I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Vol 2 Chapter 27 – Generosity

Seeing Senior Sister Zhang and Senior Sister Yuan so quick to abandon him, Zheng Fa felt a little wronged.

He turned to Senior Sister Zhang and said, “Senior Sister Zhang, everything I’ve been doing is for the market district, for Jiushan Sect, and for you.”

“…For me?” Senior Sister Zhang looked confused.

“Senior Sister, when I saw the Sect Master’s Personal World, I had a thought—what if we could show it to the public in the market district?”

Senior Sister Zhang paused, her eyes gradually brightening, as if Zheng Fa had just enlightened her to something.

“Go on.”

“The Jiushan Sect market district has improved, but you know as well as I do that it’s only a temporary advantage. Other sects and market districts will eventually copy our transportation ships.”

Senior Sister Zhang nodded slightly.

Once they realized the effectiveness of transportation ships, they would surely adopt them as well.

“Moreover, spiritual talismans are the same no matter where you buy them. Our market only thrives because we sell them cheaper—but that’s only because we have too many talisman masters in Jiushan Sect.”

Zheng Fa pointed out a fatal flaw in their business model.

Their main attraction was cheap spiritual talismans.

Their product range was too narrow.

And the low prices were only possible because Jiushan Sect disciples were competing against each other, making profits through sheer effort.

Besides, most people didn’t need to visit the market in person—they could simply ask a friend to buy for them.

Right now, Jiushan Sect didn’t function like a modern shopping mall.

It was more like a wholesale market.

Sure, wholesale markets were cheaper, but how many people would actually go there personally to shop?

Especially if all they sold was one product?

At the end of the day, there was no compelling reason for people to come to Jiushan Sect’s market.

But the Personal World was different.

It could be turned into a cinema.

Even better, a fully immersive, holographic cinema.

In modern commerce, entertainment was the best way to attract foot traffic.

And, most importantly, Jiushan Sect would have a monopoly on this business!

“…You mean turning storybooks into live performances using the Personal World?”

The Sect Master’s anger faded, replaced by deep thought.

“What do you think, Sect Master?” Zheng Fa asked.

“It’s possible.” The Sect Master nodded. “The Personal World is simply a formation controlled by divine sense—it doesn’t require high cultivation.”

“…But would people actually watch this?”

The Sect Master’s voice carried doubt.

“Sect Master, didn’t you come all the way down the mountain?”

“…”

Senior Sister Zhang and Senior Sister Yuan froze, then slowly turned to look at Zheng Fa.

The meaning in their gazes was clear—“This one is still useful.”

Senior Sister, that’s a bit too pragmatic, isn’t it?

“…So you lured me down the mountain just for this?” The Sect Master suddenly asked.

“I want to be your disciple!” Zheng Fa declared openly.

“And if I still refuse?”

“Then I’ll just have to ask Uncle Pang if he knows the Personal World technique.”

“Bah! That blockhead wouldn’t know a good story if it hit him in the face! Giving those books to him would be a waste!” The Sect Master cursed immediately.

“No problem—I have plenty of books. Uncle Pang would get used to them eventually.”

The moment Zheng Fa casually said “plenty of books,” the Sect Master’s face became visibly conflicted.

“They’re complete editions.” Zheng Fa added.

“…I’ll take you as my disciple.”

The Sect Master’s expressions shifted rapidly, and finally, he gritted his teeth. “But I have one condition—”

Before he could finish speaking, Zheng Fa reached into his bag and pulled out several books.

“This is…”

“The later volumes.”

The Sect Master silently took the books, then let out a long sigh.

“…I have a feeling you’ll be even more troublesome than the last two.” He muttered. “If it weren’t for someone speaking on your behalf…”

“Someone spoke for me? Senior Sister Yuan?”

“The Jiushan Ancestor.” The Sect Master glanced at him.

“…The Ancestor?”

“He said you carefully considered your choices and ultimately picked the Lingshan Method.” The Sect Master chuckled. “Coincidentally, so did I.”

—

Meanwhile, on the way to Zheng Fa’s residence…

Zhou Qianyuan looked frustrated, while Sun Daoyu beside him wore an expression of pity.

“Junior Brother, don’t dwell on it too much… When Master makes a decision, we can’t disobey.”

“Senior Brother, I’ve already accepted that Master wants to take Zheng Fa as a disciple… but why am I the one who has to invite him?!”

Hearing this, Sun Daoyu’s sympathy deepened.

“Well… because you and Junior Brother Zheng have the best relationship.”

Zhou Qianyuan’s face remained dark and brooding.

“Junior Brother, think about it—Master has his reasons for this.”

“…Reasons?”

“Master’s decision to take in Zheng Fa was partly a power move—because of the tension between our two factions.” Sun Daoyu explained. “Having you personally invite him is a way to show respect.”

Hearing this, Zhou Qianyuan let out a long sigh and nodded in understanding.

“Thank you, Senior Brother, for explaining. I get it now.”

“But in the future, you must not hold any resentment about this.” Sun Daoyu warned. “Like Master said, Zheng Fa joining us is ultimately a good thing. At the very least, you won’t have to deal with both Senior Sister Zhang and Zheng Fa working together against you.”

Zhou Qianyuan silently nodded.

“Considering how much Master values Zheng Fa, he’ll probably grant him a significant favor as part of the recruitment.” Sun Daoyu speculated. “This way, Zheng Fa will feel obligated to join willingly. You should watch carefully—Master’s actions today will set the precedent for how we should treat Zheng Fa in the future.”

