[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming":3,"chapter-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-171":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Unorthodox Sword of Ming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2337376,4570,"Chapter 171: Going to Market","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-171",171,"\u003Cp>Xuan Miao said: “From now on, I’ll send you a deposit slip every ten days—you can take it to the bank down the mountain to withdraw money. We don’t have much, but don’t skimp on your cultivation supplies or food; you’re still building your foundation and growing. If all else fails, there’s still your senior brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun wasn’t very confident: “Does our senior brother have money?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao: “He can borrow from someone—he’s quite good at borrowing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun suddenly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as they were speaking, the main room’s door opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Wei stepped out, looked up, and saw Xuan Miao and Pan Yun turning to look at him. His heart skipped a beat; he swallowed hard, took two steps forward, and bowed deeply: “Senior Aunt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the doors of the other two rooms opened, and Xue Hua and Deng Ziyu walked out, bowing to Xuan Miao: “Senior Aunt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao gave a cold “Mm,” then turned her gaze away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of them quietly exhaled in relief, glanced at Pan Yun, and quickly left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only heaven knew how terrified they’d been all night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it seemed they’d stumbled upon some enormous secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun watched them leave, feeling as if everyone in the world knew what had happened—except her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sighed in regret: “I missed watching last night—what a shame, what a shame.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao didn’t linger long at the academy; she stayed with them only one day, confirmed no one dared come up the mountain to trouble them, then left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun thought she was still worried Tao Ji would be beaten up, so she hurried off to help him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that day, no one bothered Pan Yun and the others again; their life at the academy finally settled into the rhythm of ordinary students’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, except that teachers kept calling on Pan Yun to answer questions during class—nothing else was truly wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun slung a pack over her shoulder; as she stepped out, Miao Zhen and Miao He were still packing. She waited a moment: “Only bring what you’re going to sell—leave everything else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He finished bundling her small pack and slung it onto her back: “Everything here is for sale.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She patted the pack, grinning ear to ear: “All the pills I made during class.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun blinked: “Aren’t these pills supposed to be turned in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The academy provided free instruction and all medicinal materials; naturally, students had to surrender all finished products—whether successful or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He: “Some classmates couldn’t succeed no matter what—they used up all the materials the academy gave them. To finish their assignments, they had to buy their own herbs. I helped them—no, I taught them how to refine. Besides the one batch they had to turn in, everything else I made belongs to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh~~” Pan Yun gave a long, knowing “Oh,” and patted her own pack: “I get it—just like how I use the academy’s talisman paper and cinnabar to make talismans and sell them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two niece-disciples exchanged glances and giggled foolishly—no words needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen opened the door and stepped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun and Miao He’s eyes fixed on her pack: “What are you selling?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen: “...I’m not selling anything. I’m just bringing money to buy herbs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun sighed enviously: “It’s great to control the finances.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen: “I can give the money to Little Senior Aunt to hold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no—keep it yourself. It’s better for both me and the money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three descended the mountain together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The academy had two days off, and many students took the chance to go down the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, life on the mountain was truly austere—the academy provided everything, even a single cloth merchant was absent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So if you wanted to buy anything, you had to go down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The once-quiet mountain path was now packed with academy students, laughing, shouting, and full of noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daoists moved fast—even while playing, they dashed forward in leaps, reaching Shangqing Town in less than half an hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun and the others, focused on rushing forward, moved even faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they left the academy, they activated their lightness arts, toes barely touching the ground as they shot forward, quickly leaving far behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just over two gengs later, they entered Shangqing Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speed was that fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in truth, the path from the academy to Shangqing Town was never easy—dense trees towered on both sides, the terrain rose and fell, and only a dirt road wide enough for two carts ran through. By day it was fine; by night, pitch black, as if a ferocious beast might leap out at any moment to devour you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, travelers had gone missing on the mountain, pilgrims vanished, and even the academy had lost several students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So before the holiday, teachers repeatedly warned: “If it’s late, don’t rush back to the academy—stay at an inn down the mountain and return at dawn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But few Daoists had money; staying at an inn cost silver, and most students couldn’t bear to spend it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So as Pan Yun descended, she overheard several students discussing: “Let’s go in a big group—no bandits would dare rob us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right, right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if it’s not bandits—it’s a malevolent spirit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then we have even less to fear—what are we? Afraid of a few spirits? We should catch them—might even earn merit and academy credits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right, right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun dashed past them quickly, glancing back—mainly to see which student kept saying “Right, right”—but she only caught a glimpse before nearly colliding with someone ahead…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh no, too many people on the path—she was moving too fast to dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun leapt sideways, spun half a circle, flipped over the person, and kept running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The student facing away didn’t realize he’d nearly been hit; seeing Pan Yun dart past, he praised: “What excellent lightness art!” “Thank you, Senior Brother, sorry—I didn’t see you, won’t happen again!” Pan Yun was already far away as she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He followed close behind, apologizing: “Sorry, Senior Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, Senior Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They too chased after Pan Yun and vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The walking senior brother was baffled: “Why did they apologize?