[{"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-117":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},2337322,4570,"Chapter 117: The Three Clearings Gathering","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-117",117,"\u003Cp>“Good, good,” Pan Yun said, delighted to see he shared her sentiment. “Shall we sign a contract so the toothbrushes can only be sold to your caravan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong hesitated, then shook his head. “Forget it. My caravan has limited capacity, and I have other businesses to run. There’s no need to focus solely on this. Let others have their chances—highest bidder gets it. But for the first three months, they must all go to us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun didn’t believe she could outsmart him in business or match his experience, so she decided to follow his lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, when Pan Yun went down the mountain, she told the villagers the good news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The villagers weren’t pleased at all—they outright refused her. “No, no. How could we afford this? We’ll just help you out a bit and earn some labor money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes, little Daoist, if the boar bristles aren’t enough, I’ll go find more for you. Winter’s coming, everyone’s selling pigs now—boar bristles are easy to get.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all fellow villagers; no one would refuse such a small request—just a little cutting of pig hair?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pigs were going to be sold anyway, slaughtered anyway—just cut it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “...If you make them yourselves, the only cost is the medicinal powder. You’d make more profit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They still refused. “No, no. We’ll just gather the bristles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Daoist, are your monastery no longer willing to hire us to make the toothbrushes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it because it’s not profitable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “...No, alright, let’s leave it at that. It’s fine too. Thank you for your hard work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not hard work, not hard work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun looked at them with sympathy and complexity—they truly were working hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kind and diligent villagers, fearing their boar bristles wouldn’t be enough, stopped hiring others and voluntarily gathered bristles from villages miles away—for free!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diligent and kind villagers, fearing their bamboo handles wouldn’t be enough, chopped one or two bamboo stalks while working in the fields and brought them back for the monastery—for free!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They accepted only the labor fee for one brush—not a single copper coin more!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun felt pity for them. “Too kind. Just a little foolish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “...They probably just don’t want to take the risk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know. Still foolish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Pan Yun and Wang Cong weren’t the type to force people. If they didn’t want to, fine. As long as someone brought bristles, they kept soaking them and hiring villagers to make toothbrushes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If none came, they stopped. Let things unfold naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this way, they accumulated over five hundred toothbrushes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong kept a hundred for himself and gave the rest to the caravan to sell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said they’d sell for ten cash each, but they wouldn’t sell at that price—because the quantity was large, and they weren’t selling directly to customers, but to general stores and stall owners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You had to leave room for others to profit, so they priced them between five and eight cash, depending on quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hundred he kept, he planned to sell at the Three Clearings Gathering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Three Clearings Gathering was like a temple fair, divided into inner and outer sections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outer section was for common folk—they came to burn incense, worship at the temple, trade, and meet potential partners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inner section was for Daoists, monks, and nuns—they came to exchange Daoist and Buddhist teachings, discuss magical artifacts, martial arts, and spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuxing Temple wasn’t far from Mount Sanqing. Early that morning, they carried down a huge pile of goods, loaded them onto a mule cart, and set off in a grand procession toward Fuxing Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was truly grand—along the way, many people carried vegetables, baskets of eggs, even tied-up chickens and ducks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they saw Tao Ji driving the cart, people immediately greeted him. Soon, the cart was piled high. Pan Yun and the others got down and let elderly grandparents take their seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Tao Ji got off to lead the mule. Wang Feiyin walked beside the cart, carrying a bundle—he thought the cart was too slow, sped up, and gradually left them behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun glanced at Miao Zhen; Miao Zhen turned to look at her. They instantly agreed—each grabbed one of Miao He’s arms and dashed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Yanbai froze, shouting, “Sister—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lunged to chase, but Wang Cong grabbed the back of his robe in a flash. “Where are you running? There’s so much on the cart—watch it! What if something falls?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he spoken than a bundle slipped from a crack in the cart and thudded to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong hurried to pick it up. The old man sitting on the left edge shouted, “Oh no, Cong-ya, those are my chestnuts—quick, put them back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong replied, found a gap, and shoved the bundle back in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the old mule carried them to Fuxing Temple, the courtyard and both sides of the road were already crowded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The village chief pushed through with a few young men, shouting, “Our Fen Shui Village’s stall is over there—everyone setting up a stall, go there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji immediately guided the cart over. Pan Yun, Miao Zhen, and Miao He, along with the cat, were already lost in the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Pan Yun’s first temple fair—far livelier than the ones from her past life. “Is the Three Clearings Gathering always this busy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, always this busy every year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun marveled at the throngs of people. Two children ran past her, laughing, holding little windmills. “No wonder no one chooses our Sanqing Temple for the fair—climbing up takes two hours. How could anyone set up a stall?