Chapter 128: Academy

The Three Pure Ones Assembly ended, yet some talismans and elixirs remained unsold at the Three Pure Ones Shrine; Pan Yun stuffed the items into a cloth sack, incredulous: "Our goods were clearly popular—why are there still leftovers?"

Tao Ji said nothing; Xuan Miao said nothing.

Wang Feiyin shrugged: "Let them sit. Sell the elixirs to the apothecary later; keep the talismans for yourselves. You're going to Long Hushan Academy next year anyway—these will save us the trouble of preparing new ones."

"Does Long Hushan Academy require talismans?"

"Of course," Wang Feiyin said. "Don't lose fights at the academy. If you meet someone strong, run. If you can't run, surrender. You're young—it's not shameful. Find your revenge when you're older."

Wang Feiyin sighed: "We've just offended people from Long Hushan. Be careful once you're at the academy. If they harass you, blame it all on us adults."

He gave them a solemn warning: "Be clever in how you act. We don't mind if you pretend to betray us—as long as you learn something at the academy."

Pan Yun spoke for them all: "Agreed."

Time passed quickly. After the Three Pure Ones Assembly, the weather grew colder day by day; soon the New Year passed. Wang Feiyin finally gave in to Tao Ji's pleading and helped them plant winter wheat.

So when Pan Yun and the others left the mountain, the wheat in the fields had just turned yellow, not yet harvested.

The Three Pure Ones Shrine had borrowed a field from the villagers to grow rice seedlings; now the sprouts had just pushed up a finger's length, waiting to be transplanted after the wheat harvest.

Wang Feiyin calculated with his fingers: "Another half-month to twenty days."

So he reluctantly saw them off at the mountain base, gripping Pan Yun's hand: "Can't you stay another month? Wait until after the busy farming season. Since you joined, you've only harvested rice once and planted wheat once—is that acceptable?"

Pan Yun: "Brother, when I'm gone, you must take good care of the Mountain God Temple. Treat every worshipper well. When I return on leave, I'll make a round of visits—Master is watching. Don't slack off."

Tao Ji was also instructing Miao He: "Your main goal at the academy is to learn their qi cultivation. As for elixir arts, no temple under heaven compares to ours on Three Pure Ones Mountain. Listen, but don't rely on them—complete the coursework I assigned. I'll come to Long Hushan every month to test you."

Miao He stiffened his back and bowed respectfully.

Xuan Miao was also advising Miao Zhen: "Long Hushan's talismans and Dao diagrams are unmatched in the world. Though they show few, remember: cultivation depends on yourself. Your Master only leads you through the gate—how far you go depends on your insight and diligence."

"You're highly insightful. With effort, your future achievements won't fall short of your Master's."

Miao Zhen: "Fourth Auntie, does Master know I'm going to Long Hushan Academy?"

Xuan Miao nodded. "I've told him. He wanted to come see you off, but recently lightning struck the East Gate of the Imperial Palace—court and realm were shaken. Your Master has no time. Wait until his annual leave—he'll surely return to see you."

Miao Zhen nodded.

"Enough. Get on the cart," Wang Feiyin said, having finished his pointless exchange with Pan Yun. "Long Hushan is far—it'll take two days. Hurry up."

Pan Yun slung her small pack onto her back and climbed onto the donkey cart. Miao He still had words for Tao Yanbai: "Third Brother, when Xiao Jing returns, give him my martial training notes—I compiled them especially for him."

Tao Yanbai nodded: "Go in peace."

Pan Yun immediately scrambled to the cart's rear and called out: "Me too, me too, Yanbai! When you go to the county town, visit Xiao Qi and the others. Tell them I've gone to Long Hushan to study. If they need help, come to you. If you can't solve it, ask Big Brother. If even he can't, write to me."

"Keep the money I left you. Remember to send them a sack of grain or wheat every month."

Wang Feiyin: "You've got too many worries. Get on the cart already. Maybe this year Long Hushan Academy will go mad and give you a farming break like the Confucian schools? Then you'll be back in less than half a month."

Pan Yun: "Perfect! We can harvest wheat and transplant seedlings together."

Wang Feiyin shuddered. Suddenly he thought: maybe it's not good for kids to get holidays. He'd finally gotten someone to teach them—he didn't want them back.

