He turned, looked at the flushed Peng Tuan, and said, "You tell me what happened. I never would have guessed, you brat. You actually have the skill to chase down a Demon Rabbit with a Spiritual Hoe?"
Hearing this, the flush on Peng Tuanâs face suddenly faded. He said calmly:
"Thatâs right, Steward. It was tough work. It took me a full minute with the Spiritual Hoe to bludgeon the motionless Demon Rabbit to death!"
"A full minute? Motionless? Whatâs that supposed to mean?" Feng Mingyou grew even more confused.
LĂŒ Guo, who was standing to the side, couldnât stand it anymore and spoke up. "Steward, it was Brother Ming who entangled the Demon Rabbit with the Growth Technique. Only then were Peng Tuan and the others able to bludgeon it to death with their Spiritual Hoes, one blow at a time."
Feng Mingyou instantly understood what had happened. "Oh, so thatâs how it was.
Wait, what?
The Growth Technique?
Did you just say a Junior Apprentice learned a second Magic?"
Feng Mingyouâs face was flushed with excitement. âA Junior Apprentice learning multiple Magic? Thatâs the Talent of a true Mage! Iâm going to strike it rich!â
Once again, everyone simultaneously raised their hands and pointed at Zhang Deming.
Feng Mingyou froze, staring at Zhang Deming. "Didnât you just learn the Little Cloud Rain Skill last month?"
Zhang Deming said sheepishly, "Er, during the lunch break... I havenât been waking up early recently, so I couldnât really sleep. I just started messing around with the Technique I just got."
"I didnât expect anything, but I had a sudden insight, and somehow it just... worked."
Hearing this, Feng Mingyou paused, then froze again. "Your Cultivation?"
"Er, yes, I broke through. That also happened by chance during the break," Zhang Deming said.
The expression on Feng Mingyouâs face was quite a sight. It started with excitement, but then he seemed to remember something, and his expression became hesitant.
After a long moment, he finally said, "Alright. Carry the Demon Beast to the kitchen. Weâll have an extra dish tonight.
The rest of you are dismissed. The Spirit Rice is already heading, so the harvest is just a few days away. Stay sharp.
Zhang Deming, you come with me."
With that, Feng Mingyou turned and headed for his own courtyard, with Zhang Deming obediently following behind.
Unlike the small, connected courtyards of the servants, Feng Mingyou had his own private, traditional-style courtyard.
In the courtyard stood a small banyan tree, with a stone table beneath it.
It was clear that Feng Mingyou lived a very comfortable life.
When they arrived at the small courtyard, Feng Mingyou took out a tea set, gestured for Zhang Deming to sit, and began to prepare the tea.
Zhang Deming didnât understand Tea Art, but he could tell that Feng Mingyou was an old hand at it, quite masterful in his movements.
The atmosphere remained quiet until Feng Mingyou had finished brewing the first cup of tea.
"Have a taste."
Feng Mingyou poured a cup for Zhang Deming and gestured for him to drink.
Hearing this, Zhang Deming gave a wry smile. "Steward Feng, youâve watched me grow up. You know what kind of person I am. I donât understand the Tea Dao or anything like it at all.
For me, drinking tea is just for quenching thirst. I canât taste anything else in it."
Feng Mingyou picked up his own teacup and said, "Itâs fine."
Seeing this, Zhang Deming no longer refused. He picked up the cup and took a small sip.
His eyes immediately lit up, and he drained the cup in one gulp.
"Experience Points +0.5."
Zhang Deming looked at the teapot in Feng Mingyouâs hands and said, "Delicious! Steward, is there more?"
Feng Mingyou looked at Zhang Demingâs impish expression, shook his head speechlessly, and said:
"I only have two taels of this Spirit Tea. Itâs meant for savoring, not for you to waste by chugging it down like an ox chewing peonies."
Although he said this, he still refilled Zhang Demingâs cup. Seeing that Zhang Deming was about to gulp it down again, he quickly said:
"If you want to improve your Cultivation, I can give you a few pounds of Spirit Rice later. This Spirit Tea... savor it slowly. Donât waste it."
His little scheme exposed, Zhang Deming didnât feel awkward. He held the teacup and, imitating Feng Mingyou, began to take small sips.
As Zhang Deming savored it carefully, he finally understood why Feng Mingyou had said he was wasting it.
The benefits of this Spirit Tea were indeed not just from the rich Spiritual Qi in the liquid.
As the tea spread through his mouth, a delicate fragrance filled his entire palate.
It was a completely different experience from chugging it.
The two of them slowly savored their tea. After a long while, Feng Mingyou finally broke the silence. "Youâve been here at Little Qing Mountain, in the Miscellaneous Affairs Courtyard, for almost ten years, havenât you?"
Zhang Deming nodded. "Yes, Steward. Itâs been exactly ten years."
Hearing this, Feng Mingyou nodded. "Ten years... Iâve suppressed you for ten years. You must be filled with resentment. You must hate me, right?"
Zhang Deming was taken aback by his words and looked at Feng Mingyou with surprise.
Feng Mingyouâs personality was generally easygoing, but he was also a bit of a snob, though not excessively so. He was calculating, but not overly so.
All in all, he was just an ordinary person.
But Zhang Deming had never heard him speak so bluntly before.
Looking at Feng Mingyouâs serious expression, Zhang Deming smiled. "To be honest, no, I donât. I didnât when I was eight, because I knew the reason.
And I donât today, at eighteen, because youâre a decent person, Steward."
"A decent person? You donât hate me for always suppressing you, for always being so strict with you?" Feng Mingyou asked in astonishment.
Zhang Deming smiled. "With the way I entered the sect, this was a better way to survive, wasnât it? Iâm sure thatâs what you were thinking too, Steward!"
Feng Mingyou stared, dumbfounded. It was the first time he had truly looked at Zhang Deming. After a long moment, he sighed. "Hah... I always thought you were mature for your age, but it seems I still underestimated you.
I donât want to talk too much about what happened ten years ago. Itâs true I had my own motives, and I was harsh with you for two years. For that, I apologize.
But I donât regret doing it. If I had to do it all over again, I would still try. With my level of Talent, if I donât seize every possible opportunity and take some risks...
...Iâll be an Advanced Apprentice for the rest of my life. If you want to reach Tai Chi, hard work alone isnât enough."
Listening to Feng Mingyouâs frank words, Zhang Deming, though surprised, made no judgment, nor did he feel the slightest bit of contempt.
Feng Mingyou continued, "So I tried to seize every opportunity I could. But with my personality, I canât be a true opportunist.
Thatâs how I ended up on Little Qing Mountain, basically in early retirement.
Over the years, although I was strict with you, apart from those first few years, my conscience is clear. If you hold a grudge, letâs clear the air now.
Today, in this courtyard, I am not your Steward, and you are not the servant under my command.
Youâve learned the Growth Technique, right? You can string me up and whip me for half a day. Just leave me breathing. Once youâve vented all your resentment, weâll be even. How does that sound?
Once we leave this courtyard, weâll owe each other nothing. What do you say?"
Zhang Deming was stunned by Feng Mingyouâs words, never having expected him to say something like that.
"What, youâre not satisfied with my offer?
If youâre not satisfied, you can make your own proposal. We can discuss it.
After enduring for ten years, with your kind of Heart, I donât imagine youâd want to get too tangled up with me anyway. After all, itâs not like thereâs a life-and-death feud between us."