Chapter 21
Even though he knew that Zheng Fa would never become his disciple, teaching a good student always brought him joy.
On the other hand, he felt that having someone like Gao Yuan around would only serve to motivate Zheng Fa even more.
The other guy might not be as talented, but he trained harder than you.
Are you feeling anxious?
In fact, even if he called a few of his direct disciples over today, it would feel a bit excessive.
Just having Gao Yuan around was enough to keep this kid from underestimating anyone in the world!
He had already thought about how to give Zheng Fa a wake-up call when Zheng Fa's performance fell short of Gao Yuan's.
“Hmm?” Coach Xu looked at Zheng Fa, who was lost in his own world while practicing the Songhe Stance, then glanced back at his own disciples, a hint of uncertainty on his face.
The disciples also looked a bit surprised.
They all realized that Zheng Fa had already grasped the basics of the Songhe Stance.
Coach Xu extended his finger, counting one by one, and asked Gao Yuan beside him, “One day, two days, three days. I’ll hand over the complete Songhe Stance to you two in just three days, right?”
Gao Yuan nodded.
“So he’s already in?” Coach Xu pointed at Zheng Fa, continuing to question Gao Yuan with a hint of skepticism, “Your dad is so generous, did he give him special treatment too?”
Gao Yuan: … I’m an only child!
---
**Chapter 24: Jealousy**
Coach Xu had just said it casually, but he immediately realized it was impossible.
Zheng Fa’s background was crystal clear.
Even the tonics Gao Yuan consumed daily were quite expensive; given his family’s financial situation, supporting Gao Yuan alone was already a stretch.
And now, adding Zheng Fa into the mix?
Gao Yuan is his biological son; who is Zheng Fa?
Forget about Gao Yuan’s father; even if Coach Xu were to take Zheng Fa as a disciple in the future, he wouldn’t be willing to spend that much on training.
Zheng Fa stood in the stance for a long time, and when he finally opened his eyes, he saw Coach Xu looking at him with a complex expression.
That look was akin to breaking open a piggy bank only to find a fortune that didn’t belong to you—surprise mixed with confusion.
After a long silence, Coach Xu finally spoke, “It seems you not only have good roots but also excellent comprehension.”
Zheng Fa heard this and remained expressionless.
He knew very well how he had achieved such rapid progress.
His comprehension might be decent; at least he didn’t find any difficulties in practicing the Songhe Stance, but it was nowhere near as impressive as Coach Xu thought.
What truly allowed him to surpass Gao Yuan was the seven days of training in the modern world, along with the relatively abundant nutrition he received.
Seeing him so calm, Coach Xu nodded slightly, feeling more and more that this kid had a precious temperament.
The more he thought this way, the more he felt a sense of regret, fearing that Zheng Fa might harbor even a hint of arrogance.
“Ahem! When I say you’re good, it’s in comparison to ordinary people. You should know that the Songhe Stance is merely an introductory stance; you’re just starting out in martial arts!” He couldn’t help but start to admonish Zheng Fa, “You must understand, our Xuanwei Realm is never short of geniuses; it’s not uncommon to master the Songhe Stance in three days!”
After saying this, he exchanged glances with his disciples behind him.
The young men immediately chimed in.
“Right! I mastered it in five days! Not as quick as you, but the Songhe Stance is really simple!”
“…”
Coach Xu looked at him, vaguely remembering that this kid, who had decent roots, took half a month to master it back then.
“Three days is nothing; I also took three days! It’s not a big deal.”
Coach Xu watched as this disciple, who also took half a month to master it, patted his chest, looking nonchalant.
“I… I…” The first disciple to speak, who was also Coach Xu’s nephew, raised a finger, thought for a moment, felt a bit embarrassed, and then raised another, “Two days! I mastered it in two days!”
The others looked at him with disdain in their eyes.
This guy really knows how to brag!
Everyone knows you took ten days!
“Ahem, see?” Coach Xu cleared his throat, not daring to look at his disciples, and turned to Zheng Fa with a serious expression, “These few are still my least capable disciples.”
The young men all turned to look at Coach Xu’s unashamedly dark face.
Their eyes seemed to say: It’s all thanks to you!
Zheng Fa felt a bit strange; after all, his roots were judged to be excellent by Coach Xu, and he had the advantage of seven extra days of training.
How could he still not measure up to these guys?
