Chapter 143: Eager to Try

"It's true, but the True Person is not here, and none of the academy heads can make decisions, so no one has been sent to summon them yet," Zhou Wangdao said. "But if Master's condition continues to worsen like this, even if the True Person is absent, we'll have to send someone to fetch them."

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow—no wonder their days had been so peaceful lately; it turned out the reason was their need to beg favor from Mount Sanqing.

But…

Does Master Zhang know his only son is dying, yet the Zhang Family Mansion and the Academy are still arguing over whether to summon an even more skilled physician?

To Pan Yun's surprise, Zhang Liuzhen lived in Fanxi Court, not far from Fengqi Court.

Fanxi Court was not only a dormitory for students but also a place of study, yet Pan Yun had never come here, nor had any classes been scheduled here.

So as soon as she entered Fanxi Court, her gaze instinctively swept the surroundings.

Seeing her curiosity, Zhou Wangdao explained, "Master is the head of Fanxi Court. It used to be a place for debating Dao and studying methods, but after Master fell ill, Fanxi Court was closed, and only one building was refurbished and turned into a library."

"Master returned to the Zhang Family Mansion, so this place is now solely used for storing books and miscellaneous items," Zhou Wangdao said. "It's been unoccupied for years, so the energy here is stagnant. Originally, Second Master wanted Master to move to the guest quarters of Chongqing Academy, but Master refused and insisted on returning to Fanxi Court."

Pan Yun nodded, silently noting it, then looked up toward the second floor. "Is Master staying upstairs?"

Zhou Wangdao followed her gaze upward and smiled. "No."

In the instant Zhou Wangdao looked up, Pan Yun loosened her grip, and Pan Xiao He dropped to the ground and vanished in a flash.

Zhou Wangdao immediately turned to look.

Pan Yun hadn't expected that despite all the concealment, and despite Pan Xiao He moving so slowly, he still noticed.

Zhou Wangdao took two steps to chase after it, but Pan Yun blocked him. "Brother, don't worry—it's just a cat in a hurry. It'll be back soon. I've raised this cat since it was a kitten; it's well-behaved and won't run off."

Zhou Wangdao's expression went blank for a moment. "A cat in a hurry?"

"Of course. People have three urgencies; cats have three urgencies too."

Zhou Wangdao paused for a long while before saying, "Alright, then shall we wait here for it?"

Pan Yun smiled and nodded, when suddenly a voice came from above: "Wangdao, what are you doing?"

Zhou Wangdao stiffened, immediately straightened, glanced up quickly, then bowed his head. "Master, the three disciples from Mount Sanqing have come to visit Master."

Lin Jingle paused for a moment upstairs, then said, "Ask them to come up."

"Yes." Zhou Wangdao led the three upstairs, having completely forgotten the runaway cat.

After ascending the stairs and turning right, they entered a large hall.

Two massive screens divided the hall into inner and outer sections; on the outer side, two rows of cushions lined both sides, with another cushion in the center.

Zhou Wangdao led them to the end, circled around one screen, and entered the interior—a much larger space.

Along the left wall stood a row of bookshelves, filled with books; on the right side by the window stood a series of large desks and chairs, one of which still held a painting with fresh ink, clearly just finished.

Pan Yun's gaze, however, couldn't help but drift toward the row of windows on the right.

It was truly one continuous expanse—seven windows joined together, turning the entire wall into a window, facing the garden outside. The building across was only one story tall, so from here, one could clearly see Long Hushan in the distance.

From here, Long Hushan seemed right outside the window, within arm's reach—but look around, and it appeared far away…

Pan Yun paused for a moment before catching up to Zhou Wangdao and continuing forward.

At the end stood a small door; opening it revealed Zhang Liuzhen's bedroom.

Zhang Ziwang, Zhang Zifang, Xue Taixu, and Lin Jingle were all inside.

Pan Yun halted, sighing inwardly—what bad timing.

If only Lin Jingle had been alone, she could have stubbornly waited until he left—but with so many others here…

Pan Yun looked at Zhang Liuzhen with regret.

Zhang Liuzhen looked up and caught her expression of sorrow; he glanced at Zhou Wangdao.

What had he told them? Why did Pan Yun look as if he were about to die young?

After bowing to Zhang Ziwang and the others, Pan Yun turned to Zhang Liuzhen with concern. "Master, how is your injury?"

Zhang Liuzhen smiled. "I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, Sister."

