Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World-Chapter 27 - Grace
Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Grace
Chapter 27 -27 Grace
Inside a small tower deep within the Zhao Mansion, the Seventh Young Master stood amidst layers of curtains, his head lowered, refusing to look at the lady on the couch, standing a full ten feet away.
No one spoke.
The maids standing beside the couch were breathing lightly, and the few young girls who had been quietly playing music in a corner had already slipped away.
Aside from the tinkling sound of jade rings clinking against one another when the wind blew the curtains, there was not a whisper of noise.
Finally, the lady broke the silence.
“Fan’er, how long has it been since you last visited me?”
The Seventh Young Master remained silent, not speaking, nor lifting his head.
“Why is there such a distance between mother and son?
You stand so far away, unwilling to even glance at your own mother?”
The Seventh Young Master lifted his head, his gaze landing on the lady’s face, but his eyes were devoid of emotion.
Though termed mother and son, both their faces seemed more like peers.
The lady appeared not a day over twenty, her hair lazily tied in a bun, with strands of black hair falling on her perked lips, exuding laziness and an air of indifferent comfort.
“What do you want with me?”
The Seventh Young Master inquired.
“I heard you are very pleased with the two Attendant Students this time around?
Kept them both?”
“What’s it to you?”
“You are my child, and I am your mother.
Everything about you, I hold close to my heart.” The lady’s face remained gentle, accustomed as she was to her son’s impudence.
The Seventh Young Master snorted softly through his nose.
“I am glad, for from a young age you were solitary, closing yourself off from everyone.
It is their good fortune that these two Attendant Students caught your eye, and it eases a concern of mine,” continued the lady.
“Thank you for your concern, Mother,” said the Seventh Young Master, almost unable to suppress the sarcasm on his face.
“I know you don’t believe me.” The lady’s gaze remained gentle, “But you are nevertheless my child.
I wish I could personally plant each blade of grass by your side, and select every person around you to ensure you are not deceived.”
“So, what then?”
“Why do you value them both?”
“They caught my fancy,” replied the Seventh Young Master succinctly.
“Oh?
A youth from a farm, utterly ordinary, the son of a steward, and he just happened to catch your fancy?
Fan’er, you aren’t usually so easily satisfied.”
The Seventh Young Master was silent for a while before he reluctantly spoke, “Gao Yuan, he is diligent and honest in his work, he has been educated, and is good for odd jobs at my side.
He can assist in managing the household in the future.”
“As for Zheng Fa, he has incredible talent in the talismanic Dao.
Collaborating with him in talismanic studies will hasten my progress in this field.”
The lady nodded, seemingly agreeing with his explanation, but then she suddenly shook her head, “Zheng Fa does have talent, indeed, but keeping Gao Yuan wasn’t your idea, was it?”
“…”
“Why would a young master like you listen to Zheng Fa, an Attendant Student?”
The Seventh Young Master’s fists clenched tightly, and there was a hint of anger in his eyes as he looked at the lady.
“Yes, Zheng Fa reminds you of yourself,” the lady said, as if unsurprised, “You are still upset that I did not allow you to go to the Qingmu Sect but sent your sister instead.”
“Both my sister and I have Dual Spirit Roots, according to the rules of the Qingmu Sect, our Zhao Family should have been able to secure two such placements…”
The voice of the Seventh Young Master was very low.
“But back then, there was only one, just like the difficult situation you presented to Zheng Fa.”
“Another one—was it not available, or… was it taken away by my maternal grandfather?”
“Fan’er!
You hold resentment towards me, but as your mother, I can bear it!” The lady stood up from the bed: “But your great-grandfather was a Golden Core cultivator.
How could you, a junior, dare to offend him?”
“I dare not.” The Seventh Young Master lowered his head.
The lady’s tone softened a bit: “I am the least favored grandchild of your great-grandfather, and I never had much dignity in front of him.
Fan’er, you must never speak such words outside.”
“The child understands, but why does a Golden Core cultivator…
need to snatch our Zhao Mansion’s apprenticeship spot?” The Seventh Young Master’s tone softened a bit, but the resentment in his words did not diminish at all.
