Chapter 180: Wealth Has Come

Pan Yun and Seeing Miao Zhen both turned to see Miao He, and in that moment, both thought: should they also refine their alchemy skills?

Back in Yushan County, they hadn't noticed, but now that they were outside, they realized talismans weren't as easy to sell as pills.

Chen Ziwu thought they were worried about their cultivation journey and said confidently, "Don't worry about your journey, younger sisters. I know many martial artists and sects out there—I can speak on your behalf. Just write me a letter whenever you set out, no matter where I am, I'll come get you."

Pan Yun immediately thought of the third and fourth senior sisters who had vanished, and said, "Then thank you, Senior Brother."

Chen Ziwu smiled brightly, "Mutual help, mutual help."

After Chen Ziwu left, Seeing Miao Zhen asked in confusion, "Little Auntie, shouldn't our Third Uncle and Fourth Auntie be leading our journey?"

Pan Yun said, "They're too strong. If we train with them, what can we learn? Chen Ziwu's level is just right—not too high, not too low."

Miao He was more interested in Mo Ru and asked, "Little Auntie, what did the heretic's confession say?"

"Nothing much—just a brief account of his crimes, past cases he'd committed, and how he raised the insects."

Mo Ru spotted Chen Ziwu on a street in Kaifeng, so he began tailing him.

But afterward, Chen Ziwu took on a escort job and went to Changzhou with a caravan guard; Mo Ru lost his trail and had to follow clues all the way from Changzhou to Long Hushan.

As he claimed, he truly wasn't afraid to act on Long Hushan—he was confident he could escape. But he never expected to run into Pan Yun while gathering fertilizer; one misstep led to another.

Mo Ru remained imprisoned in the Academy. His body still held the mother insect; the Academy sent fifth-year disciples down the mountain for two days, successfully finding a few stray offspring hiding among rocks and stones, and piercing them to death.

The offspring seem eradicated, but as long as the mother insect remains, they're not safe.

Mo Ru's crimes are undeniable—he doesn't even need to be handed over to the authorities; the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion can kill him outright.

But the identity of the rotting corpse following him remained unknown.

"Mo Ru said he picked up the corpse. He'd just come out of seclusion, and the insects needed flesh to feed on—luckily, there was a fresh corpse in the woods, so he let the insects parasitize it."

Zhang Ziwang: "You believed him? What if he lied to us?"

Lin Jingle glanced at him and said, "I'm not afraid he's lying—I'm afraid he isn't."

"I examined it—the corpse's remaining undergarment is high-quality silk, woven with auspicious cloud patterns. Who in a common household could afford such fabric for underclothes?"

The group was startled.

Lin Jingle continued, "Look at his shoes—they're not the common style sold in street shops, but the kind worn by soldiers."

Zhang Ziwang mused, "Do you suspect he came from a noble family?"

"How would a noble's son be killed in the southwest?"

Lin Jingle sighed, "The Luchuan Campaign—last year, the Emperor launched another offensive against Luchuan, and it dragged on until this year. Judging by the corpse's decay and the insects' effects, he was likely killed around early this year."

At that time, the Luchuan Campaign was suffering repeated defeats.

Zhang Ziming: "Killed in battle?"

Zhang Ziwang glanced at him and said, "If he died in battle, the forest wouldn't have contained only his corpse."

He paused, then said, "This is serious. We must send him to the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion and report it to the imperial court as soon as possible."

Lin Jingle nodded.

So Mo Ru was ultimately sent to the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion.

Pan Yun only learned of it later, during her free time, from He Jie and others.

Since the day off, He Jie and the other five boys had automatically become close friends with Pan Yun and the two girls. Now, whenever they enrolled in the same class, they no longer needed Xuan Li to reserve seats—they reserved them themselves, and even added seats for Xuan Li and Cui Huai Gong.

They also looked after Cui Huai Gong in daily life.

Cui Huai Gong's injuries, after more than fifty days of rest, had recovered enough for basic mobility—he could now manage his own needs.

But he still couldn't attend training courses requiring physical combat.

Everyone clustered around Pan Yun, forming a new faction—so much so that even Lin Jingle couldn't help but glance over. Yet Pan Yun still entered and exited only with Miao Zhen and Miao He, cheerfully every day.

Lin Jingle and the others turned away, realizing they'd overthought it—Pan Yun was still so young; even if her cultivation was high, it was still just cultivation.

What could you expect from a nine-year-old?

Pan Yun privately complained to Pan Xiaohei, "They don't even use their brains—what's the point of me, a Daoist Priest from Mount Sanqing, building influence inside the Long Hushan Academy?"

"I don't want to become the master of Long Hushan—why would I slowly build power from the bottom up?" she said. "I want to study hard here and improve every day. So if I'm going to make connections, I'll connect with those above—lean on a big tree for shade, fewer troubles, less energy wasted."

Like Zhang Liuzhen.

A ready-made power base—if she gets close to Zhang Liuzhen, even Zhang Ziwang will treat her with extra courtesy.

And Zhang Liuzhen still receives medicine sent monthly from Mount Sanqing. This time, the young man who delivered the medicine returned from Mount Sanqing not only with Zhang Liuzhen's pills, but also with a pile of packages—all packed by Wang Feiyin for Pan Yun and the two girls. As Wang Feiyin put it: free courier service—why not use it?

