Chapter Seven: The Concealer

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Wan Yi caught a subtle shift in the young girl’s emotions and inwardly muttered, “This is bad. Could it be that I was too abrupt? My good intentions might have backfired, inadvertently touching a tender spot deep within Zhou Tong’s heart, causing her defenses to waver.”

At this moment, the girl’s breathing grew rapid and uneven; her chest quivered gently with each breath. Her complexion flickered like a sky stirred by tempestuous clouds. Watching this, Wan Yi’s suspicions only grew more certain.

He hurriedly spoke, his tone urgent yet soothing, “Zhou Tong, don’t be anxious. I mean no harm.

This concealer I made for you is meant to help you break free from the shackles that bind you, to step out of that self-imposed prison of the medicinal fields.

You know, there’s an old saying in my hometown: true beauty lies in the soul; outward appearance is but a fleeting illusion.

Do you understand...”

Before he could finish, she interrupted, “Silly, you’re overthinking. I’m used to the cold stares of others. I wouldn’t be angry because of something like this.”

Wan Yi was puzzled, “Then you...”

Zhou Tong rolled her eyes at him and said with a hint of annoyance, “The reason I got upset is because you said this concealer could heal the scars on my face.

Do you know? Even I... even the Grand Elder can’t do anything about these scars!”

Her emotions nearly betrayed her as she almost blurted out “my father,” but she caught herself and corrected it to “Grand Elder.”

It wasn’t that she intended to hide the truth; it was just that Wan Yi had always regarded her as a mere caretaker of the medicinal fields during their time together.

She found herself at a loss for how to explain the matter.

Wan Yi, however, paid no mind to her slip of the tongue. Instead, he gazed carefully into Zhou Tong’s eyes and looked at her complexion, then softly said, “Little miss, um, I think you might have misunderstood.

I said this concealer can cover the scars on your face; it cannot cure them.”

As soon as he said this, he saw a flicker of disappointment flash across Zhou Tong’s eyes.

Just as she was about to speak, Wan Yi quickly added, “Little miss, don’t be disheartened. My cultivation is still low, so I can only make this for you now.

But rest assured, when I advance in my practice and learn the art of alchemy, I will find a way to truly heal you.”

Upon hearing this, a twinge of bitterness rose in Zhou Tong’s heart. She thought to herself, “My own father is the Master of Dan Peak. Even he is powerless against these scars. How could anyone else cure them easily?”

Though the thought stirred within her, she let no emotion slip outward.

For she knew well that Wan Yi’s words were not empty boasts but rather a unique way to kindle a light within her heart, guiding her slowly out of the shadows clouding her soul.

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She returned his gaze with a smile and said softly, “Well then, future Grand Alchemist, I’m counting on you. Please don’t disappoint me.”

Seeing she could still joke, Wan Yi finally felt his tension ease.

With a chuckle, he patted his chest and promised, “Don’t worry. With me around, anything is possible. Haven’t you heard the saying? It’s not the ten thousand that frightens us, but the one in ten thousand.

With Wan Yi here, no challenge is too great.”

Zhou Tong parted her rosy lips and emitted a tinkling laugh, then teasingly scoffed, her eyes sparkling with mischief, “Hey, no matter how I hear that, it doesn’t sound like a compliment!”

Wan Yi laughed along with her.

After exchanging a few more light-hearted jests, Wan Yi produced a few cotton swabs from his pocket as if by magic, waving them gently before Zhou Tong and smiling, “How about a live demonstration right now? What do you think?”

Zhou Tong felt a little nervous, staring at the cotton swabs in his hand, then pressed her lips together and said, “You apply it for me.”

As she spoke, she closed her eyes.

It seemed she was shy, or perhaps afraid the concealer would not meet her expectations and she would be disappointed.

Seeing this, Wan Yi didn’t hesitate. Taking the concealer, he applied it to her face, reassuring her, “Don’t worry, Wan Yi’s work is always top quality.”

The moment the concealer touched her skin, Zhou Tong felt a cool, smooth sensation, accompanied by a faint floral fragrance that was intoxicating.

Especially when Wan Yi’s cotton swab brushed lightly across her cheek, a tingling numbness spread, making her heart flutter in a way she couldn’t tell if it was discomfort or pleasure.

Just as her heart raced, he suddenly stopped.

Curious, Zhou Tong opened her eyes.

She saw Wan Yi holding the swab, staring at her in a daze.

Seeing his dreamy gaze and his throat moving as if he wanted to speak, she softly called, “Xiao Yi Yi, what are you daydreaming about?”

Her gentle voice brought him back to himself.

He quickly dropped the cotton swab and pulled out a bronze mirror from his storage pouch, saying, “Little miss, you’re so beautiful!”

Zhou Tong instinctively took the mirror. Just one glance stole her breath away.

In the reflection was herself—delicate features, fair skin.

Her rosy cheeks were flawless, smooth as a peeled boiled egg, even more alluring.

The once hideous scars had vanished without a trace!

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Her eyes glazed over as she lifted her jade-like hand to gently touch her cheek, whispering, “Is this really me?”

Wan Yi’s heart swelled with excitement as he nodded repeatedly, “Of course it’s you!”

After a moment of disbelief, the girl exclaimed with excitement, “Xiao Yi Yi, you’re amazing! Tell me, how did you make this concealer?”

For Wan Yi, making this concealer was not difficult. In his previous life as a special forces soldier, he often used such products during missions.

Store-bought versions never quite matched the color he wanted, so he made his own according to the needs of the operation.

Hearing her question, he did not hide the process. “It’s quite simple, really. The base is made by blending pearl powder and talcum powder with glycerin.

Then I gather various flower petals, dry and crush them to extract their pigments, mixing them until the shade matches your skin tone.

The rest is easy, though extracting glycerin and drying petals takes some effort.”

The girl’s interest piqued, and she asked, “I know about pearl powder and talcum powder, but what exactly is glycerin?”

Wan Yi continued, “Glycerin is rendered pig fat. It’s heated and combined with wood ash to cause saponification. After settling and clarification, glycerin is obtained.”

The girl furrowed her brow—this was the first time she’d heard of such a method. She believed not even her father or the elders of Dan Peak knew pig fat could be used this way.

She pressed further, “Does this glycerin have other uses?”

Wan Yi replied, “Oh yes, it has many...”

As the two delved deeper into discussing glycerin’s properties, they remained unaware of two shadowy figures hiding behind a large tree some distance away.

Those two figures observed everything before them.

One was a tall, imposing middle-aged man whose emotions stirred violently. His breath came fast, eyes bloodshot as he fixed his gaze on Zhou Tong’s lovely face.

His large hand slammed uncontrollably against the tree trunk, ripping off a thick piece of bark.

His grip left five deep gouges in the wood.

To be continued...