My virtue is above yours.

Master Fan's face darkened with displeasure: "Young Master, you are an unmarried young lady. How can you behave like this? It's against all propriety! If word gets out, it will damage your reputation. Master Chen, didn't your Heavenly Dao Sect teach you these rules? You should be more careful and not ruin a young lady's reputation."

"Young Master Fan is right. You may continue your discussion. I shall take my leave now." Yi Bei bowed and said goodbye, leaving Chen Jingxuan and the Fan brothers inside.

Lord Fan walked up to an empty chair and said sternly, "The Taoist priest should sit here."

Chen Jingxuan asked, puzzled, "Why?"

"This is the main seat. It would be improper for Master Chen not to sit here. You should remember this rule. Although my elder brother doesn't mind, if you host a banquet for others in the future, they won't be as forgiving as my elder brother."

Vice Minister Fan's expressionless face was infuriating to behold.

Chen Jingxuan suppressed his displeasure and moved to the main seat. Vice Minister Fan sat down to his right, while Young Master Fan sat down to his left.

The two brothers sandwiched him between the large round table, making him feel somewhat awkward.

Chen Jingxuan didn't say much; he could already guess what the other person would say: "Right is superior, and proximity is more important. You should understand this rule."

He found these two men extremely annoying. The younger brother was just like the kind of middle-aged man in his past life who had many rules and loved to lecture, while the older brother was just like the kind of leader who loved to put on airs.

He had a premonition that the negotiations with the defenders of traditional morality would not go smoothly.

Chen Jingxuan stood up to pour tea for the other party, while Master Fan stared intently at the teacup.

Chen Jingxuan understood perfectly and only poured half a cup of tea. "A full cup of wine shows respect, a full cup of tea is an insult." He didn't know where he learned these feudal dregs in his past life, but they were very practical now. If he accidentally filled the teacup to the brim, the other person would definitely be angry and leave.

He got straight to the point, saying, "The reason I invited you two gentlemen here today is to discuss matters concerning Shengyang Academy."

After sitting upright, Vice Minister Fan finally spoke: "Since Daoist Chen is so straightforward, I will also get straight to the point. Shengyang Academy has no land deeds or house deeds, and according to the laws of the court, it is impossible to issue resettlement funds to it. It is not that I am intentionally making things difficult for it."

Chen Jingxuan replied, "This humble Taoist priest had no such intention, sir, please do not misunderstand. Shengyang Academy has cultivated many good relationships and taken in dozens of orphans. If the academy is demolished, these orphans will be homeless. I hope that you, sir, can have mercy and, even if the deed cannot be found, allocate some funds out of humanitarian concern to settle these orphans."

Vice Minister Fan coldly replied, "As an official appointed by the court, I must act in accordance with the law. Even if I have a compassionate heart, I cannot break the rules."

Chen Jingxuan suppressed his displeasure: "If the contract is found, will Lord Fan uphold justice and distribute the resettlement funds in full to the academy?"

Vice Minister Fan simply replied, "I, Fan, have always acted in accordance with the law."

Avoiding direct answers, making no promises, and taking no responsibility are typical behaviors of bureaucrats.

Master Fan spoke up from the side, "Master Chen, there are some things my brother doesn't need to say. Let's have a private talk."

Chen Jingxuan understood the division of labor between the two brothers. The elder brother was to be a cold and selfless good official, only speaking in official jargon, while leaving all the offensive words to the younger brother. But in reality, these were still the ideas of Vice Minister Fan.

He pulled Chen Jingxuan aside and put on a serious expression, saying, "Master Chen, don't be so confused."

Chen Jingxuan felt that these words sounded familiar.

Lord Fan said, "This Shengyang Academy is no great opportunity. It's a hot potato, not something to be touched. Do you know that Shengyang Academy was inherited from Lord Niwan?"

Chen Jingxuan knew what he was going to say; it was nothing more than the argument that Niwan-jun's issue was too sensitive and that both sides would use it to their advantage.

"I know. But I have no official position and am not afraid of attacks from officials."

"That won't do either. Do you know how many conflicts exist between Lord Niwan and Dao Ancestor Baiyuan?"

Bai Yuan Daozu was the patriarch of the Heavenly Dao Sect. He assisted Niwan Jun in quelling the chaos of gods and demons in the past.

Chen Jingxuan asked, "What's the conflict?"

Lord Fan lowered his voice and said, "These are things that ordinary Taoists like you wouldn't understand. If you ask the high priests on the mountain, they'll know. Back then, Dao Ancestor Bai Yuan went to face the calamity of the world with Lord Niwan, during which he was repeatedly reprimanded and ostracized by Lord Niwan, who even abolished all of Dao Ancestor Bai Yuan's cultivation several times. We don't know the reasons for this, but you should know about this conflict. Lord Niwan is the most taboo person within the Taoist sect."

Chen Jingxuan truly didn't know these things. If Bai Yuan Daozu really had a deep conflict with Niwan Jun, then Daoist disciples really shouldn't touch upon Niwan Jun's affairs.

Thinking about it this way, the abbot's angry punishment of Jiang Zhen was not necessarily because she had taken his territory and embarrassed him. It was more likely because she had almost gotten involved in Niwan-jun's affairs, leaving him with a handle to be attacked in the future.

Chen Jingxuan said, "My master is a graduate of Shengyang Academy. It is only right for us to repay his kindness."

Master Fan said helplessly, "Your master ended up in this state precisely because he came from an academy. He may not have mentioned it, but many people knew it back then. Your master was a disciple of the Celestial Master, so why is he now only able to run a temple in a remote mountain village? Not to mention that Jing Hong and Zhang Shun'an became the headmaster and supervisor, even the Celestial Master's other disciples either serve the Celestial Master in the Celestial Master's Mansion or run temples in wealthy prefectures. Your master was exiled to a distant place because he was attacked by malicious people."

Chen Jingxuan had wondered in his early years why his master, as a disciple of the Celestial Master, received such meager treatment, only able to set up a temple in the impoverished Yonglin County, with only the three of them as disciples, and the expenses were meager. It turned out that it was all because of their background.

The headmaster of Shengyang Academy also mentioned that his master did not fare well within the sect.

"Shengyang Academy, an academy that defies etiquette and morality, should never have existed. It's better that it disappears, so that no one will use it to cause trouble for you in the future." Master Fan patted his shoulder. "I shouldn't have said anything about this, but it's all for your own good, Daoist. My brother shouldn't have come to the appointment, but he did it out of respect for the young master. Since he's here, let me give you some advice: don't do anything foolish."

Chen Jingxuan felt a lump in his throat. The implication of the other party's words was, "You are not worthy to see us. We are only here because of Qingluan Pavilion. We have come to advise you that we are determined to resolve the academy's affairs. Don't be ungrateful."

"Woof woof!"

Suddenly, the eldest disciple emerged from under the table and roared incessantly at Minister Fan.

Vice Minister Fan sprang up from his seat and yelled at his senior brother, "You vicious dog, shut up!"

The eldest brother seemed to be under a spell, and immediately quieted down, but his body was still trembling anxiously.

Vice Minister Fan said unhappily, "Why bring such a rabid dog when we are supposed to be having a talk? Master Chen's actions are impolite."

Chen Jingxuan apologized verbally, but immediately sent a wisp of his divine consciousness to take over his senior brother's body.

But when his senses synchronized with those of his senior brother, he discovered the reason for his senior brother's incessant barking.

There was a familiar smell in the air.