Not long after the assessment commotion settled, Lin Fei also entered the other end of the Alchemist Hall, and the results from the First-Rank Alchemist assessment area were announced.
Lin Fei also passed the assessment, officially becoming a First-Rank Alchemist.
When Lin Fei walked out of the examination room wearing a silver ripple badge, her mood was completely different.
Lin Fei looked at the First-Rank badge on her chest, then looked at Mo Yuhan, who was surrounded by everyone in the distance, with two silver patterns shining on his chest; her previous joy was largely diluted, leaving only a complex feeling of "comparing oneself to others is infuriating."
As for Xue Mei, her cool gaze swept over her own badge, then looked at Mo Yuhan, and the sense of urgency in her heart grew even stronger.
After the assessment, Mo Yuhan's name spread like wildfire, instantly reaching the entire Black Rock City Alchemist Guild and even beginning to spread outward. A nine-year-old Second-Rank Alchemist—this news was enough to shake the entire Gama Empire!
Grandmaster Frank's regard for Mo Yuhan was beyond measure.
Considering his young age and that he was new, Frank directly arranged for him to live in a secluded small courtyard next to his own residence, separated from the Alchemist Guild by just a wall, making it convenient for him to provide guidance at any time.
Coincidentally, Lin Fei's home and Grandmaster Otto's residence were also in this area, not far from Frank's house.
And Xue Mei, as Frank's personal disciple, often lived at her teacher's home during weekdays.
Thus, Mo Yuhan's peaceful "cultivation" life was completely disrupted by his two senior sisters, who had vastly different personalities.
Ever since Mo Yuhan moved into the small courtyard, Lin Fei became a frequent visitor.
After the initial shock, frustration, and a little jealousy passed, Lin Fei's strong curiosity, deeply stirred beneath her arrogant exterior, and her admiration for higher-ranked Alchemists, were fully engaged, even though Mo Yuhan was ridiculously young.
Lin Fei's heart burned like a prairie fire.
What's more, her parents' subtle inquiries at home and Grandmaster Otto's occasionally meaningful smiles acted like catalysts, causing her nascent feelings to ferment.
"Little Han Han, open the door!"
A crisp voice accompanied by knocking almost became his daily morning alarm.
Mo Yuhan reluctantly put down the medicinal herbs in his hand and opened the courtyard gate.
Lin Fei stood gracefully outside the door, dressed today in a light pink gauze dress that made her skin appear as white as snow.
The dress was well-fitted, perfectly outlining her proud curves—a slender waist that could be encircled with one hand, and a full bosom subtly visible beneath the light gauze, gently rising and falling with her breathing.
She held an exquisite zitan wood food box in her hand, her smile as bright as a flower, radiant and charming.
"Here, I brought this for you! I… I personally made this Snow Lotus Jade Dew Soup. It clears the mind and moistens the lungs, perfect for a little Alchemist like you who spends all day by the furnace!"
Lin Fei, without waiting for a reply, shoved the food box into Mo Yuhan's arms and naturally squeezed inside, bringing with her a fragrant breeze mixed with a maiden's scent and a hint of sweet pastry.
She leaned in close, looking up at Mo Yuhan with her small face, her long eyelashes fluttering, her red lips moist, and her breath like orchids: "Hurry and try it, I simmered it all morning!"
Mo Yuhan looked at the crystal-clear, sweet-smelling soup in the food box, then at Lin Fei's bright, expectant eyes, and found himself unable to refuse.
He picked up a spoon and took a bite; the texture was delicate and smooth, with the clear fragrance of snow lotus and the sweetness of jade dew, truly excellent.
"Thank you, Senior Sister Lin Fei."
"Hehe, as long as you like it!"
Lin Fei immediately beamed, as if she herself had been praised.
She made herself at home, sitting on a small stone stool in the courtyard, resting her chin on her hands, propped on the stone table, leaning slightly forward.
This posture made her full, rounded breasts press more prominently against the edge of the table, and through the thin gauze, the tempting outline of her cleavage was faintly visible.
