64: Frank

“Hmph, so mysterious,” Lin Fei pouted, but her eyes darted around, revealing a mischievous smile. “Let’s go, let’s go! I’ll take you to see Grandpa Guild Leader. I want to see what kind of skills this little apprentice recommended by Senior Brother Gu Ni possesses!”

Although Gu Ni was older, he and Lin Fei were indeed of the same generation, so it wasn't wrong for her to call him Senior Brother.

As she spoke, she familiarly grabbed Mo Yuhan’s wrist and, without a word, dragged him into the Guild.

The young girl’s wrist was slender and smooth, with a warm touch.

Mo Yuhan frowned slightly, instinctively wanting to break free, but Lin Fei held on tightly, pulling him quickly forward.

Great Master Otto smiled helplessly behind them, shaking his head as he followed.

The Alchemist Guild’s interior was vast, elegantly and luxuriously decorated, yet also possessing an ancient and grand atmosphere.

The air was filled with a rich scent of medicine.

Along both sides of the corridor were many independent alchemy rooms, and occasionally, the buzzing sound of alchemy cauldron flames could be heard from within.

Lin Fei was clearly familiar with the place. She chattered as she walked: “Little brother, how old are you? How long have you been learning alchemy from Senior Brother Gu Ni? Why did your teacher tell you to come see the Guild Leader? To become his disciple?”

She fired questions like a machine gun, with an innate enthusiasm and curiosity, and also a hint of the arrogance belonging to a talented Alchemist apprentice.

“Nine years old. I’ve been learning alchemy for some time,” Mo Yuhan’s reply was concise.

“Nine years old?!”

Lin Fei suddenly stopped, turned around, her almond eyes wide, her rosy little mouth slightly agape, looking at Mo Yuhan with an expression of disbelief. “You’re only nine years old, and Senior Brother Gu Ni already let you come to Black Rock City alone? Your small physique…”

She instinctively reached out and gestured at Mo Yuhan’s height, which reached her nose. If she stood on her tiptoes, her delicate, full chest would almost brush Mo Yuhan’s mouth.

Mo Yuhan subtly took half a step back, creating a little distance. “I’m used to being alone.”

Lin Fei clicked her tongue in wonder, looking at Mo Yuhan with even more novelty, as if she were looking at some rare small animal.

“Nine years old… so young, but quite brave,” she mumbled, then continued to lead the way, though her steps slowed a bit, seemingly wanting to observe this peculiar little brother more.

Along the way, they encountered many Alchemists, who respectfully saluted Great Master Otto and also curiously observed Mo Yuhan, who was being pulled by Lin Fei.

Soon, the three arrived at a spacious and bright office on the top floor of the Guild, furnished with a huge alchemy cauldron and various medicinal specimen samples.

Soon, the two arrived in front of a heavy mahogany door deep within the Guild.

Lin Fei knocked on the door, and a gentle voice came from inside: “Come in.”

They pushed the door open and entered.

It was a spacious and bright office, elegantly decorated and filled with a scholarly atmosphere.

Huge bookshelves were filled with various thick tomes and scrolls. Behind a large desk sat a kind-faced, energetic elder with white hair and beard, wearing a meticulously tailored Fourth-Rank Alchemist robe, adorned with a badge bearing four silver wavy lines on his chest.

His hair was neatly combed, and he was currently engrossed in handling documents.

This person was none other than Frank, the Guild Leader of the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild, a peak Fourth-Rank Alchemist, and also Gu Ni’s revered teacher.

“Grandpa Guild Leader!” Lin Fei called out sweetly as soon as she entered, like a cheerful little bird, running a few steps to Frank’s side.

Great Master Otto was clearly used to his disciple’s vivaciousness; he merely shook his head helplessly, though his eyes held a doting gaze.

“Fei’er, don’t be rude,” Guild Leader Frank smiled as he looked at Lin Fei, his gaze then falling upon Mo Yuhan behind her, with a gentle inquiry, “And who is this?”