“I only know the general situation about this matter,” The lady’s face showed bitterness for the first time: “According to your great-grandfather, the Spiritual Mechanism of the Xuanwei Realm has been slowly dwindling over the past ten thousand years.
The great figures of the Immortal Sect have deduced that the Spiritual Energy will become thinner and thinner, insufficient to support the cultivation of more cultivators.”
“Ten thousand years ago, with your Dual Spirit Roots, you would surely have been able to enter the Qingmu Sect and even be considered to have excellent qualifications within the Sect.” The lady looked at the Seventh Young Master with some pity: “But now, even with Dual Spirit Roots, to be accepted into Qingmu Sect depends on whether there are spots available.
Only those with a Single Spirit Root or even better talents are considered geniuses that must be taken in.”
“So, is that why fewer and fewer of our Zhao Family have been entering Qingmu Sect over these thousand years?”
“Exactly so, even as a Golden Core cultivator, your great-grandfather cannot fulfill the wishes of every descendant.”
“So he’s sacrificing me?” Upon hearing this, the Seventh Young Master’s tone became indignant again.
“…” The lady simply looked at him and said no more.
The Seventh Young Master took a couple of deep breaths and finally managed to suppress the emotions in his heart: “Mother, you cannot reserve two spots for entry, but I must keep these two people.”
“Alright.”
“Mother?”
“Since that incident, have I refused you anything?
No matter how much you misbehave, haven’t I always indulged you?
Even if you continue to be disappointing, this Zhao Mansion will still be yours in the future…”
The Seventh Young Master looked down: “I just, cannot reconcile myself to this.”
The lady stood up and reached out her hand, wanting to touch this son who was almost taller than herself.
The Seventh Young Master stepped back, and her hand lingered mid-air.
After a moment of silence, she said, “Both of them can stay by your side, but this Zheng Fa…”
“What about Zheng Fa?”
“I know you like his temperament, and since he has talent, a bit of temperament is not a problem.” The lady spoke with a level tone laced with a hint of indifference: “But having a temperament is not enough, we have to see if he truly has the brains.”
“Mother!” The Seventh Young Master seemed a little anxious.
“Don’t worry, Mom won’t harm him.
Since the decline of the Spiritual Mechanism, the Hundred Skills of Immortal Cultivation have been valued even more.
Otherwise, why would I have had you study the talismanic Dao?
If you really succeed, you might even be able to enter Qingmu Sect.
Since he has this talent, it’s beneficial for our Zhao Family too.
I will grant him even greater favors.”
“Go fetch ‘Spiritual Crane Body’ and hand it over to Mr.
Xu; he knows what to do,” the lady turned and said to a maid beside her.
“‘Spiritual Crane Body’?
You want to teach this to Zheng Fa too?” The Seventh Young Master was a bit surprised.
“His mother and sister, they are at the farm, right?” Instead of answering him, the lady thought for a moment and said, “Find some time in the next couple of days to bring them both to the mansion and settle them in.”
The Seventh Young Master was at a loss for words.
This was indeed a tremendous favor.
“Fan’er, remember, forming bonds of kindness and gratitude is the best shackle for a true genius.”
“What if…
he is not someone who knows gratitude in return?”
“That’s why I have prepared one final favor for him; your sister has successfully entered the Inner Sect and will be coming back for a short stay after the new year.”
“Sister?”
“Your sister has become an Inner Sect Disciple and can bring two attendants into Qingmu Sect.
If Zheng Fa truly has the talent to become a Talisman Master and manages to cultivate ‘Spiritual Crane Body’, then I will give him one of those attendant spots.”
“Mother, he is my man!” The Seventh Young Master protested.
“So, will he realize this?” The lady smiled faintly.
“…Facing the temptation of entering the Immortal Sect, who could refuse?”
“When that time comes, you should grow up…”
She touched the top of the Seventh Young Master’s head, and this time, the son who usually kept his distance did not pull away.
