Chapter Ninety-Seven: Wait for My Return

One lie requires a hundred more to cover it up. Xuan Xuan was a little tired of it. When would she get to say that her "teacher" had gone on an interstellar trip? The thought crossed her mind, and she truly felt it was the best solution.

Thinking it over, Xuan Xuan logged onto the star network. Why not seize the day? She could simply tell Zhan Yu and the others directly. Unfortunately, Zhan Yu's time online was far too limited these days; she wondered if she would even manage to run into him.

Ten years had passed, and the changes on Hundred Herbs Star were immense. The entire planet had become her base. But regrettably, when she had tried to have someone purchase the small planet in the real world, she was told it had already been bought, and the owner was unwilling to part with it.

That planet was relatively close to the imperial capital, having originally been an important source of food supplies for the capital.

But even if she couldn't have it in reality, having this one piece of it in the star network was already enough to satisfy Xuan Xuan.

She strolled leisurely through the herb fields. Every place here bore her marks, and Zhan Yu's as well. Even Kuang Shao had left his footprints behind. Xuan Xuan wondered—if she stopped coming here, would this place slowly fall into ruin?

If that really happened, she would genuinely feel it a pity. Perhaps she could let "Moqi Xuan Xuan," her apprentice, inherit it.

She smiled to herself, as if she really were two people now.

She cast a levitation spell on herself. Even though the Federation had all manner of convenient and advanced technological transport, Xuan Xuan still preferred using her own magic—freer, more at will, and far more convenient. She couldn't do it in reality, but on the star network, she used magic as much as possible. Perhaps Matta Continent wasn't as good as the Federation, but she would never forget it. Even if it was merely a dream, it was a dream etched deep into her heart.

She cast a low-level water spell, "Drizzling Rain." The raindrops were condensed from magical elements, and the plants would appreciate it all the more.

Beneath the sunlight, the drizzle formed a rainbow.

When Zhan Yu came online, this was the sight he beheld. Xuan Xuan seemed like a fairy strolling atop the rainbow, walking over with unhurried steps. Seeing Zhan Yu arrive, she descended swiftly from the air. By now, Xuan Xuan had been practicing the Moqi family's physical arts for some time; her health had improved greatly, as had her agility.

The wind picked up, blowing toward her, and Xuan Xuan's veil slipped off her face without her noticing.

She lowered her head slightly, glanced at the veil on the ground, then lifted her face. It felt a little strange all of a sudden, being without the veil.

She smiled faintly. "You're here."

Zhan Yu only now recovered from his daze. The Xuan Xuan before him was beautiful in a way that seemed almost unreal. He had often wondered what she looked like beneath that veil, and he let out a low chuckle.

Sometimes at night, when he fell asleep and dreamed of her, he would always lift her veil in the dream. Sometimes there was a blank face, sometimes there was some semblance of features, but when he woke, he would forget what she looked like in his dream.

He could never form a clear image of what she ought to look like. The longer the veil remained on her face, the more he seemed accustomed to its presence.

And he had even less courage to lift it. That veil—he was always afraid. Though there was plainly nothing behind it, he still worried that once it was lifted, things between them would never be the same.

"What's wrong?" Xuan Xuan saw him spacing out and waved a hand in front of him.

Zhan Yu very naturally caught her hand. Her hand was still so soft, yet it felt different from usual this time—his own hand was trembling slightly.

He bent down and picked up the veil that had always covered her face. "You don't want it anymore?"

Hmm? Xuan Xuan was startled. She touched her own face. Well, since she had already decided she would no longer appear on the star network and was going on an "interstellar trip," it seemed she truly didn't need it anymore. She gave a slight nod.

Zhan Yu pressed his lips together, the corners of his mouth curving into a small smile. He carefully folded the veil and tucked it away into his backpack.

"You're free today?" Xuan Xuan asked.

Zhan Yu and Kuang Shao had gone to the insectoid gathering place and often went offline for ten days to half a month. Was he actually at leisure now?

Zhan Yu nodded, his voice carrying a joy he couldn't hide. "I'm about to return to the imperial capital."

"Return to the imperial capital?" Xuan Xuan asked. "Then have you finished investigating the insectoids there?"

"There won't be any news for a while, so Kuang Shao and I are heading back to the capital first," Zhan Yu said. The insectoids there had remained dormant, making no moves at all, and it was hard to detect anything for the time being.

Out in that remote place, the star network signal was sometimes unstable, and at other times they had missions to carry out, so he rarely got online. And Xuan Xuan had never given him her contact number, so even when he did log on, he couldn't always be sure of seeing her.

He had intended to come up and try his luck before setting off—and who would have thought his luck would be this good?

His brow and eyes were full of delight. They were returning to the imperial capital soon. Nothing was certain yet, but at least he would be staying there for a longer stretch of time. After being away for so long, he wondered if Xuan Xuan had grown distant from him.

Xuan Xuan nodded, about to tell him that "she" was going on an interstellar trip and probably wouldn't appear again.

"Wait for me. I'll be back soon." Zhan Yu said suddenly. Before Xuan Xuan could say a word, she saw his features growing larger and closer before her. She only had time to see that pair of deep, dark eyes, felt a faint coolness on her lips—and then the person before her was already gone.

