Chapter 90
“I know our talents are humble, but if you, Shidi, are willing to take us in, we will certainly dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly, working like dogs and horses!”
Zheng Fa looked at the three of them, their expressions earnest.
Actually, aside from Han Qi, the other two had been somewhat hesitant at first. Now, perhaps due to the competition with Zhou Qianyuan, their faces were filled with a fear of rejection from Zheng Fa.
After pondering for a moment, Zheng Fa said to the three, “Shixiong is being too polite. If you’re willing to help, I couldn’t ask for more.”
He had been thinking that selling the talismans he drew would be a hassle—especially since he had to go calculate accounts for Senior Sister Yuan during the day.
Han Qi and the others looked up in surprise, as if they couldn’t believe their ears.
Meanwhile, Zhou Qianyuan was watching Zheng Fa.
“Zheng Shixiong, do you… not like smart people or those with high talents?” Zhou Qianyuan’s tone was filled with grievance. “Is it my fault for being a genius?”
Han Qi and the others slowly turned to look at Zhou Qianyuan.
If it weren’t for the fact that you were a genius, you’d be asking for a beating with that kind of talk!
(End of this chapter)
---
**Chapter 102: No Regrets**
Looking at Zhou Qianyuan’s somewhat aggrieved expression, Zheng Fa was puzzled. “Zhou Shidi… do you have some trouble?”
He really couldn’t figure out what this person was trying to do.
You’re asking for help with money.
If you don’t pay, of course, nothing gets done.
But if you pay and don’t say what you want, then how can anything get done?
“I just want to learn talisman techniques from you!” Zhou Qianyuan said sullenly.
“That’s it?”
Zheng Fa looked at the forty spirit stones in his hand, surprised—there are still people in the Xuanwei Realm who respect knowledge this much?
He didn’t think that the talisman techniques inherited from Bai Yuanying were worthless.
But the reality of this world is that spirit stones are precious, while knowledge is relatively cheap.
Especially knowledge about talismans.
Just think about Han Qi and the others.
They raised the price of the “Zhang Zhenren’s Talisman Theory” by two taels of gold, disrupting the textbook market.
Now everyone is paying him back.
“Who said you need so many spirit stones to learn talisman techniques from me?”
“Zhao family’s young master… what was his name again?” Zhou Qianyuan seemed to have a poor memory. “Oh, Zhao something Fan. He said he learned his talisman techniques from you.”
“What did he say?”
Zheng Fa calmed down.
“To learn talisman techniques from you, he sent a lot of spirit stones.” Zhou Qianyuan’s memory seemed to improve. “He also had to work like a dog, bowing low and enduring all sorts of grievances…”
What kind of tutoring service is this?
Looking at Zhou Qianyuan, Zheng Fa was still a bit confused. “You believe what he said?”
“Not entirely…” Zhou Qianyuan glanced at the box in his hand. “But can you really go wrong with sending money?”
Han Qi and the others shook their heads in unison behind him.
Zheng Fa had to fall silent.
That was quite a reasonable point!
“Zheng Shixiong…” Zhou Qianyuan pushed the box in front of Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa remained silent for a long time before speaking. “Zhou Shidi, you are a distinguished Yuanying disciple. Why come to me to learn? Our two sects…”
“My master agreed.”
“Ah?”
Han Qi and the others exchanged glances again.
If this gets out, Master Pang might think Zheng Fa is better at teaching disciples than he is.
“My master said, his talisman techniques are not afraid of comparison… whether it’s with Zhang Shijie or you, as long as you want to learn, you can. Only by learning will you know he is right,” Zhou Qianyuan said softly.
“…”
Zheng Fa had never met Master Pang, and due to the rivalry between their sects, he didn’t have a very good impression of him.
But at this moment, he felt a bit of admiration for the other’s broad-mindedness.
“Then at the Talisman Pavilion…”
Recalling the scene of wielding talismans that day, Zheng Fa still couldn’t understand.
“My master said, if no one dies, there’s no need to worry.”
Zhou Qianyuan seemed to know what he wanted to ask and spoke directly.
Zheng Fa noticed the expressions of Han Qi and the others were hard to describe, and he felt a bit uncomfortable inside.
He had speculated about many reasons why the higher-ups allowed the two sects to fight.
For example, to prepare for future chaos in the sect—hmm, to practice combat skills.
Or perhaps to vent the grievances of the lower disciples through this controllable scale of conflict.
Or maybe, it was genuinely to verify each other’s strengths in talisman techniques.
But… no need to worry?
Zheng Fa looked out the window.
He felt as if he saw a few pairs of lofty eyes on the Nine Mountains, watching over the entire Jiu Shan Sect.