“…I’ll keep your advice in mind, Senior Brother.” Zhou Qianyuan replied quietly. “But… I still can’t help feeling uneasy about this.”

“…”

“When I was young, I had an old friend.”

“…An old friend?” Sun Daoyu was puzzled by Zhou Qianyuan’s sudden change of topic.

“He had a childhood sweetheart. They grew up together and were very close.” Zhou Qianyuan continued, his tone distant. “Later, he met a classmate, and the two hit it off immediately, becoming the best of friends.”

Sun Daoyu listened, still a bit confused.

“One day, he introduced his childhood sweetheart to his classmate…”

Sun Daoyu’s expression froze, a look of foreboding settling over his face.

“And then, he attended their wedding.”

Zhou Qianyuan let out a long sigh. “Senior Brother, don’t you think my situation is just like introducing a childhood sweetheart to a classmate?”

Sun Daoyu was silent for a long moment before finally speaking.

“…Did your childhood sweetheart happen to resemble our Master?”

“…”

“Then why are you sighing? Shouldn’t your ‘classmate’ be the one sighing?”

“It was just a metaphor! And it wasn’t me—it was my old friend!” Zhou Qianyuan snapped, clearly flustered.

“Junior Brother, I understand… Experiencing something like this twice in one lifetime—that’s truly rare.”

“It wasn’t me!”

Sun Daoyu didn’t look convinced. Instead, he patted Zhou Qianyuan’s shoulder comfortingly.

“But if you think about it another way… you’ve already been through it once. The second time should be easier!”

—

When Zheng Fa was called before Zhenren Pang, he was still confused.

Looking at the two who had brought him—Sun Daoyu and Zhou Qianyuan—he was completely baffled.

Neither of them said anything, and he had no idea why Zhenren Pang had summoned him.

Hadn’t he already become the Sect Master’s disciple?

“You’re Zheng Fa?”

Zhenren Pang asked.

“Yes.”

Facing a Nascent Soul cultivator, Zheng Fa remained polite and obedient.

He had been bold enough to play tricks on the Sect Master because Senior Sister Yuan had reassured him that the old man wasn’t quick to anger.

But… Zhenren Pang had no such reputation.

As the head of the Disciplinary Hall, he had a fearsome reputation among disciples.

Especially among those from the market district—most of whom were under Senior Sister Zhang’s faction—Zhenren Pang was known as strict, ruthless, and perpetually stern.

Of course… considering these rumors came from the opposing faction, Zheng Fa had always taken them with a grain of salt.

But now, he realized—those rumors were completely inaccurate.

Zhenren Pang smiled easily.

“I’ve heard of you.” He said warmly. “I even reviewed the talisman techniques you taught Qianyuan—truly impressive.”

Zheng Fa responded with equal politeness.

“I have always admired Uncle Pang’s expertise in the Dao of Talismans.”

“Hah! Qianyuan barely learned anything from you. You’ll understand soon enough.”

At that, Zhou Qianyuan’s expression darkened.

Understand what?

“And your improvements to The Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Technique—I was quite impressed.”

Zheng Fa was startled.

Zhenren Pang knew about that too?

“I know that Senior Niece Zhang treats you well—she’s a generous person.”

Zhenren Pang’s voice turned meaningful.

“But I’m not a stingy person either.”

“…Huh?”

“These are two portions of Thousand-Year Purple Bamboo Tears. Take them.”

“This… I can’t accept such a gift without cause.”

“Have you not heard? When a senior gives, one must not refuse.”

Zhenren Pang shoved the two jade bottles into Zheng Fa’s hands.

“But—”

“But what? One is for you, and the other is for whomever you choose to give it to.”

Zhenren Pang hinted at something deeper.

Zheng Fa suddenly understood—

This was a recruitment gesture.

Zhenren Pang assumed that Zheng Fa would eventually join his faction.

By giving him an extra share, he was encouraging him to win over disciples from within the faction.

“…Uncle Pang, I’ve already taken a master.”

“A master? Who?” Zhenren Pang’s expression froze.

“…Master Huang?”

“No.”

“Then who else would dare steal my disciple?”

“…The Sect Master.”

“…”

Zhenren Pang’s expression stiffened, his voice slowly lowering.

“…Senior Brother Yuan came down the mountain?”

“…Yes.”

Seeing Zhenren Pang’s complex expression, Zheng Fa carefully extended the jade bottles back to him.

“Uncle Pang… perhaps you should take these back?”

Zhenren Pang was silent for a long time.

Then, he suddenly said—

“When I say I’m giving something away, I mean it!”

Zheng Fa left, clutching the Thousand-Year Purple Bamboo Tears, as Zhenren Pang’s face twitched in frustration.

“…Master, why did you still give him the gift?”

Sun Daoyu looked genuinely puzzled.

It was obvious—Master wasn’t usually this generous.

“Do you know what kind of person the Sect Master is?”

Zhenren Pang sighed.

“…What kind?”

“He’s extremely protective.”

Sun Daoyu blinked in confusion.

“The Sect Master has only ever had two disciples.”

“The first one seduced a Demonic Sect elder’s granddaughter. Not only did the Sect Master shelter her in Jiushan Sect, but when the Demonic Sect retaliated again and again, he killed multiple Nascent Soul cultivators to protect her.”

“The second disciple unsealed an ancient forbidden entity. Even the righteous sects came to hold him accountable… and the Sect Master beat them up too.”

“…”

“If he had become Master Huang’s disciple, I could have snatched him back.”

“But if he’s the Sect Master’s disciple…”

Zhenren Pang sighed bitterly.

“That’s like throwing a meat bun at a dog—there’s no getting it back.”

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!