Chapter 57 Small Talk

Seeing the sly glint in Feng Zhirou's eyes, Ye Yuan felt quite helpless.

This girl must have already known about his bad relationship with Wan Yuan, so she deliberately ignored Wan Yuan to greet him.

She was stirring up trouble for Ye Yuan, but since he and Wan Yuan were already locked in a life-and-death struggle, a little more wouldn't matter.

Ye Yuan had a headache. How was Feng Zhirou's personality so different from the legends? He had even used her to provoke Liu Ruoshui back then.

"Hasn't it started yet? Why come so early? It's just an assessment, no need to make a fuss," Ye Yuan said irritably.

"Hmph! I've heard everything about you from my aunt. So far, you've only been talking on paper. Who knows what乱七八糟 things you've picked up from some ancient text to fool my aunt?" Feng Zhirou said disdainfully.

Ye Yuan couldn't be bothered to explain and walked past her to greet Feng Ruoqing.

Wan Yuan saw this scene and interpreted it as flirtation between lovers, grinding his teeth in hatred.

He did admire Liu Ruoshui, but Feng Zhirou was on a whole different level. If he could win the beauty's heart, what was a mere Liu Ruoshui?

Feng Zhirou was the goddess of all male students, naturally including Wan Yuan. But before, he was too far beneath her to even have a chance to approach her.

Now Wan Yuan was already a Prefectural student and an intermediate alchemy apprentice. He was confident he would pass the advanced alchemy apprentice assessment this time.

Wan Yuan believed that before long, he would be on the same starting line as Feng Zhirou.

With enough strength, Wan Yuan naturally began to have more thoughts.

He hadn't expected to run into Feng Zhirou at this alchemist assessment, so he brazenly introduced himself, but Feng Zhirou showed no reaction.

In the Qin Kingdom, an intermediate grand alchemist was someone everyone fawned over. Otherwise, why would Liu Ruoshui be so close to Wan Yuan?

Yet this title didn't seem to work on Feng Zhirou; she acted as if she had never heard the name Wan Donghai.

Wan Yuan was stunned for a moment, but then he understood. As one of the top three on the Martial Rankings, her future achievements would surely rival his father's. A bit of pride was normal.

However, once certain thoughts took root, they couldn't be suppressed.

In the matter of pursuing women, the more difficult it was, the more it stirred a man's fighting spirit.

But Wan Yuan hadn't expected to see Ye Yuan here, nor that Ye Yuan seemed to have a good relationship with Feng Zhirou. Coupled with the vague rumors about Feng Ruoqing and Ye Yuan in recent days, jealousy burned fiercely in Wan Yuan's heart.

The two goddesses of the Danwu Academy were both so entangled with Ye Yuan. Why?

Although Ye Yuan had risen strongly recently, even making Wan Yuan feel threatened, his deep-rooted contempt for Ye Yuan made him instinctively feel that Ye Yuan didn't deserve any of this.

Feng Ruoqing's eyes lit up at the sight of Ye Yuan. She pulled him aside and whispered, "I've almost mastered drawing circles with my left hand and squares with my right, as you taught me. I never thought it would actually help with the Yin-Yang Split Flow Technique!"

Feng Ruoqing was usually calm, but now she was somewhat excited. If not for the inappropriate setting, she would have shouted out her joy.

She had actually practiced the Yin-Yang Split Flow Technique long ago, but no matter how she tried, she couldn't get the hang of it.

Now, after just a few days of following Ye Yuan's method, she had made rapid progress!

Ye Yuan rolled his eyes at Feng Ruoqing and said irritably, "Didn't you say it was useless back then? Why did you pick it up again?"

Feng Ruoqing's excitement came to an abrupt halt, and she looked embarrassed. At the same time, she grumbled inwardly: This kid has no sense of chivalry! He's embarrassing me in public!

"You didn't say anything back then, how was I supposed to know if it was useful? At least you should have explained why I needed to do that!" Feng Ruoqing said aggrievedly.

Seeing her pitiful look, Ye Yuan couldn't bring himself to tease her further: "The essence of the Yin-Yang Split Flow Technique is to multitask. When you cast it, your primal chaos is in disarray, and your hands can't coordinate at all. No wonder you couldn't succeed! I had you practice drawing to train your ability to multitask. But this is just the beginning. To achieve yin-yang harmony in the primal chaos of both hands, you'll need to practice hard."

Feng Ruoqing suddenly understood: "So that's it! No wonder I couldn't make progress no matter how I practiced!"

The first step is always the hardest. Although Ye Yuan said she had only just begun, once she had a foot in the door, the path ahead would be much smoother.

As an alchemist, Feng Ruoqing's aptitude was not bad; she only lacked insight and experience.

"Alright, I won't charge you tuition, but don't ask me to be your assistant anymore. I'm very busy," Ye Yuan said, waving his hand.

Feng Ruoqing felt bitter again. Others would be eager to be her assistant, but Ye Yuan avoided her like the plague. Was she really that unattractive?

Women are strange creatures. Sometimes the more you pursue them, the more they dislike you; when you keep your distance, they feel失落.

Their whispered conversation naturally drew attention.

Though no one knew what they were saying, Feng Ruoqing's attentive expression made her look like a reprimanded young wife.

Everyone began to speculate: Was there really something between them?

Just then, several old men in red robes entered the hall from a side door. Two of them had a young girl each by their side.

Feng Ruoqing was the instructor leading this assessment, having been temporarily assigned.

Now it was time for her to step forward.

"Haha, Miss Feng, it's been a while since you visited our guild. I suppose you've been immersed in alchemy research again? If you keep this up, we old fogies will be ashamed!" The leading old man seemed to be an old acquaintance of Feng Ruoqing's, greeting her warmly.

Feng Ruoqing had returned to her usual serene and ethereal demeanor. She gave a slight bow to the old man and smiled lightly: "President Wang, President Sun, and esteemed elders, greetings. President Wang flatters me. It's only been half a year since my last visit, not that long. With my meager skills, how could I dare to make you feel ashamed? You are the titans of the alchemy world in the Qin Kingdom!"

"Hehe, Miss Feng certainly knows how to speak. But I'm not joking. In my opinion, within three years, the Qin Kingdom will have another grand alchemist." President Wang's words were not flattery; he genuinely admired Feng Ruoqing.

Feng Ruoqing smiled faintly: "President Wang, you flatter me. I dare not accept such praise."

President Wang laughed heartily: "You deserve it! You deserve it! Oh, isn't this Wan Yuan? I didn't expect you to participate in this assessment. Are you here for the advanced alchemy apprentice test?"

All eyes turned to Wan Yuan, clearly surprised that he knew the vice president of the Alchemist Guild.

Wan Yuan shot a triumphant glance at Ye Yuan, stepped forward, and bowed: "Greetings, President Wang. I am indeed here for the advanced alchemy apprentice assessment."