69: Conflict between two women

Xue Mei Senior Apprentice lacked the coquettish enthusiasm of Senior Sister Lin Fei, but she was precise and efficient, just like her—cold and reliable.

When President Frank guided Mo Yuhan in refining some extremely difficult Grade 3 pills, Xue Mei often quietly observed from the side.

When Mo Yuhan's face turned slightly pale and fine sweat beaded on his forehead due to prolonged, intense concentration of Soul Power, she would silently hand him a cup of invigorating tea, brewed with Ice Soul Grass and Spirit-Calming Flower, at just the right temperature.

Or, when Mo Yuhan's flames showed subtle fluctuations due to medicinal conflicts, and the pill cauldron emitted an uneasy hum, her clear, cold gaze would instantly sharpen like a knife.

Although she wouldn't interrupt, her tensed body and slightly leaning posture showed her complete focus.

She was like a silent guardian; whenever Mo Yuhan needed help, she was always able to offer timely, subtle assistance.

She wouldn't deliberately get close like Lin Fei, always maintaining a distance of about one step.

But whenever Mo Yuhan refined pills late into the night, she would always happen to pass by the alchemy room, leave a refreshing clear-heart tea or a plate of exquisite pastries, and then quietly leave.

Once, Mo Yuhan attempted to refine a Grade 2 high-level pill called the “Ice Soul Heart Protection Pill.” This pill required extremely precise control over flame temperature changes, and also needed a trace of ice-attributed medicinal material to neutralize the fiery heat in its properties.

He had already failed twice, running out of medicinal ingredients, and sat in the alchemy room feeling somewhat dejected.

Late at night, the door to the alchemy room was gently pushed open.

Xue Mei walked in, holding a jade box. Inside were several fresh main ingredients for refining the “Ice Soul Heart Protection Pill,” specifically “Ice Soul Grass,” and their quality was even better than what Mo Yuhan had used before.

“Ice Soul Grass is cold in nature and thrives in damp, shady conditions. These were freshly picked from the cold pond in the northeast corner of the Guild's medicinal garden; their medicinal properties are at their best.”

Xue Mei placed the jade box in front of Mo Yuhan, her voice still clear and cold, “Thirty breaths before the pill solidifies, the flame needs to be lowered to a deep blue. At the same time, the essence of the Ice Soul Grass should be enveloped by Soul Power, like an ice needle, piercing the center of the medicinal liquid to guide its cold properties to spread evenly, rather than forcing a fusion.”

Mo Yuhan's eyes lit up.

This was precisely the key point of his previous failures.

He suddenly looked up at Xue Mei, his eyes filled with gratitude and admiration: “Xue Mei Senior Apprentice, thank you…”

Xue Mei interrupted him, her light purple eyes appearing exceptionally deep under the lamplight: “Try it.”

With that, she turned and left, her silver hair tracing a cool arc behind her.

Mo Yuhan followed Xue Mei's guidance and tried again, succeeding in one go.

As he held the Ice Soul Heart Protection Pill, which emitted a faint chill and had clear pill patterns, his heart was filled with gratitude for this cool and aloof senior sister.

Xue Mei's changes were subtle and slow.

She still didn't speak much, and her expression always remained cool and distant.

But people in the Guild gradually noticed that when Mo Yuhan was in the Guild, Xue Mei seemed to stay longer.

When Mo Yuhan and Lin Fei were discussing alchemy—most of the time it was usually Lin Fei asking and Mo Yuhan answering, with Lin Fei occasionally “accidentally” touching Mo Yuhan’s hand.

Although Xue Mei never got close, she would always choose a not-too-far, not-too-close spot, quietly reading a book or processing medicinal ingredients, her silver hair falling to cover half her face, making her expression unreadable, but the aura around her seemed a few degrees colder than usual.

And when Mo Yuhan successfully refined a high-quality pill, a faint warmth, like melting ice and snow, would flash across her clear eyes, and the corners of her lips would curve upwards ever so slightly, forming an almost imperceptible arc.

