Farewell

After the Coming-of-Age Ceremony ended, Xiao Yu returned to his old routine.

The elders visited once during that time, but they understood that, having lived alone for over a decade, Xiao Yu surely disliked being disturbed. After that first visit, they did not come again.

Xiao Zhan also visited a few times, mostly to chat about everyday matters and bring him necessities, cultivation resources, and the like.

Xiao Yan, on the other hand, came often. Ever since discovering Xiao Yu's true strength, he had been full of curiosity about this older cousin of his.

Every so often, he would probe indirectly, hoping to learn something about why Xiao Yu cultivated so quickly.

He was still preoccupied with the Three-Year Agreement. If he could cultivate as fast as his cousin, what the hell would he have to worry about? He could just charge straight in.

Still, he did not hold out much hope. After all, he knew what his cousin's cultivation conditions were like. Apart from unparalleled talent, there was no other possible explanation.

Their relationship had not changed much. If anything, knowing each other's secrets had made them more relaxed around one another.

Well, Xiao Yan believed that after his cousin had detected Yao Lao last time, he knew Xiao Yan had a mysterious expert backing him.

Neither of them had spelled everything out, though. A tacit understanding was enough. Everyone had secrets, after all, and there was no need to dig down to the roots of every matter. Poking through that paper window might only change their relationship and defeat the purpose.

Xiao Yu was also preparing what he needed for his departure. First, he visited Mittel in his guise as the mysterious Alchemist to look for tier-three pill formulas, medicinal ingredients, and other supplies.

Visiting Mittel as the Alchemist, he used Xiao Yu's request on behalf of his clan and Xiao Zhan as a pretext to seek a tier-three pill formula. He promised to refine a batch of pills for the auction house; all they needed to do was prepare the ingredients and formula.

Ya Fei gladly agreed, of course. A week later, she handed Xiao Yu the formula, the ingredients, and a refining fee of seven hundred thousand. The formula was for the tier-three Origin Condensation Pill, a pill that could raise a Da Dou Shi's level. A single Origin Condensation Pill had a fifty-percent chance of raising a Da Dou Shi's strength by one star, with no side effects.

Ya Fei had called in considerable favors and paid a hefty price to purchase this copy from the Alchemist Guild in the Imperial Capital.

Over half a month, Xiao Yu refined twelve Origin Condensation Pills: eight peak tier-three pills and four tier-four pills. He intended to keep three of the tier-four pills and hand over all the rest.

Today, Xiao Yu came to the Mittel Auction House himself, without assuming his identity as the mysterious Alchemist.

He had come under his own identity because he wanted to say goodbye to Ya Fei and Gu Ni.

They had helped him quite a bit over the past few weeks.

He had only just reached the entrance of the Mittel Auction House when an attendant welcomed him into the VIP room.

Ya Fei had specifically instructed that Xiao Yu and a mysterious man in white robes were to be taken straight to the VIP room whenever they came. She had even shown their portraits to her subordinates and warned them not to neglect either guest.

He had barely been sitting in the VIP room for a moment before Ya Fei approached, her slender waist swaying as she radiated an irresistibly seductive charm.

"Little Yu~ What brings you to your Sister Ya Fei today?"

Ya Fei naturally sat down beside Xiao Yu, propped her delicate, beautiful face on one hand, and looked at him with a warm smile.

Xiao Yu glanced at her with a smile. He had grown used to this by now, though he had been rather shy on his first visit.

Once he realized that Ya Fei liked seeing his adorably bashful expression, he made sure to keep smiling every time he visited. He would not give this wicked woman a chance to tease him.

Seeing that Xiao Yu was giving her no opportunity to flirt with him, Ya Fei rolled her beautiful, foxlike eyes. "You're no fun at all, Little Yu."

Watching her act like a pouting young woman, Xiao Yu smiled helplessly. "Stop teasing me, Sister Ya Fei. My teacher sent me here today."

