Persuading Ya Fei! A Silver Tongue Never Loses

"Sister Ya Fei, what about Xiao Yi Xian?" Chu Zhou asked in return without a change in expression, countless thoughts flashing through his mind.

Xiao Yi Xian was only seventeen, and her body had yet to fully mature. For now, he was earnestly training her as an Alchemy Maid, though he deliberately blurred the boundaries in their daily interactions. It could also count as a youthful romance.

But in front of Ya Fei, they had always behaved properly. Surely this older sister wouldn't get jealous over that.

Even if she were jealous, she wouldn't come at him with such an accusatory attitude.

"She's a Poison Master!" Ya Fei declared, making Chu Zhou understand what was going on.

"I know," Chu Zhou replied calmly.

Ya Fei's expression froze for a moment, and she repeated, "But she's a Poison Master!"

"What's wrong with being a Poison Master?" Chu Zhou asked with a smile.

"Aren't you afraid she has ties to the Chu Yun Empire?" Ya Fei's expression was serious, her tone solemn. "Our Jia Ma Empire and the Chu Yun Empire have been sworn enemies for centuries."

Those words reminded Chu Zhou of a crucial point he had overlooked.

Poison Masters harmed people silently, often without anyone noticing, which made people wary of them.

But using poison didn't mean someone was evil. Ultimately, it was only a kind of attribute.

Within the Jia Ma Empire, however, using poison was synonymous with being a villain.

That was because Poison Masters were the predominant cultivators in the Jia Ma Empire's mortal enemy, the Chu Yun Empire. Most members of its strongest sect and its Imperial Family were Poison Masters as well.

The Jia Ma Empire and the Chu Yun Empire had fought for hundreds of years. Countless people had died at the hands of Poison Masters, and that hatred had naturally been passed down.

That was also why Xiao Yi Xian was shunned whenever her identity as a Poison Master was exposed.

In the Chu Yun Empire, Xiao Yi Xian would be revered and given priority training as a genius. The environment determines one's standing and position. With that clear in his mind, Chu Zhou smiled at Ya Fei. "Sister Ya Fei, have you ever heard of learning the enemy's strengths to overcome them?"

"What does that mean?" Ya Fei clearly hadn't heard it before.

"Learning means studying. The enemy can be an adversary or rival, their strengths are what they excel at, and overcoming them means fighting back." Chu Zhou's voice was as gentle as rain, drawing Ya Fei's full attention. "It means learning your opponent's strengths so you can use them against them."

"The Jia Ma Empire and the Chu Yun Empire have been enemies for so many years, and countless people have died at the hands of Poison Masters. Our military and cultivators have plenty of experience facing Poison Masters, but all of that defensive experience was built on injuries and deaths."

"I think we should train some Poison Masters and learn the Chu Yun Empire's poison arts. Fight Poison Masters with Poison Masters. Only by knowing both yourself and your enemy can you win every battle."

Since Ya Fei was hostile toward Poison Masters and the Chu Yun Empire, Chu Zhou took the Jia Ma Empire's side and spoke in line with her thinking.

"Fight Poison Masters with Poison Masters." Ya Fei pondered the words, her eyes brightening slightly. "Chu Zhou, how did you come up with that?"

"I read a lot and think a lot. Sometimes an idea just comes to me." Chu Zhou smiled modestly before changing tack. "But I'm nobody important, so I can't go around voicing ideas like that. I know everything about Xiao Yi Xian's life from childhood onward. She has no connection to the Chu Yun Empire, but she does have a talent for poison."

"Now that I've become an Alchemist, I want to train her as my Alchemy Maid and let her become a Poison Master along the way. If a Poison Master from the Chu Yun Empire ever attacks me, it'll be easier to handle."

With that explanation, Ya Fei felt somewhat reassured. She smiled. "Since you know her so well, I won't say anything more."

"Besides, however sinister and elusive a Poison Master's methods might be, they won't amount to much against a genius Alchemist like you."

