"How are you this experienced…?" Ya Fei lifted her flushed face, her beautiful eyes staring straight at Xiao Se, filled with both embarrassment and curiosity.
"Uh…" Xiao Se's lips twitched slightly.
Was he really that obvious?
If he had known, he would've pretended to be a little more inexperienced.
Just as Xiao Se was about to come up with an excuse—
A knock sounded at the door.
Immediately after, the respectful voice of a maid came from outside.
"Miss Ya Fei, Miss Nalan Yanran has come. She says she has something she wishes to discuss with you."
"Nalan Yanran?" A hint of surprise flashed across Xiao Se's eyes.
Ya Fei was also momentarily stunned upon hearing the name. She quickly slipped out of Xiao Se's embrace, smoothing her slightly disheveled clothes. Her expression returned to its usual composed elegance as she spoke in a calm tone.
"Bring her in."
"Yes," the maid replied respectfully from outside.
As the maid's footsteps gradually faded, Ya Fei turned to Xiao Se with a teasing smile.
"What? Our Young Master Xiao Se wants to meet her too? I've heard that this talented disciple of the Yun Lan Sect has always been quite fixated on 'Xiao Huohuo.'"
"Uh… no thanks. I'll pass," Xiao Se shook his head. "She's fixated on Xiao Huohuo. What does that have to do with me, Xiao Se? I've never taken the initiative to provoke her anyway."
More importantly, now wasn't the right time to meet Nalan Yanran.
With that, he turned and walked behind a decorative screen, concealing his figure.
No sooner had he hidden himself than the sound of light footsteps echoed from outside.
The door opened.
A slender, graceful figure stepped into the room.
"Nalan Yanran."
"Yanran, it's been a long time," Ya Fei greeted her with a professional smile, walking forward.
"Yes, Sister Ya Fei," Nalan Yanran nodded politely. "I came today because I have something to ask of you."
"Come, sit first," Ya Fei said gently, taking her hand and guiding her to a seat. "What is it?"
Nalan Yanran hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"The Mittel Family's businesses are spread across the entire Jia Ma Empire, and your information network is vast. Do you happen to have any news of Big Brother Xiao Huohuo?"
"Xiao Huohuo?" Ya Fei was slightly taken aback.
She instinctively glanced toward the screen where Xiao Se was hiding, then shook her head faintly before answering.
"Not long after the Alchemist Grand Meeting, he left the imperial capital to travel the continent. By now, he may have already left the Jia Ma Empire. Why are you looking for him? Don't tell me… the young sect master of the Yun Lan Sect has taken a liking to him?"
"Sister Ya Fei, you misunderstand," Nalan Yanran said quickly, her cheeks turning red. She turned her head slightly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear before continuing.
"My grandfather recently fought a fifth-tier magical beast—the Luo Tie Poison Seal Python—and was struck by a terrifying poison. That poison is constantly eroding the Dou Qi within his body. If this continues, I fear he won't last more than two or three years…"
"Have you consulted other alchemists?" Ya Fei asked.
Nalan Yanran shook her head.
"Most of the well-known alchemists in the imperial capital have already examined him. None of them can do anything. That's why I want to ask Big Brother Xiao Huohuo for help. If you receive any news of him, please let me know. I would be extremely grateful. If he's willing to help, the Nalan Family is prepared to offer all of our treasures in return."
As she spoke, she took out a list from her storage ring and handed it to Ya Fei.
Ya Fei opened it and glanced through.
Every item listed was a rare and valuable treasure—so valuable that even the current Mittel Family would find it difficult to ignore.
However, whether Xiao Se would agree to help was another matter entirely.
Though she was a businesswoman who valued profit, she would never exploit her relationship with Xiao Se for personal gain.
Closing the list, Ya Fei smiled softly.
"If there's any news of Xiao Huohuo, I'll definitely inform you. Given your relationship with him, if he hears that the Nalan Family is in trouble, perhaps he'll return immediately."
"Sister Ya Fei, please don't tease me," Nalan Yanran said, her face flushing once again.
After a moment, the redness faded slightly. She hesitated before speaking again.
"There's actually one more question I'd like to ask you."
"Oh?" Ya Fei raised an eyebrow, interest flickering in her eyes. "Go ahead."
"Sister Ya Fei once stayed in Wu Tan City for some time, right? Have you ever heard of someone named Xiao Se?"
"Xiao Se?" Ya Fei paused, her delicate brows lifting ever so slightly.
Behind the screen, Xiao Se himself was equally puzzled.
He had never openly used the name "Xiao Se" within the Jia Ma Empire.
So how had Nalan Yanran learned about him?
Noticing Ya Fei's reaction, Nalan Yanran quickly added,
"I mean the one who's been widely talked about recently—the genius who broke through to Dou Ling before the age of fifteen. I heard that the Xiao Family of Wu Tan City has already given him the title of Fourth Elder."
"I've heard a little about him," Ya Fei replied calmly, though inwardly she sneered at the Xiao Family's actions.
Then she smiled faintly.
"But why are you suddenly asking about him? Could it be…"
"Sister Ya Fei, please don't overthink it. I've never met him," Nalan Yanran quickly interrupted.
"Alright, alright," Ya Fei chuckled. "Then tell me what's on your mind."
After organizing her thoughts, Nalan Yanran spoke slowly.
"My teacher once told me that when she first met Big Brother Xiao Huohuo, he was wearing a half-face mask. The second time they met was at the Alchemist Grand Meeting. But when comparing the two, she noticed that the lower half of his face had changed quite noticeably."
"If it weren't for the fact that he possessed a Heavenly Flame at the time, my teacher would have suspected he was an imposter. So she believes that during the Alchemist Grand Meeting, Big Brother Xiao Huohuo may have been disguising himself."
"Disguising himself?" Ya Fei's lips twitched slightly.
Inwardly, she couldn't help but marvel at the keen observation of a Dou Huang-level expert. Truly terrifying.
Nalan Yanran continued,
"Yes. Disguising himself. His appearance during the Alchemist Grand Meeting seemed older than what my teacher had originally expected."
"But what does that have to do with Xiao Se?" Ya Fei asked, feigning confusion.
Nalan Yanran explained,
"I believe Sister Ya Fei is aware of the incident two years ago, when I went to the Xiao Family to annul my engagement."
"Because of that, the Yun Lan Sect conducted an investigation into the Xiao Family. After seeing the results, I was surprised to find that this Xiao Se bears an uncanny resemblance to Big Brother Xiao Huohuo."
"And the timing is also suspicious—the moment Xiao Se appeared coincides almost exactly with the time Big Brother Xiao Huohuo left the imperial capital."
"So…" Ya Fei raised her brows slightly, her tone carrying a hint of surprise. "You suspect that Xiao Se is Xiao Huohuo, and Xiao Huohuo is Xiao Se?"
At this moment, even she couldn't help but feel a trace of admiration for Nalan Yanran.
To notice such subtle details—it was impressive.
But soon, Ya Fei felt relieved.
Nalan Yanran wasn't someone overly scheming by nature.
Her attention toward Xiao Huohuo stemmed from genuine admiration, while her interest in Xiao Se came from his identity as a member of the Xiao Family.
By combining the two, she had accidentally arrived at the truth.
A coincidence—
Yet one that hit remarkably close to the mark.
(End of Chapter)
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