Liang Yuhan looked at him as her eyes slightly shook, but then, after a while became calmer and steadier, as her expression eased into a smile.

“Hoh~ you are quite quick to accept that”

A glint of being impressed appeared in Wu Long’s eyes as his eyes reflected the stunning beauty.

“Well, I have to consider who I am speaking with.

Besides, in my line of work, the ability to hold oneself together is my lifeline”

She chuckled, still a little disoriented by the things she heard on this chilly but beautiful early spring night, but gradually regaining her composure.

“Mm, truly remarkable”

He smiled as her heart skipped a beat at the sight.

‘Hah, he is the God of Pleasure alright’

She thought as she could not deny how hard it was sometimes to maintain her line of thought when speaking with him. She raised her wine cup and drank the aromatic nectar, which also helped her relax more in his presence.

“Anyway, there are of course other reasons, as making a play in the Six Kingdoms allows me the leeway of time, as well as disperses the attention of the opponent. So it is not like that is the only reason I am doing it.

But I indeed do not enjoy slaughter quite as much as people seem to think, and thus want to reduce the number of people who would be opposing us as much as possible. Though I would never deny that I deserve some of the infamy for the earlier period of my life”

Wu Long chuckled, emptying his wine cup and then pouring more for both of them as the beautifully sparkling liquid reflected in the green eyes of the beauty.

“Did something change with time, or age?”

She asked with interest, listening to his every word with rapt attention, as this was the first time she talked with someone who lived so much longer than her.

She was the oldest and wisest person around for most of the time in the last 10000 years, so this change in roles revived some of the child-like wondrous curiosity that slept deep within her.

“Hah, I guess I got a little bit smarter, and racked a little bit of experience, that is all that made the difference, really.

And Lust Cultivators were almost all but gone by that time as well…”

He chuckled, lightly swirling his wine cup, watching the glints of the moonlight reflection, and then taking another sip.

“Seeing the motives and driving forces of people, and seeing the trouble brewing ahead long before it could grow, huh?”

“Indeed, you put it way better than I did though”

“You flatter me. I just clarified if I understood you right”

“Haha, no need to be so modest, Madam Liang. You do have a keen insight”

Wu Long gave her a look that she received with a smile, not arguing any more. .𝒎

“But I really have to thank you, Madam Liang. Spiritual Wine is something I cannot enjoy often in this world, and to even drink it in the company of such a beauty is truly a treat”

“Oh my, am I being hit on by the notorious God of Pleasure? What an honor”

“Not as much of an honor as being seduced by the Great Seductress”

Their talk turned a little more light-hearted with very soft teasing as they drank the wine, and the smoking pipe was periodically drawn on by plump red lips once again.

By the end of their peaceful time, Madam Liang took a last glance at Wu Long who decided to stay at the pond a little longer, his silhouette being imprinted in her mind.

‘Hah, by the looks of it that girl Zhiqiu doesn’t know yet. Though, hehe, he is in for a surprise too, I wonder what will his reaction be’

She thought as her figure then disappeared from the courtyard.

—

Next morning, Wu Long visited Yu Huan, who greeted him with a smile. The sleeves of the alchemist were discolored from the constant use of alchemy flames, and no matter how much her hair grew out the lower part of it gradually faded to become gray colored.

Alchemy was generally considered a men’s profession in the Seven Boundless Worlds, though it was something called the old-fashioned or traditional approach, but since Alchemy Association which boasted incredible influence held this doctrine it was a widely accepted one.

Part of the reasoning was exactly that women alchemists had to use special measures to prevent damage to skin, hair and clothes. And though these did not majorly impede alchemy skills they were generally considered distractions by the old guards of the Alchemy Dao.

It was for this reason that Yu Huan was so guarded against the perception of her beauty when Wu Long first met her, wearing clothing that generally hid her figure and not using the protective techniques, as she did not want to be looked down upon.

Though her efforts throughout the years ultimately did not yield any results as she was still stuck in a dead-end position with no prospect of improving in the Alchemy Tower.

Wu Long, however, saw in her a talent that did not require the sacrifice of her beauty, and as she watched him be surrounded by heavenly beauties and yet treating them with decency and dignity in their chosen paths, her view started changing.

Her new environment where she was free to pursue the Alchemy Dao, and at the same time not restricted access to knowledge and opportunities also allowed her to not worry about how she was perceived.

She has recently started using ointments and skin care products that started to restore the health of her skin, as well as wearing a little more tight-fitting clothing. Though the process was gradual.

They sat down with tea which she made for him.

Yu Huan noticed that he enjoyed the tea she made before, and prepared it ever since whenever they met to talk or for her lessons. They first exchanged a peaceful conversation that gradually flowed into a discussion of the training Yu Huan’s new subordinates would receive.

She spent the entire evening of the day before greeting and getting familiar with them. The fact they were all exclusively women helped her loosen her guard, which was also part of Wu Long’s thinking in recruiting them apart from their trustworthiness, and she received immediate respect and recognition from them just for being someone Wu Long has put his faith into.

Finally, their conversation moved to the makeshift alchemy room, where they stayed until afternoon, improving her personal skills. And as Wu Long left to help with Bi Rui’s training as well as then train Tingren Kingdom warriors, Yu Huan started the regimen of training for her new subordinates.

The next day, as the others were busy learning, the two spent all day improving her personal skills again.

“Mm, with this, I think you are ready”

Close to the evening, he nodded as he looked at her skills and flame control, as well as inspected the pills she refined last.

“Shall we start now then?”

She eagerly wiped away sweat from her forehead with a smile of joy, as she was finally about to be able to do something for him.

“Haha, take a good rest tonight first, you would need all the concentration and every bit of stamina to refine that pill.

You have worked hard all day, so it is better to start tomorrow with full strength”

He chuckled at the readiness to start immediately, calming her down. She nodded with a wry smile, only now noticing how tired she was since her excitement subsided.

The time has finally arrived for the alchemist to refine the Yang Fire Dragon Pill as the Spring weather signaled the start of something new.