Chapter Eighty-Two: From Now On, Call Me Senior Brother

Wan Qi Lianhao looked at Shi Zishan, who stood awkwardly to the side, and sighed helplessly. His junior was entirely absorbed in research on potions and had not the slightest grasp of interpersonal relationships.

“Miss Xuan, you’ve taught them so much; it’s only right they call you teacher,” Wan Qi Lianhao said sincerely. No matter how mysterious she was, she’d always treated the Wan Qi family kindly, and she’d even taught the students of their clan with the utmost dedication. For this, Wan Qi Lianhao could only feel grateful.

Xuan Xuan glanced at her father, a hint of confusion in her eyes. “Are you asking me to take him as an apprentice or as a disciple?”

There was a difference between an apprentice and a disciple. If he became a disciple, it would be a true master-apprentice relationship—once a teacher, always a parent. As for an apprentice, they would generally help with chores under her command, and she would teach them as she saw fit. If they performed well, there might be a chance to be promoted to disciple.

Wan Qi Lianhao didn’t actually understand the distinction, but he could tell Xuan Xuan’s attitude had changed; she wasn’t as resistant as before. “Are you willing to take him in?” he asked.

She looked at him, puzzled. Wasn’t he the one asking her to accept him? “If you ask me to, I will.”

Wan Qi Lianhao was taken aback. If he asked, she would comply? Since when did his words carry so much weight?

He glanced at Shi Zishan, who was watching him with hopeful, watery eyes, and cleared his throat awkwardly. He felt too embarrassed to push her into accepting someone, and besides, how had the conversation gotten so off track?

“The materials you gave to Shi Zishan, he showed them to his teacher,” Wan Qi Lianhao admitted, somewhat sheepishly.

Xuan Xuan glanced at Shi Zishan, who hung his head in shame, and then at her father. If her father knew and pleaded on his behalf, then perhaps his teacher was not an outsider. Since it was no big deal, she nodded. “This must not happen again.”

Shi Zishan lifted his head in surprise. She was so easygoing?

“My teacher…” Shi Zishan stammered, “He wants…”

Xuan Xuan arched her brows, signaling him to continue.

“My teacher, he also wants…”

“I want to join your laboratory!” Before Shi Zishan could finish, an old man burst through the door, full of energy, and immediately began berating Shi Zishan. “Is it so hard for you to say a word? I’ve never seen anyone as dense as you!”

“Teacher…” Shi Zishan’s face crumpled. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to speak—he simply couldn’t get the words out.

“Don’t call me teacher! From now on, call me senior brother!” the old man said firmly. “Remember that.”

Xuan Xuan simply looked at him, not quite understanding how a teacher could suddenly become a senior brother.

Wan Qi Lianhao could only laugh helplessly. Old Ji really was growing younger with age—he even said such things aloud. “Old Ji, what are you saying?”

“Am I old? Hmph, I’m still very young. Where is Teacher Xuan?” Old Ji retorted stiffly.

“This is Miss Xuan,” Wan Qi Lianhao introduced, and then to Xuan Xuan, “This is Old Ji, Shi Zishan’s teacher.”

Old Ji glared at Wan Qi Lianhao. “I’m his senior brother.”

He then looked at Xuan Xuan, and was momentarily stunned. So young?

The thought of apprenticing himself to someone so young brought a trace of embarrassment to Old Ji’s face. But recalling that bottle of potion and that book, his spirit returned—there is no end to learning, and the wise are teachers.

“What are the requirements to join your laboratory?” As soon as he spoke, Old Ji regretted it; what use was there in merely joining the lab? He quickly turned to Xuan Xuan. “What are the requirements to become your disciple?”

Xuan Xuan looked at him. He was probably older than her combined two lifetimes, and yet he wanted to take her as his teacher. She felt a headache coming on.

Seeing her silent, Old Ji grew anxious. He had never pursued anything in his life, cared nothing for clans, families, or nations—only his research mattered.

“Do I need to resign from my current position? I’m not part of any family now; would that be suitable?” Old Ji regarded Xuan Xuan, then said determinedly, “As long as I don’t have to abandon my wife and children, I’ll agree to anything.”

Xuan Xuan was speechless. When had she ever asked him to abandon his family?

Wan Qi Lianhao hurried forward to intercept Old Ji. Bringing up abandoning one’s family—who knew what he might say next? “Old Ji, don’t be so hasty.”

“Miss Xuan, would it be possible for Old Ji to join the laboratory? His expertise in potions is among the best in the Federation,” Wan Qi Lianhao said earnestly. “I can vouch for him with my own name; he would never divulge anything.”

Xuan Xuan nodded. As long as they were from the Wan Qi family, there was no issue with joining the lab. “That’s fine.”

“And becoming your disciple?” Old Ji brightened at her nod but then asked eagerly.

Wan Qi Lianhao turned away, unable to bear the sight of Old Ji in this state. He wondered if the faculty of the Federation’s First Military Academy would be so shocked their jaws dropped if they saw this.

Shi Zishan looked at Xuan Xuan with a mix of shame and anticipation. He also wanted to become her disciple, but if his teacher became her disciple, could he still do so?

Xuan Xuan glanced at Wan Qi Lianhao, who remained silent, not revealing his thoughts. She looked at Shi Zishan and Old Ji, hesitating. If she took Shi Zishan as a disciple, wouldn’t she have to call him junior brother? Since she was acting under her own teacher’s name, taking Old Ji as an apprentice would mean Shi Zishan would have to call her uncle-master.

