Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World-Chapter 58 - Hobbies

Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Hobbies

Chapter 58 -58 Hobbies

The green phoenix in the sky folded its wings, and the two women riding on its back descended to the ground.

“Zhang, let’s go see my mother first!” said the Zhao Mansion’s young mistress in red.

The Zhang she mentioned did not speak but simply nodded slightly, her expression somewhat aloof.

The two headed towards the two-story building where the lady resided.

As they got closer to the building, Miss Zhao’s steps quickened.

The lady, who almost never came downstairs, was already waiting at the entrance of the building.

Upon seeing her mother’s figure, Miss Zhao could no longer contain her excitement and ran into her mother’s arms.

“Mother!”

Mother and daughter had been apart for ten years, and there should have been countless words to say upon meeting.

But besides calling out “Mother,” she seemed unable to say anything else.

She began to sob uncontrollably, burying her head in her mother’s arms.

Her mother gently stroked her daughter’s hairpin, remembering her daughter as the little girl she was when she left home, just starting to grow her hair, with tiny thin braids.

Now, the daughter in her arms had grown tall and graceful, even taller than herself, her head now covered in thick black hair.

Somehow, her heart filled with bitterness, and her eyes began to warm up.

Sniffing, the lady tried to hold back her tears and chided, “You’re all grown up, yet you cry upon seeing me, just like when you were little.

What a sight.”

Her hoarse voice, however, inadvertently revealed the turmoil in her heart.

Zhang stood some distance away, seemingly giving the long-separated mother and daughter some space.

The lady looked up at Zhang and patted her daughter’s back, “You brought a friend home and just left her aside without introducing?”

Miss Zhao lifted her head, her face streaked with tears, and shyly rubbed her face on her mother’s clothes before turning back to call her companion, “Zhang, this is my mother.”

Zhang stepped closer, nodded slightly towards the lady, her demeanor polite yet distant, still remaining silent.

Miss Zhao then introduced her to her mother, “Mother, this is Zhang from Jiushan Sect, the youngest genius Talisman Master of the Hundred Immortals Alliance, who has now attained the Golden Core cultivation!”

The lady originally felt the guest was a bit rude, but upon hearing her identity, she realized this person had the credentials.

Jiushan Sect, like Qingmu Sect, was a sect with Nascent Soul elders, and the Hundred Immortals Alliance was no ordinary coalition; it was a closely-knit alliance formed by many Immortal Sects, with immense power and countless cultivators.

Jiushan and Qingmu Sect were also members of the Hundred Immortals Alliance.

In such a significant power, being called the youngest genius Talisman Master by Miss Zhao, Zhang’s expertise in talismanic Dao was evident, not to mention she was a Golden Core true person.

The lady solemnly bowed deeply to Zhang, “I was unaware of the presence of a Golden Core true person and have been rude.”

Zhang, still with a cold look, spoke modestly and politely, “Madam is too courteous.

Zhao is my good friend, and Grandmaster Zhao is also my elder.

Let’s focus on our relationship, not cultivation levels.”

“Then…” the lady hesitated, glanced at her daughter, who nodded at her, before she spoke, “Then I shall presume to call you a gracious niece.

I have asked the maids to prepare tea; please have a seat.”

Even so, the lady remained cautious and uneasy, fearful of offending this genius Golden Core true person.

The three ascended the small building, and after Miss Zhao freshened up, they began to chat over tea.

The lady, afraid of offending Zhang, kept an eye on her mood.

Gradually, she noticed that Zhang was probably not haughty but just not very talkative, occasionally showing a slight sense of discomfiture when the lady tried to engage her in conversation.

If she spoke only with her daughter, Zhang seemed slightly relieved.

Understanding Zhang’s temperament better, the lady chose not to deliberately engage her in conversation anymore, and indeed, Zhang’s behavior appeared more natural, showing no interest in their conversation.

As she and her daughter chatted, Zhang seemed a bit bored and pointed at a small bookshelf, asking, “May I take a look?”

“Gracious niece, please feel at home,” the lady responded warmly.

Zhang nodded and began browsing a book from the shelf.

After chatting for a while, the lady, still worried about neglecting Zhang, occasionally checked on her and saw that she seemed engrossed in the book and did not care if they paid her any attention.

“Are you interested in this book?” the lady asked, noticing the title ‘Junior High School Mathematics’ in her hands, and laughed, “This book gives me a headache, but I heard it was passed down by a Nascent Soul.”

Zhang looked up, pondered, then nodded, “That’s no empty talk.

May I take this book with me?”

The lady was taken aback for a moment, and since Zhang offered no explanation, the lady did not press further, simply saying generously, “This book was a gift from one of my son’s Attendant Students, feel free to take it if you are interested.”

She thought for a moment, feeling it inappropriate to sideline a guest while talking only with her daughter, especially given the presence of a Golden Core true person.

Thus, she addressed Zhang, “It’s been a tiring journey.

I’ve had a clean guest room prepared in the small courtyard next to Shan’er’s yard.

Why don’t you rest there first?”

Zhang nodded and stood up following the maid who led the way.

As they reached the door, Zhang suddenly turned back to ask, “What’s the name of that Attendant Student?”

