Chương 23: I Merely Did the Right Thing!

Xiao Xuan kept his expression calm in front of the prying eyes of the crowd in the room. He simply offered a humble smile.

"I am truly flattered by your praise, Divine Alchemist," Xiao Xuan said politely.

"However, I learned this specific technique from my master. And he has strictly forbidden me from disclosing the details of his teachings or his identity to anyone. I must honor his wishes." The crowd immediately nodded in understanding. In the cultivation world, Xiao Xuan's reasoning was normal. For a boy to suddenly produce such a miraculous elixir, he must have been taken in by a hidden, wandering veteran. Tan Gengxin let out a long, heavy sigh of disappointment.

"A pity," Tan Gengxin muttered, shaking his head. He looked back at the three vials on the cushion.

"Very well," Tan Gengxin declared, his arrogant demeanor returning. He turned to Xiao Xuan.

"I cannot force your master's secrets. But I will buy these three vials from you right now. I offer you one million silver coins for the set." One million silver coins! The collective gasp that echoed through the hall was deafening. Zu An staggered backward, nearly tripping over his own robes. One million silver was a small fortune! Xiao Xuan didn't even blink. He maintained his calm, polite smile and gently shook his head.

"I apologize, Divine Alchemist," Xiao Xuan said, gesturing toward Tang Zefei.

"But I brought these elixirs here today specifically to do business with the Tang Auction House. I have already handed them over to Madam Zefei for appraisal. It would be highly unethical of me to bypass her now. If you wish to purchase them, you must ask her." Tang Zefei's breath caught in her throat. She stared at Xiao Xuan, her eyes widening in realization and gratitude. Tan Gengxin frowned, slightly annoyed by the extra step, but his desire for the vials outweighed his pride. He turned to Tang Zefei.

"Miss Zefei," Tan Gengxin said firmly.

"I wish to purchase these directly. One million silver." Tang Zefei smiled, her flawless, commanding business aura returning in full force. She gracefully stepped behind the appraisal counter.

"Given your esteemed status, Divine Alchemist, and to smooth over our earlier… misunderstandings," Tang Zefei said, her words polite but carrying a sharp edge that made Zu An flinch, "the Tang House will gladly bypass the auction block and sell these to you directly for the offered price." The transaction was completed swiftly. Tan Gengxin carefully stored the three vials into his spatial ring as if they were fragile infant dragons.

Zu An shot Xiao Xuan a glare, spun on his heel, and stormed out of the appraisal hall following his master, his lackeys scurrying after him like frightened rats. Once the heavy doors closed, the tension in the room finally evaporated. Tang Zefei let out a soft exhale, stepping around the counter to approach Xiao Xuan.

"You saved our reputation today," she said softly, her eyes gleaming with admiration.

"I merely did the right thing!" Xiao Xuan replied with a cheeky grin. Tang Zefei chuckled, shaking her head. She motioned for Elder Hua, who quickly brought over a small, beautifully crafted wooden box.

"The standard auction fee is ten percent," Tang Zefei explained, opening the box.

"Which leaves you with nine hundred thousand silver coins. However, handling that much physical currency is highly impractical, even with a storage ring." She reached into the box and pulled out a flat, rectangular artifact made of dark, polished obsidian, lined with intricate golden runes. She handed it to Xiao Xuan.

"It is a specialized storage artifact that specifically stores and handles large amounts of money easily. Your nine hundred thousand silver has already been deposited into its runes. You can use this to instantly transfer funds without having to manually count the coins." Xiao Xuan took the heavy, smooth obsidian card, his eyes shining like a kid in a candy store. It's literally a magical debit card! Xiao Xuan thought.

"This is incredible. Thank you," Xiao Xuan said, happily tucking the card into his storage ring.

"No, you didn't have to do what you did earlier," Tang Zefei replied earnestly.

"You could have taken the full million. You gave up a hundred thousand silver just to protect my face. I should be thanking you."

"Nonsense," Xiao Xuan waved his hand dismissively, offering her a warm smile.