She watched Mo Yuhan sip the soup, her eyes remarkably bright: "Little Han Han, the Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill formula you helped Grandmaster Frank perfect yesterday—the idea was brilliant! How did you think of using Fire Spirit Leaf to neutralize the conflict with Ice Herb? Please teach your senior sister, okay?"
Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of coquetry, and her body swayed gently as she spoke, the tips of her falling black hair brushing the tabletop, occasionally sweeping across Mo Yuhan's hand on the table, causing a slight tickle.
Mo Yuhan felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, especially with the close proximity of the alluring sight and the faint fragrance wafting over him.
He turned his head slightly, trying to keep his mind calm as he explained: "The key lies in accurately predicting the conflict points of the medicinal properties. When the Ice Herb reaches the third turn of fire temperature, its coldness will intensely repel the spiritual essence of the Azure Spirit Fruit, forming ice crystals that obstruct the fusion of medicinal power."
"The Fire Spirit Leaf is warm and resilient, capable of intervening precisely at that node. Its fiery nature not only doesn't intensify the conflict but actually softens the ice crystals and guides the medicinal power, like building a warm bridge over an icy river…"
He explained earnestly, and Lin Fei also put away her playful demeanor, listening very attentively.
However, as she listened, her gaze involuntarily shifted from the method of medicinal property fusion to Mo Yuhan's focused profile as he explained.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the grape trellis, casting faint shadows beneath his long eyelashes, his straight nose bridge, his slightly pursed lips…
Though still a child's outline, that extraordinary composure and focus exuded an indescribable charm.
Especially when his fingertips unconsciously dipped into tea water to trace the path of medicinal power on the stone table—those slender fingers… Lin Fei's heart inexplicably quickened, and her cheeks felt slightly warm.
"Senior Sister Lin Fei?"
After Mo Yuhan finished speaking, he noticed Lin Fei seemed to be distracted, looking at him with hazy eyes and a flushed face.
"Ah? Oh! I… I understand!" Lin Fei suddenly snapped back to attention, her pretty face instantly reddening even more, like a ripe apple.
She hurriedly lowered her head, picking up a pastry she had brought and stuffing it into her mouth to cover her embarrassment, mumbling, "Little Han Han explains so well… much clearer than that old man, my master…"
She felt her face burning and her heart pounding like a startled deer.
Lin Fei, oh Lin Fei, what are you looking at!
He's still just a child.
But… the way he focused on alchemy, speaking so eloquently, was truly charming, and his hands for alchemy… they were so beautiful…
From that day on, Lin Fei visited Mo Yuhan's small courtyard even more frequently.
Asking for guidance on alchemy became her best excuse, but her intentions were no longer pure.
She began to dress meticulously, her dresses becoming brighter in color and their styles increasingly highlighting her proud figure.
When asking questions, she would lean very close, her hair tips "accidentally" brushing Mo Yuhan's arm or neck, and her warm breath would gently caress his ear, sending a tingling sensation.
Moreover, Lin Fei learned to brew various medicinal teas and always found excuses to make a cup for Mo Yuhan, then offered it to him with both hands.
When handing it over, her soft, boneless fingers would "accidentally" touch his hand or fingertips, sending a subtle jolt of electricity that made her own heart race.
She even began to pay attention to Mo Yuhan's preferences, knowing he liked light meals, quiet environments, and disliked being disturbed when reading.
So, when he read, she would quietly sit nearby, propping her chin on her hand, watching his focused profile for half a day.
It was as if her arrogant and willful nature, when faced with Mo Yuhan, melted away like ice and snow, gradually receding.
Revealing the tenderness and consideration of a young woman, even with a hint of clumsy flattery and infatuation
The people in the Alchemist Guild gradually discovered that the fiery, arrogant, and willful Miss Lin Fei would actually become ladylike in front of the nine-year-old Little Han Han.
Sometimes she would blush, feel shy, speak in soft whispers, and display a gentle smile, tinged with a hint of infatuation, which she had never shown before.
This transformation was noticed by even her Grandmaster Otto, who was secretly pleased. Occasionally, when Lin Fei went to Mo Yuhan, he would smile meaningfully and instruct her:
"Filly, learn well from your Yu Han. He is the treasure of our Alchemist Guild, and also your… *cough cough*, get along well."
