Chapter 154

"But Long Hushan has bullied us so badly—do they think Fuxing Temple has no one left?" Li Qingyin's eyes glowed with anger. "Dare not provoke Pan Yun, so you pick on my disciples as scapegoats? Do you think we're soft targets? Grab your gear—we're going to Long Hushan!"

"Brother, how many should we take?"

Li Qingyin: "Everyone!"

Fuxing Temple shut its gates and set off for Long Hushan—grandly (though not really).

By the time Tao Yanbai received Pan Yun's letter and read it, the two brothers conferred and decided they should inform Fuxing Temple, so they came over—only to find the temple gates tightly shut, not a soul inside.

A nearby villager shouted loudly: "Master Li and his people went to fight. Didn't even bring their dog."

Tao Yanbai: "Then what about the temple's chickens?"

"They entrusted them all to us—we go every day to pick greens and mix in bran for them. Young Daoist, do you know why they're fighting?"

Wang Cong said: "Their Cui Huai Gong was bullied."

"Cui Huai Gong? That's a good boy—how was he bullied?"

"He was beaten so badly he nearly lost his life!"

"What? Who dares bully someone like that? They must fight back."

"Fight back hard!"

Tao Yanbai knew this matter involved Pan Yun—Cui Huai Gong had been dragged into it because of her—so he nodded repeatedly. "Yes, they must fight back, but Master Li's show is too big—over ten people from their temple went all at once. If it comes to real fighting, will Grandmaster and the others get involved too?"

Pan Yun's letter was vague—only said others did this and that to Cui Huai Gong, and she did this and that to them. No context. No resolution.

But Wang Cong guessed this was likely tied to their Mount Sanqing Temple, so he said: "Father and the others will definitely intervene. Not just because Little Uncle is already involved, but because our two temples share the same land—we must stand united."

Tao Yanbai was eager. "Big Brother, should we go to Long Hushan too?"

Wang Cong shot him a glare. "Father and Third and Fourth Uncle are already there. If even all three of them can't resolve it, what use would we be? Besides, I'm about to take my exam."

Tao Yanbai realized it was true—fearing his words had disturbed his brother's mindset, he hurriedly said: "Big Brother, forget what I just said. Let's focus on the exam."

Wang Cong sighed regretfully. "Don't worry—I'll focus on the exam. This timing is just bad. If not for the exam, I'd definitely take you along to see some real action."

Tao Yanbai chuckled.

Of the entire Mount Sanqing Temple, only Tao Yanbai had never attended the Imperial Academy—oh, Wang Feiyin hadn't either, but that was different.

Tao Yanbai didn't go because he had little talent for Dao cultivation, and his family forbade it—so he only studied Wu Gong and medicine.

He'd only entered the Academy as a child, delivering things to his Big Brother and Second Brother. Honestly, he found the idea of attending the Academy quite interesting.

He was a man who loved excitement.

Naturally, all this happened days later. At this moment, Wang Feiyin was carefully channeling Yuanli into Cui Huai Gong.

His meridians were weak—he dared not send too much at once, only tiny amounts each time.

Lou Tong stood at the door watching for a while, then suddenly said: "Tao Ji's Yuanli is better suited for healing."

Tao Ji froze, then quickly said: "Big Brother, let me take over."

Wang Feiyin waved dismissively. "No need. I've got it."

He saw Tao Ji's face—moved yet troubled.

Wang Feiyin added: "You forget? After Li Qingyin brought them to the Academy, he specifically went to our Mount Sanqing temple's Earth God shrine, burned incense, and donated oil money—praying that Cui Huai Gong would have smooth progress and good health at the Academy. So rest easy—my Yuanli is no worse than yours, and it can even clear old cultivation injuries."

Tao Ji immediately stopped objecting.

Pan Yun, curious, asked: "So our Earth God shrine has this power? Then I'm the shrine keeper—can my Yuanli do it too?"

She was eager to try.

Wang Feiyin pushed her head away, exasperated: "Go, go, don't try everything. You've barely learned Dan Dao—how dare you channel Yuanli into someone's meridians?"

Pan Yun pondered. "Looks like I really need to study medicine—if I can't even heal people."

"But Big Brother, you're wrong. My medical skills are average, but I understand human meridians well—truly. Otherwise, how could I master new techniques the moment I tried them, just soaring right up?"

Lou Tong had seen Pan Yun before, but never like this—so lively.

She studied her carefully, then turned to the silent Master Xuanmiao: "She really looks like you did as a child."

Master Xuanmiao lifted her eyes, glancing at her—full of disapproval—then turned and walked downstairs.

Pan Yun stared in surprise, then looked over. Lou Tong chuckled softly and followed Master Xuanmiao away.

Pan Yun watched them leave, eyes wide, then turned back in disbelief. "Big Brother, tell me this isn't real."

Wang Feiyin laughed. "Don't ask me—ask your Third Brother. Your Fourth Sister was closer to him when she was young."

Pan Yun clutched her face in shock. "So when I grow up, I'll become like Fourth Sister—expressionless, uninterested in everything?"

Tao Ji grumbled: "Don't even think it. You're only like her in liveliness—everything else is nothing alike." "I don't believe it. If Fourth Sister was once as lively and cute as you, how did she turn into this icy, cold person?"

