"Can You Let Me See What Your Face Looks Like?"

Xiao Yan felt like he was hearing things.

The proud daughter of heaven of the Jia Ma Empire, the young sect mistress of the Misty Cloud Sect.

He knew exactly how proud Nalan Yanran was deep down.

And now she was asking to become his maid?

So, if the girl who had been so determined to break off the engagement simply changed identities, he could see this side of her, humbled and submissive?

Xiao Yan suddenly found it rather amusing.

He put his mask back on and opened the door.

Outside, Nalan Yanran was still dressed in a green-and-white robe. Her slender waist was slightly bent, and a faint blush born of shame stood out vividly on her exquisite, gorgeous face, which was no less beautiful than Xun Er's.

"Master Yan, please allow me to serve as your maid." Nalan Yanran spoke stiffly. Yan Xiao's scrutinizing gaze made her uncomfortable.

"Hmph." Xiao Yan snorted, his voice calm. "The young sect mistress of the Misty Cloud Sect is willing to lower herself so much that she is voluntarily asking to become my maid?"

Nalan Yanran pressed her lips together. "Master Yan, I am willing to be your maid for half a year, but I also ask that you grant me one request."

Xiao Yan became interested. The faint mischievous urge in his heart made him suddenly want to hear more.

"Speak."

Having received permission, Nalan Yanran hurriedly said, "Master Yan, my grandfather, Nalan Jie, is afflicted with Brand Poison. He has relied on his cultivation to suppress it for years, but he is about to reach his limit."

"My request is that, if my grandfather's Brand Poison truly erupts, please give the Nalan Clan a chance to make a deal with you."

Xiao Yan was taken aback. "Only a chance to make a deal?"

Nalan Yanran nodded. "Yes, only a chance to make a deal. When the time comes, the Nalan Clan will show you every reward we can offer. You can decide then whether you are willing to treat my grandfather. We will never force you."

Since Nalan Yanran had put it that way, Xiao Yan could not help curling his lips into a smile. He no longer refused. "In that case, you had better be a qualified maid over the next half year."

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

Above Black Rock City.

On a small Flying Boat carried by a flying magical beast.

Xiao Yan stood on the deck of the Flying Boat, wearing the Sixth-Rank Alchemist robe that had only recently been delivered.

The fierce wind howled past, yet it did not stir even a corner of his robes.

"Master Yan, please have some fruit." Nalan Yanran stood beside him with a tray of fruit, picked one up, and brought it to Xiao Yan's mouth.

Xiao Yan did not stand on ceremony and opened his mouth.

Juice splashed onto the corner of his lips, and Nalan Yanran hurriedly wiped it away with a handkerchief.

Xiao Yan glanced at her and said flatly, "Don't let it happen again."

Nalan Yanran hurriedly nodded. "Yes."

"Go wait inside. I want to enjoy the wind." Xiao Yan sent her away.

Nalan Yanran obeyed and left on her own.

After returning to the room, she recalled Xiao Yan's silhouette and grew curious.

During these days of serving as his maid, she had naturally come into contact with Xiao Yan a few times.

Since Xiao Yan had not concealed himself, and since she was observant,

Nalan Yanran discovered that Xiao Yan's occasionally exposed hands, along with certain other features, showed that he currently possessed only a young man's body.

Combined with Xiao Yan's youthful voice, Nalan Yanran guessed that Xiao Yan had probably taken some pill that preserved one's appearance or restored one's youthful body.

As for whether Xiao Yan might have originally been nothing more than a young man?

Nalan Yanran had never considered that possibility.

How could there possibly be such a young Sixth-Rank Alchemist in this world? It was far too unbelievable.

If such a monstrous genius truly existed,

then how could someone like that remain in the tiny Jia Ma Empire? And how could he be so approachable?

Yes, approachable.

That was the conclusion Nalan Yanran had reached over the past few days.