"Forget it. Don't come back. There's not much work left—we can handle it," Wang Feiyin told Wang Cong. "Drive on."

Wang Cong replied, slapped the donkey's rump, and the cart rolled forward.

Miao Zhen and Miao He finally stopped their tearful farewells and hurried after the cart, leaping aboard.

This was Miao Zhen and Miao He's first time leaving home so far, so long—they were uneasy. Seeing Pan Yun unafraid, they clung to her on either side.

Wang Cong caught sight of them from the corner of his eye and smiled. "Don't worry. I'm accompanying you to Long Hushan. I'll rent a shop in town to sell sundries—I'll leave a manager there. If you need anything, find him."

Pan Yun's eyes flickered. "But we shouldn't let anyone know we're connected to the shop. If we're targeted, won't it drag the shop down?"

Wang Cong: "So what's your little auntie's suggestion?"

"We contact secretly. Keep it as a hidden card."

Wang Cong nodded with a smile. "Good."

Miao Zhen and Miao He: "... s the outside world this violent?"

Pan Yun hugged their arms. "This is nothing. Where there are people, there's conflict. It's called an academy—it's still a place to learn. Conflict exists, but learning is the main thing."

Wang Cong nodded. "Most here seek to learn. Conflict is a minority. Don't worry—Fourth Auntie has already arranged for someone to look after you."

Pan Yun immediately asked: "Who? Who did Fourth Sister arrange to watch over us?"

Wang Cong smiled faintly. "You'll see when you meet him."

On the third day, seeing Zhang Zi standing at the town gate, Pan Yun was stunned.

She stared at Wang Cong in disbelief: "Fourth Sister arranged for him to look after us?"

"Yes," Wang Cong said. "He recruited you. He's the best person to watch over you."

Pan Yun had nothing to say.

Zhang Zi had nothing to say either. Seeing them, he scowled: "Follow me."

Wang Cong drove the cart after him.

The town was called Shangqing Town, bustling and lively. The ground was paved with blue stone bricks. Shops on both sides were mostly two stories, front shop, back courtyard—commercial and residential combined, neater and tidier than the county town.

The Zhang family lived at the town center. Zhang Zi led them past the main gate of his home and pointed: "This is the Celestial Master's Mansion. You may or may not study here, but if you ever receive talisman ordination, you must do it here."

He added: "The academy is inside Da Shangqing Palace. I'll take you there."

Daoists value quietude, so the academy wasn't in town. Beyond the town, they followed the main road uphill.

On both sides were dense forests or fields. After riding the donkey cart for about half an hour, they saw a towering gate tower. Beside it stood two stone steles. Behind the tower stretched a winding path of blue stone slabs, stretching endlessly.

Unlike the bustling Shangqing Town, this place was silent—only Da Shangqing Palace stood here. Wang Cong grew solemn, guiding the cart past the gate tower along the blue stone path.

Just as Pan Yun thought the place was quiet, after passing the gate tower and steles, voices began to rise. Around the bend, they saw many carriages and horses parked near the Dismounting Pavilion, crowded and noisy.

Wang Cong pulled the donkey to a stop. Pan Yun and the others jumped down.

Zhang Zi strode forward, scowling: "What's all this noise? Where's the escort official assigned to guide you?"

A young Daoist in blue robes hurried out, bowing to Zhang Zi: "Fifth Uncle, the rooms you requested are ready."

Zhang Zi nodded, then turned to Pan Yun with a warmer, gentler smile—no trace of his earlier coldness. "Pan Sis, your rooms are prepared. You'll stay in Fengqi Courtyard."

Around them, people immediately turned to stare. Even Wang Cong was startled and protested: "Fifth Uncle, my little aunties are new students—how can they stay in Fengqi Courtyard? That's reserved for fourth- and fifth-year students!"

Zhang Zi smiled: "Da Shangqing Palace has no rule that Fengqi Courtyard is only for fourth- or fifth-year students. It simply selects the nine most outstanding new students to live there. Pan Sis holds high status as a Mountain God disciple and possesses exceptional talent—she deserves to be among them."

Wang Cong bit his lip: "Then what about my two other sisters?"

Zhang Zi smiled warmly: "Aren't they here to attend to Pan Sis? Naturally they must stay together—how else could they attend to her?"

