GEV 116: Interesting Interactions (Patreon)

Yun Yao finally led Zhao Wei through a thick mahogany door that led into a study room.


A well-crafted huge black desk stood opposite the entrance and a seat was behind it.


There were both opened and unopened voluminous books spread chaotically on the desk surface. Sheets of roughly scribbled notes lay sprawled atop the books, further enhancing the state of disarray.


This is a person who is dedicated to their course. It's truly interesting meeting someone with the essence of a scholar, Zhao Wei thought as his eyes analyzed everything in a matter of seconds.

He even felt a subtle admiration for the hardworking female alchemist.


On both sides of the spacious study room, in front of the desk, were tall shelves brimming with numerous books, manuscripts, and even files.


Zhao Wei used [X-ray vision] to scan through the shelves and inferred that they were a mixture of Alchemy manuals, ancient scrolls, and cultivation notes, though books geared towards Alchemy were in the majority.


Zhao Wei inadvertently smelled the air and noticed that it had two distinctive scents: one that belonged to Yun Yao and one that came from the books.


The amalgamation of those two scents created something that was overwhelmingly pleasant, sweet, and hot.


Zhao Wei had the urge to wantonly rummage through every book inside the study room. His adherence to basic respect and civility acted as a deterrence to such an impulsive behavior.


As Zhao Wei was lost in thoughts while scanning the shelves, he remained oblivious to the watchful hazel-green eyes of Yun Yao. Yun Yao leaned against the desk as she studied every contour, up to the very minute details, of the beautiful man's perfect face.


Unconsciously, she licked her lips when she narrowed her inspection to his inviting damnable lips.


'What am I thinking even? I am no longer an infatuated little girl of the same age as him.’ Yun Yao reminded herself as she shook her head to dismiss those tempting thoughts.


To her understanding, Zhao Wei felt like a forbidden fruit, something that if she risked her chances to take a bite from, then the consequences would be unimaginable for her.


“Hey, earth to Mister Zhao. What are you zoning out for when you have the chance to be alone in a room together with the most beautiful woman in existence?” Yun Yao interrupted, her narcissistic remark earning a small fake cough from Zhao Wei.


“It's supposed to be the other way round. You are the one who should be feeling honored, don't you think?” Zhao Wei casually winked.


Yun Yao's cheeks flushed as she puckered her lips in displeasure.


There was a stifling silence for a few seconds and tension in the room intensified.


It was hard to know what was going on inside the minds of the two individuals.


“Um, well, this is awkward. I think there were books that I was supposed to give you.” Yun Yao chuckled awkwardly while her dainty finger fiddled around with a strand of dark red hair, sticking out on her rosy cheek.


Zhao Wei watched her in amusement. He found her embarrassment and slight discomfort cute. It blended quite well with her mature aura.


Yun Yao walked to the huge shelf on the left and as if she already knew what she was looking for, she expertly and gently removed two books from separate sections.


They were titled: Beginners Guide for Pill Making and Pill Flame Heart Manual.


Yun Yao wasn't finished as she leisurely strolled to the opposite shelf and methodically, took another two books that were physically bigger, dimension-wise, compared to the previous two.


“I recommend reading through these four books to have a solid foundation when you start your journey on the unending road of Alchemy.” A wicked glint flashed in Yun Yao's eyes as she passed on the four books to Zhao Wei.


'You are too naive, woman.’ Zhao Wei smirked inside his mind.


How could he not understand the mischief hidden behind Yun Yao's calm expression?


“Beginners Guide for Pill Making», «Pill Flame Heart Manual», «Ten Thousand Plants Illustrations» and «Comprehensive Guide to the Art of Poisons - Poison Sutra».” Zhao Wei quickly read through the titles of the four books in his hands before looking at Pill Master Yun Yao.


“Thank you, Pill Master Yun Yao.” Zhao Wei said innocently in appreciation, his voice and tone as genuine as a baby's first words.


