Chapter 257: The Head of the Alchemy Department, Fei Shi
"It… It's her!"
The battle ready expression on Liu Qing's face froze the moment he saw the petite figure in white. The girl was none other than Zi Yan.
What shocked him even more was hearing this notoriously powerful and terrifying girl call Xiao Yan "big brother."
What on earth did this guy do to tame someone as cute yet deadly as her? Liu Qing thought, his mind reeling.
Xiao Yan, equally surprised to see Zi Yan, paused for a moment before smiling and gently ruffling her purple hair.
"What brings you to me all of a sudden?" he asked.
Zi Yan wrinkled her delicate nose in protest at the head patting but quickly let it slide as she remembered her purpose.
Watching this interaction, Liu Qing's disbelief deepened.
In the past, anyone who dared to touch Zi Yan's head was lucky to escape without broken bones. But here she was, calmly allowing Xiao Yan to ruffle her hair as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
The more Liu Qing observed, the more he felt a mix of respect and wariness toward Xiao Yan.
"The pills you made for me are too rich in energy. I can't handle them all. Can you make something to help me digest them better? Preferably something tasty," Zi Yan said, her big, round eyes sparkling with a hint of hopeful innocence.
"You think these pills are digestive tablets?" Xiao Yan muttered in exasperation.
Despite his complaint, he nodded slightly upon sensing the increasingly vigorous aura surrounding Zi Yan.
"Fine. I need to head to the Alchemy Department to work on a new pill formula anyway. You can come with me," he said.
Hearing this, Zi Yan's eyes curved into crescent moons as she flashed a sweet smile. "Thank you, big brother!"
She hugged Xiao Yan's arm and nuzzled it affectionately. Her childlike display of gratitude, paired with her adorable demeanor, nearly overwhelmed Xiao Yan, who silently noted how soft hearted he was becoming.
As the two walked on, Liu Qing, who had initially stood his ground, instinctively took two steps back upon seeing Xiao Yan approach.
Zi Yan noticed this and immediately switched from sweet to fierce. Her face twisted into a comically intimidating scowl as she glared at Liu Qing.
"So it's you, loser. Why are you blocking the way?"
Her "ferocious" demeanor, while laced with an endearing childishness, still made Liu Qing break into a cold sweat.
Even now, he couldn't forget the time Zi Yan's small, delicate fist had nearly destroyed him. Despite his recent improvements in strength, he felt no confidence when faced with her.
"N No reason. I was just passing by," Liu Qing said with a forced smile, already planning his retreat.
Before Liu Qing could leave, Xiao Yan spoke in a calm, measured tone.
"Your sister's behavior needs some proper guidance."
Liu Qing froze.
"If it had been someone else instead of me, her actions could have caused an irreparable injustice," Xiao Yan continued. "I know that strength rules this world, but classmates shouldn't push things too far.
"If this isn't treated as a lesson, I'll personally show you what true survival of the fittest means next time."
With that, Xiao Yan turned and continued walking toward the Alchemy Department.
Zi Yan, who had been listening, blinked her large eyes before turning to Liu Qing with a fierce expression.
"My brother is so strong that even I can't beat him. You're just a weak little chick trying to start trouble?"
She jabbed a finger at Liu Qing and added threateningly, "If I find out you've made my brother unhappy again, I'll knock your head crooked!"
Then, she happily skipped after Xiao Yan, leaving Liu Qing standing there, his expression shifting repeatedly.
"That girl said this Yan Xiao is stronger than her? How is that possible? Even the average elder isn't her match, let alone someone so young," Liu Qing thought, his expression stiffening as a sudden realization struck him.
He recalled a conversation with a friend in the Alchemy Department a few days ago about a newly arrived elder with exceptional alchemy skills and a surprisingly youthful appearance.
Sweat trickled down Liu Qing's back.
"Could it be him?"
Soon, Xiao Yan and Zi Yan arrived at the Alchemy Department. Upon seeing Xiao Yan, most of the department's elders immediately stopped what they were doing and greeted him warmly.
However, their smiles faltered the moment they noticed the small figure in white behind him.
As if seeing the Monkey King himself, the elders quickly stashed away their pills and elixirs with wary expressions.
"She's here?"
"Oh no, if this girl's around, the Alchemy Department is doomed again."
Their reactions puzzled Xiao Yan, who turned to Zi Yan with a raised eyebrow.
"What exactly have you been doing here? Why are they so afraid of you?"
"I… I haven't done anything!" Zi Yan pouted defensively, but her small mouth quivered as she glanced at the elders' cautious faces. Tears began welling up in her large, dark eyes.
"I only ate a few of their pills! The First Elder even gave them back afterward," she said, her voice tinged with grievance and a hint of a sob.
When she first arrived at the academy, her childlike curiosity had led her to take pills without asking, sometimes even outright stealing. Despite her adorable appearance, this behavior earned her a fearsome reputation and left her feeling lonely.
Just as her frustration began to bubble over, a warm hand gently patted her head.
"Alright, don't be upset. From now on, no more stealing or snatching. Whatever you want, I'll make it for you," Xiao Yan said softly.
Zi Yan froze for a moment before nodding.
Xiao Yan's gaze then turned to the gathered elders, his tone firm.
"Everyone, this girl is my sister now. I hope you can look after her in the future."
The elders exchanged glances before nodding respectfully.
"Of course, Elder Yan Xiao. We've always looked after her!" they said, forcing smiles.
Hearing Xiao Yan's declaration, Zi Yan's large eyes blinked in surprise. She moved closer to him, clutching his sleeve with newfound trust and dependence in her gaze.
At that moment, a disheveled figure burst through the crowd.
The man wore a tattered alchemist's robe, and his messy hair made him look like a beggar. Despite his unkempt appearance, Xiao Yan noticed the six tier alchemist insignia pinned to his chest a sign of his status.
The elder's eyes gleamed as he addressed Xiao Yan.
"Elder Yan Xiao! Finally, we've been waiting for you to arrive!"
"I'm Fei Shi, the current head of the Alchemy Department. I heard about your extraordinary alchemy skills as soon as I came out of seclusion yesterday. How about we have a friendly competition right now and learn from each other?"
"Fei Shi? What kind of ridiculous name is that?" Xiao Yan thought, stifling a laugh.
Initially, Xiao Yan suspected Fei Shi was challenging him, but upon noticing the enthusiasm in the man's eyes, he reconsidered.
With his plans in mind, Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Director Fei Shi, let's hold off on the competition for now. I have a research project in mind. Would you be interested?"
"Research?" Fei Shi's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Of course! As long as it's useful for alchemy, I'm in!"
"My project is to develop a pill that can improve the success rate of using Heart Flame Essence to temper Dou Ling practitioners," Xiao Yan explained.
The moment Xiao Yan finished speaking, Fei Shi and the other elders behind him lit up with excitement.
(End of Chapter)
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