Chapter 140: Entrustment

Seeing the moved expression on Zheng Fa's face, Zhang Shijie smiled and suddenly said, "I will handle this matter as soon as possible. In a few days, I will leave the sect for a while."

"Leave the sect?"

Zheng Fa was stunned, not understanding why Zhang Shijie suddenly brought this up.

He knew Zhang Shijie's personality well enough; she was not someone who liked to go out. If Zheng Fa did not seek her out, and she did not need to handle internal sect affairs, she usually cultivated at home.

She was quite a homebody, anyway.

Or rather, cultivators in the Xuanwei Realm all seemed like homebodies because they spent most of their time cultivating.

Zhang Shijie explained, "As I told you before, a Spirit Vein has emerged in Taiyang Commandery, and the Changchun Sect has repeatedly requested aid."

Zheng Fa remembered; previously, Zhang Shijie had said she would send Yuan Shijie away because of this.

But now... why was Zhang Shijie going herself?

"I originally wanted Yuan Shimei to go because I thought you might encounter difficulties managing the market, and I was not at ease."

Zhang Shijie spoke as if she understood what Zheng Fa was thinking.

Zheng Fa understood then; Zhang Shijie's meaning was that he had performed too well.

If Zhang Shijie stayed, Zheng Fa's burden would be much lighter—whenever he faced something difficult to decide, he could simply consult Zhang Shijie.

But Yuan Shijie...

Hmm, considering Yuan Shijie treated him well.

Zheng Fa politely stopped thinking deeper.

"Shijie, what exactly is this Spirit Vein?"

Zhang Shijie's explanation did not fully put Zheng Fa at ease—whether in wisdom or cultivation, Zhang Shijie was like a stabilizing needle for the Jiushan Sect.

Zheng Fa felt the three Nascent Souls within the sect did not seem very reliable; on the contrary, Zhang Shijie worried about the most things.

Something capable of making her leave the sect was certainly not as casual as she made it sound.

He could not help but feel a bit worried.

"Spirit Vein..." Seeing him press for more, Zhang Shijie smiled, as if knowing he cared about her, and her voice softened considerably: "Spirit Vein and Spirit Pulse are actually the same thing."

"Spirit Pulse?"

Zheng Fa was startled; this was no small matter.

He had read the Master's treatise "On Spirit Pulses" and knew that in the Xuanwei Realm, a Spirit Pulse could be said to be the foundation of a sect's survival.

Especially now, when spiritual energy is waning, a Spirit Pulse abundant in spiritual qi is even more important.

"Spirit Pulses are often on the surface, where they can gather spiritual qi for a long time to supply cultivators for cultivation," Zhang Shijie explained to the two of them. "But Spirit Veins are different. Although Spirit Veins also gather spiritual qi, because they are often buried extremely deep underground, they are unknown to people."

"... Then a Spirit Vein emerging?"

"When the spiritual qi in a Spirit Vein accumulates to a certain stage, it will erupt, causing changes in the spiritual qi of heaven and earth, only then will it be discovered by cultivators." Seeing that Zheng Fa still looked somewhat confused, Zhang Shijie added:

"Although the spiritual qi will slowly dissipate after a Spirit Vein erupts, the many years of accumulation within the Spirit Vein will also yield many good things."

"Are you saying, Shijie?"

Zheng Fa suddenly understood.

"A Spirit Stone mine was discovered within the Spirit Vein in Taiyang Commandery."

Spirit... Stone... Mine...

Zheng Fa immediately understood why Zhang Shijie had to go in person.

"Shijie, with this Spirit Stone mine emerging..." Zheng Fa frowned and asked, "Doesn't this mean a great turmoil is coming?"

Zheng Fa was not unaware of how important Spirit Stones were to cultivators.

These things could not only serve as currency between cultivators.

They also assisted cultivators in cultivation—though, of course, cultivators in this era generally did not squander such things so recklessly.

