Chapter 101

If a woman becomes happier because of another man, you should reflect on why you cannot make her happier, rather than blaming her—or worse, blaming him.

Don't you think so, Yuan Shijie?

Zheng Fa stared at Yuan Shijie, trying to convey this life truth through his gaze.

Unfortunately, Yuan Shijie clearly didn't grasp his deeper meaning; instead, she pointed at the desk piled high with account books and groaned in despair: "Three days! I haven't left this room for three whole days!"

It was obvious that being locked in a room to pore over account books was a form of torture for Yuan Shijie, who preferred being a hands-off shopkeeper.

Zheng Fa followed her finger and saw that the account books didn't just occupy the desk—they were stacked haphazardly on the floor, flaunting their overwhelming volume. The workload was truly immense.

Naturally, Jiushan Sect needed account books to tax every transaction in the marketplace.

Unfortunately… this marketplace was extremely bustling. Not counting the shops, even the hundreds of small stalls generated astronomical daily transaction volumes.

Seeing Zheng Fa silent, Yuan Shijie reached out, snatched up an account book, and shoved it into his hands, all while saying: "Sister says you're good at arithmetic. Since you stole Zhang Shijie's duties, these are now your responsibility!"

Then…

"If you won't agree, fine—but why sneak attack me with a Lei Fu?" Yuan Shijie pulled her hand back, frowned at Zheng Fa, and glared with irritation: "If you're going to ambush me, use a stronger one! That was like scratching an itch—do you think I'm not worth it?"

Wait, are you angry because you got shocked—or because the shock was too weak?

"Forgive me, Sister," Zheng Fa explained. "I've just formed my Five Thunder Dharma Body and haven't yet mastered its control."

"Five Thunder Dharma Body? You've refined your skin? That cultivation technique isn't supposed to show results for seven days!" Yuan Shijie blinked, tilted her head, and began counting on her fingers as if recalling something: "Didn't Sister give you the Mystic Thunder Stone three days ago? Did I miscount seven days of accounting? Am I really this diligent…? Impossible?"

… You know yourself too well.

Yuan Shijie realized it didn't make sense—no matter how lost she got in accounting, she wouldn't miscount the days.

"You refined your skin in three days?" She scanned Zheng Fa up and down: "When the Sect Master reached this stage, it took him seven days."

Yuan Shijie looked at Zheng Fa with astonishment, as if she knew the Sect Master intimately: "Could you really be a genius at cultivating the Five Thunder Dharma Body?"

Behind Zheng Fa, Han Qi and the other two exchanged glances—they all sensed they'd just heard something monumental.

Spread the word: Zheng Fa's talent surpasses the Sect Master's!

Zheng Fa was about to humble himself when Yuan Shijie's cold voice cut in: "Even if the Sect Master shows up today, he's still helping me with these accounts!"

"This… these account books concern the marketplace. I'm just a new disciple—isn't it inappropriate for me to handle them?"

Zheng Fa wanted to refuse.

It wasn't his idea to pay Zhang Shijie monthly tribute questions!

He was the victim too, wasn't he?

"Don't want to agree?"

"Younger brother is truly unfit for such a task."

"…Five spirit stones per month."

"To assist Sister, younger brother gladly accepts!"

Zheng Fa gripped the account books tightly, trying to demonstrate his dedication to the sect through action.

…

Evening. Zheng Fa's small courtyard.

After a full day of accounting, Zheng Fa held a talisman brush and carefully traced the talisman pattern onto paper.

Although working for Sister earned him five spirit stones monthly, it clearly wasn't enough to cover his Yuan Yuan Dan consumption.

More importantly, this was an unstable side job.

Yuan Shijie didn't seem reliable at all—she acted on whims, and might change her mind any day.

Or what if Zhang Shijie suddenly got the itch again and insisted on reclaiming the account books for fun?

Zheng Fa resolved: he must rely on his own hands—work hard to grow rich!

