It was still the same old-fashioned shop, with its worn-out decor.
Yi Yan, wearing plastic gloves, was working on skeletons in the partitioned-off area on the second floor. The scent of medicine mixed with the stench of decaying flesh. The girl beside him stood at the washbasin, rolling up her sleeves and washing the tools.
A perpetual smiling Yi Yan had an unhealed wound on the right side of his face, extending from the corner of his eye to his jaw, a terrifying and fierce sight. It seemed to have been treated with a special ointment; although not bandaged, the rapid healing was evident.
However, such a large wound could be considered disfiguring. Yi Yan was handsome and easy on the eyes, belonging to the gentle type of man. It would be a pity if he were left with a scar.
Bai Yu, astonished, looked at his face. He didn’t know the wound was inflicted by Wen Fengjin. He hadn’t seen Yi Yan when Wang Xiaomie was brought out that day.
Bai Yu stared at the wound and couldn’t help but say, “Your face…”
“Ah, this.” Yi Yan, seeing him, smiled and put down the work in his hands, removed the gloves, and said indifferently, “Just a souvenir from an inappropriate probing, a small wound that will heal quickly.”
“…” Was this considered a small wound?!
But as a craftsman, Bai Yu had no doubt that Yi Yan could heal his wounds without leaving a trace. He handed over the small box, “Boss Wen asked me to bring this over. He said it’s your payment.”
“Hmm.” Yi Yan took the box, opened it, and looked inside, revealing a surprised expression. “This is indeed… a generous remuneration.”
He closed the box and said to the girl behind him, “Xiao An, put this box in the hidden cabinet, and brew two cups of tea. I want to entertain our guest.”
The expressionless girl nodded, dried her hands, ran over, took the box, and walked to the cabinet, squatting down to open the bottom drawer, revealing a safe. She intended to place the small box inside.
All those precious materials were casually arranged, but the small box given by Boss Wen was placed in the bottom safe. Bai Yu couldn’t help but wonder what Boss Wen had taken out as recompense.
Upon hearing that Yi Yan wanted to entertain him, Bai Yu quickly waved his hands, “No need, no need. I’m just running an errand.”
“Haha, are you afraid of me? Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you.” Yi Yan laughed with a mature and serene detachment, the slight wrinkles at the corner of his eyes making him more approachable. “I’m bored staying here. Your visit is a good opportunity for me to take a break. Somehow, you look familiar to me.”
He put his hand on Bai Yu’s shoulder, politely guiding him to the downstairs living room. Bai Yu couldn’t easily refuse someone so gentle, so he reluctantly sat down, feeling a bit awkward.
Yi Yan, wearing a mandarin jacket, took a seat and pushed the fruit tray closer to Bai Yu.
“What’s your name, young friend? I noticed your eager interest in those materials last time. Are you also a craftsman?”
Bai Yu laughed stupidly and replied, “I’m Bai Yu, not really a craftsman… I learned on my own. My grandfather was one, but he disappeared later.”
“Disappeared?” Yi Yan furrowed his brows slightly. “The circle of craftsmen is small, and I know most of the well-known ones. Why don’t you tell me, and I’ll see if I’ve ever met your grandfather.”
“Really?!”
Bai Yu was excited and about to say something when he hesitated.
He wasn’t familiar with Yi Yan, and Wang Xiaomie and Boss Wen seemed reluctant to get close to Yi Yan. What if he wasn’t a good person?
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Qtja lo tf kjcafv ab olrt obg lcobgwjalbc jcv atfc vb rbwfatlcu?!
Before Bai Yu could finish his brain-patch, Yi Yan on the other side suddenly burst into laughter, and exclaimed cheerfully, “Pfft! You’re such a funny kid. Everything you’re thinking is written all over your face.”
“Cgf sbe kbgglfv atja P’ii vb rbwfatlcu ab sbe? Ljtj, vbc’a yf jogjlv. P kbc’a tjgw sbe. Zs tjcvr jgf rajlcfv klat yibbv, yea la’r jii ogbw wbcrafgr. P’nf cfnfg xliifv tewjcr. P tjnfc’a yfobgf jcv P kbc’a lc atf oeaegf.” Tl Tjc rjlv, pbxlcuis sfa klat j tlca bo rfglbercfrr.
Bai Yu blushed at being exposed and felt awkward, avoiding eye contact.
“…Do you regard monsters with hostility?”
“Hostility? Hmm… you could say that.” Yi Yan’s laughter subsided. “Those creatures are not human. They can’t integrate into our lives, and sooner or later, they will harm the human race. Moreover, they possess great power. If they don’t want to abide by human rules, how many people will pay with their lives for it?”
“But there are good monsters…” Bai Yu softly retorted, remembering the umbrella and dumplings Wang Xiaomie gave him. Even Boss Wen, who looked fierce, had saved his life.
“In this world, there are good and bad people, so monsters must also have both good and bad individuals.”
Yi Yan nodded with a smiling expression. “What you said makes sense. However, we can’t distinguish who is good and who is bad among them. Their existence in the human world is like a time bomb. If I bury a landmine in your house and tell you it won’t explode, would you be able to live there without any fear?”
Bai Yu: “I…”
Yi Yan approached Bai Yu, leaned in, and fixed his gaze on him, saying, “Bai Yu, monsters are dangerous. You must remember this deeply.”
“Perhaps those monsters are not aware of it, or maybe they don’t mean harm. But once they go mad, their power is enough to destroy many happy families.”
“Entities outside the rules are unnecessary.”
“The hearts of those not of our kind are bound to be different, without exception.”
Bai Yu: “…”
Bai Yu: I want to refute but don’t know how.
