[{"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-130":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},2337335,4570,"Chapter 130: A Lesson in Authority","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-130",130,"\u003Cp>Pan Yun felt a momentary stir of interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen said: “Little Uncle, raising minor spirits is a grave taboo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun snuffed out the tiny flame and said with solemn integrity: “That’s right—I would never do something that violates professional ethics.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it’s a grave taboo or not doesn’t matter—it’s mutual consent—but now the Celestial Master’s Mansion is after her, so it’s best to avoid crossing the line; if you know there’s a pit ahead, of course you steer clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun straightened her robe and asked formally: “Besides you, are there ghosts in the other two rooms?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female ghost, eyes brimming with tears, said: “No, only me. Zhang Wei guessed the young Daoist would stay in the middle room, so they only placed something here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see. Looks like they guessed pretty well,” Pan Yun chuckled. “But they certainly didn’t predict I’d treat all three of them equally—no favoritism whatsoever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun picked up the female ghost and went out, kicking open the two adjacent rooms. Indeed, no ghosts were hidden inside, but there were plenty of petty tricks and traps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun collected them all—dismantled what she could, and made the female ghost trigger what she couldn’t. After extracting everything, she had the ghost open the doors of the three rooms across the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She used every usable item she could find, adding small twists to their little designs to make the games more entertaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He wandered around the courtyard, glanced left and right, and, seeing no one, lifted a stone from beside the water vat and carried it clattering to Zhang Wei’s room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun finished setting up and turned to see her standing on a chair, placing the stone above the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miao He, what are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He: “An eye for an eye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun said: “Swap it for something else—this big stone will kill someone if it falls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He: “What then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen handed over a bottle. “Use this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun saw the bottle, grinned, and nodded approvingly. “Good. Very good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They finished setting everything up, arranged the chairs and tables, erased all traces, then pushed open the window and jumped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After jumping from the window, Pan Yun pulled out a silk handkerchief and wiped away their footprints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after finishing all this did Pan Yun return to deal with the female ghost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female ghost was huddled in the corner of the bed, the black cat watching her intently—every time she moved, the cat’s paw lashed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ghost was certain: other black cats could at most see her, but none could strike her. This one could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So after being swiped at twice, she dared not move again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun dragged over a chair and sat opposite her. “Come, let’s talk openly. Your name, origin, how you died, what unfinished wishes you have—speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t remember~” the ghost dragged out her voice, but seeing Pan Yun’s face remained utterly expressionless, she clenched her teeth inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hated kids like Pan Yun—neither fright nor seduction worked on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun twisted her wrist. “I’ll give you one more chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ghost paused a long while before whining: “My name is Xiao Hong. I’ve forgotten my origin and how I died. But I’m certain I was murdered—otherwise I couldn’t have become a ghost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have no other wish—I just want to be a good ghost,” she added with faint excitement. “Actually, being a ghost isn’t bad. No need to eat, drink, worry about money, or suffer abuse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “Aren’t Zhang Wei and I abusing you? He keeps you captive and forces you to do evil. I’ve beaten you plenty already.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Hong stiffened, then said: “It’s fine—it’s just you two. I can endure it. Better than when I was alive, when anyone could bully me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “What did you do before? How did others bully you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Hong smiled: “I don’t remember. Truly, I don’t remember.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun stared at her for a long moment, then said: “Fine. If you don’t remember, then fine. I’ll spare you—but you must do one thing for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Hong: “What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do to Zhang Wei exactly what he did to me. Stop wearing white—wear red instead. Red robes are more terrifying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can I scare him? He controls me. What if he shatters my soul?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll sever your bond with him. If he shatters your soul, I will too. So—do you choose him, or me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Hong fell silent for a long while, then chose to be struck by Zhang Wei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She believed she could escape him—but not Pan Yun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun gave her an approving look. “Your choice is wise. Go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Hong: “Red robes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun’s face darkened. “Don’t tell me you can’t even find a red robe—you need me to burn one for you?” Xiao Hong immediately said: “I can! I’ll prepare it right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun waved her off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the ghost left, the courtyard fell silent. Pan Yun said: “Let’s eat dried rations tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He had no objections. The three sat together gnawing on dried food, relying entirely on fantasies of the night to swallow