Chapter 113

Some have money, some are suffering misfortune, and others are lost in great confusion—these people urgently need gods to guide their path.

And since the temple keeper is the god's representative, everyone gathered around Pan Yun.

Looking at Pan Yun, who reached only to their chests, they doubted yet hoped.

They doubted whether such a small girl truly had the power; they hoped that if she could become temple keeper at such a young age, it must be because of some divine quality.

Wang Feiyin saw her surrounded and moved to help her, but as he drew near, he heard her say: "One at a time, don't rush. The Mountain God is right here—making noise will only anger Him. We follow first come, first served. This good person, you speak first."

Wang Feiyin stopped in his tracks.

"Temple Keeper, my wife has born four daughters and still can't bear a son. The whole village mocks my family. My parents say if she doesn't bear a son soon, they'll split us off into a separate branch. Can you ask the Mountain God—am I destined to have no sons?"

Pan Yun was surprised. "If you're truly destined to have no sons, what will you do?"

"What else can I do? Get split off. I can't let my parents suffer shame because of me. I'll work harder, and later choose a daughter to bring in a son-in-law."

Pan Yun carefully studied his face. His brows were tightly furrowed, his expression full of bitterness.

Pan Yun said: "Let me see your hands."

He immediately extended his hands.

Pan Yun examined them closely, frowned, then smiled after a moment: "You are destined to have sons—just wait another ten years."

He opened his mouth wide. "Ten years? Can't it be sooner?"

"Difficult. But we can try. I'll have my third senior brother prepare a medicine for you. Take it home, avoid bedding your wife for now, and follow the physician's instructions."

"I take the medicine? Not my wife?"

Pan Yun smiled. "Of course you take it. Whether you bear sons or daughters depends on your own ability. As the saying goes: plant melons, get melons; plant beans, get beans. Good person, you understand, right?"

The good person understood clearly. The believers gathered nearby also understood clearly. Suddenly, everyone's gaze toward him turned unfavorable.

"That's my third senior brother. I'll take you to see him."

"No no no, I—I think daughters are fine too. I'll hold off for now." The villager hurried away, his steps quick, the bitterness on his face already fading.

Pan Yun smiled contentedly, turned to the other believers, and smiled gently. "Next, which good person?"

A slightly chubby man said: "It's me, Temple Keeper. I'd like to ask the Mountain God—will my younger brother pass the autumn examination this year?"

Pan Yun: "Hasn't the autumn examination already ended?"

"Yes, but the results aren't out yet. My parents are anxious, so they sent me to ask."

Pan Yun sized him up.

He puffed out his chest and pulled out a red paper from his chest. "This is my younger brother's birth chart."

Pan Yun didn't know how to calculate birth charts. She relied on her innate talent—observing qi—to deduce outcomes. Birth charts were calculated; she'd never studied them seriously.

In the 26th century, calculating birth charts wasn't popular anymore. People still preferred face reading and qi observation.

Because in the 26th century, where demons and monsters roamed, results from birth charts were always shifting. And since birth charts mattered so much, people would lie about their birth dates when registering household status—either advance or delay by a few days, some even mixed lunar and solar calendars—to confuse observers.

To prevent others from stealing their birth charts.

But Pan Yun didn't say she didn't know. She opened the red paper, glanced at it, pretended to calculate with her fingers, returned the paper, then raised her head to study his face, smiling faintly: "You won't pass this time."

The chubby man's smile froze. "Won't pass?"

Pan Yun nodded. "Your younger brother is talented, good person, but his fortune hasn't turned. He won't pass this time, nor the next—so let him relax."

The chubby man's face darkened further. He wanted to rage, but this was the Mountain God's temple—he couldn't disrespect the temple keeper. He stayed silent, face stiff.

But Pan Yun didn't stop. "Misfortune and fortune are intertwined. Passing later isn't necessarily bad."

The chubby man sneered. "Can the Temple Keeper even predict accurately?"

Pan Yun said: "The autumn examination is already over. The results will be out in a few days. Whether I'm right or wrong—you'll know soon enough."

The chubby man thought it over, bowed slightly, and turned to leave—but as he turned, he placed a handful of copper coins on the table. "This is for the Mountain God's incense offering."

Pan Yun pinched her fingers in return. "Good person, you are most virtuous."

The chubby man left.

Pan Yun looked at the remaining believers, smiled softly. "Next."

"Temple Keeper, I'm ill. I'd like to ask the Mountain God for a healing talisman."

Pan Yun looked at her. She didn't need to take her pulse—she could see she was ill, and seriously so.

"Do you know how expensive a talisman is?"

The woman clenched her teeth. "No matter how expensive, I must get one—as long as it cures me."

Pan Yun shook her head. "A talisman won't cure your illness. Illness requires a Physician. If you have money for a talisman, why not buy medicine?"

