The jaws of all the people in the Jasmine Dragon collectively dropped on the floor. There was a pin drop silence as if Mu Feixue had cast a spell on everyone present.

  Everyone present had been discreetly watching her ever since she entered the shop. One look at her and they knew she was far beyond their status, even catching a brief glimpse of her would be the highlight of their lives.

  And now infront of their eyes the fairy was so intimately holding Ling Yun! The Ling Yun that serves tea to them daily. And not even that, their faces were so close that just a little more would result in something that they dare not even imagine about her even in their dreams.

  First that young fairy and now an older beauty. What the hell is happening with Ling Yun?

  An Ning wanted to say something but she couldn't find the words for it. Her friend no Mu Feixue, a renowned alchemist was acting so indecently to an unknown junior. Old man Ping who was so close to them felt like he was seeing something he shouldn't be. He even kept on holding his breath in fear of disturbing the fairy.

  Time continued to pass but everyone was still frozen as shock turned into bewilderment. The only one unaffected was the caster of this spell of bafflement herself, Mu Feixue. Unbothered by the stumped look in everyones faces she was caressing his chin, only Ling Yun's face reflected in her beautiful irises.

  Ling Yun mind had gone completely blank. First he found his stalker was a mature older woman. He kept trying to figure out her motives when she suddenly pulled him too close for comfort. He could barely even process what she was speaking, her each word blowing more of her heavenly fragrance in his nose.

  Ling Yun was just a sixteen year old boy. Barring that bloody night with Su Ning, he rarely had any contact with girls and now his face was so close to a bewitching fairy that he could inhale her every breath. This was too much stimulation for him.

  His face turned red and his brain overheated. Ling Yun hastily tried to retreat but ended up losing his balance and falling with the chair. The crash finally cleared the fog of confusion everyone was trapped under and the first one to act was An Ning.

  "Feixue what are you doing? He is just a young boy atleast refrain from scaring him."

  "Oh. Forgive me for acting so carelessly."

  From her tone it looked like Feixue wasn't apologetic at all. She was still watching Ling Yun as he tried to get back on his feet as quick as possible. He was so embarassed for making a fool of himself infront of her. He tried to regain his composure but her lips suddenly curved in a mischievous smirk that returned the blush back on his face.

  Feeling it was up to her to put this conversation back to track, An Ning began. "Boy my name is An Ning and I'm a representative of the Hundred Treasures Pavillion and my friend here is Senior Master Alchemist, Mu Feixue. We called you to compliment you on your excellent tea making." She even showed a token confirming her identity.

  "Thank you, thank you. This one is blessed to be complimented by such a pair of esteemed daoists. I will continue to polish my skills after receiving such high praise from you."

  Ling Yun spoke some empty flatteries and wanted to leave as quickly as possible. He forcefully kept his focus on An Ning, not daring to look at her friend's face. He turned around but before he could take a single step, Mu Feixue spoke again.

  "Wait a minute. I have something important to discuss with you."

  She looked around the room, this time her voice louder, "I hope everyone can give me the privacy to talk to this boy alone."

  The shop cleared within a few seconds, even the owner left the shop. An Ning left last; she wanted to watch over Mu Feixue but she was told with a look to also leave. The only ones left were her and Ling Yun.

  "Why don't you take a seat?"

  Her lips twitched at seeing Ling Yun taking the seat furthest from her. At this point Ling Yun had given up on figuring her motives. Still he couldn't look into her eyes. The lady gave him a dangerous feeling of a different kind which he couldn't explain.

  "So Ling Yun, you're still so innocent at this age. I believe you never had any relations with a girl, am I right?"

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Of all the questions Ling Yun was expecting, a question about his romantic history wasn't one. Memory of him falling from the chair flashed in his eyes and his cheeks turned red again.

  After a few seconds of silence he looked up to see her looking at him with amusement. Her eyebrows were half raised, she was expecting an answer from him.

  "No I have never touched a girl closely in my entire life except for my sister."

  Ling Yun was too nervous to lie. Another wave of embarrassment came from admitting this truth. Her grin widened and Ling Yun turned his gaze on floor again.

  "Too shy to meet my eyes but I like it.

  "You mentioned a sister. So where are your guardians?"

  Finally a normal question.

  "I come from a clan but I have cut all my ties to them. For now I live alone."

  Other than Granny Sha, they barely come to his mind nowadays.

  "That's fine too, no it's actually better this way."

  In what way is it better? Ling Yun wanted to ask but he kept these thoughts to himself.

