Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 136 - 41 Politeness

Chapter 136: Chapter 41 Politeness

"I heard that Zheng will be lecturing at the Talisman Magic Pavilion tomorrow."

Han Qi was on his way to the workshop when the tall and slender man suddenly mentioned it.

"Lecturing?" Han Qi was a bit curious about this, as he wasn’t aware: "Zheng is lecturing?"

"Yes, I heard he’s now a lecturer at the Talisman Magic Pavilion," the tall and slender man relayed the news he had gathered.

"Then we should go and support Zheng tomorrow to prevent any mishaps," Han Qi pondered for a moment before responding.

"What do you mean, Senior Brother?"

"You know what the Talisman Magic Pavilion is like, it’s easy for issues to arise!" Han Qi said a bit worriedly: "After all, Zheng is still at the Qi Refinement Realm. It’s no problem for him to suppress those new disciples in the Qi Refinement Realm, but the former lecturers were all senior brothers at the Foundation Establishment Stage. I’m afraid they might exclude Zheng."

The tall and slender man silently nodded, just about to say more.

Suddenly, a man rushed past them, his head down as he walked swiftly as if afraid that staying too long on the road would draw attention.

He seemed not to notice Han Qi and the others, bumping heavily into the tall and slender man.

Caught off-guard, the tall and slender man stumbled forward and glared at the passerby.

"Ah? Senior Li?" the tall and slender man called out, his face flashing with a surprise.

This Senior Li was wearing a coarse cotton Jiushan Sect disciple’s uniform, with the cuffs slightly bleached from washing—a rare sight in Jiushan Sect.

Most Jiushan Sect disciples hardly ever washed their clothes.

On one hand, even those who wanted to wash would generally use a Clean Body Talisman, with one low-grade talisman leaving one clean inside and out—as if you had bathed with your clothes on, washing them at the same time.

Naturally, it was a clean version.

But more importantly, though the lower-level disciples in Jiushan Sect are considered poor, they are way wealthier than ordinary citizens.

Cotton, a product that doesn’t require spiritual materials to produce, is very cheap in the workshops.

It’s quite common for Jiushan Sect disciples to throw away their dirty clothes and simply buy new ones.

Most disciples, apart from those with quirks, actually dress quite decently.

But Han Qi and the others knew that this Senior Li was genuinely poor.

Senior Li looked up at them, tucking his hands into his cuffs, his face showing some embarrassment.

"Senior Li, where are you heading?" Han Qi greeted with a smile, speaking warmly.

Seeing Han Qi’s enthusiastic demeanor and the uniform of a workshop enforcer he wore, Senior Li’s face grew even more bashful. He glanced down and said, "I... I’m heading to the workshop to find some work."

"Then Brother, you’ve picked a good day!"

Han Qi laughed.

"A good day?"

"Today there are quite a few foreign cultivators in the workshop, and they’re willing to spend money! You could earn two to three times more today by being busy at the dock," Han Qi said.

"Really?" Senior Li seemed to rarely go out and was not very aware of the changes in the workshop: "Then... I’ll be off ahead, juniors."

"Take your time, Brother, no rush!" Han Qi advised.

As they watched him walk away, the tall and slender man suddenly let out a sigh: "Senior Brother, how did Li come to live in such a state?"

Han Qi fell silent for a moment and shook his head: "Actually, among the senior brothers we followed before, Li had the best personality and was the most considerate... He also had good talent, but he was just obsessed with those talisman designs."

"I heard that Li’s father was also from our Jiushan Sect... and had some connection to Zhang and her Master?"

The tall and slender man said thoughtfully.

"That’s right, Li’s father was also a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and their family has always been part of Zhang’s lineage," explained Han Qi: "It’s just that Li’s father blew himself up and several other disciples with his talisman experiments, and that was their downfall... I didn’t expect Li to become obsessed with it as well, he must have sunk all his possessions into it."

Watching as Senior Li’s figure, head down, disappeared into the workshop, Han Qi couldn’t help but sigh.

They had initially followed Li, and honestly, despite being a bit poor, they lived quite contentedly.

Senior Li was good-natured and rarely went out, so he didn’t cause much trouble.

Usually, they just ran errands for him.

As Li’s situation worsened, he naturally couldn’t support the three of them any longer.

But the separation was amicable.

Now that their own circumstances were slowly improving and they had softened a bit, seeing Li’s increasing destitution stirred up a kind of pity they hadn’t felt before.

...

Li walked through the workshop, his head consistently down, almost never making eye contact with anyone.

He knew that if he looked up, he would see disapproving glances—shopkeepers selling Spirit Talismans in the workshop had about five or six out of ten who disliked him.

Ever since his father’s death, these people took him and his father for a joke.

Senior Li knew that he couldn’t find work at the workshop.

Whether it was being a clerk, accountant, or just doing some simple chores, carrying things.

Any Jiushan Sect disciple who recognized him would not choose him.

Those that didn’t would after someone mentioned his existence.

Gradually, the Jiushan Sect disciples in the workshop stopped hiring him.

But he had his own way of making money—heading to the docks to find foreign disciples who didn’t know him.

Acting as a guide or running errands could earn him what he needed to get by.

He trudged through the workshop and upon reaching the docks, discovered that what Han Qi and the others had said was true—indeed, there were many more foreign cultivators.

Soon, a rather wealthy-looking middle-aged cultivator hired him to take him around and see Jiushan Sect.

The middle-aged cultivator, while touring, asked questions here and there, seemingly very curious about many aspects of Jiushan Sect.

