My virtue is above yours.

Chen Jingxuan rushed out of the house and opened the courtyard gate. A teenager dressed in tattered clothes was standing at the door.

The boy looked panicked, was panting, and his left cheek was covered with bloodstains and grit.

Chen Jingxuan recognized him; the person was a child from the academy named Xiaomi.

"Xiaomi, what happened? How did you get injured?"

Xiao Mi pulled Chen Jingxuan towards the door, panting as he said, "An uncle came by earlier and said the academy will never get any money, and he even broke the headmaster's leg. I went to fight him, and he bruised my face too."

"Let's hurry to the academy."

Chen Jingxuan carried Xiaomi on his back and ran towards the academy like a madman.

For an elderly person like the headmaster, a fracture is a matter of life and death. If not handled properly, it could very likely lead to death due to complications.

Chen Jingxuan rushed into the academy without stopping. Several younger children were gathered in the main hall, sitting quietly with tense expressions.

As soon as they saw Chen Jingxuan enter, they burst into tears: "Big brother, the headmaster is dead!"

"What? Where's the headmaster?"

The children, sobbing, pointed to the inner courtyard: "Inside the house!"

Chen Jingxuan put down Xiaomi and rushed into the inner room, where he saw the headmaster lying on the bed, surrounded by more than a dozen children. Everyone was staring at Chen Jingxuan expectantly.

"Headmaster, I'm still too late." Chen Jingxuan was overcome with grief; before tears even fell, his voice was already trembling with sobs. "Headmaster, it's all my fault! I didn't protect you. I can't face my master!"

"Why are you crying? I'm not dead yet!" the headmaster said weakly.

"You're not dead?"

Why do you look so disappointed?

Chen Jingxuan wiped back the tears that were welling up in his eyes: "You're wasting my feelings. Let me see how badly you're injured."

He lifted the blanket and pulled up his patched trouser leg, revealing a leg with age spots bent unnaturally, a shocking sight that made several timid children cover their eyes.

Chen Jingxuan instructed the children to go out, and told the older children to take care of the younger ones, and to go back to the inner room to rest and not move around. Only two fifteen or sixteen-year-olds were left to take care of the headmaster.

At this moment, Chen Jingxuan only regretted that he was not a benevolent cultivator and did not possess the techniques to heal his body. The little bit of traditional Chinese medicine he knew could temporarily alleviate the injuries, but could not help with recovery, much less prevent subsequent complications. If there was any delay, the headmaster would really die.

"Master, I'll go find you a cultivator. Don't make any sudden movements."

He got up to leave, but the abbot stopped him: "Daoist, there's no need to trouble yourself. I was already nearing the end of my life, and now with my leg broken, I'm practically halfway to the gates of hell. My fate is what it is, and I can't force it. I only wish that after I pass away, Daoist, you could look after these children."

Chen Jingxuan released the other's hand: "If it were my senior brother who said that, I would have slapped him. I didn't lay a hand on him because I didn't want to hit an old man. Headmaster, your life is your own. Every bit of pride you have means another day to live. I'm a frivolous person, and I have a headache dealing with so many kids. I'd rather heal you and let you take care of them yourself. You stay put and don't cause any trouble."

He let go of her hand, went out the door, and didn't bother to look at the headmaster's expression.

Without stopping, he went straight to his dormitory in the backyard of Qingyao Mountain, and could hear the loud snoring of the fat man Zhao Qingshan through the door.

He pushed open the door and pulled Zhao Qingshan out of bed: "Old Zhao, help me out."

Zhao Qingshan rubbed his eyes groggily: "Your Highness, what are your orders?"

Chen Jingxuan said anxiously, "What prince? You have wide connections, do you know any senior brothers who cultivate benevolence?"

Zhao Qingshan, with his eyes closed, said, "Who would easily expose their path to enlightenment? Wouldn't that be courting death?"

"This is an emergency, a matter of life and death. Can you think of anything? I'm begging you." Chen Jingxuan grabbed the other man's large shoulders and shook him back and forth. "Are you awake or not?"

Although Zhao Qingshan had his eyes closed, his thoughts gradually became clear. He thought to himself, Chen Jingxuan, as the illegitimate son of the abbot, could easily find a benevolent cultivator. Why would he need his help? Of course, it was because he had helped the other party gain trust by covering for him at the Sutra Pavilion last time.

