[{"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-109":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},2337314,4570,"Chapter 109: Cannot Sell More","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-109",109,"\u003Cp>Pan Yun felt the wind rushing past her ears—it must be a combination of magic and lightness technique, for no lightness technique could be this fast…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Less than a quarter-hour later, Wang Feiyin reached the mountain’s foot, set her down, and Tao Ji and Xuan Miao followed closely behind; Xuan Miao carried Miao He and Miao Zhen, Tao Ji held Tao Yanbai by the hand, while Wang Cong lagged behind, sweating profusely after chasing them for a full quarter-hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin sighed and handed him a handkerchief. “For the next year, don’t leave the mountain—stay here and cultivate properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji and Xuan Miao nodded. “Yes, your cultivation hasn’t advanced in two years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong flushed red and asked softly, “Then how do we cover the temple’s expenses?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji patted his chest. “I’ve got you covered—I’ll go out and practice medicine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao: “I can also travel and take on some cases.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “I’ll write to my second brother—he’s probably saved up some money by now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji and Xuan Miao nodded again. “Our second brother hasn’t sent money back in a long time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun fell into thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong relaxed. “Good. Once the Mountain God Temple is settled, I’ll have the merchant team’s manager arrange for them to run small businesses nearby—won’t make much profit, but at least they’ll be able to feed themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun stepped forward and asked, “Senior nephew, how does your merchant team operate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong: “It’s simple—I’m the boss, with two managers. Every year we buy goods in one place and sell them in another, traveling around. We have little capital, so profits are small—just enough to support the team and cover the temple’s expenses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at his father. “I’ve already planned: once I pass the ordination exam, I’ll leave the mountain and focus entirely on commerce. I won’t just be a wandering trader—I want to save up and buy shops in several places. That way, even if I can’t travel for a while, the team can still operate and generate extra income for the temple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “If you have managers, why not delegate to them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong sighed. “Their vision and ability aren’t enough—if they run it, they’ll only handle short-haul, fixed routes. Like taking paper from Yushan County to Nanjing, selling it there, then buying porcelain from Jingdezhen and selling it in Nanjing or Guangxin Prefecture—the profit margins are far thinner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wang Cong was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year alone, he traveled to twelve places. At the start of spring, when Beijing was short on grain, he bought large quantities from Guangxin Prefecture, shipped them by water to Beijing, and sold them all in Baoding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he exchanged the proceeds in Baoding for hemp cloth, cotton cloth, and silk, delivering them to Datong and Xuanfu, sold them there, and bought back medicinal herbs and ironware to sell in Shu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Shu, he bought another batch of herbs and Shu brocade, slowly making his way back to the Jiangnan region…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he sold off all the goods in several places across Jiangnan, netting over seven hundred taels of silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their travel expenses were high too—bribes along the way, tolls, food, lodging, wages for the team, and losses en route—costs alone reached over five hundred taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t be fooled by Wang Cong bringing back only seven hundred and fifty taels after half a year—he has far more than that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the funds reserved for next year’s travel costs, he also holds back payment for goods and emergency reserves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Altogether, it exceeds five thousand taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But these funds are his bottom line—untouchable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Commerce is Wang Cong’s own pursuit—he never consulted the elders, and they never interfered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong has always made his own decisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the first time anyone had asked him how he ran his team, what goods he carried, and eagerly offered to invest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young nephew, if I invest and make money, will heaven count it as my savings?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong finally understood why she asked so carefully—but before he could answer, Wang Feiyin spoke first, softly: “Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun turned to look at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin gazed at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, expression sorrowful. “Do you think I’m picking on my son and my junior brothers for no reason?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji and Xuan Miao couldn’t help but lower their heads and smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin shot them a deadly glare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji quickly said, “It’s our duty—our senior brother raised us, and now that we’ve grown, it’s our turn to support him in his old age…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old age?” Wang Feiyin’s voice sharpened. “Am I old?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no—not that! Senior brother, you’re still in your prime—I just mean you can’t earn money now, so the burden of supporting the family naturally falls to us…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “I can’t earn money…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun stepped between them. “Enough. Senior brother, you know full well Third Brother can’t speak properly—but you understand his meaning. Earning money? It’s just a small matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone fell silent, staring at Pan Yun—then remembered she could earn seven hundred taels in a single day, and fell even quieter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji turned to Xuan Miao and whispered, “Actually, Fourth Sister’s talisman art is even better than Little Sister’s…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao stayed silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong immediately said, “I know—Fourth Aunt won’t sell them herself. Give me the talismans—I’ll sell them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin turned to look at him. “Your merchant team?