In fields such as array formation, Spirit Stones also played an irreplaceable role.

"Taiyang Commandery is very chaotic now. The Master of the Changchun Sect has sent letters multiple times, saying that not only cultivators from various sects of the Baixian Alliance have appeared, but also some from other sects, and traces of the Demon Sect have even been found."

"... Changchun Sect?"

"The founder of the Changchun Sect was once a disciple of our Jiushan Sect. After achieving the Jin Dan realm, he established his own family, which later developed into a small sect. However, they have always been respectful to our Jiushan Sect, offering constant tributes."

Zheng Fa nodded, knowing that the Changchun Sect was probably a staunch vassal of the Jiushan Sect; perhaps the Jiushan Sect even supported its founding from behind the scenes.

Seeing that Zheng Fa understood the importance of this Spirit Vein emerging.

Zhang Shijie suddenly said again: "The General Affairs Pavilion has its own regulations after so many years, so I am not worried about anything. But the market has changed considerably lately, with arrival ships and plays; I am still not entirely at ease."

"Shijie!" Yuan Shijie patted her chest and said, "You can rest assured leaving the market to..."

"Zheng Fa." Zhang Shijie interrupted.

"?"

Yuan Shijie watched helplessly as Zhang Shijie pointed at herself and entrusted Zheng Fa, saying, "Including Yuan Shimei, you take care of her."

Zheng Fa and Yuan Shijie left Zhang Shijie's small courtyard side by side.

After walking a long distance, Yuan Shijie slowly put away the grievance on her face and said to Zheng Fa, "Taiyang Commandery is probably not good."

"Hmm?"

"Shijie only satisfies her appetite for food before a great war approaches," Yuan Shijie said slowly, her face showing rare worry. "She herself is not even aware of this habit of hers."

Seeing Zheng Fa staring at her.

Yuan Shijie was a bit puzzled: "Why are you looking at me?"

"I did not expect that Shijie possessed such insight."

"Tch, when one cares about too many things, I'd rather be a bird, free and unfettered," Yuan Shijie tilted her head back, looking very smart, and said, "Anyway, during this period, Shijie has sent quite a few people to Taiyang Commandery."

Zheng Fa remembered; when he went to the Talisman and Art Pavilion before, he had noticed that many lecturers from Zhang Shijie's lineage were missing.

Now it seems he probably went to Taiyang Commandery.

"But given Shijie Zhang's strength, even if she clashed with a True Person of Nascent Soul, nothing major would happen to her... I can go to Taiyang Commandery to visit her then!" Yuan Shijie thought for a moment, as if she had comforted herself again, and laughed with a carefree, heartless grin.

As Zheng Fa walked toward his home, his brows unconsciously furrowed, and he felt quite worried in his heart.

Shijie Zhang's departure was, of course, a loss of a powerful backer within the sect for him.

But there was no reason to worry about that.

His status as the Sect Master's disciple and Yuan Shijie's presence were enough to let him walk freely through Jiushan Sect.

Yet Yuan Shijie's words made him realize—his cultivation was still too low.

Too low for Shijie Zhang to be willing to tell him the truth.

Moreover, he truly could not help with anything right now.

"Shixiong Zheng?"

When he reached his doorstep, Zheng Fa suddenly heard someone greeting him.

Looking up, it was Zhou Qianyuan.

He stood at his own door, as if he had been waiting for quite some time.

"Shidi Zhou? Did you need something?" Zheng Fa asked as he led Zhou Qianyuan into the house.

"Nothing major." Zhou Qianyuan shook his head, took out the jade slip bestowed by True Person Pang from his storage bag, and asked with concern: "But Shixiong Zheng, your brows were tightly furrowed just now, as if you faced some difficulty. Is there anything Shidi can help with?"

Hearing this, Zheng Fa did not hide anything; now that he and Zhou Qianyuan were familiar, there was no need for formality.

He sighed and said, "I just feel my cultivation is too low."

"Too low?"

