Chapter 81: I Am Not Your Teacher

Qiong, who had just left, returned, bringing with her the deputy manager Liu, whom Xuanxuan had mentioned—a man notorious for looking down on others. Liu's face was ashen; though he did not know what evidence had been found against him, he was already under control in reality and forcibly brought into the Star Network. Clearly, the matter concerned something within the Star Network.

Liu, anxious, tried to deduce what could be so serious as to warrant Qiong, one of San Shao’s trusted aides, escorting him personally. Had Wu really managed to win Qiong’s favor? Upon entering, Liu immediately spotted the person he had disparaged the previous day, labeling her as secretive and evasive—yet here she was, seated before San Shao himself.

Wu stood nearby, and Liu glared at him, wondering if Wu had reported his disrespect to San Shao. If so, it was a simple matter; ignorance should not be blamed. That excuse would suffice, and Liu straightened his posture. “Greetings, San Shao.”

Wan Qi Lianhao merely cast him a brief, indifferent glance.

Liu felt his heart sink; just how much had Wu slandered him before San Shao? Cursing Wu inwardly, Liu raised his voice, “San Shao, I am innocent!”

His words were so loud that even Xuanxuan glanced at him. Wan Qi Lianhao smirked, interest piqued, and arched an eyebrow. “Tell me, then, how are you innocent?”

“I didn’t know she was an honored guest! Wu failed to treat her properly and showed no respect. I assumed she was just a relative of Wu’s—after all, who’s to say Wu wouldn’t exploit his position for personal gain? I was simply concerned for the reputation of the Pearl Pavilion, afraid he was bringing anyone in at will.”

Liu wore a mournful expression, as if his grievance surpassed even Dou E’s, casting a furtive glance at Wan Qi Lianhao, who remained unmoved. Liu then dramatically collapsed before Xuanxuan, tears and snot streaming, pleading, “I truly didn’t mean to offend you—it was Wu who misled me!”

Xuanxuan recoiled, pulling her skirt away in distaste, and looked to Qiong. Qiong promptly stepped forward to drag Liu away.

Watching Liu being hauled off, Xuanxuan’s brows relaxed slightly, though her expression remained sour.

Wan Qi Lianhao, growing impatient, cut straight to the point. “What about the two missing vials?”

Liu’s heart skipped a beat as he recalled the vials presented by that person yesterday. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, but he feigned ignorance. “What vials?”

Wan Qi Lianhao’s smile was icy.

Liu trembled at Lianhao’s expression but still refused to speak. He now understood the importance of those items; admitting to embezzlement was a grave offense, and there would be no good outcome. Since they lacked evidence, he resolved to stick to his denial.

“I truly don’t know,” Liu insisted.

Wan Qi Lianhao, unwilling to waste time, instructed Qiong to interrogate him.

“Why was your access card used to enter the warehouse?” Qiong inquired.

“My card was lost—I have no idea who used it,” Liu replied, feigning indifference and denial. He shot a glance at Wu, who was watching coldly, and his eyes rolled as he said, “It was Wu. Definitely him. He framed me.”

Qiong could not help but sneer, “In a few days, I’ll check whose account received funds from the Treasure Pavilion.”

Xuanxuan found Liu’s antics amusing—did he think everyone else was a fool?

Wu also sneered; Liu was truly stubborn.

Liu’s legs buckled, and he nearly collapsed to the floor, pleading, “Spare me, San Shao! I was just momentarily confused!”

Wan Qi Lianhao ignored him, pouring tea for Xuanxuan, who watched with keen interest.

Qiong asked again, “And the two remaining vials?”

“What two vials?” Liu was genuinely confused now.

Qiong assumed Liu was still feigning ignorance and snorted, “You took three vials from the warehouse—one was sent to the Treasure Pavilion auction. Where are the other two?”

“Three vials?” Liu shook his head. “I only took one—how could there be three?”

Qiong scoffed, “You won’t admit fault until the evidence is before you. Three vials were stolen; if you only took one, what happened to the rest?”

“There weren’t any—I only took one. The other two? Wait—it was him, yes, it must have been him!” Liu’s eyes brightened as he pointed, “He must have taken the other two behind my back!”

Qiong frowned, “Who?”

Liu, now desperate for mercy, replied shamelessly, “It was my assistant, Xiao Wang. I gave him my access card to retrieve the items—I truly didn’t know there were three vials. He only handed me one, which I sent to the Treasure Pavilion…”

Wan Qi Lianhao had had enough. “Take him away—send him to the Primitive Star to find Xiao Wang.”

Liu’s face fell further; life on the Primitive Star was grim indeed.

“Apologies for the spectacle,” Wan Qi Lianhao said to Xuanxuan with a smile, as though nothing untoward had occurred.