Xue Taixu beside him said, "Does Liuzhen recognize these three girls?"

Zhang Liuzhen didn't deny it, nodding. "Sister Pan is well-known; I've heard of her. I saw her during the grand lecture, but we've never formally met."

Xue Taixu nodded. "Good. Let you all meet now. She's Zhang Li's junior sister, and you've always been close to Zhang Li—you must have much to discuss. We old folks won't intrude."

With that, he rose and turned directly to Zhang Ziwang and his brother, still seated.

Zhang Ziwang lowered his gaze and stood, saying to Zhou Wangdao, "Take good care of Liuzhen. We'll leave now."

Zhou Wangdao hurriedly replied, "Yes."

Pan Yun hadn't expected things to go so smoothly; she glanced at Xue Taixu.

Xue Taixu smiled at her, leading the way out. Zhang Ziwang gave Pan Yun a gentle nod and followed closely behind.

Zhang Zifang's face looked constipated. He looked up and saw Pan Yun staring at him; his emotions surged again, then he forced a weak smile at her.

Lin Jingle had already stood by the door, waiting. After letting all three out, he turned to Zhou Wangdao. "Hurry and see them off."

Zhou Wangdao hurried to escort them.

Lin Jingle gave Zhang Liuzhen a long look, then glanced at Pan Yun before closing the door and leaving.

With them gone, only four remained in the room.

Pan Yun then noticed how small the room was—only one bed, one window, and beneath the window, a wooden platform built into the wall, with two cushions on it. Very simple.

Zhang Liuzhen waited with a smile until Pan Yun looked away, then gently pointed to the stools Xue Taixu and the others had sat on. "Please, sisters, sit."

Pan Yun led Miao Zhen and Miao He to sit.

Zhang Liuzhen's gaze swept over all three faces, lingering on Miao Zhen and Miao He, then smiled. He pulled open a drawer beside the bed and took out two small booklets, handing one to each. "Sisters, these are gifts prepared for you. I thought I'd have to wait years before giving them to you, but you arrived at the Academy so early."

Miao Zhen and Miao He exchanged glances, then looked at Pan Yun. Pan Yun said, "Since Master gave them to you, take them."

The two rose, accepted the booklets, and bowed together in thanks.

As they sat, both couldn't help but sneak a peek—and their eyes instantly brightened.

Pan Yun glanced at them. Though she didn't know what they were, Miao Zhen and Miao He hadn't been nearly so excited by Zhou Wangdao's handbooks—now they were thrilled. Clearly, these were more valuable than his study notes.

Zhang Liuzhen said, "I've prepared your gift, Sister Pan, but haven't delivered it yet. It'll take some time before I can give it to you."

Pan Yun: "It sounds very precious. I can't accept it."

"Between us, no need for such formalities," Zhang Liuzhen smiled. "I've been consuming your Mount Sanqing medicines every month, and Master Wang has never asked for payment. Aunt treats you like her own children, so I can't help but treat you the same. If you ever face difficulties at the Academy, come to me."

Pan Yun was cautious. "So Fourth Sister is Master Zhang's aunt?"

Zhang Liuzhen noticed her distancing herself and burst into laughter, his mirth growing, his expression brightening. "Li Gu's words were right—you're a shrewd one. Neither soft nor hard words move you. Those who harm you, you repay; those who help you, you still watch warily."

Pan Yun: "..."

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She looked up and smiled warmly at him. "Master Zhang, you jest. I've always been close to Fourth Sister; she'd never say such things about me."

Zhang Liuzhen smiled without replying. His laughter grew so intense he coughed several times, turning his face crimson, tears nearly streaming, yet he couldn't stop.

Miao He quickly poured a cup of warm water and handed it to Pan Yun, who passed it to him.

Zhang Liuzhen sipped slowly, several small sips, until the coughing gradually subsided.

Pan Yun said, "Master Zhang, Miao He has practiced Qi Gong and Alchemy since childhood. Let her take your pulse, examine your condition."

Zhang Liuzhen glanced at Miao He and smiled. "Can you perform inner observation?"

Miao He looked at Pan Yun, then replied honestly. "I can observe my own body, but not another's."

Zhang Liuzhen sighed. "That's already impressive. How old are you?"

He extended his hand. "Have a look."

Miao He was thrilled. She rarely had patients—except during temple fairs, when she could sneak a few pulse checks, or on Mount Sanqing, where she could feel pulses and administer needles.

