Chapter 132: Spreading Rumors

Zhang Wei liang gritted his teeth, "Zhang Zi…"

"Shh," Zhang Weigang nervously glanced around, "don't call Uncle Wu by name—what if someone hears?"

Zhang Wei liang stuck out his neck. "Am I afraid of him?"

He was dragged away, mouth clamped shut by Zhang Weigang and Zhang Weiqin.

Pan Yun strolled boldly through the Academy with Miao Zhen and Miao He.

The Academy shared grounds with the Grand Supreme Palace, yet remained separate.

Before the Southern Song, only the Supreme Palace stood here; later, the Academy was built on either side. Originally called the Dao Courtyard, it was fully constructed during the Yuan, and in our dynasty, its scale expanded further.

Most Academy courtyards lay west and north of the Supreme Palace, with the Chongqing Academy to the north being the largest, where third-, fourth-, and fifth-year students trained in spellcraft.

Fengqi Courtyard, closest to Chongqing Academy, had the best location: facing the Supreme Palace, turning left down led to the dining hall, turning right down led to the Doumu Hall, where students practiced morning and evening rituals.

Along the eastern side of the Doumu Hall stood the Academy's various courtyards.

Jingsi Courtyard, Dongguan Courtyard, and Qizhen Courtyard all lay here.

Pan Yun and the others arrived early; today was the peak day for new students, yet numbers remained low—some counties had two or three slots, others only the prefectures or capitals had two or three.

This was because Daoist development varied by region.

Yushan County, near Long Hushan and home to Mount Sanqing, a sacred Daoist site, had many temples and monasteries, so Daoist believers were numerous—Long Hushan granted Yushan four slots.

Other prefectures might not even have four slots for an entire state.

Daoists within temples who met the age requirement had to compete for these four slots.

Among Wang Cong's generation at Mount Sanqing, all except Tao Yanbai had entered the Academy.

The elderly Daoist Li Qingyin, who had come to escort his junior disciple, said to his younger brother, "See? Sanqing Temple has few disciples, but each is elite. How many from Fuxing Temple's next generation can even enter the Academy?"

The younger brother spotted Pan Yun and the two girls strolling by. "Aren't they just riding Pan Yun's coattails? If they took the written exam at twelve, they wouldn't match my Fuxing disciples."

Li Qingyin sneered. "Sanqing Temple spends nearly a hundred taels on medicine for each disciple monthly. How could you think your few disciples compare to those so meticulously nurtured?"

The younger brother said nothing.

Li Qingyin saw Pan Yun approaching, ignored his brother, and beamed at her. "Sister Pan, didn't your senior brother come to see you off?"

Pan Yun had come seeking allies; she walked over immediately. "My senior brother is worried about the wheat at home, so he sent his top disciple to escort us. Are you here personally, Brother Li?"

Li Qingyin introduced the young Daoist behind him. "This is my Fuxing Temple disciple, Cui Huai. He's a few years older than you. If you need chores done in the Academy, have him help. And when you're free, give him some guidance."

Pan Yun agreed at once, thumping her chest. "Brother Li, rest assured—no matter our rank outside, inside the Academy we're all senior and junior siblings. We'll help each other."

Li Qingyin smiled warmly. "Have you confirmed your lodging?"

"Confirmed. Fengqi Courtyard."

Li Qingyin's smile froze. He rubbed his ear. "Where?"

Pan Yun smiled sweetly. "Fengqi Courtyard."

Li Qingyin stared at Pan Yun's cheerful face, sighed inwardly, then turned to Cui Huai. "Stay away from Pan Yun."

The younger brother:!!!

Cui Huai was confused. "Why? Didn't you just tell me to get close to her?"

"I didn't realize Long Hushan was this stingy," he glanced around, then whispered when no one was near. "She's in Fengqi Courtyard on her first day—that's a target. Trouble will follow."

"She has the Mountain God's protection—she may be fine. But those near her may suffer. You're still young. Stay clear of these struggles."

The younger brother frowned. "Brother, how can you teach your disciple to avoid danger and ignore loyalty?"

Li Qingyin smacked his head hard. "Again with loyalty? Do you know we cultivate for immortality? Immortality means staying alive first!"

Li Qingyin told Cui Huai, "Just remember—stay away from her in the Academy. We don't need to harm her, that's enough."

Cui Huai, like his master, disagreed but dared not speak. Under his senior's pressure, he nodded.

Pan Yun turned and said, "We won't seek allies. Let's go to the dining hall."

Miao He: "Why?"

Miao Zhen: "Even Brother Li, who was so close to Grandmaster, pulled back. What about others?"

She said solemnly, "In the Academy, we three must rely on ourselves."

