Grace

In the small building deep within the Zhao Manor, the Seventh Young Master stood within layers of curtains, head bowed, not looking at the Madam on the couch. He stood a good ten feet away from it.

No one spoke.

The maidservant standing by the couch breathed lightly, and the girls playing soft music in the corner had long since quietly departed.

Other than the tinkling sound of jade rings colliding as the wind rustled the curtains, there was not a single other sound.

Finally, the Madam broke the silence.

"Fan'er, how long has it been since you last visited me?"

The Seventh Young Master remained silent, not speaking, nor looking up.

"We are mother and son, why are you so distant? You stand so far away, you won't even spare your mother a glance?"

The Seventh Young Master looked up, his gaze falling on the Madam's face, but his eyes were devoid of emotion.

Though they were mother and son, their faces looked like they belonged to the same generation.

The Madam, from her appearance, was no more than a woman in her early twenties. Her hair was loosely tied in a bun, with a few strands of dark silk falling towards the corners of her upturned lips, exuding a lazy, self-assured air.

"What did you want me to come here for?"

The Seventh Young Master asked.

"I heard you were quite pleased with the two pages this time? You've kept them both?"

"What business is it of yours?"

"You are my child, I am your mother. Your affairs are always my top priority." As if accustomed to her son's rudeness, the Madam's face remained full of tenderness.

The Seventh Young Master let out a snort from his nose.

"Your mother is very happy. You've been aloof since you were young, not close to anyone. It's their good fortune that these two pages have caught your eye, and it also relieves one of my worries," the Madam continued.

"Thank you for your concern, Mother." The mockery on the Seventh Young Master's face was almost uncontrollable.

"I know you don't believe me." The Madam's gaze remained gentle. "But you are my child, after all. For everything around you, I wish I could have planted it myself. For everyone around you, I want to carefully select them for you, to prevent you from being deceived."

"So?"

"So, I want to ask, why do you value those two?"

"They caught my eye." The Seventh Young Master explained briefly.

"Is that so? A common youth raised on a farm, and the son of a steward, suddenly caught your eye? Fan'er, your standards aren't that low."

The Seventh Young Master was silent for a moment before reluctantly speaking, "Gao Yuan is diligent and honest in his work, and he has studied. It's good to have him around to do odd jobs. He can be of assistance in managing the household in the future."

"As for Zheng Fa, he has great talent in the Talisman Path. By sparring with him, I can also improve faster in this area."

The Madam nodded, seemingly agreeing with his explanation, but then suddenly shook her head. "Zheng Fa's talent is indeed good, but keeping Gao Yuan wasn't your idea, was it?"

"..."

"As a Young Master, why would you listen to a page like Zheng Fa?"

The Seventh Young Master's fists clenched suddenly, and a hint of anger flickered in his eyes as he looked at the Madam.

"Yes, Zheng Fa reminds you of yourself." The Madam seemed unsurprised. "You still resent that I didn't let you go to the Qingmu Sect, but let your sister go."

"My sister and I both have Dual Spiritual Roots. According to the rules of the Qingmu Sect, our Zhao Family is entitled to two spots for Dual Spiritual Roots..."

The Seventh Young Master's voice was very low.

"But back then, there was only one, just like the dilemma you and Zheng Fa faced."

"And the other one, was it not there, or... was it taken by your great-grandfather?"

"Fan'er! You resent me, and as your mother, I can tolerate it!" The Madam got up from the couch. "But your great-grandfather is a Golden Core Cultivator, how can you, a junior, offend him?"

"I dare not." The Seventh Young Master lowered his head.

The Madam's tone softened slightly. "I was my great-grandfather's least favored grandchild, and I had little dignity in front of him. Fan'er, you must never say such things outside."

"This child understands. A Golden Core Cultivator... why would he still snatch our Zhao Family's disciple recruitment spots?" The Seventh Young Master's tone softened a little, but the resentment in his words did not diminish.

"Regarding this matter, I only know the general outline." For the first time, a bitter expression appeared on the Madam's face. "According to your great-grandfather, the spiritual energy in the Xuanwei Realm has been slowly decreasing over the past ten thousand years. According to the calculations of the great figures in the Immortal Sects, the spiritual energy will become increasingly thin, insufficient to support more cultivators."

"Ten thousand years ago, someone with Dual Spiritual Roots like you, Fan'er, could definitely enter the Qingmu Sect, and even be considered an excellent talent within the sect." The Madam looked at the Seventh Young Master with some heartache. "But now, even those with Dual Spiritual Roots need to see if there are spots available to be accepted into the Qingmu Sect. Only those with Single Spiritual Roots or even better aptitudes are considered geniuses that must be taken in."

"So, the number of people from our Zhao Family entering the Qingmu Sect over the past thousand years has decreased with each passing year?"

"Precisely. Your great-grandfather, as a Golden Core Cultivator, could not fulfill every descendant's wish."

"So, I was sacrificed?" Hearing this, the Seventh Young Master's tone became indignant again.

"..." The Madam just looked at him, saying no more.

The Seventh Young Master took two deep breaths, finally suppressing the emotions within him. "Mother, you couldn't keep two entry spots, but I want to keep these two people."

"Alright."

"Mother?"

"After that incident, what haven't I agreed to for you? Even if you act out, haven't I tolerated it? Even if you are disappointing, this Zhao Manor will be yours in the future..."

The Seventh Young Master lowered his gaze. "It's just that I... am unwilling."

The Madam stood up and reached out, wanting to touch her son, who was already almost as tall as she was.

The Seventh Young Master took a step back, her hand hovering in the air. After a moment of silence, she said, "Both of them can stay by your side, but Zheng Fa..."

"What about Zheng Fa?"

"I know you like his spirit. Since he has talent, a bit of spirit is fine," the Madam said, her tone flat yet tinged with indifference. "But spirit alone isn't enough. We need to see if he truly has the brains for it."

"Mother!" the Seventh Young Master said, a little anxious.

"Don't worry, Mother won't harm him. Since the spiritual energy has become scarce, all the arts of cultivation have become even more valued. Otherwise, why would I have you study the Talisman Path? If you truly achieve something, you might even enter the Qingmu Sect. If he has this talent, it's also beneficial to our Zhao Family. I will grant him more favor."

"Go get the Crane Body Technique and give it to Instructor Xu. He'll know what to do," the Madam said, turning to the Maidservant beside her.

"The Crane Body Technique? Are you giving that to Zheng Fa too?" the Seventh Young Master asked, surprised.

"His mother and sister are at the estate?" the Madam didn't answer him, instead pondering for a moment. "Find some time in the next couple of days and bring them here. Settle them into the mansion."

The Seventh Young Master was speechless.

This was truly a tremendous favor.

"Fan'er, remember, for a true genius, kindness and obligation are the best chains."

"What if... he's not someone who repays kindness?"

"That's why I've prepared a final favor for him. Your sister has already successfully entered the inner sect and will be back for a short stay after the New Year."

"Sister?"

"Your sister has become an inner sect disciple and can bring two personal attendants into the Qingmu Sect. If Zheng Fa truly has the talent to become a Talisman Master and can master the Crane Body Technique, I'll give him one of those attendant spots."

"Mother, he's my person!" the Seventh Young Master protested.

"So, will he be able to understand that?" the Madam smiled faintly.

"... Faced with the temptation of entering an Immortal Sect, who wouldn't give it up?"

"By then, you should have grown up..."

She stroked the Seventh Young Master's head. This time, her usually distant son didn't flinch away.