Lin Fei would always blush and agree, her heart pounding like a startled deer.
Her Grandmaster's meaning... she understood.
Her mother at home even directly asked her if she had fallen for that young genius Alchemist, and encouraged her to get closer.
At first, she only found it absurd and embarrassing, but as her contact with Mo Yuhan deepened, seeing his maturity beyond his age, his astonishing talent, and his helpless yet tolerant gaze when faced with her "harassment"...
That sense of absurdity was gradually replaced by an indescribable sweetness and anticipation.
She began to fantasize, what kind of elegant demeanor would he possess when he grew a little older?
When his name shook the Gama Empire, would the woman standing beside him... be herself?
Once this thought took root, it grew wildly like a vine, making her gaze towards Mo Yuhan increasingly gentle, increasingly... fervent, with a determined resolve to have him.
Sometimes, when Mo Yuhan was practicing fire control in the alchemy room, Lin Fei would "just happen" to come in to ask questions.
"Little Han Han, I always have trouble controlling the heat for this Fire Condensing Pill. If the flame temperature is too high, the liquid burns, and if it's too low, it won't condense. Please teach me!"
Lin Fei held a basic prescription, leaned close to Mo Yuhan, pointed at the description on it, her body intentionally or unintentionally brushing his arm, and looked up with her small face, her breath like orchids.
Mo Yuhan put down the medicinal ingredients in his hand and patiently explained: "The key to the Fire Condensing Pill lies in the transition before the 'condense' technique. The flame must change from fierce to gentle, like drawing silk from a cocoon, without rushing..."
As he spoke, he stretched out a finger, and a faint wisp of Xuan Huang Purple Flame danced at his fingertip, simulating the temperature changes.
"Is it like this?"
Lin Fei also extended her fair, delicate hand, and a small cluster of orange-red flame appeared at her fingertip, clumsily imitating him.
She was extremely close, her hair falling, with a few mischievous strands brushing Mo Yuhan's cheek, tickling him.
Lin Fei slightly tilted her head, her rosy lips barely an inch from Mo Yuhan's ear, her warm breath gently caressing his earlobe.
Mo Yuhan's body stiffened slightly, and he subtly pulled back a little: "Senior Sister Lin Fei, pay attention to the stability of the flame..."
"Oh, it's so hard!"
Lin Fei pouted playfully, pretending her hand trembled, the flame almost extinguished, and her body also became "unsteady." With a soft cry, she stumbled into Mo Yuhan's arms.
Mo Yuhan reacted quickly, reaching out to support her shoulders. His hands met a soft, smooth warmth.
Lin Fei took the opportunity to lean into his embrace, burying her small face in his shoulder, but secretly a cunning, triumphant smile played on her lips, her voice trembling with feigned grievance: "You scared me... Junior Brother Mo, thank you..."
She lingered in Mo Yuhan's embrace, feeling the clean, refreshing scent of the young man and his not-so-strong yet exceptionally steady chest, her heart pounding like a startled deer.
In stark contrast to Lin Fei's active enthusiasm, Xue Mei's approach was quiet and cool, just like her person.
She rarely intruded into Mo Yuhan's small courtyard as frequently as Lin Fei. More often, she would encounter Mo Yuhan in the Alchemist Guild's grand library or in Grandmaster Frank's exclusive alchemy room.
She usually appeared when Mo Yuhan finished alchemy, was organizing medicinal ingredients, or quietly reading a book.
Dressed in an immaculate silver gown, her silver hair cascaded like a waterfall as she silently walked to his side.
"Here." A voice as cool as clashing ice springs sounded.
Xue Mei placed a stack of neatly organized, categorized, and even labeled medicinal ingredients with their properties and years on the table beside Mo Yuhan.
These were the medicinal ingredients Mo Yuhan needed for the pills he was preparing to refine next. Some were quite rare and required effort to find, yet she had prepared them in advance, meticulously processed.
"Thank you, Senior Sister Xue Mei."
Mo Yuhan looked up and sincerely thanked her. He could feel Xue Mei's silent care.