Pan Yun nodded. "True. Only we three. But we're not easy to bully. I've packed every remaining talisman from last year. Don't worry—I've fought plenty. This past half-year, Senior Brother and Fourth Sister trained me nonstop. I can't beat the big ones, but these small fry? I'll crush them."

Miao Zhen: "Little Auntie, rest easy. Our qinggong is solid—we can escape easily."

Miao He: "If we get surrounded, we'll run first. We won't slow you down."

Pan Yun: "... ood nephew."

The three went to the dining hall. Without seeking allies, they became less critical of those around them. After eating, they leaned against a stone wall, sipping hot soup from a bamboo tube, watching the crowd.

As they watched, they noticed: "We really are the shortest."

"The youngest."

Pan Yun: "And the easiest to bully."

She mused, "I wonder if Zhang Wei liang and the others spread rumors about our misdeeds. If not, should we spread them ourselves?"

Miao Zhen: "Too bad we don't know anyone here, and we're too conspicuous to spread rumors."

Miao He: "Is this a rumor? We're spreading facts."

Pan Yun blew on her soup, drank it all, and capped the bamboo tube. "Who says we don't know anyone? Isn't Senior Disciple Wang Cong one?"

She waved. "Come on, let's find Senior Disciple Wang."

Wang Cong had heard no whispers—he'd been busy running his shop all day.

!. Read

When Pan Yun found him and asked him to spread rumors—no, facts—he was still dazed.

It took him a while to recover. He repeated flatly, "Little Auntie, you're saying you beat Zhang Wei liang and his two brothers last night, seriously injuring them?"

"Not just beat. We used their own methods against them. Just spread the word: their current miserable state is because they offended us. Let them figure out the rest."

Wang Cong: "... ittle Auntie, we don't want others to bully you, but we also hope you won't bully others."

"I didn't bully them. Ask Miao Zhen and Miao He—did I bully them?"

Miao Zhen and Miao He nodded, then quickly shook their heads.

Wang Cong stared at them a moment, sighed, and said, "Fine. I'll spread it. I hope the Academy folk are scared off and leave you alone."

He pulled out a handful of silver, counted out two notes, and handed them to Pan Yun—then changed his mind and gave them to Miao Zhen. "Take these. If you hit a wall, use money to break it. The Academy is a Daoist place, but many things here can be solved with silver."

Miao Zhen took them. "Senior Brother, is Sanqing Temple this rich?"

Wang Cong: "Sanqing Temple may be poor, but we've set aside funds for you three. You'll manage all your money. Miao He is too naive, and your Little Auntie can't hold onto cash. Do well, and when you return to the mountain for break, Grandmaster and Master will reward you."

Miao Zhen: "When will Master return to the mountain?"

Wang Cong: "Soon. When the court isn't busy, he'll take family leave."

Court officials got annual family leave. Their Master hadn't taken any in two years.

Pan Yun looked at the two silver notes in her hand, then turned her head away.

Sigh. The money family's channels were saturated—no demand for talismans for two months. She was spending, not earning.

Thinking of her erratic luck, Pan Yun decided to restart her money-making plans.

This was Long Hushan. Ten thousand people here worked in Daoist trades. Its influence spread across all Daoism.

Many temples and monasteries bought talismans, magical tools, and elixirs here. The profit potential far surpassed Sanqing Mountain.

"Wang Cong, have you decided what your shop will sell?"

"A general store—everything," Wang Cong said. "Daily goods, talismans, elixirs, magical tools—all sold. The key is variety."

"Good. I'll put my talismans up for consignment."

Wang Cong smiled. "I'd be delighted."

He knew well: Little Auntie's talismans rivaled Fourth Uncle's. Fourth Uncle's talismans ranked among the best on Long Hushan. Using Little Auntie's would launch the shop's reputation instantly.

Wang Cong spread the rumors fast—he'd studied in the Academy for years.

He had friends among senior and junior disciples, and many familiar merchants and contacts in the Grand Supreme Town below.

The Grand Supreme Palace and the town were tightly linked; people flowed between them daily, so news traveled quickly.

While Zhang Wei liang and the others tried to hide, everyone already knew their bruised, swollen faces came from being beaten.

Unfortunately, rumors always reach the victims last—except the instigators.

So Zhang Wei liang and the others were summoned to the Punishment Hall, completely unaware.

Lin Jing, in charge of the Punishment Hall, sat on his chair, scanning them solemnly, then fixed his gaze on Zhang Wei liang. "You have internal injuries. Where did they come from?"

Zhang Wei liang's heart leapt. He bowed his head. "Respected Master Lin, I encountered a female ghost while hunting on the mountain. She injured me."

Today's lucky number ends in 6. Screenshot as proof.

The lucky number game ends this month. Today is the last day. After today, it's over.

(End of Chapter)