She called Mo Yuhan “Junior Brother Yu Han,” her voice clear, but with an indescribable softness and… an imperceptible preciousness that she didn't use with anyone else.

This emotion, like a spark buried deep beneath ten thousand years of profound ice, silently and imperceptibly grew, awaiting the opportunity to break through the ice.

Lin Fei's proactive enthusiasm and Xue Mei's silent guardianship, like the collision of ice and fire, inevitably produced intense sparks.

Especially in Lin Fei's view, this ice-faced Xue Mei always appeared around Little Han Han, especially in “quiet” places like the library and alchemy room, which was simply a blatant invasion of her “territory.”

What angered her even more was that Xiao Mo Mo seemed to quite appreciate Xue Mei's “cool guidance.”

This afternoon, the sun was just right.

Mo Yuhan was carefully loosening the soil and watering a rare medicinal herb called “Purple Spirit Ginseng,” which he had just acquired from the Guild, in his small courtyard's medicinal garden.

This spirit ginseng was very important for his next step in refining a soul-strengthening pill.

Lin Fei arrived, carrying an exquisite carved food box, humming a cheerful tune, her steps light and graceful.

Today, she wore a goose-yellow strapless ruqun with a thin, cicada-wing-like sheer outer layer, showcasing her proud figure perfectly.

Her full bosom seemed ready to spill from the strapless top, her slender waist was barely a handful, and a smooth, fair calf peeked out from beneath her skirt.

“Little Han Han, look what surprise I brought you!”

Lin Fei opened the food box like she was presenting a treasure. Inside were several translucent crystal cakes shaped like adorable little rabbits, emitting an enticing fruity aroma and Soul Power fluctuations.

“These are Jade Rabbit Crystallized Cakes made with ‘Jade Marrow Fruit’ and ‘Spirit Spring Water’! Not only are they delicious, but they can also nourish your meridians!”

She picked up a piece, her body naturally leaning towards Mo Yuhan, who was squatting on the ground. Her full bosom almost brushed against his back as she said in a sweet voice, “Quick, try it! I went to so much trouble to make these successfully, I even burned my hand a little!”

She extended her fair, delicate finger, and indeed, there was a tiny red spot on it.

Mo Yuhan was a bit flustered by her sudden closeness and her incredibly impactful curves. He instinctively wanted to stand up and move away: “Senior Sister Lin Fei, my hands are all muddy. I’ll wash them first and then…”

“Oh, why are you being so polite with me! Open wide!”

Lin Fei insisted, giggling as she tried to feed him herself, pressing even closer, her fragrant breath brushing against Mo Yuhan's earlobe.

She brought the pastry to Mo Yuhan's mouth, her fingertip “accidentally” lightly brushing his lips.

Just then, a clear, cold voice, like ice beads falling onto a jade plate, came from the courtyard entrance: “Pardon the intrusion. Junior Brother Yu Han, the teacher wants you to go to the alchemy room immediately. Regarding the fusion point of 'Earth Core Fire Ganoderma' and 'Cold Jade Marrow' in the 'Dragon Strength Pill' formula, the teacher has made a new discovery and needs to guide you in person.”

Xue Mei stood there at some point, her silver robe spotless, her silver hair cascading like a waterfall, and her posture as tall and straight as a snow pine.

Her clear, cold eyes swept over Lin Fei's almost-touching, hand-feeding, ambiguous posture towards Mo Yuhan. Her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and the aura around her seemed to grow a few degrees colder.

Lin Fei's movements instantly froze, and the smile on her face also chilled.

She turned around, puffing out her proud chest, meeting Xue Mei's cold gaze without backing down, her tone carrying clear provocation and displeasure: “Ice-face, can't you see I'm talking to Junior Brother?”

“Can't it wait? Junior Brother is tasting the pastries I specially made for him. These are good for nourishing the meridians, you know.”