Ya Fei's Punishment

Ya Fei sat on Ye Xiu's lap, her whole body stiff.

To be honest, she had considered all sorts of possibilities before coming and had prepared herself to be given a hard time. But now that it had come to this, she was still panicking like crazy.

"Se... Senior..."

Ye Xiu said nothing. He gently squeezed her waist.

Ya Fei shuddered, her voice trembling a little. "Senior, Ya Fei... Ya Fei didn't mean it like that..."

"Then what did you mean?" Ye Xiu asked.

Ya Fei bit her lip, her mind racing. She had spent years working at the auction house—what sort of people hadn't she met? But she couldn't get a read on this man at all.

If he wasn't interested in women, then why was his hand on her now? But if he was lecherous, why hadn't he even glanced at her the other times she'd stood in front of him?

"Senior, Ya Fei knows it was wrong of her to come without an invitation. If you want to punish me, I'll accept it..."

She paused, bit her lip, then continued, "It's just that I really do want the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid... If you're willing to sell it to me, I'll pay whatever you ask..."

Ye Xiu patted her waist. "You want the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid? I can give it to you."

Ya Fei's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Mm." Ye Xiu nodded. "I won't just give you the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. I'll also guarantee that you break through to Dou Zhe within two months and become a Dou Shi within a year."

Ya Fei was stunned.

Break through to Dou Zhe in two months?

Become a Dou Shi in a year?

She had been stuck at the seventh segment of Dou Power for nearly three years, and no matter what she tried, she hadn't been able to advance. And now Ye Xiu was telling her he could make her a Dou Shi within a year?

"Senior, you... you're not joking, are you?"

Ye Xiu glanced at her. "Do I look like someone who jokes about this?"

Ya Fei's heart began to race.

She knew what kind of person Ye Xiu was. A Dou Ling powerhouse at such a young age and a fourth-grade Alchemist—he wouldn't make promises like that lightly.

"Then... what would Ya Fei have to do?"

Ye Xiu looked at her, the corners of his mouth curling up. "What do you think?"

Ya Fei blushed and lowered her head.

Ye Xiu was a Dou Ling powerhouse and a fourth-grade Alchemist. He wouldn't make promises like that lightly.

Besides, he was handsome, his talent was monstrous, his strength astonishing, and he could casually produce treasures that others would fight over.

Ya Fei had spent years working at the auction house and had met plenty of so-called prodigy young masters. They were all arrogant, with little ability and plenty of airs. But Ye Xiu was different. He had real skill, and he never put on airs.

A young prodigy like him was someone she admired. Even if... it wouldn't be a loss.

A few seconds later, she gritted her teeth and whispered, "If Senior really can help Ya Fei break through to Dou Zhe, Ya Fei... Ya Fei is willing..."

Ye Xiu said no more. He wrapped an arm around Ya Fei's slender waist and carried her into the room.

The next morning.

Ya Fei came out of the room and saw Ye Xiu lying in a wicker chair in the courtyard, basking in the sun as if nothing had happened.

She bit her lip, unable to say how she felt.

Could she say she felt wronged? Not really. She had come to him herself, and Ye Xiu had made her a promise. Could she say she was happy? That felt complicated, too.

She took a deep breath and walked over to Ye Xiu.

"Senior, Ya Fei will head back now."

Ye Xiu opened his eyes, took a jade bottle from his Storage Ring, and tossed it to her.

"This is the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. Take it."

Ya Fei caught it and froze. She hadn't expected Ye Xiu to simply give her the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid.

Ye Xiu waved a hand. "Go back. If you run into any problems with your cultivation, come find me."

Ya Fei nodded and turned to leave the courtyard.

In the days that followed, Ya Fei came over to Ye Xiu's place every few days.

Sometimes she came in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon, and sometimes at night.

Whenever she came, Ye Xiu would first guide her cultivation.

Ye Xiu wasn't exactly a renowned instructor, but he was now a fourth-grade Alchemist and a Dou Ling. Guiding someone like Ya Fei, who was still at the Dou Power stage, was a piece of cake.

Ya Fei's talent was indeed average, but she worked hard.

Once Ye Xiu had finished advising her on cultivation, he would tell Ya Fei to fix the water pipes.

After doing it again and again, she grew more and more adept at repairing them.

Ye Xiu was increasingly pleased with her.

This woman might not have much talent for cultivation, but she was a quick learner when it came to repairs.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

That night, Ye Xiu sat cross-legged in the backyard.

Boom!

An immensely powerful aura burst forth.

Three-Star Dou Ling—breakthrough!

Ye Xiu opened his eyes and stretched his limbs.

"Not bad. I finally made it to Three-Star Dou Ling."

He stood up and headed inside.

Ya Fei was resting on the bed.

When she saw Ye Xiu come in, she asked weakly, "Senior, did you break through again?"

Ye Xiu nodded. "I'm at three stars now."

Ya Fei: "..."

She was silent for a while, then couldn't help saying, "Senior, isn't cultivation way too easy for you? You broke through one star in just a month."

Ye Xiu came over to her. "You're doing well too. You're at the ninth segment of Dou Power. It won't be long before you break through to Dou Zhe."

Ya Fei was delighted to hear that.

A month ago, she had been at the seventh segment of Dou Power. Now she had advanced two segments in a row.

She used to think breaking through to Dou Zhe was a distant dream. Now she felt it was finally within reach.

"It's all thanks to Senior's guidance." Ya Fei leaned closer to Ye Xiu.

Ye Xiu said nothing, resting a hand on her waist.

After a while, Ya Fei suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Senior, I heard the recruitment team from Jia Nan Academy has arrived in Wutan City."

Ye Xiu's eyes lit up.

They had finally arrived.

"When did they get here?"

"This afternoon," Ya Fei said. "The person leading them is a woman. I think her name is Instructor Ruo Lin, and she's a Da Dou Shi. They've already set up camp north of the city. The recruitment tests start tomorrow."

Ye Xiu nodded.

Jia Nan Academy had finally arrived.

He had been waiting for this day for over a month.

Seeing how interested he seemed, Ya Fei asked, "Are you interested in Jia Nan Academy too, Senior?"

Ye Xiu didn't hide it from her. "Mm. I plan to apply."

Ya Fei was taken aback, then realized that getting into Jia Nan Academy would be effortless for Ye Xiu. Her feelings turned complicated.

If Ye Xiu left, what would happen to her?

But she didn't dare ask.

Ye Xiu seemed to guess what Ya Fei was thinking. "Don't worry. I'll help you break through to Dou Zhe before I leave, and I'll leave you enough cultivation resources to advance to Dou Shi after I'm gone."

Ya Fei felt both happy and a little disappointed.

She was happy that she would finally be able to break through.

But she was disappointed because she didn't know whether she would ever see Ye Xiu again after he left.