Chapter 175: Nurturing Corpses

At this moment, the boys not only had renewed confidence in themselves, but also in Pan Yun.

"We almost caught that shadow just now—what's there to fear? Just go after it."

Pan Yun pulled Miao Zhen and Miao He close and said, "You two go on. I can guide you—once inside, head north. There's a mountain there, and inside it are its accomplices."

"A-Accomplices too?"

"Yes, otherwise why would we say Chen Ziwu might be in their hands?" Pan Yun said. "Are you going to stay here and argue with me? The longer we wait, the greater the chance Chen Ziwu dies."

The boys turned pale, snapped out of their daze, and immediately said, "W-We're leaving right now."

It was pitch black, nearly impossible to see the path—but in darkness, humans only needed a moment to adjust and make out faint trails.

Pan Yun led the way toward the Shangqing Palace.

The others, afraid of being left behind, hurried after her; Wenjie, still shaken from his fright, was kept safely in the center of the group.

The main gate of the Shangqing Palace was still open; since it was a day off, they closed later than usual to allow late-returning students entry.

As soon as Pan Yun entered the Shangqing Palace, she didn't return to the academy—she rushed straight to the main hall and shouted to the Daoists inside performing evening rites: "Brothers, there's a demon abroad below the mountain."

The Daoists performing evening rites in the Shangqing Palace were naturally those with established cultivation.

At the very least, they had received their ordination certificates.

More than a dozen opened their eyes at once and turned their heads toward Pan Yun.

Pan Yun wasn't intimidated; she pointed outside and said, "Brother, on our way back we encountered a strange shadow—it dragged a student into the woods."

Hearing that a student had been taken, the Daoists finally reacted, rising one after another: "How many? When? Did you see what it was?"

At that moment, the boys arrived and, hearing the questions, immediately answered all at once.

The Daoists quickly pieced together the situation: "So the kidnapped student has already been rescued? But one is still in their hands?"

The boys looked at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun nodded. "I sensed blood misfortune on him today, but wasn't certain. On our way back, I didn't see him, and when that shadow paused at the foot of the mountain, I suspected it knocked him out and hid him."

One Daoist frowned: "Then why didn't you go rescue him then?"

Pan Yun's face turned solemn. "I wanted to—but I saw Brother Wenjie had lost consciousness, so I saved him first."

"After saving Wenjie, you should've gone to rescue…"

"Enough," another Daoist interrupted. "Pan Shimei was alone. From what you say, that shadow has accomplices. If she went in to rescue, what if the six children outside were harmed? She acted for the greater good."

"Yes, greater good."

"Get ready—we'll go down and take a look."

"So many of us going down?"

"The mountain is high, the forest dense—we don't know where it's hiding. More people make searching easier. We don't even have enough hands yet—send someone to the academy to call more."

The lead Daoist immediately gave orders: "Go to the academy's Law Hall. Too bad Master Lin is on the Reflection Cliff doing penance—go find Master Zhang, ask him to take charge. We'll go down first."

Pan Yun immediately said, "Brother, I'm coming with you."

"This…"

"Brother, don't worry—I won't slow you down. I still dare enter the woods alone," she sighed, her tone sorrowful and compassionate. "We cultivate to slay demons and eradicate evil. Earlier, going up the mountain was unavoidable—but if this causes Brother Chen to die, or lets the demon escape to harm others, my sin will be grave."

"Shimei, never think that way. You acted for the greater good. The rest is fate. We do our duty—that's enough. The rest, we must not force."

"Exactly. If a cultivator insists on forcing outcomes over something like this, they shouldn't live at all, let alone cultivate."

"Cultivation means opening your heart. Do what you can. If you fail, don't cling to it."

"Open your heart… open your heart…"

Pan Yun paused, her gaze sweeping over their faces, confirming they spoke sincerely—except for two or three frowning in disagreement, the rest wore easy expressions.

Pan Yun nodded repeatedly. "I've learned. I've learned."

Still, they agreed she could come along.

First, she was a party to the incident and had chased the shadow—she could offer some insight.

Second, her cultivation wasn't weak.

That night's commotion at the academy had been enormous; though they hadn't rushed over to watch, they'd secretly observed.

Now they sensed the vibrant life force radiating from Pan Yun—and didn't feel her cultivation was inferior to theirs.

So, let her come.

Pan Yun handed her satchel to Miao Zhen and Miao He. "Go back to the academy."

Miao Zhen and Miao He silently took it, then pulled out talismans from their robes and gave them to her. "Little Auntie, take care."

Pan Yun tucked the talismans into her bosom and snatched Pan Xiaohei from Miao He's arms. "Don't worry—I'm tough as nails."

