Chapter 160: Cellmate

"Clearly, the body is of utmost importance to cultivation," Pan Yun said. "If your body is weak, your energy must first repair it. Zhang Liuzhen and I are both naturally born Dao bodies—his cultivation speed should be no slower than mine. But look at him—he's this old and still hasn't reached the First Marquis. Why?"

"It's surely because he's injured, his body is weak, and all his energy goes toward healing himself, leaving none for cultivation—that's why."

"So refining the body is crucial," Pan Yun mused. "Senior Brother's spending a fortune on us every month for medicinal baths to strengthen our bodies—that's the same principle. Likewise, Cheng Lingzi hauling water by running up and down the cliffs is also for body refinement."

Pan Yun was thrilled, eager to go help Cheng Lingzi haul water right now.

"Since we've got nothing better to do, why not go help him haul water?"

Pan Xiao brought up the old topic again. "Aren't you afraid of heights anymore?"

Pan Yun glanced at him. "Outside the cave, I can already use my spiritual power. If I fall, I just fly back up. What's there to fear?"

The next day, as Cheng Lingzi again carried water buckets and scrambled down the cliff face, Pan Yun leaned out from the cave entrance and shouted loudly: "Senior Brother, can I help you haul water?"

Cheng Lingzi heard her, turned his head to glance at her once, then kept hauling water—ten trips straight, ignoring her completely.

But Pan Yun wasn't discouraged at all. Whether the jerk acknowledged her or not, she kept staring at him with starry-eyed hope.

Cheng Lingzi soon arrived with a clay jar and steamed buns. Pan Yun handed him the empty jar from yesterday, took the new jar and buns he tossed her, and gazed at him with shining eyes. "Senior Brother, may I help you haul water? I want to learn your skill of walking on air along the cliff."

Cheng Lingzi stood on his flying sword. "I'm naturally glad to have your help, Sister… but can you even get out?"

Pan Yun beamed. "If Senior Brother agrees, I can definitely get out."

Cheng Lingzi tilted his chin. "Try it."

Pan Yun heard him, paused thoughtfully, glanced at the empty cave entrance, then suddenly leapt downward—only for an invisible force to slam into her at the cave's edge, knocking her back with a thud.

Fortunately, she hadn't jumped hard—she'd intended to fall, not leap—so the rebound was mild.

She rose, clutching her buttocks, stunned. "A formation?"

She rushed to the cave mouth, crouched, inched forward slowly, and extended her hand—her hand passed through the opening without any resistance.

Pan Yun was astonished. "Is it… intelligent?"

Cheng Lingzi didn't know what she was muttering. He turned and flew away. "I advise you to behave, Sister. Today is your fifth day—you still have forty days left."

Pan Yun had found a new toy and temporarily stopped pestering Cheng Lingzi.

"This formation is incredibly intelligent. Where is it placed? Is the entire mountain enchanted?" Pan Yun began exploring the cave again, rummaging, smashing, using both internal strength and spiritual power, making the mountain shake with thuds.

"Senior Brother didn't lie—Long Hushan's talisman formations are truly the best in the world. I've never seen anything like this on Mount Sanqing. No, I must study this thoroughly. Only when you master something good does it truly belong to you."

While Pan Yun was wreaking havoc on the mountain,

Wang Feiyin was also causing trouble below.

Just before it was time to treat Zhang Liuzhen, Wang Feiyin suddenly remembered: "Little Sister has been soaking in medicinal baths for half a year—now that she's been sent to the Reflection Cliff, that's cut off. No, we must continue her treatment."

Xuan Miao: "…Senior Brother, there's no spiritual energy on the Reflection Cliff."

"Precisely because there's no spiritual energy—it's better. Extreme conditions create contrast, enhancing body refinement. Previously, we did medicinal baths every half-month. I think on the Reflection Cliff, we can increase it to every ten days."

Without delay, Wang Feiyin requested the Academy permit them to send medicinal baths to Pan Yun.

Zhang Ziwang's face turned black. "She was sent to the Reflection Cliff to reflect on her sins!"

"Of course she must reflect—but cultivation can't be neglected. The medicinal baths are painful anyway—they'll intensify her punishment. Perfect," Wang Feiyin said. "We won't ask you to pay or supply herbs—just allow my disciple to deliver the baths."

Wang Feiyin paused. "If you're uneasy, let Xuan Miao deliver them. She's from your Zhang family anyway, and she knows the Reflection Cliff well."

Xuan Miao: …

Li Qingyin immediately supported him. "Exactly—it's not a big deal. Just sending a disciple some supplies. Unless… you're secretly bullying the child on the Reflection Cliff and afraid we'll find out?"

Zhang Ziwang's face darkened. "Is the Academy such a place?"

Li Qingyin muttered, "Who knows? My Lord Huai is still lying in bed."

Zhang Ziwang had no reply—he was speechless.

They'd fought several battles these past days. The Academy had paid out huge sums of silver and resources to Cui Huai and Fuxing Temple, but the matter wasn't settled.

Two days ago, Zhang Weiliang was brought back under guard by the Law Hall. His sister-in-law heard the news and stormed the Academy.