She touched her lips, a trace of confusion flickering in her eyes. Was that... harassment?

Xuan Xuan's trust in Zhan Yu ran deep. She was never on guard around him, so when he drew so close, she hadn't felt any aversion.

She thought it over. She had originally come to say her goodbyes, but since Zhan Yu had left in such a hurry, it seemed she would have to tell Shi Zishan instead. She connected the call.

"Master's master—oh, no, Miss Xuan." Shi Zishan's teacher had always privately instructed him to call Xuan Xuan "Master's master," for Old Ji felt that Xuan Xuan had taught him far too much to not warrant the title. Even if she didn't want the honorific, he should always remember it.

Shi Zishan was a man who dutifully observed his place as disciple and disciple's disciple.

Zishan was also an honest sort, especially obedient to his teacher's words. In his heart, he always regarded Xuan Xuan as his senior master, but each time he said it, he was afraid she would be displeased, and quickly corrected himself.

"I'm going on an interstellar trip. Tell Moqi Lianhao, Zhan Yu, Kuang Shao, and your teacher for me. There's a good chance I won't be coming back, so there's no need to contact me anymore." Xuan Xuan didn't bother with what Shi Zishan called her. "The laboratory will be left in your teacher's and your charge."

After a moment's thought, Xuan Xuan didn't want to see all the effort she had poured into that place go to waste. "Also, tell Zhan Yu that Hundred Herbs Star will be left for your senior master to manage."

Shi Zishan seemed taken aback by the news, forgetting all about titles. "Senior Master, where are you going?"

"On a 'trip,' of course." There was a hint of lightness in Xuan Xuan's tone. Letting go of everything from before seemed like a fine thing after all.

"Then what will we do?" Shi Zishan was at a loss. If the senior master disappeared, what would they do? Who would teach them pharmacology?

Xuan Xuan laughed. "If you have questions, ask your senior master."

Senior master? Only then did Shi Zishan remember that he had a young girl from the Moqi family as his senior master. He felt a bit awkward—she was so young.

Before Shi Zishan could say anything more, Xuan Xuan logged off the star network.

She stretched lazily in bed, then burrowed back under the covers. It was rare to have such a wonderful morning.

As for the dark June that had just passed, its impact on Xuan Xuan was far too negligible.

Exams were never something Xuan Xuan needed to worry about. She never fretted over them. To her, nothing was a problem except Chinese characters, and she always floated by at the passing line—and even the Chinese portion was always handled by Moqi Weihao and the others.

After writing a few lines on each paper, Xuan Xuan would grow too lazy to continue.

Usually, she would just toss her pen aside and go to sleep.

And as for the goal of the Federation's number-one military academy, Xuan Xuan felt even less pressure. With Kuang Hongyi as her teacher, she was practically guaranteed special admission.

Throughout the exam period, even the two Moqi brothers had lost weight. Only Xuan Xuan, under Tong Wan's heavy nourishing, still kept a slight double chin.

She let out a small yawn and glanced at the floor-to-ceiling window. The sun was about to climb right overhead. To avoid her father coming to knock on her door with a black face, Xuan Xuan reluctantly crawled out from under the covers.

The corners of her mouth curved up, and her mood brightened considerably.

Sure enough, once she had tidied herself up, she saw her father standing at the door with a dark expression. "Do you know what time it is?"

Xuan Xuan pouted. Her father was getting more and more nagging with age.

She followed behind him to the dining room, greeted Moqi Yi and Tong Wan who sat at the table with lunch already set out. Her father had stayed on in the imperial capital for work, while Moqi Lianjun and Moqi Lianchen, being busy with their jobs, rarely came home.

Moqi Weihao and the other one were already seated at the table. They weren't as fortunate as Xuan Xuan—every morning they had to get up early for morning cultivation, then after cultivation and breakfast, it was time to study.

They cast envious glances at Xuan Xuan. They always felt that compared to her, they weren't the real children by blood.

After the meal, Moqi Yi must have received the news from Shi Zishan, for Xuan Xuan was called into the study. Moqi Yi asked, "Your teacher has gone on an interstellar trip?"

Xuan Xuan nodded.

"And won't be coming back?" Moqi Yi asked.

"Probably not," Xuan Xuan said.

Moqi Lianhao asked, "What do you mean, 'probably'?"

Xuan Xuan looked at her father, whose expression had remained sour from dinner until now, and obediently said, "'Teacher' said he most likely won't be coming back."

Moqi Yi and Moqi Lianhao frowned simultaneously. To leave at a time like this—"Why did he suddenly decide to leave?"

Xuan Xuan thought for a moment. What excuse would be most fitting?

"I've learned everything there is to learn." Xuan Xuan felt that whether it was her or her teacher, this was probably the only reason for leaving.

Moqi Lianhao tapped her head. "Arrogant. Did you make your teacher angry?"

Xuan Xuan pouted. Her father's bad habit of tapping her head had persisted for ten years without correction. But everything she said was nothing but the truth. "You should be praising me for being smart."

Moqi Lianhao was speechless. She just had to push her luck.