Zhou Qianyuan paused, looking at the jade slip in his hand, seeming a bit hesitant.

"Yes, I'm only at the fifth layer of Qi Refining..."

"Shixiong, I'm only at the fourth layer of Qi Refining."

Zhou Qianyuan interrupted him, his tone somewhat resentful.

"..."

The atmosphere became strangely awkward.

Zhou Qianyuan pressed his lips together and handed the jade slip to Zheng Fa.

"Hmm?"

Zhou Qianyuan said with a stern face, "This is the jade slip my master gave me, saying I should give it to you, Shixiong, on an auspicious day."

Zheng Fa was just about to take the jade slip.

A burst of cheerful shouting came from outside the door.

"Zheng Fa!"

The courtyard gate of Zheng Fa's house was pushed open with a bang.

Zheng Fa was stunned.

This voice and this action felt somewhat familiar.

"Zheng Fa! I've come to see you!" Young Master Seven's voice pierced through the door; he walked quickly into the courtyard and cheerfully said, "Surprised?"

He trotted up to the entrance of the main hall, still saying, "This young master thought that since you have your sister accompanying you at Qingmu Sect, you must be all alone in Jiushan Sect with no relatives or friends!"

"You must be terribly lonely!"

"So, as soon as I could leave the sect, I came to find you!"

Young Master Seven looked into the hall and saw Zheng Fa's hand, which was preparing to take the jade slip, resting on Zhou Qianyuan's arm.

The two of them looked extremely intimate.

He quivered his lips.

Looking at Zheng Fa, then at Zhou Qianyuan—his expression was very complex.

Zheng Fa silently withdrew his hand, feeling an awkwardness akin to being caught cheating.

"Young Master Seven? Why are you here?"

He walked quickly toward the door and saw another familiar figure: "Young Lady?"

The Young Lady of the Zhao family stood at the door, helplessly shaking her head at her dejected younger brother.

"I went out for some business and passed by Jiushan Sect. This fellow insisted on coming..."

"Who insisted on coming?"

Young Master Seven stood at the main hall entrance, looking somewhat aggrieved.

"Then why did you come?"

The Young Lady shot him a sideways glance.

"I came... I came to watch a play!" Young Master Seven snorted and said, "The reputation of Jiushan Sect's plays has even reached Qingmu Sect; what's wrong with me coming to see? I'll leave right after I watch!"

Seeing his expression, Zheng Fa couldn't help but smile: "Young Master Seven, I am extremely happy you came."

"Really?" Young Master Seven's expression slowly improved a bit.

"Of course, I have no relatives or friends in Jiushan Sect."

"Then him?"

"He came to deliver something for his master."

Zhou Qianyuan nodded silently and raised the jade slip in his hand.

Shen Shi Yi that he was merely a simple errand boy.

Young Master Seven smiled, put his arm around Zheng Fa's shoulder, and said, "It's been hard for you being alone in Jiushan Sect. Don't worry, I brought you some good things!"

The Seventh Young Master reached out his hand toward his sister.

The Eldest Young Lady helplessly handed over a small bundle; opening it revealed some bottles and jars, along with some wrapped snacks.

"These are all specialties of our Qingmu Sect," the Eldest Young Lady explained. "Whatever he saw and thought was good, he brought over for you."

"Junior Brother Zheng!" Han Qi's voice came from the doorway. "Those vendors from the market have sent quite a few more things over these past two days! We've carried them over for you, Junior Brother!"

Han Qi and the other two appeared at the doorway, arms full of large and small packages.

The Seventh Young Master looked at the small bundle in his own hand, his fingers tightening slightly, as if intending to take it back.

Zheng Fa walked over, opened a small oil-paper packet from within the bundle, pinched out a piece of cooled brown sugar cake, and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Delicious!"

He said vaguely to the Seventh Young Master while chewing.

The Seventh Young Master stared at his expression, stunned for a moment, before finally breaking into a smile.