Chapter 84
Others looked at him with strange expressions—being trapped by a water prison talisman thrown by a junior disciple seemed hardly a matter of shame.
Of course, their gazes toward Zhou Qianyuan were even more peculiar—did you stand in the wrong place? How did you end up mingling with Master Pang's faction?
Upon hearing Li Shixiong's admission, the face of this elder from the Discipline Hall became quite the spectacle.
After a moment, he cupped his hands toward Sister Zhang and said gently, “It seems you have a discerning eye, my dear niece.”
This man was surprisingly carefree, choosing not to dwell on the matter and directly admitting defeat.
“I don’t have any discerning eye,” Sister Zhang glanced at Zheng Fadao. “I’m just biased.”
“?”
“He’s a Huangpin talisman master, and I won’t change his share. If you’re dissatisfied, let Master Pang come talk to me.”
After Sister Zhang’s words, the scene fell into silence.
The elder from the Discipline Hall’s expression shifted repeatedly, and he found himself at a loss for words.
He could only flick his sleeves and, without a word, transformed into a streak of light, leaving the Talisman Hall.
Seeing him walk away, Sister Zhang turned to Zheng Fa and said, “Come find me later; I have something to discuss with you.”
It seemed she had come specifically to say this to Zheng Fa. After speaking, she ignored everyone else and left.
Zheng Fa watched her retreating figure, feeling someone tugging at his sleeve. Turning around, he found Han Qi’s face filled with a thirst for knowledge.
“Junior brother, teach me.”
“Teach you what? Talisman arts?”
“Talisman arts… I admit your rapid rise to becoming a Xuanpin talisman master shows some talent, but that’s minor, not important!” Han Qi lowered his voice a bit. “What I really want to learn is how you and Sister Zhang… cough cough!”
“Speak up!”
A dissatisfied low voice came from the side. Zheng Fa turned to see a crowd of eager faces surrounding them, all filled with a desire for knowledge.
“Zheng Shidi.”
As Zheng Fa was leaving the Talisman Hall, Brother Zhuang suddenly called out to him.
Brother Zhuang hurried a few steps to walk alongside Zheng Fa but remained silent.
It wasn’t until they reached the courtyard gate that Brother Zhuang raised his arm and bowed deeply. “Thank you, Shidi, for your assistance just now.”
“I didn’t really help you…”
Zheng Fa didn’t mean to retaliate; he had only one talisman in hand and had to wait for that Li Shixiong to let his guard down before he could act.
“I’m not talking about myself, but for those new disciples,” Brother Zhuang shook his head. “If you hadn’t intervened, those new disciples would have been bullied by Li Shixiong.”
Since he had lost, if Li Shixiong hadn’t been subdued by Zheng Fa, they would indeed have faced a dire situation.
“…”
Zheng Fa looked at Brother Zhuang and saw genuine gratitude on his face.
It was Brother Zhuang who spoke up first. “Do you think I withheld your talisman paper? Am I lining my own pockets?”
“Not at all.”
Zheng Fa replied sincerely.
This brother didn’t seem particularly petty—during the earlier scuffle, he had indeed used quite a few talismans to protect those new disciples.
After all, everyone had their limits.
Brother Zhuang could have easily stood by and conserved his talismans.
“...What do you think of Jiushan Sect?”
“An aura of immortality.”
“…” Brother Zhuang glanced at him, seemingly sensing his insincerity, and suddenly laughed. “I think it’s a time of chaos, with public grievances boiling over.”
“Uh…” Zheng Fa looked at him, puzzled. Was this something one could say?
“Shidi, someone like you, who is treated differently right after entering, probably doesn’t understand the struggles of those at the bottom.”
“…”
Zheng Fa didn’t argue; he just listened.
“I’ve read history books in the mundane world. In the twilight years of any dynasty, the ones who suffer the most are always the common people.” Brother Zhuang spoke as if he didn’t expect a response. “The same goes for the immortal sects, but it’s even more terrifying—if those bottom-tier disciples truly harbor resentment, even if they can’t disrupt the sect, what about in the mundane world?”
He looked at Zheng Fa with a hint of depth; “Those people are the ones without the power to resist.”
“…”
“I just thought, if those in power use one less talisman, then those at the bottom might get one more, perhaps reducing some of their resentment. To be honest, I know I can’t stop these things—I know it’s futile.” Brother Zhuang smiled, looking at Zheng Fa, and pulled out three sheets of talisman paper from his sleeve, handing them over. “Since you’re a Xuanpin talisman master, you should naturally take your share. I was wrong to act like a petty person.”