Xue Mei merely nodded faintly, her light purple eyes calm and unruffled: "It's nothing."
She didn't speak much, simply watched Mo Yuhan organize medicinal ingredients or study books.
Sometimes, when Mo Yuhan encountered a difficult medicinal property or pill formula, and frowned in thought, she would, from the side, point out the key points concisely in her cool voice, often hitting the nail on the head, which enlightened Mo Yuhan.
Although Mo Yuhan was already a Second-Rank Alchemist, he had not studied many alchemy classics.
Therefore, occasionally when Mo Yuhan encountered obscure passages in books and pondered with a furrowed brow, Xue Mei's cool voice would timely sound, a few words, straight to the core, often enlightening him.
Grandmaster Frank said that Senior Sister Xue Mei had high talent, which proved not to be an exaggeration.
However, it might be that her theoretical knowledge was better, but her practical experience was still lacking.
If Mo Yuhan did not possess the exotic flame, his alchemy skills would probably be far inferior to Senior Sister Xue Mei's.
"Junior Brother Yu Han."
A voice as cool as an ice spring echoed in the quiet corner of the library.
Mo Yuhan was standing in front of a tall bookshelf, slightly on his tiptoes, trying to reach a thick, metal-gleaming classic titled "Essence of a Thousand Extracts" on the upper shelf.
A pair of slender hands, wrapped in silver sleeves, reached over and easily took down the thick classic.
Her fingertips were rounded, her nails neatly trimmed, carrying a hint of coolness.
Mo Yuhan looked up, and what met his eyes was Xue Mei's exquisite yet cold face.
Today, she was still in a silver form-fitting gown, which made her skin appear even fairer and more jade-like, as if emitting a cold light.
Her long silver hair flowed like moonlight, smoothly cascading to her waist and hips. As she leaned slightly, a few strands of hair slipped to her chest, gently resting on her full, perky curves.
Her figure was perfectly proportioned, tall and slender. The silver robe perfectly outlined her delicate yet strong waist and firm, shapely hips, exuding a silent allure amidst her coolness.
"This 'Essence of a Thousand Extracts' has unique insights into understanding the 'Flame Separation and Condensation Method,' especially for handling the separation and control of that trace of violent Purple Flame within your Xuan Huang Purple Flame, which may be beneficial."
Xue Mei's voice had little fluctuation, but her eyes were very serious as she handed the book to Mo Yuhan.
"Thank you, Senior Sister Xue Mei."
Mo Yuhan took the book, feeling a lingering cool touch on the pages and the faint, clear scent like ice and snow from her body.
Xue Mei nodded slightly, then said no more, turned and walked to a desk not far away, sat down, and also took out a thick alchemy classic to quietly read.
Her sitting posture was straight, her back erect, her legs together and angled, her silver skirt falling, revealing a slender, fair ankle. Her profile in the light filtering through the window was as beautiful as a flawless ice and snow goddess statue.
The entire library seemed to quiet down because of her presence, becoming several degrees cooler.
Mo Yuhan also sat down to read.
A few tables separated the two, neither disturbing the other, yet there was a strange harmony between them
Xue Mei Senior Apprentice lacked the coquettish enthusiasm of Senior Sister Lin Fei, but she was precise and efficient, just like her—cold and reliable.
When President Frank guided Mo Yuhan in refining some extremely difficult Grade 3 pills, Xue Mei often quietly observed from the side.
When Mo Yuhan's face turned slightly pale and fine sweat beaded on his forehead due to prolonged, intense concentration of spirit power, she would silently hand him a cup of invigorating tea, brewed with Ice Soul Grass and Spirit-Calming Flower, at just the right temperature.
Or, when Mo Yuhan's flames showed subtle fluctuations due to medicinal conflicts, and the pill cauldron emitted an uneasy hum, her clear, cold gaze would instantly sharpen like a knife.
Although she wouldn't interrupt, her tensed body and slightly leaning posture showed her complete focus.
She was like a silent guardian; whenever Mo Yuhan needed help, she was always able to offer timely, subtle assistance.
She wouldn't deliberately get close like Lin Fei, always maintaining a distance of about one step.