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong nodded. “Yes, my team—I know many people outside. If Old Man Qian can sell Little Sister’s talismans, I should be able to too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His team had never sold talismans before—these were usually sought sincerely at temples, rarely sold in bulk through intermediaries like Pan Yun. Wang Feiyin frowned, then shook his head. “No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong blinked. “Why not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “Some people will never feel the benefit of talismans in their lifetime—they’ll come to believe they’re fake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And talismans are hard to authenticate—who can know if the one they received is genuine, or merely a hollow imitation without spiritual essence?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin pointed at Pan Yun. “Take her, for example—she used to forcibly bind spiritual energy when drawing talismans, proud of their strength, unaware that without spiritual resonance, they only released less than half their potential. Others can’t even bind spiritual energy—they just copy lines mechanically, utterly useless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s one reason talismans aren’t widely circulated—let them develop naturally. Don’t deliberately expand their reach, or they’ll flood the land, and you’ll have to bear the consequences.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong’s heart sank halfway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “But that doesn’t mean you can’t sell them. 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 karmic connection.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun raised her hand timidly. “Senior brother, then why didn’t you stop me from selling so many talismans to the Qian family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin glanced at her. “You? What’s there to worry about? The Qian family are just local gentry in Yushan County. Talismans aren’t sold on street stalls—they’re passed by word of mouth, given to relatives and friends. What’s the difference from our temple?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, you’ve registered your name—every talisman you sell can be traced back to you. No fear of counterfeits. Can Wang Cong do that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin explained: “Wang Cong is a merchant—a wandering one, traveling all over the land. If these talismans spread through him, people from all corners of the empire could get them. If he turns it into a business, the volume would be endless—how could you control it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Compared to the Qian family, have you sold more than fifty talismans to them so far?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See? It’s been this long, and you haven’t even sold fifty. What’s there to worry about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji added: “Little Sister, by next month’s Sanqing Festival, you’ll understand—your talismans for the Qian family are nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next month’s Sanqing Festival?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Otherwise, why do you think Wang Cong rushed back? Every September, Sanqing holds a grand gathering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong weakly said, “Father, isn’t this year’s Sanqing Festival being held at Fuqing Temple?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what if it’s held at Fuqing Temple? Does that make it not a Sanqing Festival?” Wang Feiyin said. “Even if it moved to Fuyuan Temple, it’d still be called the Sanqing Festival.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun quickly asked, “Then when will our Sanqing Temple host it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin counted on his fingers. “In eight years—if our Sanqing Mountain hasn’t declined, we’ll definitely get the chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He patted Pan Yun, then looked at Miao Zhen and Miao He. “This depends on you three.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying that, he turned and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun hurried after him. “Why does it depend on us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because our Sanqing Temple has fallen into bad fortune—it’s nearly impossible to win the hosting rights with money alone. But besides money, you can earn it by cultivating outstanding disciples. Work hard—you’ll be sent to the Imperial Academy. If all three of you pass the ordination exam before sixteen, our Sanqing Temple will become famous throughout Jiangnan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun knew almost nothing about this world, especially Daoist learning, and asked cheerfully, “Which Imperial Academy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it like her past world’s school?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin tapped her head, dampening her excitement. “Long Hushan Imperial Academy—established by imperial decree. If you want to become a true Daoist, you must not only pass the ordination exam but also receive the talisman ordination at Long Hushan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The talisman ordination grants recognition from Heaven and Earth; the ordination certificate grants recognition from the court. Both are indispensable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun pointed at Wang Cong. “Has Senior nephew been there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin glanced sideways. “Him? He barely avoided disgrace. You three can’t be like that—you must excel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong nodded. “My talent is average. Little Aunt and the two junior sisters have far better talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they walked and talked, they soon reached the Mountain God Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The villagers summoned for the work were finishing up—the tiles were all laid, and the craftsmen were doing final carvings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The temple was sizable: besides the main hall, a small room had been built beside it for the temple keeper—the temple priest, Pan Yun herself—to live in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether she lived there or not, the room had to be built.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For symmetry, another small room was built on the opposite side, for storing supplies and cooking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mountain God Temple stood in the center, like a large square face with two small ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the temple and its surroundings were piled high with goods. Their task for the next three days was to clear, clean, and repair anything missing or broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin turned to Pan Yun. “Are you healed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun, standing stiffly, swayed sideways and leaned against Miao He, groaning: “My waist! My legs! My hands!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re not healed, endure the pain. Your master sees—and remembers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun straightened up. “Senior brother, I’m fine. No matter how hard or painful, it doesn’t matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tail number 5\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1835,"2026-06-20T22:03:57.478Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","aec404c9316ffd71700c9f5683f468dfd2c8d50eca198bf7bddd3c22dfb3c098","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-110","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-108",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-cover.jpg"]