That sentence let the ten-year-old Jing Yuan catch a glimpse of the filthy world of adults.
And it left a deep shadow in him.
At the time, Jing Yuan froze, realizing the blind spot he had just overlooked.
Since, as the one being bullied, Zero knew what those people were doing, then why would he let himself end up alone? To the point of being blocked in a back alley?
He sucked in a cold breath, terrified Zero might start fighting them, even more afraid Zero couldn't take them on alone, so he pleaded with reason and emotion, "There's no need to fight people like that! Violence against violence isn't right!"
Zero was slow to catch on, as if realizing he'd said the wrong thing, then brushed it off casually, "I was joking."
Jing Yuan didn't notice he was being fooled. He even let out a sigh of relief, letting himself be coaxed home in just a few words.
The next day, when Jing Yuan anxiously and nervously went to school, he barely made it through class only to hear the news that Zero had taken a three-day leave.
Jing Yuan, "…"
'So this was Brother Zero's solution? Don't tell me he was planning to wait for them after school, catch them one by one when they were alone, and sack them with a club?!'
All Jing Yuan could do was wander near home after school, trying to find Zero.
The next time they met, three days had already passed.
When Jing Yuan went to ask, Zero said, "When ordinary students face bullying, don't they all take leave and rest at home?"
At such a critical time, why was Zero still fixated on that "ordinary student" label?
Jing Yuan was left speechless, choking on words. He didn't even feel like calling him "brother" anymore, almost blurting out his full name. After holding it in, he finally managed, "What kind of ordinary student is that?"
Unmoved, Zero replied lightly, "Don't worry. Just wait. By the way, that paper I gave you, you still have it?"
Seeing Jing Yuan nod, Zero reminded him, "If something happens, remember to find me after school."
Soon after, rumors spread through the academy, about the bullied Zero, said to be skilled in divination and talismans.
Later, those bullies who took pleasure in tormenting others, whatever they saw, they screamed and bolted from the classroom.
They ran so fast, like they'd seen some monstrous beast. Even the retired Cloud Cavalry guard uncle couldn't catch them.
The bullies took long leaves. When they finally returned to school, they were completely different people.
Before, they shunned him; now, they flattered him.
The moment they saw Zero, they nearly bent into a 120-degree bow on the spot. Some even wept snot and tears, begging him to take them in as his little brothers.
It was so over the top that Zero even got taken into the office for questioning. For a while, every rumor flew, he drew talismans in anger and cursed people, summoned spirits for revenge, and so on, spreading like wildfire.
Thinking it over, Jing Yuan realized Zero had deliberately avoided talking about the yellow paper. So he went straight to ask, "You didn't really curse them with talismans, did you?"
Zero's expression was still unreadable, though he looked like he wanted to roll his eyes at Jing Yuan.
"How could I? Drawing talismans drains my blue bar! And cursing people brings karma… they didn't even pay me with jades, so why would I waste my blue bar on them?"
Jing Yuan didn't understand, so he asked, "What's a blue bar?"
"Uh…" Zero faltered, thought for a moment, then explained, "How to put it… anything tied to divination or metaphysics comes with a cost. The blue bar is basically like stamina. If your blue bar runs dry, it dips into your red bar, that is, your lifespan."
Jing Yuan was shocked. He never imagined divination would burn through life itself.
"Normally, Diviners don't spend their lifespan," Zero added.
"To restore blue, to restore stamina, Diviners usually trade something for it, like jades. I mean, isn't it better for me to swap talismans for money? Why would I waste my own blue bar to curse people?"
Jing Yuan half believed, half doubted.
Zero had to patiently explain, "I only tucked a few talismans inside my book. They just happened to flip through and see them."
Jing Yuan asked, "So you mean they saw the talisman papers, assumed you cursed them, and then scared themselves into submission? Like villains from a storybook, suddenly reforming and becoming your lackeys?"
Zero sighed, "What storybooks are you even reading? Try something better…"
Jing Yuan looked worried, "But you gave me a talisman paper. What about your blue bar? Are you burning your lifespan right now?"
Zero, older and so composed just moments ago, froze at that. Then he bent down slightly, held out his hand to Jing Yuan, and said, "Give me a jade, then."
Jing Yuan was torn. He didn't know the price of talismans, nor whether he could afford it. He fumbled through his schoolbag until he found a single jade, only for Zero to snatch it away.
He smiled and said, "That's enough."
Zero never held those bullies accountable. After they apologized and wrote self-reflections, he magnanimously forgave them. From then on, he had a few little brothers at his beck and call.
Years later, Jing Yuan began to notice the truth.
The two of them hadn't actually lived on the same route home.
