Forty-Eight: Shameless Apprenticeship Antics!

Looking at the calm, confident expression on the young man's face, Xiao Yi Xian fell silent for a moment. A trace of gloom crossed her pretty face before she gently bit her pearly teeth and nodded.

"Alright, I'm willing!"

Since he was so sincere, what was the harm in trusting him once? After all, becoming an Alchemist had always been her dream!

"Then come with me."

Xiao Dongchen shrugged, a faint smile hanging at the corner of his lips. Under the gazes of the surrounding onlookers, he slowly headed outside.

"Everyone, I won't be treating patients today. Sorry for the trouble!"

Xiao Yi Xian gave the people around her a slight bow, her face full of apology. Then she turned and followed the young man out of the apothecary.

After leaving, they wound through several streets. At the end of the road, Xiao Dongchen found an inn, rented a room with a large bed, and pulled the girl inside.

Renting a room in broad daylight?

Xiao Yi Xian blinked her beautiful eyes. Before she could react, the young man had already taken her small hand and led her to the room.

"This is..."

Standing outside Room One of the Heavenly Wing, Xiao Yi Xian hesitated. A hint of nervousness flashed through her bright eyes, while a blush rose on her lovely face.

"What are you standing around for? I'm taking you to become a disciple!"

Xiao Dongchen had not understood at first, but the moment he saw Xiao Yi Xian's bashful manner, realization struck him. He looked the girl in the white dress up and down, unable to stop himself from swallowing.

Breathing in her faint fragrance and looking at her delicate, soft body, her pure face, and her half-willing, half-reluctant posture, his heart trembled fiercely.

They had already rented a room. They were at the final step, so why not...

Shaking his head, he took a deep breath and suppressed the restless flames of desire within him. His dark eyes gradually cleared.

"Ahem, don't misunderstand, Junior Sister. Accepting a disciple on my master's behalf is simply part of the process."

Xiao Dongchen coughed lightly, released her jade-like hand, and smiled awkwardly.

"Mm. If you dare try anything improper, I'm not someone easy to bully."

Still unable to resist the allure of becoming an Alchemist, Xiao Yi Xian bit her thin lip and stepped into the room, issuing a quiet warning.

"Rest assured, my character is impeccable!"

Xiao Dongchen smiled slightly, followed her inside, and casually slid the bolt into place.

Seeing this, Xiao Yi Xian grew even more suspicious. She retreated several steps to the window before relaxing slightly and asking calmly, "Tell me, were you lying to me?"

She knew her own constitution all too well.

Yet Xiao Dongchen stood with his hands behind his back, looking like some transcendent master. He curled his lip and declared domineeringly, "The Woeful Poison Body, right? That's not difficult to resolve. As for becoming an Alchemist, if I say you can do it, then you can!"

Hearing this, the usually composed Xiao Yi Xian showed genuine shock. Her beautiful eyes lit up, and her heart pounded wildly.

Who would understand?

This man really was not some wandering con artist!

He could see through her constitution at a glance, and his background was powerful. Perhaps he truly was her great stroke of fortune!

The Woeful Poison Body had forced her to hide everywhere like a harbinger of disaster. Now, there was truly hope of recovery—and perhaps she could become the Alchemist she had always dreamed of becoming!

A master was a master precisely because he could strike the heart of the matter with a single sentence. It was simply marvelous!

The moment he said that, her trust in the young man soared!

"Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up and do it!"

Xiao Yi Xian's soft voice carried a trace of excitement, her eyes filled with impatience.

"Fine, fine. Don't rush. Sit down first."

Xiao Dongchen gestured with his hand and smiled. Then he walked over and drew the curtains, plunging the room into darkness.

Next, he casually tossed out several Moonlight Stones to illuminate the room. Light flashed from his Storage Ring as he took out and hung up a self-made famous painting. Then he placed an incense burner on the table, lit three sticks of incense, and inserted them into it.

W-What kind of setup was this?

Xiao Yi Xian looked at the landscape painting, a hint of confusion flashing through her clear eyes.

Within sheer cliffs and towering mountains, a vast waterfall poured down from the mountaintop, splashing countless droplets into the air. On a bluestone at the foot of the mountain stood a lean figure with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the falls with an otherworldly air.

"This is the founder of our Supreme Pill Sect, Senior Wu Yazi. Come over. Let's conduct the disciple-acceptance ceremony."

