With the return date approaching, the usually lively atmosphere at the Spring-Venerating Daoist Academy has become somewhat subdued.
Outside the Listening to the Waves Pavilion, little heads would occasionally peek out from over the wall, peering into the pavilion.
In the past three years, Chen Shuangbai has used forceful methods to destroy Compassionate Light Temple, which appears glamorous on the outside but is actually corrupt on the inside; he expelled the powerful Zhao Household, forced another family to leave, leaving the remaining two families with no choice but to submit; he also killed the Bai brothers of the Azure Flood Dragon Society and recaptured the ferry...
These acts of kindness have benefited the lives of the local people in Wind Howling County.
Today, Wind Howling County is peaceful and harmonious, and its people live and work in contentment.
At the ferry crossing, thousands of boats raced and hundreds competed for position, indicating a thriving business environment. Furthermore, the county magistrate Chang Yuan a shrewd man who managed to reduce tax revenue, making the business even more prosperous.
The Daoist academy has taken in quite a few students in the past two years, and many of them have attended classes taught by Chen Shuangbai.
However, most of them lacked Spirit Root aptitude or had too low aptitude, so no Registered Disciple were accepted.
Now that Chen Shuangbai's term as the local garrison commander has come to an end, many students in the academy are reluctant to part with this kind and loving Master Chen. However, Zhuang Wen forbids them from entering Listening to the Waves Pavilion to disturb Chen Shuangbai's cultivation, so they can only look at him from the wall.
When Zhuang Wen arrived outside the courtyard of the Listening to the Waves Pavilion, he saw students leaning against the wall, their words filled with emotion and reluctance to part.
He understood this in his heart, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Although reluctant to part with Chen Shuangbai, this generous and kind senior uncle, the other party has such great potential that he will surely become Foundation Establishment cultivator in the future!
A true dragon cannot be confined to this shallow pool; only the vast ocean of the Jade Spring Sect and even the entire Southern Abyss Cultivation World is its true home.
As Zhuang Wen approached, his footsteps startled many students.
Splash!
The students were about to scatter and flee, but just then, the courtyard door opened by itself without any wind, and a clear voice came from inside—
"Come in, all of you."
Zhuang Wen was taken aback, but the students seemed to hear heavenly music and rushed in with cheers.
But once inside, they dared not wander around or jump about. Instead, they stood respectfully in a row in the courtyard. Through the open doorway and the window opposite, they saw a handsome young Daoist sitting in the pavilion.
The Daoist priest stood with his hands behind his back, tall and jade-like, wearing a pine-frost-colored robe. His black hair was tied back with a jade hairpin. When he turned around, it was revealed that he wore a dark blue cross-collar undergarment, fastened at the waist with a bamboo-joint belt. His temperament was as cold as frost and as misty as fog. A faint smile played on his lips, like a ray of clear moonlight falling from the sky, bright and pure.
The students were momentarily stunned by what they saw.
Chen Shuangbai seemed to be admiring the scenery of the bamboo grove and clear pond, but seeing that they all had their eyes wide open, he laughed and said, "What are you all standing there for? Come in."
The students looked at each other, their faces showing excitement mixed with a bit of restraint. Only after Zhuang Wen gave them a nod did they cautiously file in, and in an instant, the shore was filled with twenty or thirty students.
Chen Shuangbai looked at them one by one. These students were all between seven and eleven or twelve years old. A little older, they would have to go home to take care of family affairs.
"Tomorrow, I will set off to return to the Jade Spring Sect."
Chen Shuangbai got straight to the point, her words clearly reaching the ears of every student.
Although the students were somewhat prepared, many still teared up, and some even let out soft sobs.
Don't act like a child.
Chen Shuangbai said gently, "Gathering and parting in this world is the natural order of things."
"I have been ordered by my sect to guard this place for three years, in order to protect the people and guide their hearts toward the Dao. Now that my mission is accomplished, I should return to the mountain to report back and seek the Immortal Dao."
"After I leave, you will study at the Daoist academy. You should understand principles, cultivate your character, seek knowledge, and practice diligently. Whether or not you are able to embark on the path of cultivation in the future, you must always remember one thing."
At this point, Chen Shuangbai's voice unconsciously took on a slightly serious tone.
"Please enlighten me, Master Chen!"
Chen Shuangbai's tone remained gentle. "You should all conduct yourselves uprightly, cherish kind thoughts, study diligently Duosi, and acquire a skill to make a living, so as not to fail the kindness of your parents and teachers in raising and educating you, nor to waste these three years of your lives."
All the students bowed deeply and said in unison, "We will remember Master Chen's teachings!"
Zhuang Wen snapped out of his daze and saw Bi Sheng, who had somehow caught up with him, behind him. He noticed Bi Sheng's slightly red eyes and felt a lump in his throat.
Although these students are still young, the seeds of kindness and the pursuit of the Way have already taken root in their hearts. What flowers they bloom and what fruits they bear in the future is all up to fate.
Chen Shuangbai's smile deepened, and she nodded with satisfaction.
He snapped his fingers, and a piercing, earth-shattering cry echoed through the bamboo forest. A sudden gust of wind swept in, bending the clumps of green bamboo low.
A student looked up and squinted, and saw a magnificent white eagle appear in mid-air, its wings as white as snow and a golden stripe between its brows. With a flap of its wings, it stirred up gusts of strong wind.
As Feiguang loosened his grip, the wooden plaques tied with red ropes hanging above him fell one by one into the hands of the students.
"Teacher Chen..."
Some students held the wooden plaque tied with a red string, looking at their names engraved on it with expressions of delight.
Zhuang Wen could see clearly that the wooden plaque was quite ordinary, made of bamboo from the bamboo forest, but Chen Shuangbai had added a Mind-Clearing Incantation to it.
This was taught to him by Fu Qianlan, and it had no offensive or defensive purpose. However, with prolonged use, it could calm the mind and soothe the spirit, serving as a final gift to these students.
The students were both surprised and delighted. They quickly accepted the gift with both hands and bowed in unison, saying, "Thank you so much, Professor Chen, for this precious gift!"
Chen Shuangbai waved her hand and watched them leave.
"Go well and study hard. If fate allows, we may meet again on Jade Spring Mountain."
After the students reluctantly left, only Chen Shuangbai, Zhuang Wen, and Bi Sheng remained in the pavilion.
"Uncle-Master..."
Zhuang Wen looked at Chen Shuangbai, hesitant to speak, a thousand words stuck in his throat.
The same applies to Bi Sheng.
Both men had beards and, although they looked young, they were already old enough to be grandfathers among ordinary people. However, in front of the young Chen Shuangbai, they showed a rare childlike mentality.
"There's no need to be sad, no need to be afraid."
Chen Shuangbai looked at him earnestly, "You have all made invaluable contributions to Wind Howling County's current prosperity."
"After I return to the mountain, I will report your contributions to the sect."
"Manage this place well, and your achievements will be recorded in the sect's annals. If fate allows, we shall meet again within the sect in the future."
Upon hearing this, the two were filled with emotion, but their throats felt blocked, and they couldn't utter a single word.
After a long while.
The two of them took a step back in unison, bowed deeply to Chen Shuangbai, and said in unison, "We are here..."
Congratulations, Immortal Dao flourish!