"You have exceeded all of my expectations. Your array manipulation was such a delight. Your wine-fermentation theory is fundamentally sound, albeit flawed in its thermal retention. And your absolute refusal to work for free?"
He laughed softly.
"It proves you possess the spine required to survive my curriculum."
"I am not your student!" Ji'an protested frantically, backing away. "I belong to the Drunken Peak! I am spoken for! You cannot poach me!"
"I am not poaching you, little Chef," Yan Zhaoge drawled, turning around and walking back toward the balcony, his purple robes billowing. "I am merely... anticipating your arrival."
He stepped up onto the obsidian railing, balancing effortlessly over the toxic waterfall.
"The Vanguard Tour is scheduled to visit the Iron-Stove Monastery in exactly three weeks," Yan Zhaoge announced, looking back over his shoulder, his dark eyes locking onto hers.
