[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming":3,"chapter-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-107":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Unorthodox Sword of Ming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2337312,4570,"Chapter 107: Punished to Kneel","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-107",107,"\u003Cp>Wang Cong opened his mouth wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the cold night, a breeze blew past; Wang Cong shivered, immediately closed his mouth, lowered his head, and stood with profound respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four wildernesses were empty, save for a gentle wind; Pan Yun exhaled, lifted her chin, and said to Wang Cong, “Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Wang Cong had no objections; he obediently slung a bag of silver ingots over his shoulder and followed behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the next hour, Wang Cong trailed behind, watching Pan Yun’s acrobatic falls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twice, her foot slipped, half her leg plunging into the cliffside, yet she screamed “Aaaah!” and clawed her way back up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong clutched his chest as he followed, tears nearly falling when he saw the figure holding a lantern at the mountain gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Xiaohei, trudging behind, was also teary-eyed, on the verge of bursting into tears right there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun stumbled up to the mountain gate and looked up to meet Wang Feiyin’s sympathetic face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother, why are you still awake so late? What are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “I’d already soaked my feet and was about to sleep, even taken off my clothes, when I heard someone shouting ‘Master!’ from the mountain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I stood at the gate for an hour, chilled by the wind for an hour, listened to someone scream ‘Aaaah!’ in the mountain for an hour, cursed the heavens for an hour—every time I thought the person would finally reach the top, she’d just curse a few more times,” Wang Feiyin sighed. “Little sister, your leg strength still needs training—you took a full hour to climb this mountain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Big Brother, the path was so steep and winding, I climbed it in just an hour—and at night! Isn’t that worthy of praise?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For people like us, what difference does night make from day?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course there’s a difference—otherwise why would your son tell me to climb in daylight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin shook his head. “Did you go sell talismans again? How much did you earn? Did you really fall all the way up here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I did fall all the way up,” Pan Yun glanced around. “Where’s my cat? Where’s Xiaohei?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meow—” Pan Xiaohei leapt out from beneath a tree in the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun exhaled. “Oh, you’re still alive? Good, alive is enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【I’ve had bad luck several times on the way—every misfortune you’ve seen, write it all down! Remember every single one!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Xiaohei: “Meow… recorded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun extended her hand to Wang Cong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong froze. “What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “The money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong snapped back to himself and hurriedly handed her the bag slung over his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun lifted the money bag and waved at Wang Feiyin and the others. “I’m heading back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji: “Little sister, don’t you want me to check your injuries?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun immediately turned around. “Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He led her back to the main hall, lit a lamp, and carefully examined her: her arms and legs were covered in bruises, contusions, and dark purple patches from her falls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji frowned. “Lie down. Let me press on your body to see if anything else is injured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun immediately lined up three meditation cushions on the floor and lay down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Tao Ji pressed down, she screamed “Ow!” He immediately lifted her clothing to inspect her waist and abdomen—only to find them equally bruised and purple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Miao frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin chuckled beside her, full of sympathy. “You’ll get used to it. Back in my day, I went through all this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun gritted her teeth. “I’m not like you—I’ll escape this soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin looked unconvinced. “Hmph. Do you know how many years I endured this before I escaped?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin held up one hand. “Six years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The word “five” stuck in Pan Yun’s throat; she slammed her head onto the cushion, staring lifelessly at the ceiling. “Big Brother, don’t talk to me. I’m in a terrible mood—I’m afraid I’ll lose control and hit you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin nodded vigorously. “I understand. Back then, I couldn’t control my temper either—I beat your Second Brother, Third Brother, and even your Senior Cousin plenty of times. Sigh. You’d better hold it in, or you won’t be able to beat me, and I’ll still end up beating you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed. “I’ve already beaten your peers hard enough. I really don’t want to hit you—it’d ruin my reputation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji and Miao Miao listened with blank expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun’s face went blank too—she simply couldn’t muster any expression right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji finished his examination. “Fortunately, all are superficial injuries—no bones or internal organs damaged.