Looking at the ink-wash painting, Xiao Dongchen nodded in satisfaction. Though he had failed to capture that trace of divine essence, merely resembling him by thirty percent was already enough to convey an invincible bearing!

In truth, the person in the painting was himself. He had drawn it casually when he had been bored before, and it just happened to come in handy today.

As long as you believed me, I could use things you did not understand to fool you. Other than believing me to the end, you had no other choice!

Those who recited my true name could use it to show off in the cycle of reincarnation!

"Oh, coming."

Having completely trusted the young man, Xiao Yi Xian did not hesitate in the slightest. She walked over and stood beside him.

"The whole ceremony is simple. It has three steps. Just follow my instructions!"

Beneath Xiao Dongchen's solemn exterior, a teasing glint flashed through his eyes, and the corners of his lips unconsciously curved upward.

"Alright, I'll listen to you."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded. Anticipation flashed through her watery eyes as she looked at the figure in the painting with deep reverence.

"First bow to Heaven and Earth!"

Xiao Dongchen shouted softly, barely holding back his overflowing laughter. He stepped forward, took the girl's jade-like hand as they stood side by side, and gestured for them to bow together.

Xiao Yi Xian froze briefly, glancing at the young man. Then, with bashfulness on her face, she bowed to Heaven and Earth together with him.

"Second bow to the elders!"

Next, Xiao Dongchen pulled the girl around to face the painting. He took a light breath, pressed his lips together, and bowed with her.

"Senior and junior disciples bow to each other!"

At this moment, the two stood facing one another, their eyes meeting. Across that small distance, a faint affection seemed to quietly spread between them.

A moment later, they smiled at each other and bowed. The ceremony was complete!

"Junior Sister!"

"Senior... Senior Brother!"

"Ah~"

Xiao Dongchen answered with a drawn-out sound of enjoyment, the smile on his lips impossible to hide any longer.

"Senior Brother, why are you so happy after my apprenticeship ceremony is complete?"

Xiao Yi Xian blinked, her delicate brows lightly furrowing in confusion.

"Junior Sister, I'm happy for you from the bottom of my heart. With you joining us, our Supreme Pill Sect has finally gained new branches and leaves!"

Xiao Dongchen lightly patted her fragrant shoulder, subtly wrinkling his nose as he spoke with a righteous expression.

"New branches... and leaves?"

Xiao Yi Xian murmured, blinking softly as she felt that something seemed a little off.

"Alright, Junior Sister. We've known each other for so long, but I still don't know your name."

Changing the subject, Xiao Dongchen asked casually.

"Well... my surname is Zhao, but I don't have a name yet. My past is filled with painful experiences."

Xiao Yi Xian's gaze dimmed, and her willow brows drew together as though she had recalled the hurts of the past.

"Let the past stay in the past. Today is a good day. How about I give you a name on my master's behalf as well?"

Xiao Dongchen reached out and stroked her smooth hair, comforting her softly. Then his eyes shifted, and he said with a faint smile.

"That works. I'll take it as saying farewell to the past."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded and glanced at the young man, boundless hope rising in her heart.

"Good!"

Xiao Dongchen smiled slightly, looked around, and finally noticed the painting.

"Ah, seeing this painting has suddenly inspired me. I feel compelled to recite a poem."

After pondering for a moment, he hummed twice, clasped his hands behind his back, and began to recite elegantly.

"The sun shines on the incense burner, birthing Purple Smoke; afar, a waterfall hangs before the river. Its torrent plunges three thousand feet; it seems the Milky Way has fallen from the Ninth Heaven."

"Excellent poem, excellent poem! I plan to use this poem as inspiration to grant you a name. What do you think?"

With a smile at his lips, the young man stroked his chin and asked with a playful expression.

"The sun... shines on the incense burner... birthing... Purple Smoke. Purple Smoke, Purple Smoke... that's a nice name. From now on, I'll be called Zhao Purple Smoke. Thank you, Senior Brother, for giving me a name!"

After murmuring to herself, Xiao Yi Xian's eyes lit up. Her watery eyes blinked, her thin lips curved upward, and a bright smile instantly appeared on her face.

She had a name now. He had given it to her. How wonderful...

Well, she was even answering before I could ask!

Still, I think Zhao Galaxy sounds more domineering. Hehe!

Xiao Dongchen smiled somewhat strangely as he looked at the excited girl, though a trace of emotion welled up in his heart.

Ah, this silly girl!

She was clearly so kind and intelligent, yet once she trusted someone, she truly threw herself into it without hesitation!