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His companion snapped: “She nearly ran into you—didn’t you notice?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t notice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she ran, Pan Yun called back to Miao Zhen and Miao He: “Remember: when using lightness art, don’t look back; when you look back, don’t use lightness art.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He nodded together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen: “If you hit someone, you have to pay—then we won’t have enough for herbs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three entered the town, where the crowd grew even thicker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.read\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They halted their lightness arts and began walking slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “I suspect the academy times every holiday to coincide with the big market down the mountain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen nodded: “I’ve suspected that too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because every time they’d had a holiday, it always happened to be Shangqing Town’s big market day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd was truly enormous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides merchants coming to stock up, wandering Daoists, and physicians, there were villagers from nearby towns and hamlets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some brought chickens, ducks, and geese tied up to sell; others had vegetables, handicrafts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some sold herbs they’d gathered themselves—everything imaginable was for sale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One vendor immediately blocked the three: “Little Daoists, take a look at my spiritual stones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun was surprised: “There are spiritual stones here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course—this one I found by chance on Long Hushan. It’s miraculous! I used to suffer from insomnia every night, but ever since I brought it home, I haven’t had a single sleepless night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun spoke earnestly: “Good man, such a precious thing—how could we take it from you? Keep it for yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no, not taking it from you—if you pay enough, it’s fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still no—we’d accrue karmic debt. We absolutely cannot buy it,” Pan Yun said: “Good man, I see dark circles under your eyes—clearly from chronic insomnia. This stone is perfect for you. Listen to me: money matters, but your health matters more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As long as you live long, everything will come,” Pan Yun studied his complexion from all angles, shook her head sadly, and sighed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor stopped blocking them: “Fine, just go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Pan Yun didn’t leave; she grabbed his arm: “Good man, judging by your complexion, this stone alone isn’t enough—it has limited effect. You should combine it with other treatments for better results.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He nodded vigorously, reminding Pan Yun: “Acupuncture and medicine both work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. I have a niece-disciple who’s an outstanding student of Tai Su Academy. Trust me—I’ll have her give you two acupuncture sessions and prescribe you a formula.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor realized he’d met his match and waved them off: “Go, go, I won’t do business with you—just leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d thought these three looked young and innocent, easy to fool—but they were even better at tricking than he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor touched his own eyes—was he really that obviously sleep-deprived?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun sighed regretfully as she walked, calling back to the vendor: “If you need us, call out—we’ll be here all day. You may not trust us, but surely you trust Tai Su Academy? My niece-disciple is its best student!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He’s face turned bright red; she grabbed Pan Yun’s arm and dragged her away: “Little Senior Aunt, stop saying that...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a little embarrassing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun said: “We earn money by skill—why blush?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen nodded: “Exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He thought about it—let go of Pan Yun’s arm: “But I’ve never diagnosed alone—if Master finds out...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’ll just beat you once—what else can he do?” Pan Yun said: “I’ll definitely save you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She added: “I feel full of strength now—your Master might not even beat me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He’s eyes widened: “You can beat my Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “I think I can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He grew eager: “Then let’s test it next time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Try it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three exchanged glances and chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of going straight to the Daoist sundries shop, they first went to Immortal Street, found an empty spot, swept it clean, spread out their bundle on the ground, and laid out all the talismans, elixirs, and other items they had brought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prices in the sundries shop were fixed; even brothers keep accounts clear, and besides, they pretended not to know each other—each time they went, Master Chen lowballed their prices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they decided to set up a stall outside first; if nothing sold, they would bring everything to the shop for consignment at last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1755,"2026-06-20T22:03:57.478Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","93839b4d3f4a63a28a811d2b3da1695e3ac720ec695b9964212c71bb60f695b9","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-172","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-170",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-cover.jpg"]