"As your friend, I must make sure you don't suffer a loss due to me. You and the auction house have taken care of me since I arrived. Consider this a small token of my thanks." Tang Zefei paused. The word 'friend' echoed in her mind. She smiled, a truly stunning, uncalculated expression that made the surrounding Luminous pearls seem dull in comparison.

"Then I look forward to our continued friendship, Xuan."

"Me too, Zefei," Xiao Xuan smiled. … If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. A few minutes later, Xiao Xuan and Wei Tu exited the grand gates of the Tang Auction House, stepping out into the cool afternoon air of the courtyard. Xiao Xuan stretched his arms, feeling satisfied.

"Xuan!" Xiao Xuan stopped. Standing near the grand gates, waiting by his opulent carriage, was Tan Gengxin. The Divine Alchemist had his hands clasped behind his back, looking at Xiao Xuan with an intense, burning gaze.

"Divine Alchemist," Xiao Xuan greeted politely.

"Can I help you?"

"Tell me, Xuan," Tan Gengxin said, his voice dropping into a solemn, majestic tone.

"Are you willing to be my student? Leave whatever hidden master you are currently serving. As my direct disciple, you will be given access to the greatest resources in the Eastern Continent. You will excel and reach unfathomable heights." Wei Tu gasped quietly behind him. It was the dream of every youth in the district to be recruited by the Divine Alchemist. Xiao Xuan, however, was not amused. He already possessed the vast knowledge from all the web novels he translated back on Earth.

He knew ancient recipes that even the Divine Alchemist didn't know.

"I am deeply honored by your offer, Divine Alchemist," Xiao Xuan said, bowing.

"Truly, it is the greatest compliment I could ever receive. However, I have sworn a blood oath to remain loyal to my master. I cannot break it, even for an opportunity as magnificent as yours." Tan Gengxin's face fell. He stared at Xiao Xuan for a long, heavy moment.

"Loyalty is a rare trait," Tan Gengxin muttered, though he was clearly deeply disappointed.

"Very well. If you ever change your mind, the doors of my manor are open to you." Without another word, the Divine Alchemist turned and boarded his carriage, leaving the courtyard. Xiao Xuan let out a long breath.

"Let's go home, Wei Tu," Xiao Xuan said. … By the time Xiao Xuan's carriage rolled through the heavy wooden gates of the Su Manor, the sun had fully set. He stepped down onto the cobblestones, looking forward to a hot meal, only to find the courtyard deathly silent. A line of elite clan guards stood rigidly at attention. Standing at the entrance of the main hall were Patriarch Su Zhongtian, Matriarch Liang Shufen, and Su Luoyang. The atmosphere was grim.

Su Zhongtian's face was dark as thunder, while Liang Shufen looked like she was ready to skin someone alive. But it was Su Luoyang who stepped forward, her beautiful features locked in a mask of freezing disappointment.

"Do you have a death wish, Xiao Xuan?" Su Luoyang asked, her voice trembling slightly with suppressed anger and deep anxiety.

"Or do you simply wish to drag the Su Clan down with you?"

"Good evening to you too, my darling wife!" Xiao Xuan blinked, keeping his tone light.

"Is something wrong?" Su Luoyang was momentarily paralysed at his nonchalant response.

"Do not play dumb!" Liang Shufen snapped, her patience evaporating.

"The whole district is whispering that you went to the Tang Auction House and provoked Young Master Zu An! The direct disciple of the Divine Alchemist!" Su Luoyang closed her eyes, letting out a heavy, exhausted breath.

"I have defended your decision to cultivate. I even overlooked you spending thousands of silver coins on foolishly trying out alchemy. But publicly insulting the disciple of the most powerful man in the district? The Divine Alchemist could sever our clan's pill supply with a single word. Your arrogance today has crossed a line I cannot protect you from." Her scolding was sharp, but Xiao Xuan could hear the underlying panic in her voice. She wasn't just angry; she was terrified for the clan's survival.