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood. “I’ll prepare medicine for you. Go bathe. Then let Fourth Sister apply the ointment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Miao helped her up and said to Wang Feiyin, who was still babbling, “Big Brother, I’ll take her back to her room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin swallowed his words and waved. “Go, go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He, Miao Zhen, and Tao Yanbai were already snoring loudly—no one could wake them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin watched them return to the back courtyard, then turned to Wang Cong, his smile fading. “You just stood there watching your little aunt stumble all the way up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong, heart pounding, said: “Didn’t you say this was heavenly punishment, that no one could intervene, and that getting close would only bring suffering? So…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin slapped him sharply on the head. “That’s me—you’re talking about your little aunt. How old is she? And you just stood there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong bowed his head in apology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin grunted. “Go kneel at the mountain gate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong obediently stepped out and knelt before the mountain gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji returned from the alchemy room with medicine, and upon seeing Wang Cong kneeling, jumped in shock. “Cong’er? Why are you kneeling? Did Big Brother punish you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong lowered his head. “Mm. I shouldn’t have stood by and watched my little aunt fall all the way up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji looked torn, hesitated, then crouched beside him. “Though this misfortune is heavenly punishment and others can’t interfere, last time Little Sister suffered, Big Brother rushed to her side immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We don’t know whether the misfortune ended because we intervened or because Big Brother’s actions altered its course—but we live in this world, we can’t just obey heaven’s whims. When we can help, we must help. As long as our conscience is clear, that’s enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji patted his shoulder. “That time, Big Brother told me to stay close to Little Sister and take her to town to spend silver. Did you really think he was afraid she’d be cheated?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If this is heavenly punishment, losing silver is the best way to resolve it—borrowing money to ward off disaster is better than bodily harm. But Big Brother still sent me with her because he feared she’d get hurt on the way—he was telling me to protect her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji continued: “Every time Little Sister descends the mountain, it’s either me or Fourth Sister accompanying her—that’s the same intention. You…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong opened his mouth, then lowered his head, muffled. “I know I’m wrong.” Tao Ji patted his shoulder and whispered, “I’ll plead for you, though it probably won’t help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji sighed and returned to Miao Miao with the medicine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Miao learned Wang Cong had been punished to kneel. She told Tao Ji, “Don’t go. You might get punished too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This had happened before—when Wang Feiyin’s temper flared, the gate would be lined with kneeling disciples, from Second Brother to Senior Cousin, all without exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But what can we do? We can’t let Cong’er kneel all night—it’s freezing, and he hasn’t knelt in years. What if he falls ill…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop whispering. Come in and apply the ointment,” Pan Yun called from the window, head tilted up. “After I’m done, I’ll go speak to Big Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Miao nodded to Tao Ji and went inside to apply the medicine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Miao glanced down at the black cat lying on the floor, frowned, picked it up, and placed it outside, slamming the door shut. “Don’t come in until the ointment is dry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji and the black cat stared at each other outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji studied the cat, helpless. “Fourth Sister, now you’re even suspicious of a cat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.Read\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Miao ignored him, lifted Pan Yun’s clothing, and began wiping the ointment on her wounds. “You heard all that. What are you planning to do about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun hissed through the pain. “Is this secretive, evasive nature you all have from Big Brother? I thought it was innate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Miao rubbed the ointment between her palms and pressed it onto Pan Yun’s wounds; Pan Yun lifted her head, groaning “Ooh, ooh.” “Big Brother doesn’t seem like this kind of person—yet he’s the culprit. Why can’t things be spoken openly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Miao said: “If you can still say that in twenty years, I’ll truly respect you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in her past life, she hadn’t lived to twenty-eight—but she’d lived past twenty! In both lives, she’d been open and honest!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve always been open and sincere with loved ones—except enemies. No one is open and sincere with enemies,” Pan Yun gave an example. “Like my father—I told him straightaway: I have extraordinary talent, so I came to cultivate. I hid nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Miao snorted. “You know whether you hid anything. And do you think Big Brother punished Wang Cong just because you got hurt?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother punished Wang Cong half for you, half for himself,” Miao Miao said. “He’s teaching him how to be a person. By not helping you, he damaged not only you—but his own Dao heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once the Dao goes astray, it’s hard to correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun froze, turned to look at her. “Then… do you want me to plead for him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Miao looked down at her, piercing straight into her heart. “Do you want to plead for him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun thought, then nodded. “Sigh… I told him not to help me, to keep his distance. I think he was right. What if helping me did nothing but drag him into the misfortune too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the point of pointless sacrifice?” Pan Yun paused. “Besides, I think he’s a perceptive boy. Once Third Brother pointed it out, he’d know he was wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kids shouldn’t be punished this harshly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Miao said: “He’ll be coming of age next year. You’re eight. You’re the child.