plumnovel Chapter 26 The Good Don't Come
Chapter 26 The Good Don't Come
Zhao Yuanlang paused slightly in the hand holding the teacup.
Eight years ago? The people he sent to Fenglin County found out that Mo Wentian appeared in the county town sixteen years ago and then disappeared.
If what Shen Qing said is true, and Mo Wentian returned eight years ago, it means that he not only lived, but lived very well, and was able to travel thousands of miles back to Qinghe.
"Oh? You mean Senior Mo came back eight years ago?"
Shen Qing nodded: "When Uncle Mo returned that time, he only spent a few days with my master at Fushan before leaving. My master never told me where he went or when he would return, and I dare not ask."
"The reason why I am so eager to take on disciples is because my master's whereabouts are uncertain, and I do not know when he will return. If I die before he returns, these disciples can at least hold on until my master comes back, and then my master will have the seed to restore Qingyun."
Shen Qing sighed as he finished speaking, "If my martial uncle never returns... then so be it. At least the Qingyun Sect won't perish at my hands."
Zhao Yuanlang held his teacup, remaining silent for a long time.
Mo Wentian returned eight years ago, which means he is still alive.
But since you're alive, why not stay at Qingyun Sect?
In Zhao Yuanlang's view, it meant that he had more important things to do, or that there was nothing in Qingyun Sect that he cared about.
As for that "more important matter," Zhao Yuanlang was not interested.
Zhao Yuanlang was interested in whether Qingyun Sect had anything he cared about.
Whether Qingyun Mountain truly holds a secret, and whether Mo Wentian took it away eight years ago, Zhao Yuanlang has no idea, because it's all just his speculation.
But that's enough. What Zhao Yuanlang cares about now is whether Mo Wentian will return in the near future. As long as Mo Wentian is not around, Zhao Yuanlang doesn't think Qingyun Sect can cause any trouble.
Zhao Yuanlang put down his teacup, having made up his mind.
"Sect Leader Shen has devoted himself to the Qingyun Sect with utmost care and effort, for which I greatly admire him."
His tone returned to its previous gentleness, "By the way, I would like to take a walk around. Is there any inconvenience?"
Shen Qing sneered inwardly. Zhao Yuanlang had finished probing his strengths and weaknesses and was now going to investigate the strengths and weaknesses of Qingyun Mountain.
"Your Excellency, please make yourself at home. There is no inconvenience on Mount Qingyun."
Zhao Yuanlang stood up and led Xuanji toward the mountain path.
Once outside the academy's grounds, the smile on Zhao Yuanlang's face vanished completely.
"Xuanji, what do you think?"
"Shen Qing is either truly desperate or incredibly cunning. I lean towards the former. Since his condition is indeed as described, there's really nothing to worry about with a dying man."
Zhao Yuanlang nodded.
The two continued up the mountain path, passing several abandoned buildings along the way. Zhao Yuanlang would stop at each one and use his divine sense to investigate.
But apart from stones and weeds, there was nothing else. The higher you went up the mountain, the thinner the spiritual energy became.
By the time they reached the summit, Zhao Yuanlang's face had completely darkened.
Is this Qingyun Mountain? The concentration of spiritual energy is only slightly better than that of mortal settlements. It's not even a spiritual vein, let alone the residual energy of one.
"Seeing is believing."
Zhao Yuanlang sneered, "The greater my expectations for Qingyun Mountain were before, the greater my disappointment is now."
He stood on the mountaintop, overlooking the entire Qingyun Mountain.
The outline of the academy was faintly visible on the mountainside, and the farmland behind the mountain looked like patches of green. The disciples were as busy as ants.
"Let's go, let's go down the mountain."
After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped.
On the training ground, Uncle Zhou was instructing a group of disciples in their cultivation.
It's not a cultivation technique for immortality, but the martial arts of mortals. It involves practicing horse stances, boxing forms, and striking wooden dummy drills. Every move and stance is a common martial art.
Zhao Yuanlang's noodles twitched at the sight.
"This is a disgrace to our family."
He muttered a curse under his breath and stormed off.