But whenever Mo Yuhan refined pills late into the night, she would always happen to pass by the alchemy room, leave a refreshing clear-heart tea or a plate of exquisite pastries, and then quietly leave.
Once, Mo Yuhan attempted to refine a Grade 2 high-level pill called the "Ice Soul Heart Protection Pill." This pill required extremely precise control over flame temperature changes, and also needed a trace of ice-attributed medicinal material to neutralize the fiery heat in its properties.
He had already failed twice, running out of medicinal ingredients, and sat in the alchemy room feeling somewhat dejected.
Late at night, the door to the alchemy room was gently pushed open.
Xue Mei walked in, holding a jade box. Inside were several fresh main ingredients for refining the "Ice Soul Heart Protection Pill," specifically "Ice Soul Grass," and their quality was even better than what Mo Yuhan had used before.
"Ice Soul Grass is cold in nature and thrives in damp, shady conditions. These were freshly picked from the cold pond in the northeast corner of the Guild's medicinal garden; their medicinal properties are at their best."
Xue Mei placed the jade box in front of Mo Yuhan, her voice still clear and cold, "Thirty breaths before the pill solidifies, the flame needs to be lowered to a deep blue. At the same time, the essence of the Ice Soul Grass should be enveloped by spirit power, like an ice needle, piercing the center of the medicinal liquid to guide its cold properties to spread evenly, rather than forcing a fusion."
Mo Yuhan's eyes lit up.
This was precisely the key point of his previous failures.
He suddenly looked up at Xue Mei, his eyes filled with gratitude and admiration: "Xue Mei Senior Apprentice, thank you…"
Xue Mei interrupted him, her light purple eyes appearing exceptionally deep under the lamplight: "Try it."
With that, she turned and left, her silver hair tracing a cool arc behind her.
Mo Yuhan followed Xue Mei's guidance and tried again, succeeding in one go.
As he held the Ice Soul Heart Protection Pill, which emitted a faint chill and had clear pill patterns, his heart was filled with gratitude for this cool and aloof senior sister.
Xue Mei's changes were subtle and slow.
She still didn't speak much, and her expression always remained cool and distant.
But people in the Guild gradually noticed that when Mo Yuhan was in the Guild, Xue Mei seemed to stay longer.
When Mo Yuhan and Lin Fei were discussing alchemy—most of the time it was usually Lin Fei asking and Mo Yuhan answering, with Lin Fei occasionally "accidentally" touching Mo Yuhan's hand.
Although Xue Mei never got close, she would always choose a not-too-far, not-too-close spot, quietly reading a book or processing medicinal ingredients, her silver hair falling to cover half her face, making her expression unreadable, but the aura around her seemed a few degrees colder than usual.
And when Mo Yuhan successfully refined a high-quality pill, a faint warmth, like melting ice and snow, would flash across her clear eyes, and the corners of her lips would curve upwards ever so slightly, forming an almost imperceptible arc.
She called Mo Yuhan "Junior Brother Yu Han," her voice clear, but with an indescribable softness and… an imperceptible preciousness that she didn't use with anyone else.
This emotion, like a spark buried deep beneath ten thousand years of profound ice, silently and imperceptibly grew, awaiting the opportunity to break through the ice.
Lin Fei's proactive enthusiasm and Xue Mei's silent guardianship, like the collision of ice and fire, inevitably produced intense sparks.
Especially in Lin Fei's view, this ice-faced Xue Mei always appeared around Little Han Han, especially in "quiet" places like the library and alchemy room, which was simply a blatant invasion of her "territory."
What angered her even more was that Xiao Mo Mo seemed to quite appreciate Xue Mei's "cool guidance."
This afternoon, the sun was just right.
Mo Yuhan was carefully loosening the soil and watering a rare medicinal herb called "Purple Spirit Ginseng," which he had just acquired from the Guild, in his small courtyard's medicinal garden.
This spirit ginseng was very important for his next step in refining a soul-strengthening pill.
Lin Fei arrived, carrying an exquisite carved food box, humming a cheerful tune, her steps light and graceful.
Today, she wore a goose-yellow strapless ruqun with a thin, cicada-wing-like sheer outer layer, showcasing her proud figure perfectly.
