I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Book 2: Chapter 33: Exclusion

Vol 2 Chapter 33: Exclusion

Returning to the Eighth Peak once more, Zheng Fa could immediately sense a shift in the atmosphere surrounding Master Pang’s faction.

It wasn’t something obvious at first glance, but the signs were everywhere.

The disciples of Master Pang’s lineage moved hurriedly yet aimlessly.

Their gazes, filled with suspicion and subtle hostility whenever they saw him.

The young attendants rushing to report his arrival to Master Pang inside the hall.

And the vague feeling of being watched as soon as he set foot on the mountain path.

All of it made the tension and dejection hanging over the Eighth Peak palpable.

The news of Zheng Fa becoming the sect leader’s disciple hadn’t spread widely—mostly because the sect leader himself had buried himself in scriptwriting, showing no interest in publicizing the matter.

But a handful of people in Master Pang’s faction knew.

Last time Zheng Fa had visited, some of his senior brothers had greeted him warmly, smiling like family.

This time, their eyes still held a hint of respect, but it was overshadowed by distance.

Zheng Fa couldn’t help but recall what Senior Sister Zhang had told him before—his apprenticeship under the sect leader was a huge blow to Master Pang’s lineage.

She had even warned him to maintain a neutral stance between the two factions.

At the time, he thought she was making a big deal out of nothing. But now, seeing the atmosphere on the Eighth Peak, he finally understood her concern—

The conflict between the two factions of Jiushan Sect ran far deeper than he had imagined.

If not for Senior Sister Zhang’s efforts to keep things under control, the Talisman Hall’s last discussion might have ended in bloodshed.

Now he realized why she had insisted he personally deliver The Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method.

Even in such a short walk, he could already see that the divide between the two factions had overshadowed their bond as fellow disciples.

His joining the sect leader’s lineage and his close relationship with Senior Sister Zhang had placed immense pressure on Master Pang’s faction.

Bridging this gap in the future was going to be much harder than Zheng Fa had initially thought.

"Junior Brother Zheng!"

A voice called from behind. It was Sun Daoyu. "What brings you to the Eighth Peak?"

The way he emphasized you and me made it clear—he was drawing a line between them.

Zheng Fa turned and saw Sun Daoyu approaching with Zhou Qianyuan.

Sun Daoyu’s expression was no longer as warm as before.

And Zhou Qianyuan’s state puzzled Zheng Fa even more—he looked utterly lifeless. He merely nodded at Zheng Fa without any trace of his usual arrogance, but at least there was no hostility.

Zheng Fa still remembered the first time they met.

Back then, Zhou Qianyuan had stood proudly before him, introducing himself with a youthful arrogance.

Now, the man before him was unshaven, his robes wrinkled, his head lowered, avoiding everyone’s gaze.

What confused Zheng Fa even more was that, while the other disciples of the Eighth Peak looked at him with apprehension, their expressions toward Zhou Qianyuan were filled with rejection.

In fact, they seemed to regard Zhou Qianyuan with even more alienation than they did Zheng Fa.

"I’m here to visit Master Pang," Zheng Fa said, glancing at Zhou Qianyuan before addressing Sun Daoyu.

"To see Master?" Sun Daoyu was momentarily stunned.

Just then, the young attendant who had gone inside to report Zheng Fa’s arrival returned and announced, "Master invites Senior Brother Zheng inside."

"Senior Brother Sun, Senior Brother Zhou, Master has summoned you as well."

Hearing this, the three of them entered the hall together.

Inside, Master Pang’s attitude wasn’t as warm as last time.

But neither was he openly hostile—he simply seemed more distant.

He glanced at Zhou Qianyuan with a slight frown before turning to Zheng Fa. "Nephew Zheng, what brings you here?"

Zheng Fa took out The Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method and said, "The other day, you generously gifted me the Thousand-Year Purple Bamboo Tears. I was truly grateful, but I had nothing worthy to repay such kindness. I can only offer this Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method in return, and I hope you won’t find it unworthy."