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were her, she wouldn’t want to either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen: “Worship requires sincerity. Climbing the mountain is part of the test. Aside from villagers wanting to sell, others still willingly climb Sanqing Mountain—and our mountain has beautiful scenery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true,” Pan Yun nodded. “Not just beautiful scenery—strong spiritual energy too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun tilted her head, dodging a hand that slapped toward her. She looked up and saw Wang Feiyin—she lowered her guard. “Big Brother, weren’t you ahead of us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was. But when I turned around, you all vanished. I had to come back looking,” Wang Feiyin pushed them out of the crowd to the side, frowning at the three. “Don’t you know you’re still young? Temple fairs have child-snatchers—don’t wander off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “Child-snatchers snatch us? Are we just wasting our Dao training?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!. Read\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin sneered. “Do you think all child-snatchers are ordinary people like the ones you’ve met? If you cultivate and have cultivation base, doesn’t that mean there could be child-snatchers who cultivate—or who are martial experts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “If they’re that powerful, they have so many ways to earn money. What do they gain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fast money,” Wang Feiyin said meaningfully. “And how do you know they only want money? What if someone just likes eating children with cultivation? Like some people like eating lamb.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun shuddered. Miao Zhen and Miao He looked equally terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother Wang is scaring people again,” said a female Daoist standing atop a stone wall, looking down at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuxing Temple had a two-story structure with three courtyards front to back, similar in layout to Sanqing Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was wider, brighter, painted vermilion, and looked newer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the east stood a hill, pressed right against it. To prevent falling rocks and soil, a stone wall had been built along its outer edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wall clung tightly to the hill, only reaching halfway up the slope. Looking east, one saw a hillside of bamboo. People on top could leap down easily. The wall’s highest point was only about three meters; where they stood, it was barely over a meter—people on top could step down without effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin stepped back two paces. “Sister Xuan Qiong, how did you get up there? Does Fuxing Temple let you dig bamboo shoots now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Qiong glared at him. “All Daoist and Buddhist temples have arrived—only Sanqing Temple is missing. You’re right nearby, yet you came late. Clearly, you don’t care much for the Three Clearings Gathering. Is it because it’s being held at Fuxing Temple?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “You arrived early, but next year’s Three Clearings Gathering still has nothing to do with your Yuling Temple. You’ve left the Three Clearings territory—no matter how hard you try, it won’t change.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Qiong sneered. “You only rely on your background. What else do you have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “I have a younger brother who’s an official in the Tai Chang Temple. I have a younger brother who’s a miraculous healer. I have a younger sister who slays demons across eight thousand li, shaking heaven and earth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Qiong’s face flushed red. “What does that have to do with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How doesn’t it? My background is my master—the Mountain God of Sanqing. My influence is built by my younger siblings. Didn’t you hear, Sister Xuan Qiong? I don’t just have background—I have power!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her eyes red and speechless, Pan Yun kindly whispered, “Dao friend, he’s using his power to bully you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Qiong shouted, “You’re bullying me with power!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nonsense. Where? Where?” Wang Feiyin looked around. “Did any of you see anyone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun shook her head first. Miao Zhen and Miao He hesitated, then followed suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Qiong stared wide-eyed at Pan Yun—just moments ago, she’d warned her, and now she was siding with Wang Feiyin to humiliate her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Qiong frowned. “Right, you three are from Sanqing Temple too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun nodded vigorously, flashing a bright smile. “I’m Pan Yun, a direct disciple of the Mountain God of Sanqing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Qiong said flatly, “You just saw me. A moment ago you said no one was there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun turned to Wang Feiyin. “Big Brother, did you hear any strange sounds? Someone seemed to be asking me something—but maybe I imagined it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. You stayed up too late last night—hallucinating,” Wang Feiyin grabbed the back of her robe and dragged her toward the main hall. “Hurry up. Don’t keep the Dao friends waiting. Sanqing Mountain follows rules strictly—we said 9 a.m., we won’t arrive at 8 a.m.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The troublemaker was dragged away. Miao He and Miao Zhen hurried after. Left alone on the wall, Xuan Qiong seethed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Typical Sanqing Mountain disciples—disgusting!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s lucky number is any number ending in 8. Screenshot as proof.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1741,"2026-06-20T22:03:57.478Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7af213d1c482b763555e5a1c049378c84ad501dddf3a25596984518cd208cec3","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-118","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-116",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-cover.jpg"]