Chapter 72: Steal

Zheng Fa felt he should apologize to the Seventh Young Master.

Although this man was rude and made many enemies, it was objective and reasonable to assume someone would come to beat him up.

But this time, Zheng Fa had misunderstood—the Chen family hadn’t come to cause trouble for the Seventh Young Master.

The Seventh Young Master clearly also thought Zheng Fa’s misunderstanding was perfectly reasonable, and was even slightly angry that no one had come to bother him.

“I waited for them all day!” the Seventh Young Master, who had been on high alert yesterday, said with dissatisfaction: “They didn’t even come to bother me—do they think I’m beneath them?!”

“What conflict do you have with those Chen family members?” Zheng Fa was still curious.

“No conflict. Their family just breeds too many children… When brothers meet, they glare like roosters fighting—not just at home, but each one tries to pull me into their squabbles.”

Zheng Fa nodded. Not every young master of a great family enjoyed such comfort as the Seventh Young Master, where no matter how he acted, his mother always had his back.

“But if they’re trying to court you, how could you possibly have a conflict with them?”

What Zheng Fa couldn’t understand was this.

“You think I’m stupid!” the Seventh Young Master snorted. “Do you think they actually want to befriend me? They just want to use me as their weapon! So I promised each of them—just to watch the show—and then…”

Zheng Fa stared at the Seventh Young Master, whose voice had suddenly dropped.

“I secretly stoked the flames…”

“Secretly… and got caught?”

The Seventh Young Master nodded.

“Come to think of it, the Chen family came looking for Master Zhang,” the Seventh Young Master quickly changed the subject, clearly embarrassed that his meddling had been exposed: “They said a disciple from Jiushan Sect came to Jingzhou City to find Master Zhang and was staying at the Chen residence. Yesterday, the Chen family came here to deliver a formal invitation on his behalf.”

“Master Zhang?”

Zheng Fa felt a bad premonition.

“I think they’re here to steal your Immortal Rank Token! Come on, let’s go see!” The Seventh Young Master realized the same thing and grabbed Zheng Fa’s arm, pulling him off.

When they reached the entrance to Master Zhang’s courtyard, they indeed saw a group standing outside, waiting to be summoned.

At the front was a young man in white robes, about twenty-four or twenty-five, tall and upright, surrounded by the crowd; as he spoke to those around him, his expression carried a faint air of superiority—he must be the Jiushan Sect disciple.

The people surrounding him didn’t look ordinary either; their attire and adornments were extravagantly luxurious, yet among themselves they seemed to harbor mutual contempt, especially before this Immortal Sect disciple, each vying to flatter him.

These people were clearly the Chen family’s young masters, as the Seventh Young Master had described.

The Seventh Young Master’s claim that the Chen family was dysfunctional was plainly evident from these men.

The group also noticed Zheng Fa and the Seventh Young Master—especially the Seventh Young Master.

The moment they recognized him, the Chen family members, who had been on the verge of fighting each other, instantly changed their expressions—united in hostility.

No matter what unforgivable thing the Seventh Young Master had done, Zheng Fa felt the Chen family head should kneel and kowtow to him—without him, the next generation of the Chen family would have already fallen apart.

…

Master Zhang’s disciple soon sent someone to lead them inside; even upon seeing Zheng Fa and the Seventh Young Master, her expression didn’t change, as if she’d expected them all along.

The Jiushan Sect disciple immediately bowed to Master Zhang’s disciple.

“Sun Daoyu greets Master Zhang.”

Compared to his arrogance before the Chen family, Sun Daoyu showed extreme respect before Master Zhang’s disciple.

“Brother Sun, rise,” Master Zhang’s disciple gestured and asked directly: “What brings you from Jiushan Sect to seek me?”

“This…” Sun Daoyu glanced at the others around him, especially Zheng Fa and the Seventh Young Master, as if he didn’t wish to speak in front of them.

But Master Zhang’s disciple simply watched him, saying nothing about dismissing the others.

Sun Daoyu sighed helplessly: “I heard you possess an Immortal Rank Token. I’ve come to request it.”

Master Zhang’s disciple nodded, unsurprised, but did not immediately agree.

Seeing her silence, Sun Daoyu raised his hand toward heaven and continued: “This is not a personal request—it is my master, True Person Pang, who has sent me.”

Master Zhang’s disciple’s expression grew serious; she sat up straight: “True Person Pang?”

Clearly, this True Person Pang commanded her utmost caution.

“Yes. My master recently traveled widely and encountered a prodigy with extraordinary talent in talisman arts. He took a sudden liking to him and taught him some talisman techniques, even considering taking him as a disciple.”

“But you should know, Master Zhang, that even Nascent Soul True Persons can no longer freely take disciples. Hearing you might have an extra Immortal Rank Token, he sent me to request one.”

This name sounded familiar…

Someone stole my character concept!

No—wait, he’s real. It’s more like I stole his…

Zheng Fa felt something odd; he looked up and saw Master Zhang’s disciple staring at him with an equally strange expression—as if asking: Is it you?

But Zheng Fa now understood: this True Person Pang was truly a Nascent Soul True Person—no wonder Master Zhang’s disciple had become so cautious upon hearing his name.

Master Zhang’s disciple stared at Zheng Fa for a long while, then couldn’t help asking: “What’s his name?”

Sun Daoyu was baffled but answered: “This disciple? His name is Zhou Gan.”

Seeing Master Zhang’s disciple’s expression, Sun Daoyu misinterpreted—thinking she didn’t believe him.

“Master Zhang, my master says this disciple, not yet formally admitted, possesses not only extraordinary talisman talent, but also a Geng Metal Body and a single Metal elemental root. In raw talent alone, he rivals even you.”

Hearing this, Zheng Fa understood why a Nascent Soul True Person had gone to such lengths to send a disciple to beg for an Immortal Rank Token for this boy.

Dao Body plus single elemental root.

Plus exceptional talisman talent.

Master Zhang’s disciple nodded: “Sounds impressive. But doesn’t True Person Pang have his own Immortal Rank Token?”

“Master Zhang, you don’t understand—my master has his own family and many disciples and pupils; all his Immortal Rank Tokens have already been promised. Even other True Persons have already given theirs away. Only you, Master Zhang, have devoted yourself entirely to the Dao…”

Zheng Fa mentally translated for this Brother Sun:

High emotional intelligence: Fully devoted to the Dao.

Low emotional intelligence: Has no friends.

Seeing Master Zhang’s disciple still silent, Sun Daoyu gritted his teeth: “If you have any demands, state them directly. I will report them to my master—he will make sure you are satisfied.”

“I’m not refusing…” Master Zhang’s disciple shook her head. “But my Immortal Rank Token has already been given away.”

“Given away?” Sun Daoyu’s face showed shock—he clearly hadn’t anticipated this, and even seemed skeptical: “May I ask, to whom did you give it?”

Master Zhang’s disciple paused. Her eternal icy tone, unchanged for years, suddenly showed a rare hint of hesitation:

“A… person with extraordinary talisman talent, favored by a Nascent Soul True Person, but bound by rules so the True Person cannot directly take him as a disciple…”

Sun Daoyu’s expression slowly froze; his face reddened, as if growing angry.

Zheng Fa understood his anger perfectly: You refuse? Fine. But refusing by stealing my lines? What’s that supposed to mean?

“I’m not lying.” Master Zhang’s disciple pointed at Zheng Fa. “I gave it to him.”