Ghostly Talismans

Zheng Fa struggled to pretend he didn't see Instructor Xu's dark expression.

"You don't know a damn thing!" Instructor Xu cursed Gao Yuan. "The martial arts from the external dojos, while their power might seem impressive, lose their vigor once the practitioner passes their prime. Practicing them poorly can even shorten your lifespan!"

Zheng Fa understood Instructor Xu's meaning.

The same martial arts could improve one's combat ability if practiced well.

Therefore, the extra buff of the Crane Pine Stance, which could increase lifespan, was naturally very precious.

And he actually had another thought – Gao Yuan would need to practice for thirty years to extend his life by twenty years.

His own aptitude, when Instructor Xu had examined his bones, was deemed superior, better than Gao Yuan's. So, would he not need thirty years?

More importantly: he could still travel to modern times!

If he practiced in modern times, he would have double the time.

Then, according to Gao Yuan's simple lifespan calculation, he might not even suffer any loss.

Perhaps annoyed by Gao Yuan, Instructor Xu personally taught them for a while longer before becoming a hands-off manager and going off to play with his guns again.

Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan, however, remained in place, diligently practicing the Crane Pine Stance.

Even Gao Yuan, who had been somewhat dismissive earlier, practiced with extreme seriousness.

Zheng Fa sometimes couldn't help but mentally compare his peers in the Xuanwei Realm with those in modern times. The classmates he encountered in modern schools would likely be a bit more complacent.

The peers in this world, like Gao Yuan, although born into servitude, had official titles and family wealth. They were not ordinary people in this world and would cherish opportunities more.

After standing in the posture taught by Instructor Xu for a while, Zheng Fa felt the warm current within him growing stronger, making his bones tingle and his breathing gradually become steady and prolonged.

Instructor Xu came over and saw Zheng Fa's state, nodding with satisfaction. "I knew you had good aptitude; you're picking it up quickly!"

Zheng Fa clearly saw Gao Yuan's movements stiffen slightly beside him, a hint of anxiety in his expression.

Instructor Xu seemed to notice his reaction as well, but he merely glanced at him, offering neither praise nor reprimand, and slowly walked away.

Watching Instructor Xu's receding figure, obvious dejection appeared on Gao Yuan's face.

For their first encounter with the Crane Pine Stance, Instructor Xu did not have Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan practice for long. Less than half an hour passed before he began to dismiss them:

"Gradual progress! The biggest taboo in martial arts is rushing!"

Zheng Fa could barely stand anymore. As he left the training grounds, his stomach rumbled like thunder, and he was so hungry that the bluestone slabs on the ground looked like matcha cake, making him want to take a bite.

He had always struggled to get enough food in this world, and only after starting martial arts did he realize the simple truth Instructor Xu had spoken: the more you practice martial arts, the better you need to eat.

As soon as they returned to their shared lodging, Zheng Fa sat on his bed, feeling his vision darken.

Gao Yuan saw his expression and knew what was wrong. "Hungry?"

"Yeah, how do we get food?"

"According to the manor's rules, we are under the Seventh Young Master. A maidservant should bring our food, and then we can collect it."

"Then do you think they'll bring food for the two of us?"

Zheng Fa posed the soul-searching question to Gao Yuan.

"That's unlikely... but actually, they might not have. I'll go to the main kitchen!" After all, being the child of the Second Branch's steward, Gao Yuan displayed his extensive connections. "Madam has allocated rations, so they wouldn't dare refuse if I go to the kitchen!"

With that, Gao Yuan stood up hastily and walked out, shouting, "Wait for me, I'll bring your food too."

Watching Gao Yuan's departing back, Zheng Fa smiled.

His roommate had some commoner's petty thoughts, but honestly, he was a good person.

It took Gao Yuan nearly another half an hour to fetch the food. By the time he brought the food container over, Zheng Fa's stomach was already cramping from hunger.

"Those people in the main kitchen said Madam hadn't given any instructions! They wanted to pocket our food money!" Gao Yuan said indignantly. "It was only when I found my father that they told the truth!"

Hearing this, Zheng Fa looked up and thanked Gao Yuan. "Then I must thank your father properly. Otherwise, I wouldn't even get this meal."

"It's nothing! This is just our due ration!"

Gao Yuan waved his hand.

There was indeed quite a bit of food in the container.

The first layer held two large bowls of meat and one large bowl of vegetables.

The middle layer was filled with rice.

The taste looked average, but the portions were generous.

Zheng Fa picked up his chopsticks and began to eat ravenously.

As he stuffed food into his mouth, his gaze unintentionally swept over the bottom layer of the food container.

This layer was supposed to be empty, but he saw a piece of paper, or rather, a corner of a piece of paper, tucked into the gap between the two layers of the container.

Gao Yuan seemed to have noticed his gaze as well and suddenly retracted his hand, as if he didn't want Zheng Fa to see it.

Only then did Zheng Fa understand that this guy had been gone for so long, likely doing some personal business besides fetching food.

He lowered his head and stuffed another mouthful of rice into his mouth, as if nothing had happened.

Gao Yuan, on the other hand, was a bit restless, his mind wandering even while he ate.

For the next two days, Zheng Fa lived an extremely regimented life.

Every morning, he would stand outside the Seventh Young Master's courtyard as punishment and accompany the Seventh Young Master to Mr. Shen's class.

In the afternoon, he would go to Instructor Xu to learn the Crane Pine Stance.

Zheng Fa's learning speed was indeed a bit faster than Gao Yuan's, but Instructor Xu had told both of them that although Zheng Fa learned quickly, he started late. Without a special opportunity, it would be difficult for him to achieve great success in the Crane Pine Stance.

In the evenings, after dinner, they would each do their own thing.

Zheng Fa was very busy at night.

Besides silently reciting the classics taught by Mr. Shen in class, he also had to recall knowledge from his modern textbooks.

He even had to set aside half an hour every day to practice calligraphy.

But Gao Yuan was different:

As soon as he returned to his lodging, he would hide in his room and mysteriously look at something.

Zheng Fa occasionally caught a glimpse of him holding a few pieces of paper.

They looked very much like the ones hidden in the food box that day.

Gao Yuan usually hid from Zheng Fa when looking at the papers. As soon as Zheng Fa entered the room, he would tuck them away.

But occasionally, when he was engrossed, Zheng Fa had inadvertently seen what was written or drawn on the paper—it was all complex lines that couldn't be deciphered into any discernible pattern.

Even with just a glance, Zheng Fa felt a bit dizzy.

Gao Yuan, who spent all day with these papers, was clearly even more frustrated.

That evening, when Zheng Fa walked into the room, he saw Gao Yuan sprawled on his bed like a salted fish.

The precious papers were scattered on his quilt.

He exuded an aura of having no will to live, of giving up and waiting for death.

"What's wrong?"

Gao Yuan's eyes were unfocused, and he looked like he didn't want to talk.

After a long while, he suddenly sat up and shouted, "I won't be a Page anymore, and I won't look at this junk!"

Zheng Fa was taken aback and his gaze shifted to the papers. "Looking at these, can you avoid being kicked out?"

"What do you think that book the Seventh Young Master reads all day is?" Gao Yuan pointed at the patterns on the paper. "It's all these ghost scribbles!"

Zheng Fa picked up a piece of paper and looked at it. The patterns were chaotic and complex, and he couldn't even discern a pattern.

"What does the Seventh Young Master look at this for?"

"Talismans, these are the legendary talismans of the Immortal Sect!"

Zheng Fa couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence. Looking at the patterns that resembled a child's doodles, he felt they were filled with profound mystery.