Chapter 175

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 straight in."

Pan Yun pulled Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He close and said: "You go ahead. I can still point you the way—once inside, head north. There's a mountain there, and inside it are its accomplices."

"A, another accomplice?"

"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 delay, the greater the chance Chen Ziwu will die."

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

It was pitch black, almost no path visible—but humans only needed to adjust to darkness to see faint trails.

Pan Yun led the way toward the Academy.

The other boys, afraid of being left behind, hurried after her; Wen Jie, still shaken from his fright, was kept safely in the center by the group.

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

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

The Daoist Priests performing evening rites at Da Shangqing Palace were naturally those with cultivated attainment.

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 forest."

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

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

The Daoist Priests quickly pieced together the story: "So the kidnapped student has already been rescued? But one remains in their hands?"

The boys looked at Pan Yun.

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

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

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

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

"Enough," another Daoist Priest interrupted. "Pan Sisister 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. Let's go down and take a look."

"So many of us going down?"

"The mountain is high and the forest dense—we don't know where it's hiding. More people help with searching. We don't have enough hands yet. Send someone to the Academy to call more."

The lead Daoist Priest immediately gave orders: "Go to the Academy's Discipline Hall. Too bad Lin Tangzhu is on the Reflection Cliff doing penance—go to Zhang Yuanzhu instead. 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 forest alone," she sighed, her tone compassionate. "We cultivate the Dao to slay demons and eradicate evil. Earlier going up was unavoidable—but if that Brother Chen dies because of us, or if the demon escapes to harm others, my sin will be grave."

"Sister, never think that way. You acted for the greater good. The rest is fate. We only need to do our part—nothing more can be forced."

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

"Cultivating the Dao means calming the heart. Do what we can. If we fail, don't force it."

"Calm the heart. Calm the heart…"

Pan Yun paused, her gaze sweeping over their faces, confirming they truly meant it—except for two or three frowning in disagreement, the rest wore relaxed expressions.

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

Still, they agreed to let Pan Yun come along.

First, she was one of the parties involved 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 quietly observed.

Now they sensed the surging vitality emanating from Pan Yun—she didn't seem weaker than them.

So, come along.

Pan Yun handed her satchel to Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He. "Go back to the Academy first."

Seeing 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 Daoist Priests' eyes dropped to the black cat in her arms. "You—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 Daoist Priests fell silent, then said: "Even if it's a person, what use is a cat?"

Pan Yun stroked the cat. "No great use—but I can't leave it behind." "Enough idle talk. Let's go."

Without low-cultivation students slowing them, their descent was much faster.

The Daoist Priests flew down the mountain like wind; Pan Yun followed close behind, matching their speed 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 to the few still racing ahead: "Brothers, this is where…"

Before she finished, they vanished into the distance, leaving Pan Yun standing on a branch, the cool wind blowing.

Soon, they shot back, zipping in a half-circle to surround her.

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

Pan Yun said: "Somewhere around here. Follow me into the forest and search."

Saying this, she dashed ahead, leading the way.

!.

Under the night sky, tree shadows swayed, looking just like human figures—but Daoist Priests perceive things not by shape, but by energy.

In the darkness, discerning objects by energy is the best method.

Pan Yun stopped only twice on the way before leading them to their destination.

Not far ahead stood a mountain.

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

Pan Yun said: "Brother, you flatter me. I'm not that skilled—merely left traces of Yuan force along the way."

The Daoist Priests suddenly understood.

One Daoist Priest pulled out a talisman, waved his hand, and the paper burst into flame—a ball of fire burned in his palm, illuminating the surrounding space.

Everyone followed Pan Yun's direction and looked—"Scatter and search. Pair up. Don't get separated."

Everyone responded. The speaking Daoist Priest walked over to Pan Yun, nodded, and smiled: "I'll accompany you, Sister Pan."

Pan Yun agreed and asked: "What's your name, Brother?"

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

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow. "The Zhang Yuanzhu of Ten Hua Court?"

He was one of those who had wanted to take her as a disciple and give her a Daoist name that night.

"That's right," Zhang Zixiang smiled. "So Sister has heard of my brother's name. He's now emerged from seclusion; Ten Hua Court will resume classes soon. If you're interested, come listen."

Pan Yun smiled and agreed, saying she would definitely go when she had time.

Zhang Zixiang held no torch—he surrounded himself with fireballs that moved with him, illuminating their path clearly.

Pan Yun carefully examined the ground and found traces of footsteps in the grass, but no sign of the black shadow.

Following the traces, the two drifted farther from the group—actually, every pair was drifting farther, since they'd scattered from the original point to search, naturally growing more distant.

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

The flying sword shot with a hiss into the shrubbery, clanging—then a black shadow leapt out, dodged the firelight, and vanished swiftly into darkness.

Pan Yun and Zhang Zixiang leapt after it.

Zhang Zixiang gestured—his sword, left behind, flew back with a whizz and landed in his hand. Instantly, he plunged forward like a diving eagle, sword aimed.

The black shadow couldn't escape—it halted, ducked low to avoid the strike, and counterattacked.

Pan Yun arrived, tossed a talisman—it instantly transformed into fireballs, hissing twice as they circled the shadow, leaving it nowhere to hide.

It was clear it feared fire—and things that fear fire usually fear thunder.

Pan Yun formed a hand seal—lightning descended from nowhere, striking the black shadow with perfect precision.

The black shadow stiffened, stood still for a moment, then thudded to the ground.

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

The dark aura around him had not yet dissipated, emitting a foul stench—but his shape was clearly human.

Zhang Zixiang brushed aside the matted black hair covering 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 closer. "Is it a rotting corpse—or a jiangshi?"

Zhang Zixiang confirmed: "It's a rotting corpse—but it was cultivated using jiangshi methods. This man was deeply evil—he must be eradicated."

Pan Yun crouched and examined his hands, feet, and face, frowning. "Did he just die? I mean—is he useless now?"

Zhang Zixiang also frowned. "Probably not. The lightning only temporarily disabled him—if the enemy retrieves him, they might reactivate him."

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

(End of Chapter)