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my past life, I was one year older than him, Pan Yun thought silently. “I’m his elder. My mental age is older.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Miao snorted, but her movements while applying ointment grew even gentler and more careful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took half an hour to finish applying the medicine. Pan Yun put on her undergarments, slipped on an outer robe, and went to find Wang Feiyin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin had already lain down in his clothes, nearly asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun knocked persistently until she finally woke him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin glared down at her, dark-faced. “It’s the middle of the night. Couldn’t you wait until tomorrow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow, my nephew will be an ice statue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “It’s only late autumn. How cold can it be at night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: \"I hate teachers and parents who use physical punishment. If there's a reason, explain it! Punishing like this only harms the child's body and mind—what's the point?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At night, it’s quiet. Alone, kneeling, one reflects. If such deep reflection still can’t make someone realize their mistake, they’re beyond saving. Don’t you think this method works?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “My educational philosophy clashes with yours, but I’m exhausted. I don’t want to argue. Just tell me—will you let him get up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “Does he know he’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji, hiding in the shadows, immediately stepped out, nodding rapidly: “He knows he’s wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “Does he know where he went wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He knows, he knows,” Tao Ji glanced at Pan Yun, then recounted the earlier conversation between him and Wang Cong, gazing hopefully at Wang Feiyin: “Senior Brother, Cong’er truly understands his mistake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin finally waved his hand. “Since he knows he’s wrong, the purpose of making him kneel has been half achieved—let him rise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji agreed and hurried off to find Wang Cong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin looked down at Pan Yun, still standing. “What else do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun frowned. “The Heavenly Punishment—is it aimed at our Mount Sanqing lineage?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin nodded. “There’s no help for it. We took the Mountain God as our master, accepted his blessings, so naturally we must share in his Heavenly Punishment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun leaned closer, whispering: “Senior Brother, do you know why our master has Heavenly Punishment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You see our master far more easily than I do—why don’t you ask Him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun was candid. “I’m afraid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m afraid too,” Wang Feiyin couldn’t help smiling. “But don’t worry—I’m the eldest disciple. Even if there’s Heavenly Punishment, it falls mostly on me. You’re the youngest disciple; you only bear a little of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun looked up, studying his expression closely, feeling a small warmth in her heart. “Senior Brother, I—ah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She clutched her forehead, glaring at him. Wang Feiyin withdrew his hand from tapping her head. “Stop dawdling. If you don’t go to sleep now, dawn will be here. Aren’t you afraid you’ll stumble back in the dark and break something? Your bath and ointment today will be wasted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At once, Pan Yun leaned against the wall and shuffled back slowly, each step deliberate and steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warmth in her heart had vanished, cast behind her. As she leaned against the wall and stepped out of the courtyard, she met Tao Ji, who had just brought Wang Cong back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong saw her limping, his eyes reddened. He ran forward and supported her. “Little Auntie, are you alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine, I’m fine—don’t cry! I don’t have candy to soothe you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong sighed helplessly, then swept her up into his arms. “Let me carry you back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun grew tense. “You’d better hold me tight—don’t drop me! Falling while walking and falling while being carried are very different in pain and injury.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong nodded, each step slow and sure, carrying her into the room and laying her gently on the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He casually removed her shoes, then bent low, whispering: “Little Auntie, I’m sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun waved her hand. “It has nothing to do with you. Don’t take it to heart. Child, don’t just accept whatever adults say—learn to question it inwardly, reflect on it…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat dripped from Wang Cong’s forehead. After a moment of silence, he said: “Little Auntie, go to sleep now. Children need plenty of sleep, or they won’t grow tall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lucky number is any number ending in 3, screenshot as proof. See you tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2476,"2026-06-20T22:03:57.478Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8322a7dd7f03ca256d5d44d8ecaa2a9503b52c62f8ca2ddbeaea3d794f965513","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-108","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-106",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-cover.jpg"]