A once-powerful sect dedicated to cultivating immortality has been reduced to teaching martial arts to mortals.
Zhao Yuanlang, who came from the Heavenly God Sect, suddenly felt ashamed that he had actually harbored covetous thoughts towards such a sect.
Xuanji, who had been following Zhao Yuanlang, seemed to be deep in thought as he watched his disciples sweating profusely on the training ground.
But he didn't say anything and quickly followed Zhao Yuanlang's pace.
The tea ceremony in front of the academy was still ongoing.
After Zhao Yuanlang left with Xuanji, the atmosphere at the table actually relaxed a bit.
Ma Wenzhong put down his teacup, looked at Shen Qing with a mixture of curiosity and scrutiny in his eyes.
"Sect Leader Shen, I have a question. Qingyun Academy doesn't charge tuition fees; in fact, it subsidizes students' expenses. Forgive my bluntness, but Qinghe County School still has to pay tuition fees to its students every year. Isn't Sect Leader Shen's approach breaking the rules?"
Shen Qing picked up the teapot and personally refilled his cup: "Instructor Ma, what do you think is the purpose of studying?"
Ma Wenzhong was taken aback for a moment: "Naturally, it's for understanding principles and cultivating oneself, so that one can enter officialdom after passing the examinations of the immortal sect."
"Your Excellency, what you are describing is the path to education for the sons of wealthy families."
Shen Qing put down the teapot. "But those poor children in the north of the city, their parents send them to Qingyun Academy not to become officials."
"These peasants only hope that their children can read and write, do accounting, and become shop assistants in a company so they can earn a living and not end up like them, carrying bags on the docks for the rest of their lives."
"As for Qingyun Academy not accepting tuition fees, it's not because I, Shen, don't want to, but because the parents of those children simply cannot afford it. If I were to accept this money, I would be turning those poor children away, making me no different from the county school."
Ma Wenzhong was silent for a moment, then smiled.
"As the saying goes, education should be provided to all without discrimination. Although Sect Master Shen belongs to a sect of immortals, he still practices such moral education. I admire him greatly."
"Sect Leader Shen," Zhou Shi'an suddenly interjected, beaming, "Qingyun Academy provides one lunch for each child every day. With forty children, the expenses must be considerable over a month, right?"
Shen Qing was secretly delighted, but his face showed a bitter expression: "To be honest, I'm really worried about this matter. Since the academy opened, it's been struggling to make ends meet..."
Ma Wenzhong stroked his beard and said solemnly, "Sect Leader Shen, Qingyun Academy educates the local people and benefits the common folk. So, from today onwards, the county school will cover the lunch expenses for the forty children. Each month, two shi of grain and ten taels of silver will be allocated specifically for the children's lunches."
Zhou Shi'an added with a smile, "Once the autumn harvest is complete, I will suggest to the county magistrate that we allocate more grain to Qingyun Academy. As long as Sect Leader Shen runs the academy well, we'll take care of the finances and provisions."
Shen Qing stood up and bowed deeply: "On behalf of the forty children, I thank you both."
Ma Wenzhong helped him up and sighed, "Sect Leader Shen, I am a few years older than you, and there is something I am not sure if I should say."
"Sect Leader Shen is a cultivator, and his lifespan is precious. The affairs of this academy can be left to the instructors. Sect Leader Shen should spend more time on cultivation. If he could break through to the Foundation Establishment stage and extend his lifespan by a hundred years, wouldn't he be able to do even more for the Qingyun Sect and the people of Qinghe?"
Shen Qing gave a wry smile: "Your words of wisdom are invaluable, and I will keep them in mind."
After chatting for a few more minutes, Zhao Yuanlang returned from the back mountain with Xuanji.
The county magistrate's expression darkened slightly compared to when he left. Although he still wore a smile, everyone could tell that the smile was somewhat forced.
"Sect Leader Shen, I have troubled you for half a day. I should return now. Qingyun Academy is doing a great job. After I return, I will have the county government issue a notice to commend Qingyun Sect for its contributions to educating the local people."