At the mention of the mysterious Alchemist, Ya Fei grew a little more serious. "Does your teacher need me to do something?"

Xiao Yu waved his hand and took out the pills he had prepared. "No. The pills you asked my teacher to refine last time are ready, Sister Ya Fei. He told me to bring them to you."

Ya Fei looked at the two jade bottles on the table in delighted surprise. "Origin Condensation Pills?"

"Yes. My teacher refined ten Origin Condensation Pills in total. Nine are tier three, and he got lucky with one tier-four pill."

Xiao Yu nodded as he spoke.

Ya Fei immediately picked up the pills, her eyes gleaming as she looked at the jade bottles. "One of them is tier four?!"

She was thrilled. She had never imagined that the mysterious Alchemist could actually upgrade a tier-three pill to tier four while refining it.

Ya Fei was not an Alchemist and knew little about refining pills, but she did possess some basic knowledge. Naturally, she understood how outrageous it was to raise a pill's tier. Even Pill King Gu He could not accomplish such a feat.

It was easy to imagine just how terrifying this mysterious Alchemist was.

Moreover, a tier-four pill that could directly raise someone's level would be highly sought after even in the Imperial Capital.

She could imagine the enormous waves this pill would stir up if it appeared in Wutan City.

Putting the pills away, Ya Fei said to Xiao Yu, "Little Yu, please thank your teacher for me. These two bottles of pills have been an enormous help to me."

Xiao Yu waved a hand. "You deserve them, Sister Ya Fei. Besides, my teacher accepted your refining fee."

"Even so, I still have to thank him. And I have to thank you too, little brother."

Ya Fei suddenly leaned toward Xiao Yu, bringing her pretty face close to his.

The sudden movement startled Xiao Yu.

As her orchid-like fragrance drifted into his nostrils, Ya Fei's mature, alluring presence left him a little spellbound.

For a moment, an intimate atmosphere settled between them.

"Ahem, you're too kind, Sister Ya Fei. I'm only helping my teacher. It's what I ought to do."

Noticing the strange atmosphere, Xiao Yu immediately drew back and rose from his chair, clearing his throat awkwardly as he spoke.

He had not forgotten his real purpose for coming today and hurriedly added, "Actually, there's another reason I came today. I'm here to say goodbye to you, Sister Ya Fei."

"Goodbye?"

Ya Fei sat back in her chair and asked with a puzzled expression.

Xiao Yu nodded. "Yes. In a few days, I'll be leaving with my teacher to gain experience out in the world."

That's right. A little place like Wutan City could never contain a genius like Xiao Yu. His future lies across the entire Dou Qi Continent.

Hearing this, Ya Fei felt a wistful sense of loss. Even her delight over the pills faded somewhat.

"Yes, going out to gain experience is naturally a good thing for you. A little place like Wutan City can't offer you a better future."

"It's just that I'll miss you, little brother."

The inexplicable look Ya Fei gave him made Xiao Yu deeply uncomfortable. Since he had already said goodbye, he prepared to leave.

"I'll be going now, Sister Ya Fei. I still have preparations to make before I leave."

"All right. I'll see you out."

Ya Fei nodded and escorted Xiao Yu outside.

At the entrance, Ya Fei noticed that Xiao Yu's collar was a little crooked. Almost without thinking, she reached out with her fair hands to straighten it. "Little brother, when you have time in the future, come visit me often, all right?"

Xiao Yu felt rather awkward. Right now, Ya Fei looked just like a wife straightening her husband's collar before he left on a business trip.

"Yes. When I have time, I'll definitely come back to visit you, Sister Ya Fei."

"Goodbye, Sister Ya Fei."

Once Ya Fei had straightened his collar, Xiao Yu fled the auction house as though making his escape.

"Pfft~"

Ya Fei covered her mouth and laughed. "The little fellow still can't take any teasing."

"Sigh~"

Watching his figure disappear, Ya Fei sighed softly, then reluctantly turned and went back inside.