Xiao Xuan opened his mouth to explain, but before he could speak, a shadow dropped beside him. Wei Tu stepped forward, heavily clasping his hands together and bowing deeply toward the Patriarch and the First Miss.

"Patriarch! Matriarch! First Miss! Please, calm your anger and allow this servant to clarify!" Wei Tu shouted, his voice echoing across the tense courtyard.

"Explain what, Wei Tu?" Su Zhongtian demanded, his deep voice rumbling.

"Did he or did he not clash with Zu An?"

"He did, Patriarch! But the rumors are backwards!" Wei Tu declared, puffing his chest out.

"Young Master Xuan did not provoke anyone! Zu An attempted to humiliate the Tang House and the Young Master, but he was the one who left in utter disgrace!" Su Luoyang frowned, her icy aura faltering slightly.

"Disgrace? What are you talking about?"

"Young Master Xuan's medicinal concoctions were appraised personally by the Divine Alchemist, Tan Gengxin!" Wei Tu announced, his voice rising.

"They were so flawless that Zu An's pills looked like dirt in comparison! And then…" Wei Tu paused for dramatic effect, ensuring every single guard in the courtyard was listening.

"Then, the Divine Alchemist himself stepped in and offered Young Master Xuan one million silver coins for his elixirs!" Liang Shufen's jaw parted slightly. Su Zhongtian stood frozen. Su Luoyang went into deep thought, sizing up her husband in disbelief.

"But the Young Master refused," Wei Tu continued.

"Young Master had already handed the vials to the Tang Auction House and asked the Divine Alchemist to buy it from them formally. He even saved Miss Zefei and the Tang House's face today." A dead, heavy silence descended upon the grand hall. Only the faint crackle of the courtyard torches could be heard. Xiao Xuan stood casually beside his overly-enthusiastic 'Watson', offering his deeply shocked in-laws a modest, polite smile. Su Zhongtian and Liang Shufen slowly turned their stiff necks toward their daughter.

Su Luoyang blinked, finally breaking out of her stunned reverie to meet her parents' bewildered gazes. Xiao Xuan didn't want to embarrass them, so he tactfully intervened.

"I am awfully tired, Luoyang," Xiao Xuan said, breaking the heavy tension with a polite smile.

"I will head to my quarters to wash up and rest." Su Luoyang looked at him. She let out a soft sigh and offered a faint, imperceptible smile.

"Rest well," she replied softly. Xiao Xuan nodded, gesturing for Wei Tu to follow. The loyal aide quickly clasped his hands, bowed deeply to the leadership, and hurried after his master. … The moment Xiao Xuan reached his room, he was surprised. They fixed the door! Then, Xiao Xuan's polite smile vanished. He turned to Wei Tu with a calm, calculating look.

"Wei Tu," Xiao Xuan asked flatly.

"Why did you leave out the part where the Divine Alchemist explicitly asked me to be his student?" Wei Tu immediately stepped back, bowing so deeply his spine was parallel to the floorboards. He clasped his hands tightly.

"Young Master," Wei Tu said quickly.

"You told the Divine Alchemist that you were already serving a hidden master. But you have never mentioned such a figure to me, nor has the clan ever recorded it. Since you kept it a secret, this servant naturally assumed you did not want your master's existence revealed to the Patriarch just yet!" Xiao Xuan stared at the boy for a moment. A satisfied smile spread across his face.

"Hmm. Good," Xiao Xuan praised.

"You may leave." I hit the jackpot with this guy, Xiao Xuan thought as Wei Tu bowed and exited the room. Not only is he fiercely loyal, but he is also highly competent! As long as the remaining people from the auction room don't publicly bring up my 'hidden master', I can keep this facade, to save myself from trouble. The heavy door clicked shut, leaving Xiao Xuan alone in the quiet room. However, just outside in the dimly lit corridor, a shadow quickly peeled itself away from the wall.

A petite maid stared at Wei Tu's retreating figure, and then back at the closed door of Xiao Xuan's room, her eyes wide. A hidden master?! Without making a single sound, the maid quickly turned on her heel and vanished into the shadows of the corridor.