Chapter 24
“Both my sister and I have dual spiritual roots. According to the rules of the Qingmu Sect, our Zhao family is allowed to have two slots for dual spiritual roots…”
The Seventh Young Master’s voice was low and heavy.
“But back then, there was only one, just like the dilemma you presented to Zheng Fa and the others.”
“And the other one? Was it taken away by our great-grandfather?”
“Fan’er! You hold a grudge against me, but I am your mother, and I can tolerate you!” The lady rose from the couch. “But your great-grandfather is a Golden Core cultivator; how can a junior like you dare to offend him?”
“I wouldn’t dare.” The Seventh Young Master lowered his head.
The lady’s tone softened a bit. “I am the least favored grandchild of your great-grandfather, so I don’t have much dignity in front of him. Fan’er, you must never speak such words outside.”
“I understand, but why would a Golden Core cultivator snatch the Zhao family’s apprenticeship slots?” The Seventh Young Master’s tone softened slightly, but the resentment in his words remained unchanged.
“I only know a little about this matter.” The lady’s face showed a hint of bitterness for the first time. “According to your great-grandfather, the spiritual energy in the Xuanwei Realm has been slowly diminishing over the past ten thousand years. The big shots of the immortal sect predict that the spiritual energy will become increasingly thin, insufficient to support more cultivators.”
“Ten thousand years ago, someone like you with dual spiritual roots would definitely have been able to enter the Qingmu Sect, and could even be considered among the best in the sect.” The lady looked at the Seventh Young Master with a touch of pity. “But now, to join the Qingmu Sect with dual spiritual roots depends on whether there are slots available. Only those with single spiritual roots or even better qualifications are regarded as geniuses who must be admitted.”
“So, our Zhao family has had fewer and fewer people entering the Qingmu Sect over the past thousand years?”
“Exactly. Your great-grandfather, as a Golden Core cultivator, cannot ensure that every descendant gets what they wish for.”
“So, I’m being sacrificed?” The Seventh Young Master’s tone turned resentful again upon hearing this.
“…” The lady simply looked at him, choosing not to speak further.
The Seventh Young Master took a deep breath twice, finally suppressing his inner emotions. “Mother, you can’t leave two slots for entry, but I want to keep these two.”
“Alright.”
“Mother?”
“Since that incident, what have I not agreed to? You’ve been reckless, and I’ve tolerated it. Even if you don’t make a name for yourself, this Zhao family will still belong to you in the future…”
The Seventh Young Master lowered his gaze. “I just can’t accept it.”
The lady stood up, reaching out her hand, wanting to touch her son, who was now taller than her.
The Seventh Young Master took a step back, her hand hanging in the air. After a moment of silence, she said, “Both of them can stay by your side, but as for Zheng Fa…”
“What about Zheng Fa?”
“I know you like his temperament. Since he has talent, a bit of temperament isn’t a problem.” The lady’s tone was flat but carried a hint of coldness. “But temperament alone isn’t enough; we need to see if he truly has the brains to match.”
“Mother!” The Seventh Young Master sounded a bit anxious.
“Don’t worry, I won’t harm him. Since the spiritual energy has dwindled, the various arts of cultivation have become even more valued. Otherwise, why would I have you study talismans? If you truly excel, you might even enter the Qingmu Sect. Since he has this talent, it will benefit our Zhao family as well. I will grant him more favors.”
“Go fetch the ‘Linghe Body’ and give it to Instructor Xu; he knows what to do.” The lady turned to a nearby maid.
“‘Linghe Body’? Are you really going to teach it to Zheng Fa?” The Seventh Young Master looked surprised.
“His mother and sister are both in the village?” The lady didn’t answer him directly but thought for a moment and said, “Find a time in the next few days to bring them here and settle them in the estate.”
The Seventh Young Master was left speechless.
This was indeed a tremendous favor.
“Fan’er, remember, for a true genius, bonds of gratitude are the best shackles.”
“What if… he’s not someone who knows how to repay kindness?”
“Then I’ve prepared one last favor for him. Your sister has successfully entered the inner sect and will be back to stay for a while after the new year.”
“Sister?”
“Your sister has become an inner sect disciple and can bring two attendants into the Qingmu Sect. If Zheng Fa truly has the talent to become a talisman master and can master the ‘Linghe Body,’ I’ll give him one of those attendant slots.”
“Mother, he’s mine!” The Seventh Young Master protested.
“Then, will he understand this point?” The lady smiled faintly.
“...When faced with the temptation of entering an immortal sect, who would give it up?”