"Nonsense! How can talismans be useless? Isn't this a god? A god can wave a hand and heal me! Is the Temple Keeper refusing to pray for me because I'm poor?"

Pan Yun: …

She forced a smile. "I just asked the god in my heart. He said His divine power is limited. Your illness stems from an ancient demonic plague—His power cannot purge it. Only celestial qi can cleanse the demon."

The villager's eyes lit up, gazing at her with longing. "How can I make that… celestial qi kill the demon inside me?"

Pan Yun: "Do you know what in this world is naturally born, nurtured by heaven and earth, and brimming with qi?"

The villager shook her head.

Pan Yun said solemnly: "Plants. Look outside."

The villager followed Pan Yun's finger and saw the lush trees on the rocky mountain. She suddenly understood. "Of course! Plants grow without being planted—they're everywhere!"

Pan Yun: "Isn't medicine made from plants?"

The villager nodded dumbly.

Pan Yun spoke with rhythm: "Taking medicine means drawing celestial qi from medicinal herbs. Only celestial qi can cleanse the demon inside you."

The villager murmured: "I must take medicine… I must take medicine…"

Wang Feiyin looked at Pan Yun with admiration. He knew this villager—she was from Da Fu Village, ill for nearly a year. At first she took medicine, then became obsessed with all kinds of bizarre folk remedies.

Some remedies helped, some didn't. She took them all haphazardly—her original illness didn't improve, but she grew sicker than ever.

After suffering a long illness without recovery, she became obsessed with summoning spirits, talismans, and ritual ceremonies, trying every method she could find.

She had also come to Mount Sanqing Temple to ask them for help.

Wang Feiyin and Tao Ji refused to draw talismans or perform rituals for her; they wanted to prescribe medicine, but she would rather die than take it—even if it were given to her for free.

Some illnesses can be treated or alleviated by drinking talisman water; others cannot.

And in Wang Feiyin's view, the vast majority of illnesses in this world were unsuitable for such methods.

Health talismans are meant for use when illness is still in its earliest stages—the domain of traditional Chinese medicine and higher physicians. Once the illness has taken root in bone and blood, talismans are no longer effective.

Many had tried to persuade this villager, but none succeeded—until one day Pan Yun managed to convince her.

Pan Yun turned her head and met Wang Feiyin's gaze; she smiled slightly, and Wang Feiyin smiled back at them, walking forward slowly as he pinched his fingers together and said, "Boundless Heavenly Venerable of Life. Good person, please step into the side chamber. I will take your pulse… and find the herbal qi suited to your body."

Upon hearing this, the villager immediately followed him. Before leaving, she generously placed five copper coins on the counter.

At the same time, the Spirit Realm chimed softly, and Pan Xiaohei reported beside her, "Merit +1." It mocked, "You counted three people and only gained merit from one."

That means the other two didn't feel grateful to her.

Pan Yun didn't care.

Pan Xiaohei was puzzled. "You could easily have tricked them into giving you merit. Why didn't you?"

Pan Yun's face turned solemn. 【Because Sister has principles. I do what I must, and I refuse what I must not. To cheat for fleeting merit and tarnish my Daoist reputation—that the Dao will not allow.】

Pan Xiaohei looked unconvinced and mewed, "Aren't you just afraid of backlash?"

Pan Yun glanced sideways at Pan Xiaohei. 【You know the answer. Why ask?】

The remaining people followed her gaze and were startled. "How is there a cat here?"

Pan Yun said seriously, "This is a black cat. Black cats are spirit-connected. It must have often listened to our scriptures at Mount Sanqing Temple and awakened spiritual awareness."

The believers marveled greatly. Since she had already resolved three people's problems—regardless of whether those three were satisfied—the onlookers felt she was trustworthy.

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After all, the knife hadn't fallen on them, had it?

So the crowd continued lining up, asking the temple attendant to pray to the Mountain God on their behalf.

Their troubles were varied, but Pan Yun treated everyone equally, solving their problems. She received nine people and earned five merit points.

Although she didn't gain merit from the others, when they left, they were cheerful—the confusion on their faces had vanished. Clearly, she had resolved their problems; they simply didn't feel grateful.

Until sunset, the Mountain God Temple gradually emptied.

Everyone sat on the threshold and the temple steps, their expressions blank.

Wang Feiyin said, "I haven't been this exhausted in many years."

Pan Yun: "Big Brother, you're unusually lively today. You radiate vigorous life—clearly a Daoist who has attained enlightenment."

Wang Feiyin: "Stop flattery. I said I'd watch over the Mountain God Temple for you—I will."

Pan Yun grinned at him.

Wang Feiyin pondered. "This mortal world is also a path of cultivation. Today, I've felt something profound."

