Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 118 - 24 Mother and Daughter

Chapter 118: Chapter 24 Mother and Daughter

Tang Lingwu’s family villa seemed to have only three floors and wasn’t lavishly decorated—it even felt a bit old-fashioned.

"This is my maternal grandfather’s old house..." Tang Lingwu spoke softly: "My dad doesn’t live here; he is always in the provincial capital."

"And your mom?"

"The doctors said it’s better for her to live in a familiar environment."

Zheng Fa had been puzzled before. Not to mention Tang Lingwu’s academic performance, even with the family’s wealth, she should not have been attending Qingshui Middle School.

Thinking about it now, she was probably staying here to keep her mother company.

There was someone on the first floor of the villa who looked like a housekeeper cleaning, but they were moving so quietly, not making a sound.

The house was so quiet it made one feel it was uninhabited, with the footsteps of the three echoing emptily in the spacious house.

"My mom is resting on the second floor." Tang Lingwu led the three upstairs: "She can’t sleep at night and naps almost all day."

Upon reaching the second floor, Zheng Fa saw Tang Lingwu’s mother.

Before coming here, Zheng Fa felt that Tang Lingwu’s mother wouldn’t be in great shape.

After all, based on Tang Lingwu’s description, her mother had a bit of hysteria, insomnia at night, and a strong desire for control.

In Zheng Fa’s imagination, although the woman wasn’t disheveled and unruly, she probably looked languished.

But she wasn’t—

Tang Lingwu’s mother was lying on a nearly flat sofa, covered with a broad and soft towel.

Coils of incense smoke curled upward from the tea table, filling the room with a pleasant fragrance.

A pretty young woman in her twenties was crouched at the end of the sofa, gently massaging her face and scalp.

As if hearing the footsteps of Zheng Fa and the others, Tang Lingwu’s mother sat up gently, and the towel slipped from her shoulders, revealing the strap dress she wore.

She bore an eight-to-ten resemblance to Tang Lingwu in facial features, just a bit more charming in figure.

At first glance, she even seemed to be in better shape than Tang Lingwu last night—her complexion clean and rosy, her posture languid, even appearing vibrant.

Let alone Zheng Fa, even Tang Lingwu herself seemed taken aback, staring at her mother.

Tang Lingwu’s mother stood up, first extending her hand to Old Man Bai, and said politely, "Mr. Bai, Wu has troubled you."

Old Man Bai shook her hand gently twice.

She then nodded lightly at Zheng Fa, without the intention of shaking his hand, but said rather warmly, "This must be Mr. Zheng, my surname is Ye, you can just call me Mrs. Ye."

Zheng Fa was startled and turned to look at Tang Lingwu: "Mrs... Ye?"

"Call her Mrs. Ye!" Tang Lingwu disagreed with the sudden demotion, saying to her mother, "Mom, he’s come to treat you, do you have to act like this?"

"What am I doing?" Mrs. Ye rolled her eyes gently, mumbling, "Meeting guests, I got a massage, had a SPA, adjusted my condition, what’s wrong with that?"

"..."

Zheng Fa glanced at Old Man Bai, feeling that Mrs. Ye was livelier than he had imagined.

But he realized upon closer inspection that Mrs. Ye was not as well as she appeared to be.

Her rosy complexion seemed painted on, her languid posture was actually to hide her sluggishness, and even her right hand occasionally trembled lightly, like nerve weakness.

Mrs. Ye said to Old Man Bai, "Mr. Bai, look, I don’t really have any serious issues... Wu just overreacts."

Zheng Fa was startled, finally understanding Mrs. Ye’s thoughts.

On one hand, she probably didn’t have much confidence in herself... her calling for help might have been just for Old Man Bai’s sake.

On the other hand, she might also be someone who disliked discussing her illness.

"Mom! Didn’t you promise me?" Tang Lingwu saw her mother’s inconsistency and said somewhat angrily.

"Don’t I look much better today?"

"Every time we go to the hospital, you don’t want to go; I have to force you." Tang Lingwu seemed genuinely upset, "I ask someone to come help you and you act like this again?"