Master Pang was momentarily stunned, his eyes lingering on Zheng Fa for a while before he finally spoke. "The Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method?"

"Yes."

"The one created by Junior Niece Zhang?"

His tone shifted slightly when he mentioned Junior Niece Zhang.

"Yes," Zheng Fa replied calmly.

Master Pang fell silent.

With a flick of his fingers, the jade scroll in Zheng Fa’s hands floated over to him.

He closed his eyes slightly, scanning its contents with his divine sense.

When he opened them again, a faint smile had appeared on his face.

"This Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method is indeed a remarkable creation. Junior Niece Zhang is truly gifted."

Like a bright-eyed youth, full of ideals, who had just stepped into society and then got beaten down by harsh reality.

The Next Day

Zhou Qianyuan had woken early.

But instead of getting out of bed, he simply lay there, staring at the ceiling in a daze.

Only when the agreed time arrived did he finally push open his courtyard door and step out.

He lived in an area surrounded by other disciples of Master Pang’s lineage.

In the past, he had been greeted warmly wherever he went. He had felt at home.

But now, things had changed.

Keeping his head down, he quickly walked past his fellow disciples, ignoring their varied gazes.

No one said anything outright, but he understood the meaning in their eyes.

Ever since Master Pang gifted the Thousand-Year Purple Bamboo Tears to Zheng Fa, they had looked at him with mockery instead of camaraderie.

Zhou Qianyuan clenched his teeth and continued walking toward Zheng Fa’s residence.

When he finally reached the door, he couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile.

Before he came to Jiushan Sect, his master had valued him highly, and he had carried lofty ambitions.

He had sworn to pursue the Great Dao of talismans.

He had wanted to make his master proud.

He had never cared for faction disputes, confident in his own worth.

But today, he realized just how many enemies he had made.

When the people who had once been friendly started ostracizing him—

He finally understood just how deep the faction divide in Jiushan Sect ran.

Looking at Zheng Fa’s courtyard gate, Zhou Qianyuan shook his head.

Zheng Fa was probably no different from the others.

Those senior brothers had the same master as him, yet their past camaraderie had proven to be just empty pleasantries.

He and Zheng Fa belonged to opposing factions—

Zheng Fa probably saw him as even more of an outsider than those senior brothers did.

All the politeness and respect before? Just surface-level courtesy.

Knocking on the door, he was met with Zheng Fa’s straightforward response: "Let’s go to Senior Sister Zhang’s place."

Following Zheng Fa, Zhou Qianyuan soon found himself standing outside Senior Sister Zhang’s secluded courtyard.

He suddenly felt nervous.

In his faction, Senior Sister Zhang’s name alone carried a certain fear.

This courtyard had always been like a dragon’s den—no one from their lineage had dared to approach it.

Inside, Senior Sister Zhang was already waiting in the backyard, accompanied by Senior Sister Yuan.

Both of them acknowledged Zhou Qianyuan with a slight nod, seemingly unsurprised by his presence.

The group sat by the lakeside pavilion, chatting casually.

Gradually, Zhou Qianyuan began to sense that something was... off.

What’s this about Five Element Sub-Talismans?

What’s a Yuan Talisman Foundation?

And why are they discussing the division of talismans into Yin and Yang?

Wait a minute...

Why was he, their supposed "rival," being allowed to hear all of this?

Sure enough, as the conversation went on, Senior Sister Zhang and Zheng Fa suddenly seemed to realize there was an outsider present.

Both turned to look at him.

Zhou Qianyuan pursed his lips and quickly stood up, ready to take his leave.

"Junior Brother Zhou, what do you think?"

Zheng Fa suddenly asked.

"...Huh?"

Zhou Qianyuan blinked in confusion, suddenly realizing—

He hadn’t encountered the faction rivalry or exclusion he had been expecting.

Instead... he had walked right into the crushing intellectual dominance of two prodigies.

Off to the side, Senior Sister Yuan gave him a look of quiet sympathy.