Chapter 121

Seeing how unbrotherly Zhang Shijie and the other were.

Zheng Fa's expression turned slightly wounded.

He said to Zhang Shijie: "Zhang Shijie, I did all this for the Fangshihe Sect, for Jiushan Sect, and for you, Zhang Shijie."

"... For me?" Zhang Shijie's expression grew dazed.

"Zhang Shijie, when I saw the Lord's World Within a Hut, I asked myself one question—could this be displayed in the Fangshihe market for people to see?"

Zhang Shijie froze, her eyes slowly brightening, as if Zheng Fa had just awakened some insight in her.

She said to Zheng Fa: "Go on."

"Our Jiushan Sect's market has seen some improvement, but as you know, it's only a temporary fix—other markets and sects will likely copy our use of the guiding ships."

Zhang Shijie nodded lightly.

Other sects aren't fools; the guiding ships are already available.

Once they hear about the results, many sects will imitate us.

"Moreover, spirit talismans are the same wherever you buy them—we're just cheaper, and that cheapness comes from having too many talisman masters."

The problem Zheng Fa pointed out was actually deadly.

The way we attract customers now is simply by selling cheap spirit talismans.

Our product range is too narrow.

Besides, these cheap talismans are the result of internal competition among Jiushan Sect disciples—we're earning hard-earned money.

And most people don't need to come here to buy; they can just ask a friend or relative to buy for them.

Jiushan Sect today doesn't feel like a modern mall—it feels more like a wholesale market. Sure, things are cheap at a wholesale market, but how many people are willing to go to a wholesale market themselves?

Especially a wholesale market that sells only one thing.

In short, we have no compelling reason for people to spend here at Jiushan Sect.

But the World Within a Hut is different.

This thing could become a movie theater.

Even a holographic movie theater.

It's already a major traffic-drawing attraction in modern malls.

And it's Jiushan Sect's exclusive business!

"You mean... turning the stories from those storybooks into performances using the World Within a Hut?"

The Lord's angry expression slowly faded, and he fell into thought.

"Lord, do you think this method is feasible?"

Zheng Fa asked.

"It could work," the Lord nodded. "The World Within a Hut essentially uses spiritual intent to manipulate talisman arrays and conjure a world—it doesn't require high cultivation."

"But... will people really watch this?"

The Lord's tone carried self-doubt.

"Aren't you the one who came down the mountain?"

"Huh?"

Zhang Shijie and the other two froze, staring at Zheng Fa.

"You, someone who hates leaving your room, still came all this way—doesn't that prove how captivating those stories are?"

"..."

Zhang Shijie looked at Zheng Fa, then at the Lord, and stepped in front of Zheng Fa.

Her face clearly read: He's still useful.

Sister, you're being too pragmatic!

"Was that why you lured me down the mountain?" the Lord suddenly asked.

"I wish to become your disciple!" Zheng Fa said frankly.

"What if I still refuse?" the Lord refused again.

"Then I'll have to ask True Person Pang if he knows the World Within a Hut technique."

"Pah! That wooden-headed fool has never read a good storybook—he'd ruin these few!" the Lord cursed.

"It's fine, I have plenty of storybooks—enough for True Person Pang to get familiar with."

Hearing the words "plenty of storybooks," the Lord's expression grew increasingly conflicted.

"All of them!" Zheng Fa added.

"I'll take you!" the Lord's face shifted back and forth: "But I have a condition!"

Before he finished speaking, Zheng Fa reached into his satchel behind him and pulled out several books.

"These are..."

"The sequels."

The Lord silently took the books, then sighed: "I always felt you'd be more troublesome than those two... if not for someone speaking up for you."

"Speaking up for me? Sister Yuan?"

"Jiushan's Ancestor," the Lord said, glancing at him.

"Ancestor?"

"He said you went through all the options—and chose Lingshan Fa," the Lord smiled. "Good. I practiced it too."

On his way toward Zheng Fa, Zhou Qianyuan wore a gloomy expression; Sun Daoyu beside him looked equally sympathetic.

"Younger brother, don't overthink it... the Master's decision is not for us to defy."

"Senior Brother, the Sect Master wishes to take Zheng Fa as a disciple. I have actually accepted that... but having me come to invite Zheng Fa is simply too..."

Upon hearing this, Sun Daoyu's face showed even more sympathy: "This is because you and Zheng Shidi have the best relationship."

Zhou Qianyuan's face remained gloomy.

"Junior Brother, think about it. The Sect Master is actually just trying to comfort Zheng Shidi."

"Comfort?"

"The Sect Master's acceptance of a disciple actually carries some element of coercion—after all, the relationship between our two branches is not good." Sun Daoyu explained; "Having us come to invite Zheng Shidi is also to express our regard for him."

Hearing this, Zhou Qianyuan sighed, nodded, and said: "Thank you, Senior Brother, for clarifying. I understand."

"In the future, you must never harbor such resentment again." Sun Daoyu admonished: "Just as the Sect Master said, having Zheng Fa join our branch will be a good thing for us in the future. At the very least, you won't have to face Senior Sister Zhang and Zheng Fa working together."

Zhou Qianyuan nodded silently.

"Given the Sect Master's level of regard for Zheng Fa, this time he will definitely bestow a favor." Sun Daoyu guessed: "Only this way can Zheng Fa willingly become a disciple. You just need to look at the Sect Master's actions today to know how to treat Zheng Fa in the future."

