Chapter 47: Defiant and Untamed

Amidst the jeers and laughter of the crowd, Jingming's face flushed red.

He had expected to lose, but he never imagined he would be defeated so quickly. Knocked out instantly upon stepping into the arena—what kind of game was this?

"Apologies, I yield."

Zhao Zhen offered a slightly helpless cupped-fist salute.

It wasn't that he had anything personal against this young Daoist priest; it was simply that during his previous bout with Li Fu, he had activated a short-range Golden Escape Streamer using a Ground-Crossing Golden Light Talisman. Since the talisman's active duration had not yet expired, it would have been a waste not to use it, so...

Well, consider the kid unlucky.

While Zhao Zhen was genuinely grateful to Zhang Jingqing for speaking up on his behalf during the Lu family's birthday banquet, the old man's indiscriminate probing attack had left a lingering sense of unease in Zhao Zhen's heart.

And since this time it happened to be a sparring match between disciples permitted by Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing himself—fine!

If I can't beat up the elders at the Nanshan Nursing Home today, surely I can at least kick around the toddlers at the Beihai Kindergarten?

"Hahaha, Lao Zhao, you didn't even tell them to pull their punches. Look, you're about to make our little junior brother cry, hahaha..."

Facing Zhang Zhiwei's merciless mockery, Jingming blinked back his tears and bolted straight away.

"Senior brothers, I'm going to go change my clothes!"

"Which Daoist priest would like to step up next?"

"I will!"

Thump!

"Next."

...

Night fell.

When Zhang Zhiwei returned to his master, Zhang Jingqing, the old master was standing with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the divine statue inside the main hall.

"Master, I've already arranged a place for Zhao Zhen to stay."

"Mmm."

Zhang Jingqing nodded, turning his head to glance sideways at Zhang Zhiwei.

"Did they all spar with Zhao Zhen today?"

"Eh? Master, you knew about that?"

Zhang Zhiwei shrank his neck back with a guilty conscience.

"Hmph! What kind of schemes you little brats are plotting in your heads, your master knows like the back of his hand!"

Zhang Jingqing let out a cold snort, then added, "Cut the crap. I won't chew you out today—tell me the outcome of the matches."

"Hehe, thanks, Master. The junior and senior brothers all sparred with Lao Zhao, but they all lost," Zhang Zhiwei chuckled.

"That boy really doesn't hold back at all..."

Zhang Jingqing sighed with emotion, guessing inwardly that Zhao Zhen had long since seen through his petty scheme.

Agreeing to the spar meant Zhao Zhen was willing to follow his arrangements, but fighting without holding back also reflected Zhao Zhen's dissatisfaction with him.

Hmph, that kid! Outwardly he looks gentle, modest, and unassuming, but underneath he's just as untamed and rebellious as Zhang Zhiwei!

"Now that you've seen Zhao Zhen in action today, what are your thoughts?"

"My thoughts... Well, Lao Zhao hides himself deeply. Even after fighting me the way he did last time, he still had a set of Ghost Gate Needles up his sleeve that he never used.

Tsk tsk, I really wonder how many tricks that guy has hidden away."

"He who eats a hundred families' rice will naturally have good connections, and he who learns a hundred families' arts will naturally have good character.

However, my purpose today was not simply to let them go up there and make fools of themselves, but to let them witness that Golden Escape Streamer with their own eyes.

Speaking of which, the Golden Escape Streamer belongs to the 'Five Escapes' of our Daoist tradition. It is based on the metal element and executed by combining talismans with physical and spiritual cultivation.

In a sense, it shares wondrous similarities with our Celestial Master Mansion's Golden Light Spell, which is why I tacitly allowed you and your junior brothers to make a mess of things today."

"I see. That explains why you didn't show your face all day today, Master."

Zhang Zhiwei nodded in understanding.

"Indeed, every time I watch Lao Zhao use the Golden Escape Streamer, I get a familiar feeling."

"Sparring, sparring—all you lot ever know how to do is fixate on winning and losing. Do you really think I have you cross swords every day just so you can compare who is superior?"

Thump!

Seeing that his master was showing subtle signs of anger, Zhang Zhiwei relied on his well-practiced routine. Without another word, he dropped straight to his knees to plead guilty first.

Experience told him that doing this would definitely never be wrong.

"This disciple knows his error!"

"Hmph, did all your junior brothers go today?"

"Pretty much. I think only Huaiyi didn't go."

"Huaiyi..."

Zhang Jingqing's gaze flickered slightly. He looked at Zhang Zhiwei, pondered for a moment, and then spoke slowly, "Go bring Huaiyi here."

"Master, Huaiyi has to take charge of cleaning the main hall today, which is probably why he didn't have time to join in our nonsense. Please don't punish him."

"Did I say I was going to punish him? I told you to go, so go! Why so many useless words?"

"Yes, yes, yes! This disciple is going to fetch Huaiyi right now!"

Watching Zhang Zhiwei's retreating figure disappear into the distance, Zhang Jingqing let out a long, slow sigh.

"In the end, this step must still be taken..."

-----------------

The next morning.

Early in the morning, Zhao Zhen woke up and joined the disciples of the Celestial Master Mansion in participating in their morning ritual.

Zhao Zhen had already mentioned to Zhang Zhiwei yesterday that he wished to stay at the Celestial Master Mansion for a short while.

To such a minor request, Zhang Zhiwei had naturally agreed without hesitation.

After all, he had just led his junior brothers to "haze" Zhao Zhen thoroughly; throwing the guest out the very next day would be terribly impolite.

Therefore, even if Zhao Zhen hadn't brought it up proactively, Zhang Zhiwei had already figured out how to persuade him to stay.

Once the morning ritual concluded, Zhao Zhen walked straight over to Li Fu, the very person he had fought against yesterday.

"Daoist Priest Li, good morning."

"Benefactor Zhao, is there something you need?"

"Daoist Priest Li, during our spar yesterday, your mastery over the Dao of talismans was truly breathtaking. Therefore, I have come specifically today to consult you on some matters concerning talismans. I hope you will not吝赐教 (withhold your instruction)."

"Dare not call it instruction; we are merely exchanging pointers. Please come this way, Benefactor Zhao."

Li Fu smiled faintly and made an inviting gesture toward Zhao Zhen.

A moment later, inside the disciples' quarters.

Li Fu sat in a chair and looked at Zhao Zhen with a hint of perplexity.

"I wonder what questions Benefactor Zhao wishes to consult me about?"

Zhao Zhen slowly drew a Ground-Crossing Golden Light Talisman from his sleeve and handed it across the table to Li Fu.

"Please take a look, Daoist Priest Li."

"This is?"

Li Fu reached out and took the talisman. After just a casual glance, his expression instantly shifted from confusion to wild ecstasy.

"Is this a Ground-Crossing Golden Light Talisman?"

"Daoist Priest Li recognizes this talisman?"

"Yes, I was fortunate enough to see it in an ancient text once. Unfortunately, that text only recorded the existence of this talisman and did not describe how to craft it."

Li Fu nodded fixedly, his eyes glued to the paper.

"Benefactor Zhao may not know this, but the talismans originally passed down by the Zhengyi sect should be far superior to those of today. It's just that through the changes of time, the transmission of many talismans has been broken, leaving behind only fragmentary records in ancient texts.

Take this Ground-Crossing Golden Light Talisman, for instance. Legend has it that it has been lost for over a hundred years. I never expected Benefactor Zhao to possess such a finished talisman in his hands."

"This talisman," Zhao Zhen said calmly, "is the very talisman required to execute the Golden Escape Streamer."