Chapter 765: Negotiating Terms

"Pfft!"

Luo Qiqi nearly fainted, unable to catch her breath.

However, being sharp-witted, she understood his meaning in a blink, a wry smile on her pretty face.

This teacher of hers was good in every way, except that sometimes his ideas were so bizarre that she found them both amusing and exasperating.

"Xuan Xuan?" Hu Yaoyao on the side was still confused, looking dazed.

"He is my alchemy teacher, Zhang Xuan!" Luo Qiqi quickly replied, afraid of misunderstanding.

"Zhang Xuan? You're the freshman who ruined business for many of our societies?"

Hearing the name, Hu Yaoyao finally reacted. Her dark eyes flashed, and a half-smile appeared on her flawless face, as if she wanted to scrutinize this fellow to see what was so special about him that he had put so many seniors on the defensive.

It could be said that in all the years since the Master Teacher Academy was founded, no freshman had ever broken the rules so thoroughly upon arrival, leaving countless societies without earning a single coin.

After staring for a while, she found that this young man had an honest gaze and a simple appearance, completely different from the rumors, and couldn't help feeling curious.

"You just said... he's your alchemy teacher? What's going on?"

She turned to look at Luo Qiqi.

This Luo Qiqi was also on the school beauty list, and though her current ranking might be lower, it wasn't because she wasn't pretty, but because she was younger and less cultivated, lacking that femme fatale aura.

Given time to grow, it was foreseeable that surpassing her was only a matter of time.

Thus, she had noticed this girl early on.

That such an outstanding person would call this Zhang Xuan her alchemy teacher was astonishing.

"Teacher Zhang taught me alchemy!" Luo Qiqi nodded, not dwelling on the topic. "Since you know the location of Senior Wu Yangzi's former residence, could you kindly inform us? If it's confirmed true, I will exchange it for two credits."

"Two credits? I don't need them."

Seeing she didn't want to talk, Hu Yaoyao knew pressing further would be pointless and shook her head.

"Don't need?" Luo Qiqi frowned.

The Help Tower was a form of transaction; since you accepted the task, you acknowledged the reward. What did 'don't need' mean?

"Yes, I can tell you where Senior Wu Yangzi's former residence is, but... you must tell me why you're going to such lengths to find this place!"

Fingering a strand of hair on her chest, Hu Yaoyao looked over with a smile.

Wu Yangzi had vanished over two thousand years ago; his residence had changed hands countless times over the years, and any treasures would have long been looted.

That Luo Qiqi would spend two credits just for information made her very curious, wanting to know why.

"That, I'm afraid I can't say."

Luo Qiqi shook her head.

Wu Yangzi was the most famous grandmaster of artifact refinement in the history of the Hongyuan Empire, and the treasures he had collected in his lifetime were invaluable.

If this news got out, not only would they be unable to keep it, even Dean Zhao might not be able to withstand the pressure.

"Oh?"

Seeing her refusal, Hu Yaoyao paused, then her eyes rolled. "If you won't say... then you don't agree to the deal, and I won't tell you the location of the residence. To be honest, only I know this place. If you don't deal with me, you won't find it even if you search through all the academy's books!"

"Then there's no deal." Luo Qiqi refused.

After speaking, she glanced at Zhang Xuan, and seeing him nod, she cupped her fists. "Sorry to bother you, senior. We'll take our leave."

With that, she and Zhang Xuan walked out of the pavilion.

The matter of Wu Yangzi's treasure was not to be disclosed; that was the bottom line.

They would rather give up finding the residence than reveal it.

"Wait..."

Seeing they would rather abandon the deal than speak, Hu Yaoyao's bright red lips curled into another smile. "Since you really don't want to say, I'll change the terms."

"I'm listening." Luo Qiqi stopped.

"How about this... This Zhang Xuan has offended me. If you hand him over to me, I'll take you to Wu Yangzi's residence."

Hu Yaoyao said.

"Hand him over to you?"

Her brows furrowed, and Luo Qiqi's face darkened. "Hu Yaoyao, I respect you as a senior and have been polite. But you insult my teacher—what do you mean by that?"

She had already introduced Zhang Xuan as her teacher, yet the other still demanded she hand him over; it was a direct slap in the face.

A teacher for a day is a father for life.

If a student couldn't even protect her teacher's dignity, what right did she have to live?

"Oh... don't misunderstand. Although Zhang Xuan is your teacher, he's also a freshman in the academy... I was too abrupt just now."

Realizing her words had been problematic, Hu Yaoyao quickly apologized, her expression turning serious.

On the Master Continent, the tradition of teacher-disciple inheritance was highly valued, and the status of 'teacher' was extremely high.

Heaven, Earth, parents, teacher, sovereign.

Beneath Heaven and Earth, a teacher's status rivaled that of one's parents, even ranking above the sovereign.

