68: Lin Fei and Xue Mei

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 Great Master 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 Great Master'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 Great Master 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.

Great Master 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.