A Good-for-Nothing

33. The So-called Endowments

Translator: Soldier

Some of He Zheng’s friends would invite him to recreational centers, where there were newly-recruited entertainers, to pick his favorite one, and some others would tell him about the latest model of certain car brand and invite him to buy one, but never once had anybody invited He Zheng, who had grown up in a family of cultivators, to join some sect.

Because He Zheng was incapable of cultivating.

As a result, the invitation issued by Zu Zhichong was the first invitation to join a sect that He Zheng had ever received. Subconsciously, He Zheng looked at Li Zong, believing that Li Zong must have something to do with this invitation of Zu Zhichong.

‘Did Li Zong tell him to do this? But why?’ he wondered.

He Zheng came up with yet another conspiracy theory, but Li Zong actually didn’t deserve He Zheng’s suspicious gaze.

Li Zong kneaded his forehead. “I have nothing to do with this.”

Zu Zhichong inhaled deeply. “Everybody knows that Fu-craft (Fu is a piece of rectangular paper, usually yellow, on which magical figures are drawn by Taoist priests to invoke or expel spirits and bring good or ill fortune) is a kind of skill that allows a cultivator to use their own body as the vehicle, Fu as the tool, to get access to the energy existing between the heavens and the earth. Fu paper is made from wood which is of wood attribute. Cinnabar is extracted from rock which is of metal attribute. Fu paper itself is of earth attribute, and cinnabar is of fire attribute. Add water to them and you’ll get five elements forming a continuous, endless elemental succession.

But incantation is different. Incantation is recited with a mouth. For example, whatever a word-spirit says will come true. It depends on the endowments and capability of the one who recites the incantation.”

If it weren’t for the fact that Zu Zhichong wasn’t smiling and grimacing, He Zheng would have believed that he was quoting these words from some book.

With a solemn look on his face, Zu Zhichong watched He Zheng. What mattered most for a geomancer was endowment. He was somewhat jealous of He Zheng, but he was also pretty happy. Involuntarily, his tone became relaxed. “What you just recited was Qingwei Thunder Spell. Among this generation of Qingwei Sect disciples, only a couple of them are capable of reciting this incantation.”

In embarrassment, he scratched his head and added, “Actually, I spent over a month practicing it before managing to stammer it out…”

He Zheng slid a contemptuous glance at Zu Zhichong.

Li Zong was the one who broke the silence. “Both Supernaturalism Management Bureau (SMB) and Qingwei Sect are thirsty for talents. If you have the required endowments, Qingwei Sect is the right place for you to go to.”

“That’s true. My master shifu no longer takes on apprentice, but my sect-uncle will finish his closed-door cultivation soon. I can introduce you to him if you like.”

“I see.” He Zheng shifted his sitting position, his chin rested on his hand, looking sideways at Zu Zhichong. ‘Zu Zhichong was saying that I’m talented, and he thinks I have pretty good cultivation prospects, so he intends to recruit me before anybody else does.’

But He Zheng didn’t make any precipitous decisions. “I’ll think about it.”

Zu Zhichong was somewhat surprised that He Zheng agreed to consider his offer so willingly. The bun on top of head his slightly twitched and he smiled, “I thought you would lose your temper with me again.”

He Zheng rolled his eyes. “What do you take me for? A rocket gun?”

For some unknown reason, Li Zong kept silent all along.

‘This position of He Zheng’s is really somewhat… provocative.’

With an impassive face, Li Zong shifted his gaze away and briefly curved the corners of his mouth. “Okay, then. You may return. Don’t forget the assignment I set you.”

“You’re not the man I remember, Chief. I used to be allowed to spend the night here, but now you got married, and I’m not even allowed to sleep on the floor.” Upon saying this, Zu Zhichong deliberately looked in the direction of He Zheng, who pretended not to notice and went to the bedroom. Li Zong slightly curved the corners of his mouth. Bored by the two of them who didn’t even bother to make a perfunctory response, Zu Zhichong left.