I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Vol 2 Chapter 26 – Aftermath

The more Zheng Fa looked at this old man, the more he found him kind-hearted and approachable—

High cultivation, low courage, minimal responsibilities.

If that wasn’t a natural master-disciple bond, then what was?

“Stop looking at me like that!” The Sect Master scowled when he noticed Zheng Fa’s eager gaze. “I’m not taking in any more disciples!”

“Like you, Sect Master, I also prefer to stay home and not go outside!”

Zheng Fa declared with unwavering conviction.

“My first disciple said the exact same thing! I believed his nonsense back then too.” The Sect Master pursed his lips, his expression filled with the weight of past regrets. “He stayed in the sect peacefully for three hundred years… then the very first time he stepped outside, he ran into the Demonic Sect—”

“And he was killed by them?”

“…Huh?”

“He seduced the granddaughter of a Demonic Sect elder, convinced her to abandon evil and embrace righteousness!”

“…Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Good, my ass! He left alone but came back with an entire horde—with a whole Demonic Sect army behind him!” The Sect Master gritted his teeth. “If I hadn’t taken action and obliterated that elder, Jiushan Sect would have been wiped out!”

…Zheng Fa listened, and the more he heard, the more he felt that the Demonic Sect elder had been the real victim here.

His precious granddaughter was stolen by the righteous sect.

Then he went to negotiate and ended up getting completely erased.

Wait—so who was the real Demonic Sect here?!

“And then there’s my second disciple. He swore to me that he had no interest in women and even disliked social interactions!”

“That sounds… perfect for you, Sect Master…”

People with social anxiety usually weren’t prone to causing trouble.

“He truly disliked people—so much so that he went where no one else dared to go!”

“…What do you mean?”

“He only had one hobby—exploring ancient ruins, uncovering secret realms.” The Sect Master’s voice carried the depth of true suffering. “If he wasn’t trapped in some ancient Immortal’s dungeon, then he was digging up some long-sealed Demonic cultivator—every single time, I had to go rescue him!”

“…”

Zheng Fa was speechless.

But he finally understood the Sect Master’s deep-rooted fear of disciples.

In fact, he even felt a little sorry for him.

Forget about a cautious, peace-loving old man like the Sect Master—even a normal person would be traumatized after dealing with those two disasters.

“What about the rest of your disciples…?”

“Two weren’t enough?” The Sect Master looked at Zheng Fa as if he were insane. “I must’ve committed terrible sins in my past life to deserve those two! There’s no way I’m taking a third disciple!”

Seeing how firm the Sect Master was, Zheng Fa paused for a moment before nodding.

“I understand, Sect Master.”

“You do?” The Sect Master was taken aback by his calm reaction. “You’re… not even going to try and convince me?”

“If I beg you, will you agree?”

“Absolutely not!”

“Then I won’t trouble you any further.”

Zheng Fa answered decisively.

“…You really are a good disciple.” The Sect Master hesitated for a moment before saying dryly.

“In that case, I have a request.”

“But we really aren’t a good match!”

“I’m not asking you to take me as your disciple. I also write storybooks, and I was hoping to exchange ideas with you.”

“Oh? You’re interested in this field?” The Sect Master’s eyes lit up. “Now that I can agree to! I’ve read almost every storybook in the Xuanwei Realm—I can even give you guidance!”

—

As Zheng Fa walked out of the grass hut, Senior Sister Yuan’s gaze carried a hint of concern.

He shook his head at her.

Senior Sister Yuan clicked her tongue, but she didn’t seem surprised—as if she had expected this outcome.

Unlike their hurried arrival, there was no longer any rush.

Senior Sister Yuan didn’t offer Zheng Fa a ride this time, and the two of them walked side by side down the mountain.

“Junior Brother Zheng, should I try persuading the Sect Master again?”

“You’ve already done enough.” Zheng Fa shook his head. “If we push any further, it might just annoy him.”

“It’s fine. The old man doesn’t like getting angry—he finds it too much of a hassle.”

Zheng Fa nodded.

For all the Sect Master’s talk about avoiding trouble, he actually took great care of his disciples.

Leaving aside the Demonic Sect granddaughter situation, he had rescued his second disciple multiple times despite all the disasters he caused.

In truth, people who avoid responsibilities don’t necessarily do so out of laziness. Sometimes, it’s because they take responsibilities too seriously—to the point where they hesitate to take them on.

Honestly, with a master like that, life would’ve been great.

“Actually, you’re not the only one.” Senior Sister Yuan sighed. “As soon as I reached transformation, that old man kicked me out of the mountain and sent me to Senior Sister Zhang, saying he wouldn’t manage me anymore—he just wanted to be alone and enjoy his world.”

“…I see.”

“By the way, I should thank you.”

Suddenly, Zheng Fa stood up straight and gave Senior Sister Yuan a serious bow.

“You once spoke well of me in front of Senior Sister Zhang. The least I could do is return the favor.” She waved him off. “Though, I didn’t manage to help much.”

Zheng Fa turned back, glancing at the grass hut nestled halfway up the mountain.

Then, he suddenly said, “Senior Sister Yuan, I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“I made an agreement with the Sect Master to exchange storybooks. Could you deliver them to him for me?”

“…That’s it? That’s nothing!”

Maybe because she still felt guilty about failing to help, Senior Sister Yuan agreed immediately.

—

Ten days later

“Zheng Fa! The Sect Master wants to see you again!”

