Chapter 60: Addict

In the Zheng family’s main hall, Zheng Fa stared at the calm, almost indifferent girl before him, her peculiar hobby still echoing in his heart.

The last time Zheng Fa heard someone say they solved math problems to pass the time was during a modern holiday, when his math teacher walked into class carrying a stack of exams half his height and said:

“If you’re tired of memorizing vocabulary over the break, go do a full math exam to pass the time.”

He was certain none of his classmates understood the logic behind that statement—or rather, they all internally asked with perfect logic: If I want to relax, why would I choose to do math?

But now, in another world, Zheng Fa had found the soulmate of that math teacher!

He couldn’t help but voice the question deep in his soul: “Where’s the joy in solving arithmetic problems?”

The green-robed woman lifted her eyes, as if she’d never considered the question, then said after a pause: “Perhaps… because it’s difficult?”

“Anything difficult brings joy?”

“Are there many difficult things in this world?”

Looking at her earnest face, Zheng Fa had no reply, only offering her a smile twisted by envy.

The green-robed woman raised her right hand, revealing a white jade bracelet on her wrist; a soft glow shimmered across its surface, and a scroll, roughly the length of a forearm, appeared in her grasp.

A storage magic treasure?

Zheng Fa recalled the colossal green phoenix that had blocked out the sky and guessed this woman must be the Young Mistress’s companion—though why not the Young Mistress herself? If not for the Seventh Young Master’s slander, the Young Mistress’s hobby surely wasn’t math, but staff techniques.

“This book of yours,” she said, pointing to *Junior High Mathematics*, “is also used to test your talisman talent, isn’t it? Many talisman masters prefer to first assess a disciple’s aptitude for arithmetic. Though I’ve never seen this book, my master once gave me an arithmetic text and only took me in after I solved every problem in it.”

…Someone stole my brain-sifting method!

Then again, though this world lacks modern math, that doesn’t mean they don’t recognize arithmetic aptitude’s significance to talismans.

The woman placed the scroll on the table; it slowly unrolled, revealing nothing but blank parchment.

“But later, my master admitted it was just a formality—he would’ve taken me in even if I couldn’t solve the problems. Still, I found solving those questions intriguing, and after becoming his disciple, I kept enjoying difficult arithmetic puzzles.” She tapped the scroll with a finger, and a problem appeared: “That’s why I had this artifact crafted, to collect interesting problems.”

Someone actually collects this stuff? And had a magic treasure made just for it?

What a wealthy lunatic!

“Over the years, I’ve read every arithmetic text in my sect and scoured the land for ancient arithmetic manuscripts. Today, I’ve read every arithmetic book I could find—and haven’t encountered a problem I couldn’t solve in a long time.” The woman looked at Zheng Fa, eyes bright, her excitement unmistakable: “The problems in your book aren’t hard, but I’ve never seen them before. Their methods are unique, yet I feel unsatisfied—do you have harder ones?”

Zheng Fa couldn’t help but think that saying “I’ve read every arithmetic book” sounded like something no human could honestly utter.

He’d always assumed there must be people in the Xuanwei Realm with extraordinary math talent—this woman was one.

Modern math rests on a complete system of axioms; when he wrote *Junior High Mathematics*, he deliberately avoided such content.

But given his current math level, traces remained—this was precisely what the woman meant by “unsatisfied.”

Seeing Zheng Fa’s hesitation, the woman offered generously: “I’ll trade you other hard problems!”

…Who wants to trade this?

He remembered her obvious cultivator status, her persistent visit, and above all—her utterly abnormal hobby terrified him…

Zheng Fa finally spoke: “I do remember some arithmetic problems. I don’t know if you’ve seen them.”

He pulled out paper and pen and wrote down a relatively simple fill-in-the-blank question from his recent monthly exam.

“This problem…” The woman bent over the question, frowning slightly: “Much harder than the ones in that book.”

She said it was hard, but Zheng Fa clearly saw in her eyes the gleam of a predator spotting prey.

After nearly an incense stick’s time, the girl solved it.

Zheng Fa glanced—it wasn’t a standard method, but the answer was correct.

Meaning, she’d used this world’s existing arithmetic knowledge to reason through it—and actually got it right.

After finishing, the woman’s eyes narrowed, as if savoring every moment.

She asked Zheng Fa: “Correct?”

“Correct.” Zheng Fa nodded.

“Give me another harder one!”

Zheng Fa: “…”

He wrote another problem.

“Any more?”

“… ”

“Last one!”

“… ”

“Problem!”

Facing this insatiable girl, Zheng Fa rubbed his forehead, feeling his mind utterly drained.

First time he’d met an addict who could drain someone dry!

…

The Zhao Young Mistress had seen her mother, then rushed straight to the Seventh Young Master’s courtyard.

“Zhao Jingfan!”

She burst into his study, shouting loudly.

On the desk, a disheveled head lifted in confusion.

“Where’s Zhao Jingfan?” the Young Mistress asked.

“Sis?”

“Who are you? Zhao Jingfan!” The Young Mistress widened her eyes at the vaguely familiar face: “What happened to you?”

“Sis! You finally came!” The Seventh Young Master rushed over, grabbing her arm as if to cry: “I called you, why didn’t you answer?”

The Young Mistress extended a hand and shoved away his tear-streaked, snot-covered face—afraid his mucus would soil her clothes.

She scanned him up and down, frowning as if unable to believe it.

“You’re really my brother?”

“Sis! After all these years, you’ve forgotten my face?” The Seventh Young Master sounded wounded.

“I recognize this ugly face,” the Young Mistress shook her head, glancing at the desk piled with talisman diagrams: “But this image of you studying hard? I can’t believe it!”

Hearing this, the Seventh Young Master felt even more wronged.

“Sis! I begged you to save me, and now you only show up!” he complained: “Zheng Fa used the vine whip Mother gave him to force me to study these diagrams… If you’d come two days later, I’d be dead—or insane!”

“I didn’t realize you were this bad off…”

The Young Mistress shook her head, regretful.

“So if you’d known, you’d have come sooner to save me?” The Seventh Young Master asked hopefully.

“If I’d known, I’d have stayed longer at Qingmu Sect!” The Young Mistress patted his shoulder and sighed: “Mother said Zheng Fa was a talent—I didn’t believe her. Now I do. He’s done great service to our Zhao family—he deserves a reward!”

The Seventh Young Master: “?”

“Enough! Forget Zheng Fa—I’ve brought back Zhang Shijie for you. She’s a master of talisman arts. For the next two months, you’ll study under her—do you hear me?” The Young Mistress turned serious.

“A master of talisman arts?” The Seventh Young Master looked confused, glancing at the unfinished diagrams on his desk: “What about these?”

“Forget them!” The Young Mistress waved her hand: “I’ll take you to listen to Zhang Shijie’s lessons—far better than studying alone. With her guidance, you’ll improve faster!”

The Seventh Young Master began to understand: “So I don’t need Zheng Fa to teach me anymore? Zhang Shijie will teach me instead?”

“Exactly!” The Young Mistress smiled sweetly: “And you’ll escape this hell—aren’t you happy?”

“I won’t go!” Unexpectedly, the Seventh Young Master, who had just been begging for help, now flatly refused.