Chapter 2

(Chapter 1 is under review... feeling a bit down... I re-uploaded it, but it still doesn’t work. Everyone, please save it and check it later. Thanks for your support.)

Wusheng Mountain is about ten kilometers away from the hospital.

Half an hour later, Wang Cheng was taken to the hospital. The blood on his forehead had been cleaned up, and his eyes were tightly closed. The emergency doctor quickly examined him, sighed with relief, and said to the Taoist who brought him, "It’s nothing serious, just a superficial injury. No bones were broken. We’ll take an X-ray and do another check-up, but there shouldn’t be any major issues."

The Taoists also relaxed, as Zangding Temple is a key area of focus in Jiangzhou City. If a major accident were to happen, they would be held responsible.

"But, doctor, when will he wake up?"

The Taoist asked.

The doctor replied helplessly, "I can’t say for sure. We need to see the X-ray results and check for any concussion. But based on my experience, it shouldn’t be anything serious."

"Sign here."

The Taoist signed and, seeing the family member section, turned to another Taoist and said, "Go notify his family to come and take care of him. The medical expenses will be covered by us."

Wang Cheng was sent for further examination.

The Taoists also called the phone number listed as Wang Cheng’s contact in his work records.

The phone was answered by a clear, somewhat young girl’s voice: "Hello, who is this?"

The Taoist Qing Song was taken aback for a moment because the voice was very pleasant, but the age seemed a bit young. He hesitated and then asked, "Is this a family member of Wang Cheng?"

"Yes, that’s right, I am. What happened to my brother?"

The clear voice immediately became anxious upon hearing Wang Cheng’s name.

Qing Song said, "It’s nothing serious. He just fell while cleaning and lost consciousness. He’s now at the city hospital. Please come and see him."

"Ah, he lost consciousness? Is he okay?"

The clear voice immediately became tearful: "You must have bullied him, didn’t you? I told him not to go... sniff..."

Qing Song was taken aback by the crying and quickly reassured her, "No, no, little sister, we didn’t bully your brother. He’s been performing very well at work. Today, he just slipped while cleaning Zangding and hit his head, sustaining a minor injury. Zangding Temple will cover the medical expenses. The doctor said it’s nothing serious and he’ll be fine after resting."

The crying subsided, but there was still a hint of sobbing: "Really? You’re not lying to me? You didn’t bully my brother?"

Qing Song felt a headache and wanted to end the call quickly. He said, "No, I swear to the Three Pure Ones, I definitely didn’t. Your brother is very obedient and performs well at work. My master even praised him for his insight. He cleans very well and organizes the scriptures neatly, and he has copied many Daoist texts."

"We won’t bully your brother. He’s being examined now. Please come and see him."

...

In a relatively old residential building, a girl around ten years old, with tear marks on her face, held an old Nokia phone and said, "Okay, okay, I’ll come right away. Don’t go."

After hanging up, the girl wiped her face with her arm, picked up the key, and ran out of the house. She went downstairs, got on a somewhat old but clean Phoenix bicycle, and pedaled hard toward the city hospital. Her clear, fair face was filled with anxiety, as if she had written "I’m very worried" on her face.

"Wang Yuanyuan, where are you going? Do you want me to give you a ride?"

A voice called out. Not far away, an uncle in a Santana car stuck his head out and said to the girl.

The girl, Wang Yuanyuan, with a serious face, shouted, "No, thank you, Uncle Li."

"Yuanyuan, I can see you have something urgent. If you need help, just say it. Uncle Li is not an outsider."

Old Li drove up next to Wang Yuanyuan’s bicycle and said warmly. He had almost watched Wang Cheng and Wang Yuanyuan grow up and had seen their family go through drastic changes. So, he and everyone in the neighborhood had always tried to help the two siblings whenever possible.

However, the two siblings had never accepted help from anyone in the neighborhood. Wang Cheng was like this, and so was Wang Yuanyuan.

Wang Yuanyuan’s face remained tense as she said to Old Li, "No, Uncle Li, we’re fine. Please go about your business."

Her brother had told her not to accept help from others and not to talk to strangers. She would only speak a few words to Old Li because he was from the same neighborhood. If it were a stranger on the street, Wang Yuanyuan probably wouldn’t even acknowledge them.

The two siblings had relied on each other for seven or eight years. Wang Yuanyuan had always been very obedient and remembered everything her brother, Wang Cheng, had told her, never doing anything to make him unhappy.

If her brother said no, then it was a definite no.

Old Li shook his head, feeling helpless. These two siblings were truly a match for each other, both stubborn. They had no parents to guide them, and it was unknown how they had developed such personalities.

Sigh, if our son were as obedient and strong as them, it would be a relief, even if he were just half as good.

Old Li said again, "Yuanyuan, Uncle Li is not an outsider. If you need help, just say it. I have to go now."

Wang Yuanyuan nodded, and Old Li drove away.