“You don’t need to formally become my disciple. For now, work under me as an apprentice,” Xuan Xuan told Old Ji, then looked at Shi Zishan. “As for you, just help out for now.”

Old Ji didn’t care about the difference between apprentice and disciple. As long as he was accepted, he was thrilled, his mustache curling upwards. “Yes, yes, Teacher Xuan.”

Shi Zishan felt awkward. The person before him was about his age, but now she was his grandmaster. Still, her capability and knowledge more than qualified her for that title, though he still felt a bit embarrassed.

Xuan Xuan yawned. After wandering about for so long, she was truly exhausted. Her father had woken her up early for training, and though she hadn’t made much progress, she was still very sleepy.

Now seemed the perfect time for a nap, to wake up just in time for lunch.

After a word of farewell, Xuan Xuan logged off.

Old Ji, delighted with himself, also waved and left. Having succeeded in his apprenticeship, he needed to go back and study that book in depth. That rascal Shi Zishan had only let him glimpse a little, making him itch with curiosity.

Now, he could go back and study properly. “Aren’t you coming?”

Shi Zishan quickly bid farewell to Wan Qi Lianhao and followed Old Ji out.

Wan Qi Wu stood there, stunned, still not having processed what had happened. The honorary dean of the First Military Academy’s Department of Potions had just become Miss Xuan’s apprentice? Not even a formal disciple—just an apprentice, and yet he was beaming.

Thinking of Xuan Xuan, Wan Qi Wu felt she was even more formidable than before.

Wan Qi Lianhao, too, felt a headache coming on. He realized he had underestimated Xuan Xuan’s teacher. A person with no desires was truly invincible, and now, Xuan Xuan’s teacher seemed exactly that way.

She seemed to care about nothing. Wan Qi Lianhao felt he needed to discuss this with his father.

“Everything concerning Miss Xuan must be monitored at all times. Whatever she requests, fulfill it in advance and then report to me,” Wan Qi Lianhao instructed Wan Qi Wu.

Wan Qi Wu nodded; he would definitely follow through. If they weren’t going to cling to this powerful figure, then to whom?

“And keep an eye on Wan Baoxuan as well. Try not to let anyone else win the bids. Even if it’s just a bottle, buy it back. Also, how is Xiao Wang’s situation?” After giving orders to Wan Qi Wu, Wan Qi Lianhao turned to Yi Qiong.

Yi Qiong lowered her head. “He’s already escaped.”

“Do we know which family he’s from?” Wan Qi Lianhao wasn’t surprised by this.

“No, he’s been very careful,” Yi Qiong replied, ashamed. “By the time I went to find him, he had vanished. He must have fled the moment he saw Deputy Supervisor Liu was arrested. We still don’t know which family he belongs to.”

“Let it go,” said Wan Qi Lianhao. If they couldn’t catch him, there was nothing to be done. He turned to Yi Qiong. “Work with Wan Qi Wu to thoroughly investigate Zhuji Pavilion. We can’t let anything like this happen again.”

Wan Qi Wu and Yi Qiong replied simultaneously in the affirmative.

After logging off, Wan Qi Lianhao checked with Tong Wan, then went to Xuan Xuan’s room to find her sleeping soundly. He simply adjusted her blanket and kissed her forehead before heading to Wan Qi Yi’s study.

“Father, we’ve found out. A deputy supervisor at Zhuji Pavilion had his subordinate Xiao Wang steal potions and send them to Wan Baoxuan for auction. But Xiao Wang seems suspicious—he secretly kept two bottles for himself,” Wan Qi Lianhao reported, pausing before adding, “We haven’t figured out which family Xiao Wang is from.”

Wan Qi Yi set down his pen. “How did you handle the deputy supervisor?”

“I had him sent to the Primitive Star,” Wan Qi Lianhao replied.

Wan Qi Yi nodded. “As for Xiao Wang, if we can’t find him, so be it. Eventually, they’ll slip up.”

Wan Qi Lianhao nodded as well. Once people understood the potions’ effects, they would surely investigate further.

“What did Xuan Xuan’s teacher say?” Wan Qi Yi asked.

At the mention of Xuan Xuan’s teacher, Wan Qi Lianhao frowned. “She had no objections and said we could handle it as we see fit. But…”

Wan Qi Yi smiled. “What, you’re worried there’s a problem?”

“Yes. She agreed too easily,” Wan Qi Lianhao replied. Something so precious, obtained so simply, was enough to make anyone uneasy.

Wan Qi Yi put aside his documents. His son was steady, but sometimes he overthought things. “Have you ever considered what she could possibly want from us?”

Wan Qi Lianhao pressed his lips together. It was precisely because she wanted nothing that he was concerned.

“How long were you on the star network?” Wan Qi Yi knew his son’s doubts wouldn’t be dispelled so easily, so he changed the subject. “Xuan Xuan has gone back to sleep, hasn’t she?”

“Yes, she’s sleeping soundly—just too lazy,” Wan Qi Lianhao replied, his expression softening at the mention of Xuan Xuan.

Wan Qi Yi shot him a glare. “She’s still young; it’s good that she can eat and sleep well.” Wan Qi Lianhao was left speechless. What was his father planning to turn his daughter into—someone who just eats and sleeps?