Yi Yan’s words, though Bai Yu knew they weren’t entirely correct, left him unable to come up with a suitable analogy or alternative explanation. Bai Yu rubbed his head, feeling increasingly uneasy.
Yi Yan, sensing his discomfort, sighed and straightened his posture. His eyes and expression softened.
“Sorry, I spoke too much,” Yi Yan apologized softly.
“…It’s okay,” Bai Yu shook his head.
“This topic is too serious… Let’s talk about something else,” Yi Yan smiled. “You said your last name is Bai, and among the craftsmen I know, only Bai Cheng fits. Could he be your grandfather?”
Initially planning to slip away, Bai Yu stared at Yi Yan with suddenly widened eyes.
“Yes! Have you met him? Have you not seen my father, Bai He?!”
“It turns out you’re Bai Cheng’s grandson.”
Yi Yan shook his head slightly, “I do know Teacher Bai Cheng, and I even studied under him for a while. Your grandfather is an exceptionally talented person in the field of refining, with a lifelong dedication to his research. I learned a lot from him, and you could say I’m half his disciple…”
“Really?” Bai Yu was overjoyed, but Yi Yan’s next words poured cold water on his excitement…
“He disappeared,” Yi Yan added, “I haven’t seen him since twenty years ago. As for your father, Bai He, I’ve never heard Teacher Bai Cheng mention him.”
“I’ve been looking for him these years, but in our line of work, we often have to go to remote places to collect materials or fight hordes of creatures. Someone told me that the last place he was seen had encountered a monster with extraordinary power…”
“Maybe…”
Maybe he’s no longer in this world.
Bai Yu’s forehead was covered in cold sweat. Despite preparing for this possibility over the years, hearing it now still felt like his heart was being painfully twisted.
All of his relatives were gone.
He was the only one left.
A pair of young hands reached out and pressed on Bai Yu’s hands resting on his knees.
Bai Yu looked up to see Yi Yan.
“Don’t worry, I just said it’s a possibility. Rest assured, I won’t stop searching for Teacher Bai Cheng,” Yi Yan’s smile was comforting, like the reassurance of an elder to a younger person, giving a sense of stability.
Bai Yu’s expression relaxed, and he nodded slightly.
Later, they talked about many things.
Yi Yan’s knowledge, from etiquette to the art of refining, was excellent. Once the prejudice against monsters was set aside, it was easy to win someone’s favor.
Bai Yu was no exception.
Before he knew it, they were engrossed in conversation until late into the evening. It was only when Bai Yu’s stomach rumbled with hunger that they realized how late it had become.
“Sorry for bothering you for so long,” Bai Yu stood up with a flushed face, apologizing repeatedly.
Yi Yan also stood up, his eyes curved as he looked at Bai Yu, shaking his head with a benevolent expression, “It’s okay. I just realized it too. By the way, Bai Yu, since you want to enter this profession and Teacher Bai Cheng is not around, why not become my disciple and learn from me?”
“What?” Bai Yu stared, mouth agape, “Um… Isn’t that inappropriate?”
Craftsmen aspired to pass down their skills to their own bloodline, and there was even a saying that they only pass it on to their sons, not daughters. Even if Yi Yan wanted to respect his grandfather’s face, he couldn’t just agree to take him as his disciple, right?!
“Hmm? Don’t tell me you don’t want to be my disciple?” Yi Yan frowned, looking somewhat hurt. “I don’t mean to brag, but I have a reputation in the circle, and you’re unwilling?”
“No! It’s just that…” Bai Yu hurriedly explained, then voiced the doubts in his heart.
Yi Yan, indifferent, listened and then chuckled, “As you can see, my actual age is much older than my appearance. But I don’t have a wife or family around me, and it’s probably difficult to have any heirs.”
“You happen to have no family, and you’re also the grandson of Teacher Bai Cheng, who once taught me… Wouldn’t it be a win-win situation?”
Bai Yu was very tempted. When Yi Yan mentioned being “renowned in the circle,” it might be an understatement, considering the precious materials he had and the skills he displayed that day. Calling him a “leader” wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
However, he remained hesitant.
Yi Yan… should he trust him?
Suddenly, a thought struck him, recalling Wen Fengjin’s words: “If he proposes anything, remember to agree.”
Wow, Boss Wen is really incredible. How did he know Yi Yan wants to take me as his disciple?
Bai Yu was shocked in his mind for a while. Yi Yan then placed his hand on Bai Yu’s shoulder. Due to the height difference, he bent slightly and faced Bai Yu with a gentle smile. A few strands of hair that had escaped from his braid fell onto his forehead.
“Promise me, okay, Bai Yu.”
Bai Yu gritted his teeth and nodded vigorously.
Yi Yan’s smile instantly became more genuine. Fine lines appeared at the corners of his eyes, and when his lips curled up, his entire being warmed up, like an empty oil lamp being ignited, brightening up not just himself but the surroundings.
“I’m very happy,” Yi Yan said. “I’m really happy.”
Bai Yu was dazed by his smile, suddenly feeling a bit shy. After chatting for a while, Yi Yan walked him to the door.
Bai Yu, who had planned to turn and leave, suddenly felt a warm hand pressing down on his head, ruffling his short hair.
Looking up, Yi Yan had already withdrawn his hand. “I’ll be waiting for you to come again, Bai Yu.”
“…”
Walking a distance away, Bai Yu looked back at the inconspicuous small shop in the bustling market, wearing a smile he didn’t even realize was on his face.
In the next moment, he turned around and left with a light step.
Translator:
Ehhh? So Yi Yan is gonna be Bai Yu’s shifu?!
