Chapter 209: Tian Lao

"I…" Tian Long stood frozen in place, looking at the three master teachers, who were all smiles and even slightly fawning. He was utterly bewildered, trying to speak but unable to utter a single word. What… what was going on?

Zhang Xuan, standing nearby, was even more confused. How could it be that after only a few days… these three idiots had gone mad? *I'm* Zhang Xuan, for that matter, but what's with your excited gazes? It seems Yang Shi was the one who swindled you; it has nothing to do with me… You have a grievance, but the one you should hold accountable is him, even if you've figured out his identity.

"Ahem," Huang Yu quickly explained, unable to hold back, "Master Liu, he's not Teacher Zhang. He's Elder Tian's grandson, Tian Long…"

"Ah? He's not? If not, then why were you pretending, making me happy for nothing?" Zheng Fei glared at Tian Long, scoffed coldly, and looked as if he wanted to slap him.

Seeing his fierce gaze, Tian Long's eyes welled up with tears. "I wasn't pretending! You all rushed over and immediately assumed I was Teacher Zhang Xuan. I didn't even get a chance to object. I was scared stiff, okay?" No wonder the three masters mistook him. Tian Long was considerably better looking and taller than Zhang Xuan. Huang Yu had only said he was beside her, and before she could specify left or right, Lu Xun interrupted her. At a glance, it was natural for them to assume this tall, handsome man was the one they were looking for.

"He's not him, then… where is Teacher Zhang?" Liu Ling looked over again.

"I am Zhang Xuan…" Knowing he couldn't hide any longer, Zhang Xuan braced himself and spoke.

"You are Teacher Zhang? Indeed, you are as graceful as a jade tree in the wind, a truly talented individual." Liu Ling stepped forward with a smile.

"Yes, so handsome and charismatic, truly outstanding. I recognized him at first glance," Master Zhuang added.

"Truly worthy of being a model teacher for Tianxuan Kingdom. Excellent, excellent," Zheng Fei chimed in immediately.

A vein throbbed on Zhang Xuan's forehead. *I* am graceful as a jade tree, a talented individual, truly outstanding, handsome and charismatic? If that's the case, how could you have mistaken me? And thought Tian Long was me? He never imagined that esteemed master teachers would lie through their teeth… and so righteously at that. Where's your shame? And your status?

"May I ask, Master Teachers, what brings you to me?" Seeing their gazes grow increasingly fervent, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but speak quickly.

"Oh, there are too many people here. We can find a place to talk in detail!" Liu Ling said. With so many people watching, he couldn't possibly say, "We've heard about your many achievements, and we've even come to the academy to investigate, and now we want to take you on as an apprentice!" If he really said that, not only would others think they were crazy, but Zhang Xuan himself would surely be scared away. What master teacher would be so eager to recruit an apprentice?

"Alright!" Zhang Xuan nodded. Given their attitude, they likely didn't know he was "Yang Xuan"; otherwise, they would have already taken action. Since that was the case, and he also wanted to inquire about the black qi, he might as well just agree.

"Let's go!" Seeing how easygoing Teacher Zhang was, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief. They surrounded him, as if afraid he might run away, and walked forward.

Everyone else looked on, bewildered and curious. Meanwhile, Lu Xun, who was not far away, was internally crumbling. He had thought that once the three master teachers arrived, all he had to do was state his identity, and he would be recognized, thus naturally becoming Master Liu's apprentice and rising to fame. But… what was this situation before his eyes? After hearing his name, they completely ignored him. Instead, they rushed directly towards Zhang Xuan, whom he had always looked down upon, treating him with such friendliness… Didn't he say he was the predetermined master teacher's apprentice? This Zhang Xuan was just a low-ranked teacher, and his reputation was so bad. Why were they surrounding him?

Gritting his teeth, he stepped forward. "Master Liu… I am Lu Xun, Star Teacher Lu Xun of Hongtian Academy…"

"Oh, I know. We met last time at the imperial palace." Liu Ling nodded and pushed him aside. "Alright, make way. I have something to discuss with Teacher Zhang. Go over there, don't be a nuisance!" Stumbling, he then watched Master Liu walk away. Lu Xun felt his entire body stiffen, and he wished he could die.

"No matter what, I'm a Star Teacher, ranked first in Tianxuan Kingdom. Just 'we met' and that's it? Don't you need to ask a few more questions? And pushing me aside, treating me as if I'm in the way…" As for that Zhang Xuan, the three masters surrounded him as if afraid he'd get lost, treating him with great importance. But for him…

Lu Xun was utterly dejected. Can anyone tell me what's actually going on?

He suppressed the urge to spit blood and turned to look at Tian Long, who was not far away. "Didn't you say you had inside information? Didn't you say Master Liu sent a letter, saying he wanted to take me as his apprentice? Who the hell has ever seen an apprentice whom their teacher won't even spare a glance for?"

"I…" Seeing his gaze, Tian Long also felt a surge of desperation. "I really did see that letter! I don't know what's going on either…"

The two of them were distraught, while Wang Chao, standing to the side, felt as though his face had been slapped red. He had been the most vocal in ridiculing Zhang Xuan earlier, and had also been certain that Lu Xun's status as a master teacher's apprentice was set in stone. Yet now he found himself publicly humiliated, and in the most brutal way!

He had called others a foil, a stepping stone for takeoff, but now it felt like, after all this commotion, Lu Xun was the foil and the stepping stone? He had also thought the other party shameless and that they should jump off a building… It was he who should jump off a building!

