I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times-Chapter 191Book 2: : An Elder’s Fury, A Young Man’s Choice

Zheng Fa looked at Elder Han, who was striding toward them with a smug look, and couldn’t help wondering what gave Yan Wushuang such confidence.

“Elder Han’s life-bound treasure is called Tenfold Hearing...” Yan Wushuang explained. “Within a hundred miles, under the Soul Formation stage, unless special means are used, no words can escape his hearing.”

Zheng Fa was stunned upon hearing that.

What kind of cheat skill was this—super eavesdropping?

The Sunset Sword Immortal, Elder Han, strolled over slowly, grinning at Zheng Fa, seemingly unfazed that Yan Wushuang had just exposed the name of his life-bound treasure.

“With me watching over this kid, you don’t need to worry about his safety.”

Elder Han patted his chest with confidence. As he reached the two of them, he glanced at Yan Wushuang and suddenly said, “I’ve got something to tell you.”

Yan Wushuang took the hint and walked toward the Seventh Young Master and Zheng Shan...

“Let me take a look?”

She smiled gently at the near-despairing Zheng Shan.

The Seventh Young Master looked a bit annoyed, but said nothing—after all, he hadn’t solved the problem either.

After a while...

The corners of Yan Wushuang’s mouth slowly flattened.

The Seventh Young Master was grinning wide, even showing his molars.

...

Facing Zheng Fa, the Sunset Sword Immortal Elder Han said cheerfully, “I knew it... Once I offered the Wushuang Society as a token of loyalty, you’d trust me.”

“……”

Wait—you offered the Wushuang Society as a loyalty token?

Does Yan Wushuang even know?

Zheng Fa now realized that most of Yan Wushuang’s choices had probably been orchestrated by this Elder Han.

“Many thanks for your trust, Senior...”

Zheng Fa cupped his hands in gratitude.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

He honestly felt a little awkward—this Elder Han had been a bit too good to him.

“Because you’re better than the Ancestor!”

Zheng Fa froze.

He had the distinct feeling that this Elder Han was a hardcore fanboy.

Now he was even saying Zheng Fa was better than their revered Tianhe Venerable?

“If you couldn’t surpass the Ancestor, I wouldn’t be so invested in you.”

“You gained an innate divine ability at Foundation Establishment... earlier than the Ancestor did.”

“You were recognized by the Heavenly Monument and now preside over an entire realm—that’s earlier than the Ancestor too.”

Zheng Fa listened and started feeling kind of impressive...

“But all that’s just minor stuff!” Elder Han suddenly said.

“Hmm?”

“The Ancestor had one big flaw!”

“……”

“He was too far removed from people’s hearts...”

Zheng Fa nodded.

He’d considered this before—the Tianhe Venerable’s biggest issue might’ve been that he trusted only himself too much.

“But you’re different,” Elder Han said softly. “I’ve heard plenty of stories about you in the Thunder Pool—stories from your Jiushan Sect, from those Thunder Pool cultivators, from the Great Freedom Demonic Cult followers...”

“……”

Zheng Fa twitched the corners of his mouth.

So you ran a background check before investing, huh?

“You rose quickly, yet there are few disciples who speak ill of you...”

“Uh, so... there are some?” Zheng Fa was curious now—who’d been badmouthing him?

“Who isn’t talked about?” Elder Han shot him a glance. “Who it is, I’m not telling you... everyone’s ears and mouths need to be a little dull sometimes.”

“There’s ongoing conflict between Jiushan Sect’s two branches, yet you’ve gained the support of masters and disciples from both sides—quietly resolving old grudges. That’s even more admirable.”

“……”

You really do know everything.

“You outperformed all the other cultivators to claim the Heavenly Monument, yet few harbor resentment in their hearts...”

Well, that was thanks to Fairy Xiao Yuying for not showing up.

Of course, the core reason was his initial display of talent in Thunder Techniques—most cultivators had probably already mentally prepared themselves, so they stayed calm.

“That’s the greatest way in which you surpass the Ancestor!”

“You flatter me, Zhenren...”

Zheng Fa responded, still a bit stunned. Elder Han was even sharper than he’d expected—and he was fully aware of the Tianhe Venerable’s flaws.

“Flatter or not—I know what I’m saying.” Elder Han waved it off, seemingly having noticed Zheng Fa’s surprise. He smiled and said, “You’re thinking I criticized the Ancestor?”

“I thought... you must’ve deeply revered him.”

“Oh, I did!” Elder Han nodded. “I wished I could’ve been the Ancestor’s loyal dog, followed him to death.”

“But I’ve never met him—and I never believed he was perfect.”

Zheng Fa looked at Elder Han, and for a moment, it felt like the old man’s eyes were a bottomless void.

“What I do know is...” Elder Han’s voice turned distant, “Right now—everything’s far from fine...”

Zheng Fa stayed silent.

He saw Elder Han point to his own ear and smile bitterly: “I’ve heard too many things I wish I hadn’t.”

With that, a flash of blue light flickered in Elder Han’s hand, and a jade tube appeared.

He shoved it into Zheng Fa’s hand and strode off, calling out as he went:

“What I learned in Tianhe Sect, I won’t teach you—but this thing... Tianhe Sect doesn’t deserve it!”

Zheng Fa lowered his head and sank his divine sense into the jade tube.

“Tianhe Venerable’s Treatise on Life-Bound Treasures.”

Zheng Fa looked up and saw Elder Han crouched at the edge of the village, warmly chatting with a local child, the earlier fury completely gone from his expression.

