Chapter 25: Jealousy

The Xu Instructor had merely spoken offhandedly and immediately realized it was impossible.

Zheng Fa's background was spotless, to say nothing of anything else.

Moreover, the tonics Gao Yuan drank daily were extremely expensive; with Gao Yuan's family's financial strength, supporting just Gao Yuan was already a strain.

And now they were to add Zheng Fa?

Gao Yuan is the biological son; who are you, Zheng Fa?

Never mind Gao Yuan's father; even if the Xu Instructor truly took Zheng Fa as a disciple in the future, he would not be willing to spend so much money cultivating him.

Zheng Fa stood in stance for a long time. Not hearing the Xu Instructor's evaluation of himself, he opened his eyes in some confusion and saw the Xu Instructor looking at him with a very complex expression.

That look held the surprise and helplessness of smashing a piggy bank only to discover a huge sum of money inside that did not belong to oneself.

The Xu Instructor remained silent for a long time before speaking: "It seems your bone structure is not only good, but your comprehension is also excellent."

Hearing this, Zheng Fa showed no sign of pride.

He knew himself how his cultivation speed had become so fast.

His comprehension was probably not bad either; at least he felt no difficulties cultivating the Pine-Crane Stance, but it was absolutely not as good as the Xu Instructor thought.

What truly made him surpass Gao Yuan was the seven days of cultivation time in the modern world, and the relatively sufficient nutrition there.

Seeing him so calm, the Xu Instructor nodded slightly, feeling even more that this youth's character was precious.

The more so, the more he cherished this talent, and the more he feared Zheng Fa might harbor even a shred of arrogance.

"Ahem! I say you are good, speaking relative to ordinary people. You should know the Pine-Crane Stance is merely an introductory stance; you have only just begun your journey in martial arts!" He could not help but start to admonish Zheng Fa: "You must know, our Xuanwei Realm has never lacked geniuses; entering the Pine-Crane Stance in three days is not rare!"

After speaking, he signaled with his eyes to the several disciples behind him.

The several young men standing behind him immediately stepped forward.

"That's right! I entered the basics in five days back then! Though not as good as you, the Pine-Crane Stance is very simple!"

"..."

The Xu Instructor looked at him, vaguely remembering this youth had upper-mid bone structure and had taken half a month to enter the basics back then.

"Entering in three days is nothing; I also did it in three days! It's no big deal."

The Xu Instructor watched as this disciple, who had also taken half a month to enter the basics back then, patted his chest with a look of nonchalance.

"I... I..." The disciple who had spoken first, namely the Xu Instructor's Chengguang Zhi Zi, held up one finger, thought for a moment, felt a bit embarrassed, then held up another: "Two days! I entered in two days!"

The others looked at him, their eyes hiding contempt.

This fellow really knows how to brag!

Who doesn't know you used ten days?

"Ahem, see?" The Xu Instructor coughed lightly, dared not look at this group of disciples, and turned to look at Zheng Fa seriously: "These few are still my most unpromising disciples."

The several young men looked in unison at the Xu Instructor's dark, unblushing face.

Their eyes said one thing: It has to be you, old master!

Zheng Fa felt a bit strange; after all, the Xu Instructor had judged his bone structure as top-tier, and he had the seven days in the modern world for extra practice.

How could he still be inferior to these few?

But then he thought, after all, in the Xuanwei Realm, there are always immortals beyond mortals.

Perhaps top-tier bone structure is just ordinary?

Moreover, he truly had not expected the Xu Instructor to be so "thoughtful."

After assessing the martial arts progress of the two, the Xu Instructor let them leave.

When bidding farewell to the Xu Instructor, Zheng Fa noticed that Gao Yuan's expression was gloomy; he did not wait for Zheng Fa when leaving. Zheng Fa followed and walked beside him, while Gao Yuan's eyes kept staring at small pebbles on the ground, not looking at him once.

Zheng Fa sighed softly in his heart.

Gao Yuan was not a bad person, but he had always been comparing himself with Zheng Fa, intentionally or unintentionally.

Today's assessment; Zheng Fa had already entered the basics of the Pine-Crane Stance, which was probably a blow to him. From the Yu Guang Gao Yuan cast at him, Zheng Fa could faintly discern some jealousy.

Just before lunch, Gao Yuan went out as usual.

Zheng Fa silently recited the lessons learned in the modern world in his room, but until the sun crossed the center of the sky and began to tilt, Gao Yuan, who usually brought back the meal at this time, had still not returned.

Only after two hours did Gao Yuan, covered in sweat, slowly walk back to their dwelling.

He returned with empty hands, having brought no meal for Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa looked at his sunburned red face and the sweat beads all over his head, understanding he had gone to practice again, this time longer and more diligently than usual.

As for lunch...

Zheng Fa did not ask, but he knew the other person would not bring it for him anymore.

He stood up and walked toward the door. Gao Yuan looked at him with a complex expression. When the two brushed past each other, Zheng Fa stopped his steps:

"Thank you."

"Hm?"

Gao Yuan was somewhat puzzled.

"Thank you for bringing me meals these past few days."

Zheng Fa's expression was very sincere, but Gao Yuan's face showed even more discomfort.

"It was nothing major; I won't... anymore..."

"I still need to thank you for the previous ones too," Zheng Fa said seriously.

"..."

Zheng Fa smiled at Gao Yuan and walked out the door; he could feel Gao Yuan's gaze fixed on his back the whole time.

He followed the path to the Zhao Mansion's main kitchen; by then, it was already very late for lunch.

"Coming so late?" The kitchen master asked him with some impatience.

Zheng Fa smiled apologetically at the other and explained, "Some things delayed me."

"Here, only these dishes are left. Who told you not to come earlier?"

Zheng Fa looked at the rice and dishes he had been handed.

The rice was cold, and the dishes were all green, wilted, listless vegetable leaves with not a single bit of minced meat.

Zheng Fa said nothing, took the rice and dishes, found an empty corridor, sat on the railing, and slowly ate the food while gazing at the red clouds on the horizon.

In the following days, Gao Yuan indeed stopped bringing him meals.

Zheng Fa discovered that the meals the main kitchen provided for him were not as good as the ones Gao Yuan had brought before.

Not only was there much less meat than before.

But the appearance was inferior to before, and the taste was far worse.

Zheng Fa thought for a moment and understood; after all, Gao Yuan was the son of the steward and had his own standing in the main kitchen.

The meals he brought were probably made by the master chefs inside the main kitchen.

As for himself?

As the Seventh Young Master's book boy, he certainly would not starve, but those special accommodations from before were no longer possible.

Early this morning, Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan were still "standing in punishment" at the door of the Seventh Young Master's study.

The Seventh Young Master was still in the study looking at that book filled with so-called talismans and incantations; when he seemed tired of reading, he raised his eyes to look at Zheng Fa and the other, his gaze narrowing slightly as if he had discovered something amusing.

"You two come in!"

Zheng Fa and the other exchanged a glance, not knowing why the Seventh Young Master had suddenly called them today.

"Have you two... broken up?"

The Seventh Young Master wore an expression of someone watching a drama with popcorn; Gao Yuan pressed his lips together and said nothing.

Zheng Fa's expression, however, did not change.

"Just so, I thought about it; saying I wanted you two to get out together wasn't very good. I still need a book boy by my side!" The Seventh Young Master smiled brightly and held up one finger: "Remember, just one book boy; if your relationship is too good, this Young Master won't have the heart to do it!"

Zheng Fa clearly heard Gao Yuan's breathing beside him quicken slightly, then his fist gently clenched.

Looking again at the Seventh Young Master, the smile on his face grew even more malicious.