"Young brother, do you know who proposed the idea of Jiushan Sect’s free Guiding Ships?" he inquired.

Senior Brother Li was taken aback; he had indeed heard about this—it was big news at the docks, this business with the Guiding Ships.

"Seems like... Zheng Junior Brother?"

"Zheng Fa?"

Unexpectedly, this cultivator blurted out Zheng Fa’s name.

Senior Brother Li flinched and his face suddenly became guarded.

He was not foolish; he realized this person wasn’t here for fun but seemed to be probing for something.

Seeing his expression, that man candidly said: "Not to conceal it from you, I manage a workshop market for the nearby Qianhe Sect, and seeing how prosperous your market is, I also wanted to come and learn."

"To be honest, after watching for so long, we could learn from your concept of a free Guiding Ship," the middle-aged man sighed. "But that theater... alas."

"Theater?"

This was an area Senior Brother Li was unfamiliar with. Hearing the middle-aged man speak like this, he felt rather bemused, demonstrating an appearance completely oblivious to what theater was.

"You don’t know theater? It was also initiated by Zheng Fa!" The middle-aged cultivator gestured incredulously toward the large circular theater in the distance: "Inside there, it’s quite wonderful!"

He seemed to be selling Jiushan Sect to Senior Brother Li: "Let me tell you, I originally came to watch once... but after watching it, I wanted to see more! I’ll come again next month!"

Senior Brother Li stood there stupefied, glancing toward the theater complex, muttering, "Is it that good?"

"Ah... let me explain, Junior Brother," said the middle-aged cultivator with a look of envy: "You might see me managing the workshop for Qianhe Sect as someone significant, but when I think about how you can conveniently watch theater, and even have internal tickets... I truly regret not joining Jiushan Sect back in the day!"

"..." Senior Brother Li’s mouth twitched, suddenly feeling the washed-out Jiushan Sect disciple uniform he wore seemed to gain a lot more value.

Suddenly, a sense of pride filled him.

"If you ask me, Jiushan Sect was always stronger than our Qianhe Sect, but the daily lives of ordinary disciples are quite similar! It’s just Zheng Fa, ever since he arrived, he has created quite a few novelties... I see him as a talent who loves to play with new ideas and turn them into something delightful,"

the middle-aged cultivator said wistfully as they parted ways.

As Senior Brother Li walked back, for some reason, he kept pondering these words.

The more he thought about it, the more an urge built up in him.

Zheng Fa.

A fondness for novelty.

He rushed back into the market and found Han Qi and his two companions.

"Have you heard? You are currently under Zheng Junior Brother’s tutelage, yes?"

"Correct."

Looking at Senior Brother Li’s eager face, Han Qi and the other two were somewhat puzzled.

"That being the case, Junior Brothers, could you possibly introduce me?"

Senior Brother Li put it bluntly.

...

The very next morning, Zheng Fa arrived at the Talisman Magic Pavilion.

As he entered the courtyard, he felt somewhat reflective—

This was only his third visit to this place.

Each time he had come as a new disciple.

It was unexpected that on his fourth visit, he would become a lecturer—only a few months into his schooling, Zhang had suggested he become a headmaster, which felt quite preposterous.

The students hadn’t arrived yet, but the lecturers had.

And there were quite a number of them—it was evident that many lecturers were here because of him.

A new Junior Brother, within the Qi Refinement Realm, having joined for less than half a year, was now a lecturer at the Talisman Magic Pavilion, which was quite attention-grabbing.

Zheng Fa bowed formally with folded hands to his fellow lecturers, showing utmost humility: "Junior Brother has no prior lecturing experience, so if there’s anything unsuitable—Senior Brothers, please do teach me."

"Where is that needed? We have all heard of Junior Brother’s natural talent for the talismanic Dao!"

"Teachings? It’s all about mutual exchange!"

"Us Senior Brothers might even have to learn from you, Junior Brother!"

The Senior Brothers acted one more courteous than the next, their humbleness almost palpable.

Zheng Fa became even more embarrassed and humbly continued: "I’m not very familiar with the rules of the Talisman Magic Pavilion, so if I offend anyone unintentionally, please forgive me, Senior Brothers..."

"We are all brothers of the same sect; what’s there to talk about rules!"

Standing up, Zheng Fa looked at the friendly and polite Senior Brothers around him and couldn’t help but feel moved:

Rumors of conflicts within the Talisman Magic Pavilion, the apparent animosity between two lineages of disciples!

The Senior Brothers’ disdain for my low Qi Refinement Realm cultivation level, and for advancing too quickly?

They’re all slanders from enemy forces!

Look at this atmosphere!

Isn’t it excellent?

Zhang, standing behind him, nodded as she observed this harmonious scene, revealing a smile that hid her vast accomplishments and fame, before she quietly walked out of the Talisman Magic Pavilion.

Like a passing behemoth.

...

Not much longer, disciples who came to hear the discussions on talismans also gradually arrived.

Zheng Fa found an empty room and waited for the disciples to come.

On the surface, the Talisman Magic Pavilion’s rule was for students to choose their own lecturers, to attend whichever class they liked, with no forceful selection.

But the truth was, often only two lecturers would be present, one for each lineage, and unless students were rebellious to the extreme, they had no real choice.

Like today, Zheng Fa was representing Zhang’s lineage as a tutor.

What Zheng Fa didn’t expect was that the first to arrive were several Discussion Talisman Pavilion lecturers—including those from Master Pang’s lineage.

Clearly, Zhang could make them courteous, but not subdue them.