My virtue is above yours.

Chen Jingxuan arrived at the cave on the north side of the village. The cave was pitch black, and from time to time, he could hear crazy shouts.

"Heaven is unjust! Loyal and righteous people are not granted long lives!"

And then, from time to time, a chilling laugh would rang out, a laugh that sounded like being tickled at one's parents' funeral, a feeling of wanting to cry but having to laugh.

"Could this person be mentally ill?"

Chen Jingxuan wanted to use flies to scout ahead, but he had used up too much energy. Xiao Bao hadn't left yet, so he couldn't use "Acting in Place of Others" anymore.

He gripped the sword at his waist, lit the torch in his hand, and cautiously walked into the cave.

The dark, damp cave reeked of water. At the far end sat a disheveled young man dressed in a plain white robe, clearly made of fine silk or similar fabric, which was quite expensive. The robe was covered in dust, a rather wasteful sight.

The scholar didn't look up, and said quietly, "Fellow villager, thank you for bringing me food again. This is Heaven testing me; all those who achieve great things do so!"

It's been diagnosed; it's not a mental illness, it's just chuunibyou (middle school syndrome).

"Young man, you are free."

Wang Guan slowly raised his head, revealing a filthy, handsome face. His gaze fell on the Tai Chi pendant at Chen Jingxuan's waist: "You're from the Heavenly Dao Sect? You subdued that village bully?"

Chen Jingxuan cupped his hands and said, "That's right. You are free. I am Chen Jingxuan of the Heavenly Dao Sect."

Wang Guan used his hands to support himself as he got up. His left leg was weak, as if it were broken. He cupped his hands and said, "I am Wang Guan of the Wang family of Hedong, courtesy name Zian. I greet you, Daoist Master. Thank you for saving me. I will repay you handsomely in the future."

"No need to wait until tomorrow. We need it today."

"So impatient? But I have nothing, all my money was stolen by that bully. I really have nothing to offer." Could it be that the Taoist priest wants me to repay him with my body? My appearance is stunning, so it's reasonable for men to admire me, but I have no homosexual tendencies.

Seeing the other person clutching their chest, Chen Jingxuan was somewhat confused.

"Brother Zian, you've misunderstood. I'm asking for your help on behalf of Qingyuan Village." He explained the situation in the village and earnestly requested that the other party come up with a solution.

Wang Guan breathed a sigh of relief: "This matter is simple. Although I have no money left, my Wang family still has some influence. The Bai family in Lianggu County nearby has a history with my family. I will write a letter immediately and ask the Bai family to send grain to help us."

Chen Jingxuan was overjoyed and bowed in thanks.

The other party quickly returned the courtesy: "It was no trouble at all. In the future, if you need anything in Hedong County or the capital, you can come to me, Master Wang."

The Wang family of Hedong sounds quite powerful. I should go to the capital to find out more about them; they might come in handy in the future. Having more friends means having more options.

Chen Jingxuan looked up and saw characters carved on the cave wall.

"I used to play in this cave when I was a child, but I've never seen any stone carvings here before."

"This was written when I was imprisoned; it is merely a casual expression of my feelings."

Wang Guan smiled slightly, feeling extremely pleased with himself. Read it quickly! Experience my unparalleled poetic talent! Such a wonderful person and such a brilliant pen are hard to find again in this world.

"It is indeed a collection of random thoughts."

"What?" Wang Guan was shocked. This young Taoist priest was a good person, but unfortunately he lacked the ability to appreciate poetry. Such a masterpiece was described as just a casual remark.

Chen Jingxuan had memorized Tang and Song poems by heart in his previous life, so he couldn't stand this kind of doggerel.

Although the poem on the wall is perfectly rhymed, its emotional expression is extremely mediocre, leaving the reader feeling nothing. It fails to capture the spiritedness of youth at all.

"Brother Zian, I would also like to compose a poem, would that be alright?"

"Please go ahead."

Wang Guan crossed his arms, eager to see what kind of poetry this Taoist priest could write.

Chen Jingxuan drew his sword and carved a poem on the stone wall in a flowing and elegant style.