Account books by day, talismans by night, cultivation after midnight—as long as overwork doesn't kill him, he'd work until he dropped.

When he returned, he'd also inquired about the price of mystic-grade talismans in the marketplace.

Although Jiushan Sect had many mystic-grade talisman artisans, mystic-grade talismans were still far more valuable than the flood of yellow-grade ones.

Depending on the talisman type, prices ranged from five talismans per spirit stone to three talismans per spirit stone.

According to Zheng Fa's estimate, his daily spiritual energy could produce three talismans—his monthly income would be roughly twenty to thirty spirit stones.

Once his cultivation deepened, he'd earn even more.

To Foundation Establishment mystic-grade talisman artisans, this might not be much.

But I'm Qi Condensation!

A thirty-year-old earning ten thousand a month and a three-year-old earning ten thousand a month—could they be the same?

…

Han Qi, accompanied by his two followers, was walking toward Zheng Fa's courtyard.

He carried a box half his height, moving slowly—mainly because the two behind him kept stopping and dragging him back.

"Han Shixiong, aren't we keeping anything?"

The tall, thin one asked, staring at the box with obvious reluctance.

"If you want to take your own money back, take it now," Han Qi said after a pause. "I'm giving mine—but you don't have to join me."

"We three brothers have done everything together for decades!" The tall one's face flushed red. "When you said you'd leave Jiushan Sect, we followed without hesitation! When you said you'd stay, we stayed too! But this is a lifetime's savings—give it all to Zheng Fa? Is it worth it?"

"I don't know," Han Qi sighed. "I don't truly understand what kind of person he is."

"But I know he's greatly favored by Zhang Shijie."

"What status did Zhou Qianyuan have? Still, he tried to curry favor with Zheng Fa."

"More importantly, he's mastered the Five Thunder Dharma Body faster than the Sect Master—this technique no one has cultivated in a thousand years!" Han Qi spoke slowly, each word deliberate: "Even Yuan Shijie… is rushing to give him spirit stones!"

"Give spirit stones?" The tall one blinked. "Isn't that just his accounting wage?"

"Bullshit! How many years have we served Yuan Shijie? Did we ever get paid?" Han Qi cursed. "Five spirit stones? I'd eat the account books if she asked me to!"

"..."

Seeing the two fall silent, Han Qi spoke again: "We've been saying 'leave, leave' for years now. Where could we go if we left? The Jiushan Sect is our home. If we can find a patron here, we don't need great wealth or nobility; as long as we can live in peace and stability, I still don't want to leave."

"I don't want to either."

"There's no one left in our family."

The other two nodded in agreement.

"Exactly. I thought it would take Zheng Fa some time to grow, but he entered the sect as a mystic-grade talisman master and has already cultivated the Five Thunder Dharma Body." Han Qi voiced his own idea: "Now is precisely when he needs money. If we don't seize this opportunity, it will be too late."

The tall, thin man nodded lightly, convinced by his words.

But his gaze at the chest remained reluctant.

"We've saved all this over so many years." He said with a mournful face: "Senior Brother, open it and let me see it one more time, just one look!"

Han Qi sighed and opened the chest.

Inside lay almost a full chest of gold.

Covering the top were more than ten spirit stones.

The tall, thin man reluctantly touched each of the dozen or so spirit stones one by one, as if bidding a final farewell.

"Let's go. You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child!" Han Qi, making a ruthless decision, closed the chest.

As the three had just reached the entrance of Zheng Fa's small courtyard, they saw someone they really didn't want to meet knocking on the door.

Zhou Qianyuan!

The three exchanged glances, all feeling a bad premonition in their hearts.

"Is Zheng Shixiong in?" Zhou Qianyuan called out while knocking.

Zheng Fa opened the door, first seeing Zhou Qianyuan at the entrance, then Han Qi and the others a bit further back.

"You... what do you need?"

