After further chatting with Xiao Zhan and the others, Lady Ya decided to bid farewell and leave. Xiao Yan, who had remained silent all along, now showed the warmth and hospitality befitting a host family, accompanying Lady Ya all the way out of the clan under Xiao Zhan's satisfied gaze. Once they stepped out of the clan gates, Xiao Yan still did not seem inclined to return. He held his head with both hands, closely following Lady Ya, his eyes slightly narrowed, as if thinking deeply about something. With Xiao Yan walking beside her, Lady Ya felt a slight sense of nervousness, her jade-held hands damp with sweat. Her memory was exceptionally sharp—during the previous auction, she had once accidentally caught sight of the hands of that enigmatic black-robed alchemist, which were as fresh and vibrant as those of a young man. Moreover, on each of those pale hands, she noticed a black ring identical to the one worn by Xiao Yan. This coincidence had opened the door to a series of questions: why would this mysterious alchemist hold such strong favor toward the Xiao family? Several mysteries now seemed to be unfolding. Gently biting her red lips, Lady Ya subtly observed the young man beside her. He wore a modest green robe, his frame tall and well-built, arms resting behind his head, exuding a relaxed demeanor. Though his face was youthful and slightly naive, the subtle curve of his lips betrayed a maturity far beyond that of an inexperienced, unworldly youth. After carefully observing Xiao Yan, Yafei still found it hard to believe that the young, elegant boy who had previously made her and Gu Ni bow and yield in the auction hall was merely a seventeen-year-old lad. "Have you looked long enough?" said Xiao Yan calmly, as Yafei sighed with a touch of resignation. Her steps slowed slightly. "You—you should call me 'Mr.' or 'Master,' or perhaps 'Xiao Yan, the young brother'?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, then gently nodded toward the side. "Enter." Following his gaze, Yafei's cheeks flushed slightly. To her surprise, the place Xiao Yan indicated was a well-known spot in Wutan City where couples often met and spent time together. Though she had originally intended to gently suggest a different location, Xiao Yan had already walked in with confidence and settled himself comfortably on a stone bench beneath a lush willow tree. Regarding Xiao Yan's sudden shift from his previously respectful and obedient demeanor to one of assertive dominance, Yafeng could only shake her head in resignation—how swiftly had this transformation occurred? With graceful, measured steps, she approached and settled herself across from him, her pair of alluring, long, luminous eyes gleaming as they studied the young man before her. "Do you recognize me?" Xiao Yan asked, his voice somewhat indistinct as he reached out to pluck a willow leaf and chew on it. Yafeng gently brushed a strand of hair falling across her forehead with her jade hand, her effortless grace causing a man standing nearby to gaze at her in awe, his lips pressed together as he offered a wry smile, "I'd rather believe I've made a mistake." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, his teeth firmly biting into the slightly bitter leaf. "You don't intend to have me killed, do you?" Yafeng said, her voice trembling slightly, though a faint smile flickered across her beautiful eyes. "I intend to have you forcibly raped and then abandon your body," Xiao Yan declared, his tone fierce. Hearing this rather crude and rustic remark, Yafeng blushed slightly, gazed at him with a graceful, slightly scolding look, and chided, "How can a child learn so many unrefined things?" With a slight sniff, Xiao Yan stretched lazily. Having already been identified, he no longer needed to hide his intentions. "The black-robed man I've previously dealt business with with you—indeed, that was me." "But the one responsible for the medicine preparation—wasn't that you, perhaps?" Yafeng's eyes sparkled with subtle amusement. She wasn't naive; she was well aware of Xiao Yan's capabilities. Even if he were a master herbalist himself, his current level of strength would make it impossible for him to produce a medicine of the kind of 'Qi-accumulating Powder' that had been crafted. "Women are too clever—men simply don't appreciate that." Xiao Yan glanced sideways at Yafeng, who had already deduced most of the truth. "That's merely the opinion of ordinary men," Yafeng replied, lifting her dark brows with a tone of clear disdain. Sighing, Xiao Yan didn't have the patience to linger over this trivial matter. Chewing on the bitter leaves that had already dissolved in his mouth, he said calmly, "You should know why I've come. Keep my identity confidential—this will benefit everyone." He licked his lips and gave the graceful beauty before him a steady gaze. "Of course, don't treat this as leverage against me. Otherwise, you'll end up losing out." "Do I seem like some foolish woman with a large chest and no brain?" asked Yafei, innocently spreading her hands. Xiao Yan fixed his eyes on the lush swell of her chest, nodding only after a moment. "Yes, your chest is indeed large. But whether you're truly brainy will depend on how you perform going forward." "...Ah." Yafei found herself helpless, smiling weakly as she shook her head. Even setting aside his dual role at the moment, the refined youth appearance of this young man—only a few years younger than herself—made it hard to harbor any ill will toward him. "Then our cooperation?" Yafei stared at Xiao Yan with a touch of nervousness—this was the question she most wanted to ask. "As before, you continue to refuse to supply the medicinal herbs from the Gailie family. In return, I will pay you five doses of Jigu San." With a simple shrug, Xiao Yan's calm voice eased Yafei's tension. "Heh, I'm really looking forward to our partnership," Yafei said, smiling gracefully and extending her delicate jade hand. Xiao Yan nodded lazily, grasping her hand, only for it to slip away unexpectedly—something that surprised Yafei. Watching the young man whose behavior seemed utterly unpredictable, Yafei sighed, "I'm starting to wonder if you're truly only seventeen. It seems I've been walking right behind you all along." Ignoring this line of conversation, Xiao Yan waved his hand, stood up, and walked toward the door, saying as he went, "From now on, let's maintain our previous demeanor. Otherwise, people might notice the inconsistencies." Nodding with a smile, Yafu spoke softly, "If you have time, we'd be delighted to invite the herbalist behind you to visit the Mitel Auction Hall—we always welcome guests." Her steps slowed slightly, and Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, speaking vaguely, "We can discuss that when we have time." With a decisive wave of his hand, Xiao Yan moved forward with grace and purpose, leaving no trace of hesitation. Standing in place, watching the young man's figure fade into the distance, Yafu shook her head with a wry smile, murmuring, "Such a little trickster. I simply can't understand how Lan's daughter managed to dissolve their engagement. Ah, I suspect Lan Su will regret it to no end."