Zheng Fa didn’t move, but Brother Zhuang pressed the talisman paper into his hand.
He bowed again to Zheng Fa and turned to walk away.
His clothes were wrinkled and dusty, yet his posture remained straight.
…
Inside the Talisman Hall’s courtyard, Han Qi looked at Zheng Fa with a conflicted expression, his face changing colors.
“Shixiong? What are you thinking about?”
“What do you think Zheng Shidi likes?”
“?”
The tall, thin one was taken aback and asked, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t align with him?”
“How was I supposed to know he could draw a Xuanpin talisman right after entering?” Han Qi’s expression showed a hint of regret.
“Shixiong, that’s not easy.”
The tall, thin one hesitated.
“What’s not easy?” Han Qi asked, puzzled. “I think Zheng Fa has a decent personality; he doesn’t seem hard to please… it’s just that we’ve offended him before, which isn’t great.”
“...I’m not talking about him; I’m talking about that one.”
The tall, thin one pointed into the distance, where Zhou Qianyuan stood, also gazing at Zheng Fa’s back.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“Don’t you think his gaze toward Zheng Fa is exactly the same as yours just now?”
“…”
Han Qi looked at Zhou Qianyuan, confusion written all over his face—
Wait, who are you?
Master Pang’s most favored disciple!
Single spiritual root, Gengjin Dao body, an absolute genius!
Are you trying to take my spot as a sycophant?
Our two factions fight every day, and we’ve beaten each other senseless!
You’re betraying your master and ancestors!
No wonder you spoke up for Zheng Fa earlier…
What a schemer!
“Shixiong, why don’t we just give up?” the tall, thin one suggested. “We can’t compete with him!”
“No way!” Han Qi gritted his teeth. “Sister Zhang is one thing, but Zhou Qianyuan is Master Pang’s prized disciple. I’ve heard he’s extremely favored. With both of them valuing Zheng Fa so much, if we don’t follow suit now, are we fools?”
The tall, thin one paused, slowly nodding. “That makes some sense, but we still can’t compete with him.”
“…”
…
Zheng Fa arrived at the entrance of Sister Zhang’s courtyard, which was located at the foot of Jiushan, spacious and expansive.
To him, it was hard to say which courtyard was larger, his or the Zhao family’s.
But the locations were worlds apart—Jiushan could be said to be the place with the densest spiritual energy in Jiushan Sect.
As soon as Zheng Fa stepped through the courtyard gate, he heard Master Zhang’s voice: “Walk straight ahead, pass through three doors, and come find me in the back courtyard.”
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 97: Choice
Zheng Fa had never imagined he would meet such a Sister Zhang—
As he walked toward the back courtyard of Sister Zhang’s home, he first heard a rumbling sound.
Looking up, he discovered a white waterfall cascading down from the cliff on Jiushan, pouring into the back courtyard of Sister Zhang’s home.
Indeed, as soon as he entered the back courtyard, a refreshing mist of cool water enveloped him.
Under the waterfall was a small lake, about half an acre wide, with a small pavilion on its shore.
Sister Zhang sat on the steps in front of the pavilion, her plain skirt slightly lifted to her ankles, her bare feet playfully splashing in the lake.
A bit beautiful, but also a bit ill…
This waterfall was likely formed from the snowmelt on Jiushan, and even from several zhang away, Zheng Fa could faintly feel the chill of the water.
Inside the pavilion, there was another person, a girl around fifteen or sixteen, with a slightly round face. She had been watching Sister Zhang play in the water with boredom, but her eyes lit up when she saw Zheng Fa enter. She called out to Sister Zhang, “Someone’s here!”
Zheng Fa took a couple of steps forward and first cupped his hands toward Sister Zhang. “Sister Zhang.”
Afterward, he turned to the girl beside her. “May I ask how to address this sister?”
“I’m surnamed Yuan; just call me Yuan Shijie.”
Although the girl spoke with a smile, Zheng Fa could clearly sense that there was no warmth in her eyes.
“Yuan Shijie, nice to meet you.”
Seeing her indifferent expression, Zheng Fa merely offered a polite greeting.
Sister Zhang turned her head, still seated, and nodded at Zheng Fa. “I heard you chose the ‘Five Thunder Body’?”
Zheng Fa was taken aback, thinking she was going to advise him, and prepared to speak.
Sister Zhang waved her hand and said directly, “I’m not your master; it doesn’t matter what you choose—just know that the ‘Five Thunder Body’ is a bit special.”
“Special?”
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