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 Tuan's face suddenly faded. He said calmly:
"That's 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? What's that supposed to mean?" Feng Mingyou grew even more confused.
Lü Guo, who was standing to the side, couldn't 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 that's how it was.
Wait, what?
The Growth Technique?
Did you just say a Junior Apprentice learned a second Magic?"
Feng Mingyou's face was flushed with excitement. 'A Junior Apprentice learning multiple Magic? That's the Talent of a true Mage! I'm going to strike it rich!'
Once again, everyone simultaneously raised their hands and pointed at Zhang Deming.
Feng Mingyou froze, staring at Zhang Deming. "Didn't you just learn the Little Cloud Rain Skill last month?"
Zhang Deming said sheepishly, "Er, during the lunch break... I haven't been waking up early recently, so I couldn't really sleep. I just started messing around with the Technique I just got."
"I didn't 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 Mingyou's 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. We'll 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 didn't 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, you've watched me grow up. You know what kind of person I am. I don't understand the Tea Dao or anything like it at all.
For me, drinking tea is just for quenching thirst. I can't taste anything else in it."
Feng Mingyou picked up his own teacup and said, "It's 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 Mingyou's hands and said, "Delicious! Steward, is there more?"
Feng Mingyou looked at Zhang Deming's impish expression, shook his head speechlessly, and said:
"I only have two taels of this Spirit Tea. It's 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 Deming's 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. Don't waste it."
His little scheme exposed, Zhang Deming didn't 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. "You've been here at Little Qing Mountain, in the Miscellaneous Affairs Courtyard, for almost ten years, haven't you?"
Zhang Deming nodded. "Yes, Steward. It's been exactly ten years."
Hearing this, Feng Mingyou nodded. "Ten years... I've 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 Mingyou's 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 Mingyou's serious expression, Zhang Deming smiled. "To be honest, no, I don't. I didn't when I was eight, because I knew the reason.
And I don't today, at eighteen, because you're a decent person, Steward."
"A decent person? You don't 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, wasn't it? I'm sure that's 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 don't want to talk too much about what happened ten years ago. It's true I had my own motives, and I was harsh with you for two years. For that, I apologize.
But I don't regret doing it. If I had to do it all over again, I would still try. With my level of Talent, if I don't seize every possible opportunity and take some risks...
...I'll be an Advanced Apprentice for the rest of my life. If you want to reach Tai Chi, hard work alone isn't enough."
Listening to Feng Mingyou's 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 can't be a true opportunist.
That's 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, let's clear the air now.
Today, in this courtyard, I am not your Steward, and you are not the servant under my command.
You've learned the Growth Technique, right? You can string me up and whip me for half a day. Just leave me breathing. Once you've vented all your resentment, we'll be even. How does that sound?
Once we leave this courtyard, we'll owe each other nothing. What do you say?"
Zhang Deming was stunned by Feng Mingyou's words, never having expected him to say something like that.
"What, you're not satisfied with my offer?
If you're not satisfied, you can make your own proposal. We can discuss it.
After enduring for ten years, with your kind of Heart, I don't imagine you'd want to get too tangled up with me anyway. After all, it's not like there's a life-and-death feud between us."