Xuanxuan was taken aback; her father behaved quite differently outside the home. She nodded slightly. “Is there anything else?”

Wan Qi Lianhao grew a little embarrassed. “Well, your potion is simply too tempting. I don’t think we can handle this business ourselves, so I wanted to discuss partnering with the Zhan family.”

“Of course,” Xuanxuan replied, having anticipated this. She trusted Zhan Yu, and had no intention of monopolizing the potion business. Wan Qi Lianhao’s willingness to consult her suited her just fine.

Wan Qi Lianhao was surprised by her easy agreement and looked at her in confusion.

“There's no need to ask me about this,” Xuanxuan told him. “Do as you wish.”

The more she said so, the less Wan Qi Lianhao wanted to make the decision unilaterally. “Your opinion is essential.”

Xuanxuan waved her hand, thinking the others must still be studying the materials she had provided—there was much to learn, and the differences between Mata Continent and the Federation would require time to understand.

“I’m going out for a stroll. Let him follow me,” she said, seeing that Wan Qi Lianhao would not be free to log off and meet her for a while, so she decided to explore the Pearl Pavilion.

Wan Qi Lianhao rose and escorted Xuanxuan to the door. Turning to Wu, he said, “Since Miss Xuan has spoken for you, you may stay and redeem yourself.”

Wu was overjoyed. “Thank you, San Shao. I will not let you down.”

“Very well. Go and properly reorganize the Pearl Pavilion. From now on, you’ll be in charge of all Pearl Pavilions in the Star Network. Also, you’ll handle matters concerning Miss Xuan.”

This was the result of careful consideration.

After Wu and Xuanxuan left, Wan Qi Lianhao prepared to log off and discuss the recent events with his father. Qiong entered, “Master, Shi Zishan wishes to see you.”

“Shi Zishan?” Wan Qi Lianhao was puzzled. “Let him in.”

“San Shao,” Shi Zishan entered, wearing a troubled expression.

Shi Zishan, though a few years junior to Wan Qi Lianhao, was familiar enough to have been invited into the Wan Qi family’s laboratory, and even into the Star Network.

“San Shao, my teacher wishes to join the laboratory here,” Shi Zishan said, face drawn.

“What?” Wan Qi Lianhao thought he had misheard and asked again.

Shi Zishan knew how unbelievable his words sounded, but insisted, “The things I’ve learned from Teacher Xuan in the lab astonished me—they contradict much of our Federation's knowledge. My teacher and I debated a question today, so I showed him the materials from Teacher Xuan, along with some leftover potion samples. Now he insists on joining our laboratory.”

Shi Zishan’s voice grew quieter as he spoke. He knew he should not have done so, but his teacher was persistent, and he had acted impulsively. He forgot what Xuanxuan had originally said—not to disclose the information!

His teacher’s attention to that book made it clear how valuable it was.

Shi Zishan knew he had erred, but his teacher was relentless, and he dared not refuse; with his teacher’s stubbornness, there was no telling how he might retaliate.

Wan Qi Lianhao felt a headache coming on, and gave Shi Zishan some difficult tasks to ponder.

“What does Elder Ji really want?” Wan Qi Lianhao asked.

Shi Zishan glanced at Wan Qi Lianhao, whose expression was unreadable. Only when he saw no sign of anger did he answer, “You don’t know how extraordinary Teacher Xuan’s potions are—they’re truly revolutionary, in a league of their own. The book she left behind, I studied it all night and still couldn’t fully grasp it, and she said it was just the basics.”

Shi Zishan became increasingly agitated, losing all focus, until Wan Qi Lianhao made him stop. Fortunately, Teacher Xuan had not yet left.

“Go invite them back,” Qiong went out to fetch Xuanxuan.

When Xuanxuan entered, she spotted Shi Zishan—could the things she left really be so hard to comprehend?

“What’s the matter?”

Shi Zishan hesitated, unable to speak, looking pleadingly at Wan Qi Lianhao.

Wan Qi Lianhao felt awkward; matters like this were difficult to address.

“Just say it,” Xuanxuan prompted, sensing her father’s discomfort.

“Teacher Xuan…” Shi Zishan began, but Xuanxuan interrupted, “I am not your teacher.”

To be a teacher came with many responsibilities; she did not wish to take on such a role. Though she possessed the ability to instruct, it did not mean she desired it, and she was acting under her own teacher’s name.

Even on Mata Continent, in over a hundred years, she had taken only a few disciples, and her teacher had only her as a student.

Certainly, she would not accept a disciple here after a single meeting.

Shi Zishan was unaware of Xuanxuan’s reasoning, but her blunt refusal left him speechless.