She had only thought that this Zhang Xuan was a first-year freshman, but forgot that he was Luo Qiqi's teacher. Insulting a teacher in front of a student was a grave disrespect.

As a master teacher, deliberately committing such an offense would greatly damage her reputation if word got out.

After speaking, she looked at Zhang Xuan not far away: "Master Zhang, since you appeared with Luo Qiqi, you must also want to know the location of Senior Wu Yangzi's former residence... If you agree to my terms, I'll tell you where it is. How about it?"

"Terms? What terms?"

Not expecting this girl to have designs on him, Zhang Xuan smiled amiably, looking very sincere.

"Simple. You ruined the Monster Society's chance to make money. As long as you agree to join us and help earn one hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones within a year, I'll tell you what you want to know."

Hu Yaoyao smiled.

"Monster Society?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback. "Is this your society?"

Many fifth-year seniors in the academy formed societies. He had heard of the Monster Society before but found it odd. From this girl's tone, it seemed she was involved.

"Hu Yaoyao, her name contains 'yao,' and she's a stunning beauty like a seductress, so... her society calls itself the Monster Society!" Seeing her teacher didn't understand, Luo Qiqi transmitted her voice.

"Correct!" Seeing that this guy didn't even know, Hu Yaoyao was a bit speechless.

Not even knowing who the president was, yet daring to offend so many societies—this guy really had guts.

"Oh!"

Only then did he understand. Zhang Xuan nodded and looked at the girl not far away, whose alluring figure made one's breath quicken after a moment's gaze: "I have no interest in joining a society... As for earning money, I don't even have one hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones myself... How can I earn them for you? Change the terms!"

He was the kind of person who considered it a loss if he didn't pick up money while walking. Asking him for money—what a joke!

"Change the terms? Fine!" Stretching lazily, Hu Yaoyao outlined a moving, graceful curve: "Be my servant for a year, and I'll forgive you for offending our Monster Society, and I'll also tell you about Wu Yangzi's former residence."

"Servant?"

Zhang Xuan was speechless. This woman was getting more naive and more pleased with herself.

Shaking his head: "I wouldn't even want you as my maidservant, yet you dare to think of me as your servant..."

He was telling the truth. She was just pretty, but compared to Luo Ruoxi, she was far inferior by countless miles.

Such a person—he wouldn't even agree to her being his maidservant, yet she wanted him to be her servant. What a dreamer.

"Then there's no deal... I hope you can find the place yourselves!"

Seeing that this guy not only refused but also said she wouldn't be good enough as a maidservant, Hu Yaoyao's pretty face flushed with anger, and she flicked her jade hand.

She was a proud daughter of heaven, with high talent and beauty, pursued by countless master teachers, always arrogant. She thought taking him as a servant was already giving him face, but this guy was so ungrateful.

Utterly unappreciative.

With that, she turned her delicate body, stamped her foot on the hall floor, and shot straight into the distance.

Her cultivation had reached the ninth level of Mortal Transformation, the Silkworm Seal stage. Her power spread like a flowing ribbon, her figure like lightning, and in the blink of an eye, she vanished before the two of them.

The Monster Society was one of the larger societies in the Master Teacher Academy. As its president, she lacked neither credits nor spirit stones.

The reason she wanted Zhang Xuan to join them or be her servant was that this guy had made the seniors lose face. If she succeeded, she would surely gain fame and be envied by countless people.

But... this guy was ungrateful.

As the dignified president of the Monster Society, a ninth-level Mortal Transformation powerhouse, and a fifth-year student, a direct refusal meant no further discussion.

Seeing her leave, Luo Qiqi looked at him: "She's the president of the Monster Society. I heard that this time, to compile the staff records, she spent a great deal of effort but got nothing. She must hold a grudge against you... She intended to humiliate you just now. I hope you won't take it to heart..."

"It's fine!"

Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan smiled: "She's arrogant enough. Let me handle it. I'll find a way to make her willingly tell me the location of Wu Yangzi's former residence!"

"You'll handle it?"

Luo Qiqi frowned: "Hu Yaoyao is extremely proud and cunning. Getting her to tell you—I'm afraid it will be very difficult..."

This Hu Yaoyao was extremely proud and also quite sly. Many who sought trouble with her ended up suffering greatly.

For the teacher to make her willingly reveal the location of Wu Yangzi's former residence... that would be very difficult!

"It's fine. Go back to my residence in the elite district and wait. I'll be back soon."

With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan gave his instructions, then leaped forward, activating his Insight Eye to follow the traces left by Hu Yaoyao.

Since the Monster Society already held a grudge against him, no matter what he did, the relationship couldn't be mended. He might as well try other methods, which might yield different results.

"Teacher..."

Seeing Zhang Xuan turn and leave, Luo Qiqi was startled and quickly called out: "Senior Yaoyao is from the Startling Swan Academy... They excel in soul attacks. Be careful!"

But as she shouted, Zhang Xuan had already gone far, likely not hearing her at all.