Her full bosom seemed ready to spill from the strapless top, her slender waist was barely a handful, and a smooth, fair calf peeked out from beneath her skirt.
"Little Han Han, look what surprise I brought you!"
Lin Fei opened the food box like she was presenting a treasure. Inside were several translucent crystal cakes shaped like adorable little rabbits, emitting an enticing fruity aroma and spirit power fluctuations.
"These are Jade Rabbit Crystallized Cakes made with 'Jade Marrow Fruit' and 'Spirit Spring Water'! Not only are they delicious, but they can also nourish your meridians!"
She picked up a piece, her body naturally leaning towards Mo Yuhan, who was squatting on the ground. Her full bosom almost brushed against his back as she said in a sweet voice, "Quick, try it! I went to so much trouble to make these successfully, I even burned my hand a little!"
She extended her fair, delicate finger, and indeed, there was a tiny red spot on it.
Mo Yuhan was a bit flustered by her sudden closeness and her incredibly impactful curves. He instinctively wanted to stand up and move away: "Senior Sister Lin Fei, my hands are all muddy. I'll wash them first and then…"
"Oh, why are you being so polite with me! Open wide!"
Lin Fei insisted, giggling as she tried to feed him herself, pressing even closer, her fragrant breath brushing against Mo Yuhan's earlobe.
She brought the pastry to Mo Yuhan's mouth, her fingertip "accidentally" lightly brushing his lips.
Just then, a clear, cold voice, like ice beads falling onto a jade plate, came from the courtyard entrance: "Pardon the intrusion. Junior Brother Yu Han, the teacher wants you to go to the alchemy room immediately. Regarding the fusion point of 'Earth Core Fire Ganoderma' and 'Cold Jade Marrow' in the 'Dragon Strength Pill' formula, the teacher has made a new discovery and needs to guide you in person."
Xue Mei stood there at some point, her silver robe spotless, her silver hair cascading like a waterfall, and her posture as tall and straight as a snow pine.
Her clear, cold eyes swept over Lin Fei's almost-touching, hand-feeding, ambiguous posture towards Mo Yuhan. Her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and the aura around her seemed to grow a few degrees colder.
Lin Fei's movements instantly froze, and the smile on her face also chilled.
She turned around, puffing out her proud chest, meeting Xue Mei's cold gaze without backing down, her tone carrying clear provocation and displeasure: "Ice-face, can't you see I'm talking to Junior Brother?"
"Can't it wait? Junior Brother is tasting the pastries I specially made for him. These are good for nourishing the meridians, you know.
Xue Mei Senior Apprentice's gaze landed on the pastry in Lin Fei's hand, which was almost shoved into Mo Yuhan's mouth, then swept over the large expanse of fair skin beneath her tube top.
Her voice remained even, yet carried a hint of imperceptible mockery: "Grandmaster Frank's research concerns a peak Third-Rank pill formula; naturally, it's more important than tasting snacks.
Moreover…" She paused, her clear, cold eyes sweeping over Mo Yuhan, "Xiao Han is still young, and his foundation is not yet stable.
This type of spirit-infused, warming and nourishing snack, while seemingly beneficial in the short term, can lead to a shallow spirit force and an unstable foundation if consumed excessively, which is detrimental to long-term cultivation."
"Indulging in gluttony is not the act of a wise person."
Her words were pointed, directly aimed at Lin Fei.
"You!" Lin Fei choked, her pretty face instantly flushed, like a ripe tomato.
Xue Mei Senior Apprentice's meaning was not only that she had interrupted serious business, but also that she was using snacks to tempt a "child," and even implying that it would affect Xiao Han's foundation.
She was so angry that her chest heaved violently, and she glared at Xue Mei Senior Apprentice, her voice rising several octaves: "Ice-face, don't pretend to be so pure here! What unstable foundation? What do you know? My 'Jade Rabbit Crystallized Cake' only uses gentle spiritual ingredients, and I know the proper proportions better than anyone."
"It's better than you always having a cold face, standing next to Xiao Han like a block of ice! Xiao Han needs warmth, not your self-important concern."
