Chapter 16: Heart

Morning light spilled across the newly renovated storefront in the Amber Corridor.

After yesterday’s cleaning and organizing, the interior no longer felt desolate.

The walls were stark white, the pillars were steady, and the once-dusty iron racks had been polished to a shine, neatly lined up on both sides.

In the corner, the slightly aged workbench had been sanded fresh and stood firmly in the brightest spot by the window, waiting for various alchemy tools to be displayed.

“The foundation is actually good; it looks decent after just a bit of tidying.”

Jin turned around and looked at Xue Yin, who was staring blankly out the window.

His voice carried a hint of cautious anticipation.

“Master, have you decided on a name? We can’t just keep the sign ‘Alchemy Apothecary’ forever. It lacks character.”

Xue Yin’s fingertips lightly traced the clean glass as sunlight filtered through the window frame, bathing her silver hair.

At his call, she snapped out of it and instinctively reached up to pull down the sleeves of her high-collared linen shirt.

The movement was swift but betrayed an undeniable awkwardness — even after spending so much time together, the soft curve of her shoulders, the wrists so slender they looked like they might snap, and the slight rise and fall of her chest as she breathed reminded her in certain moments: ‘This isn’t Zhou Yao, this is Xue Yin.’

The masculine self deep within her soul would occasionally voice a faint protest, making her feel a sense of distant estrangement from this shell.

But in front of Jin, she had to maintain the composure of a master.

“The name…” Xue Yin cleared her throat, trying to hide her distraction.

“I can’t come up with one on my own. What do you think? We are opening this shop together, so I should hear your opinion on the name.”

Jin paused and looked up, his dark red eyes reflecting Xue Yin’s silhouette.

His tone was incredibly sincere. “Master is like… a moon that watches over me. Cold and rational, you always calm my restless self down. So, how about ‘The Moon and Fire’? Or ‘Moonlight and Flames’?”

Xue Yin was slightly taken aback.

‘Moonlight and Flames…’

This simple metaphor unexpectedly resonated with her current state of mind.

“Moonlight and Flames…” Xue Yin repeated softly, a faint smile grazing her lips.

“It sounds good. Not too cliché, and it fits our situation. Let’s go with that then.”

With the shop named, the following time belonged solely to the training of the master and disciple.

In the open space of the backyard, a gentle breeze blew.

Xue Yin stood with her hands behind her back, her expression returning to its usual sternness.

“The efficient mana control I taught you last time was just the foundation. As my disciple, today I will teach you the practical application of magic.”

Jin immediately wiped the smile off his face, standing straight with focused eyes.

With a casual wave of her hand, Xue Yin made several fallen leaves hover in the air.

She explained calmly, “Though Windwalk is a Low-tier spell, it currently complements your fighting style well. Try to feel the flow in the air and guide your mana to grant yourself the speed of the wind.”

As she spoke, she took a rough wooden short wand from her waist and handed it to Jin.

“Take this. For beginners, a wand serves as a medium that can significantly lower the difficulty of casting and increase the success rate.”

Jin took the wooden wand and tried as instructed.

At first, the airflow just spun chaotically at his fingertips, but under the guidance of the wand, that turbulence gradually calmed.

Finally, it turned into a gentle wind that lifted his feet.

He tried to leap forward, and his entire body glided several meters away effortlessly, landing without a sound.

“It worked!” Jin turned back excitedly, his eyes gleaming.

“Master, I feel light as a feather, and my speed has definitely increased slightly! This wand is really useful!”

“Not bad! Given your current strength and foundation, Low-tier magic won’t be a problem for you.”

Xue Yin nodded slightly, about to offer a few more pointers when her gaze inadvertently swept over her own empty hands.

As a mage who cast spells from multiple elements, a wand was an essential medium.

It could strengthen elemental resonance, drastically shorten chanting time, and even serve as a final line of defense in a crisis.

Jin keenly caught that momentary pause and the nearly imperceptible embarrassment flickering in her eyes.

It was the stubbornness of a strong person unwilling to show weakness, carefully hidden behind a mask of calm.

“Master, don’t you use a wand?” Jin couldn’t help but ask.

Xue Yin cleared her throat and turned her face away, her tone intentionally casual.

“Low-quality wands are practically a hindrance to me. Their materials are loose and can’t handle high-intensity mana. Instead, they increase the burden of casting. Plus, they’re troublesome to carry around and break easily.”

She paused, her voice dropping a bit as she revealed a hint of calculated helplessness.

“As for high-quality wands… as you know, I haven’t exactly been wealthy these past few years. Even basic living was a struggle. I can’t bring myself to drain my entire savings on something so expensive right now. While casting without a wand is more tiring, it offers more freedom and doesn’t cost a cent.”

