Chapter 11: Arriving a Step Too Late?
Zhang Kai revealed his prowess, and the driver quickly adjusted the direction, eager to reach their destination as soon as possible and get away from this formidable person. In less than half an hour, the minivan stopped by the side of the road, and the driver said, "From here to Dalishu Village, the road is in terrible condition. It's neither easy to enter nor exit, and it's not much faster than walking. I can offer you a discount on the fare, and you can continue on foot from here."
After speaking, the driver looked expectantly at Zhang Kai.
Zhang Kai smiled and said, "Thank you for your trouble. Here's a hundred yuan, no need for change."
With that, Zhang Kai handed the money to the driver.
The driver didn't dare to refuse and accepted the money with a dry smile.
After getting off the minivan, it sped away, leaving three people standing by the roadside in silence.
"Alright, don't dwell on it. Although such incidents are rare, you should always stay vigilant when you're out, especially as young girls. It's easy to attract the wrong kind of attention," Zhang Kai said.
The two young girls snapped out of their thoughts. Yun Xiyao looked at Zhang Kai with intense admiration and said, "Thank you, Kai-ge. If it weren't for you, we might have been in big trouble."
"Don't mention it. As I said before, volunteering to teach in impoverished areas is a virtuous act, and you will be rewarded for it," Zhang Kai replied with a smile.
"Kai-ge, why did you let him go? He's a bad person, and he might harm others in the future," Liu Xiaoyue couldn't help but speak up.
Zhang Kai shook his head and said, "It's useless. People like him are definitely not acting alone here. There may be a group involved, and it could be more complicated than it seems. Even if we report him to the police, if he hasn't committed a crime yet, there's no way to convict him. Unless we kill him, but are you willing to do that?"
Hearing the word "kill," the two young girls immediately shook their heads. They could tell they had never even thought about taking someone's life.
"Haha, let's go. Once we get to the school, everything will be fine. Teachers like you two will surely be protected by the village," Zhang Kai comforted them with a smile, but inwardly, he couldn't help but sneer.
People like that driver, with his criminal intentions, were beyond redemption. Zhang Kai felt that his own merit might not be enough. How could he let such a person go?
When he gave the driver the money, Zhang Kai had used his internal energy to temporarily incapacitate him. Although the driver was fine for now, who could say whether he would live to see another day?
However, judging by the reactions of the two girls, Zhang Kai had some self-doubt. After practicing martial arts, he seemed to no longer consider killing as a big deal. Perhaps he had always been this cold-hearted person.
They continued along the dirt road and soon arrived at a village. It was surprisingly large, consisting mostly of houses with ethnic minority styles, and they appeared quite old. There were few modern buildings to be seen.
After inquiring around, they found the school they were looking for. Surprisingly, this school was one of the few modern buildings in the village, complete with a teaching building and a playground, although some parts of it were run-down. The sign read "Dali Shu Primary School."
At this moment, there was no one in the school except for an elderly local man guarding the gate.
After some inquiries, they learned that the two young girls had come to volunteer teach spontaneously. Tears welled up in the old man's eyes, and he grabbed the girls' hands, expressing his gratitude. He spoke broken Mandarin mixed with unintelligible local dialect, but his excitement and thanks were clearly conveyed.
Before long, another elderly man who was informed in advance arrived. His Mandarin was much better, and after chatting for a while, they found out he was the principal. He expressed his gratitude and welcome for the girls' volunteer teaching and also shared some information about the school.
Despite the heartwarming presence of the old teacher who had touched the hearts of many, the difficulties in this area were still significant due to the scarcity of teachers. Aside from the old teacher, there were only a few elderly teachers, and there was no young teacher at all. Yet, there were many students from not only this village but also several neighboring villages attending this school.
After years of poverty, the local residents knew that education was the only way out. They were determined not to hinder their children's education. However, the young teachers couldn't endure the hardships and loneliness, and one by one, they resigned or simply left.
Although the local government had started paying attention to the situation after the incident with the old teacher, the shortage of teachers was a problem not only here but also in many other areas. Even with government deployments, it would still take some time. In the meantime, the children's education would be affected.
The arrival of the two young girls was like a godsend to the children in this area.
"Principal Bahulu, I came here after hearing about the incident with the old teacher. Can you take me to see him? I'm willing to donate one million yuan to your school for better facilities. I can also establish a scholarship fund, provide breakfast and lunch to solve the children's food problems, and contribute funds to build a road for your village to improve connectivity with the outside world," Zhang Kai spoke up at this point.
This statement left Principal Bahulu, the two young girls, and the gatekeeper, Mr. Jingmu, dumbfounded. They couldn't believe their ears.
Especially the two young girls, their minds were struggling to process the information. This man, who claimed to have been ordained since childhood and practiced abstinence, not only was incredibly handsome and came from a unique background but also had martial skills. And now, he was immensely wealthy. Could there really be such a perfect person in the world?
"Is this true? How can... How can this be..." Principal Bahulu was overwhelmed and struggled to find the right words.
Zhang Kai smiled and said, "I don't mean to brag, but I'm a Taoist disciple who has practiced since childhood. Although we don't often intervene in worldly affairs, when we encounter people in need, we are willing to help."
"Thank you so much. In this area, most people believe in Taoism. There used to be a Baiyun Taoist Temple on Niutou Mountain, and the Taoist priests there could heal illnesses and perform mystical arts. When I was a child, I received their blessings and went to pay respects with incense. Unfortunately, after the Taoist priests passed away, the temple declined. I never thought that Taoism would still bless us many decades later. We're so grateful to Taoism," Principal Bahulu said, tears streaming down his face.
Zhang Kai reassured him with comforting words. "Regardless of everything, supporting education is a virtuous act, and it will bring you good karma. You're welcome."
Principal Bahulu then continued, "Unfortunately, you arrived a step too late. Teacher Zhang passed away yesterday evening. His body is currently at the city hospital, where arrangements are being made. A group from our village committee is accompanying him. In a day or two, his ashes will be returned to the village. According to his wishes, he will be enshrined in our village temple permanently, along with several nearby villages."
Zhang Kai felt a moment of emptiness. Dead? That was one step too late indeed.
He had learned through his practice that sealing the spirit after death was the proper way to ascend to godhood on the Path of Ascension, but he had never seen a ghost, nor could he say if they existed in this world. Now that Teacher Zhang had passed away, there was no chance for that.
After a brief period of melancholy, Zhang Kai composed himself. Regardless, supporting the cause of education was a great and virtuous endeavor. It wouldn't harm him in any way, and since he had undertaken it, he would see it through before departing.