“By then, you should have grown up…”
She stroked the top of the Seventh Young Master’s head, and this time, her usually distant son did not shy away.
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**Chapter 28: Returning Home**
Outside Jingzhou City, a carriage was racing along.
Zheng Fa lifted the curtain of the carriage and praised Gao Yuan, who was driving, “I didn’t expect you to have the skill to drive a carriage!”
Gao Yuan cracked the whip, urging the horses to gallop, a smile on his face. “The six arts of a gentleman—ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. While others were learning calligraphy and archery, my father had me learn to drive.”
Zheng Fa felt a surge of admiration. “Your father has quite the old-fashioned wisdom. There aren’t many scholars who learn to drive these days.”
The six arts of a gentleman is an ancient concept, and not many scholars pay attention to charioteering.
“Uh, I don’t think my dad sees it that way.” Gao Yuan grinned. “He said learning other things is a waste of money; if I can’t study well, at least I’ll have a skill to make a living!”
“Your father has quite the… survival wisdom.”
Zheng Fa felt a deep respect for the steward he had never met.
Inside the carriage, the Seventh Young Master covered his mouth with his fist to hide his smirk and frowned. “Pull the curtain down; there’s too much dust.”
Most roads in this world were dirt paths, and the hooves of the horses kicked up a lot of dust.
Zheng Fa lowered the curtain and turned to look inside the carriage.
This was the carriage used by the Seventh Young Master, and the horses were also spirit beasts, just like the Dan Zhu Niu.
The interior of the carriage was a world apart from the ox cart Zheng Fa had been sitting in.
Inside the carriage, there was a main seat covered with a thick blanket, where the Seventh Young Master was lazily sprawled.
Zheng Fa sat down, and the cushion beneath him was soft, seemingly equipped with shock absorption, so he didn’t feel a single bump during the ride.
The Seventh Young Master pulled out a small drawer from the armrest of the main seat.
Inside the drawer were several jade boxes stacked neatly.
The Seventh Young Master’s movements were gentle; this careful demeanor was something Zheng Fa had never seen before.
He opened one of the jade boxes, revealing a palm-sized piece of yellow paper.
Before Zheng Fa could clearly see what the paper looked like, it ignited spontaneously, instantly turning into wisps of blue smoke.
In the next moment, a gentle, refreshing breeze appeared out of nowhere in the carriage.
The dust that had just entered was blown away, leaving only a faint scent of grass and wood, which filled the lungs and soothed the heart.
Zheng Fa felt as if he could breathe much more easily.
“What is this?”
“Hmm, talisman paper.” The Seventh Young Master put the jade box back. “This is the least valuable one, a Qingfeng Talisman. Oh, one Qingfeng Talisman could support your family for ten years.”
Zheng Fa grinned.
Gao Yuan also curiously leaned into the carriage. “Talisman paper? Let me see, let me see!”
“Watch the road!” The Seventh Young Master nearly jumped up.
“I’ve just never seen a real immortal talisman before!” Gao Yuan quickly pulled his head back.
“I’ll send you back home when we get back!” The Seventh Young Master huffed.
Not to mention Zheng Fa, even Gao Yuan didn’t take it too seriously.
After spending these days together, Gao Yuan had to admit that aside from not being able to speak well and having a foul mouth that annoyed people, the Seventh Young Master didn’t have many major flaws.
As for sending him back home, this guy had mentioned it over a hundred times in the past two days.
Gao Yuan, however, said enviously, “Zheng Fa, you’re really going home, and you can bring your mother and sister to the city. The lady treats you really well!”
Upon hearing this, the Seventh Young Master’s expression became uncomfortable.
He recalled his mother’s teachings from the past few days and felt that there was a hidden intention behind this favor.
His coming here was actually prompted by his mother’s casual remark.
Her suggestion was that if one were to bestow a favor, one should lower oneself to avoid giving others a chance to find fault.
Yet the young Seventh Young Master couldn’t shake the feeling that his trip had ulterior motives.
As he wrestled with his thoughts, he heard Zheng Fa’s voice: “Yeah, the lady treats me well, and it’s great that the Seventh Young Master is here too.”
The Seventh Young Master looked up and saw Zheng Fa smiling at him, as if he could understand his subtle guilt. He replied earnestly, “It really is great.”
Zheng Fa had indeed picked up on some of the lady’s intentions.
As Gao Yuan said, to others, this was a sign of the lady’s importance and favor towards her family. If he were to maintain any reputation or conscience in the future, he would have to remember this kindness and repay it, no matter what achievements he made.
If one were to think even worse of the lady, perhaps there was also a plan to keep his mother and sister under Zhao family control…
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