Jin didn’t speak, but he silently gripped the rough wooden wand as his dark red pupils contracted slightly.

Looking at his master’s facade of composure, a certain thought quietly took root in his mind.

“Alright, back to practice,” Xue Yin said, clapping her hands to cover up the moment.

“Until you can proficiently control the direction of the wind.”

After having lunch at the Lord’s Manor, the two of them headed to the central market of the Amber Corridor to purchase the final supplies before the grand opening.

“We still need to buy some filter paper and sealing wax.”

Xue Yin looked at the list in her hand, carefully calculating the remaining budget.

“If we can find second-hand glassware in the East District flea market, we could save half the money.”

“Master, I’m going over there to see if there are any fresh magical plants.”

Jin suddenly interrupted her, pointing toward the magical tool section at the other end of the market.

“Wait for me here; don’t wander off.”

Before Xue Yin could respond, he darted into the crowd like a gust of wind.

Xue Yin stood where she was, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the list.

Her gaze lingered toward the magical tool section for a moment before she withdrew it.

She didn’t ask questions, simply lowering her head to continue checking the shopping items.

A while later, Jin returned.

His pace was much steadier than when he left.

He wasn’t carrying any magical plants, and his once-bulging coin pouch was now completely flat.

Fine beads of sweat lined his forehead and his breathing was slightly rushed, but his expression was calm.

He walked up to Xue Yin, a hint of hard-to-detect nervousness hidden in those dark red eyes.

“Finished shopping?” Xue Yin glanced up at him.

“Why do you look so strange? Didn’t find any plants?”

“Um, Master, close your eyes.”

Jin’s voice was a bit tight.

“What kind of tricks are you up to now?” Xue Yin sighed helplessly, but she closed her eyes as told.

“You can open them now.”

Xue Yin opened her eyes, her pupils contracting slightly.

Lying in her palm was a wand — specifically, a short wand.

The shaft was made of rare white ash wood, with grains as smooth as flowing water.

It was of a moderate length, making it easy to swing with one hand or carry around.

The tip was inlaid with a pure Amethyst that seemed to have starlight swirling inside it.

Upon closer inspection, there were faint spiral patterns deep within the crystal, as if it had been meticulously polished.

This was definitely no flea market bargain; its mana resonance level was even slightly superior to what an average Mid-tier mage would use.

“This is…?” Xue Yin looked up at Jin in shock.

“Where did the money come from?”

Jin lowered his gaze, avoiding her questioning look.

His voice was deep and steady.

“I took out all the savings I’ve kept over the years. For the part that wasn’t enough, I asked Lord Ryan for an advance on my pay.”

“Are you crazy?” Xue Yin’s voice rose a few notches, tinged with unconcealable distress.

“Those were your savings! And this wand is too expensive; it’s completely unnecessary.”

“It is necessary.” Jin interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for argument.

He looked up at her, his eyes burning with a heat wrapped in restrained tenderness.

“That money was just sitting there. It’s only worth something when converted into the power in Master’s hand. Please accept it… think of it as a gift from your disciple for the shop’s opening.”

Xue Yin looked at the young man before her.

To buy her this wand, he had practically bankrupted himself, blowing through all his past savings in one go and even going into debt.

Her fingertips lightly traced the texture of the wand’s shaft, the warm sensation traveling through her slender fingers and across her entire body.

This short wand, which was only slightly stronger than a Mid-tier one, actually provided limited improvement for someone like her.

But the sentiment was what mattered.

It mattered because Jin was the one who gave it.

It mattered because this clumsy youth, after noticing her embarrassment, had silently used everything he had to provide her with this dignity and convenience.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t happy.

Xue Yin looked at Jin with a deep, meaningful gaze.

Xue Yin’s breath hitched slightly, her fingers tightening around the wand.

The ice somewhere in her heart completely melted at this moment.

She remembered the journey they had shared; Jin had always been silently guarding her side without a single word of complaint.

She stopped refusing and stopped scolding.

She gripped the lightweight short wand tightly, feeling the warmth from her palm and the unreserved trust transmitted through the wand from Jin.

The ice in her heart melted into a pool of gentle spring water.

“You idiot.”

She cursed softly, her voice raspy and thick with emotion.

“Since you bought it, I’ll take it. But if you ever dare to slack off or make me angry in the future, I’ll hit you over the head with this wand.”

Xue Yin raised the wand and lightly tapped Jin’s forehead.

The movement was so gentle it didn’t feel like a punishment at all; rather, it felt like a caress.