41: Xiao Mei's company

“Little fellow… you really are this Jie’s lucky star.”

Sister Ya Fei put down the report, picked up a glass of wine as crimson as blood by her hand, and gently swirled it. The wine was mellow, just like her graceful figure.

She walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the market area below, which was still brightly lit and bustling with people.

Not long ago, that place used to be the Jia Lie family’s territory, but now it had completely changed hands.

Her red lips parted slightly as she took a sip of the wine, her eyes hazy and deep, carrying a hint of the pleasure of a powerful person and… a deeper curiosity and expectation for Mo Yuhan.

“Those arrogant old fellows in Jiama Holy City should have nothing to say this time, right?”

She murmured softly, a confident and charming curve forming at the corner of her lips.

This performance was enough to elevate her status within the family, gaining her more resource allocation and a stronger voice.

And the starting point for all of this originated from that nine-year-old boy.

At this very moment, within Mo Yuhan’s exclusive Alchemist workshop in the Xiao Family.

The air was filled with a rich and complex medicinal fragrance, mixed with the scorching heat of flames.

Beneath the enormous bronze medicine cauldron, the pale yellow Xuan Huang Flame burned silently, its tongues of fire licking the cauldron’s belly, the temperature precisely controlled within a certain range.

Mo Yuhan sat cross-legged on a futon, his eyes tightly closed, his Mental Energy like invisible tentacles, delving deep into the medicine cauldron, meticulously sensing the fusion and changes of more than a dozen medicinal essences within the cauldron.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, sliding down his tender yet well-defined cheeks.

He was currently performing a more difficult refinement based on the original work’s Alchemist Yao’s detailed descriptions of alchemy, combined with his own actual situation—simultaneously controlling multiple portions of Fushang Pill ingredients for fusion.

This required extremely terrifying Mental Energy control and precise mastery of flames.

If not for possessing a unique flame and powerful soul perception, an ordinary First-Rank Alchemist would never dare to attempt this.

“Young Master Yu Han, let me help you wipe your sweat.”

A soft voice sounded beside him.

Xiao Mei carried a silver basin filled with warm water and a clean silk handkerchief, quietly kneeling beside Mo Yuhan.

Today, she was wearing a simple and elegant light green dress, yet it still couldn't conceal her alluring figure.

Her full bosom, as she leaned forward, pressed into a tempting deep cleavage at the neckline, almost touching Mo Yuhan’s arm.

A faint, girlish scent mixed with the medicinal aroma, subtly drifting into his nostrils.

Xiao Mei carefully used the warm silk handkerchief to gently wipe the sweat from Mo Yuhan’s forehead, her fingertips occasionally brushing against his slightly warm skin.

Mo Yuhan’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. During alchemy, being easily disturbed was the most taboo.

Xiao Mei’s proximity and her deliberate physical contact, though subtle, were like pebbles cast into a calm lake, causing a slight, weak interference to his highly concentrated Mental Energy.

The medicinal liquid, which had been steadily fusing within the cauldron, instantly produced a barely noticeable fluctuation!

“Mei Jie Jie, please step back for now.” Mo Yuhan’s voice was calm with a hint of helplessness; his still somewhat tender voice carried an undeniable authority, his eyes still tightly closed.

Xiao Mei’s movements instantly froze, and the charming smile on her face solidified.

She looked at the boy’s serene and distant profile, a hint of grievance and unwillingness flashing in her eyes, but more so, a panic of having her thoughts seen through.

She bit her lower lip, softly responded “Yes,” and, carrying the basin, retreated somewhat awkwardly into the shadows of the workshop’s corner, not daring to make another sound. She merely watched his focused profile, illuminated by the flames, with her watery, peach-blossom eyes, full of resentment and infatuation.

The interference gone, Mo Yuhan’s Mental Energy once again became highly concentrated, like the most precise instrument, quickly smoothing out the fluctuations of the medicinal liquid in the cauldron.

The temperature of the Xuan Huang Flame underwent extremely subtle adjustments under his will. Time passed minute by minute, and the color of the medicinal liquid in the cauldron gradually became uniform and translucent, emitting an even purer medicinal fragrance.

Finally, Mo Yuhan suddenly opened his eyes, and the light in his dark pupils brightened sharply.

“Condense!”

He let out a low cry, and his hand seals changed.

The Xuan Huang Flame’s intensity suddenly retracted. Inside the medicine cauldron, several clusters of viscous, emerald green medicinal liquid instantly condensed and spun, transforming into dozens of round and full Fushang Pill medicinal pellets under the precise division of his Mental Energy, clinking into the already prepared jade plate, their medicinal aroma overflowing.

Mo Yuhan exhaled a long breath, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Simultaneous refining of multiple portions indeed brought a significant increase in efficiency.

“Young Master Yu Han… you’re truly amazing!”

Xiao Mei in the corner could no longer hold back. She approached again, carrying a cup of ginseng tea, already prepared to quench his thirst.

This time, she was smarter; she didn’t deliberately create any contact, only maintaining a certain distance, but the admiration and infatuation in her peach-blossom eyes, as she looked at Mo Yuhan, almost materialized.

Xiao Mei presented the ginseng tea to Mo Yuhan, her tender hands trembling slightly. Her neckline, with her movements, opened a bit more, her fair skin dazzling under the light.

Mo Yuhan took the ginseng tea, his fingertips inevitably touching Xiao Mei’s slightly cool fingertips.

The girl trembled slightly as if electrocuted, two red clouds flew to her cheeks, and she shyly lowered her head, yet couldn't help but peek at him through her eyelashes.

That hesitant, shy, and timid demeanor, coupled with her alluring figure and carefully styled appearance, was enough to make any normal man’s heart flutter.

Mo Yuhan, however, only shook his head helplessly and took a sip of the ginseng tea. The warm, slightly bitter liquid slid down his throat, relieving the fatigue brought on by the exertion.

He put down the teacup, his gaze sweeping over the crystal-clear Fushang Pill on the jade plate, and said in a deep voice, “Package these pills well and send them to Sister Ya Fei. Also, prepare the next batch of medicinal ingredients.”

“Yes! Mei’er will go do it now!”

Xiao Mei quickly responded, carefully picking up the jade plate as if holding a rare treasure.

As she turned to leave, her round, upturned buttocks, encased in the light green dress, traced an alluring curve with each step.

Mo Yuhan watched her retreating figure disappear at the doorway, his eyes still calm.

He saw through Xiao Mei’s intentions like watching a fire.

Though his body was only eight, almost nine years old, his soul was not that of an ignorant child.

The temptation of beauty? At present, it couldn't stir even a ripple in his heart.

His goals were clear and ruthless—destroy the Jia Lie family, obtain the Revival Purple Pill to cure his aunt, and then… return to Spirit Hall.

Any obstacles or interferences would be ruthlessly eliminated.

Xiao Mei was merely a passerby in his life; he didn't think he would have any deeper involvement with her.

He closed his eyes again, the Xuan Huang Flame circulating within him, beginning to restore his depleted Dou Qi and Mental Energy.

Inside the workshop, only the lingering warmth of the medicine cauldron and the pervasive medicinal scent remained, along with a faint, almost imperceptible trace of the girl’s lingering resentment in the corner.

The flames of revenge burned fiercely in Wutan City, and the silent game of chess and probing within the Alchemist workshop had only just begun.