Caught 

Juanxiu, along with the other six students, went together to the alchemy room for their second class. The room was old and dimly lit, with cobwebs in the corners and a musty smell that hung in the air. The tools on the shelves were outdated and rusted, a testament to the neglect the room had received over the years.

Despite the gloomy atmosphere, the seven students were lively and engaged in conversation, particularly Ban Zhao, who was eagerly discussing a recent breakthrough he had made in his personal alchemy experiments. Juanxiu listened attentively, fascinated by the young man's passion and drive.

Just as the conversation was getting heated, the alchemy professor, Zeng Renshu, entered the room. He was a middle-aged man, around fifty years old, with the smell of herbs and drugs trapped in his robe. He greeted the students with a curt nod before getting straight to business, launching into a lecture on the fundamentals of alchemy.

As he looked around the room, he noticed a new face among the students. "Who are you?" he asked.

"I am Juanxiu, a new student," Juanxiu replied.

Ban Zhao couldn't contain herself and exclaimed, "Professor, Juanxiu is the disciple of Alchemist Li!"

Zeng Renshu raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Is that so? Well, we have quite the talented group of students this year," he said with a hint of excitement in his voice. "Now, let's continue with today's lesson on alchemy."

Zeng Renshu continued his lecture with a flourish of his hand, producing a small vial filled with a murky green liquid. "Now, students, let us begin with the basics of mixing poisonous herbs. The first ingredient we have here is the hemlock root, which is known for its ability to induce respiratory paralysis."

He held up a small root, showing its gnarled and twisted shape. "It is important to note that this root must be harvested during the autumn season, as that is when its potency is at its highest. We must also make sure to dry it properly, as improper drying can reduce its potency."

He then moved on to the next ingredient, a small, unassuming flower. "This is the Wolfsbane flower, which is a powerful poison that causes hallucinations and death. It is important to only use a small amount of this flower, as too much can be deadly."

As Zeng Renshu continued his lecture, Juanxiu listened attentively, taking note of each ingredient and how they were prepared. However, as the professor moved on to discussing the mixing process, Juanxiu noticed something was amiss.

As Juanxiu raised his hand to speak, the other six students looked at him with surprise. This was the first time they had seen someone speak up to the professor during a lecture. Zeng Renshu raised an eyebrow, curious about what the new student had to say.

"Excuse me, Professor Zeng," Juanxiu spoke up. "I believe there may be a mistake in your mixing process. You've mentioned that the hemlock root should be added after the Wolfsbane flower, but it seems to me that it will affect the efficacy of the product."

Zeng Renshu frowned and looked at Juanxiu with surprise. "Really? I've been teaching this process for over twenty years and no one has ever pointed out such a mistake. Are you sure?"

"If I may, I would like to suggest an alternative method that I believe would produce a more potent result."

Zeng Renshu looked skeptical but nodded in agreement. "Very well, Juanxiu. Please explain your method."

Juanxiu took a deep breath and began to explain in detail, using precise language and a thorough understanding of alchemy. He described how the ingredients should be mixed, in what order, and for how long. As he spoke, the other students listened intently, fascinated by his knowledge and impressed by his confidence.

Once Juanxiu finished his explanation, Zeng Renshu nodded slowly. "I see," he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Your method does make sense. Let us try it and see if the results are as you predict."

With Juanxiu's guidance, the class mixed the ingredients according to his instructions. As they worked, the other students watched with anticipation, eager to see if Juanxiu's method would really work.

Finally, they finished, and Zeng Renshu examined the finished product with a critical eye. "Interesting," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What is it, Professor?" Li Bai asked.

"It's stronger," Zeng Renshu said, holding up the vial of potion. "By about 16%. Juanxiu, you have a keen eye for alchemy. I look forward to seeing what else you can teach us."

As the alchemy lesson ended, the students moved to the next classroom, the blacksmithing workshop. The room was even hotter than the previous one, with molten metal, flames, and sparks flying around. The students were greeted by a muscular woman with short hair, wearing a leather apron and holding a large hammer. Her name was Chen Rong, and she was the blacksmithing instructor.

Juanxiu watched closely as she demonstrated how to shape a piece of iron using a hammer and anvil. He could see that the other students were struggling to keep up.

During the blacksmithing lesson, Chen Rong was demonstrating how to shape metal into a sword. As she was hammering away at the hot metal, Juanxiu noticed a flaw in the technique she was using. He hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should speak up in front of the other students and their teacher.

But after a moment of contemplation, Juanxiu decided to share his observation. "Excuse me, teacher," he said respectfully, "I think there's a more efficient way to shape the metal. If you don't mind, may I demonstrate?"

Chen Rong glared at him with a raised eyebrow. "Oh really? And what makes you think you can handle blacksmithing? Look at you, you're so small and frail."

Juanxiu remained calm and composed, unfazed by Chen Rong's harsh words. "I may not look like it, but I have some knowledge and experience in blacksmithing. I would be honored if you allow me to try."

Chen Rong scoffed. "Fine, let's see what you can do. But don't expect me to go easy on you." She looked at him intently waiting for Juanxiu to commit a mistake.