Xue Mei Senior Apprentice's clear, cold eyes narrowed slightly, and the aura around her seemed to grow even colder: "Warmth? Are you referring to your so-called 'warmth' of forcefully feeding Xiao Han and disturbing his cultivation, regardless of his wishes? Yu Han's talent is extraordinary, and his time is precious; it's not for playing house with you."
Her words were like ice picks, every one sharp.
"Who's playing house?!"
Lin Fei completely exploded, her pampered temper fully ignited.
She put down the food box, pointed at Xue Mei Senior Apprentice, and her voice rose: "Xue Mei Senior Apprentice, don't think I don't know what you're planning! Aren't you just seeing that Xiao Han's talent is good and wanting to take advantage of proximity?"
"You pretend to 'guide' Xiao Han all day, putting on a high and mighty act, but who knows what you're really thinking.
I'm telling you, Xiao Han won't like a cold, wooden person like you!"
"I think you're just jealous! Jealous that I can make delicious food for Xiao Han, jealous that Xiao Han is willing to eat what I make.
Xiao Han won't like an ice block like you, who always has a cold face and can't even say a nice word!"
Xue Mei Senior Apprentice's clear, cold eyes narrowed slightly, a cold light flickering, and a chilling battle qi fluctuation subtly emanated, seemingly lowering the temperature in the courtyard by a few degrees.
"Jealous? Lin Fei, put away your ridiculous notions.
Yu Han's talent is extraordinary, and his future is vast; his time and energy should be used to explore the great path of alchemy and ascend to greater heights, not wasted by your… meaningless entanglement."
Her words were like arrows dipped in ice, every one sharp: "As for liking or not, it's not something someone like you, who only knows how to pester and lacks ambition, can presume to guess.
You can't control his future."
"I can't control it?!"
Lin Fei completely exploded, her pampered temper fully ignited.
She put down the food box, pointed at Xue Mei Senior Apprentice, her voice trembling slightly from excitement and grievance: "Then you can control it, Xue Mei Senior Apprentice?
Don't think that just because you entered the sect a few days before me and pretend to guide Xiao Han all day, you can put on airs as a senior sister and lecture me!"
"I'm telling you, Xiao Han… he'll understand my feelings sooner or later.
He personally said my snacks were delicious, and he also said I looked good in purple.
What about you? Besides calling him 'Yu Han' with a cold face every day, what else can you do?
Xiao Han won't like a cold stone like you, who can't be warmed up!"
Mo Yuhan: "…"
When did he say that last part?
He only felt his head swell like a bucket; the war between the two women was in full swing, and he was caught in the middle, unsure whether to intervene or not.
Xue Mei Senior Apprentice was also enraged by Lin Fei's almost childish declaration, which even involved clothing preferences.
A cold fury mixed with an intense shame, a feeling she hadn't even anticipated herself, as if her innermost thoughts had been exposed, made her blurt out: "Endless entanglement?
Lin Fei, put away your unrealistic fantasies.
Yu Han's future lies at the pinnacle of the Dao of Pills; how could he be moved by your petty favors and a few sweet words?
Moreover…"
She took a deep breath, as if expending all her strength, her clear, cold voice carrying a tremor, unprecedented and clearly discernible.
As if to completely overwhelm Lin Fei in terms of momentum, she said with extraordinary conviction:
"Even if he is to like someone in the future… that person will never be a frivolous and shallow person like you! Because… I also admire him!"
As her words fell, the entire small courtyard fell into a dead silence.
Lin Fei's eyes widened, as if struck by a divine thunder from the heavens, her mouth agape, unable to utter a single syllable for a long time.
What did she hear?
Xue Mei Senior Apprentice? This thousand-year-old ice mountain? This Xue Mei Senior Apprentice, who remained as cold as ice, ignoring the pursuit of countless young talents even from the Imperial Capital?
She… she actually admitted to admiring Little Han Han herself?!
This was even more shocking than Little Han Han becoming a Second-Rank Alchemist at the age of nine!
Mo Yuhan was also completely stunned, looking at one senior sister whose face was flushed with anger, her chest heaving violently, and even a glimmer of tears of grievance in her eyes.
