I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Chapter 86: Family

In a sealed ship cabin, a group of confused newcomers to the cultivation world sat with furrowed brows, facing three not-so-amiable senior brothers.

Zheng Fa was deeply skeptical of the trio's intentions.

He wasn’t the only one. The other new disciples also exchanged doubtful glances as they looked at the senior brothers, clearly unconvinced by their sudden friendliness.

The chubby senior brother, however, didn’t seem offended by their wary expressions. Waving his hand, he sent a stack of books flying toward the disciples, each book landing neatly in front of one of them.

“Words alone prove nothing,” the chubby senior said confidently. “You’ve all been accepted into Jiushan Sect, so most of you must have studied talismans to some extent. I trust you have the discernment to judge for yourselves. Read the book, and you’ll see I’m telling the truth.”

His confidence piqued Zheng Fa’s curiosity.

He picked up the book that had landed on his knees and started flipping through it.

As he read, he was surprised. The quality of the book far exceeded his expectations, and he began to understand why the senior brother had seemed so self-assured.

The book was divided into two main sections: Fundamentals of Talismans and Crafting Talismans.

The Fundamentals section wasn’t particularly useful to Zheng Fa, as the material covered was elementary. Still, the content was precise and meticulous, leaving no room for criticism.

The Crafting section, on the other hand, was far more interesting and valuable to him.

This section covered a wide range of topics, from selecting quality talisman brushes and papers to proper posture, mental preparation before crafting, and even post-drawing analysis for improvement. It was detailed to the point of being exhaustive.

The instructions were simple yet practical—a hallmark of true mastery.

Zheng Fa found himself impressed. Simplicity, he knew, often required profound expertise.

Whoever had written this book was undoubtedly a skilled talisman master.

After skimming through the book, Zheng Fa felt a slight twinge of guilt. Had he misjudged these senior brothers? Were they truly treating the newcomers like family?

But then he wondered—if the book was so good, why not sell it properly?

For a beginner’s guide, this book was genuinely high-quality. Compared to Linghe Shen, which had caused Xu Jiaotou twenty years of struggle, this was leagues ahead.

Priced at ten taels of gold, the book was not expensive—in fact, it seemed almost too cheap.

When Zheng Fa looked up, he noticed something odd. The other disciples, after receiving their books, were all staring at him instead of reading.

Zheng Fa blinked. "Why are you looking at me?"

The chubby senior brother was equally puzzled. “I told you to check the books! Why are you looking at him? We’re not selling him!”

Realizing what was happening, the senior brother addressed Zheng Fa directly. “So, dear junior brother, what do you think of the book?” His tone carried a subtle hint of threat beneath the surface.

Placing the book down, Zheng Fa responded honestly despite his earlier misgivings. “I’m not familiar with the pricing in the immortal sects, but in my opinion, the book is worth its price.”

"I’ll take one!" Zhou Qianyuan immediately chimed in. The other new disciples quickly followed suit, enthusiastically handing over their money.

The chubby senior brother was dumbfounded.

You didn’t even read it! Just because he said it’s good, you’re all buying it?

As the stack of books was emptied, the chubby senior brother’s conflicted expression grew. He seemed to debate whether he should share some of the profits with Zheng Fa as a commission for his unintentional salesmanship.

Zheng Fa also bought a copy. Carrying it, he returned to his room, intending to study the Crafting section in detail.

Meanwhile, the chubby senior brother grabbed Zhou Qianyuan, stopping him in his tracks.

“Junior Brother Zhou, I noticed everyone looking at that particular junior brother earlier. Why?”

“You don’t know?” Zhou Qianyuan looked surprised.

“Know what?”

“At the Immortal Talent Conference, Brother Zheng ascended Jiushan and was proclaimed the greatest talisman prodigy in a thousand years. We all witnessed it. His talent is undeniable—if he says the book is good, of course, we believe him.”

“…” The chubby senior brother’s cheek twitched. He finally understood.

No wonder they were all listening to him.

His expression soured slightly. “News like that doesn’t reach small fry like us so quickly. The greatest talisman prodigy in a thousand years, huh? No wonder you all hang on his every word.”

Despite his annoyance, he seemed more bemused than intimidated.

With a chuckle, he quipped, “Senior Brother Sun mentioned your talent before, and I thought you’d be this year’s top disciple. But it seems the new recruits are even more extraordinary than I’d heard. No wonder some senior brothers and sisters are unhappy.”

There was an unmistakable air of nonchalance in his demeanor, as though he was merely observing the drama unfolding.

Curious, Zhou Qianyuan pressed further. “What about you, Senior Brother?”

“Me? I’m not thrilled about having so many talented newcomers in Jiushan Sect,” the chubby senior brother admitted openly. “More people mean fewer resources for me. If it weren’t for selling books, I wouldn’t even bother with you lot. But I’m not worried.”

He tapped the book in Zhou Qianyuan’s hand with a smug grin. “You don’t really think Zhenren Zhang’s name on that book is fake, do you?”

“…” Zhou Qianyuan stared at the book in realization.

“We’re part of Senior Sister Zhang’s faction!” The chubby senior brother puffed out his chest. “No matter how talented you all are, it’ll be years before you can match her standing in the sect.”

Zhou Qianyuan frowned. “But why would Brother Zheng compete with his own senior sister?”

“?”

“He’s a talisman prodigy personally trained by Zhenren Zhang.”

The chubby senior brother froze, his arrogance evaporating. His lips quivered as he stared at Zhou Qianyuan in stunned silence.

In his room, Zheng Fa was engrossed in studying Zhenren Zhang’s Treatise on Talismans when another knock came at his door.

Thinking it was Zhou Qianyuan again, he opened the door, only to find the three senior brothers standing there.

This time, their faces were plastered with overly bright smiles, their expressions so ingratiating they resembled blooming chrysanthemums.

“Junior Brother!” The chubby senior brother grabbed Zheng Fa’s arm enthusiastically. “It seems we’ve had a misunderstanding. We’re family—true family!”

“…What’s this about?” Zheng Fa asked, baffled by their sudden change in attitude.

“We heard you’re personally mentored by Senior Sister Zhang! What a coincidence—we’re under her tutelage too!”

Zheng Fa looked at them skeptically, doubting Senior Sister Zhang’s taste in disciples.

The chubby senior brother hesitated before sheepishly adding, “…Well, under her tutelage’s… outer layers.”

“…”

Ah, so this is where your arrogance came from?

Setting the book aside, Zheng Fa stared at the trio.

“Shall we… turn the ship around to properly bid farewell to your sister?” the chubby senior brother suggested, his voice tinged with guilt. It seemed Zheng Shan’s cries had finally tugged at his conscience.

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