He looked at Tao Ji and Master Xuanmiao. "You two should also descend more often for trials. Clearly, this Mountain God Temple is well-placed. If we build a reputation today, more people will come seeking blessings in the future—and you can train here, especially Fourth Sister."

"Huh? Isn't Third Brother supposed to be the one?"

Wang Feiyin glanced at her. "You're mistaken again. Your Fourth Sister cultivates Talisman Dao and the Art of Observing Qi—she cannot separate herself from humans, spirits, and demons. She must train in the mortal world."

"But your Third Brother cultivates Alchemy and Medicine. He only needs to refine pills, swallow them, and enter the Dao through pills. Let the world drown in floods—he doesn't care," Wang Feiyin said. "He's just soft-hearted and likes wandering around healing people."

Wang Feiyin shook his head. "He's cultivating the Dao, yet acts like a wandering Physician."

Tao Ji blushed in shame.

Pan Yun muttered quietly, "I think Third Brother is doing fine."

Wang Feiyin glanced at her. "Speak up."

Pan Yun: "Big Brother is right. Big Brother, will you be coming down the mountain often from now on?"

"What problem? Aren't we standing on Mount Sanqing right now?" Wang Feiyin said slowly, word by word: "This is our Master's land!"

Pan Yun clapped loudly. "Well said! This is our Master's land! Master, did you hear that?"

The statue sat silent and still, ignoring these unfilial disciples.

The group checked everything once more, then closed the door and headed up the mountain.

Today, Pan Yun gained +6 +15 +15 merit points.

Whether because her Master's spiritual awareness sat watching her, or because she had earned a substantial amount of merit today, she felt tired yet deeply comfortable.

After bathing and lying on her bed, she fell asleep instantly.

Everyone in the Daoist temple overslept today—except Wang Feiyin.

Pan Yun was puzzled. "Where's Big Brother?"

Wang Cong said, "Father went down the mountain."

Pan Yun's eyes lit up. "To the Mountain God Temple?"

Wang Cong shook his head. "No. He went to find money and teachers for the school. Before leaving, he said today's three Senior Brothers would oversee the Mountain God Temple—yesterday, villagers from other villages didn't come. Today, they might."

"Alright."

She didn't have much hope for Big Brother's quest for money—after all, she couldn't save money herself, but at least she had luck with wealth. Big Brother had no luck with wealth at all.

Actually, running a school could earn plenty of merit. Pan Yun began calculating how much money she could spare to open one.

Unexpectedly, Wang Feiyin returned in the afternoon and told them, "The school is already set up. From now on, when you go down the mountain, walk through the villages and persuade villagers to send their children to school."

Pan Yun: "Did you get the money?"

Wang Feiyin nodded. "Got it."

"Books and teachers?"

Wang Feiyin: "Got them too."

"So our Sanqing Temple really does harbor hidden dragons and tigers..."

"Stop muttering—why are you climbing the mountain so early today?"

Pan Yun: "No one came to the temple to burn incense, so I came back. Today I received thirty-eight devotees, but sadly, they only burned incense and paid respects—didn't ask me a single question, not a word exchanged."

Wang Feiyin sighed, "You're still too young; people don't trust you yet. You'd better grow up faster."

Pan Yun: "I want to grow up fast too—is there a rapid-growth talisman? A growth-boosting talisman? A quick-mature talisman?"

Wang Feiyin said, "Starting tomorrow, you'll add a new course: The Compendium of Daoist Methods. What good is it learning only cultivation techniques and talismans? You must first learn the fundamentals."

His gaze slid over Master Xuanmiao and Tao Ji, then he resigned himself: "I'll teach you. Tomorrow, you'll come down the mountain with me—guard the Mountain God Temple while I give lessons."

Tao Ji and Master Xuanmiao both subtly exhaled a breath of relief.

Pan Yun had long accepted it: the knowledge missing from the 26th century was too vast; everything she needed to learn now was foreign to her past life.

The next day, she packed several items, hugging the black cat as she trotted cheerfully after Wang Feiyin down the mountain.

One-on-one instruction was different from small-group classes—progress was extremely fast, and the moment she drifted off, her forehead got tapped.

Pan Yun rubbed her head and said, "Big Brother, even though I zoned out, I did hear you. I can focus on three things at once—don't believe me? Let me recite exactly what you just said."

Before he could speak, she immediately recited it back, then added, "See? I didn't lie. Next time, don't tap my head—tap me a few more times and I'll get dumb and won't be able to focus on three things at once."

"So focusing on three things at once is a good thing now?" Wang Feiyin asked irritably. "What were you thinking about just now?"

Pan Yun: "I just thought about my father."

Today's lucky number is any number ending in 6—screenshot as proof; join the 'Great Ming' group and find Moyan to claim your reward.

(End of Chapter)