of Dou Qi. Xiao Kun wondered how Yao Lao would react when he learned that the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid unique to him had actually been given to Xiao Yan by Xiao Kun.

This situation had likely arisen because the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid Xiao Kun gave him had multiplied Xiao Yan's cultivation speed several times over, causing Yao Lao to awaken ahead of time.

This also confirmed Xiao Kun's suspicion that Yao Lao had indeed been asleep before.

After Yao Lao awakened, Xiao Yan became spirited and full of fighting intent once more. His relationship with Xiao Xun'er had even grown sweeter, leaving Xiao Kun, who was constantly subjected to their lovey-dovey displays, speechless.

Since Xiao Yan was always showing off his affection in front of him, Xiao Kun had started considering finding a girl to spend time with as well. In all of Wu Tan City, the one who moved him most was Ya Fei from the Mitel Auction House.

Lost in thought, Xiao Kun kept walking. When he looked up, he realized he had arrived at the entrance of the Mitel Auction House. Since he was already here, he went inside.

He casually said to a maid, "Hello, I'm here to see Ya Fei. Please let her know."

The maid who recognized Xiao Kun brought him to a reception room before going to inform Ya Fei.

A moment later, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, and a figure in red pushed the door open and entered.

Xiao Kun looked at Ya Fei as she approached, clad in a red cheongsam that highlighted her alluring figure. He took a light breath and caught a refreshing fragrance that stirred one's imagination.

"After so long, Sister Ya Fei is still as beautiful as ever. No wonder so many people in the city think of you day and night."

"Oh? Does that include you too, Little Brother Xiao Kun?"

Faced with Xiao Kun's teasing, Ya Fei immediately shot back without any courtesy.

And Xiao Kun, who had ulterior motives, naturally admitted it without hesitation.

"Of course. Sister Ya Fei's beauty truly has me thinking of you day and night, unable to sleep at night!"

Faced with Xiao Kun's frank admission, a blush appeared on Ya Fei's face. At a loss for words, she could only change the subject.

"Little Brother Xiao Kun wouldn't visit without a reason. You must have come to see me about something today, right?"

"I do have something to discuss, but I really did come because of you, Sister Ya Fei."

With that, Xiao Kun revealed his Dou Qi Armor.

"Da Dou Shi!"

Ya Fei cried out in surprise. She had never expected fifteen-year-old Xiao Kun to have already reached the Da Dou Shi realm.

She was twenty-two and had only just become a Dou Zhe. The gap between them was simply incomparable.

And if she wanted to take control of her own fate, the Dou Zhe realm was far from enough. At that thought, a bitter smile appeared at the corner of Ya Fei's lips.

"Little Brother Xiao Kun, what does this mean?"

Though Ya Fei was shocked, she was also puzzled by Xiao Kun's decision to reveal his strength.

"Because I want to show you, Sister Ya Fei, that I have the strength and potential to take care of and protect you!"

Having said half of it, Xiao Kun believed Ya Fei would understand what he meant.

Hearing words that were practically a confession, a faint blush appeared on Ya Fei's delicate cheeks once again.

However, she was exceptionally skilled at handling interpersonal matters. She immediately smiled sweetly. "Then that will depend on your future performance, Little Brother Xiao Kun."

Xiao Kun smiled as well. "Please wait and see!"

Xiao Kun knew Ya Fei might not take his words too seriously, since they had come too suddenly. But he was in no hurry. He still had a year before coming of age, plenty of time to build their relationship properly.

After teasing her for a while, Xiao Kun felt that too much was as bad as too little, so his expression promptly turned calm again.

"There's one more matter I came for. I'd like to ask Sister Ya Fei for help. I want to purchase some medicinal ingredients to refine pills."

Ya Fei took the list of medicinal ingredients Xiao Kun had written and glanced through it. She discovered that it even included ingredients for refining a Fourth Grade Pill, the Qi Gathering Powder. Startled, she casually asked,

"Little Brother Xiao Kun, can you refine Fourth Grade Pills too?"

Xiao Kun knew this was a perfect opportunity to show off, so he answered confidently, "Of course. Even my master says I'm a genius seen once in a century."

Seeing that Xiao Kun had actually admitted it, Ya Fei's heart became even more turbulent.

"We can provide you with the ingredients for First to Third Grade Pills right now. As for the ingredients for Fourth Grade Pills, we'll need a few days before we can deliver them."

"Alright, then give me the ingredients for First to Third Grade Pills first. I'll come back in a few days for the Fourth Grade ones."

After completing the transaction, Xiao Kun felt they had spent enough time together today and returned home.

As Ya Fei thought about Xiao Kun's strength and his rank as an alchemist, a thought could not help but surface in her mind. If things go well between us in the future, being with Xiao Kun wouldn't be so bad. At that thought, her earlobes quietly turned crimson.

A moment later, Ya Fei abruptly shook her head, suppressing the absurd thought.

One evening, Xiao Kun finished cultivating. Between cultivation and pill refinement, two weeks had already passed. Tomorrow would be the Xiao Family's annual strength test.

Tomorrow, Xiao Yan would also wash away the humiliation he had endured over the past three years. As Xiao Yan's Third Brother, Xiao Kun naturally had to witness this historic moment.

The next day, when Xiao Kun arrived at the square where the Test Magic Stone Tablet stood, it was already packed with people.

However, when those around him saw Xiao Kun appear, the square suddenly fell silent before becoming even noisier than before. They seemed to be wondering why the genius who had not taken the test for a year had appeared again.

As for why Xiao Kun had not come to test a year ago, it was because he had already reached the Dou Master realm at the time. To keep a low profile, and for the family to retain a hidden trump card, they had agreed to his request not to take the test.

Xiao Kun swept his gaze around and spotted Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er standing at the front. He then walked straight toward them.

As he passed through the crowd, everyone who saw the Xiao Family's once-in-a-century genius approaching instinctively moved aside to clear a path.

When Xiao Kun reached Xiao Yan's side and saw his confident expression, he greeted the two of them and smiled. "Fourth Brother, today you can finally wipe away your past humiliation."

"Mm-hm. I still have to thank Third Brother for the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid you gave me."

"Not at all. It was all your own effort."

As the two spoke, it was finally Xiao Yan's turn to be tested.

"Xiao Yan."

Hearing the tester call his name, Xiao Yan slightly raised his head and swept his gaze over the crowd. Looking at the gloating expressions all around him, he merely strode toward the black stone tablet. The confidence on his face made many clansmen who had wanted to mock him awkwardly shut their mouths.

Under the gaze of the entire crowd, Xiao Yan walked up to the black stone tablet and extended his hand. A moment later, a brilliant light burst from the tablet, and the words that appeared made every heart in the square seem to stop for an instant.

"Dou Qi... Sixth Stage."

The entire square instantly fell silent. Amid their shock, everyone realized that the Xiao Family's Fourth Young Master had regained his talent.

Seeing the scene before him, Xiao Kun could not help but feel happy for Xiao Yan. He believed that after this test, news of Xiao Yan's restored talent would spread throughout Wu Tan City, and the stigma of being called trash would be washed away.

That evening, after returning to his room, Xiao Kun thought that tomorrow should be the day Nalan Yanran came to break off the engagement. He wondered what Nalan Yanran would do when she saw that Xiao Yan's talent had returned.

With that question in mind, Xiao Kun passed the night.

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