Chapter 138: Friend

Black. Pikaqiu. The cat wandered nearby, picking up all sorts of random rumors, and even spotted Zhang Ziwang and the others—but they never spoke aloud in public, so it could only sneakily follow them into Chongqing Academy.

Zhang Ziwang whispered to Lin Jingle: "I know many in the academy object to Pan Yun and the other three enrolling. Keep an eye out lately, keep the students in line, don't let anything chaotic happen."

Lin Jingle replied with a nod.

"The Celestial Master's reply came back: the fasting and ritual at Chaotian Palace has ended, but he must first visit friends in the Hedong region and won't return until sometime uncertain—we must manage the academy and the Celestial Master's residence for him. In June, the Daoist Registries across the lands will hold exams to screen qualified Daoist Priests for dispatch to Jingcheng…"

Pan Xiaohei lay sprawled on the windowsill outside, listening for a long time, realizing all the talk was about the Celestial Master's residence and nothing touched Pan Yun—so she listlessly stretched out her cat paws, rested her little face on them, and dozed off, half-listening to the voices inside.

Zhang Weiliang walked over, saw the cat on the windowsill, frowned, and reached out to grab it.

Pan Xiaohei darted nimbly past his hand, leapt off the windowsill, and vanished into the bamboo thicket in a few bounds.

Zhang Weiliang chased two steps, then stopped when he saw it was gone.

But the commotion outside still startled Zhang Ziwang and Lin Jingle inside.

Zhang Ziwang stepped out the door, frowning at Zhang Weiliang's still-green face: "I told you to come here to apologize to Lin Tangzhu—what are you doing?"

Zhang Weiliang hurriedly said: "Second Uncle, I just saw Pan Yun's black cat crouched outside the window—I suspect she's using it for mischief, so I…"

Lin Jingle coldly said: "That black cat is just an ordinary cat—no aura of spirit or demon."

"But she claimed it was a spiritual cat when she entered the exam hall…"

Zhang Ziwang: "She also claimed she could borrow the mountain god's divine power—do you believe that?"

Zhang Weiliang fell silent. He actually wanted to say he believed it—but under Zhang Ziwang's gaze, he dared not speak.

"If your skill is inferior, then it's inferior. I think you've stayed too long at Long Hushan and forgotten there are higher heavens beyond the sky, greater people beyond the horizon. Pack up. Go out to train in the world. Return only when you've achieved something."

Zhang Weiliang opened his mouth wide, eyes instantly reddening: "Second Uncle, isn't this exile? I haven't committed any major offense!"

"To say such a thing proves you still don't understand where you went wrong," Zhang Ziwang snapped: "Get out. Leave the mountain before sunset today!"

Zhang Weiliang's face flushed with shame, tears clinging to his lashes. Seeing Zhang Ziwang was resolute, he knew no appeal was possible, and turned away with a wounded run.

Lin Jingle stood silently, head lowered.

Zhang Ziwang turned back to Lin Jingle: "This child lost his father early; we've spoiled him. He needs to see how cruel the world can be."

Lin Jingle calmly said: "A simple heart isn't necessarily bad. Too much thought brings harm. Isn't Liu Zhen's case proof that excessive wisdom invites injury?"

Zhang Ziwang nodded, sighed, and asked: "How is Liu Zhen's health?"

"I visited him yesterday—he's much improved. He even agreed to return to the academy to teach, instructing the new students in the Great Lessons."

The so-called Great Lessons meant hundreds of students sitting together on a small plaza, listening to a teacher lecture on various Daoist knowledge.

Teachers covered everything: spellcraft, alchemy, talismans, Daoist history—even calligraphy and painting.

There was always one Great Lesson daily; students could choose any they liked, new or old, and attendance was unlimited—anyone who could squeeze onto the plaza could attend.

Rumor had it that popular lessons sometimes resulted in students piling atop one another.

Below stood tall students, shoulders bearing another on top, yet they endured half an hour of class this way—truly legendary.

Some teachers held classes with not a single student in the plaza, then read their books aloud to the empty space for the entire lesson.

In short, anything bizarre could be seen in the Great Lessons.

But one rule was absolute: during the plaza lessons, the teacher was the absolute authority. Once class began, no student was allowed to privately play or disrupt teaching—the Criminal Law Hall enforced strict rules; teachers could even expel such students directly from the academy.

When the schedule was posted and she saw the first class was the plaza Great Lesson, Pan Yun sent Pan Xiaohei to investigate.

Learning the Great Lessons were so interesting, her gaze fixed on the teacher's name for the first class: "Zhang Liuzhen? Sounds like a Zhang family member."

"Your senior sister comes from the Zhang family of Long Hushan—surely you didn't know Zhang Liuzhen is the Celestial Master's only son?"

Pan Yun turned around.

A girl a head taller than her stood frowning slightly, glancing at her.

Pan Yun immediately played along: "I really didn't know! Friend, is Zhang Liuzhen really that impressive as a teacher?"

"Of course," the girl said. "He's the eldest disciple of Long Hushan. Rumor says he could channel Qi into his body at age three—his cultivation is unfathomable, his knowledge vast. Unlike us, who first cultivate internal strength before moving to Yuan force, he's also the next Celestial Master True Person—how impressive is that?"

It sounded impressive—but in this life, she'd been able to channel Qi into her body since birth—if only…

Pan Yun glanced at the black cat in her arms, suddenly felt a flicker of distaste, tossed it aside, and smiled: "Xiaohei, you're hungry—go find something to eat."