"..."

Mrs. Ye fell silent.

Zheng Fa glanced at Tang Lingwu, then back at Mrs. Ye.

It seemed like between the mother and daughter, Tang Lingwu was more worried.

Mrs. Ye seemed to realize she was somewhat in the wrong. Sitting on the sofa and after a long silence, she finally spoke, "It’s useless..."

"Mom, you..."

"I’ve met all kinds of specialists at home and abroad. I’ve been taking medications like meals and still don’t see any improvement—before I could still sleep for two hours at night, now as soon as I open my eyes, it’s a whole night." Mrs. Ye said, "Wu, I know you are worried about me, these many years, in fact, you have been the one taking care of me."

Old Man Bai opened his mouth to speak.

"Mr. Bai, I believe you mean well, but I also know you don’t have an illness—at least not like mine."

"..."

"No need to let your classmate treat me; no need to force me to go to the hospitals anymore." Mrs. Ye suddenly said: "I got in touch with a hospital abroad this morning; the plane ticket is for tomorrow, and I can be admitted the day after. You don’t have to take your college entrance examination anyway; your dad will come to pick you up and go to the provincial capital."

Mrs. Ye seemed to have given up on controlling her daughter, yet Tang Lingwu seemed to still have to leave this place.

"Mom knows she has problems and has been trying to control herself, but being with you, sometimes I just can’t, always worrying, forcing you to do this and that." Mrs. Ye softly said to Tang Lingwu, "You just remember to come and visit me in the future."

Tang Lingwu was stunned for a while, then suddenly asked, "So how about today..."

"I always want my daughter to remember her mother looking her best."

Zheng Fa fell silent.

Mrs. Ye probably thought that Tang Lingwu, desperate and treating a dead horse as if it were a living horse doctor, dragged Old Man Bai along to put on a play.

She did not trust Zheng Fa; she did not have faith in Tang Lingwu either, but Tang Lingwu’s desperate attempts might have made her realize her daughter’s helplessness, eventually deciding to isolate herself and not affect her daughter’s life.

"Since you are here today, you might as well enjoy your time at our house." Mrs. Ye, noticing her daughter was silent, smiled and said, "Auntie has prepared a few dishes; let’s eat together as a send-off."

"Mom, just give it a try!" Tang Lingwu pleaded in a low voice.

Mrs. Ye looked at her daughter with a hint of helplessness, "Alright, I’ll give it a shot. What do I have to do?"

She bore not a hint of expectation on her face.

After asking the others to leave, only Tang Lingwu, her mother, Zheng Fa, and Old Man Bai remained on the second floor.

"Mrs. Ye, just sit on the sofa with your eyes closed... I’ll give you a little massage, that should do."

Zheng Fa had no intention of promoting the practice of cultivation to outsiders.

Tang Lingwu seemed to understand as well, simply saying that Zheng Fa knew some traditional Chinese medicine techniques and could use them to treat illnesses by stimulating points on the head.

Mrs. Ye nodded, her back turned to Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa could tell that her muscles from her neck to her back were all tense as if she were nervous.

Especially when Zheng Fa’s hands pressed on her head, she shuddered all over.

Clearly uncomfortable.

Zheng Fa pretended to press a few times, the Calming Talisman in his Dantian quivered lightly, and the rune of the Nourishing Spirit Talisman shot from his fingertips into the back of Mrs. Ye’s head.

His hands suddenly felt heavy on her head and when he looked again, Mrs. Ye had fallen asleep.

The group placed Mrs. Ye on the couch and waited by her side.

About ten minutes later, Mrs. Ye finally woke up.

She looked confused, seemingly unable to distinguish the time, yet the corners of her mouth still held a light smile.

"Mom? How are you feeling?"

Mrs. Ye looked at the ceiling, then at her daughter.

Tang Lingwu was smiling at her.

Mrs. Ye suddenly turned her head and looked at Zheng Fa’s hands as if she was looking at some kind of treasure.

"Mr. Zheng... can you do it again for me?"

