C17 I Won't Talk Anymore

Chapter Seventeen: No More Words Needed

Ye Zonglei pointed an accusing finger at Ye Tian, his expression twisting into something fierce. To onlookers, his reverence for Zuo Qiu seemed to have reached its zenith.

This was all a calculated move by Ye Zonglei. His goal was to make Ye Tian embarrass himself beyond redemption and strip him of his right to attend the class. Once the class was over, not even Zi Hanyue would be able to spare him.

The other students watched Ye Tian, most with a sense of schadenfreude. A minority sympathized with his plight, yet understood the rationale behind the action.

"Go stand in that corner," Ye Zonglei commanded, pointing to the room's edge. "After Elder Zuo's lesson, I'll report today's incident to both the principal and your instructor!"

Ye Tian complied without protest. Regardless of his innocence, Ye Zonglei was bound to target him.

As the appointed time arrived, Zuo Qiu gracefully made his entrance, clad in the regal long robe of the Heavenly Pill Alliance, its chest adorned with three pill-patterned embroideries signifying his esteemed status.

Ye Zonglei, seizing the moment, hurried over to Zuo Qiu and bowed deeply in respect.

"Elder Zuo, I am your disciple, Ye Zonglei, and I have eagerly awaited this moment. I am here to absorb your teachings on pill refining and broaden my knowledge," he said, his flattery evident.

At the mention of his name, Zuo Qiu's eyebrows gave a slight twitch—Ye Chengfeng had previously spoken of Ye Zonglei. Zuo Qiu instructed him to raise his head, but his initial intrigue quickly faded.

He vividly remembered his encounter with Ye Tian and recognized his features well. The Ye Zonglei before him was clearly not the prodigy he had met earlier. Upon confirming that Ye Zonglei was indeed a scion of the Ye family, Zuo Qiu realized that the Ye family's alchemical prodigy had been kept a deep secret.

In fact, it seemed the Ye family was unaware of the higher caliber genius in their midst.

"Alright, return to your seat. We're about to begin the lesson," Zuo Qiu said, dismissing him with a casual wave. Though he hadn't found the elusive genius he sought, he recognized that Ye Zonglei possessed a commendable aptitude.

"Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Zuo Qiu, a representative from the Heavenly Pill Alliance's Luoshui City branch. It is a great honor to have the opportunity to teach such a talented group of young people today!"

Zuo Qiu took his place at the lectern, and with a modest nod of acknowledgment, was met with a resounding applause from the students below.

Opportunities like this were rare, and Zuo Qiu's renown for his pill refining skills in Luoshui City was second to none, earning him deep admiration from the crowd.

Although Zuo Qiu maintained a composed exterior in the face of the students' adoration, internally he was quite pleased. He was eager to seize this moment to impart the art of pill refining to as many as possible.

As the students' calls filled the room, Ye Tian, tucked away in a corner, shifted his gaze toward Zuo Qiu. By sheer coincidence, their eyes met.

Zuo Qiu was thunderstruck at the sight of Ye Tian; the prodigy he had been searching for had appeared before him in the most unexpected way.

Ye Tian's presence made Zuo Qiu's original intentions for the visit seem trivial. He abruptly rose from the podium and left, leaving the students below in a state of confusion.

Why would Zuo Qiu, a master of his craft, step away from teaching? Could it be that he was planning an interactive session with them?

Ye Zonglei, who was particularly invested in the lecture, grew anxious as he watched Zuo Qiu's trajectory lead straight to Ye Tian.

"Master, I never imagined I'd find you here. Do you realize how long I've been searching for you?" Zuo Qiu approached Ye Tian with a look of fervent excitement.

"What do you want with me?" Ye Tian asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Ye Tian, the audacity! Elder Zuo is speaking to you, and yet you show such disrespect!" Ye Zonglei, despite sensing a prior acquaintance between Zuo Qiu and Ye Tian, bellowed at Ye Tian in a display of extreme reverence.

Zuo Qiu's face darkened instantly.

His once warm demeanor turned icy, and the atmosphere around him seemed to chill with his mood.

"Insolence! Who gave you permission to speak so carelessly?" Zuo Qiu's voice was icy, betraying a desire to silence Ye Zonglei then and there.

"Do you even realize who you're speaking to, you fool?"

Ye Zonglei quivered in fear, utterly perplexed.

Nobody was aware of the exact nature of Zuo Qiu's relationship with Ye Tian, yet such words made Ye Zonglei too afraid to utter another peep.

He racked his brain trying to figure out how Ye Tian could have possibly become acquainted with Zuo Qiu, but couldn't find any mutual connections. His face grew increasingly grim.

Zuo Qiu noticed the clear animosity between Ye Tian and Ye Zonglei and saw an opening. If he could keep Ye Tian happy, perhaps he could learn more secrets of pill refinement from him.

"Master, why stand? It must be exhausting. Please, take a seat!"

Zuo Qiu's respectful address towards Ye Tian only added to the other students' astonishment.

"I've been stripped of my privilege to attend the lesson. Please, continue teaching them and don't let me be a distraction."

Ye Tian declined with a shake of his head.

"Who would dare make Master Ye stand as punishment?! Forget the lesson—I'm not teaching today!"

Zuo Qiu's sweeping gaze over the students, coupled with his refusal to teach, sent a wave of concern through them. Now, as they were tasked with finding the one who had punished Ye Tian, their eyes inevitably settled on Ye Zonglei.

With no escape, Ye Zonglei awkwardly rose and approached Zuo Qiu, bowing his head.

"Elder Zuo, I'm responsible. Ye Tian was out of line, arriving late on such a crucial day!"

Ye Zonglei hastily presented Ye Tian's supposed offense, prompting nothing more than a dismissive chuckle from Zuo Qiu.

Late? It was clear to Zuo Qiu that Ye Zonglei was just looking for trouble.

If Ye Zonglei's antics were the cause of Ye Tian's ire, Zuo Qiu felt an urge to smack the scoundrel right then and there.

"Regardless of the reason, apologize to Master Ye this instant!"

Zuo Qiu demanded, pointing at Ye Zonglei, his command leaving everyone speechless.