  "Ling Yun here take this." She lifted her hand and yellow pill came out of nowhere. It floated in the air and reached near his hands.

  "This is a Goldscale pill. It can be used to break though the bottlenecks at the late stage of Qi refining. Think of it as a gift for our first meeting."

  Ling Yun took the pill and looked closely at it. He had heard about it before in the clan but never seen it. This pill was very expensive as it didn't have any side effects. Many cultivator are stuck at the middle stage of Qi refining for their whole lives. So this pill was very valuable for any Qi refining cultivator.

  "As my friend An Ning said I am a Senior Master alchemist and one of the greatest genius of my generation. For now I live in my mansion at the Blue Moon city."

  The air around her had shifted. Gone was the mischievous woman and now all her words were spoken with the authority and the dignity of the genius alchemist.

  "Ling Yun I have decided to make you my disciple. You will come with me."

  Countless thoughts bubbled in his head but one look at her eyes showed him that she was serious about it. Ling Yun didn't doubt her words about her taking him as a disciple.

  "Can I please take a moment to think about it?"

  "Of course, take your time."

  But instead of leaving, she remained sitting in her chair. Her eyes focused on his face taking note of every change in his expression adding further pressure on Ling Yun.

  ***

  "Master what do you think? Isn't this too unreal?"

  In his confusion, Ling Yun could only come to Brahma for advice.

  "Too unreal? Ling Yun unreal occurences have been around you since you were born. You are the last person who should say that."

  "But still an alchemist suddenly appears out of nowhere and wants to be my master. Forgive me for being suspicious."

  Brahma chuckled at his sarcastic remarks. "It isn't unheard for cultivators to gain interest in an unknown person and take them as disciple. This mostly happens in the case of lone cultivators."

  She looked at Ling Yun and gave a wicked smile. "I think I have figured out her intentions."

  "Really?" Ling Yun looked at her doubtfully. "So what does she want?"

  Brahma continued to smile. "You don't have to worry about that. At least I can tell that she doesn't mean to harm you.

  "Ling Yun, I don't have any memories related to alchemy so I can't teach you. It all comes down on your choice.

  "What do you want to do?"

  My choice?

  "I believe if given the opportunity only a fool would refuse to become an alchemist. And she also said about living in the Blue Moon city. That is one of the four Immortal cities. The opportunities and resources there are far more than what I can find in this village."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Yes. This path would be the most beneficial for my cultivation."

  "You are beginning to think more and more as a cultivator."

  ***

  Mu Feixue had been waiting for a minute when Ling Yun finally opened his eyes. She could see his blue eyes which were so turbulent before, were now clear as the serene ocean.

  "So have you come to a decision?"

  Ling Yun got up from his chair and kneeled on the floor.

  "Disciple greets master."

  ***

  An Ning was left her scratching her head. Her friend had taken a lowly tea shop worker in a village as a disciple. The disciple of the Senior Master Mu Feixue.

  Countless people from prominent clans have begged her to take them, bribing her with countless precious gifts and benefits but she had turned all of them down without giving a single glance.

  And now this boy was the chosen one. She once again examined the boy and found her intial assessment about him remaining the same.

  She turned to her friend, "What are you thinking of taking him as a disciple? Have you lost your mind?"

  She then turned to the boy who was trying to make himself as invisible as possible.

  "And you boy, do you think it is a child's play to become an alchemist? Do you even have the qualifications to become one?

  "Forget that, can you even produce a flame?"

  To stop her ranting Ling Yun immediately made a small flame from his right hand. After making tea many times using this method, he had gotten somewhat proficient with it.

  An Ning who was still in the middle of her angry tirade was shell-shocked. The words refused to come from her mouth as she only stared at the flame with her wide open eyes in silence and bafflement.

  "No ... no it can't be possible.. these are the legendary Pheonix flames!"

  Even though she was just a Qi refining cultivator due to working at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, her knowledge far surpassed average ones.

  In her excitement she grabbed Ling Yun's collar and started shaking it. "Boy do you know you possess the Pheonix flames? Do you have any idea how crazy this is?"

  Before he could answer, she let go of him and turned and pointed her finger at Feixue.

  "Yes yes everything makes sense now. Hahaha Feixue you found out about this. This is the reason you took him as your disciple, am I right?"

  Mu Feixue had been silent in this commotion; her eyes ever locked not on the legendary Pheonix flames but on the face of the boy illuminated by their gentle orange hue in this dark night.

  "Yes."