She asked him with a craving like a drunkard yearning for alcohol.

"Mom... you’ve changed your mind too quickly!" Tang Lingwu cringed.

When her mom previously refused Zheng Fa’s treatment, she only felt helpless.

Now it seemed she trusted Zheng Fa too much...

She felt a bit embarrassed.

"Mrs. Ye, this kind of treatment doesn’t need to be too frequent," Zheng Fa shook his head.

The Nourishing Spirit Talisman works just fine once a week, any more than that is unnecessary.

Mrs. Ye blinked and suddenly stood up, heading into the room.

When she returned, she held a bank card in her hand and slapped it onto the coffee table.

Zheng Fa looked at the bank card on the coffee table.

Then he looked at Tang Lingwu and Mrs. Ye.

He could only think to himself that mother and daughter were indeed alike, both had such bold gestures!

"How much could it cost for little Wu?" Mrs. Ye seemed to understand what Zheng Fa was thinking and said, "It’s just pocket money."

Zheng Fa: ...It seems we have a different definition of pocket money.

"It’s not about the money, it’s really that once a week is enough; any more is unnecessary," he thought for a moment, but still shook his head and refused.

Hearing this, Mrs. Ye gazed deeply at Zheng Fa and then suddenly asked, "Then could I invite you to come once every week in the future?"

"Mom? You’re not going abroad anymore?" Tang Lingwu exclaimed in surprise.

"No more!" Mrs. Ye said with a smile, "That sleep just now was the best I’ve had in ten years—it felt like my brain had a SPA treatment, and I’ve never felt this good after any hospital treatment!"

Zheng Fa didn’t answer, as if contemplating.

"Mr. Zheng, if you think the money isn’t enough, we can negotiate!" Mrs. Ye said in a hurry.

Looking at Tang Lingwu’s anxious face, Zheng Fa gently nodded and said, "I will come again next week, but mainly Aunt Ye, you should get checked to see if it’s really effective."

To some extent, Mrs. Ye was also one of his experimental subjects—he still wanted to see if the Nourishing Spirit Talisman was truly effective in the modern era.

"Alright! Alright! I’ll get checked at the hospital."

Mrs. Ye obediently nodded.

Nothing like the person Tang Lingwu described who refused to go to the hospital.

Zheng Fa thought for a moment and said, "How about we discuss the payment after Aunt Ye, you get your examination results?"

...

Mrs. Ye took Tang Lingwu with her to send Zheng Fa and Old Man Bai off in the car.

Watching the departing taillights, Mrs. Ye suddenly sighed softly.

Tang Lingwu looked at her mother blankly.

"Remember from now on, to get along well with this Zheng Fa, he also attends supplementary classes with Mr. Bai? Then you should go more often—you might not listen to the classes, but you must go see the person," Mrs. Ye suddenly said.

"Mom?" Tang Lingwu was stunned.

"Do you know why I’m not going abroad?"

"Zheng Fa’s massage is amazing."

"Massage..." Mrs. Ye gently glanced at her daughter, pursed her lips, "If you say massage, then alright. Remember, the principle is the same in both business and personal relationships—what’s crucial is finding the right person. When you find the right person, you spare no cost."

"..."

"You’re so fortunate to meet such a person; if I went abroad, you’d have to go to the provincial city... Wouldn’t that be a waste?"

Tang Lingwu’s eyes widened.

"I don’t know what Zheng Fa likes, money? Houses?" Mrs. Ye muttered to herself and then looked somewhat disheartened at her daughter, even showing a hint of preferring sons over daughters in her expression, "Too bad he’s not interested in women."

Tang Lingwu: ...Mom, aren’t you being a bit too extreme? Just a moment ago, you didn’t believe anything, and now you believe everything?

...

In the Xuanwei Realm, at Zhang’s home.

Zheng Fa was summoned by Zhang, who said, "Master Pang said he no longer wants the ’Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method’."

"Ah?"

"He wants you," Zhang frowned deeply as she spoke.

Zheng Fa’s expression slowly changed: "...Does Master Pang have some special hobby?"