38: Yafei's concerns

What made Mo Yuhan even more delighted was that during the daily, highly focused alchemy process, his Soul Power underwent unprecedented tempering and growth!

His Soul Power, which was already far superior to others of the same rank, became even more condensed and keen, his perception range greatly increased, and he even became more adept at controlling the Xuan Huang Flame within his body.

The surge in Soul Power, like water flowing into a stream, in turn boosted his Dou Qi cultivation.

Just yesterday, after successfully refining a batch of perfectly-quality First-Rank Qi-Restoring Pills, he clearly felt the violent fluctuation of his Dou Qi vortex.

Naturally and smoothly, he stepped into the realm of a four-star Dou Zhe.

The pale yellow Dou Qi became even more condensed and powerful, surging through his meridians like a stream.

“Thank you for your guidance, Great Master.”

Mo Yuhan bowed respectfully.

He was genuinely grateful to Gu Ni; although this Great Master had a peculiar temper, he taught him everything without reservation.

“Haha, it’s all thanks to your own efforts!”

Gu Ni stroked his beard, becoming more and more satisfied with this disciple the more he looked at him.

He glanced towards the entrance of the alchemy room, lowered his voice, and with a mischievous smile, said, “Yu Han, that girl Sister Ya Fei… she seemed to have been standing outside for a while.”

Mo Yuhan followed his Great Master’s gaze and indeed saw Ya Fei’s graceful figure leaning against the doorframe.

She seemed to have just finished an auction and hadn’t had time to change out of her iconic bright red cheongsam.

The tight fabric perfectly outlined her breathtaking curves: her full bosom, her willowy waist, and her round, perky hips formed a suffocating silhouette in the light filtering through the doorway.

At this moment, she didn't wear her usual professional smile; instead, her arms were crossed, and her narrow phoenix eyes were fixed on Mo Yuhan, her gaze complex and unreadable.

Mo Yuhan’s heart stirred slightly.

During this period, his interactions with Ya Fei had inevitably increased.

Besides alchemy, he also needed Ya Fei’s help in finding some special medicinal herbs, and Ya Fei often used various pretexts to “visit” the alchemy room.

Every time they met, Ya Fei’s captivating charm and shrewd mind left a deep impression on him.

But recently, he always felt that Ya Fei’s gaze towards him… was somewhat different.

It seemed no longer purely admiration, curiosity, or commercial solicitation, but rather a hint of… scrutiny? Confusion?

Or even a trace of… bewilderment that she herself hadn’t noticed?

“Cough, cough, cough.”

Gu Ni cleared his throat, and in a voice only the two of them could hear, with the cunning of an old fox, he whispered, “Yu Han, that girl Ya Fei, I’ve watched her grow up.

She’s shrewd, capable, and ambitious.”

“In the Mittel Family, she isn’t of the main lineage, and after all, she’s a woman.

Although her abilities are sufficient, to truly control her own destiny, ability alone isn’t enough; she also needs… powerful assistance.”

He gave Mo Yuhan a meaningful look, “You, my boy, are exceptionally talented and steadfast in character; your future is limitless.

Once your birthday passes this year, you and she will only be ten years apart in age.

If you could… well, form a good match with Ya Fei, for her, it would be the best opportunity to break free from family constraints and truly control her own life.”

“And for you… the Mittel Family’s resources and channels spread across the continent would also be a great help.

Of course, this is just a small suggestion from me; you can think about it carefully, hmm?”

After speaking, Gu Ni patted Mo Yuhan’s shoulder, put his hands behind his back, hummed an off-key tune, and leisurely strolled out of the alchemy room, leaving Mo Yuhan alone to face the swaying red lotus at the doorway.

Mo Yuhan was stunned.

Even though his mental maturity far surpassed his peers, he was still shaken by Gu Ni’s sudden, almost blunt “hint.”

A good match? Ya Fei? Him?

A child who was almost nine years old?

This… He subconsciously looked at Ya Fei at the doorway, his eyes filled with astonishment.

Ya Fei seemed not to have heard Gu Ni’s whisper, but seeing Mo Yuhan’s astonished gaze, an extremely unnatural expression flashed across her face instantly, and her crossed arms also subconsciously loosened.

She discreetly cleared her throat, then walked in with elegant steps, her high heels making crisp “click-clack” sounds on the polished floor, bringing with them a waft of fragrance.