“His name is Zheng Fa.”

“Zheng Fa.”

Zhang nodded as if committing the name to memory, took the book, and left.

As her figure disappeared into the small building, the lady gently patted her chest and took a deep breath.

The daughter asked, “Mother, why are you so afraid of Sister Zhang?”

The lady replied irritably, “It’s all your fault, bringing such an ancestor back!”

Ignoring her mother’s words, the daughter asked another question, “That Zheng Fa, is he the Attendant Student you mentioned in your letter?”

“That’s him.”

“Mother, in your letter, you asked me to keep a position for him as an attendant.

It was possible before, but now I’m afraid it’s not feasible.”

The lady was stunned and frowned, “I have already promised him.”

“Mother, you don’t know the reason behind it,” Miss Zhao explained, “This time, entering the inner gate, I have two attendant positions available, one I have already agreed to give to a brother’s family member within the Sect.

The other, I want to reserve for my brother just in case.”

“Your brother?

Isn’t he going to attend the Immortal Item meeting?”

“When I returned, I heard that the requirements for this Immortal Item meeting have increased, and my brother’s Dual Spirit Roots might not be ranked as top-grade, thus failing to enter Qingmu Sect…”

The lady had not heard of this and was suddenly a bit at a loss, “What about your brother then?”

“Mother, don’t panic.

I have asked Sister Zhang to come back to teach my brother talismanic magic.

Sister Zhang is famous for her talismanic magic within the Hundred Immortals Alliance.

With her guidance, my brother might have the possibility to use talismanic magic to achieve a top-grade rank.”

Only then did the lady understand why her daughter wanted to bring Sister Zhang back.

“What about the attendant position…”

Miss Zhao sighed, “As you clearly stated in your letter, mother, my brother is not ambitious.

I’m worried that even with Sister Zhang, his talismanic magic might not improve much.

If he doesn’t succeed at the Immortal Item meeting, I will have him serve as my attendant and follow me to Qingmu Sect.”

The lady was still somewhat hesitant.

“Mother!

The requirements for the Immortal Item meeting are getting higher each time.

If he fails this year, he will have even less chance in the future!” Miss Zhao’s voice suddenly lowered, “Mother, do you want my brother to waste his life like father, who could not enter the Immortal Sect and drowned himself in alcohol and debauchery?”

Upon hearing this, the lady finally nodded.

“No matter what, I must bring my brother into the Immortal Sect this time.

If my brother successfully passes the Immortal Item meeting and enters Qingmu Sect, I will give the attendant position to that Zheng Fa just like you said.”

Remembering Sister Zhang’s demeanor from before, the lady tentatively asked, “Sister Zhang, is she not easy to get along with…

With Shan’er’s temperament, I’m afraid he won’t learn much and might even offend her, a Golden Core and a genius in talismanic magic.

Our Zhao family really can’t afford to offend her.”

“Sister Zhang…” Miss Zhao’s expression suddenly turned a bit odd, “She is just not good at interacting with others, in fact, she’s quite naive.”

“Not good at?”

“To put it accurately, it’s others who are afraid to interact with her.

Over time, she also has little to say to others.” Miss Zhao hesitated slightly, her expression showing a hint of fear, and said through gritted teeth, “Her hobby is kind of peculiar.”

The lady had a puzzled look on her face.

“Mother, don’t worry about what kind of person Sister Zhang is, just know that if it weren’t for our Zhao family having an old relation with Sister Zhang’s family elders, and my good relationship with her, she wouldn’t have come to visit.” Saying this, Miss Zhao’s expression turned a bit proud: “There are many who want to learn talismanic magic from Sister Zhang.

She is very difficult to request!”

…

At the Zheng family house.

After lunch, Zheng Fa was practicing the Songhe Stance in the courtyard.

He was always diligent, and even though he had mastered the Songhe Stance, he still practiced it every day.

A gentle knock came from the door.

Who could be looking for him?

He walked to the door and found that the knocker was a woman in a blue Taoist robe, with a cold expression, holding a book.

“Did you write this?”

She handed the book to Zheng Fa—it was “junior high school mathematics.”

That thing, other than the young master’s study, only the lady had a copied version.

“Someone else taught it to me.”

Zheng Fa knew this person must have some connection to the Zhao Mansion and wouldn’t have an insignificant background, so he plainly told the truth.

“Then are you very good at calculations?” Unexpectedly, the woman’s eyes suddenly lit up, her expression becoming livelier.

“Not really good, just…

studied more than others.”

Remembering his average mathematical talent in the modern world, Zheng Fa was modest.

But compared to others in this world, he felt he should be quite strong.

“So, do you also find yourself bored and do math problems to pass the time?” The woman’s eyes became even more eager.

“Also?

Bored?

Solve problems to pass the time?”

Zheng Fa struggled to understand the logic in her words, repeating them.

Then, he saw the woman nodding repeatedly, her expression eager, eyes filled with expectation, as if she had found a rare kindred spirit.

In the courtyard, Mrs.

Zheng looked at Zheng Fa, her expression seeming to ask about this uninvited guest.

…Hmm, a weirdo.