And the other, whose face was icy cold, silver hair fluttering without wind, yet a startling blush quietly crept up her earlobes.
He only felt his head swell to twice its size, feeling so awkward for the first time in his life.
What is all this!
"Pfft! Hahahaha! Good! Well said! What guts!"
A hearty, almost unrestrained burst of laughter broke the strange and awkward silence.
Grandmaster Frank was seen standing at the courtyard entrance, stroking his white beard, laughing so hard he was bent over, all the wrinkles on his face smoothed out, looking as if he was thoroughly enjoying the show.
Behind him was Grandmaster Otto, looking helpless but with an unconcealable look of gossip in his eyes.
"Teacher, Grandmaster Otto!"
"Guild Grandfather, Teacher!"
Lin Fei and Xue Mei Senior Apprentice exclaimed simultaneously, only then realizing that their "earth-shattering" argument had been overheard by their elders.
Lin Fei was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear, covering her face with her hands, stamping her feet.
Although Xue Mei Senior Apprentice tried her best to maintain a cold expression, the startling blush on her cheeks and earlobes completely betrayed her.
She pursed her lips tightly, her eyes darting away, completely losing her usual clear and self-possessed demeanor.
Mo Yuhan was even more mortified, looking pleadingly at the irreverent Grandmaster Frank.
Guild Master Frank walked into the courtyard with a cheerful laugh, his gaze sweeping over the mortified Lin Fei, the Xue Mei Senior Apprentice who was trying to maintain composure but couldn't hide her embarrassment, and the Mo Yuhan who looked utterly resigned to his fate.
Finally, he stopped at Mo Yuhan, winking and saying earnestly: "Xiao Han, do you see now? This is what they call 'a tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind'… Uh, no, no, it's 'his beauty is unique, there is none like him in the world'!"
"Hahahaha! But, in my opinion, these two girls are genuinely devoted to you! Lin Fei is lively and passionate, utterly sincere; she even learned to make snacks so well for you.
Xue Mei Senior Apprentice is cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and in crucial moments, she truly protects you!"
"They are both equally precious, hard to distinguish between them!"
He paused, and under the instantly tense, embarrassed, and intertwined gazes of Lin Fei and Xue Mei Senior Apprentice, he stroked his beard and dropped a bombshell that would surely be recorded in the gossip history of the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild.
"If you ask me, Xiao Han, if you become capable in the future, achieve the status of a Grandmaster alchemist, and enjoy the blessings of having multiple wives, it's not impossible to marry both of these girls!"
"Keep the good fortune within the family; they are both cherished talents meticulously nurtured by our Guild.
Lin Fei is lively and charming, Xue Mei Senior Apprentice is cool and stunningly beautiful; they complement each other perfectly! Hahahaha! Otto, don't you agree?"
Grandmaster Otto was choked by his old friend Grandmaster Frank's shocking remarks, coughing repeatedly, looking exasperated, yet he had to admit, there was some truth to his words.
However, at the moment, he was merely an observer and could only nod vaguely: "Uh… Frank's words… *cough cough*… are quite insightful…"
"Guild Grandfather!"
"Teacher!"
"Grandmaster Otto!"
Lin Fei and Xue Mei Senior Apprentice simultaneously shrieked in embarrassment and anger, their voices changing pitch.
Lin Fei was so red-faced with shame, stomping her feet in anger and urgency, wishing she could rush over and cover the two old men's mouths.
Xue Mei Senior Apprentice, on the other hand, was both shy and angry, her cold eyes filled with indignation and disbelief, her silver long hair even fluttering slightly due to the fluctuations in her aura, the blush on her cheeks like a morning glow, breathtakingly beautiful.
Mo Yuhan was even more utterly dumbfounded, looking at Grandmaster Frank, who wore an expression of "I'm doing this for your own good," completely speechless.
He then looked at the furious Lin Fei and the Xue Mei Senior Apprentice who was trying to suppress her embarrassment, only feeling that this Black Rock City Alchemist Guild… was too deep, and the senior sisters were too fierce!
His nine-year-old "small frame" probably couldn't handle it