“Congratulations, Yu Han, Younger Brother, on successfully certifying as a First-Rank Alchemist and breaking through to a four-star Dou Zhe.

Double happiness, truly… a young hero.”

Ya Fei’s voice was still like honey-dipped silk, with her characteristic magnetism, but on closer listening, it seemed to lack some of its usual smoothness and composure, replaced by a subtle… hint of shyness?

Her gaze fell on Mo Yuhan, carrying both scrutiny and an unprecedented complexity.

The young man before her, dressed in a plain Alchemist’s robe, was still slender and youthful, his face even retaining the contours of a child.

Yet, his dark eyes were as calm and profound as an ancient well, as if they could see through people’s hearts.

He lacked the friskiness and naivety of children his age, possessing only a near-rational composure and a maturity that was incongruous with his years.

He could make the Jia Lie family lose face in casual conversation, and in just one month, he could become a respected First-Rank Alchemist… All of this made it impossible for her to simply view him as a child.

Great Master Gu Ni had already hinted at this to her.

Although she hadn’t heard the specific content of his words just now, the old fox’s meaningful glance and the gesture of patting Mo Yuhan’s shoulder before leaving were like a seed, uncontrollably taking root and sprouting in her heart.

To control her own destiny.

To break free from family constraints…

Women of the Mittel Family, while seemingly glamorous, often found their marriages to be bargaining chips for family interests.

How could Ya Fei, with her high aspirations, be content to be a pawn at someone else’s mercy?

But… this choice before her?

She looked at Mo Yuhan’s clear yet unfathomably deep dark eyes, at his face, still childish but already showing hints of sharpness.

A sense of absurdity washed over her like a tide.

She was only nineteen, in the prime of her youth, with countless suitors.

And he… was just a child approaching nine years old.

But another voice echoed in her heart: Was he a child?

Could an ordinary nine-year-old possess such terrifying strength and mental fortitude?

His future… was destined to be brilliant.

Gu Ni’s words, though absurd, were not entirely without reason.

If that day truly came…

Two completely different emotions fiercely tore at her heart.

One was an instinctive resistance and embarrassment towards this absurd proposal.

The other, however, was a trace of… an indescribable flutter and vague anticipation arising from Mo Yuhan’s unfathomable potential and his maturity and reliability beyond his years?

These complex thoughts made her agitated, and her gaze towards Mo Yuhan became even more complex and unreadable, carrying a trace of bewilderment she herself hadn’t noticed, and a faint… maidenly shyness.

“Sister Ya Fei, you flatter me.”

Mo Yuhan quickly composed his astonished expression, returning to his usual calm demeanor.

He keenly noticed the complex changes in Ya Fei’s eyes, but he wisely chose to ignore Gu Ni’s unreliable hint.

He brought the topic back on track: “Great Master just said that Sister Ya Fei was looking for me?”

Ya Fei took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the chaotic thoughts in her mind, and her captivating smile returned to her face, though this smile seemed to hold a subtle, almost imperceptible hint of forcedness: “Yes, there is something.

I’ve found some of the medicinal herbs you asked me to look out for earlier, those that nourish meridians and restore vitality.”

Mo Yuhan looked up at Ya Fei’s phoenix eyes, which held countless charms, and nodded solemnly: “Thank you for your trouble, Sister Ya Fei.”

“And as for the Jia Lie Family, Great Master Gu Ni said he could help you resolve it,” Ya Fei said with a smile, gradually returning to her usual interaction mode with Mo Yuhan.

Mo Yuhan shook his head, refusing.

He intended to solve his own problems.

He looked at Ya Fei and suddenly said, “Sister Ya Fei, Great Master mentioned the matter with the Jia Lie family.

However, I want to handle it myself and clean it up.

I might need the auction house here… to help me keep an eye on Jia Lie Bi’s recent movements.”

Upon hearing this, a flicker of understanding passed through Ya Fei’s phoenix eyes, followed by a hint of worry, but it was quickly replaced by a sharp edge.

Her red lips curved slightly, and her smile took on a cold edge: “Don’t worry, Yu Han, Younger Brother, if I don’t help you, who will?

I’ll have people keep a close watch on their movements, and you can tell me anytime if you need any cooperation.”

At this moment, the shrewd, capable, and influential chief auctioneer was back, but in the depths of her gaze towards Mo Yuhan, the complex emotions seemed to have deepened.

This monstrous “younger brother” was indeed acting more and more like a true… man.