Chapter 180: Wealth Has Come

Pan Yun and Miao Zhen both turned to look at Miao He, and in that moment, both thought: should they also refine the elixir path more diligently?

Back in Yushan County, they hadn't noticed, but only after leaving did they realize talismans weren't as easy to sell as elixirs.

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

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

Chen Ziwu beamed. "Mutual help, mutual help."

After Chen Ziwu left, Miao Zhen asked puzzledly, "Little Auntie, shouldn't our Third Uncle and Fourth Auntie be guiding us on our trials?"

Pan Yun said, "They're too strong. What could we learn from training with them? Chen Ziwu's level is just right—not too high, not too low."

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

"Not much—just a brief account of his crimes, past cases he'd committed, and how he raised the insects."

Mo Rushi had spotted Chen Ziwu on a street in Kaifeng Prefecture and began tailing him.

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

As he claimed, he truly wasn't afraid to act here 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 Rushi remained confined 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 hidden among rocks and stones, and piercing them to death.

The offspring seemed eradicated, but as long as the mother insect remained alive, they weren't safe.

Mo Rushi's crimes were undeniable—he deserved death. He didn't even need to be handed over to the government office; the Celestial Master's Mansion could kill him outright.

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

"Mo Rushi said he found the corpse. He'd just emerged from 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 remnants of his inner garment were high-quality silk, woven with auspicious cloud patterns. Who in a common household could afford such fabric for an undergarment?"

The others were 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 into this year. Judging by the corpse's decay and the insects' effects, he was likely killed around the start of this year."

That was precisely when the Luchuan Campaign suffered repeated defeats.

Zhang Ziming: "Killed in battle?"

Zhang Ziwang glanced at him and said, "If he'd died in battle, there wouldn't be just one corpse left in the dense forest."

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

Lin Jingle nodded.

So Mo Rushi was ultimately sent to the Celestial Master's Mansion.

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

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

They also looked after Cui Huai in daily life.

After more than fifty days of rest, Cui Huai had regained basic mobility and could now manage his own needs.

But he still couldn't attend training 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 only entered and exited 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 base 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 a Daoist from Mount Sanqing doing 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 just want to study hard here and improve daily. So if I'm going to make connections, I'll connect with those above me—lean on big trees for shade, fewer troubles, less energy wasted."

Like Zhang Liuzhen.

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

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

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

Wang Feiyin had somehow learned about their encounter with Mo Rushi. He didn't just send them plenty of common healing medicines and cultivation elixirs—he'd also packed six vials of poison in a separate box.

"If you meet someone like Mo Rushi 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 and fourth senior siblings isn't enough, go down the mountain and ask the Celestial Master's Mansion—they still owe Mount Sanqing plenty."

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 Celestial Master's Mansion and demand money?"

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

Zhang Liuzhen chuckled. "Not obvious—but I know Wang Guan."

He opened a drawer, pulled out a box, and handed it to her. "Here's the debt. Take it."

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

!. ead

"I know—he's avenging my aunt." When Xuan Miao publicly demanded the Celestial Master's Mansion pay for medical bills and actually sent them the invoice, Wang Feiyin must've remembered it. This is his way of avenging both Xuan Miao 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. Don't overthink it—it's actually a good thing. I've always wanted to pay for the medicine, but my aunt stubbornly 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 Celestial Master's Mansion isn't mine alone—and the money saved isn't mine to spend."

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow, thoughtful.

Seeing she understood, Zhang Liuzhen was delighted and pushed the box further toward her, nearly into her arms. "My father returned the other day, heard about this, and specifically instructed the Celestial Master's Mansion to settle the account. Yesterday, they delivered the money to me. From now on, whenever Mount Sanqing sends me medicine, include an invoice—I'll have the Celestial Master's Mansion settle it for you."

Pan Yun's eyes sparkled as she hugged the box. "Isn't the Celestial Master's Mansion your family's?"

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

Pan Yun: "Then who else is most likely to inherit the bulk of the family's assets?"

Zhang Liuzhen chuckled softly. "You're a clever little thing. Nothing secret here—I have a cousin, formerly named Zhang Wei, now called Zhang Liuyuan. If I die, he'll inherit the Celestial Master's Mansion."

Pan Yun: "Sounds just like how imperial crown princes usually don't die well."

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 comparison?"

Zhang Liuzhen: …

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

He rose, entered the inner chamber, and brought 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, looking utterly ordinary.

Zhang Liuzhen drew the sword and handed it to Pan Yun. "This is your gift. I only received it today—it's a belated one."

Pan Yun blinked, reached out, and took it. "You're giving me a sword?"

Zhang Liuzhen smiled. "Not exactly mine to give. When my aunt mentioned you were exceptionally skilled with the sword, I recalled I'd long possessed a piece of meteoric iron—never found a use for it, so I kept it hanging unused."

"When I heard you were coming to the Academy, I immediately thought of that meteoric iron. Perfect for forging you a sword. The swordsmith was even arranged by my aunt. So this gift is from both me and my aunt—a welcome present."

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

She refused to accept it.

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

Pan Yun swiftly drew half the blade—its cold light blinded her. Instantly, she was captivated by the sword's sharp, chilling aura, her eyes locking onto it.

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

Pan Yun nodded involuntarily.

Zhang Liuzhen said, "I give you this sword, but I have one concern: you're too clever, and the sword is too sharp—it wounds others, but it can wound you too. So you must cultivate patience. Use this blade with caution."

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

(End of Chapter)