Xiao Yuan's departure was already on a countdown.
But during this time, Xun'er stopped cultivating and turned into his little shadow, sticking by his side every day.
She cherished every minute, every second.
If the two of them hadn't been forbidden from sleeping together, Xun'er would probably have wanted to stay in his room all night.
At last, on the day before he left, Xiao Yuan managed to persuade Xun'er to stay at the Xiao Clan.
As for him, he headed to the Auction House to take care of the remaining matters with Ya Fei.
This time, though, he wasn't taken to the reception room from before, but to a room in the Auction House's back courtyard.
"Is this your boudoir?"
Xiao Yuan sat in a chair, freely taking in his surroundings.
The room's furnishings were simple, without much decoration, but it had a dressing table that was unmistakably a woman's, and the colors were warm.
There was also the rich, sweet fragrance he could smell as soon as he stepped inside.
"Of course. After all, little brother, you're my honored guest. How could I neglect you while we discuss important matters?"
Ya Fei covered her red lips and giggled.
What she said did make sense.
So Xiao Yuan didn't think much of it. He simply sat there, quietly savoring his tea, and let Ya Fei make the arrangements.
Before long, several maids brought in food and wine, setting them out on the table one by one.
Ya Fei invited him to take a seat, and Xiao Yuan didn't refuse. He sat directly across from her.
Just as when they'd first met in the reception room, Ya Fei busied herself once more, serving him food and pouring his wine like a maid.
By now, she no longer dared—or could—treat Xiao Yuan like a child.
After all, she had received so much from him...
Xiao Yuan's gaze, however, remained fixed on Ya Fei.
Today, Ya Fei wore a black-and-red robe dress. Compared with that red cheongsam, it was a little less bold and bewitching.
The stately black made her look even more elegant.
The dark hem also made her long, rounded legs look even fairer.
He didn't know whether she was doing it on purpose, but every time she poured wine, she would get up and lean close to him.
Her captivating fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, stoking a fire within him.
And with a hint of coy invitation coloring that enchanting face, she was enough to make a man want to ravish her on the spot.
[Tsk, what a little vixen!]
"Giggle... Little brother, do you like Big Sister's legs?"
Her teasing laughter interrupted his thoughts.
He looked up and met her long, alluring eyes, glistening with moisture.
"Mhm, they're quite pretty."
Xiao Yuan nodded and looked away.
[They're just a little worse than Cousin Xiao Yu's. Those legs... tch, they're practically longer than my life.]
As he thought this, he picked up his glass and took a small sip to steady himself, then continued in an even tone:
"Still, it's surprising. I didn't expect you to have reached the Dou Zhe stage in just a few days, Miss Ya Fei."
He'd noticed earlier that Ya Fei was already a One-Star Dou Zhe!
Ya Fei, however, looked both helpless and amused.
She really wanted to know how this little brother managed to have all sorts of thoughts racing through his head while keeping such a calm, composed expression.
Unable to figure it out, she downed a glass of wine and said softly:
"I have you to thank for that pill, little brother. Otherwise, I don't know when I would've managed to reach the Dou Zhe stage."
"My Marrow Cleansing Powder?"
"Yes. Though when I condensed my Dou Qi cyclone, I still used a Qi Gathering Powder."
Ya Fei smiled with narrowed eyes, but Xiao Yuan sensed something was off.
[Dog System, is the Marrow Cleansing Powder really that potent?]
[I remember Ya Fei was only around the Seventh Stage of Dou Qi before. How much time has even passed?]
[It wasn't this outrageous when I took it.]
[Ding. In response to the host, the user had a deep foundation, allowing the medicinal power of the Marrow Cleansing Powder to be fully unleashed. This effect will last for a period of time.]
[If that's the case, it makes sense. She's from a major clan, after all...]
Ya Fei didn't respond. She simply listened quietly to his inner complaints.
After a few rounds of drinks and several courses of food, the meal came to an end.
Xiao Yuan had been plied with quite a bit of wine, but fortunately, he hadn't gotten drunk.
Ya Fei, by contrast, was already flushed, clearly three parts drunk.
[Heh. A mere Dou Zhe thinks she can outdrink a Nine-Star Great Dou Master? Little vixen, you're getting a little too cocky.]
His thought had barely crossed his mind when he saw Ya Fei suddenly start feeling around his body.
Perhaps because she was quite drunk, she was clumsy with her movements. Her robe dress soon became disheveled, and she even tore open the three buttons at her chest, exposing a broad expanse of snowy skin.
[That's a little dazzling... No, wait! Holy—Big Sister, what are you doing?!]
Xiao Yuan came to his senses and was about to get up and stop her when Ya Fei took out a crystal card she kept close to her body, placed it on the table, and slowly pushed it toward him.
It still carried Ya Fei's warmth and fragrance, and the crest of the Mittel Family was engraved on its surface.
"Little brother, this is a VIP Card for the Mittal Auction House. You can use it at any of our auction houses, and the commission you pay will drop from five percent to two percent..."
"I've also taken care of everything in your Storage Ring. It came to a total of eight hundred thousand gold coins, all of which I put on the VIP Card. I was supposed to take a hundred thousand in commission, but this time... I don't really want to do that. And I know you're going far away, so I've also prepared some healing medicines and daily necessities for you."
As she spoke, Ya Fei slipped the Storage Ring from her finger and placed it on the crystal card.
Looking at these things, he felt a warm current flow through his heart.
Even knowing this was a transaction between them, Xiao Yuan couldn't honestly say he felt nothing.
But...
"Why? That should be your rightful payment. You didn't have to go to so much trouble."
"Why..."
At his question, Ya Fei smiled. She propped her cheek on her left hand and gazed at him with drunken, hazy eyes, her saccharine voice slipping from her red lips:
"Because... little brother, you've helped Big Sister so very much. The cultivation talent I never dared to hope for, and even completing my clan's trial ahead of schedule—those were all thanks to you."
"So today, I'm not only giving you these things. I also plan to give you another gift..."
As she spoke, Ya Fei suddenly stood and swayed over to Xiao Yuan.
She lost her balance and fell into his arms.
[Holy, this is getting intense! Wait, is this vixen really drunk?]
The beauty in his arms made him acutely aware of the restless stirring of little Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan fought the urge to lift the woman in his arms back to her feet.
"Miss Ya Fei, be careful..."
Before he could finish, Ya Fei suddenly covered his eyes with one hand, wrapped her other arm around his neck, and swung herself onto his lap.
Her delicate body pressed against him, while her cool little hand blocked his vision. Xiao Yuan's body stiffened at once.
Then a hot, soft tongue slipped into his mouth.
Feverish and bold!
This kiss was even more intense than Xun'er's!
At this point, there was no need to push Ya Fei away. Doing so would only hurt her feelings.
So Xiao Yuan didn't refuse. He slowly wrapped his arms around Ya Fei's waist.
After a long while, their lips parted.
Ya Fei still didn't lower her hand. She rested her head on his shoulder and whispered softly by his ear:
"Xiao Yuan, Big Sister knows your future is vast, and that you could never belong to me. I also know there's nothing I can give you to repay all your kindness. All I have is this willow-like figure, and maybe little brother wouldn't even find me attractive..."
Ya Fei's voice was thick with self-mockery.
She had thought of Xiao Yuan's Xiao Xun'er, a girl with not only exceptional talent but also a beauty she couldn't hope to match.
She had never felt so defeated before.
"But please don't reject Big Sister, okay?"