The Celestial Master's Mansion also sent envoys to inquire. Chaos erupted. A simple ambush and beating case, due to the number and peculiar status of those involved, had split into five factions.

Fortunately, this wasn't a public trial—otherwise, he'd have exploded.

Nong Zhiyi stubbornly claimed no one ordered him—it was his own action. The other three also held firm, refusing to implicate Zhang Weiliang. The money Nong Zhiyi received was suspicious, but no evidence proved Zhang Weiliang sent it. Without concrete proof, Wang Feiyin and Li Qingyin couldn't touch them.

In the end, Lin Jingle brought up his past bullying and the earlier ambush he'd set for Pan Yun, gave him twenty lashes, and sentenced him to three months on the Reflection Cliff.

Oh—he's still recovering from his injuries. He'll be sent to the Reflection Cliff tomorrow.

Zhang Weiliang never imagined he'd be punished for that courtyard incident. Everyone knew he was the victim in the Fengqi Courtyard affair!

He didn't scare Pan Yun—he only tormented himself, Zhang Weigang, and Zhang Weiqin. That's not even the worst—they were all punished with exile for training, and now they're being punished again for old crimes…

As Zhang Weiliang was carried back down to the Celestial Master's Mansion, he still glared defiantly, muttering: "You agree to every demand he makes just to cure the Successor Master—what if he ordered the Sanqing Temple to kill me, you'd agree too—"

"Why? Is his life worth more than mine? You're using me to appease the Sanqing Temple—I won't accept it—I won't accept it—"

Even Lin Jingle, who never showed leniency toward Zhang family disciples, couldn't help saying: "He's not wrong. Without evidence, you can't prove it was his doing."

Zhang Ziwang sneered. "So cancel the punishment?"

Lin Jingle: "Hmph. You don't need to remind me—he's been behaving badly for days. This punishment is fully justified. But Wang Feiyin wanting it harsher? Impossible."

Zhang Ziwang said nothing.

!. Read

As Lin Jingle turned to leave, Zhang Ziwang called out: "I heard that when they brought him back, the Law Hall took him to the mountain's graveyard overnight?"

Lin Jingle turned his head. "What's the issue?"

Zhang Ziwang: "Master Lin, you must understand—the Academy and the Celestial Master's Mansion rise or fall together. And the Celestial Master's Mansion bears the Zhang name."

Lin Jingle sneered. "Whether it's the Academy or the Celestial Master's Mansion, both exist to preserve the Dao. Whoever harms the Dao—no matter who they are—I will not let them go."

Lin Jingle turned and left.

Outside, several disciples gathered around him, whispering: "Master, we've searched every nearby graveyard and tomb—no lingering ghosts. Could it be Zhang Weiliang didn't summon them?"

Lin Jingle: "If not him, then investigate Zhang Weigang and Zhang Weiqin."

"Could it be Pan Yun and her two companions? If they brought something in from outside—"

Lin Jingle swept them with a glance. "Wang Feiyin isn't the type to overlook sand in his eye. Compared to Pan Yun, the three Zhang brothers are far less trustworthy. If you find nothing on Zhang Weigang and Zhang Weiqin, investigate Zhang Weiyi, Xue Hua, and Deng Ziyu."

He suspected everyone in Fengqi Courtyard.

The disciples murmured assent, glanced at Lin Jingle's expression, then dared to plead for Zhou Wangdao: "Master, Brother Zhou didn't mean to—just look how well he gets along with Pan Yun…"

"Negligence is negligence. Or do you want to join him on the Reflection Cliff?"

They fell silent immediately.

Zhou Wangdao's month on the Reflection Cliff arrived—delayed, but here.

As soon as his injuries improved, he was sent to the Reflection Cliff—in fact, he entered barely a moment after Pan Yun.

After Lin Jingle left, the disciples huddled together. "Should we secretly send him something?"

"I've never been to the Reflection Cliff. What's it like inside?"

Someone who'd been there said: "It's terrible. You eat coarse grain buns—three meals a day, one bun per meal. Not even a single salted vegetable."

"You can't complain. If you do, you lose that day's food and water—starve."

"The water's barely enough to drink. After a month, you're not just stinking—you're covered in dust. Worst of all, your internal energy leaks constantly. No sound but wind and water—especially at night. I couldn't last three days, let alone a month."

Zhou Wangdao lasted longer—five days. Now he was starting to break.

Five words made him mutter to himself. When he suddenly realized it, terror flooded him. "I—I was talking to myself?"

"Senior Brothers' notes say that when you start talking to yourself, madness isn't far off. I won't go mad this easily, will I?"

Zhou Wangdao clapped his hand over his mouth. "Ooh—I just said it again…"

While doubting himself, he heard a thudding sound. He strained his ears. Where was it coming from?

He'd been here five days—only wind and water…

Zhou Wangdao swallowed hard, crept into the cave in darkness, following the sound. It seemed to come from within the mountain.

As he pressed close to the rock, suddenly—THUD! He jumped back, startled—but held his breath, listening. The next moment, he heard a ghostly wail—wild, mournful, distant yet right beside his ear. "I found~~you~~"

Zhou Wangdao recoiled in terror, legs buckling, collapsing to the ground.

(End of Chapter)