...

Zheng’s mother had finished cooking.

Elder Han refused to come over, so only Yan Wushuang and the Seventh Young Master joined Zheng Fa’s family at the table.

Yan Wushuang still seemed a little unused to it: “I’ve long since stopped eating... this...”

Zheng Fa smiled: “There’s something on the table today that was made just for you, Brother Yan.”

Yan Wushuang paused, lowering her gaze to the bowl in front of her.

The rice in the bowl was quite unusual—white grains speckled with blue and violet.

“This is it?”

Zheng Fa gave a slight nod.

The Seventh Young Master glanced at the plain white rice in his own bowl and pouted.

Yan Wushuang, curious, picked up a bit with her chopsticks and slowly chewed.

The Seventh Young Master watched her with curiosity.

Then her whole body jolted, her eyes welled up with tears—it looked like she was crying from eating!

Was it that good?!

The Seventh Young Master’s interest in the strange rice skyrocketed.

“This rice...”

“It’s newly cultivated in the Jiushan Realm. I figured Brother Yan would like it.”

Zheng Fa grinned.

“I do! I really do!” Yan Wushuang began shoveling the rice into her mouth, greedy and overjoyed, even a little emotional. “Brother Zheng, what’s this rice called?”

“Qianhe Grain.”

“Brother Zheng... I... I have a request.”

“Hmm?”

“If I’m helping relay information to you... could I get a bit more of this Qianhe Grain?”

“...You’ll have as much as you want!”

Yan Wushuang nodded furiously, clearly thrilled.

Seeing her like that, the Seventh Young Master couldn’t sit still. He whispered, “I can pass information to Jiushan Sect too...”

“Huh?”

“Just give me a bite!”

Zheng Fa looked at the Seventh Young Master eyeing Yan Wushuang’s rice bowl and sighed, advising, “This rice... regular people can’t really handle it...”

“……”

The Seventh Young Master didn’t respond, but he clearly looked a little unhappy.

“Fine, give it a try.”

Zheng Fa scooped him a small spoonful of Qianhe Grain.

“More! More!” the Seventh Young Master demanded, still unsatisfied.

Zheng Shan looked on with a slightly sympathetic expression.

Zheng Fa gave him a full bowl.

The Seventh Young Master finally smiled and said happily to Zheng Fa, “Once I’m back at the Hundred Immortals Alliance, I’ll write you tons of letters—tell you everything!”

He stuffed his cheeks with Qianhe Grain, grinning at Zheng Fa.

Then, the others watched as his smile slowly twisted, tears welling up in his eyes.

He went quiet.

“Taste good?”

Zheng Fa asked gently.

“...My mouth’s gone numb. I can’t taste anything.”

“Spirit grain is precious...” Zheng Fa said in a soft, distant tone, as the Seventh Young Master looked at him in despair.

In that moment, the tearful glint in the Seventh Young Master’s eyes finally turned into two proper streams running down his face.

Looking at Yan Wushuang still happily enjoying her food, all he felt was regret—

Why did I even try to compete with this freak?!

...

As they ate, Zheng Fa said to the Seventh Young Master, “Why not just stay in Jiushan Realm? Didn’t Zhenren Tongming say...”

The smile at the corner of the Seventh Young Master’s mouth gradually faded.

“I... I know you mean well. Jiushan Realm is safe, and you’re here to take care of me...” the Seventh Young Master stayed silent for a long while before continuing, “But I... want to go back.”

Zheng Fa didn’t say anything, just looked at him.

“Now... the Zhao Family has lost its foundation. We’re all just clinging to the Hundred Immortals Alliance,” the Seventh Young Master explained. “When I go back, I’ll be taking over as Family Head.”

“……”

“I was naive before. Being the Zhao Family’s young master... gave me ten years of ease.”

“But now that I have some real ability, I can’t let my mother shoulder everything alone. And I can’t abandon my sister either.”

Zheng Fa gave a light nod.

“Just like you’re now Jiushan Sect’s Sect Master—you can’t let go of Jiushan.”

“I can’t let go of the Zhao Family.”

Hearing this, Yan Wushuang looked up at the Seventh Young Master, her eyes filled with surprise, as if suddenly understanding why Zheng Fa held such deep affection for this former young master.

...

After seeing off the Seventh Young Master and Yan Wushuang, Zheng Fa focused his mind on the jade tube Elder Han had given him, curiosity piqued.

Judging from Elder Han’s tone, this jade tube probably wasn’t an official Tianhe Sect inheritance—it was something he had obtained on his own. And he refused to give it to Tianhe Sect, saying they didn’t deserve it...

What could possibly make this hot-blooded old man feel that strongly?

Only an original, unaltered legacy from Tianhe Venerable himself could make Elder Han believe the current Tianhe Sect was unworthy!

Zheng Fa was most interested in Tianhe Venerable’s Slaying-Immortals Technique, but he had also heard much about the method for cultivating a life-bound treasure—

It was said to be one of the core foundations of modern Immortal Sect techniques.

Even more so, it was closely tied to forming a Golden Core.

But what was inside the jade tube wasn’t text.

It was a recording—like a projected image of a legacy.

In the image, a figure with a blurred face sat cross-legged, seemingly giving a lecture.

The viewpoint seemed to be from a listener sitting below the stage.

“Life-bound treasures—the most fundamental concept isn’t in the word ‘treasure,’ but in the word ‘life-bound’!”

“This treasure isn’t forged—it is our body, it is born from us!”

What the h*ll?