"Perhaps…" Wang Chao, along with Lu Xun and Tian Long, simultaneously looked at Huang Yu and Bai Xun. If anyone among the crowd knew what was going on, it would definitely be those two. One was Master Liu's apprentice, and the other was Master Zhuang's student. And Zhang Xuan was someone they had brought.

"We… don't know either!" Huang Yu quickly shook her head. The three masters had only told them to bring Zhang Xuan, without specifying what they wanted to do. Even now, their heads were filled with questions. Both Master Liu and Master Zhuang, in their minds, were usually solemn and aloof. Yet at this moment, they were circling Teacher Zhang Xuan like fanatical admirers. Even witnessing it firsthand, they could hardly believe it.

"How about… we go take a look?" None of them could figure out what was going on, so they couldn't resist following closely behind. Especially Lu Xun, if he didn't get an answer today, he'd be so furious he wouldn't be able to sleep. Just moments ago, he had been full of arrogance, disdaining to associate with Zhang Xuan. Now, ironically, the three master teachers were practically fawning over the other man… while he was left ignored in a corner… What was so good about that fellow? What made the three masters not even spare him a glance?

"Your Majesty, Master Liu, Master Zhuang, Master Zheng, our master knows of your arrival and has specifically sent me to welcome you." Before they had gone far, an elderly man came up to greet them. It was Tian Gang, the Tian Manor's steward.

"Indeed!" Master Liu nodded. Although he truly wanted to tell Zhang Xuan right then that he intended to take him as an apprentice, this was, after all, Elder Tian's birthday banquet, and he couldn't overshadow the host.

"This way, please. Our master is already waiting in the main hall," Tian Gang said, leading the way.

"Teacher Zhang, let's go together. Elder Tian was once my tea ceremony teacher, and he is a kind person," Liu Ling explained with a smile.

Given the three masters' friendly attitude, Zhang Xuan could only nod in agreement. After a few steps, Emperor Shen Zhui approached them, looking over with a beaming smile.

"Teacher Zhang Xuan, I have long heard of your great name. Indeed, heroes emerge from the young. In the future, you will surely shine brightly and become renowned throughout the world. From now on, if you have any needs, please don't hesitate to tell me. Although Tianxuan Kingdom is not considered a powerful nation, we are not lacking in resources. Anything we can find, we will do our utmost, without hesitation!"

Hearing the emperor's promise, Zhang Xuan's expression grew even stranger. He could naturally see that Emperor Shen Zhui intended to curry favor, but… as an ordinary teacher from an academy, what qualifications did he possess to warrant such a grand king's goodwill? Besides, what you heard before… was my reputation as a good-for-nothing, wasn't it? How is it that after a few days, these people have changed so much, becoming so friendly? He had been disguised as Master Yang these past few days and hadn't appeared as Teacher Zhang!

Zhang Xuan was somewhat baffled by what had happened to make these people's attitudes change so drastically. But perhaps this was a good thing. Previously, he had thought that their high status would make them difficult to approach with his identity as Zhang Xuan. Now, it seemed he had overthought it… Not having been active for a few days, he truly hadn't realized that the name Zhang Xuan had become so incredibly influential. Influential enough to have an esteemed Emperor and Master Teachers rushing to curry favor.

Seeing the young man opposite him merely nod slightly and then fall silent, his expression calm and unruffled, Emperor Shen Zhui sighed inwardly. Indeed, he was worthy of being someone the three masters held in high regard; his temperament alone was extraordinary. If it were any other young person, after receiving a few compliments and such a promise from the Emperor, they would surely be smug and full of themselves. But look at him: calm and composed, completely unfazed. This unwavering composure, even if a mountain were to crumble before him, was truly admirable.

He admired him secretly, but he didn't know that Zhang Xuan, the person in question, wasn't being composed but was… spaced out. Besides, having been accustomed to interacting with people while disguised as Master Yang these past few days, he was already free of pressure, so his mindset was naturally relaxed.

Following the steward, the group soon arrived at a spacious main hall. As they stepped inside, a rich tea aroma wafted towards them, instantly refreshing their spirits.

"You've arrived, sit!" An elder sat cross-legged in the center of the main hall. Before him was a set of exquisite tea ware, from which white mist, formed by hot water, curled upwards. The tea aroma emanated from here.

Emperor Shen Zhui, Liu Ling, Zhuang Xian, and Zheng Fei stepped forward and greeted Elder Tian. Zhang Xuan followed behind, looking at the elder before him.

He was celebrating his ninetieth birthday, yet he looked closer to seventy. His snow-white beard, seen from a distance, gave him an ethereal, scholarly aura.

"Hm!" The elder responded with a hum, waved his hand casually, and didn't look up. He picked up a teacup, slowly poured hot water into it, and the tea leaves immediately released a faint fragrance. With a gentle sweep of his hand, the hot water seemed to guide itself, flowing precisely into the teacups. His technique was fluid and graceful, like flowing clouds and water, possessing a unique beauty that made observers marvel and unable to look away, even before tasting the tea. It was a complete enjoyment to watch.

"Is this the Tea Ceremony? Incredible!" He had previously thought that the Tea Ceremony was not comparable to professions like alchemy, but seeing this elder's movements, he realized why it could be one of the Nine Main Professions. It was indeed extraordinary.

"Please!" With a gesture from the elder, several maids approached, carrying filled teacups towards Emperor Shen Zhui and the three master teachers. There were six cups in total; four were distributed, leaving two.

After the tea was served, the elder wiped his hands, looked up at everyone, and only then did he notice Zhang Xuan, pausing in surprise. "And this is…"