Juanxiu stepped up to the anvil and began to shape the metal using his own method. The other students watched intently as he worked, and even Chen Rong couldn't help but be impressed by the precision and speed of his technique.

When he finished, there was a moment of silence as everyone took in the newly shaped piece of metal. Then, Zhang Heng broke the silence. "Wow," he exclaimed. "That's amazing. How did you come up with that technique?"

Juanxiu smiled modestly. "It's just something I learned from the Zeng clan," he said. "They always emphasized the importance of efficiency in blacksmithing."

Chen Rong's eyes widened in surprise. "The Zeng Clan? From Tiger Quarry?" she asked incredulously.

Juanxiu simply nodded, not elaborating any further that these people already moved to the Valley of Hope.

"The Zeng Clan is renowned for their blacksmithing skills," Chen Rong remarked, still in disbelief. "To think that you learned from them. You truly are a remarkable student, Juanxiu."

Juanxiu had a secret agenda in attending the school. He knew that in order to accomplish his true mission, he needed to gain the trust of the professors and the principal. He wanted to be seen as an asset to the school, someone who was dedicated and hardworking.

Juanxiu was well aware of the fact that his true purpose might not be well-received by everyone, especially those who had their own hidden agendas. So, he had to be careful and not let anyone suspect his true motives.

As he went through his daily routine of attending classes and studying, Juanxiu was always observing those around him, trying to decipher if these poeple could be trusted. He knew that his grandpa had warned him not to trust anyone easily, and he took those words to heart.

…...

The sun slowly dipped beneath the horizon, casting long shadows over the campus. Juanxiu strode alongside his companions - Zhang Heng, Li Bai, Liu Xie, and Yan Zhenqing, their animated chatter filling the air. The old building groaned under their weight, its walls and floors riddled with cracks and signs of wear.

Entering the shared sleeping quarters, Juanxiu took a moment to survey the peeling wallpaper and creaky beds. Despite the school's less than ideal facilities, he was improved on the camaraderie of people here. As his roommates began to settle in for the night, Juanxiu remained deep in thought, determined to find a solution to a particularly vexing problem.

Hours passed, and the room grew quiet as his companions drifted off to sleep. With a sudden resolve, Juanxiu slipped out of his bed, determined to spend the rest of the night working on his purpose.

The moon hung low in the sky as Juanxiu slipped silently out of bed. He had been restless all day, unable to shake the feeling that something was amiss. And now, as he moved through the sleeping quarters, he knew what he had to do.

He was going to search for evidence to help him find his missing father.

He moved through the darkened halls with ease, his footsteps soft and his movements precise. With his training in the tower, he knew how to move in the darkness without being seen. As he approached the principal's room, he felt a surge of apprehension. What if he was caught? What if he found nothing?

But he pushed those thoughts aside, knowing that he had to press on. He crept up to the door and pressed his ear against the wood, listening for any sounds within.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, he heard the sound of someone moving. He froze, his heart pounding in his chest.

But he knew that he had to act quickly. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a set of lockpicks, quickly and expertly unlocking the door.

Juanxiu crept through the dark office, his eyes scanning every inch of the space for any clue that might lead him to his father. He opened cabinet after cabinet, flipping through ledger after ledger, searching for any scrap of information that could be of use to him.

As he rifled through the files, his heart racing with anticipation, he suddenly heard a faint rustling noise behind him. He whirled around, his hand reaching for his hidden blade, but saw nothing in the darkness.

"Who's there?" he called out, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Silence answered him, and he slowly turned back to his search. But just as he reached for another file, he felt a presence behind him. He spun around once more, only to find Professor Peng Gui standing in the shadows.

"What are you doing here, Juanxiu?" the professor asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Juanxiu froze, his mind racing. How could he explain his presence here without revealing his true purpose?

"I, uh, I was just looking for some extra study materials," he stammered, hoping that the professor would believe his lie.

But Peng Gui was not easily fooled. He stepped forward, his face inches from Juanxiu's own.

"You're lying," he said, his voice cold as ice. "What are you really doing here?"

Juanxiu took a deep breath, steeling himself for the confrontation to come. He could not afford to show weakness now.

"I'm looking for information about my father," he said firmly. "He disappeared months ago, and my grandfather mentioned this university in case something awry happened."

Peng Gui's face softened when he realized that Juanxiu was the grandson of his long-time friend, Hao Chanming. "I knew it was fishy when someone as talented as you decided to enter this rundown school," he sighed. "So Shunyuan is missing," Peng Gui said, his voice tinged with concern.

Juanxiu corrected him, "No, my father is Jiming, not Shunyuan."

Peng Gui looked surprised, "Jiming doesn't have a son," he said, shaking his head in confusion.

Juanxiu's heart sank at the realization that Peng Gui may not know anything about his father's disappearance. He froze in shock as Principal Peng Gui spoke those words. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Peng Gui's expression turned grim as he continued, "I knew your grandfather, Hao Chanming. We were good friends back in the day. But he never mentioned that Jiming got married."