Li Feng pushed open the doors of Wei Meilin's office and, as expected, she was there. Inside, Wei Meilin sat with a cup of tea, while Yin Rou quietly held her own, sipping nervously with both hands and glancing around the room.
Wei Meilin looked at him first, then at the girl beside her. "Who is this little girl? She said you told her to come here, so I let her wait inside."
Li Feng walked in casually and replied, "I plan to nurture this child to become an alchemist."
"Eh? M–me?" Yin Rou almost choked on her tea, her cheeks turning red as she lowered her head.
Wei Meilin blinked in surprise. "Why?"
Li Feng sat down beside her, resting an arm lightly around her shoulders. "I won't always be in the city. And when I'm away, you might face some difficulties. So having someone I have train will make things easier for you, Madam Wei."
Wei Meilin's eyes softened for a moment. She didn't expect this pervert to think that far ahead. But then her expression turned strange, her gaze narrowing. "Did you devour this little girl already?"
Yin Rou nearly dropped her teacup at those words, her face burning crimson.
Li Feng straightened, voice firm and righteous. "Of course not. I would never touch her-" He muttered the last word under his breath, 'yet.'
Wei Meilin shook her head, sighing at his shamelessness. Then her expression brightened, and a rare smile appeared on her lips. "There's good news. The pills you provided for tonight's auction, the Great Spirit Condensing Pills, you should have seen the appraiser's face; he nearly lost his composure. So many high-grade, even flawless ones… it caused quite a stir."
Li Feng grinned. "Oh? When does the auction start?"
"We can head out now," Wei Meilin said, moving the hand resting on her shoulder as she stood. She then turned to Yin Rou. "Where do you usually stay?"
"I… I usually stay in the guild dorms, but…" Yin Rou hesitated, looking uneasy.
Seeing her hesitation, Wei Meilin understood immediately. She knew that those so-called apprentice alchemists were basically free labor for the guild. The guild provided only the bare minimum while making them work like ox under the pretext of teaching. Most of them lived in poor conditions. She had seen many people like Yin Rou, working themselves to exhaustion yet never managing to become official alchemists.
"If you want, you can stay here instead," Wei Meilin said calmly.
"E-Eh? If that's really okay, then… I'm very grateful," Yin Rou said nervously, politely bowing her head.
Wei Meilin nodded and called a clerk, instructing him to arrange a room for her inside the hall.
As Yin Rou bowed repeatedly in thanks, Li Feng leaned back with a smirk, watching the scene unfold. Inwardly, he thought: Wei Meilin really worked things out fast, building goodwill with the little girl who might one day become her alchemist.
Then a thought struck him. He reached into his storage pouch and pulled out a small porcelain pill bottle, handing it to Yin Rou. "Here. Take this. Some body and mind recovery pills."
These were just spare pills Li Feng had refined in his free time back at the sect. But he had noticed Yin Rou's pale complexion and weak body, so he wanted her to take them and recover.
Yin Rou hurriedly accepted it, her hands trembling. The moment she understood what the pills were for, warmth spread through her chest. Something inside her cracked, and tears started rolling down her cheeks.
Li Feng seeing this sight, start to panicked a bit. "W-what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Wei Meilin watched with amusement, her lips curving slightly. This pervert really can be dense sometimes. She knew how hard it must have been for a village girl like Yin Rou, coming to the city, chasing a better life, and only finding hardship after hardship.
Still, she couldn't resist teasing. "To think our Young Master Li is so capable. Making a little girl cry before even touching her."
Li Feng's eye twitched. He glared at Wei Meilin as if to say, You've grown quite bold… just wait until tonight.
Yin Rou hurriedly wiped her tears with her sleeve. "N-no… Senior didn't do anything wrong… hic… I… I've never had anyone care about me like this… not since I left my village… not since I came to the city."
Li Feng just sighed, finally understand somewhat. He turned to Wei Meilin. "Why not just let her work here?"
"Of course, if she's willing." Wei Meilin's eyes softened as she looked at Yin Rou.
"Y-yes! I want to work here!" Yin Rou said, still sniffling, her nose red.