Riding the bicycle, Wang Yuanyuan followed the breathing and movement techniques her brother had taught her. She wasn’t tired, and after half an hour, she felt relaxed and warm, as if she were enjoying it. She had gradually gotten used to this feeling, and she always practiced it when going to and from school.

After a full hour, she finally arrived at the city hospital.

She parked the bicycle and ran to the hospital’s front desk to ask about her brother’s ward. The patient from Zangding Temple was easy to find, and she quickly learned the location of her brother’s ward. She then rushed to the fourth-floor VIP ward.

At the ward’s door, only Taoist Qing Song was left. The others had gone back to their duties, actually to watch the spectacle. They had all seen that Liu Qing from the Six Harmonies Boxing Hall had come to spar with Uncle Changhe, and no one wanted to miss the show. Qing Song also wanted to go back quickly, but he couldn’t leave until he had personally handed Wang Cheng over to his family. This was a matter of responsibility, and it was a virtue.

Seeing a girl in a white shirt and blue pants running anxiously, with a black ponytail swinging and a worried face, Qing Song knew he could finally hand over the responsibility and go back to watch the exciting match. He just hoped he could still see some of it, as he didn’t want it to be over already.

Just as he was about to speak, the girl spoke first. Despite running quickly, her face was flushed, but her breathing was even, which surprised Qing Song.

"Master, where is my brother? Where is my brother?"

Wang Yuanyuan asked hurriedly.

Qing Song opened the ward door and said, "He’s inside. It’s good that you’re here. With you taking care of him, I can go back and report."

Wang Yuanyuan didn’t pay attention to Qing Song and quickly ran into the ward. She saw Wang Cheng lying quietly on the bed, his face peaceful, with a bandage around his forehead.

Seeing her brother, Wang Yuanyuan finally calmed down. Although he was still unconscious, just seeing him made her feel at ease, as if nothing was scary anymore.

"How is my brother? Has he been examined? What did the doctor say? When will he wake up?"

Wang Yuanyuan asked several questions at once, carefully observing Qing Song. He didn’t seem like a bad person and probably wouldn’t have bullied her brother.

Qing Song smiled bitterly. Wang Cheng had been at the temple for almost three months, and he was familiar with him. Wang Cheng rarely spoke and just worked quietly, but his sister was different, perhaps because of her concern.

"It’s nothing serious. We just took an X-ray, and the doctor said it’s fine. It’s just a superficial injury, and he’s been bandaged. He hasn’t woken up yet, and we don’t know why. He might wake up soon."

Qing Song said, somewhat puzzled.

The doctor had said it was nothing serious, like a normal person who might just cry out and clean the wound after a fall. But this guy had been unconscious for over two hours and hadn’t woken up yet.

Perhaps his body was too weak, but Qing Song remembered that this guy had a good appetite and ate a lot at every meal. He just looked very thin, and he didn’t know why, possibly due to a congenital condition.

Wang Yuanyuan immediately felt relieved. If the doctor said it was nothing serious, then it should be fine.

"Oh, thank you, Master."

Wang Yuanyuan showed good manners: "Thank you for bringing my brother to the hospital."

"It’s nothing. He was injured at work, so it’s considered a work injury. I’ve already paid the medical expenses, enough for your brother to rest for a week. My master said he won’t deduct your brother’s salary. When he’s discharged, he can directly settle his salary. Your brother has performed very well. If he’s willing, my master would take him as a closed-door disciple, but unfortunately, he refused."

Qing Song looked at the unconscious Wang Cheng and said regretfully.

He and his master, Changxu Taoist, both liked Wang Cheng, the temporary Taoist. He worked very diligently, almost competing to do the work, and showed great interest in the Daoist texts. At a young age, he could endure the loneliness of organizing and copying the texts, and with his diligence, he was almost a natural talent for Daoism. Given time, he would definitely become a new star in the Taoist community, making Zangding Temple even more prominent. Changxu Taoist had the idea of taking Wang Cheng as a closed-door disciple and passing on his legacy.

Unfortunately, Wang Cheng firmly refused.

Wang Yuanyuan casually said, "My brother definitely won’t become a Taoist. He still has me to take care of."

Qing Song smiled bitterly. These two siblings really were a match for each other, speaking the same content and tone.

Initially, Wang Cheng had also said lightly, "I still have my sister to take care of."

The temple was a place for cultivation, and Zangding Temple was a cultural landmark in Jiangzhou City. It was impossible for a woman to live there long-term, so it was also impossible for Wang Cheng to bring his sister to live there. Therefore, Changxu Taoist didn’t mention it again.

Seeing that Wang Yuanyuan was no longer paying attention to him and was sitting by Wang Cheng’s bed, adjusting the blanket and quietly watching him sleep, Qing Song could only turn and gently close the ward door. He then hurriedly left the hospital, eager to see the match between Uncle Changhe and Liu Qing.