Chapter 118: Perhaps I Was Mistaken

"Are you willing to swear on your character and dignity that there was no deception in the question you just asked?"

As soon as Qin Anyi posed this question, Zhao Hongnan's expression darkened significantly. He said with a hateful tone, "Student, this is the greatest insult to an excellent teacher who has been on the front lines of education for over a decade! I cannot help but wonder what kind of wretched existence someone with your character and quality will become once you enter society! Our principal once said that if a person's character is flawed, no matter how capable they are, it cannot change the fact that they are a scoundrel!"

Facing Zhao Hongnan's stern and indignant accusations, Qin Anyi maintained a constant, gentle smile. He asked calmly, "Teacher Zhao Hongnan, I only ask if you dare or do not dare to swear."

Zhao Hongnan's face flickered through several expressions, and his chest heaved violently; he was clearly furious. Yet, strangely, the elderly principal of the Experimental High School remained silent, showing no intention of intervening in the situation.

"Fine! If you want a vow, you shall have it! I want to see what else you have to say! But remember this, student! You will be held responsible for your actions today!" Zhao Hongnan gritted his teeth and nodded.

It was just an oath, nothing more. What could it possibly matter? Heaven is indifferent, treating all things as straw dogs; only a fool would truly believe in the weight of an oath.

"I, Zhao Hongnan, swear on my character and dignity that the questioning process just now was absolutely fair. If there is any falsehood, may the heavens forsake me!"

After making the gesture of an oath, Zhao Hongnan glared at Qin Anyi with bloodshot eyes and shouted, "Now, what else do you have to say?"

"Clap, clap, clap, clap." Qin Anyi began to applaud leisurely, smiling. "Teacher Zhao's heart is as pure as crystal, his sincerity truly admirable." He even bowed slightly as he spoke.

"Hmph! It is too late for regrets now! No matter what you say, I will go to your school to demand an explanation! What kind of teaching flow does Changqing No. 1 High School have to produce a student like you!" Zhao Hongnan declared sharply. His anger was still burning; provoked by Qin Anyi, he felt no sense of wrongdoing. With such an arrogant student before him, who else should he discipline?

"Regrets are unnecessary. However, I have one point of confusion, and I ask that Teacher Zhao enlighten me. If you can resolve this doubt, I will personally kneel and kowtow before you in front of the thousands of teachers and students in this auditorium to apologize," Qin Anyi said, his face showing a well-timed look of confusion, as if he truly could not grasp something.

"Hmph! Speak! I want to see what else you can possibly say!" Zhao Hongnan sneered.

"It is like this, Teacher Zhao. In the database of one hundred and thirty-two thousand questions for the knowledge competition, the question you just asked—regarding which animal the term 'pusuo mili' from the *Ballad of Mulan* refers to—does not exist at all. I am very curious as to where the question displayed on the tablet in your hand came from? Could it be..."

The principal of the Experimental High School nodded in agreement. Shortly after, someone opened a computer, connected it to the large screen in the auditorium, and began a search of the question bank.

"P-Principal... this... the competition has already been delayed for a long time. It would be better to proceed; we can investigate this matter after the competition," Zhao Hongnan said, his face deathly pale, his voice trembling uncontrollably. That rabbit question was something he had made up on the spot. If it really wasn't in the database... having been caught using dishonorable means to frame a contestant in front of everyone, he would have no place left at the Experimental High School.

"A clear conscience needs no defense, Teacher Zhao. Why are you trying to stop it? If the question is indeed there, it will only clear your name. Isn't that a good thing?" Qin Anyi said flatly.

Standing on the stage, Zhao Hongnan was already panicked and made no reaction to Qin Anyi's sarcasm. He simply turned around, staring fixedly at the large screen, his heart screaming, *Find it, find it! You must find it!*

Zhao Hongnan's reaction had already aroused the suspicion of almost everyone in the auditorium. After all, if he hadn't tampered with anything, he should have been brimming with confidence. Instead, he gave the impression of someone with a guilty conscience.

Because the database was so vast, the search process took about five minutes. When the words "No search results" appeared clearly on the large screen, Zhao Hongnan couldn't help but let out a sharp cry: "Impossible! Search again! It must be there!"

However, no matter how he shouted, the person operating the computer remained motionless. At this moment, every eye in the auditorium, save for Wang Fei's, looked at him with a strange expression.

Zhao Hongnan swallowed hard and turned around shakily, suddenly feeling as if his body were immensely heavy. Sometimes in life, one cannot afford to take the wrong path, because many mistakes, once committed, cannot be undone.

"I... it is possible that I was mistaken... perhaps it wasn't 'pusuo mili', maybe it was another question," Zhao Hongnan stammered, still making a final, futile effort.