Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World-Chapter 24 - Jealousy

Mr. Xu just said it offhandedly and immediately knew it was impossible.

Not to mention Zheng Fa's background is clear and spotless.

Even the tonic Gao Yuan drinks daily is quite expensive, and with Gao Yuan's family's finances, it's already a strain to support just Gao Yuan.

To support both Gao Yuan and Zheng Fa?

Gao Yuan is his own son, who are you, Zheng Fa?

Forget about Gao Yuan's father, even if Mr. Xu truly takes Zheng Fa under his wing someday, he wouldn't be willing to spend so much money on his training.

Standing in the Songhe Stance for a long time, Zheng Fa didn't hear any evaluation from Mr. Xu and slightly bewildered, he opened his eyes only to see Mr. Xu looking at him with a very complex expression.

That look, it's like smashing open a piggy bank and finding inside a huge sum of unexpected money that doesn't belong to oneself, filled with both surprise and bewilderment.

Mr. Xu remained silent for a long while before finally speaking, "It seems that not only is your constitution good, but your comprehension is excellent as well."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa's expression revealed nothing.

He himself knew the real reasons behind his rapid progress in cultivation.

His comprehension might not be bad, as he didn't encounter any difficulty while practicing the Songhe Stance, but it certainly wasn't as great as Mr. Xu imagined.

What really allowed him to surpass Gao Yuan was the seven days of cultivation time in the modern world, and the relatively adequate nutrition.

Seeing his composure, Mr. Xu gave a slight nod, feeling even more that this youth's temperament was commendable.

The more this was the case, the more Mr. Xu cherished the talent before him, and he feared even more that Zheng Fa might develop even a hint of arrogance.

"Cough! When I say you're good, I mean in comparison to ordinary people. You should know that the Songhe Stance is merely a basic stance technique, and in terms of martial arts, you've only just begun!" He couldn't help but start to admonish Zheng Fa, "You should be aware that in Xuanwei Realm, geniuses are commonplace. It's not unusual for some to grasp the Songhe Stance in just three days!"

After he finished speaking, he gave a signal with his eyes to several of his disciples standing behind him.

The group of young people immediately followed up.

"That's right, I entered the door in five days! Although not as quick as you, the Songhe Stance is rather simple!"

"..."

Mr. Xu looked at them, faintly remembering that this youngster had an above-average constitution and it took him half a month to get started.

"It's just three days for the Songhe Stance, I did it in three days too! It's nothing special."

Mr. Xu watched this disciple, who had also taken half a month to get started, patting his chest with an indifferent expression.

"I... I," the disciple who had first spoken, who was also Mr. Xu's nephew, stretched out a finger, thought for a moment, then a little embarrassedly stretched out another, "Two days! I got it in two days!"

The others looked at him, their eyes filled with disdain.

What a bluffer!

Who doesn't know it took you ten days?

"Cough, you see?" Mr. Xu coughed lightly, not daring to look at these disciples, and turned to address Zheng Fa with seriousness, "These lads are not the most accomplished of my disciples."

The young men all looked at Mr. Xu's unabashedly thick skin in unison.

Their eyes said: It still takes Mr. Xu to show us how it's done!

Zheng Fa felt something was a bit off. After all, his constitution was judged as top-notch by Mr. Xu, and he also had the additional seven days to practice in the modern world.

How could he be inferior to these people?

But then he thought, in Xuanwei Realm, there are Immortals beyond mere mortals.

Perhaps a top-notch constitution was merely average here?

Besides, he never expected Mr. Xu to be so "earnestly anxious" on his behalf.

After assessing the martial arts progress of the two, Mr. Xu let them leave.

When saying goodbye to Mr. Xu, Zheng Fa noticed that Gao Yuan looked gloomy and walked out without waiting for him. Zheng Fa caught up and walked beside him; Gao Yuan's eyes were glued to the pebbles on the ground, not even glancing at him.

Zheng Fa internally sighed.

Gao Yuan was not a bad person, but he had always compared himself with Zheng Fa, intentionally or not.

The assessment from today where Zheng Fa had managed to master the Songhe Stance must have been somewhat of a blow to him. From the corner of Gao Yuan's eye, Zheng Fa could vaguely sense some jealousy.

...

When it was almost time for lunch, Gao Yuan left the house as usual.

Zheng Fa silently recited a text from his modern studies in his room, but even as the sun crossed the zenith and began its descent, Gao Yuan, who usually returned with the meal around this time, still had not come back.

It was only after four hours had passed that a sweat-drenched Gao Yuan slowly made his way back to the living quarters shared by the two.

He came back empty-handed, without bringing food for Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa glanced at Gao Yuan's sunburnt face and the beads of sweat on his forehead, understanding that he had gone to train yet again, longer and more arduously than usual.

As for the lunch...

Zheng Fa didn't ask, but he also knew that the other wouldn't be bringing any back for him.

He stood up and walked towards the door; Gao Yuan watched him with a complex gaze, and as they brushed past each other, Zheng Fa stopped:

"Thank you."

"Hm?"

Gao Yuan was a bit puzzled.

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"Thank you for fetching meals for me these past few days."

Zheng Fa's expression was sincere, but Gao Yuan's discomfort grew.

"It's nothing much, I will not continue to..."

"I also need to thank you for the previous days." Zheng Fa said earnestly.

"..."

Zheng Fa smiled at Gao Yuan, then stepped out the door; he could feel Gao Yuan's gaze lingering on his back.

He made his way to the Zhao Mansion's main kitchen, and by the time he arrived, it was already much later than the usual lunchtime.

"You're only coming now?" The chef asked impatiently.

Zheng Fa offered an apologetic smile and explained, "I was delayed by some matters."

"Here, this is all the food that's left, serves you right for not coming earlier."

Zheng Fa looked at the rice and vegetables handed to him.

The rice was cold, and all the vegetables were green—a forlorn and wilted mass of leaves without a speck of minced meat.

Zheng Fa didn't say anything, took the food, and found a deserted corridor where he sat on a railing, slowly ingesting the meal against the backdrop of the evening glow.

In the following days, as expected, Gao Yuan no longer brought him any meals.

Zheng Fa realized that the food from the main kitchen was not as good as what Gao Yuan used to bring him.

Not only was there a lot less meat.

But also the presentation was worse, and the taste considerably inferior.

Zheng Fa understood immediately; after all, Gao Yuan was the son of a steward and carried his own weight in the main kitchen.

The meals he brought were likely made by the chief chef of the kitchen.

As for himself?

Being the Seventh Young Master's Attendant Student, of course, he wouldn't go hungry. But as for receiving those special considerations from before, that was no longer possible.

...

Early the next day, Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan were again "standing in punishment" outside the Seventh Young Master's study.

The Seventh Young Master was still inside, looking at a book filled with so-called talismans. When he seemed tired of reading, he lifted his gaze towards the two of them, squinting slightly as if he had discovered some amusing trinket.

"You two, come in!"

Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan exchanged glances, uncertain as to why the Seventh Young Master suddenly called them in today.

"You two have... fallen out?"

The Seventh Young Master wore an expression of gleeful curiosity; Gao Yuan pursed his lips, remaining silent.

In contrast, Zheng Fa's expression remained unchanged.

"Just right, I've thought about it, and saying to let you both leave wasn't nice. I still need an Attendant Student!" The Seventh Young Master cheerfully extended a finger: "Remember, it's one Attendant Student. If you two are too close, I would feel quite heartbroken!"

Zheng Fa clearly heard Gao Yuan's breathing become slightly hurried beside him, then heard him clench his fist softly.

Then looking at the Seventh Young Master, his smile was becoming increasingly malevolent.