!. Read

Wang Cong opened his mouth to protest again, but Pan Yun pressed his arm: "We'll stay in Fengqi Courtyard. Zhang Wu Ge is right—I'm talented. How could I not live there?"

Zhang Zi's face froze.

Pan Yun asked: "Do I get to choose my room first?"

Zhang Zi gritted his teeth and smiled: "No. Rooms are already assigned. Only three are vacant..."

"Alright," Pan Yun said, feigning disappointment. "So even being a Mountain God disciple doesn't let me pick first. How disappointing."

Zhang Zi:...

He took a deep breath, forcing a smile under everyone's stares.

Pan Yun carried only a cat, no luggage. She waved to the three behind her: "Come on, let's see our rooms."

Miao Zhen and Miao He, perfectly in sync, slung their packs and hugged bundles to their chests.

Wang Cong lagged behind but quickly loaded all the luggage onto himself and hurried after.

Pan Yun walked ahead, holding a cat, strolling as if she owned the place—behind her trailed three little laborers.

From the Dismounting Pavilion to the Lingxing Gate, she radiated arrogance. Zhang Zi, behind her, looked like her bodyguard.

People from Da Shangqing Palace bowed their heads as they passed Zhang Zi—effectively bowing to Pan Yun.

Pan Yun walked, nodding politely. Onlookers stared, bewildered. "Who's that kid? Why do people here treat her with such respect?"

"Don't know. Is she from the palace?"

"No way. She's wearing a Daoist robe—half-new, half-old. Clearly cheap."

"If she's not from the palace, why does Zhang Zi treat her so respectfully? He's even running behind her!"

Did Zhang Zi voluntarily chase after her?

Of course not—he was forced.

He tried several times to catch up, to walk beside her, even to pass her—but he couldn't. Pan Yun always stayed one step ahead.

He also noticed: no matter how fast he or Pan Yun moved, Wang Cong, Miao Zhen, and Miao He kept pace effortlessly.

Even when he used "Shrink Earth to Inch," leaping ahead, they still maintained the same distance—he couldn't overtake Pan Yun.

This meant the four from Three Pure Ones Shrine not only had cultivation and refined techniques—they moved with perfect coordination.

Zhang Zi began to regret assigning Pan Yun to Fengqi Courtyard. But... he hadn't expected her to accept.

He thought she'd refuse. He planned to wait for her to refuse three times, then reluctantly agree—and assign her elsewhere. Then, if she complained later, he'd have a reply.

But he hadn't expected Wang Cong to refuse once—and Pan Yun to accept immediately.

Seeing the crowd's growing astonishment and respect, Zhang Zi knew he couldn't let this continue. He said: "Pan Sis, let me guide you."

Pan Yun turned and smiled: "Sure."

Then she stepped forward—used "Shrink Earth to Inch"—and vanished ahead with a whoosh, leaving them all behind.

【Want to guide me? Ha. Catch up if you can.】

Zhang Zi took a deep breath. Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He overtake him, he finally snapped and activated his lightness technique to sprint ahead.

Pan Yun didn't move her upper body—her feet spun like a top, gliding forward. They chased each other for a while—until Pan Yun saw the sign for Fengqi Courtyard. She stopped, turned, and smiled: "Fifth Brother, you didn't need to guide me. I know where Fengqi Courtyard is."

Zhang Zi forced a stiff smile: "You've never been here before. Even if you've heard descriptions, seeing it in person is different. Let me show you inside."

"Alright," Pan Yun naturally slowed, letting him go first.

Zhang Zi pushed open the gate and stepped inside, calling: "Where is everyone? You..."

With a splash, the water on the roof poured down like a waterfall, then the wooden tub crashed down, striking Zhang Zi squarely on the head.

Pan Yun stifled her laugh, swallowed her smile, and hurried forward with a look of concern. "Zhang Wu Ge, are you all right?"

Zhang Zi's face turned ashen; he steadied his dazed head and gritted his teeth. "I'm fine!"

Enraged, Zhang Zi stormed into the courtyard and shouted, "Who did this? Come out!"

The courtyard was utterly silent. Pan Yun followed him inside, deliberately stepping precisely on the footprints he had left.

Hearing Zhang Zi's shout, Pan Yun said, "Zhang Wu Ge, you can't possibly not hear that no one's in this courtyard? Oh my, you really can't hear it?"

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(End of Chapter)