At the First University, due to similar education and assessments, the gap between common wizards and noble wizards didn’t leave a deep impression on Zheng Qing, beyond one knowing a bit more and the other knowing a bit less.

It’s like the difference between a plate of plain cabbage and Qianlong cabbage; the appearance doesn’t seem much different.

Years ago, he lived at Greenhill Mansion for a while and deeply understood the unique daily details of noble wizards’ lives — like how the flowers in the garden bloom every morning according to the mansion owner’s mood, or how the mansion provides a whole luxurious team of tutors for the little foxes barely two years old, or how every curtain cleaning requires changing the carpet, portraits on the walls, even the furnishings in the room to maintain color and style consistency.

Of course, in Zheng Qing’s eyes, these details seemed more like the wealth of Qingqiu and the Great Wizard rank of Su Shijun, having little to do with the clans or commoners.

Until this time, upon arriving at Shanglin Garden.

Seeing the giant dragon mounts slowly descending on the Fallen Dragon Rock, carried by strong winds, hearing wizards of similar age, both male and female, excitedly discussing fun stories about demon hunting in the North Sea, and the latest magic paper by Sackray and Mary Wosh Cocktail, he keenly yet unknowingly sensed the vast chasm that lay between ordinary wizards and aristocratic disciples.

Observe the subtle and discover the large.

That’s how wizards from clan backgrounds gradually expand their advantage on the path of magic.

"...Other ways, similar to the ’Symbol Way.’

Before him, facing Zheng Qing, with hands behind his back, Jiang Yu patiently explained the meaning of the Three Ancients and Four Paths:

"...’Tea Way’ includes contents like ’magic potion, divination, and rituals,’ like brewing different flavored and therapeutic teas, using water of various attributes such as warm, cold, mild, hot, yang, yin for different conditions; having to master skills to interpret the tea in front of guests from the perspective of mysticism and divination, including the state of mist, the shape of tea leaves pile, etc.

’Flower Way’ involves artistically combining parts of trees and plants like branches, leaves, flowers, and through this method, feeling life’s changes, enhancing the connection between wizard and nature. This process places a great emphasis on grasping concepts like ’Yin Yang,’ ’Five Elements,’ ’Feng Shui,’ ’fate,’ ’breath,’ even ’Star Signs’ — it tests the wizard’s subtle understanding of magic power and nature.

As for ’Yu Dao,’ it’s the skill of beast taming and riding. Like my family, everyone has to choose a Haired Dragon from an early age, learning how to brush its hair, trim its nails, clean its dragon horns, wash the dragon whiskers, even judging its health by its excreta, keeping track of its sleep time, etc. In comparison, riding them around is actually the easiest part. Of course, it’s not always easy; sometimes, elders might suddenly assign you a Haired Dragon you’ve never met, requiring immediate appeasement, which calls for special caution, as one misstep might send you flying..."

"Is it very dangerous?"

Zheng Qing couldn’t resist asking but immediately realized his question was excessive.

The witch didn’t mind, answering with a smile: "Magic is always dangerous. But nowadays, daughters generally aren’t sent to tame those dangerous beasts directly like ancient witches who harvested Dragon’s Saliva themselves. Likewise, terrible jobs like saddling and cleaning excreta of Haired Dragons are no longer personally done by us; brushing their hair is the toughest now."

As she spoke, Zheng Qing noticed a small stone on the road.

He discreetly flicked a finger.

From the bushes along the road, a slim green vine shot out like a predatory grass snake, coiled around the small stone, then quietly retracted.

The witch seemed completely unaware of the boy’s little move, indifferent as she walked backward, but her smile became even more radiant.

"...I remember you complained to me about drawing talismans all the time when you were a child, so much that your wrist got swollen — it was really tiring?" She tilted her head, suddenly asking Zheng Qing.

The boy hesitated, nodding.

Whenever his companions praised his high talisman skills, he always modestly deflected, complaining slightly about how tiring childhood practices were, how many talisman scrolls he had to copy each week, etc. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Previously, he didn’t find his complaints unsuitable; but today, hearing Jiang Yu mention the magical knowledge he needed to learn as a child, he suddenly felt his complaints were somewhat pretentious.

Sure enough, seeing Zheng Qing nod, the witch shook her head slightly.

"Everyone is like this."

She raised her hand, showing a thumb-sized darker patch of skin on her wrist — Zheng Qing suddenly got a subtle feeling she intended to bridge the gap between them — with a serious tone: "Training in any magical skill involves a long and tedious process; your talisman painting is like this, and our ’Three Ancients and Four Ways’ are the same.

In comparison, finding a bit of joy in this hardship is very helpful.

Like before I was twelve, I had ’Flower Way,’ ’Symbol Way’ every Monday morning, then an ’Yu Dao,’ a ’Dance Skill’ class in the afternoon; then again on Tuesday, morning etiquette, cooking, afternoon continued ’Yu Dao,’ ’Tea Way,’ etc... seven days a week, four classes a day — way tougher than university!"

"No wonder you can endure the intensity of seven classes a week now." Zheng Qing sincerely praised, then curiously asked: "If you could choose, which class do you think was the worst?"

"Every class was terrible."

The witch restrained her smile, looked up at the sky, eyes showing a hint of nostalgia: "But the worst, I think, was cooking because you had to eat the food you made... But, for those with good talent, it’s very enjoyable."

"The best class then?"

The witch seriously pondered.

"Certain parts of etiquette class."

She gave an unexpectedly normal answer: "Part of the etiquette class taught how to dress, and during that period, every class allowed us to buy loads of pretty clothes, which was very welcome. Occasionally, needing to host social tea gatherings or evening ’Star Observation parties’ at home was very fun... Just a group of little witches gathered, watching stars, drawing star maps, examining the shapes of tea leaves in each other’s cups, etc. Sometimes elders invited guests like Phoenixes, Ninfus, or Mermen... Most of the languages of these alien races I learned from my schedule during those times."