Ya Fei, Teased

The Mittel Family.

Inside a room.

Ya Fei lounged in a chair, her long legs crossed. A glimpse of pale skin showed beneath her qipao, enough to catch the eye. Her beautiful eyes quietly studied the peerless young talent who had stirred up all of Wutan City.

Xiao Yan looked perfectly at ease. He merely tasted the tea she had brewed herself, then closed his eyes to rest.

He was young, but he knew how to play the game.

He was waiting for me to speak first.

After a moment's thought, Ya Fei broke the silence. She wore her usual soft, alluring smile, and her sweet voice was enough to fluster most men. Xiao Yan, however, only chuckled.

"Sister Ya Fei, we both know where the other stands, so there's no need for me to beat around the bush. I'm going to train in the Magical Beast Mountain Range for a while. During that time, I hope you and the Mittel Family will look after the Xiao Clan," Xiao Yan said calmly.

"Oh?" Seeing someone so young put on such a seasoned air, Ya Fei covered her mouth and laughed. "And what secrets of mine do you know, little brother Xiao Yan?"

"Phew..." Xiao Yan blew gently across his tea. "It would spoil things if I said them aloud. Whatever mess is going on in the Mittel Family, including that marriage alliance, has nothing to do with me."

"..." Ya Fei's pupils contracted.

Those were family secrets. How had he found out?

As the smile stiffened on Ya Fei's lovely face, Xiao Yan only grinned and looked her up and down.

"What are you looking at?" Ya Fei frowned, still wondering which bastard had leaked the news. Seeing the brat stare at her without even trying to hide it, she huffed.

"You're especially beautiful when you take off the mask, Sister Ya Fei," Xiao Yan said with a smile, sipping his tea.

Ya Fei: "..."

Her red lips parted as she looked at Xiao Yan in surprise.

This boy...

She was a woman with almost no talent for cultivation, little different from an ordinary person. Yet she was strikingly beautiful, drawing countless covetous eyes. Without a few tricks up her sleeve, those wolves would have devoured her long ago.

Over the years, she had grown used to wearing a mask and taking pleasure in making those men stumble over themselves.

But this boy refused to play by the usual rules.

Now she felt something different. It was not the interest she had taken in his talent, nor her appreciation of it. Once he had seen through her mask, she felt an inexplicable closeness to him.

"Sister Ya Fei, if you have time, ask the Mittel Family to search for a pill formula that can rebuild one's talent and constitution. Whatever its grade, once my cultivation is high enough, I'll refine it for you," Xiao Yan said softly, tapping a finger on the table.

"What if it's sixth grade?" Ya Fei asked, taken aback.

"Even ninth grade is only a matter of time for me." Xiao Yan smiled openly, without a moment's hesitation.

"I trust the Mittel Family's eye for people. I hope you'll trust my character and talent."

"My word is worth a fortune."

Ya Fei opened her mouth, then stopped. Her gaze toward Xiao Yan softened.

Those who found fame young were often arrogant. Some were so full of themselves they were impossible to approach; others were aloof and knew nothing of dealing with people.

But this fellow was an oddity.

It was his undisguised sincerity that moved her most.

"Well, I've said what I came to say. I'll be off." Xiao Yan smiled, cupped his fists, and turned to leave.

"Wait." The word slipped out of Ya Fei's mouth before she could stop it.

Xiao Yan turned back in surprise. A faint blush rose to her cheeks, and she hurriedly gathered her thoughts. "The Magical Beast Mountain Range is nothing like Wutan City. You must be careful. I may not be strong, but I have a few treasures you might find useful."

With that, she swayed out of the room.

Nearly half an hour passed before she returned.

She held an Advanced Storage Ring, which she pressed into Xiao Yan's hand. Her fingers closed lightly around his wrist, and a smile curved her lips. "Inside is an ice-silkworm mask I've treasured for years. It can disguise your appearance. There are also some pills to help you recover and a Mittel Family VIP card. Show it, and you'll get everything at half price."

"Then thank you, Sister Ya Fei," Xiao Yan said with a smile.

Ya Fei nodded.

But the next moment, the boy stepped forward and opened his arms. Her red lips parted, and before she knew it, she had embraced him.

By the time she came to her senses, even her pale earlobes were red. She tapped his chest with one hand, rolled her beautiful eyes, and gave an alluring huff. "Let go already. You're the first man in all of Wutan City to get this close to me."

"This is only the beginning. One day I'll be your man." Xiao Yan released her slender waist, still savoring her fragrance, and laughed softly.

"You brat! Aren't you afraid a gust of wind will make you bite your tongue?" Ya Fei huffed, though her gentle tone sounded more like flirting.

"When are you coming back?" she asked when he fell silent. Her fingers tightened slightly, and nervousness showed in her eyes.

"Probably..."

Xiao Yan thought for a moment, then raised three fingers under Ya Fei's stunned gaze. "Three months."

Ya Fei: "..."

Her eye twitched. Her brows shot up as she snapped, "Only three months? Why make it sound like such a tearful farewell? You even promised to refine a pill for me. I thought you were leaving for good!"

"Three months is a long time." Xiao Yan shrugged. "I'll be sad going that long without seeing a beauty like you, Sister Ya Fei. That's why I came to see you once more before I left."

Ya Fei covered her mouth and burst out laughing.

"You..." She touched Xiao Yan's forehead with a slender finger. "I don't know where you learned such sweet talk. It might work on an ordinary young girl, but on me? Hmph. Not a chance!"

Xiao Yan only smiled.

If you weren't laughing so hard right now, I might have believed you.

"I'm off!"

With that, he let go of his lingering feelings and flashed out of the Mittel Family residence. Three months was enough time for many things to change.

Walking through the bustling streets, Xiao Yan suddenly remembered something and slapped his forehead. "I should've made it six months instead. I could've gone straight there and settled it. How simple would that have been? Now I have to wait three years..."

But as he headed toward the edge of Wutan City,

the Old Lord's voice unexpectedly rang out.

"I sense the aura of a powerful expert."

"A powerful expert?" Xiao Yan paused. "How powerful?"

"A little weaker than the young attendant who used to watch over my alchemy furnace. No..." The Old Lord stroked his beard, making a careful comparison. "More than a little."

Xiao Yan: "..."

I'm obviously not comparing them to people from your realm. I mean, how strong are they on this continent?

"By this continent's cultivation ranks, probably... a Peak Dou Sheng," the Old Lord said calmly.