Yun Yao looked at Zhao Wei with furrowed brows, not understanding why she was being thanked so sincerely.


Yun Yao felt as if the brat was trying to play with her.


“Hmph, thank me only after reading and comprehending the texts from those books.” She unknowingly found herself pinching Zhao Wei's ear and only after a few moments, did she notice her peculiar actions.


Zhao Wei wore a dumb expression as if not registering what had just happened.


Not wanting to stay any longer in the same room with the hunk, Yun Yao excused herself and left, saying that she would come later as she had to make some important pills.


Zhao Wei looked at her retreating curvy figure before she loudly closed the door.


“Well, what a surprising turn of events. Yun Yao, Yun Yao…” Zhao Wei muttered her name silently.


Who would have believed that she was the same Yun Yao described in the original novel?

She seemed different in a good way. She was confident, deep-rooted, and kind of cheeky at times. She truly had a long-lasting impact on someone's memories if you got the chance to interact with her on a personal level.


Deep down, Zhao Wei knew that there was yet more to unveil about her.


Smiling to himself, Zhao Wei walked over to the desk and gently placed them above it. He then unceremoniously sat on the comfy seat that had the unmistakable scent of Yun Yao.


'Hmm, this seat would have served well as a pervert's object of obsession.’ Zhao Wei scratched his chin as a momentary thought crossed his mind.


And then, without further dilly-dallying, he began to read through the books.


He chose the «Beginners Guide for Pill Making» as his first read since it was the thinnest of the bunch. In actuality, Zhao Wei would have started with any book.


The book wasn't as shallow as one might have thought it to be.


The theme of the discussion was the basic skills used in pill concoction and important factors to note during the process of extraction of the herbal essences, mixing, subtleties of control, and the finality of pill congealment.


Several ink drawings demonstrated a figure practicing all the vital steps of pill concoction.


As he comprehended the essence behind the «Beginners Guide for Pill Making», Zhao Wei felt as if he was embodying the figure drawn inside the book. The strange feeling was akin to that of a virtual reality simulation where one can experience all sensations.


“Pill Concoction emphasized the harmony of various elements inside the medicinal herbs,” Zhao Wei spoke to himself, he was arriving at his own understanding.


In just a few minutes, Zhao Wei finished internalizing the contents of the first book and jumped to the next: «Pill Flame Heart Manual».

The «Pill Flame Heart Manual» expounded more on the flames used in the process of pill concoction. What level of temperature should the flames be maintained at? How intense should flames be? What level of control should one exercise when handling the alchemical flames? What type of coals or combustible materials were more suitable as sources of flames?


The new knowledge was truly interesting. Even though the book didn't have any ink drawings or demonstrations, it evoked a heavy sense of imagination from Zhao Wei during the immersion.


Time flew very quickly and after an hour, Zhao Wei had fully read, understood, and internalized the concepts behind the four books.

Ten Thousand Plants Illustration? What was that? Too little!

Zhao Wei lamented that they were just too little to sate his greedy mind.


Zhao Wei understood that the ten thousand plants illustrated in that book were merely the icing on the cake since who could say that they knew everything about the innumerable herbs hidden in the universe?

‘Maybe there is a reason why it only serves as a foundational book for aspiring alchemists.’ He mused.


'This only serves to fuel my curiosity towards the treasures scattered all over the Fan Universe. Won't it take a lifetime to harvest them into my future storage ring haha?’


Anyway, Zhao Wei felt that he was ready to formally begin concocting pills of his own.


And, he was prepared for failures, a couple of surprises or totally outdoing himself in the process.


“Why are you spacing out for, brat?” The door creaked open, and a beautiful woman with an exhausted expression entered the room.


Zhao Wei smiled wickedly. It was time to take Yun Yao through a rollercoaster ride of emotions.


Yun Yao arched her long brows with a questioning look, wondering what Zhao Wei was smiling for.


'I think I should also tell her to give me a place where I can practice my alchemical arts.’


***