Do you think the abbot can't see that I, Zhao Qingshan, cultivate the Way of Benevolence? Since you know I cultivate the Way of Benevolence, why did you come looking for me?

This is the Crown Prince giving me a chance to test whether I can become his confidant!

Zhao Qingshan suddenly opened his eyes: "I'll do it! But Senior Brother Chen, please don't spread my Daoist path."

"Absolutely not! Thank you for your help, Brother Zhao!" Chen Jingxuan bowed respectfully.

Zhao Qingshan was overjoyed, but he forcibly suppressed his smugness to avoid revealing his elation: "What is it?"

"We'll see what happens when we get there!"

Chen Jingxuan yanked him off the bed. Zhao Qingshan reached for his coat by the bedside, but the garment seemed to drift further away: "Clothes! I haven't changed yet!"

"Wearing underwear in public won't kill you!"

"What is underwear?"

In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the two hurriedly returned to the academy.

The headmaster was lying in bed when he saw a huge, fat man, wider than the door, squeeze through the doorway wearing a pure white undergarment. He didn't know whether to think it was a man having an affair who had run in.

He asked in confusion, "Who is this?"

Chen Jingxuan explained, "This is Senior Brother Zhao, a fellow practitioner from my sect. He came here specifically to treat you."

Zhao Qingshan sat down on the couch, and the couch instantly lowered a few inches.

As he lifted up the mountain chief's trouser leg, his fat hands gently stroked the mountain chief's broken calf.

Miraculously, his lower leg began to bend back, and the headmaster did not show any pain throughout the process.

Chen Jingxuan couldn't help but marvel at the wonder of the Dao of Benevolence; such a severe injury had been healed so easily. His own path of cultivation was very practical, but that didn't stop him from envying what others possessed; he wished he could seize other people's magic.

A few breaths later, Zhao Qingshan lowered his hand and breathed a sigh of relief: "It's over."

"My leg is better?" The headmaster was eager to turn over, but as soon as he moved his leg, he let out a scream, "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"

Chen Jingxuan quickly asked, "Old Zhao, didn't you say you were cured?"

Zhao Qingshan shrugged and said, "I didn't say I cured it. I just finished. My magic power is exhausted."

Chen Jingxuan angrily retorted, "Aren't you trying to rip me off? What treatment can't be cured?"

Zhao Qingshan said helplessly, "My magical power is limited. But it's almost healed. The old man's bones have all healed, only some bruises haven't faded, and he's fine now. He can get out of bed if he's careful."

Chen Jingxuan performed some further examinations on the headmaster and found that there was nothing seriously wrong. He applied ointment for bruises and sprains, and the headmaster would recover in a few days.

The abbot, clutching his legs, wept with joy: "Thank you both so much! I thought I was going to the Yellow Springs!"

"No need for thanks, I was just doing something for Senior Brother Chen," Zhao Qingshan said modestly.

Looking at Chen Jingxuan, the headmaster felt he was more and more reliable. Not only was he a good person, but he also had a good reputation within the sect. He had followers so quickly, which was much better than his master had been back then.

Chen Jingxuan thanked Zhao Qingshan: "Senior Brother Zhao, thank you very much. You should go back first. I still have some things to discuss with the Headmaster."

Zhao Qingshan's stomach rumbled, and he rubbed his belly. "I just exhausted my magic power and I'm a little hungry. Doesn't the restaurant provide food?"

The abbot called over the older child beside him: "Go, steam some buns for the Taoist priest. How many do you want to eat, Taoist priest?"

Zhao Qingshan held up a five: "Not many."

"Five is indeed not many."

Zhao Qingshan smiled sheepishly: "Not five, fifty. Just eat until you're about three-tenths full."

Everyone was stunned.

The headmaster was momentarily stumped: "There aren't that many steamed buns left in the academy."

Chen Jingxuan sighed, took off the Tai Chi pendant from his body and handed it to Zhao Qingshan: "Go to my residence and tell the maids that I sent you. When they see this, they will steam it for you."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Chen."

After Zhao Qingshan left, Chen Jingxuan closed the door and anxiously asked the headmaster, "What exactly happened? Who did this to you?"

The headmaster sighed: "It is Fan Chengyu, the Vice Minister of Works."