"Then rest for today. Someone will prepare your room. Tomorrow, you can resign and pack your things from the guild," Wei Meilin said gently, stroking the girl's hair.
With that matter settled, Li Feng, Goldie, and Wei Meilin left the hall. A carriage was already waiting outside, its polished wood gleaming, silver fittings catching the lantern light, a simple design, yet unmistakably luxurious.
They stepped inside, and Goldie, following Li Feng's command, went to sit beside the old carriage driver. The poor man nearly jumped out of his seat at the sight of the giant beside him, eyes wide with shock.
The interior was lined with soft cushions, faint incense burning in a holder, the ride smooth as the horses set off. Wei Meilin sat with her usual elegance, dressed in her signature purple qipao with a white fur shawl draped over her shoulders.
Li Feng sat close beside her, close enough to feel her body heat and the softness of her curves. His hand, of course, slipped naturally onto her smooth thigh, fingers brushing against the slit of her dress.
Wei Meilin stiffened, her lips pressing together. "...Please, Young Master Li. This is not the best time. I don't want to walk into the auction while your… essence is dripping from me."
Her voice carried a pleading tone, different from the early teasing she gave him.
Li Feng became smug. "Of course, Madam Wei. I know what's important and when to behave." His words were righteous, but his hand kept roaming boldly under the slit of her dress.
Wei Meilin just rolled her eyes when she heard this. She was almost certain this man wanted to try doing it in the carriage. Still, she forced her composure back and spoke, her voice calm despite his wandering hand.
"…Young Master Li, Please know this. The auction house isn't just any market. It belongs directly to the City Lord's Mansion. Every three months, they host a grand auction, and only recognized families, sects, or factions are allowed to consign items. Every transaction there is protected under the City Lord's authority. Even the four major families wouldn't dare cause trouble inside."
Li Feng's hand stilled for a moment before resuming its slow circling, utterly unbothered. "So even the four major families bow their heads once they step inside, hm? Sounds like the City Lord is quite formidable."
Wei Meilin kept her gaze fixed ahead, though her lashes fluttered faintly. "It isn't strange, it is control. The City Lord ensures neutrality and peace. No matter what grudges exist outside, no one dares to act within the auction hall. Those who do… is the same as slapping him in the face. And his face represents the Azure Moon Sect's authority in this city."
Li Feng couldn't help but think that the sect really knew how to manage the city.
Wei Meilin straightened in her seat as she continued explaining, keeping her composure despite the closeness of Li Feng's hand start digging deeper. "Every consignor must pay thirty percent of the final bid as tax to the City Lord. That ensures protection, legitimacy, and prevents cheating. Bidders who break rules face immediate expulsion or worse. The auction itself is strictly monitored. No violence, no interference. Only wealth determine the outcome."
As she was explaining, she felt Li Feng's hand inch a little too close, brushing against her most sensitive spot.
"Y-you—!" Wei Meilin hissed, cheeks warming. "…Behave yourself. We are almost there."
Li Feng leaned closer, a teasing smirk in his voice. "But Madam Wei… I'm rather bored."
She pressed her fingers on his hand tightly. "This… really isn't the time."
His voice dropped into a quiet murmur near her ear, playful yet suggestive. "Then perhaps we can find another… way to pass the time," he whispered something softly into her ear.
Wei Meilin, hearing what he wanted her to do, grit her teeth and glare at him, then slowly lowered her head toward his crouch.
Li Feng then relaxed back in his seat, one hand resting on her head while the other supported his chin as he gazed through the carriage window at the lively streets outside.
The carriage rolled smoothly along the lantern-lit streets, the wooden wheels creaking softly over the cobblestones. Outside, the city glittered under the night sky, lanterns swaying in the gentle breeze, casting flickering light on the bustling streets.
He then felt a breeze on his little brother, followed by a wet, enveloping sensation. His soft little brother was surprised at the sudden occurrence but seemed to welcome it and began to harden.
"Ahh.…" Li Feng sighed in pleasure at the sensation, then the head in his hand start bobbing up and down.
As the wheels clicked over the cobblestones and the city lights flickered past, the night stretched ahead, full of possibilities of what was to come.