Pan Yun eagerly took Miao Zhen and Miao He to collect the packages.

Wang Feiyin somehow learned about their encounter with Mo Ru—he sent not only many common medicinal herbs and cultivation pills, but also a separate box containing six vials of poison.

"If you meet someone like Mo Ru again and can't beat them, just use poison." He also gave them new body-strengthening formulas and added, "If the money sent by your Third Senior Brother and Fourth Senior Sister isn't enough, go down the mountain and ask the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion—they still owe Mount Sanqing a lot."

Pan Yun couldn't help glancing at Zhang Liuzhen as he took his medicine.

Zhang Liuzhen noticed her sneaking glances and smiled, "Did your Senior Brother tell you to go to the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion and demand money?"

Pan Yun instinctively touched her face. "Is my expression really that obvious?"

Zhang Liuzhen chuckled, "Not obvious—but I know Wang Guanmain well."

He opened a drawer, pulled out a box, and handed it to her. "This is the debt. Take it."

Pan Yun didn't take it. She smiled, "Senior Brother Zhang, my Senior Brother was joking. If he really wanted money from you, he would've asked years ago—he wouldn't wait until now."

!. Read

"I know—he's avenging my aunt." Last time, Master Xuanmiao publicly demanded the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion pay for medical expenses—and even threw the bill at them. Wang Feiyin must've remembered it, and this is his way of avenging both Master Xuanmiao and Pan Yun.

Pan Yun still refused. "Fourth Senior Sister said that just to provoke them. If you really pay, she'll be upset—you know she sent you medicine for reasons other than this."

Zhang Liuzhen pushed the box toward her again, smiling, "I know that well. Don't overthink it—it's actually a good thing. I've always wanted to pay for the medicine, but my aunt is stubborn and refuses to accept it. So I've occasionally sent herbs, but it still falls far short of what I owe."

He winked playfully at Pan Yun. "But if my aunt suffers a loss, I gain nothing. The Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion isn't mine alone—and the money saved isn't mine to spend."

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow, thoughtful.

Seeing she seemed to understand, Zhang Liuzhen was pleased and pushed the box further toward her, nearly into her lap. "My father returned the day before yesterday, heard about this, and specifically ordered the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion to settle the account. Yesterday, they delivered the money to me. From now on, whenever Mount Sanqing sends me medicine, include a bill—I'll have the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion pay you directly."

Pan Yun's eyes sparkled as she hugged the box and asked, "Isn't the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion your family's?"

Zhang Liuzhen smiled faintly, "It is my family's, but my family is too large, and I have many brothers—the estate doesn't belong to me alone."

Pan Yun: "Then, besides you, who is most likely to inherit the largest share of the estate?"

Zhang Liuzhen let out a soft laugh, "You really are a clever little thing. There's nothing I can't say—I have a cousin, formerly named Zhang Weiyuan, now called Zhang Liuyuan. If I die, the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion will pass to him."

Pan Yun: "That sounds just like how Crown Princes in dynasties usually meet untimely ends."

Zhang Liuzhen: "Say that only to me—don't say it outside. It's a beheading offense."

Pan Yun nodded, "I'll only tell you. If we're to be beheaded, we'll be beheaded together—who else would be the protagonist in this analogy?"

Zhang Liuzhen: …

Pan Yun grinned and hugged the box to leave, but Zhang Liuzhen called out to her, "There's one more thing I must give you."

He rose and walked into the inner chamber, carrying out a box over three feet long, placing it on the table and opening it.

Inside was a sword, its scabbard entirely wrapped in cloth, appearing utterly ordinary.

Zhang Liuzhen drew the sword and handed it to Pan Yun, smiling, "This is your gift—only now have I obtained it. Consider it a belated present."

Pan Yun blinked in surprise, reaching out to take it. "You're giving me a sword?"

Zhang Liuzhen smiled, "Not exactly from me. Your Aunt Li mentioned you've mastered swordplay exceptionally well. I've had a piece of meteoric iron for years, never found a use for it, so I kept it hanging unused."

"When I heard you were coming to the Imperial Academy, I immediately thought of this meteoric iron—it was perfect to forge you a sword. Your Aunt Li helped me find the swordsmith, so this gift is a joint offering from both me and your Aunt Li."

Pan Yun said, "This is far too precious."

She refused to accept it, pushing it back.

"Open it and see," Zhang Liuzhen smiled. "Once you open it, you might feel a connection between you and it."

Pan Yun instantly drew half the blade—its icy light blinded her. Instantly, the sword's chilling, razor-sharp aura captivated her; her eyes locked onto it.

Zhang Liuzhen's lips curled slightly. "Like it?"

Pan Yun nodded involuntarily.

Zhang Liuzhen said, "I give you this sword with only one concern: you are too clever, and the sword is too sharp—it wounds others, but it may wound you too. So you must cultivate your temperament. Use this sword with caution."

Pan Yun hugged the sword, nodding vigorously, like a squirrel clutching a pinecone.

(End of Chapter)