"I was born a carefree wanderer amidst the mountains and rivers of Qingdu, Heaven bestowing upon me a life of unbridled passion. I once granted rain and wind decrees, and repeatedly borrowed the moon's grace from the drifting clouds. Ten thousand poems, a thousand cups of wine. I have never given a second glance to princes and kings. I am too lazy to return to the jade towers and golden palaces, and will instead tuck plum blossoms into my hair and get drunk in Luoyang."

After reading it, Wang Guan's eyes glazed over. He immediately picked up a stone from the ground, threw himself against the stone wall, and frantically began to grind away all of his doggerel.

"Brother Zian, there's no need for that."

"I am truly ashamed. This poem is full of vigor and spirit, exactly what I wanted to express. Brother Chen's poetic talent far surpasses mine. I am ashamed of my inferiority. I just don't know where Luoyang is?"

Chen Jingxuan fabricated, "It's the poet's hometown. It's a small place, so it's normal that you don't know it. This poem wasn't written by me; it was written by someone else."

"Who is it?"

Chen Jingxuan was speechless for a moment. He had read this poem many times, but he couldn't remember who the poet was at all.

Wang Guan was filled with respect: "Brother Chen must have been giving me face by saying that the poem was written by someone else. Brother Chen's poetic talent is unparalleled and his character is noble. I am truly ashamed. My teacher is right, there are always people more talented than you. If I hadn't left the capital this time, I would never have known."

"I'm really not."

"Brother Chen, there's no need for such modesty!"

Chen Jingxuan gave up trying to explain.

The two walked back to the village and learned from their conversation that Wang Guan lived in the capital and his family were officials. In order to prepare for the imperial examination, he had taken a different approach and had recently run away alone to investigate the people's livelihood, so he did not bring any attendants.

Passing through Qingyuan Village, he saw Xiaobao bullying the villagers. He drew his sword to help, but was subdued by Xiaobao, who broke his leg and threw him into a cave. Xiaobao tortured him every day to improve his cultivation.

Upon arriving in the village, Wang Guan immediately wrote a letter, which was then quickly delivered by the village's young men to Lianggu County to request grain.

Chen Jingxuan had one more important thing to do upon returning to the village: to investigate his own background in order to break the restriction on his birth character.

He squatted down next to Old Luo's rocking chair: "Old man, who exactly are my parents?"

"Didn't you ask me this when you were little? Back then, I heard a baby crying in that field and found a woman dead there, with you, an infant, right next to her. I don't know who your father is, but your mother's grave is right there. Go dig it yourself if you don't believe me."

"That wouldn't be good. Did you notice anything special about my mother back then?"

"Does it count if it's frozen solid?"

"That doesn't count. I suspect my background is unusual."

Old Luo retorted, "What's so special about it? Are you imagining yourself as a prince who has been separated from his family for generations? Or a son sent out by the Celestial Master for training?"

"It's not impossible that he's the abbot's illegitimate son, is it?"

"You're dreaming. I, for one, have no idea."

"Did my parents leave me anything special?"

"have no idea."

Suddenly, Feng Yu'er, who was squatting nearby, spoke up: "Brother Quan'er, I remember you wore a pendant when you were little, where did it go?"

Chen Jingxuan suddenly remembered that he did wear a jade pendant when he was a child. He was seriously ill when he was eight years old and his consciousness was blurred. After he regained consciousness, his master took him up the mountain. The jade pendant may have disappeared during that time.

Wang Guan, who was standing nearby, asked, "What kind of pendant is it?"

Old Luo patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't get involved in our village's affairs."

Chen Jingxuan smoothed things over, saying, "It's alright, Brother Zian is knowledgeable and experienced; let's analyze it together. I remember it being a jade cicada, but aren't jade cicadas worn by the dead? How come I have one?"

Wang Guan explained, "There are two types of jade cicadas. One type is placed in the coffin of the deceased, and the other type is made into a pendant by drilling a hole, which can be worn by the living. What color is this jade cicada?"

It should be white.

"White jade signifies nobility; it's not something ordinary refugees can afford. I think I saw this jade cicada a few days ago. It was on that person!"