The Daoists' eyes dropped to the black cat in her arms. "You… bring a cat when hunting demons?"

Pan Yun thought of the shadow's texture, shape, and the black mist it emitted. "It might not even be a demon. Could be a person."

The Daoists fell silent, then said, "Even if it's a person, what use is a cat?"

Pan Yun stroked the cat. "Not much use—but I can't leave it behind." "Enough idle talk. Let's go."

With no low-cultivation students slowing them, their descent was much faster.

The Daoists flew down the mountain like wind; Pan Yun followed close behind, matching their pace no matter how fast they went.

The group developed a competitive spirit, accelerating further—but Pan Yun kept pace effortlessly, never straining.

Suddenly, Pan Yun slowed and called out to the ones still racing ahead: "Brothers, this is…"

Before she finished speaking, they vanished into the distance, leaving Pan Yun standing alone on a branch, the cool wind brushing her face.

Moments later, they shot back, forming a half-circle around her.

One cleared his throat. "Forgive us, Shimei—we ran too fast. Was this where you encountered the shadow?"

Pan Yun said, "Somewhere around here. Come with me—we'll search the woods."

Without another word, she led the way at the front.

!. Read

Under the night sky, tree shadows swayed, resembling human figures—but Daoists didn't judge by shape alone; they sensed energy.

In darkness, sensing energy was the best way to discern things.

Pan Yun paused only twice before leading them to their destination.

Ahead, not far, stood a mountain.

"Shimei, you're incredible—how did you find the path through this dense forest at night?"

Pan Yun said, "Brother flatters me. I'm not that skilled—just left traces of spiritual power along the way."

The Daoists understood at once.

One Daoist pulled out a talisman, waved his hand—and it ignited, a ball of flame burning in his palm, illuminating the surroundings.

Everyone followed Pan Yun's pointing finger. "Spread out and search. Pair up. Don't get separated."

They agreed. The speaking Daoist walked beside Pan Yun and smiled, nodding. "I'll go with you, Shimei."

Pan Yun accepted. "What's your name, Brother?"

"Zhang Zixiang. Zhang Ziming is my elder brother."

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow. "Head of the Shihua Academy?"

Supposedly one of the ones who wanted to take her as a disciple and give her a Daoist name that night.

"That's right," Zhang Zixiang smiled. "You've heard of my brother's name? He's come out of seclusion. Shihua Academy will resume classes soon—if you're interested, come listen."

Pan Yun smiled and agreed, saying she'd come if she had time.

Zhang Zixiang didn't hold the fireball—he kept it circling around him; as he moved, the flame moved, lighting their path clearly.

Pan Yun carefully scanned the ground and found footprints—but no trace of the shadow.

Following the trail, the two drifted farther from the group—though in truth, every pair was doing the same, since they'd scattered from the original point, naturally growing farther apart.

As Pan Yun and Zhang Zixiang followed the trail, she suddenly turned—and Zhang Zixiang simultaneously flung his sword sideways.

The flying sword shot into the underbrush with a *ting*—a black shadow leapt out, dodged the firelight, and vanished into darkness at speed.

Pan Yun and Zhang Zixiang leapt after it.

Zhang Zixiang gestured—the sword behind him flew back into his hand with a *whoosh*. Instantly, he plunged forward like a diving eagle, sword aimed.

The shadow couldn't escape—it halted, ducked low to avoid the blade, and struck back.

Pan Yun arrived, threw a talisman—it instantly became a fireball, spinning twice around the shadow, trapping it in light.

Clearly, it feared fire—and things that fear fire usually fear thunder.

Pan Yun formed a hand seal—and a bolt of heavenly lightning struck down, hitting the shadow dead center.

The shadow stiffened, stood frozen for a moment, then crashed to the ground with a *thud*.

Zhang Zixiang glanced at Pan Yun in surprise, then rushed forward.

The black mist still clung to him, emitting a foul stench—but his form was clearly human.

Zhang Zixiang brushed aside the matted black hair on his face, revealing half-rotted flesh. He recoiled a step, covering his nose and mouth. "It's a rotting corpse."

"Rotting corpse?" Pan Yun stepped forward. "Is it a rotting corpse—or a jiangshi?"

Zhang Zixiang confirmed: "It's a rotting corpse—but someone used the method of nurturing jiangshi. This man is deeply evil—he must be eradicated."

Pan Yun crouched, studying his hands, feet, and face. She frowned. "He's dead? I mean—he's useless now?"

Zhang Zixiang also frowned. "Probably not. The lightning just temporarily paralyzed him. If his master retrieves him, he might still be reactivated."

This surprised Pan Yun—back in her past life, such cases were rare. For her, nurturing ghosts was common—but nurturing corpses… that existed only in legends.

(End of Chapter)