Chapter 27: No Deference

After Gao Yuan left, the Seventh Young Master's gaze toward Zheng Fa turned icy.

"Playing the role of brotherly affection in front of me? Do you think I'm stupid? You alone comprehended these two yuanfu, didn't you?"

"Yuanfu?" Zheng Fa's focus was slightly off.

"Yes, you understand nothing—that's why you were willing to claim you both comprehended them together." The Seventh Young Master laughed bitterly, pointing at the book before him: "Gao Yuan must have told you these patterns are immortal sect talismans and incantations."

"He did."

Zheng Fa nodded.

"He was wrong. I'll tell you the truth—these aren't immortal sect talismans and incantations at all, and they have no power whatsoever. In fact, they're called futo. Only by comprehending yuanfu from them can you prove you have a talent for the Talisman Dao."

"No wonder the Zhao household didn't pursue this thing's spread." Zheng Fa suddenly understood.

He had suspected it before.

If these were truly immortal sect talismans and incantations, Gao Yuan's father could have obtained them—this would be too cheap.

Now it seemed his earlier guess was correct.

The Seventh Young Master—or rather, the Zhao household—deliberately let these few futo spread among the servants.

"There's some deliberate intent," the Seventh Young Master seemed to read his thoughts: "If someone in our Zhao household possesses talisman talent and comprehends yuanfu from these futo, it won't hurt us."

"The two patterns I drew… are yuanfu?"

"Exactly!" The Seventh Young Master smiled warmly: "The ones you analyzed are two of the simplest yuanfu. The minimum requirement to become a talisman master is mastering at least one hundred and eight yuanfu."

Zheng Fa looked at the Seventh Young Master and hesitantly asked: "Seventh Young Master, did you study this book because you want to become a talisman master too?"

The Seventh Young Master nodded, not hiding anything from Zheng Fa: "Immortal sects are hard to enter—they demand extremely high spiritual root potential. But if you can comprehend one hundred and eight—or even more—yuanfu, and become a talisman master, it becomes simple."

Zheng Fa understood. The spiritual root the Seventh Young Master mentioned was the immortal sect's most valued quality, much like how universities in his past life prized Gaokao scores.

But comprehending yuanfu and possessing talisman talent was like being a special-aptitude student—eligible for admission with lower scores.

"So do you understand? If your talisman talent is strong enough, you could become a talisman master—and even enter an immortal sect! Then, you won't be a servant of the Zhao household anymore, but a lofty immortal!"

The Seventh Young Master stared at Zheng Fa, his face filled with mockery: "Now, do you still claim these were comprehended together with Gao Yuan?"

"... But if I say we studied them together, my talisman talent won't get worse." Zheng Fa sounded confused.

"..."

The Seventh Young Master was momentarily speechless—this was, in fact, true...

He stared at Zheng Fa, as if trying to discern something from his dark, ruggedly handsome face.

Zheng Fa's expression was calm, meeting the Seventh Young Master's scrutiny without flinching.

After a long silence, the Seventh Young Master suddenly shook his head and sneered: "So you say this to keep him? Why keep him? For Gao Yuan? No... you're not doing this for Gao Yuan—you're doing it out of anger. You're angry, and you should be angry. Since you came to the Zhao household, every day Gao Yuan brought you your meals—he ate what he ate, and you ate the same."

"... Actually, he knew early on that perhaps neither of us would stay, or only one of us could. But at first, he truly wanted to be friends with me." Zheng Fa finally spoke.

"So what?" The Seventh Young Master sneered again.

"I'm wondering what made him become jealous?"

Zheng Fa lifted his head, his eyes blazing as he met the Seventh Young Master's gaze.

"So I wasn't wrong—you're angry at me because I said I only wanted one page boy."

The Seventh Young Master tapped Zheng Fa with his finger.

Zheng Fa spoke slowly: "He became jealous only because he feared losing his position as page boy, because he feared returning home to his parents' disappointment. If I were him, I'd be jealous too. I might even be more jealous... because if I lost my position as page boy, I'd face even greater bullying from the villagers, and my mother and sister would struggle even harder to survive."

The Seventh Young Master suddenly laughed: "When you two first arrived, I saw it clearly. Gao Yuan dressed neatly, looked affluent, but inwardly feared me. You, in your coarse cloth robes, your gaze... held not a trace of deference!"

Zheng Fa did not refute him.

Gao Yuan's change wasn't because he was truly narrow-minded, but because these lofty people—like the Seventh Young Master—deliberately pushed them into rivalry and jealousy.

Because as servants, even the smallest position—a page boy's role—could turn two people into enemies.

It wasn't about caring for Gao Yuan's friendship, Zheng Fa knew—he simply refused to let even his human relationships be manipulated by these lofty ones.

Even though he was born into this world, his five years in the modern era meant, spiritually, he identified more with modern values.

So he could never become a deferential servant.

Over time, in the modern world, he spoke more, acted more like a boy.

In this world, he grew increasingly silent.

"So you want to keep Gao Yuan—not because you care for him deeply, but because... you want to rebel."

Zheng Fa said nothing.

Because both he and the Seventh Young Master knew the latter was right.

After a long pause, the Seventh Young Master suddenly smiled: "You have great talent. As far as I know, you saw the yuanfu in these futo at a glance. Such talent—even my mother would have to show respect and nurture you."

"So I agree—you can keep Gao Yuan."

Zheng Fa bowed slightly to the Seventh Young Master.

Outside the door, Gao Yuan's footsteps slowly approached.

Zheng Fa suddenly spoke: "Young Master, why?"

"Hmm?"

"Why did you agree to let me keep Gao Yuan?"

"I said it—you have talent, and I love talent."

The Seventh Young Master stared at Zheng Fa strangely, wondering if he'd gone deaf just now.

"No, Young Master, the moment you saw me, you knew I wasn't a qualified servant. And the moment I saw you, I knew you shared my anger. So..." Zheng Fa's question, drowned by Gao Yuan's knock, came out faintly: "Young Master... what are you trying to rebel against?"

The Seventh Young Master froze.

Gao Yuan pushed open the door and entered with the meal box, carefully saying: "Young Master, your meal is here!"

Behind him followed several maids ready to serve the Seventh Young Master's meal.

The Seventh Young Master suddenly said something only Zheng Fa could understand: "Above your head is me, the Zhao household. Above my head... is the immortal sect."

Go on, he waved his hand listlessly, signaling Zheng Fa and the other to leave.

Gao Yuan followed Zheng Fa out of the study and asked, puzzled: "What did the young master mean just now?"

"He means we both stay."

"Really?" Gao Yuan exclaimed in delight. "Why?"

"Because we solved those few diagrams."

"Does the young master truly believe we solved them together? Didn't he see you lying? Is he… stupid?" Gao Yuan lowered his voice.

"Alright, actually he saw through it. He's keeping you because he's really a good man," Zheng Fa admitted his true thoughts.

"Then I still think he's stupid," Gao Yuan whispered even lower.

Zheng Fa looked at him strangely: "... Young man, your thinking is dangerous to keep."

He silently told himself: In this world, no one is born obedient.