Journey to the West: Cultivation Begins at Jindou Mountain

Chapter 466 Taoist Master
At this moment, from the schoolhouse in front of Baihua Village, bursts of children's innocent reading voices kept coming out, making Uncle Wu, who was outside the door, feel a little dazed for a moment.

"Uncle Wu, since you're here, why don't you come in and have a seat?"

Upon hearing the voice beside him, Uncle Wu quickly turned his head and saw Jin Lingzi, carrying a basket on his back, leaning on a wooden cane, and still dressed in a gray Taoist robe, walking slowly towards him.

"Master, did you just go up the mountain to gather herbs?"

Looking at the Taoist priest Jin Lingzi in front of him, Wu Bo thought it was a bit strange for a Taoist priest to open a school to teach children to read and to impart Confucian classics, but in their small town, these things were not the norm. They wished that the person in front of them knew as much as possible.

Jin Lingzi smiled and said:

"That's right. I noticed that there weren't many herbs in the school, so I went up the mountain to find some. I'd like to ask Brother Liu to help look after the children today."

"Uncle Wu, what brings you here today?"

Uncle Wu quickly lifted the two grass carp tied with straw rope in his hand and said:

"Little Lu went fishing by the river this morning and asked me to help him deliver these two largest fish to you. You're the best cook in the whole village right now, so I'll trouble you, Taoist priest, to make yourself some fish soup to nourish your body."

Jin Lingzi settled down here and opened a school, teaching the children to read and learn skills, but only charging very little tuition. Everyone in the village was very grateful. However, Baihua Village was located deep in the mountains and was not a wealthy village, so they could not afford to spend much money.

Therefore, whenever someone in the village finds herbs or obtains something good, they will think of the Taoist priest to some extent.

Master Jin Lingzi nodded with a smile and said:

"Very well, it's almost noon today, so it's good to give the children these two fish to nourish them. If Uncle Wu has nothing else to do, why don't you share a bowl with them at the school?"

Uncle Wu shook his head repeatedly, refusing:

"I won't go. A caravan will be passing through several villages nearby in a few days. I need to coordinate with each household to see how much they can contribute in exchange for some necessities. I have to leave now."

"Alright, I won't keep you any longer, sir."

Jin Lingzi took the grass carp from Uncle Wu's hand, bid farewell to the old village chief, and then stepped into the open schoolyard.

In the spacious courtyard, several children were scattered around. Some were looking at the herbs in their hands with worry, some were gesturing back and forth with pieces of wood, and others were practicing horse stance.

As for the remaining ten or so children, they all studied in the spacious school.

But this village is not the same as the previous one. Education is important but not important to these children. Baihua Village is located in the mountains, and there have never been any scholars, let alone any family that can afford to support one.

After all, while education might bring honor to one's ancestors, for the villagers who are busy every day just to survive, sometimes a seven or eight-year-old child is already a labor force.

Scholars are unable to carry heavy loads or lift heavy objects. If a family has to support such a person and loses a laborer, this is something many people are unwilling to accept.

These people are born and die here, and have long been accustomed to this way of life.

Jin Lingzi opened this school not only to teach people to read and write, but also to teach the children a skill based on their interests, which was something the villagers were happy to see.

Studying is too far-fetched; it's better to learn a trade so you can earn a living no matter where you go. That's the most practical thing to do.

However, ever since Master Jin Lingzi saved the woodcutter half a year ago, many people have been eyeing the master's superb medical skills. But the master said that to learn medicine, one must read more medical books and learn to read, which is why so many children are learning to read in school.

"Master!"

In the courtyard, as the children watched Master Jin Lingzi walk by, they quickly stood up and bowed to greet him. Master Jin Lingzi smiled and nodded, walking past them one by one until he finally arrived outside the school. He looked at the little boy sitting in the last row of the school, secretly yawning.

"Chenxiang!!" Upon suddenly hearing his name, the little boy instinctively sat up straight and looked at his father, who was walking towards him with a stern face. His heart skipped a beat!
"Father, no, that Mr. Liu, I... I didn't doze off just now!"

Liu Yanchang's expression became even more serious as he held a ruler and looked at his son.

“Stretch out your palm.”

"father"

"palm!"

Chenxiang had no choice but to lower his head and carefully extend his palm. Just as he was about to be hit, a gentle voice suddenly came to his ear, which sounded like heavenly music.

"Brother Liu, I just returned from gathering herbs, so I'll punish Chenxiang by having him help me tidy up the herbs."

Liu Yanchang paused in his ruler, turned around, and was about to say something when he saw the lips of Daoist Jin Lingzi on the other side move slightly, and a voice entered his ears.

“Brother Liu, Chenxiang is naturally intelligent, but he is a bit playful due to his young age. Since he has already learned most of the characters, continuing him in school would be a waste of time. Let me take care of him.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Yanchang sighed helplessly.

"Alright, we'll do as the Master says. Chenxiang, go and help the Master."

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Chenxiang's face was filled with an undisguised excited smile. He quickly stood up, took a step forward, and reached out to take the grass carp from the teacher's hand.

"Master, let me carry this grass carp."

"Okay, okay~"

Master Jin Lingzi nodded with a smile, patted Chenxiang's head, and then led Chenxiang toward the stream.

Seeing this, Liu Yanchang's eyes softened, and he turned to look at the other children.

"Master, these herbs have all been washed clean."

Jin Lingzi turned her head and saw that Chen Xiang was carefully shaking the water droplets off each herb with her small hands, and then laying them out to dry on a large rock to the side.

"Good job, you did very well."

Jin Lingzi nodded approvingly, and Chen Xiang also scratched his head with a silly smile. Compared to his father, who was always serious, dull, and a bit fierce, the teacher was really much better!

Although the teacher had only been in the village for a little over a year, he treated him and the children very well. He would often prepare delicious food for them and rarely scolded or beat them. He would even protect them.

This won the favor and respect of many children, including Chenxiang.

Chenxiang carefully arranged the herbs on the stone, and before he knew it, he was drawn to the droplets of water on the herbs.

If only these water droplets could leave the herbs quickly, allowing them to dry faster.
The moment this thought arose, Chenxiang noticed that the water droplets from the herbs in front of him were beginning to rise to the surface.

Chenxiang quickly came to his senses. He clearly remembered that his father had told him not to let others discover that he was different!
As Chenxiang regained his senses, the water droplets fell rapidly. Just as Chenxiang breathed a sigh of relief, the water droplets suddenly stopped in mid-air.

At this moment, Chenxiang seemed to sense something. He quickly turned around and saw that the Master's finger was emitting a blue light, pointing in the direction of the herbs!

(End of this chapter)