The Programmer Cultivator

Chapter 51: Chapter 49: Returning to Little Qing Mountain

After a moment of silence, Zhang Deming finally spoke, ”Give me the files.”

Zuo Jiagu saw Zhang Deming’s expression and had no intention of provoking a client at a time like this.

He directly took out a stack of documents and placed them in front of Zhang Deming.

Zhang Deming took the documents and asked, ”How much?”

”Three Spirit Stones. Since you’ve already paid a deposit of two Spirit Stones, Senior Brother Zhang, you just need to pay the remaining one.”

Zhang Deming reached into his pocket, took out a Spirit Stone, and tossed it to Zuo Jiagu. ”You can go now,” he said, his voice flat.

Hearing this, Zuo Jiagu didn’t move.

Zhang Deming frowned slightly, looked up at Zuo Jiagu, and asked, ”Is there something else?”

Although Zuo Jiagu didn’t want to provoke Zhang Deming at this moment, he still said:

”Senior Brother Zhang, because you purchased ’verbal intelligence,’ our rules state that I must personally destroy these documents after you’ve finished reading them.

No materials related to the Resources Department are allowed to be left behind. This has nothing to do with the actual content of the files.”

Zhang Deming paused, said nothing more, and buried his head in the files to read.

He didn’t know what to expect, but what he read was a genuine shock.

That guy, Lu Ze, really had an impressive network.

More importantly, in the ten-plus years since he’d joined the sect, he had relied on this network and his merely decent family background to constantly exploit his fellow disciples.

When Zhang Deming read about Lu Ze’s current mission status, a smile crept onto his face.

’Good. I found what I was looking for.’

After he finished reading, Zhang Deming looked up at the rather quiet Zuo Jiagu beside him.

While Zhang Deming was reading, Zuo Jiagu had remained very quiet, thinking that he had made Zhang Deming waste his money without achieving his goal.

”I’m done.” Zhang Deming handed the documents back to him.

Zuo Jiagu took them and said, ”Are you sure you’re finished, Senior Brother Zhang? Once you are, I have to destroy these.”

Zhang Deming nodded. ”Do as you please. Don’t let me keep you.”

Seeing Zhang Deming’s dejected expression, Zuo Jiagu took the documents. With a surge of Spiritual Power, the papers in his hand instantly turned to ash.

He didn’t linger any longer and promptly got up to leave.

As he watched Zuo Jiagu leave, the corners of Zhang Deming’s mouth lifted into a slight smirk.

’The Law Enforcement Team? I have no intention of playing some childish game with him. So what if I succeed? He gets locked up for a few years, punished with some wall-gazing?

I might as well not have wasted my energy or those three Large Spirit Stones!’

He got up to make breakfast. After casting the spell to clock in, the Light Wings on his heels fluttered, and he shot away from Qingyou Pool.

...

After Zhang Deming’s departure, nothing had changed at the Little Qing Mountain Servant Institute.

The numerous servants still toiled away each day, hoping for the day they could ascend to the Outer Sect.

The pace of life remained exhausting and slow, with little contact with the outside, as if it were isolated from the rest of the world.

Returning to Little Qing Mountain, Zhang Deming felt that although only a month or so had passed, his life here seemed a lifetime away, as if it belonged to another person.

He sighed with emotion, avoided everyone’s notice, and went directly to the outside of Feng Mingyou’s small courtyard.

Looking at the familiar courtyard, he reflected on how he used to think it was quite nice. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was at least elegant. ’Why does it look so dilapidated now, no matter how I look at it?’

He shook his head. ’It seems I’ve really changed.’

With a slight push from his legs, the miniature Light Wings on his heels vibrated, and Zhang Deming leaped over the courtyard wall.

”Who’s there?”

Feng Mingyou, who had just returned home after clocking in and eating breakfast, called out sharply.

”Steward Feng, it’s been a while.” Zhang Deming landed lightly in the courtyard with a smile.

Feng Mingyou turned his head sharply. He was taken aback when he saw Zhang Deming, and his expression turned even more bitter when he noticed the miniature Light Wings on his feet.

”In just one short month, it seems you’ve learned the Agility Technique, one of the three basic skills, and even advanced it to the Mastery stage where the Magic Rune manifests.

In that case, I imagine the Spiritual Shield isn’t far behind!”

At his words, Zhang Deming smiled. A transparent, eggshell-like shield emerged around his body, shimmered faintly, and then vanished.

Feng Mingyou exclaimed in shock, ”You... a Dual Technique in a single month, again?”

Zhang Deming ignored Feng Mingyou’s shock and, making himself at home, sat down at the stone table. ”Steward Feng, how about a cup of tea? I’ve been dearly missing your Spirit Tea.”

Feng Mingyou snapped back to his senses and said with a wry smile, ”With your kind of Talent, would you really be missing my coarse tea?”

Although he said that, and a pained look flashed across his face, Feng Mingyou didn’t hesitate. He turned and went inside, emerging a moment later with a tea set.

A moment later, the faint aroma of tea began to drift through the air.

”Please,” Feng Mingyou said, handing over the freshly brewed tea.

Zhang Deming accepted the cup and took a small sip. A light bitterness and a rich, clear fragrance spread through his mouth.

He had to admit, he quite liked this feeling. If he had the time, he might have even considered cultivating the Tea Dao himself.

”Steward Feng, your skills have become even more exquisite.”

Feng Mingyou looked at Zhang Deming and said, ”You really have changed.”

Hearing this, Zhang Deming gave a self-deprecating laugh. ”Is Steward Feng saying I’m not chugging it like an ox anymore?”

”Haha, your playful side hasn’t changed much, at least,” Feng Mingyou said with a smile.

”Steward Feng, you’ve reached the Entry Level in your Tea Dao, haven’t you?”

At these words, Feng Mingyou’s face filled with bitterness and self-mockery. ”What good is Entry Level? Tai Chi is still too far out of my reach.

Putting aside everything else, just the several hundred Spirit Stones or Contribution points needed for advancement is more than I can gather by saving. I’m still a long way off.”

Zhang Deming smiled. ”Take your time. There’s always hope.”

Feng Mingyou froze for a second, then turned to look at Zhang Deming for a long time. ”I didn’t expect you to come back.

And to suddenly return like this, by climbing over the wall.

These past few days, I haven’t heard any rumors about a super genius of techniques appearing in the Outer Sect.

Even though it’s isolated here, I would’ve heard something if there was explosive news like that.

I suppose you’re still lying low, just like you did at Little Qing Mountain!

But as soon as you came in, you immediately showed off your full strength to intimidate me.

And now you’re trying to reignite my ambition for promotion. That Heart of yours... sigh... If only I had discovered this deeply hidden Heart of yours sooner.”

Zhang Deming smiled faintly. ”It’s not too late now, is it?”

Feng Mingyou took a sip of tea and murmured, ”It’s different. I think people like us understand that there’s a fundamental difference.

For others, the difference between helping someone in their time of need and simply adding to their success might be small, but for people like us, the gap is as wide as heaven and earth.

The feeling it gives is completely different, isn’t it?”

”Mm, it is different. After all, while a friendship can start from mutual benefit...

...it’s hard to form a true bond if it’s known from the very beginning that the relationship is based on self-interest,” Zhang Deming said with a nod.