Chapter 109

Pan Yun felt the wind rushing past her ears—it must be a combination of spellcraft and lightness skill, for no mere lightness skill could be this fast…

Less than a quarter-hour later, Wang Feiyin arrived at the mountain's foot, set her down, and Tao Ji and Master Xuanmiao followed close behind; Master Xuanmiao carried Miao and Seeing Miao Zhen, Tao Ji held Tao Yanbai by the hand, while Wang Cong waited a full quarter-hour before finally chasing down, drenched in sweat.

Wang Feiyin sighed and handed him a handkerchief: "For the next year, don't leave the mountain—stay here and cultivate properly."

Tao Ji and Master Xuanmiao nodded too: "Yes, your cultivation hasn't advanced in two years."

Wang Cong's face flushed red as he asked softly: "Then how do we cover the temple's expenses?"

Tao Ji patted his chest: "I'm here—I'll go out and practice medicine."

Master Xuanmiao: "I can travel too, take on a few cases."

Wang Feiyin: "I'll write to my second brother—he's probably saved up some money these past two years."

Tao Ji and Master Xuanmiao nodded again: "Our second brother hasn't sent money back in a long time."

Pan Yun fell into thought.

Wang Cong relaxed: "Good. Once the Mountain God Temple is settled, I'll have the caravan's manager arrange for them to run small businesses nearby—won't make much, but enough to feed them."

Pan Yun pushed forward and asked: "Senior nephew, how does your caravan operate?"

Wang Cong: "Simple—I'm the boss, with two managers. Every year we buy things here and sell them there, wandering like this. We have little capital, so profits are small—just enough to feed the caravan and cover the temple's expenses."

He glanced at his father: "I've already planned—if I pass the licensing exam, I'll leave the mountain and focus entirely on trade. I won't stay a wandering merchant—I want to save up and buy shops in several places. That way, even if I'm unable to travel, the caravan survives, and the temple still gets another income stream."

Pan Yun: "If you have managers, why not let them handle it?"

Wang Cong sighed: "Their vision and ability aren't enough—if they run it, they'll only do short-haul, fixed routes. Like taking paper from Yushan County to Nanjing, selling it around Jingdezhen, then buying porcelain there to sell in Nanjing and Guangxin Prefecture—the profit margins are far thinner."

But Wang Cong was different.

This year, he traveled twelve places. In early spring, when Beijing lacked grain, he bought large quantities from Guangxin Prefecture, shipped them by water to Beijing, and sold them all around San Bao Ding.

Then in San Bao Ding, he exchanged for plenty of hemp cloth, cotton cloth, and silk, delivered them to Datong and Xuanfu, sold them, and bought back medicinal herbs and ironware to sell in Shu.

From Shu, he bought another batch of herbs and Shu brocade, slowly making his way back to Jiangnan…

Finally, he sold all the goods in several places across Jiangnan, netting over seven hundred taels of silver.

Their travel expenses were high too—bribes along the way, tolls, food and lodging, wages for the caravan, and losses en route—costs alone reached five hundred taels.

Don't be fooled—he only brings back seven hundred and fifty taels every half-year; his actual funds are far more.

Besides the reserve for next year's travel costs, there's also the reserved merchandise funds and emergency capital.

Altogether, over five thousand taels.

But these funds are his bottom line—untouchable.

Trade was Wang Cong's own undertaking—he never consulted the temple elders, and they never interfered.

Wang Cong always made his own decisions.

This was the first time anyone had asked him how he ran the caravan, what goods he imported, and eagerly wanted to invest.

"Nephew, if I invest and make money, will Heaven count it as my deposit?"

Wang Cong finally understood why she asked so carefully—just as he was about to answer, Wang Feiyin spoke first, softly: "Yes."

Pan Yun turned to look at him.

Wang Feiyin gazed at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, face sorrowful: "Otherwise, why do you think I'm gnawing on my son, my junior brothers and sisters?"

Tao Ji and Master Xuanmiao couldn't help but lower their heads and smile.

Wang Feiyin shot them a killing glance.

Tao Ji hurriedly said: "This is our duty—Senior Brother raised us, now that we've grown, it's our turn to support Senior Brother in his old age…"

"Old age?" Wang Feiyin's voice sharpened: "Am I old?"

"No no, not at all—Senior Brother is in his prime. I just mean—you can't earn money now, so the burden of supporting the family naturally falls to us…"

Wang Feiyin: "I can't earn money anymore…"

Pan Yun stepped between them: "Enough. Senior Brother, you know full well Third Brother can't speak properly—but his meaning is clear. Earning money? That's a trivial matter."

Everyone fell silent, staring at Pan Yun—then remembered she could earn seven hundred taels in a single day, and fell even quieter.

Tao Ji turned to Master Xuanmiao and whispered: "Actually, Fourth Sister's talisman art is even better than Little Sister's…"

Master Xuanmiao stayed silent.

Wang Cong immediately said: "I know—Fourth Aunt won't sell them herself. Give me the talismans—I'll sell them!"

Wang Feiyin turned to look at him: "The caravan?"

Wang Cong nodded: "The caravan—I know many people outside. If Master Qian can sell Little Aunt's talismans, I should be able to too."

