Vol 2 Chapter 13: Help Me
Senior Sister Yuan looked deeply moved.
However, Senior Sister Zhang’s expression grew colder. She gazed at Zheng Fa in silence for a long moment before finally speaking.
“Junior Sister Yuan, I’d like to talk to Zheng Fa alone.”
Senior Sister Yuan nodded, casting Zheng Fa a worried and pleading look before quietly heading downstairs.
As she descended, she turned back once more as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.
Once her figure disappeared around the staircase, Senior Sister Zhang raised a hand and traced a golden soundproofing talisman in the air. The talisman shattered into golden specks and dispersed into the corners of the room.
Suddenly, the entire room became eerily silent.
The noise from the bustling market below—the hawkers, the footsteps—was completely sealed outside.
Now, the only sound in the room was the slow and steady rhythm of Senior Sister Zhang’s breathing.“Why did you refuse?” she asked.
Both of them knew that Zheng Fa’s earlier words, though spoken in defense of Senior Sister Yuan, were ultimately a refusal of Senior Sister Zhang’s offer.
From the very start, Senior Sister Zhang had known that Zheng Fa was the one managing the ledgers.
In fact, she had likely come today with the intention of putting him in charge of the market district.
“Senior Sister Yuan works hard.”
Zheng Fa first spoke up in her defense.
At first, when Han Qi had called her lazy, he had believed it.
But after working alongside her, he realized that while she wasn’t the most diligent with accounting, she did genuinely care about the market.
“I know,” Senior Sister Zhang nodded, but her face remained impassive. She continued, “The Administrative Hall has two main sources of income. One of them is the market. If she were truly negligent, I would never have given her this responsibility.”
“Two sources?”
“Did you think this little bit of spirit stones was enough to sustain the entire Jiushan Sect?” she glanced at him. “The sect’s main source of income comes from the Administrative Hall purchasing disciples’ talismans and selling them to other sects within the Hundred Immortals Alliance.” ꞦâNȰꞖЕＳ
Oh, so it’s like state-owned enterprises versus private businesses.
“Then… why me?”
“I’m short on manpower, and there’s trouble brewing outside the sect,” Senior Sister Zhang admitted. “I need her for other tasks, so I have to put someone else in charge of the market.”
Zheng Fa nodded.
“But I don’t trust anyone else,” she added. “Right now, everyone is desperate for spirit materials. With so many spirit stones flowing through the market daily, I can’t risk putting someone there who might be tempted.”
Zheng Fa remained silent.
Now he understood why she was so determined to put him—a mere second-level Qi Refiner—in charge of such an important role.
It was a massive leap in authority.
And it would definitely stir up controversy.
Still, he believed her assessment of the sect’s disciples.
Everyone knew how scarce spirit stones had become.
“In my branch of Jiushan Sect, there are only a few people I trust not to dip their hands into the treasury.” Senior Sister Zhang met his gaze. “Junior Sister Yuan is one. You’re another.”
Zheng Fa was caught off guard.
“You trust me that much?”
“You’re talented enough that you wouldn’t jeopardize your future for something so petty.”
Zheng Fa modestly replied, “Senior Sister overestimates me.”
“And you’re also a coward—that’s the main reason.”
…He had thanked her too soon.
Zheng Fa hesitated before refusing again.
“I understand what you’re saying, Senior Sister. But with my current cultivation level, it would be difficult for me to command respect.”
“You’re a Mysterious-Grade Talisman Master. Aside from your limited spiritual power, you’re already on par with a Foundation Establishment cultivator.”
She shook her head.
“Foundation Establishment might be a little low, but it’s enough.”
“…”
Seeing his continued hesitation, Senior Sister Zhang suddenly added, “If anyone refuses to comply, beat them into submission.”
“?”
“Do you think I wasn’t challenged when I, a mere Golden Core cultivator, took over the Administrative Hall?”
She glanced at him.
Fair enough.
The Disciplinary Hall was led by Master Pang, a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Yet the Administrative Hall—responsible for managing Jiushan Sect’s finances—was under the control of a mere Golden Core cultivator like Senior Sister Zhang.
Surely, that must have stirred more dissatisfaction than Zheng Fa managing the market.
“When I joined the sect, Jiushan Sect’s internal politics were a mess. There were even casualties during disputes at the Talisman Hall.”
Zheng Fa raised a brow. “And that was better than before?”
“When I defeated my peers, they accepted my rule that no one could kill within the sect.”
Senior Sister Zhang continued, “When I reached Foundation Establishment, people in Jiushan Sect started calling me the greatest talisman genius of the Hundred Immortals Alliance. Naturally, other sects were unhappy with that title.
“So I beat most of the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Hundred Immortals Alliance until they accepted it.”
“When I reached Golden Core, I took over the Administrative Hall. Other Golden Core disciples were dissatisfied, so I beat them too.”
Zheng Fa grimaced.
This is the ultimate lone-wolf path to the peak…
He couldn’t help but praise her.
“Senior Sister, your talent is astonishing. Just hearing your story makes my blood boil—I almost wish I were in your shoes…”
“You could be.”
“Ahem, no, Senior Sister. I lack that kind of talent.”
Zheng Fa immediately refused.
Senior Sister Zhang’s path was her path.
Not one he wanted to take.
He already had his hands full—Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Technique, Five Thunder Talisman Body, Crimson Sky Technique, modern talisman research, and preparing for the college entrance exams…
Where would he find time to fight people all day?
The lone-wolf path sounded exhausting.
“I’ll help you.”
“?”
Zheng Fa stared at her, a question mark forming above his head.
“Or rather, you’ll help me.”
She met his gaze and spoke softly.
Looking into her eyes, Zheng Fa gritted his teeth before nodding.
“I’m willing. But I have one request.”
“Say it.”
“If it’s not urgent, I’d prefer to co-manage the market with Senior Sister Yuan for a while.”
“You care about her, huh?”
“I just need her to help me establish some authority.” Zheng Fa smiled.
“That’s reasonable.”
Senior Sister Zhang nodded. “She took this job because she was lonely. Now she enjoys the liveliness of the market.”
“Lonely?”
“She’s a Qingluan. The Sect Master raised her.”
“…”
Zheng Fa’s eyes widened.
He thought back to that enormous bird that had once blotted out the sky.
“…So Senior Sister Yuan is—”
“A Golden Core cultivator. She was raised atop Jiushan until she passed her tribulation and took human form. Then she was entrusted to me.”
Zheng Fa nodded.
When he looked at Senior Sister Yuan’s round little face, he couldn’t help but recall that plump bird head from before.
Now that he thought about it… their faces were kind of similar.
Downstairs, Senior Sister Yuan looked at them anxiously.
“Junior Sister Yuan, from now on, Zheng Fa will be handling the market’s affairs.”
Her face fell.
But she nodded obediently.
“…However, he requested that you continue working alongside him for six more months.”
Senior Sister Yuan’s expression instantly lit up with joy.
She grinned so wide her eyes nearly disappeared.
“During these six months, teach him well.”
Senior Sister Zhang instructed.
Senior Sister Yuan clung to Zheng Fa’s arm.
“I’ll teach him everything!”
Meanwhile, at Han Qi’s stall, the Mysterious-Grade Talismans had sold out.
His two companions were ecstatic.
“Senior Brother, we’re selling these faster and faster!”
“The bundle deal really works. You’re brilliant, Senior Brother!”
But Han Qi didn’t share their excitement.
Instead, he frowned, looking worried.
“Why do you look so troubled?”
“…I think we might have offended Senior Sister Yuan.”
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