But then he thought, the Xuanwei Realm is indeed a place where there are extraordinary beings beyond mere mortals.
Having excellent roots might just be average here, right?
Moreover, he truly hadn’t expected Coach Xu to be so “thoughtful.”
After assessing the martial arts progress of the two, Coach Xu let them leave.
As Zheng Fa bid farewell to Coach Xu, he noticed that Gao Yuan looked gloomy and didn’t wait for him. Zheng Fa caught up and walked alongside him, but Gao Yuan’s gaze was fixed on the small stones on the ground, not even glancing at him.
Zheng Fa sighed softly in his heart.
Gao Yuan wasn’t a bad person, but he had always been comparing himself to Zheng Fa, whether intentionally or not.
Today’s assessment, with Zheng Fa mastering the Songhe Stance, probably dealt him a blow. From the sidelong glances Gao Yuan shot him, Zheng Fa could faintly sense some jealousy.
---
As lunchtime approached, Gao Yuan went out as usual.
Zheng Fa stayed in the room, silently reciting the modern study materials. But by the time the sun reached its zenith and began to tilt, Gao Yuan still hadn’t returned, which was unusual.
It wasn’t until two hours later that a sweaty Gao Yuan slowly walked back to their quarters.
He returned empty-handed, having brought no food for Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa glanced at his sunburned face and the beads of sweat on his forehead, realizing he had been training again, this time for longer and with more intensity than usual.
As for lunch…
Zheng Fa didn’t ask, but he knew he wouldn’t be getting any from Gao Yuan anymore.
He stood up and walked toward the door. Gao Yuan looked at him with a complex expression, and as they brushed past each other, Zheng Fa stopped in his tracks:
“Thank you.”
“Hmm?”
Gao Yuan looked puzzled.
“Thanks for bringing me meals these past few days.”
Zheng Fa’s expression was sincere, but Gao Yuan’s discomfort only grew.
“It’s no big deal; I won’t be doing it anymore…”
“Still, I need to thank you for what you did before,” Zheng Fa said earnestly.
“…”
Zheng Fa smiled at Gao Yuan and stepped out the door, feeling Gao Yuan’s gaze lingering on his back.
He made his way to the Zhao family’s large kitchen, realizing it was already quite late for lunch.
“Why are you so late?” the cook in the kitchen asked impatiently.
Zheng Fa smiled apologetically and explained, “I got held up with some things.”
“Here, this is all that’s left. Who told you not to come earlier?”
Zheng Fa looked at the food the cook handed him.
The rice was cold, and the vegetables were all wilted and lifeless, lacking even a hint of meat.
Zheng Fa said nothing, took the food, and found a deserted corridor to sit on the railing, slowly eating while gazing at the red clouds in the sky.
In the following days, Gao Yuan indeed stopped bringing him meals.
Zheng Fa noticed that the food from the large kitchen was not as good as what Gao Yuan had brought him before.
Not only was there significantly less meat, but the presentation was also lacking, and the taste was far inferior.
Zheng Fa quickly understood; after all, Gao Yuan was the son of the steward and had his own standing in the large kitchen.
The meals he brought were likely prepared by the head chef there.
As for Zheng Fa?
As the seventh young master’s servant, he certainly wouldn’t go hungry, but the special treatment he had received before was no longer an option.
---
One morning, Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan were once again “standing punishment” outside the seventh young master’s study.
The seventh young master was still inside, poring over a book filled with so-called talismans. When he seemed to tire of reading, he lifted his gaze toward Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he had discovered something amusing.
“You two, come in!”
Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan exchanged glances, unsure why the seventh young master suddenly called for them today.
“Have you two… fallen out?”
The seventh young master wore a look of someone enjoying a show, while Gao Yuan pursed his lips and remained silent.
Zheng Fa, however, showed no change in expression.
“Just so you know, I thought about it, and it wouldn’t be right to kick you both out. I still need a servant by my side!” The seventh young master smiled broadly, extending a finger, “Remember, it’s just one servant. If you two get too close, I might feel bad!”
Zheng Fa clearly heard Gao Yuan’s breath quicken beside him, and he gently clenched his fists.
Looking at the seventh young master, his smile grew increasingly malicious.
---
**Chapter 25: Two Notes**
Zheng Fa looked at the seventh young master’s face, which was filled with amusement.
Casting a glance at the silent Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan, the seventh young master stood up, lazily clapping his hands and said, “You two discuss it; I’ll come back later.”
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