"Scram, scram, scram!" Hu Jia glared fiercely at Xiao Jietian before abruptly changing the subject. "What exactly were you doing in there to end up looking like a walking coal mine?"
"My alchemy cauldron exploded," Xiao Jietian replied with a helpless shake of his head.
"No way. When other people's cauldrons explode, it's just black smoke. Yours looks like a full-on detonation. What in the world were you refining?"
"I honestly don't know why it turned out like this. I was just attempting a peak Tier-7 medicinal pill, that's all."
"What?! Peak Tier-7?!" Hu Jia nearly jumped out of her skin. "You're saying you were refining a peak seventh-grade pill? So you're already at least a high-grade Tier-7 Alchemist now? Are you even human anymore?!"
Hu Jia was completely stunned.
In just two short years, he had leaped from Tier-6 to high-grade Tier-7.
Was this even remotely reasonable?
One had to remember that Fire Elder of Jia Nan Academy's Alchemy Department had been stuck at Tier-5 for most of his life.
Yet the man standing before her had crossed multiple tiers in the span of two years.
Advancing as an Alchemist was far more difficult than progressing in cultivation—requiring not just talent, but vast resources, profound insight, and endless trial-and-error.
Hu Jia stared deeply at Xiao Jietian.
He truly was the most monstrous genius she had ever witnessed. Terrifying.
"Isn't this something anyone with hands can do?" Xiao Jietian replied with an indifferent shrug.
Hu Jia's expression twisted in disbelief. Hearing those words and seeing his nonchalant demeanor, she genuinely wanted to punch him to death.
"Speaking of which… is it really okay for us to stand here chatting with two big black faces? When Fei'er and the others come later, I don't care if they laugh at me—but you might actually die of embarrassment."
Xiao Jietian looked at Hu Jia—who had been utterly silenced by his casual display of talent—and teased her with a grin.
"Isn't this all your masterpiece? How dare you even say that?" Hu Jia bristled like an enraged cat.
"You started it. I was just returning the favor. Don't slander me."
Xiao Jietian reached out, grabbed her by the collar, and started walking toward the washing area.
"Let go! I can walk by myself!" Hu Jia thrashed her long legs in indignation at being carried like a kitten.
"Don't move. If your clothes tear, don't blame me."
Hu Jia instantly froze. Though furious, she didn't dare struggle anymore. Her face puffed up like an angry pufferfish.
Xiao Jietian carried her all the way to the washing area and set her down.
The washing area was meant for simple cleanup after cultivation sessions. A small pool sat in the center, with clear water continuously flowing from an overhead spout.
It was designed for washing faces, rinsing mouths, and light cleaning—not full baths.
"Hurry up and wash, little black charcoal." Xiao Jietian gave her a light push.
Hu Jia stumbled toward the pool. "I know, big black charcoal," she shot back without missing a beat, then began furiously scrubbing the soot from her face.
Xiao Jietian also started cleaning his face and hair.
After Hu Jia finished washing her face, she took out her handkerchief, rinsed it clean, wiped herself dry, and then began cleaning the black streaks from her legs.
Xiao Jietian thoroughly washed his hair, then used Dou Qi to instantly dry it.
Hu Jia finished wiping herself down as well. After rinsing her handkerchief once more, she handed it to him.
"Here. Wipe your face. There's still some black ash left."
The moment she extended her hand, she suddenly remembered—she had just used that same handkerchief to wipe her legs.
She wanted to pull it back.
But before she could retract it, Xiao Jietian had already taken the handkerchief and begun wiping his face.
Xiao Jietian noticed her expression constantly shifting and asked curiously, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"N-nothing… maybe the water was too cold," Hu Jia quickly shook her head, eyes darting away.
"Don't move!"
Xiao Jietian suddenly pressed a hand to the top of her head. Under her bewildered gaze, he used the handkerchief to gently wipe a tiny smudge of ash from the corner of her brow.
"There. All clean."
After finishing, he placed the handkerchief back in her hand.
Hu Jia's cheeks flushed a faint pink from his sudden, intimate gesture.
"You can head out now."
Xiao Jietian's voice reached her ears.
Hu Jia looked up at him in confusion, as though asking what he meant.
"I need to change clothes. Do you want to stay and peek?" Xiao Jietian flicked her forehead lightly and said helplessly.
"Oh—oh—oh!" Hu Jia touched her forehead, glanced once over his soot-covered body, then hurriedly walked toward the exit.
After Hu Jia left, Xiao Jietian removed his filthy robes, quickly cleaned himself, and changed into fresh clothes.
Hu Jia, meanwhile, stood just outside the doorway, staring blankly at the handkerchief in her hand, lost in thought.
When Xiao Jietian emerged fully cleaned and changed, he saw her still standing there in a daze.
"What are you doing just standing here? Are you leaving, or going back to cultivate?"
"I'll… leave. I've already finished my session and was about to head back," Hu Jia quickly collected herself and replied.
"Let's go then."
Xiao Jietian started walking toward the exit. Hu Jia hurried to catch up, falling into step beside him.
"Xiao Jietian… when will Xun'er come back?" she asked after a moment of silence.
"Soon. I'll go bring her back myself then."
Xiao Jietian wasn't in a rush to retrieve Xun'er—at least not until she had completed her baptism.
Bringing her back too early wouldn't benefit her future growth. For now, they kept in regular contact through message stones.
"What? Still thinking about Xun'er? Careful, or I'll throw you out," Xiao Jietian finally remembered Hu Jia's… preferences. No wonder he had always felt something was off before.
"No! I just miss Xun'er, that's all! She's my good friend!" Hu Jia now felt strangely conflicted, as though something inside her had quietly shifted.
Xiao Jietian caught the subtle change in her tone and gave her a sidelong glance.
Greedy, fickle scumbag. Heartless traitor! Hu Jia cursed inwardly, thinking of the peerless beauties in Xiao Jietian's harem.
"Are you cursing me?"
Hu Jia's expression froze.
No way… he can even hear thoughts now?
"You really are cursing me!" Xiao Jietian saw her reaction and knew he had guessed correctly.
"Yes! I'm cursing you! Who told you to be so promiscuous?" Hu Jia, throwing caution to the wind, declared defiantly. "I'm standing up for Xun'er!"
"Xun'er doesn't mind. But you seem to have a big problem with it."
"I'm willing to go through fire and water for my friends!" Hu Jia planted her hands on her hips, chest puffed out proudly.
"Ah, yes, yes, yes. Tiger Girl is the most loyal," Xiao Jietian said helplessly, then added, "Also, stop puffing out your chest. It's small—puffing it higher won't help."
Hu Jia froze for a second, looking at him in confusion.
"Small? What's small?"
Following his downward gaze, she instantly exploded.
"You call this small?! Are you blind?!"
Though not particularly large, hers was definitely not small—firm, perfectly shaped, and at least C+ in size. Dragon fruit level, easily.