His caravan had never sold talismans before—these were usually sought sincerely at temples, rarely sold in bulk through a middleman like Pan Yun. Wang Feiyin frowned deeply, then shook his head: "No."

Wang Cong blinked: "Why?"

Wang Feiyin: "Talismans—some people may never feel their benefit, and will come to believe they're fake."

"And talismans are hard to authenticate—who can know if the one they receive is real, or just a hollow imitation without spirit?"

Wang Feiyin pointed at Pan Yun: "Take her—for example, she once drew talismans by forcibly locking in Qi, proudly believing her talismans were powerful, unaware that without spiritual essence, they released less than half their potential. Others can't even lock in Qi—just copy the lines mechanically, utterly useless."

"That's one reason talismans aren't widely circulated—let them follow their natural course. Don't deliberately expand them, or they'll flood the land, and you'll bear the consequences."

Wang Cong's heart sank halfway.

Wang Feiyin: "But that doesn't mean they can't be sold. Since you're a merchant, you'll inevitably travel far and wide, meet many people—if you encounter someone in need, giving them one or two talismans is a good connection."

Pan Yun raised her hand shakily: "Then Senior Brother, why didn't you stop me from selling so many talismans to the Qian family?"

Wang Feiyin glanced at her: "You? What's to worry about? The Qian family are just local gentry in Yushan County. Talismans can't be sold on street stalls—they're passed by word of mouth, given to relatives and friends. What's the difference from our temple?"

"Besides, you've registered your name—every talisman issued can be traced back. No fear of counterfeits. Can Wang Cong do that?"

!

Wang Feiyin explained: "Wang Cong is a merchant—a wandering one, roaming the whole land. If talismans spread through him, people across the five lakes and four seas might get them. If he turns it into a business, the numbers would be countless—how could you control it?"

"Compared to the Qian family, have you sold more than fifty talismans to them so far?"

Pan Yun shook her head.

"Look, how long has it been? You haven't sold fifty talismans yet—what's there to worry about?"

Pan Yun: …

Tao Ji added, "Little sister, by next month's Mount Sanqing Gathering, you'll understand—those talismans you gave the Qian family are nothing."

"Next month's Mount Sanqing Gathering?"

"Yes, otherwise why do you think Wang Cong rushed back? Every September, Mount Sanqing holds a grand gathering."

Wang Cong weakly said, "Father, isn't this year's Mount Sanqing Gathering being held at Fuqing Temple?"

"So what if it's held at Fuqing Temple—does that make it not the Mount Sanqing Gathering?" Wang Feiyin said. "Even if it moved to Fuyuan Temple tomorrow, it would still be called the Mount Sanqing Gathering."

Pan Yun quickly asked, "Then when will it be our turn to host the Mount Sanqing Gathering?"

Wang Feiyin pinched his fingers and calculated, "In eight years—if our Long Hushan doesn't decline—we'll definitely get the chance."

He patted Pan Yun, then glanced at Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He, "This matter rests on you three."

Saying this, he turned and walked away.

Pan Yun hurried after him, "Why does it rest on us?"

"Because our Mount Sanqing Temple is suffering bad fortune—it's nearly impossible to win the hosting rights with money alone. But besides money, you can earn the right by producing outstanding disciples. Work hard, and I'll send you all to the Imperial Academy. If all three of you pass the Licentiate exam before age sixteen, our Mount Sanqing Temple will become famous throughout Jiangnan."

Pan Yun knew almost nothing about this world, especially Daoist learning; hearing this, she happily asked, "Which Imperial Academy?"

Was it like her past life's national school?

Wang Feiyin tapped her head, dampening her excitement. "The Long Hushan Imperial Academy—established by imperial decree. If you wish to become true Daoists, you must not only pass the Licentiate exam but also receive the Talisman Grant at Long Hushan."

"The Talisman Grant is an identity recognized by Heaven and Earth; the Licentiate is an identity recognized by the imperial court. Both are indispensable."

Pan Yun pointed at Wang Cong, "Has Big Brother Disciple been granted the Talisman?"

Wang Feiyin gave him a sidelong glance. "He? He barely avoided disgrace. You three cannot be like him—you must excel."

Wang Cong nodded. "My talent is average. Little Auntie and the two Little Sisters have far better talent."

As they walked and talked, they soon arrived before the Mountain God Temple.

The villagers summoned for the work were finishing up—the tiles had all been laid, and the craftsmen were carving the final details.

The Mountain God Temple was sizable; besides the main hall, a small room had been built beside it for the temple keeper—the Temple Master—Pan Yun herself—to live in.

Whether she lived there or not, the room had to be built.

For symmetry, another small room was built on the opposite side, to store miscellaneous items and cook meals.

The Mountain God Temple stood in the center, like a large square face with two small ears.

Right now, the temple and its surroundings were piled high with objects; their task for these three days was to clear, sweep, and repair whatever was missing or broken.

Wang Feiyin turned to look at Pan Yun. "Are you healed?"

Pan Yun, standing stiffly, slumped sideways against Miao He, groaning, "My waist! My legs! My hands!"

"If you're not healed, endure the pain. Your master sees—and remembers."

Pan Yun straightened up. "Big Brother Disciple, I'm fine. No matter how hard or painful, it doesn't matter."

Tail number 5

(End of Chapter)