Chu Zhou nodded slightly, then asked in puzzlement, "Sister Ya Fei, how did you discover that Xiao Yi Xian was a Poison Master?"

Given Xiao Yi Xian's cautious nature, along with his efforts to cover for her every day, she shouldn't have been discovered so easily.

"My cultivation talent is mediocre, but this isn't bad." Ya Fei smiled with pursed lips and tapped her head, then casually took out a list and placed it before Chu Zhou.

"These are the medicinal ingredients you've used for alchemy lately. Xiao Yi Xian has picked them up every time."

"I don't know how to refine pills, but I do know which ingredients are needed for the Grade Two Pills you're currently learning to make."

"When I reviewed the compiled list today, I noticed that a few rank-one poisonous ingredients were mixed in with what she took each time."

"Once or twice wouldn't stand out, but when they add up, I naturally have to pay attention."

With Ya Fei's shrewdness, once she had a clear suspicion, she could naturally discover that Xiao Yi Xian was working with poison.

But she hadn't acted on her own. Instead, she had first come to Chu Zhou to confirm whether he knew and find out what he thought.

"Impressive, Sister Ya Fei." Chu Zhou immediately gave her a thumbs-up.

"Don't try to sweet-talk me with that." Ya Fei folded her arms and gave a soft huff. "Now I have to support not only an Alchemist like you, but a Poison Master too."

"I won't let you lose out, Sister Ya Fei," Chu Zhou said confidently.

Xiao Yi Xian was an extraordinary talent who had relied on herself to advance from an ordinary Dou Zhe to a Four-Star Dou Zong in less than seven years.

If Ya Fei invested in Xiao Yi Xian alongside him, the returns would be tremendous.

"You'll keep me from losing out with that mouth of yours?" Ya Fei's tone turned teasing.

Chu Zhou thought, Just my mouth really could keep you from losing out.

"There are tangible benefits, of course." The corners of Chu Zhou's lips lifted as he took out a jade bottle and handed it to Ya Fei.

"Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid?" Ya Fei accepted the jade bottle, pulled out the stopper, and sniffed it. Her beautiful eyes immediately widened.

According to Gu Ni, Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid was a relatively difficult Grade Two Pill to refine. Only an experienced Second-Rank Alchemist could ensure a reliable success rate without wasting medicinal ingredients and magic crystals.

Chu Zhou had actually refined it!?

Gu Ni didn't seem to have taught him yet. All he had was a formula left behind by a fourth-rank Alchemist.

He had only been learning to refine Grade Two Pills for such a short time, yet he had already figured out how to make a high-level Grade Two Pill on his own!?

"Yes, Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid." Chu Zhou leaned closer to Ya Fei, his eyes full of amusement. "Sister, I suppose I'm already a Second-Rank Alchemist."

Whoosh!

Ya Fei's face flushed with excitement, and she sprang to her feet, losing her composure. "I'll go tell Uncle Gu Ni."

"Don't!" Chu Zhou reached out and caught Ya Fei's hand.

Meeting her puzzled gaze, he said, "Sister Ya Fei, surely I don't need to teach you that the tallest tree catches the strongest wind?"

"You mean you don't want to reveal it yet?" Ya Fei immediately understood, a thoughtful look entering her eyes.

"Exactly." Chu Zhou immediately agreed. "A genius gets attention, but if I'm too much of a genius, I'm afraid someone will target me. The Mittel Family has its rivals and enemies. Even within the family, plenty of people don't get along with you, isn't that right, Sister Ya Fei?"

Chu Zhou didn't want to take a master, and he was also taking the opportunity to test Ya Fei.

He wanted to see whether she valued him more as a person or cared more about the benefits.

"You're right." After a moment's thought, Ya Fei nodded. "Being too talented will draw unnecessary attention. It brings benefits, but danger comes with them. For now, we won't let a third person know that you've become a Second-Rank Alchemist."