The other had been worried about him getting caught up in the mess.
Even if the chance was minuscule, Zero wouldn't gamble with it.
Maybe he saw himself as the older one, so he looked after the younger child.
And as for being "magnanimous" with those bullies, their parents worked in the Sky-Faring Commission, the Alchemy Commission, the Balance Commission, and so on.
In the eyes of teachers, since Zero hadn't suffered real physical harm, it was all just childish scuffles.
But parents know their own children. How could they not know what their kids were like? When they heard the rumors that Zero could draw talismans, and even managed to get their hands on some, they only worried more.
They were worldly enough to tell real talismans from fake.
So the moment they realized Zero's ability, they swallowed their pride and had their children apologize, terrified of what might happen otherwise.
But before they could even relax, they watched their spoiled children suddenly start running errands for a peer, flattering him endlessly…
They probably felt like coughing blood.
But what could they do? Better safe than sorry. What if Zero's patience was just hibernation? What if their kids provoked this living calamity again? For him, cursing someone could be nothing more than a casual whim. What if?
They lived in constant fear for their kids.
As for the price they paid…
All Jing Yuan knew was that, back then, some nameless master's talismans became priceless. At the peak of demand, a single talisman fetched seven figures in jades at auction. Even with countless jades waved around, some still failed to get one.
Thinking of the talisman he'd bought for just one coin, and still kept safe at home, Jing Yuan couldn't help but sigh. He'd really profited.
As for how much money Zero made, he had no idea.
He only knew that, right after taking his job, Zero paid in full for a luxury residence worth over eight figures.
And those who spent fortunes on talismans… weren't they the very parents people whispered about?
No doubt those "little brothers'" parents had contributed plenty.
Now, this friend full of schemes was once again in trouble.
Jing Yuan feared for him, feared even more for his enemies. So, whenever he got the chance, he would chat with him, checking his state of mind.
Heaven knows how shocked Jing Yuan was, when he discovered that Zero had no respect for the "Arbiter-General of the Hunt."
As someone of the Xianzhou, how could he show no reverence for the Path of the Hunt?
Shamelessly, Jing Yuan clung to him for ages, only then confirming that Zero wasn't some undercover agent of the "Epidemic-Woe Ancestor."
More precisely, Zero had no reverence for any Aeon, and had never walked any Path.
But a blade with no scabbard, nowhere to rest, could only end broken.
Jing Yuan truly worried that one day, if provoked, Zero would unleash himself, and the resulting storm would shake everything.
So young, yet already able to play the high officials of all the Commissions into circles… What kind of chaos could he wreak on the Xianzhou today? Jing Yuan dared not even imagine.
So, whenever he got the chance, he dragged Zero out for walks.
Looking up, he saw Zero had finished mixing his dipping sauce, so he also picked up his dish.
They had barely walked a few steps when they saw a waiter standing frozen in place, face pale with terror, looking around in panic.
As a Cloud Cavalryman, Jing Yuan's instincts kicked in. He stepped forward to ask.
The waiter stammered, maybe swayed by Jing Yuan's aura, or maybe just panicked out of fear. His words tumbled out brokenly, "Just now… someone was talking about… dismembered limbs… freezing them for preservation… I'm sorry… I got too nervous… I'll go call the Cloud Cavalry…"
Jing Yuan's expression turned cold, "In broad daylight, and villains still so brazen? Don't be afraid. No need to call. I am Cloud Cavalry."
To make it more convincing, he even showed his military access token, vowing firmly, "Don't worry. They won't stir up any waves."
The waiter's body relaxed, tension melting away.
Zero cursed inwardly, what kind of unlucky criminal plots in a restaurant, only to bump into top-tier forces like the Swordmaster and the High Elder of Vidyadhara? Talk about rotten luck.
'Wait a second…'
Zero's smile slowly vanished.
He had been too busy mixing sauce earlier, forgetting the most serious problem…
He didn't want to be forced into taking advantage.
His eyes swept to a diner nearby, noticing the apron on them. He immediately had an idea, and turned to the still-nervous waiter, "Could you bring me an apron? Thanks."
The waiter nodded, quickly pulling one out.
Since Zero and Jing Yuan's hands were full, the waiter even offered to deliver it.
When Zero returned to their table and set down the dipping dish, Yinxing finally spoke.
The usually silent blacksmith from the Artisan Commission dropped a bomb, feigning sudden realization as he looked at Zero, "So you're Jingliu's friend across generations?"
Dan Feng stayed silent, staring at the newly-served four-section hotpot broth, pretending to be air itself.
He didn't even need to look up to know Jingliu's reaction.
If looks could kill, their foolish friend would already have been sliced into mince by her glare.
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