it—otherwise, the dry rations were utterly inedible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun had them enter the rooms and placed arrays and talismans on their doors and windows. “Rest and cultivate in peace. We’ve traveled two days—need to conserve our strength. No matter what happens tonight, don’t interfere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If anyone breaks into your rooms, scream. I’m right next door—I’ll kill them,” Pan Yun grinned. “Don’t worry—your little Uncle may not be good at much, but fighting? I’m excellent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen: “I know. Before you entered the mountains, you could escape from Third and Fourth Uncle. Now? Even more so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flattery’s nice—but don’t do it again. Best forget this entirely,” Pan Yun slammed the window shut. “Go to sleep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He didn’t wait for her—she slammed the window shut herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun carried Pan Xiaohei around the room. “Where do you want to sleep?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!. Read\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miao—” Pan Xiaohei wriggled free, leapt onto the bed, and walked to the far end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No,” Pan Yun picked it up and placed it on the table by the window. “You sleep here—comfortable, spacious, good for guarding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat protested with a few meows, but Pan Yun was firm. She sat cross-legged on the bed, closed her eyes, and began meditating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the past half-year, with no spirit realms to compete for spiritual energy, her cultivation had accelerated rapidly—her spiritual power filled and reinforced her previous realm. Now she was at the Fifth Stage; one more step would bring her to the First Marquis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the First Marquis was extremely difficult—some Daoists spent their entire lives failing to cross it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only upon entering the First Marquis did one truly enter the state of cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long Hushan was good. Though its spiritual energy paled beside Mount Sanqing, as soon as she entered, she felt the vibrant Daoist qi. Five steps, a talisman; everywhere, blessings inscribed. As Fourth Sister had said, Long Hushan’s talisman arts were truly peerless—even if she learned only a fraction, it would benefit her endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, she would stay here properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun lowered her gaze. The Celestial Master held considerable influence in court—the Emperor often consulted him on state policy, even received talismans from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So whoever blocked her from learning would make her life hard—and she’d make theirs harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night fell. Footsteps sounded outside the silent courtyard. Pan Xiaohei instantly perked up, glanced at the meditating Pan Yun, then quietly rose, slipped out the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It leapt down, bounded across rooftops, reached the wall beside the gate, and peered down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lantern beside the gate glowed. A figure stood beneath it. Seeing the three return, he frowned: “Back already?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow stepped forward. Through Pan Xiaohei’s eyes, Pan Yun recognized the face—it was Zhang Weiyi, who had left in the afternoon and not returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three froze, pausing slightly. Zhang Weiliang sneered: “What? Did the new brat complain to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Weiyi: “She didn’t complain. Your traps didn’t hurt her—they hurt Fifth Uncle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Weiliang frowned. “What’s wrong with Fifth Uncle? Why’s he always meddling? Does he actually want to babysit these three brats?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Weiyi: “I don’t care what he thinks, or what you think. Just remember: no pranks inside Fengqi Courtyard. If you turn my courtyard into a mess, I won’t hold back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Weiliang snorted. “What do you mean ‘your’ Fengqi Courtyard? It belongs to everyone! You’re just the head—next year, you might not even be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope I’m not next year,” Zhang Weiyi turned and walked away. “Out of years of cohabitation, I’ll warn you: this new disciple isn’t as easy to bully as her age suggests.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Weiliang hated his attitude. He caught up, shoved his shoulder, and grunted: “I’m not easy to bully either…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he opened the door, a basin of dirt cascaded like a waterfall, drenching his head and face. The wooden basin crashed onto his shoulder before hitting the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Weiyi stopped, his face dark with fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, Zhang Weiqin and Zhang Weigang also looked grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Weiliang shook his head violently, flinging off the dirt—but his eyes remained shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He roared in rage: “Ahh—!” and charged toward Pan Yun’s room. But after two steps, his foot sank—his entire right leg plunged into mud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Weiliang stumbled and fell. He pushed himself up, trying to claw free, but Zhang Weiyi grabbed his shoulder. “Are you mad? Do you want to lose your leg?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Weigang rushed over, pressed the now-hardening earth, and paled. “She turned the ground into quicksand—and now it’s solidifying again. How is she capable of this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Weiyi: “Don’t forget—she’s a Mountain God’s disciple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t that just Mount Sanqing’s embellishment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Weiyi glared at the three, then chanted a spell, summoning water to wash the earth, softening it again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Weiliang screamed as he pulled, the others rushed to help—one slapped a talisman, another tore at the mud with bare hands. After immense effort, they dragged him out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tail number 2\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1693,"2026-06-20T22:03:57.478Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0429ca676f58a6270a4c0b91f9de7924c9425863ec0916a341a9cbe9dc26ba79","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-131","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-129",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-cover.jpg"]