She found that although Xiao Yan's words were sharp and his demeanor cold, he was nowhere near as arrogant in his actions as a Sixth-Rank Alchemist ought to be.

He said he wanted her to properly fulfill her duties as a maid, yet he rarely ordered her around in daily life.

Even their meals were prepared by this alchemy master himself, who used flames to roast wild game. He was completely self-reliant.

Just like earlier—although he had said not to let it happen again, he was actually worried about her standing out in the wind with him, which was why he had sent her back to the room, wasn't it?

Thinking of this, Nalan Yanran inexplicably found Xiao Yan somewhat adorable, and the corners of her lips unconsciously rose.

On the deck of the Flying Boat.

After watching Nalan Yanran return to the room, Xiao Yan summoned Yao Lao.

"Brat Yan, how does it feel to have your former fiancée serving as your maid?" Yao Lao wore a lecherous grin.

Xiao Yan rolled his eyes. "Shameless old man."

"Tsk, is that how you speak to your teacher? You disrespectful little brat." Yao Lao pretended to be angry.

Xiao Yan ignored him completely and poured out his complaints. "Teacher, I really regret it now. I regret agreeing to let her be my maid just for that little bit of amusement!"

"As a maid, she cannot even cook. The moment I took a bite of her food, I nearly threw up, you know?"

"And just now, she even managed to feed me fruit crookedly. She got juice all over my mouth. Is she even human?"

Yao Lao snickered. "Hehe, you brought this upon yourself."

"Once we get off the Flying Boat, find a way to send her away."

Xiao Yan nodded helplessly. "That is the only option."

The little bit of mischief in his heart had basically faded away.

He had originally planned to enjoy Nalan Yanran's service, then reveal his true identity sometime in the future and see what expression she would make.

Yet after only a few days, he was already beginning to feel awkward.

The days on the Flying Boat passed in the blink of an eye.

Three days later.

With Nalan Yanran watching him, Xiao Yan did not do anything.

When the Flying Boat stopped at Desert City, the major city in the easternmost part of the Jia Ma Empire, he quickly disembarked.

Nalan Yanran followed closely behind.

Desert City was where Hai Bodong, the angel investor from the original story, had opened his map shop.

"Master Yan, where are we going next?" It was also Nalan Yanran's first time in a border city like Desert City, and she curiously looked around.

Ever since discovering that Yan Xiao was not as stern and unapproachable as he appeared, she had gradually stopped being so restrained around him.

Xiao Yan adjusted his mask and said, "Not we. Me!"

"I am going to look for something next. You would only be a burden if you came along."

Nalan Yanran froze. "Master Yan, you mean...?"

Xiao Yan said bluntly, "I no longer need you as my maid. You may leave my side now."

Nalan Yanran lowered her head, her voice despondent. "Master Yan, was there something I did poorly?"

Xiao Yan's lips twitched beneath his mask. Right now, he really wanted to curse, There is not a single thing you have done properly.

But that would ruin his bearing, so he did not say it.

"You have done well, but I already made it clear in my previous words. What I am about to do next—you would only be a burden."

Nalan Yanran pressed her lips together and asked, "Then what about my earlier request...?"

"I agreed to it. In a few months, I will go to the capital of the Jia Ma Empire for the Alchemist Conference. At that time, I will help remove your grandfather's poison. Have the Nalan Clan prepare the payment." Xiao Yan sounded unconcerned.

Nalan Yanran's eyes lit up. She had not expected Xiao Yan to agree.

"Sure enough, you are someone with a hard mouth and a soft heart." Nalan Yanran quietly said with a smile.

Xiao Yan could not be bothered to listen to her muttering and directly sent her away. "Find somewhere to go on your own now. Do not follow me. Understand?"

Nalan Yanran nodded repeatedly. "I understand!"

Then, gathering her courage, she wanted to satisfy her curiosity.

"Master Yan, can you take off your mask and let me see what your face looks like?"