Senior Sister Yuan burst into Zheng Fa’s study, looking excited.

“…Again?”

“Yes!” She grabbed him by the arm, ready to drag him back up the mountain. “I’ve been delivering your storybooks these past few days, and today, the Sect Master suddenly told me to bring you back!”

“Wait—!”

“What are you waiting for?!” Senior Sister Yuan urged. “It must be because your storybooks were so good that the Sect Master changed his mind and wants to take you as his disciple!”

“Senior Sister, just tell the Sect Master that I’ve come up with a new story idea and don’t have time to visit the mountain right now. Here, I have another book—please deliver it to him as an apology!”

Zheng Fa struggled free from her grip.

“No time?” Senior Sister Yuan squinted at him suspiciously, then narrowed her eyes. “Why do I get the feeling… you’re afraid?”

“Afraid? Not at all!” Zheng Fa shook his head immediately, but then, as if remembering something, he hesitantly asked, “Senior Sister, do you think Senior Sister Zhang would let me stay at her place for a few days?”

“…”

Senior Sister Yuan stared him up and down for a long moment, then, still puzzled, took the book and flew up to the Ninth Peak.

—

“Where is Zheng Fa?!”

Senior Sister Yuan had barely landed when she saw the Sect Master—who never left his hut—waiting at the door.

“He said he didn’t have time.”

“Didn’t have time?”

The Sect Master let out a cold laugh, about to say something, when his eyes fell on the book in her hands.

For a moment, he hesitated.

“What’s that?”

“Junior Brother Zheng said it’s a new story, an apology gift for you.”

“An apology?” The Sect Master gritted his teeth. “Bah! Take it away! Even a dog wouldn’t read something from him!”

With that, he swung his sleeve, kicked open the door of his hut, and stormed inside.

“…”

Senior Sister Yuan looked down at the book in her hands.

Then she looked at the tightly shut grass hut.

Now she understood why Zheng Fa had refused to come.

But… why, exactly?

Curious, she gestured with her hand, making the surrounding grass and branches quickly weave together into a soft nest-like seat.

Lounging in her makeshift bird’s nest, she began reading.

Very quickly, she was completely immersed.

After all, she was a cultivator—her reading speed was insanely fast.

After just the time it took for one incense stick to burn, her fingers turned the final page—only to realize that…

“Where’s the rest?!”

A frustrated voice echoed from inside the hut.

“Sect Master! Didn’t you say you wouldn’t read it?”

Senior Sister Yuan was stunned, finally realizing that the old man had been secretly using his divine sense to read along with her the entire time.

“I didn’t want to, but you were sitting right outside reading! How was I supposed to resist?!”

The Sect Master yanked open his door, looking extremely irritated.

“Junior Brother Zheng… are all his books like this?”

Senior Sister Yuan suddenly understood everything.

The Sect Master nodded grimly.

“No wonder he didn’t dare to come!”

“I’m going down there myself!” The Sect Master gritted his teeth.

“Wait… you’re actually going to leave the mountain?” Senior Sister Yuan looked at him in shock.

“Lead the way!”

—

Senior Sister Yuan led the Sect Master directly to Zheng Fa’s courtyard.

But when they arrived, he was already gone.

The Sect Master swept his divine sense over the area, then sneered, grabbed Senior Sister Yuan, and vanished.

The next moment—

The two of them materialized inside Senior Sister Zhang’s residence.

Zheng Fa had just finished packing, still chatting with a slightly confused Senior Sister Zhang.

Before he could even settle in, he suddenly saw the Sect Master standing right in front of him.

“…Sect Master?” Senior Sister Zhang was completely stunned. “You left the mountain?”

The Sect Master ignored her completely, fixing Zheng Fa with a cold sneer.

“Running? Where do you think you’re going?”

“…I just got tired of staying at my place.” Zheng Fa muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Tired of your place? Then finish the damn story!”

The Sect Master snorted.

“Your first book—the protagonist takes in a treacherous disciple who betrays him, steals his secret techniques, and conspires with his own Dao partner to slander him! After struggling through countless hardships, he falls into an ancient cavern, learns peerless techniques, acquires a legendary weapon, and even meets a stunning beauty. Finally, he returns ready for revenge—”

Senior Sister Zhang and Senior Sister Yuan were listening intently.

It actually sounded… pretty good?

“And right before the grand revenge battle, you stopped writing?!”

“…”

Senior Sister Zhang glanced at Zheng Fa, suddenly understanding why he had run away.

“The second book was even worse! The protagonist was a hero of the righteous sect, renowned across the world! Then, it turns out he’s actually a descendant of the demon race, betrayed by his subordinates, falsely accused, and constantly framed by a mysterious mastermind. After suffering countless hardships, he’s finally about to uncover the villain’s true identity—and you stopped writing again?!”

“…I didn’t leave every book unfinished…” Zheng Fa muttered weakly.

“The worst one was the only one you finished!”

The Sect Master was livid.

“The protagonist’s uncle endured a lifetime of suffering, bore every hardship, and was hated by all—all for the sake of his beloved nephew! And just when everyone finally understood his sacrifices, the protagonist was already dead! DEAD!”

Zheng Fa flinched at the sheer rage on the Sect Master’s face.

Instinctively, he took two steps back—toward Senior Sister Zhang and Senior Sister Yuan.

But—

The two immediately backed away even faster, looking at him like he was some kind of plague.

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