I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Chapter 26: No Submission

After Gao Yuan left, the Seventh Young Master’s gaze toward Zheng Fa became cold.

“Playing at brotherly affection in front of me? Do you take me for a fool? These two Yuan Fu, you came to comprehend them by yourself, didn’t you?”

“Yuan Fu?” Zheng Fa’s attention seemed slightly off.

“Yes, you don’t understand anything. No wonder you’d claim that both of you comprehended them together.” The Seventh Young Master sneered, pointing at the book in front of him, “Gao Yuan should have mentioned this to you, the patterns on these pages are from the Immortal Sect talismans.”

“He did mention it,” Zheng Fa nodded.

“He wasn’t accurate. Let me tell you honestly, these aren’t Immortal Sect talismans at all, and they don’t have any power. In reality, they’re called Futu (Talisman Diagrams). Only by comprehending the Yuan Fu from them can it show that you have talent for the way of talismans.”

“No wonder the Zhao family isn’t investigating the spread of these things.” Zheng Fa suddenly realized.

He had suspected this before.

Now it seemed that his suspicions were correct.

The Seventh Young Master, or perhaps the Zhao family, had deliberately allowed these Futu to circulate among the lower-ranked servants.

“It’s a bit intentional,” the Seventh Young Master seemed to have guessed what Zheng Fa was thinking, “If someone from our Zhao family has talent for the way of talismans, being able to comprehend Yuan Fu from these Futu wouldn’t be a bad thing for us.”

“So the two diagrams I drew are Yuan Fu?”

“Right!” The Seventh Young Master grinned, “The two Yuan Fu you analyzed are the simplest ones. The minimum requirement to become a talisman master is to master at least one hundred and eight Yuan Fu.”

Zheng Fa looked at the Seventh Young Master and hesitated, “Seventh Young Master, are you studying this book because you want to become a talisman master?”

The Seventh Young Master nodded, not hiding his intentions from Zheng Fa: “It’s hard to enter the Immortal Sect; they have very high requirements for spiritual roots. But if one can comprehend one hundred and eight, or even more, Yuan Fu, and become a talisman master, it’s much easier.”

Zheng Fa understood. The spiritual roots the Seventh Young Master referred to were the most important talent the Immortal Sect looked for, something akin to how universities in another world prioritize your college entrance exam score.

But comprehending Yuan Fu, having talent for the way of talismans, was like being a special talent student, where one could be admitted with lower requirements.

“So, do you understand now?” The Seventh Young Master smiled, “If your talent for the way of talismans is good, you could become a talisman master, and even enter the Immortal Sect! At that point, you would no longer be a servant of the Zhao family, but an Immortal, standing high above!”

The Seventh Young Master looked at Zheng Fa with mocking eyes, “Now, do you still claim that you and Gao Yuan comprehended this together?”

“…But if I say I researched it with him, my talent for the way of talismans won’t diminish,” Zheng Fa said, somewhat confused.

“…”

The Seventh Young Master seemed to have nothing more to say. That was true...

He looked at Zheng Fa, as though trying to read something from his slightly dark, sharp features.

Zheng Fa remained calm, meeting the Seventh Young Master’s gaze with composure.

After a long pause, the Seventh Young Master suddenly shook his head and sneered, “So what’s your reason for wanting to keep him? To keep him for Gao Yuan’s sake? No… It’s not for Gao Yuan. You’re angry. You’re angry because, from the moment you entered the Zhao family, every day Gao Yuan has been serving your meals. Whatever he eats, you eat the same.”

“…Actually, he knew a long time ago that we might not be able to keep either of us, and maybe only one could stay. But at first, he truly wanted to be my friend,” Zheng Fa finally spoke up.

“So what?” The Seventh Young Master continued to sneer.

“I’ve been wondering, what made him turn jealous?” Zheng Fa lifted his head, his gaze sharp, staring back at the Seventh Young Master.

“So I’m not wrong. You’re angry at me. You’re angry that I said I only want one study attendant.”

The Seventh Young Master pointed at Zheng Fa with his finger.

Zheng Fa slowly said, “His jealousy comes from fear of losing the position of study attendant. He’s afraid of returning home to face his parents’ disappointment. If it were me, I would be jealous too. I would even be more jealous… because if I lost the position of study attendant, I’d face not only more humiliation from the people in the estate, but also a more difficult life for my mother and sister.”

The Seventh Young Master suddenly laughed, “When you two first arrived, I saw it. Gao Yuan was dressed properly, looking rich, but in his heart, he had respect for me. But you… you were in rough, coarse clothes, and your gaze… had no sign of submission!”

Zheng Fa didn’t refute this statement.

Gao Yuan’s change wasn’t because he had a narrow heart, but because the Seventh Young Master and others at the top deliberately set them up to compete and feel jealousy.

As servants, even a small position as study attendant could turn them into enemies.

Rather than caring about his friendship with Gao Yuan, Zheng Fa knew he wasn’t willing to let those in power manipulate his relationships.

Although born in this world, after five years in the modern era, he actually identified more with modern views.

That’s why he could never be the submissive servant they wanted him to be.

Over time, he became more talkative in the modern world, like a youth. In this world, he grew quieter and more reserved.

“So, wanting to keep Gao Yuan isn’t because you care about him. You just… want to resist.”

Zheng Fa didn’t speak anymore.

Because both he and the Seventh Young Master knew that what the Seventh Young Master said was true.

After a long while, the Seventh Young Master suddenly smiled, “You have talent. As far as I know, you could immediately see the Yuan Fu in these talisman diagrams. This kind of talent, even my mother would respect and nurture.”

“So, I’ll promise you, I’ll keep Gao Yuan.”

Zheng Fa gently bowed to the Seventh Young Master.

Outside, Gao Yuan’s footsteps grew closer.

Zheng Fa suddenly spoke up, “Young Master, why?”

“Hm?”

“Why promise me to keep Gao Yuan?”

“I’ve said it. You have talent, and I love talent.”

The Seventh Young Master looked at Zheng Fa strangely, wondering if he had gone deaf.

“No, Young Master, you knew from the moment you saw me that I’m not a qualified servant. And I knew from the moment I saw you, that you and I shared the same anger. So…” Zheng Fa’s question felt especially light in the sound of Gao Yuan’s knock on the door, “Young Master, what do you want to resist?”

The Seventh Young Master froze.

Gao Yuan pushed the door open and entered, carefully holding the food box. “Young Master, the food is here!”

Several maidservants followed behind him, ready to serve the meal.

The Seventh Young Master suddenly spoke in a language only Zheng Fa could understand: “On your head, it’s me, it’s the Zhao family. And on my head, it’s the Immortal Sect…”

Having said that, he waved his hand as if uninterested, signaling for Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan to leave.

Gao Yuan followed Zheng Fa out of the study, somewhat confused. “What did the Young Master mean just now?”

“He meant that we’re both staying,” Zheng Fa replied.

“Really?” Gao Yuan asked in surprise. “Why?”

“Because we deciphered those diagrams,” Zheng Fa said.

“Does the Young Master really believe we deciphered them together? Didn’t he see through your lie? Is he… a fool?” Gao Yuan lowered his voice.@@novelbin@@

“Okay, actually, he saw through it. He’s keeping you because he’s actually a good person,” Zheng Fa spoke his true thoughts.

“I still think he’s a fool,” Gao Yuan whispered even lower.

Zheng Fa looked at him strangely. “...Kid, thinking like that, it’s dangerous for you to stay.”

He silently thought to himself, in this world, who is naturally submissive?