No Deference

After Gao Yuan left, the Seventh Young Master's gaze towards Zheng Fa turned cold.

"Playing the brotherhood card in front of me? Do you think this Young Master is an idiot! You figured out these two Origin Talismans by yourself, didn't you?"

"Origin Talismans?" Zheng Fa's focus was slightly off.

"Yes, you don't understand anything, no wonder you were willing to say you figured them out together." The Seventh Young Master chuckled in annoyance. He pointed to the book in front of him and said, "Gao Yuan should have told you that the patterns on this are Immortal Sect Talismans."

"He did."

Zheng Fa nodded.

"What he said wasn't accurate. I'll tell you the truth, these things aren't Immortal Sect Talismans at all, and they don't have any power. In reality, they're called Talisman Diagrams, and only by comprehending Origin Talismans from them can you prove you have Talisman Path talent."

"No wonder the Zhao Manor isn't pursuing the spread of these things," Zheng Fa realized with a start.

He had suspected it before.

If they were truly Immortal Sect Talismans, and Gao Yuan's father could obtain them, they wouldn't be this worthless.

Now it seemed his previous guess was correct.

The Seventh Young Master, or rather, the Zhao Manor, had deliberately allowed these Talisman Diagrams to circulate among the servants.

"There's a bit of intentionality involved," the Seventh Young Master said, as if reading his mind. "If someone in our Zhao Manor has this Talisman Path talent and can comprehend Origin Talismans from these Talisman Diagrams, it wouldn't be a bad thing for us."

"The two patterns I drew are Origin Talismans?"

"Yes!" The Seventh Young Master said with a smile. "The ones you deciphered are the two simplest Origin Talismans. The minimum requirement to become a Talisman Master is to master at least one hundred and eight Origin Talismans."

Zheng Fa looked at the Seventh Young Master, hesitating slightly, and said, "Seventh Young Master, are you studying this book because you want to become a Talisman Master too?"

The Seventh Young Master nodded, not hiding anything from Zheng Fa. "The Immortal Sect is hard to enter, with extremely high requirements for Spiritual Root aptitude. But if one can comprehend one hundred and eight or even more Origin Talismans, and even become a Talisman Master, it becomes much simpler."

Zheng Fa understood. The Spiritual Root the Seventh Young Master mentioned was the aptitude most valued by the Immortal Sect, akin to how a university in another world would most value your college entrance exam score.

But comprehending Origin Talismans, having Talisman Path aptitude, was like being a special talent student, allowing for admission with a lower score.

"So, do you understand? If your Talisman Path aptitude is good enough, you might become a Talisman Master, and even enter the Immortal Sect! At that time, you won't be a servant of my Zhao Family anymore, but a high and mighty Immortal!"

The Seventh Young Master looked at Zheng Fa, his face full of mockery. "Now, do you still say you figured this out together with Gao Yuan?"

"...But I said we studied it together. My Talisman Path aptitude won't change for the worse," Zheng Fa said, a little confused.

"..."

The Seventh Young Master was quite speechless. That statement was actually quite valid...

He looked at Zheng Fa, as if trying to discern something from his somewhat dark and handsome face.

Zheng Fa's expression was calm, meeting the Seventh Young Master's scrutiny with composure.

After a long while, the Seventh Young Master suddenly shook his head and sneered, "Then why did you say this? To keep him? To keep him for what? For Gao Yuan? No... it's not for Gao Yuan. You're angry. You're angry, and you should be angry. Ever since you came to the Zhao Manor, Gao Yuan brought you food every day. Whatever he ate, you ate."

"...Actually, he knew early on that perhaps neither of us could stay, or maybe only one of us could. But at the beginning, he truly was willing to be friends with me," Zheng Fa finally spoke.

"And so?" the Seventh Young Master continued to sneer.

"I'm wondering what made him become jealous?"

Zheng Fa looked up, his eyes bright, meeting the Seventh Young Master's gaze.

"So I wasn't wrong, you're angry at me, angry that I said I only wanted one Page."

The Seventh Young Master pointed at Zheng Fa with his finger.

Zheng Fa slowly said, "His jealousy was only because he was afraid of losing his position as Page, because he was afraid of facing his parents' disappointment when he went home. If it were me, I would also be jealous. I would even be more jealous... because if I lost my position as Page, I might have to endure more bullying from the villagers than before, and my mother and sister would have an even harder life."

The Seventh Young Master suddenly laughed. "When you two first arrived, I could tell. Gao Yuan was dressed appropriately, appearing wealthy, but he held reverence for me in his heart. But you, in your coarse cloth clothes, your eyes... showed no deference!"

Zheng Fa did not refute him.

Gao Yuan's change wasn't because he was truly narrow-minded, but because people like the Seventh Young Master, who were in high positions, deliberately made them compete and become jealous.

It was because, as servants, even a small position like a Page could turn two people into enemies.

Rather than caring about his friendship with Gao Yuan, Zheng Fa knew he was unwilling to have even his interpersonal relationships manipulated by these people in high positions.

Even though he was born into this world, his five years in modern times had, mentally, made him identify more with modern values.

So he could never be an obsequious servant.

Over time, he became more talkative and more like a young man in modern times.

In this world, however, he became increasingly silent.

"So, wanting to keep Gao Yuan wasn't because you cared that much about him, you just... wanted to resist."

Zheng Fa said nothing more.

Because he and the Seventh Young Master both knew that the Seventh Young Master's words were correct.

After a long while, the Seventh Young Master suddenly laughed. "You have great talent. As far as I know, you can see the Origin Talismans in these Talisman Diagrams at a glance. With such talent, even my mother would have to show respect and cultivate you."

"Therefore, I promise you, Gao Yuan will stay."

Zheng Fa bowed slightly to the Seventh Young Master.

Outside the door, Gao Yuan's footsteps slowly approached.

Zheng Fa suddenly spoke, "Young Master, why?"

"Hm?"

"Why did you agree to let Gao Yuan stay?"

"I said it, you have great talent, and I, appreciate talent."

Seventh Young Master looked at Zheng Fa strangely, wondering if he had gone deaf just now.

"No, as soon as Young Master saw me, he knew I wasn't a qualified servant. And as soon as I saw Young Master, I knew you and I shared the same anger. So..." Zheng Fa's question was overshadowed by Gao Yuan's knock on the door: "Young Master, what are you trying to resist again?"

Seventh Young Master froze.

Gao Yuan pushed the door open, carrying the lunchbox inside, and said cautiously, "Young Master, your meal is here!"

Behind him followed several maidservants preparing to serve Seventh Young Master.

Seventh Young Master suddenly said something that only Zheng Fa could understand: "Above your head is me, is the Zhao Family. And above my head, is the Immortal Sect..."

With that, he seemed to lose interest and waved his hand, telling Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan to leave.

Gao Yuan followed Zheng Fa out of the study, somewhat bewildered, and asked, "What did Young Master mean just now?"

"He means, both of us are staying."

"Really?" Gao Yuan asked excitedly, "Why?"

"Because we solved those diagrams."

"Does Young Master really believe it was us who solved them together? Didn't he see you were lying? Is he... stupid?" Gao Yuan lowered his voice.

"Alright, actually he saw through it. He kept you because he's actually a good person," Zheng Fa revealed his truest thoughts.

"Then I still think he's stupid," Gao Yuan's voice was even lower.

Zheng Fa looked at him strangely: "...Young man, with your way of thinking, staying here is quite dangerous."

He silently told himself, in this world, who is born naturally submissive?