In their gaze, it seemed that aside from a few true geniuses, there was no one else.
“Zhou Shidi, you can keep the spirit stones. In the future, if we have time, we can exchange ideas.”
Zheng Fa pushed the box back.
“Hmm?” Zhou Qianyuan seemed to understand Zheng Fa’s meaning, looking up at him.
“I’m also very interested in Master Pang’s talisman techniques,” Zheng Fa said, looking into Zhou Qianyuan’s eyes.
Zhou Qianyuan was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly laughed, his tone somewhat meaningful. “Shixiong is being greedy… I didn’t expect you to have such grand ambitions.”
Zheng Fa understood what he meant.
For most Qi Refining disciples, forty spirit stones were worth far more than knowledge of talisman techniques.
Only those truly pursuing talisman techniques would make a choice like Zheng Fa’s—because Zhou Qianyuan himself was that kind of person, he saw through Zheng Fa’s ambition.
Zheng Fa didn’t think he was being greedy.
Old Bai guaranteed a Yuanying, and you’re getting a deal by trading for Master Pang’s talisman techniques.
“I’ll have to ask my master about this.”
Zhou Qianyuan took out the forty spirit stones without blinking, but Zheng Fa’s request made him feel troubled.
---
In the backyard of Senior Sister Zhang’s house.
Senior Sister Zhang sat cross-legged on a large stone by the waterfall, her eyes slightly closed as if in meditation.
Zheng Fa looked at her and couldn’t help but sigh—she still loved playing with water so much.
“What do you need?”
“Shidi wants to ask about the ‘Foundation Building Method of Talisman Techniques.’”
Senior Sister Zhang opened her eyes and looked at Zheng Fa, but there was a strange emotion in her gaze.
Zheng Fa had never seen that kind of hesitation on her face before.
“Have you refined your ‘Five Thunder Method Body’?”
“Yes.”
“Three days?”
“... Yes.”
Zheng Fa knew it was Senior Sister Yuan who had spilled the beans.
“You don’t have to practice the ‘Foundation Building Method of Talisman Techniques,’” Senior Sister Zhang suddenly said.
“Hmm?”
---
**Chapter 103: Taking Disciples**
Zhou Qianyuan was walking towards Zheng Fa’s house. Over the past month, he had been coming to discuss talisman techniques with Zheng Fa every few days.
In truth, he hadn’t gained much.
He knew it was because his understanding of talisman techniques wasn’t deep enough.
He had just started learning his master’s talisman techniques, and there was little he could bring to the table for discussion with Zheng Fa.
At the same time, he had also come to understand Zheng Fa’s character—he was someone who wouldn’t let the hawk fly until he saw the rabbit.
In their exchanges, Zheng Fa was clearly holding back.
But even so, he was still captivated by some of Zheng Fa’s ideas; occasionally, Zheng Fa’s words would enlighten him, opening his eyes.
If it weren’t for the fear of being rude, he would want to run to Zheng Fa’s house every day.
Today, he wasn’t alone.
“Zhou Shidi, if you have any questions, just ask us, your Shixiong. Why do you keep running to Zheng Fa?” Sun Daoyu said with a hint of exasperation. “What’s going on with that?”
“Shixiong, my master agreed.”
“Yes, your master is broad-minded,” Sun Daoyu nodded. “But not everyone has that kind of heart. By doing this, you might hurt the feelings of our sect’s brothers.”
“…”
Zhou Qianyuan fell silent.
Sun Daoyu sighed. “I know that in your master’s eyes, our two sects are just playing around, but… the grudges and grievances of these past decades can’t be brushed aside with just a few words.”
“Shixiong, I don’t want to get involved in these matters…”
A hint of fatigue crept into Zhou Qianyuan’s voice.
“I know, I know you’re devoted to the path, and I hope you’ll become the pillar of our sect in the future…” Sun Daoyu said with a forced smile. “But not everyone understands you. Do you know that our sect’s brothers already have grievances against you?”
“... What are they saying?”
“They say you’re eating from both sides, taking your master’s talisman techniques to befriend Senior Sister Zhang. If it weren’t for your master valuing you, they would have already caused you trouble.”
“Do you think the same, Shixiong?”
“I’ve guided you into the fold; how could I not understand you?” Sun Daoyu patted him on the back, speaking sternly. “But you can’t just act on your own feelings. If you don’t want to cut ties with your brothers, you need to think more carefully.”
“I’ve thought it through long ago.” Zhou Qianyuan raised his eyes to look at his Shixiong. “I’m taught by my master, and you’ve always taken care of me… as long as you two don’t stop me, I can’t care about what others think.”
“Shidi, you…”
“Shixiong, I’m not cultivating for power, nor am I cultivating for them.”
Table of Contents