"I heard Zheng Shixiong is a bit tight on funds. Junior Brother I currently have some spare money and was worried I wouldn't be able to use it all." Zhou Qianyuan said with a smile, taking a black storage bag that looked exquisite from his waist.

The mouth of the bag opened, and a small box appeared in Zhou Qianyuan's hand.

"Here are forty spirit stones. I hope Zheng Shixiong will not decline."

Looking at Zhou Qianyuan's earnest words, Zheng Fa was somewhat stunned.

Is this the Su Hanjin of a Nascent Soul's favored disciple?

Spirit stones that can't even be spent?

The tall, thin man behind Han Qi whispered: "Senior Brother, that child of his is carved from spirit stone."

Hearing this, Han Qi couldn't help but hide the chest containing the three's life savings behind him, seeming a bit inferior.

"You three..."

Zheng Fa looked at the chest that couldn't even be hidden by Han Qi's slightly chubby body and his awkward expression, and understood the meaning of these people.

No, we are working hard to earn money, preparing to support ourselves.

And you bring spirit stones to corrupt me?

He glanced at both groups, frowned slightly: "Everyone, please come in first."

The four entered the room.

Zheng Fa first looked at Han Qi and the other three: "What is in this chest of yours?"

Han Qi gritted his teeth and opened the chest: "This is the life savings of the three of us..."

Zheng Fa looked; setting aside the spirit stones inside, the gold was truly of various sizes, scattered here and there.

Obviously, it had been saved up bit by bit.

"Han Shixiong, I appreciate the kindness, but I cannot accept this."

He shook his head towards Han Qi and the other three.

The three's faces darkened, and they couldn't help but look at Zhou Qianyuan.

Judging by their expressions, it seemed they all felt that in the face of Zhou Qianyuan's forty spirit stones, their chest was too shabby, and Zheng Fa didn't like it.

"As for Junior Brother Zhou..." Zheng Fa then turned to look at Zhou Qianyuan; "One should not accept gifts without merit. Take your spirit stones back."

"Zheng Shixiong?" Zhou Qianyuan said urgently.

But Zheng Fa's expression was resolute.

Of course, he wanted the spirit stones.

But what these four brought, he felt he couldn't bear to take.

When one shows courtesy to another, there must be a request.

These three from Han Qi's group have offered their life savings.

Although Zhou Qianyuan has money, Zheng Fa has never figured out why this person is subtly currying favor with him.

Given his status and talent, such currying favor would not be a simple matter.

Seeing that Zheng Fa even refused Zhou Qianyuan's spirit stones, Han Qi and the other three's eyes actually lit up—at least they knew Zheng Fa didn't think their spirit stones were insufficient.

Han Qi glanced at the two beside him, then simply stood up and said: "Zheng Shidi, the reason the three of us came this time is to seek a patron..."

Zheng Fa was stunned, looking at the three.

"We know our talents are humble, but if Junior Brother finds us acceptable, we will surely give our lives and serve you like dogs and horses!"

Zheng Fa looked at the three; the expressions on their faces were very earnest.

Actually, apart from Han Qi, the other two had originally been a bit hesitant, but now, under the competition of Zhou Qianyuan, their faces were full of expressions fearing Zheng Fa would refuse.

Zheng Fa thought for a while, then said to the three: "Senior Brothers are too polite. If you are willing to help, Junior Brother would be more than happy."

He had been thinking before that drawing talismans and selling them would be a troublesome matter—especially since he had to go calculate accounts for Senior Sister Yuan during the day.

Han Qi and the other three looked up in surprise, seeming unable to believe their own ears.

To the side, Zhou Qianyuan looked at Zheng Fa.

"Zheng Shixiong, do you... dislike smart people and those with high aptitude?" Zhou Qianyuan's tone was full of grievance: "Is it my fault that I'm a bit of a genius?"

Han Qi and the other two slowly turned their heads, looking at Zhou Qianyuan.

If it weren't because you're a genius, speaking like that would get you beaten, you know?