She steadied her breath, treating it with solemn ceremony. She pulled a pillow from under Zhang Liuzhen's bed, gently placed his hand on it, then began taking his pulse.

"Huh?" Miao He looked up nervously, darting a quick glance at Zhang Liuzhen. Seeing his gentle expression, she relaxed slightly and subtly shifted her fingers to continue listening.

Miao He blinked, shifted her fingers again, her brow slowly furrowing, her expression growing troubled.

Zhang Liuzhen asked softly, "Can't you feel much of the pulse?"

Miao He opened her mouth.

Pan Yun rose and stepped forward, one hand pressing on Miao He, the other activating her technique to observe him.

She saw his blood and qi were thin, his fortune faint—clearly, his life was nearing its end.

Pan Yun froze.

Zhang Liuzhen withdrew his hand and said gently to Miao He, "Don't be sad. Though my heart meridian is weak, I'm still alive. It's not a serious problem."

Miao He wiped her eyes. "Can my Master and Grandmaster save you?"

Zhang Liuzhen smiled and shook his head. "They cannot save me. But someone else can. The Dao never completely blocks a person's path—it always leaves a sliver of hope. So don't worry."

Pan Yun withdrew her technique, no longer using her gift to observe him, but simply looking at him with calm eyes. "Master Zhang's new breathing method is for self-rescue?"

Zhang Liuzhen: "I suppose so."

He smiled. "If this method succeeds, even if it can't save my life, it may save my heart."

"Heart? What heart does Master Zhang have?"

Zhang Liuzhen only smiled, not answering. Instead, he turned, pulled another stack of paper from his bedside drawer—covered in writing and diagrams of cultivation paths—and handed it to Pan Yun. "I finally remembered. During the grand lecture, Sister Pan didn't enter meditation—you sensed the anomaly in the new breathing method."

"These are the adjustments I've made these past days, along with my observations. It's still imperfect, but you're clever. I'd like you to review them—perhaps you can offer suggestions."

Pan Yun took the papers, glanced down, and her eyes brightened with each line. "This Taiji diagram means this method forms an invisible qi cluster inside the body? Even when we stop meditating, it continues running, drawing spiritual energy from outside and refining it with internal essence into yuan force?"

Zhang Liuzhen smiled and nodded. "Correct. Over the years, I've taken so many medicines that I noticed some leave behind Taiji qi clusters inside the body. Their effects last a day, two days, even longer."

"Later, while cultivating, I gradually discovered that special cultivation pathways could also form Taiji qi clusters. Even when I stopped cultivating, during inner observation, they still rotated slowly—though the yuan force generated was minimal, far less than during meditation, it was still there."

Zhang Liuzhen said, "Don't underestimate its smallness. If it's persistent, accumulated over time, the cultivation gains become incalculable. Worse, I've found that modifying the pathways increases the cultivation speed."

Pan Yun gripped the papers tightly. "But this method is unstable."

Zhang Liuzhen gave her an approving glance and nodded. "Correct. Few in the Academy noticed this instability, but you sensed it from the start. And when Zhou Wangdao suffered qi deviation, you were the first to react."

This is also one of the reasons Zhang Liuzhen was willing to share the cultivation technique with Pan Yun for joint study.

Although she is very young, a person's ability is never tied to their age.

Some people are naturally gifted, living in one day what an ordinary person lives in a year—and he is such a person, so he never looked down on Pan Yun because of her age.

He treated Pan Yun as an equal, so she directly felt his sincerity.

Pan Yun lowered her gaze and thought for a moment, deciding to trust her intuition and his sincerity; she took the stack of papers and nodded at him. "Big nephew, rest assured—I'll study it thoroughly. I'm not sure I'll succeed, but I'll do my best."

Zhang Liuzhen's smile froze. "Big nephew?"

"I said it with Fourth Master Sister."

Zhang Liuzhen smiled. "Let Sister know: since the Academy draws Daoists from across the land, their seniority varies, and each has their own way of addressing others. Here in the Academy, outside titles are ignored entirely; seniority is determined solely by enrollment date. So within the Academy, I've always been Senior Brother, and I'll remain Senior Brother."

His gaze turned to Miao Zhen and Miao He. "For instance, you two Sisters—here, you may call Pan Sister by her name, since you enrolled in the same year, or you may address her as Sister based on age."

Upon hearing this, Miao Zhen and Miao He grew eager.

(End of Chapter)