113: Chapter 113 I have no improper thoughts about your sister!

Xiao Yurou responded with an acknowledgement, then took her sister's hand and walked quickly downstairs.

The two crossed the street and, before long, arrived in front of the Pill Workshop.

Xiao Yurou pushed open the shop door, greeted a familiar shop assistant, and then led her sister through the shop to the front of the Alchemy room in the backyard.

She knocked on the door gently.

A gentle male voice came from inside: "Come in."

Xiao Yurou pushed the door open and entered.

Xiao Caiyue followed behind her sister and stepped into the Alchemy room.

Then, she was slightly taken aback.

Inside the Alchemy room, a man dressed in green robes was standing before a Pill Furnace.

One of his hands was controlling the Alchemy fire, causing the flames in the furnace to churn, filling the air with the scent of medicine; his other hand held a Talisman brush, suspended in mid-air, with spiritual power flowing at the tip as he drew a complex Talisman.

The Talisman paper hung in the air, and as the brush tip moved, streaks of spiritual light outlined mysterious patterns on the paper.

He was multitasking, perfectly composed without the slightest disorder.

The Alchemy fire and the Talisman light reflected off each other, forming a strange harmony around him.

Xiao Yurou was long accustomed to this and said softly: "Senior, I have brought my sister here. She would like to ask you to take a look personally."

Xiao Caiyue, however, did not speak immediately.

Her gaze landed on that face. The plain, unremarkable features were identical to the "Han Li" she had seen in the Formation shop today.

That green robe was also exactly the same as when they had parted earlier.

And that technique of multitasking, that composed demeanor, those precise and fluid movements while controlling the Alchemy fire...

Xiao Caiyue's heart sank completely. It really was him.

Her heart was filled with a mix of emotions—surprise, realization, and an indescribable complexity.

But immediately after, another thought surged into her mind: How could he be here with her sister?

As a Second-Rank Alchemist, how could he not even have his own Pill Furnace, and instead come to her sister's Pill Workshop to borrow one?

Furthermore, her sister's attitude toward him was so close and adoring, calling him "Senior" at every turn...

Xiao Caiyue's gaze shifted slightly as she looked at Xiao Yurou beside her. She was staring fixedly at Ye Changge, her eyes full of unreserved admiration and trust.

A wave of inexplicable vigilance suddenly surged in Xiao Caiyue's heart.

She recalled the description in that intelligence report: "He has many wives and concubines, and his descendants are numerous."

She remembered his terrifyingly skilled "guidance" technique in the Formation shop today.

She remembered the jade slip he had left behind, those Pill Formulas, and those precise annotations.

She remembered the gentle words he had spoken to her, the patient guidance, and the considerate actions.

Could this person... be intentionally getting close to her sister?

As a Second-Rank Alchemist, how could it be such a coincidence that he appeared in her sister's shop?

And her sister was so innocent, admiring and trusting him so much; if something were to happen...

Xiao Caiyue felt a sudden tightness in her chest.

She took a light breath, yet she maintained a dignified and composed demeanor on her face.

She turned to look at Xiao Yurou, her tone gentle but carrying a hint of unquestionable authority: "Sister, you go out first. I would like to ask this Senior to take a look for me alone."

Xiao Yurou was slightly stunned upon hearing this. She glanced at her sister, then at Ye Changge, a flicker of worry flashing in her eyes.

Her sister usually disliked being alone with strange men; why today...

But she didn't ask any further questions; she just nodded obediently: "Alright, Sister. I'll wait outside; call me if you need anything."

After saying this, she turned and exited the Alchemy room, closing the door gently.

The moment the door closed, the Alchemy room fell into a subtle silence.

Ye Changge's movements did not stop. He controlled the Alchemy fire, completed the final step of the batch of Medicinal Pills, and then gently retracted his Talisman brush. The floating Talisman paper flashed with spiritual light, the entire Talisman was finished, and it drifted down slowly, which he then tucked into his sleeve.

After finishing all this, he turned around and looked at Xiao Caiyue, who was standing at the door.

A moon-white long dress, jet-black long hair, and a beautiful, refined face—she was currently gazing at him quietly, her eyes complex, not knowing what she was thinking.

Ye Changge sighed softly in his heart. He walked forward, stopped in front of her, and said in a gentle tone with a hint of helpless amusement: "Caiyue, why are you here?"

Xiao Caiyue raised her eyes to look at him; she did not answer his question but instead asked in return: "Husband, why are you here?"

Her tone was still gentle, but it carried a hint of subtle probing.

Ye Changge gave a light cough and answered truthfully: "I am helping you refine a longevity pill. Your internal condition cannot be managed by those secret techniques alone; it requires the assistance of Medicinal Pills to be stable."

He could refine quite a few longevity pills in this batch, and he could set one aside for Xiao Caiyue when the time came.

He paused and pointed to the Pill Furnace: "The batch I just refined was prepared for you. It will be ready in two days."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Caiyue's gaze flickered slightly. She looked at the Pill Furnace and then at Ye Changge, her internal vigilance dissipating slightly.

So he was here to refine pills for her.

But she immediately remembered another matter. "Since you are a Second-Rank Alchemist, Husband, why do you not have your own Pill Furnace and instead had to come to my sister's place to borrow one?"

Ye Changge smiled helplessly: "I didn't bring one on this trip. Renting a Pill Furnace in the Immortal City is expensive, and the quality varies, so since your sister happened to have a high-quality Pill Furnace here, I came to borrow it for a while."

He spoke frankly, his gaze clear, without any concealment.

Xiao Caiyue looked at him quietly for a moment, then finally nodded gently.

She averted her gaze, her tone returning to its usual gentleness: "Earlier, my sister brought over some Medicinal Pills, saying they were refined by an Alchemy Great Master."

"When I saw the quality of those Medicinal Pills, I felt they looked familiar. Then, looking at the jade slip you left behind, the Pill Formulas and annotations recorded within were identical to these Medicinal Pills."

She paused and raised her eyes to look at him: "That's why I thought of coming over to take a look; I didn't expect... that it would really be you, Husband."

Upon hearing this, Ye Changge also felt a wave of complexity in his heart. He opened his mouth, wanting to explain something, but didn't know where to start.

Xiao Caiyue watched his hesitant expression and suddenly laughed softly.

The smile was extremely faint but carried a hint of helplessness and relief: "Husband, you don't need to explain. Caiyue knows that this matter... is purely a coincidence."

She paused, her tone becoming somewhat subtle: "It's just that..."

She looked at Ye Changge, her eyes clear and bright: "Husband, you must be more careful in the future. Although there are many coincidences in this world, they might not always be this... convenient."

Ye Changge looked into her clear eyes, and an indescribable emotion suddenly surged in his heart. There was embarrassment, helplessness, and a faint trace of... guilt.

He gave a light cough and said seriously: "Rest assured, Caiyue, I have absolutely no improper thoughts about your sister."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Caiyue lowered her eyes and did not speak.

After a moment of silence, she finally spoke softly: "Caiyue knows."

She raised her head, her gaze calm and frank: "If you truly had such thoughts, Husband, you wouldn't be so open about it today. It's just..."