"... Senior Brother's advice, this junior brother will keep firmly in mind." Zhou Qianyuan said softly with gratitude: "It's just that this junior brother's heart truly feels unwell."

"..."

"When I was a child, I had an old friend."

"An old friend?" Sun Daoyu didn't know why he suddenly brought this up.

"He had a childhood sweetheart, and the two grew up together from a young age, with a deep bond." Zhou Qianyuan continued: "Later, he met a fellow student, and the two hit it off immediately, truly sharing the same aspirations."

Listening, Sun Daoyu still looked a bit confused.

Obviously, he didn't understand why his own junior brother suddenly said these things.

"One day, he introduced his childhood sweetheart to that fellow student..."

Sun Daoyu paused, his expression showing he found it hard to bear listening.

"And later, he drank the wedding wine of those two."

After finishing the story, Zhou Qianyuan slowly sighed: "Senior Brother, do I look like I am introducing my childhood sweetheart to a fellow student right now?"

Sun Daoyu was silent for a moment before speaking: "Does your childhood sweetheart perhaps resemble the Sect Master in appearance?"

"..."

"Then why are you sighing? I think your fellow student should be the one sighing!"

"I am just making an analogy! And it's not me, it's an old friend of mine!" Zhou Qianyuan grew anxious.

"Junior Brother, I understand... to encounter such a situation twice in a lifetime is indeed not easy for you."

"It's not me!"

Sun Daoyu looked unconvinced, yet still comforted him: "But look at it from the other side... you have experience now. The first time is strange, the second time is familiar!"

When Zheng Fa was called before Pang True Person, he was still somewhat dazed.

He looked at Sun Daoyu and Zhou Qianyuan who had brought him, his face full of confusion.

Since these two said nothing, he didn't know why Pang True Person wanted to see him—he had already become a disciple of the Sect Master.

"You are Zheng Fa?"

Pang True Person asked.

"Yes."

Before a Nascent Soul True Person, Zheng Fa remained obedient and honest.

After all, he dared to use the storybook to stab the Sect Master because Senior Sister Yuan had told him that the Sect Master was not easily angered.

But... Pang True Person's reputation within the sect was not so amiable.

As the head of the Jielutang, Pang True Person naturally tended to leave an unamiable impression in the hearts of the sect disciples.

In the rumors among the sect disciples, especially those in the market district, Pang True Person was a man who never smiled, even ruthless, always wearing a stern face.

Of course—given that these disciples were all from Senior Sister Zhang's branch, he had always questioned the objectivity of this evaluation.

But Zheng Fa didn't expect this evaluation to be so subjective.

Pang True Person was clearly very good at smiling!

"I have heard of you long ago." Pang True Person said gently: "I have also seen the talisman arts you taught Qianyuan before—profound and extensive."

"Uncle Pang's path of talismans is also something I deeply admire." Zheng Fa said in return.

"Ha! Qianyuan hasn't learned much. You will know in the future."

Zhou Qianyuan's face darkened on the side.

Zheng Fa paused, what future?

"Also, your improvement of the 'Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Method' also left a deep impression on me."

Pang True Person knew even this?

"I know Senior Sister Zhang treats you very well; she is a generous person, but I am not a stingy one either!"

"Ah?"

"Take these two portions of Thousand-Year Purple Bamboo Tears first!"

"This... I cannot accept a gift without merit."

"Have you not heard that one does not refuse a gift from an elder?"

Pang True Person shoved the two portions of Thousand-Year Purple Bamboo Tears into Zheng Fa's hands.

"But..."

"But what? One portion is for your own use, and the other, you can give to other senior or junior brothers..."

Pang True Person hinted.

Zheng Fa suddenly understood; this Pang True Person probably thought he would definitely become his disciple.

Giving the items to himself first?

And giving an extra portion, to have me win over the disciples of our branch?

"Elder Pang... I have already taken a master."

"Taken a master? Who? The one surnamed Huang?" True Person Pang's face stiffened.

"No."

"Then who else dares to snatch my disciple from me?" True Person Pang's tone carried some anger.

"The Sect Master."

"... Who?" True Person Pang's face stiffened, and he asked slowly, "Has Elder Yuan come down the mountain?"

"... Mm." Zheng Fa, seeing his expression, carefully handed over the two portions of Thousand-Year Purple Bamboo Tears: "True Person Pang, perhaps you should take them back?"

"This True Person said I give it to you, so I give it to you!" True Person Pang fell silent for a long while, then suddenly said, "How could I be so petty?"

Watching Zheng Fa's figure slowly depart while holding the Thousand-Year Purple Bamboo Tears, True Person Pang's cheek twitched, and his expression grew despondent.

"Master... those two portions of Thousand-Year Purple Bamboo Tears?" Sun Daoyu's expression was puzzled: "Why did you..."

Clearly, he did not believe his own master was a generous person.

"Do you know what kind of nature the Sect Master has?"

"What?"

"Protective of his own." True Person Pang sighed: "He has taken only two disciples in total."

"The eldest disciple seduced a demoness from the Demonic Sect; he stubbornly sheltered the Demonic Sect's demoness within the Jiushan Sect. The Demonic Sect came wave after wave, and he killed several Nascent Souls."

"The second disciple broke an ancient seal; people from the Righteous Path also came to cause trouble... and he beat them up."

"..."

"Even if he had taken the one surnamed Huang as a disciple, I could have taken him back; but taking Elder Yuan as a master... that is like throwing a meat bun at a dog." True Person Pang said bitterly.