Author's Note: Some Backstory, some banter, some Dao Discussion(More like education), and me putting you on edge. And some romantic goading(My misleading techniques - illusory domain expansion).
***
The fact that her sensual aura and drop-dead gorgeousness affected him, made Zhao Wei slightly be on guard.
The situation bore testimony that he was still bound by the Seven Emotions and Six Desires. It defined his character as a human.
Zhao Wei found it interesting. Zhao Yufei had her own charm and level of beauty since she was an important character already anchored to the fate and timeline of the universe.
If Zhao Yufei was a budding lotus flower yet to bloom and showcase its endpoint beauty, grace, and brilliance, then Yun Yao was a breathtaking mature peony, spreading its iridescent lights in a field of flowers thus captivating the hearts of men.
Her charm was intense such that most men would willingly die under the said peony flower in the process of professing their unrequited love.
Zhao Wei remembered such a saying back on Earth and there were even poetic compositions based around the peony.
All in all, he wasn't there to admire and fantasize about a seemingly untouchable beautiful woman but to achieve a greater purpose: to enrich his ever-changing journey with almost limitless knowledge, wisdom, and enjoyment.
As beautiful as Yun Yao was, Zhao Wei already knew how to show restraint when the time called for it
"Now tell me, young man, how did Old Man Guan find you, the supposed unpolished jade?" Yun Yao crossed her arms, a simple action that made her breasts overstrain against the fabric of her dress.
Her enticing cleavage was all but hidden.
Zhao Wei saw everything and it was only through sheer will that he refrained from activating any of his 'helpful' eye abilities.
"Why are you asking? Does it really matter?" Zhao Wei countered with a casual smile. He couldn't just answer everything that he was asked like an obedient little boy.
Also, the woman in front of him seemed like the type to always get whatever she wanted.
"Alright smart pants. You just gave me a good reason to put you through a series of tests." Yun Yao smirked mischievously, pretty much unconcerned by Zhao Wei's unsavory reply.
Unpredictable, Zhao Wei smiled internally as he tried to get a read on her.
"I presume you are like a newborn baby in the Dao of Alchemy. You know of its existence yet you still don't know anything." Yun Yao's aura shifted to that of an experienced master alchemist as she examined Zhao Wei.
"You don't know anything about nurturing herbs and the creation of pills, right?" She guessed, more like she already had an already prepared answer for the question itself.
"Your words are on point, Miss Yun Yao," Zhao Wei answered straightforwardly.
Yun Yao smiled widely after hearing the young man's deep and lethal voice. Such a voice was perfect for murmuring sweet nothings that can easily trap both young and more experienced women in a web of infatuation and love.
She had lived a sheltered life when she was still a child back at the Imperial Palace and when she got admitted into the Broken Moon Sect, Yun Yao came to realize her passion for herbal plants and subsequently, the noble art of Alchemy.
She hadn't had the time for romance or one-time trysts as she immersed herself in the Dao of Alchemy.
She didn't realize at first but when she became a master alchemist, she was already nearing her mid-thirties and the thought of men had become insignificant.
Despite being in her thirties, Yun Yao felt that she was still in her early twenties, seemingly not to have aged a single day.
Her cultivation talent, though not as exaggerated as those of the crowned genius disciples, had enabled her to reach the Peak of the 6th Sky of the Ascended Realm!
This made her status to be quite special in the Grass-Wood Division and she was regarded as some sort of prodigy despite her reluctance and aversion towards such titles.
"Alchemy is a broad subject and before jumping straight into the pill creation part, you will have to consider the origin of the said pills - the medicinal ingredients." Yun Yao shook her head lightly, to get rid of her reminiscent thoughts and began to explain some simple but important information to Zhao Wei.
"The commonly known ingredients are the medicinal herbs, as they make up 98% of the Pill depending on the variation of the pill being made."
Zhao Wei listened carefully while nodding, his eyes glued on Yun Yao's eyes to show that she had his mind and focus. Nothing seemed to matter around him when Zhao Wei maintained eye contact with Yun Yao.
Even for a veteran alchemist like her, Yun Yao felt slightly embarrassed and affected by his dedicated concentration. The way he held eye contact could give a woman the wrong signal - quite easily misinterpreted as being wanted.
"The remaining 2% may be constituted by unique parts of the demonic beasts, unique Heavenly materials and earthly treasures or even something that stems from the self." Yun Yao finished her explanation.
Zhao Wei found her knowledgeable about the Dao Of Alchemy even though she had only shared some basic information.
"From a seed to a young sprout, and finally to a mature herb, it is important for an alchemist to experience and go through the journey of the herbs as they mature, at least two to three times if possible."
'Well Onee-sama, I am not going to stand around and nurture a herb for thousands of years and that is me choosing the middle ground.' Zhao Wei showed a confused face as those thoughts ran through his mind.
Yun Yao laughed with mirth in her eyes after noticing Zhao Wei's comical expression. Her laughter was like a beautiful piece of immortal music, soothing and gentle.
"You must be thinking about exaggerated numbers, right? I know the feeling as I was once as confused as you are right now during my alchemy apprenticeship." Yun Yao smiled as she unfurled her arms from her chest.
She then began to slowly walk around the beautiful garden of multi-colored herbs. Each of her steps was calculated and careful as she didn't damage any medicinal herbs.
She carried herself with the demeanor of an expert herbalist, showing that she truly cared for the plants.
"Today, I am going to show you how to catalyze the growth of a herbal seed - the origin of it all!" Yun Yao gently declared.
"It's an uncomplicated technique I came up with after countless hours of sleepless nights and arduous research. No one specifically knows about it and it seems you are going to be the first and the last person that is aware of its existence."
"Why me though?" It's not like Zhao Wei was against the idea of learning something new but why should he be given such a good thing when they barely knew each other?
"Fufufu, will you believe me if I say it's because you are extremely pleasing to the eye and I like you?" Yun Yao unashamedly proclaimed.
"Who will believe that nonsense?" Zhao Wei showed a stoic expression as he voiced his disbelief.
The shamelessness of the woman!
"You are a fun person to mess around with, Zhao Wei!" Yun Yao revealed a toothy grin, her flawless teeth being laid out in the open.
"Anyway, before you experience my 'technique', there are some foundational books that you need to read and internalize first. Please come with me." Yun Yao suddenly changed his expression into a serious one as she began walking towards an opened door in the north.
Zhao Wei nodded before following her.
"Break even one leaf of a herb and you will be stuck as my slave for an eternity!" Yun Yao issued a strict warning without even looking back.
'As if you can live for that long.' Zhao Wei almost rolled his eyes but heeded her warning without question.
***
//OnearmedImmortal//
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