Then she looked up again, smiling sweetly at the girl: "He's so impressive—do you know how old he is?"

The girl: "Why ask that? Who pays attention to such things? I only know he's impressive." Pan Yun: "Then let's attend tomorrow's lesson and see for ourselves. By the way, what's your name, senior sister?"

The girl stared at her in silence.

Seeing Miao Zhen finally spoke up: "She's Sister Xuan Li. Little Master, don't you recognize her? She's the younger sister of Daoist Qiong from Yushan Temple."

Seeing Miao Zhen: "At last year's temple fair, she showed her face briefly—but Little Master was too absorbed in teaching disciples to notice."

Seeing Miao He: "Oh."

She looked up at Sister Xuan Li: "My little master hasn't met you, so he doesn't know you."

Pan Yun quickly said: "But now I know—you're Sister Xuan Li. Oh no, I mean Senior Sister—pleased to meet you."

Sister Xuan Li felt a bit annoyed, lifted her chin and sniffed. Seeing Pan Yun didn't immediately respond, she reluctantly said: "You're not bad—you didn't bring shame to Yushan County during the exam."

Seeing Miao Zhen: "Neither did I or my sister—we both ranked higher than you."

Sister Xuan Li flushed: "I took a different category than you."

!. read

Seeing Miao Zhen nodded: "Right—you ranked forty-second in spellcraft."

Sister Xuan Li: …This girl is really annoying.

Pan Yun smiled sweetly as she listened to their bickering, saying nothing—but before parting, she reminded Sister Xuan Li: "Senior Sister Xuan Li, I've made many enemies in the academy. We're both from Yushan County, and we've just talked so much together—people outside might misunderstand, so be careful in daily life."

Sister Xuan Li lifted her chin proudly: "Am I afraid of them? I come from an official family!"

Pan Yun: …Alright, she was the one who offended.

Sister Xuan Li said: "Besides, they're not mistaken—we really are close."

Pan Yun was baffled: "You and I are close? Does Daoist Qiong know that?"

"Of course I know—it was Senior Sister Xuan Qiong who told me to be friends with you."

Pan Yun:!!!

Oh my, she had misunderstood Xuan Qiong; Big Brother was right—Xuan Qiong's character is truly admirable.

Pan Yun gripped Xuan Li's hand and said, "Since you come from an official family, we have nothing to fear—friends."

Xuan Li's face turned bright red, yet she nodded steadily and said, "Friend, if you ever need anything, come find me directly—I live in the Quiet Contemplation Courtyard."

That wasn't far away; Pan Yun immediately agreed to visit her when free, and promised to attend the morning class together tomorrow.

They were both very curious about Long Hushan's Big Brother Zhang Liuzhen.

The two parted at the crossroad; Pan Yun quietly told Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He, "I thought we'd never find such a thing as an ally—but it turns out we can. I was wrong. Even though this academy is ruled by the Zhang family, there are still those who aren't afraid of them. And even if they all share the Zhang surname, their hearts aren't necessarily aligned."

Seeing Miao Zhen: "Then should we seek out allies?"

Pan Yun said, "Let things unfold naturally. I've taken first place; all three of us have excellent grades—we've already deterred plenty of trouble. If someone comes to us, we can weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether to ally. If no one comes, we focus on our own studies. Don't forget—we came to Long Hushan to learn, not to fight."

Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He nodded.

Pan Yun asked, "Do you know Zhang Liuzhen? Has Senior Sister Four ever mentioned him?"

Both shook their heads. "Senior Sister Four never speaks of Long Hushan in front of us, but we know she sends things there periodically—many of them are pills forged by Grandmaster One."

Pan Yun pondered, then asked, "Does Senior Sister Four have any relatives at Long Hushan? I mean, close ones—parents, siblings, that sort of thing?"

Seeing Miao Zhen: "Senior Sister Four's parents are still alive; she is their only daughter."

Pan Yun's eyes lit up. "So Senior Aunt and Senior Uncle are still alive? Where are they? What rank do they hold?"

Seeing Miao Zhen held up two fingers. "They're not in the academy—they live in the Celestial Master's Mansion below the mountain. Rumor has it they're always in seclusion; even if we went, we couldn't see them."

Pan Yun: "Senior Sister Four's relationship with the Zhang family is strange. We shouldn't intrude rashly, but we must know who they are, so we don't accidentally harm them."

Seeing Miao Zhen: "... Harm whom? Little Auntie, Big Brother said we mustn't bully others."

"I know, I know—I won't bully anyone first." Pan Yun had gained two more vital pieces of information and returned to her courtyard, satisfied.

"After tomorrow's morning class, we'll go to the Tai Su Courtyard and Ming Yuan Courtyard," Pan Yun turned to Seeing Miao Zhen. "I know you chose Talisman and Array in the exam, but you prefer Spellcraft. Tomorrow afternoon, Ming Yuan Courtyard has a class—let's go see."

Seeing Miao Zhen nodded. "Then what about the Talisman and Array classes you want to study…"

"Shh," Pan Yun glanced around, then whispered, "That's our secret. We'll go quietly—don't tell anyone. We'll attend the Talisman and Array classes too, but we'll wait two days."

She wanted to see if any more chickens would show up for her to kill in the next two days.

(End of Chapter)