Mo Yuhan stepped forward, taking off his hood, revealing a handsome face that was still youthful but already showing nascent contours.

Frank looked up, his gaze first falling on Otto, to whom he nodded slightly, then he looked at Lin Fei and Mo Yuhan, whom she was holding.

When he saw Mo Yuhan’s excessively young face, a hint of surprise appeared on his stern face.

“Frank,” Otto stepped forward, explaining with a smile, “This is Little Yuhan, your little grand-disciple. He has come with a recommendation letter from little Gu Ni.”

Mo Yuhan took the opportunity to break free from Lin Fei’s hand, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to Frank: “Disciple Mo Yuhan respectfully greets Great Master. By order of my teacher, Gu Ni, I have come to the Guild to seek Great Master and participate in the Alchemist rank assessment.”

“Oh? Little Gu Ni’s disciple?”

Frank put down the quill in his hand, his sharp gaze sweeping over Mo Yuhan, a benevolent smile on his face: “Rise. Little Gu Ni sent me a letter previously, and I knew he had taken a small disciple.”

“In his letter, he praised you heavily, saying your talent is exceptional and specifically recommending you to the Guild for further study. However, he didn’t mention the extent of your alchemy skills in the letter. So, do you intend to wait a few years before assessing for the First-Rank?”

Frank’s tone carried a hint of an elder’s warmth, but it wasn’t overly cordial.

Gu Ni was just one of his disciples, not particularly talented, and after so many years, he was only a Second-Rank Alchemist.

Now he had brought a nine-year-old child; wasn’t this asking him, an old man, to babysit?

Gu Ni was also too thoughtless. A nine-year-old child, whose First-Rank foundation hadn't even been firmly established, yet he sent him here.

Having a Fourth-Rank Alchemist personally guide an unranked beginner, unless they possessed extraordinary talent like Xue Mei, whom he personally took on, he simply didn’t have the time to personally teach this child in front of him.

Just as Frank was about to casually arrange for an Alchemist to help guide him in his studies,

Mo Yuhan stood up straight, meeting Frank’s gaze, and clearly uttered a few words: “Reporting to Great Master, this disciple has come to assess for the Second-Rank Alchemist badge.”

“Pfft—!”

Lin Fei, who was curiously peering from the side, had just taken a sip of clear tea brought by a nearby attendant. Upon hearing this, she immediately spat it out, choking and coughing repeatedly, her pretty face turning scarlet.

“Wh-what?! Second-Rank?!”

Lin Fei’s eyes widened, pointing at Mo Yuhan, her voice changing pitch. “You… how old are you? Little brother, there’s a limit to how much you can boast.”

Great Master Otto’s gentle smile instantly froze, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Great Master Otto’s pupils constricted slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping over Mo Yuhan like a tangible presence, filled with scrutiny and strong doubt.

A nine-year-old Second-Rank Alchemist—this was simply preposterous. There had never been such a record in the history of the Gama Empire.

His initial impression of Mo Yuhan was quite good, but at this moment, he was doubting whether he had misjudged the person.

Even the widely experienced Guild Leader Frank seemed to have heard some huge joke. “When did little Gu Ni teach you how to tell jokes? But I’m not joking with you now. Tell me truthfully about your current progress in alchemy, so I can arrange appropriate studies for you.”

Mo Yuhan faced the gazes of the two Fourth-Rank Alchemists, especially Frank’s smile, his expression remaining calm.

As if he was merely stating a simple fact: “Replying to Great Master, this disciple indeed wishes to participate in the Second-Rank Alchemist assessment.”

Frank’s expression was displeased. Hearing the same joke once was enough.

He had already told Mo Yuhan to state it truthfully, and upon hearing this now, he suddenly stood up from his chair, leaning slightly forward with his hands on the desk, his sharp eyes fixed on Mo Yuhan.