Jealousy

Jealousy

Instructor Xu had only said it casually, but he immediately knew it was impossible.

Not to mention that Zheng Fa's background was spotless.

Even the medicinal tonics Gao Yuan drank every day were exceedingly costly. With his family's wealth, supporting Gao Yuan alone was already a strain.

And they were supposed to add Zheng Fa too?

Gao Yuan was his own son. Who was Zheng Fa?

Forget Gao Yuan's father—even if Instructor Xu truly took Zheng Fa in someday, he would be reluctant to spend that much money grooming him.

Zheng Fa had stood in stance for quite some time without hearing Instructor Xu's assessment. He opened his eyes in slight confusion and saw Instructor Xu looking at him with an extremely complicated expression.

That look carried the delight and bewilderment of smashing open a piggy bank, only to find an enormous sum inside that did not belong to him.

After a long silence, Instructor Xu finally said, "It seems that not only are your innate bones good, your comprehension is exceptional as well."

Zheng Fa showed no pride upon hearing this.

He himself knew where his rapid progress in cultivation came from.

His comprehension was probably decent too—at least, he had not found practicing the Pine Crane Stance particularly difficult—but it was certainly not as outstanding as Instructor Xu believed.

What had truly allowed him to surpass Gao Yuan were the seven days of training time in the modern world, along with the relatively abundant nutrition there.

Seeing how calm he was, Instructor Xu nodded slightly. In his heart, he felt all the more that this boy's temperament was precious.

The more that was so, the more he cherished his talent—and the more he feared Zheng Fa might harbor even the slightest trace of arrogance.

"Cough! When I said you were good, I meant compared to ordinary people. You should know that the Pine Crane Stance is merely an introductory stance technique. You have only just taken your first steps in martial arts!" Unable to resist, he began to temper Zheng Fa. "You must know that the Xuanwei Realm has never lacked geniuses. Entering the Pine Crane Stance in three days is not uncommon!"

After saying that, he gave the several disciples behind him a meaningful look.

The young men standing behind him immediately caught on.

"That's right! I entered in five days back then! Though I can't compare to you, the Pine Crane Stance is very easy!"

"..."

Instructor Xu looked at him, vaguely recalling that this brat had possessed above-average innate bones and had taken half a month to enter the stance.

"Three days to enter is all it took. I did it in three days too! It's nothing special."

Instructor Xu watched this disciple, who had also taken half a month to enter, pat his chest with a breezy, indifferent expression.

"I... I..." The disciple who had spoken first—Instructor Xu's nephew—held up one finger. After thinking for a moment, he sheepishly held up another. "Two days! I entered in two days!"

The others looked at him, contempt hidden in their eyes.

This guy really could brag!

Who did not know he had taken ten days?

"Cough, see that?" Instructor Xu coughed lightly, not daring to look at his disciples. Turning to Zheng Fa, he said sternly, "These are still my most useless disciples."

The young men all turned in unison to look at Instructor Xu's utterly shameless dark face.

Their gazes said only one thing: It still has to be you, sir!

Zheng Fa found it a little strange. According to Instructor Xu's judgment, his innate bones were top-grade, and he also had seven extra days in the modern world to train.

How was he still inferior to these people?

But on second thought, the Xuanwei Realm had immortals beyond mortals.

Perhaps top-grade innate bones were merely ordinary here?

Besides, he truly had not expected Instructor Xu to be so "well-intentioned."

After testing the two of them on their martial progress, Instructor Xu let them leave.

When they bade Instructor Xu farewell, Zheng Fa noticed that Gao Yuan looked downcast. He did not wait for Zheng Fa when he left. Zheng Fa caught up and walked beside him, but Gao Yuan kept staring at the little stones on the ground all the way, without even looking at him.

Zheng Fa sighed softly to himself.

Gao Yuan was not a bad person, but he had always deliberately or unconsciously compared himself with Zheng Fa.

In today's assessment, Zheng Fa had already entered the Pine Crane Stance. It was probably a blow to Gao Yuan. From the sidelong glances Gao Yuan cast at him, Zheng Fa could vaguely sense some jealousy.

Around lunchtime, Gao Yuan left as usual.

Zheng Fa sat in the room and silently recited the texts he had learned in the modern world for a while. Yet even after the sun crossed the center of the sky and began to tilt westward, Gao Yuan—who would normally have brought back their meal by then—had still not returned.

Only two hours later did Gao Yuan slowly return to their quarters, drenched in sweat.

He came back empty-handed. He had not brought Zheng Fa any food.

Zheng Fa looked at his sun-reddened face and the beads of sweat covering his head, understanding that he had gone to practice again. This time, he had practiced longer and harder than usual.

As for lunch...

Zheng Fa did not ask, but he knew Gao Yuan would not bring him food again.

He got up and walked toward the door. Gao Yuan watched him with a complicated expression. As they brushed past each other, Zheng Fa stopped.

"Thank you."

"Hm?"

Gao Yuan looked puzzled.

"Thank you for helping me bring food these past few days."

Zheng Fa's expression was utterly sincere, but Gao Yuan looked even more uncomfortable.

"It wasn't a big deal. I won't be doing it again anyway..."

"I still have to thank you for what you did before," Zheng Fa said earnestly.

"..."

Zheng Fa smiled at Gao Yuan and walked out. He could feel Gao Yuan's gaze fixed on his back the entire time.

Following the path, he arrived at the Zhao Residence's main kitchen. It was already quite late for lunch.

"You're only coming now?" the kitchen master asked impatiently.

Zheng Fa gave him an embarrassed smile and explained, "Something held me up."

"There. This is all the food that's left. Who told you not to come earlier?"

Zheng Fa looked at the rice and dishes handed to him.

The rice was cold, and all the dishes were green—listless, wilted leaves without even a trace of minced meat.

Zheng Fa said nothing. Taking the food, he found an empty corridor and sat on the railing, slowly eating as he faced the crimson clouds on the horizon.

Over the next few days, Gao Yuan indeed stopped bringing him meals.

Zheng Fa discovered that the food the main kitchen gave him was nowhere near as good as what Gao Yuan had brought before.

Not only was there far less meat than before,

but it looked worse and tasted much worse as well.

Zheng Fa understood as soon as he thought about it. Gao Yuan was, after all, the Guan Family's son, and he had some standing in the main kitchen.

The meals he brought might even have been prepared by the head chef in the main kitchen.

As for Zheng Fa?

As Seventh Young Master's bookboy, he certainly would not be allowed to starve, but the special treatment he had received before was no longer possible.

Early that morning, Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan were still "standing punishment" outside Seventh Young Master's study.

Seventh Young Master was still inside, reading that book filled with so-called talismans. When he seemed to grow tired of reading, he looked up at Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan. His eyes narrowed slightly, as though he had discovered something amusing.

"You two, come in!"

Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan exchanged a glance, neither knowing why Seventh Young Master had suddenly called for them today.

"You two... broke up?"

Seventh Young Master looked like he was watching a juicy drama unfold. Gao Yuan pressed his lips together without speaking.

Zheng Fa's expression, however, did not change.

"Perfect. I thought about it, and making both of you scram together before wasn't quite right. I still need one bookboy by my side!" Seventh Young Master smiled as he held up one finger. "Remember, one bookboy. If you two are too close, this young master would feel too bad about it!"

Zheng Fa clearly heard Gao Yuan's breathing quicken slightly beside him, followed by the quiet clenching of his fists.

Looking at Seventh Young Master again, the smile on his face had grown increasingly malicious.

(End of chapter)