Tao Ji fell silent. Even Wang Feiyin's smile faded. He said: "Enough joking. You and Seeing Miao Zhen go back to class. We'll handle this."

Tao Ji added: "Hurry up. Zhang Ziwang and the others will be here soon."

Pan Yun wanted to stay and listen.

Tao Ji grabbed all three and tossed them out the door. "If you're here, how can we argue? How can we pull you out of the Reflection Cliff?"

With juniors around, they couldn't curse too loudly—afraid of corrupting the children.

Without them, it'd be much easier.

Cui Huai Gong lay on the bed, trembling, opening his mouth several times to signal his presence—he felt they could discuss their big matters elsewhere. He didn't want to hear them fight at all.

Pan Yun and the other three were forced out, tumbling down the stairs—just as Sister Xuan Li rushed up.

So the four of them left together.

!. read

The three found a shaded wall, leapt onto it, and sat down.

The tree canopy shaded them, casting coolness. Their legs swung gently. From here, they had an excellent view—nearly the entire Taisu Courtyard lay before them; farther out, they could see students hurrying along paths to reach class.

Sister Xuan Li: "So you really are going to the Reflection Cliff?"

Pan Yun: "Is the Reflection Cliff that scary?"

Sister Xuan Li: "I know. A while ago, Lin Tangzhu punished his disciple Zhou Wang by sentencing him to the Reflection Cliff for a month, but Zhou Wang claimed he had just started school and was busy, then used merit points to swap for a ten-day delay—that's how he postponed it. To make his time on the Reflection Cliff easier, he even risked cultivating during Senior Brother's lecture, hoping to raise his cultivation level before going in."

She lowered her voice: "I heard there are ghosts on the Reflection Cliff."

Pan Yun: "Ghosts?"

Sister Xuan Li nodded, still shaken. "Yes, they say there are many ghosts—most of them students who died while meditating on the Reflection Cliff."

Pan Yun disbelieved. "As Daoist Priests, are we still afraid of ghosts?"

After a pause, Sister Xuan Li said: "I am afraid."

Seeing Miao Zhen whispered: "I'm afraid too."

Master Xuanmiao said: "I'm not afraid!"

Pan Yun nodded vigorously. "I'm not afraid either. If it's just ghosts causing fear, I have no reason to be scared at all."

But she knew in her heart the Reflection Cliff couldn't be that simple—otherwise, why would Wang Feiyin and the others have specifically set aside time to argue about it?

The Reflection Cliff—if it were merely a place to meditate on one's faults, it wouldn't be so bad for her. After all, the Spirit Realm had many books, including the laws of this world. Perfect—she could read more of the Great Ming Code. Last time she hadn't memorized it—how embarrassing.

Seeing Miao Zhen spotted them first and whispered: "They're coming!"

The three immediately turned to look and saw Zhang Ziwang, Lin Jing, Le Xuetian, and others arrive, heading straight upstairs.

Lou Tong, standing atop a tall building, turned to the dazed Master Xuanmiao: "They've arrived."

Master Xuanmiao, who had been gazing down at the academy, lowered her eyes and looked toward the ground, then sharply fixed her gaze on Pan Yun and the other three, hiding beneath the tree shade and sitting on the wall.

Lou Tong followed her gaze and saw the four swinging their legs, peering curiously up at the second floor. She laughed. "I told you she's like you—when we were young, weren't you the one leading us around, tormenting the elders?"

Master Xuanmiao remained silent. After a long while, she asked: "How is Zhang Liuzhen's health?"

Lou Tong sighed. "They haven't brought it up yet—I shouldn't tell you, but since you two are so close, I think you should know. He created a new technique—it cultivates extremely fast, but is also extremely prone to losing control. He practiced it himself first, and it triggered his old injuries to flare up again."

"What about Zhang Weiyuan?"

Lou Tong whispered: "He's been in seclusion for two years—staying in his courtyard, never stepping out. Lately, they say he's reduced his food intake and can now survive without eating. Li Mei, his cultivation level is likely the highest among our generation."

Master Xuanmiao sneered.

Lou Tong whispered: "Do you know what level Wang Shixiong has reached?"

Master Xuanmiao: "My Senior Brother doesn't count as part of our generation. If he moves, even True Persons and the old monsters in our family who've been in seclusion will have to come out. This is our matter—he won't interfere."

Lou Tong: "If it concerns the Dao lineage, how can it be just our matter?"

Master Xuanmiao: "If my Senior Brother intervenes, that's when the Dao lineage will truly be in peril. Back then, when things got so ugly, he didn't lift a finger. And do you think my Senior Brother alone could defeat all my uncles and ancestors?"

"Not everyone stands with them," Lou Tong said. "Aren't there many who are neutral? After all, Zhang Liuzhen is the only son of the True Person—he's the next heir of the Celestial Master's Mansion."

Master Xuanmiao sneered. "You're still so naive. Zhang Weiyuan changed his name to Zhang Liuyuan."

Lou Tong fell silent.

The generation of Zhang Liuyuan—all except him—used the character "Ming." But after the incident, when Zhang Liuyuan nearly died several times, Zhang Weiyuan was renamed Zhang Liuyuan. Unless Zhang Liuyuan marries and has a son, when he dies, Zhang Liuyuan will become the next Celestial Master.

(End of Chapter)