Chapter 181: Yin Song

Pan Yun returned with a box of silver notes and a sword case, her face glowing with an uncontainable smile, making everyone who saw her know something good had happened.

Xue Hua, seeing her so radiant, asked: "Why are you so happy, Sister Pan?"

She understood the principle of not flaunting wealth, so Pan Yun smiled sweetly: "The weather is so nice—just walking down the road makes me happy."

Xue Hua silently looked up at the gloomy sky, then said after a pause: "Is this… good weather?"

Pan Yun also looked up at the sky and insisted: "It's perfect—no sun, no cold, a gentle breeze—truly ideal for going out."

Xue Hua: "Your tastes are truly unique. Fine, if you say it's good weather, then it is."

Pan Yun didn't touch the money in the box; instead, she opened the sword case, drew out the blade, and examined it closely.

She summoned fingertip strength and lightly tapped the blade; it rang with a clear, lingering tone that instantly enchanted the listener.

Pan Yun kissed the hilt firmly, sheathed the sword, and rolled twice across her bed holding it.

She had a sword—such a powerful, fine sword.

Pan Yun knew swords needed nurturing.

Her sword was too sharp, too exposed—that wasn't good. She had to nurture it until its edge was inward, sharp but not ostentatious.

Pan Yun immediately stored the sword away with great care, then wrote a letter to Wang Feiyin.

In her past life, she had practiced spirit-guided flight, but rarely used a sword—after all, flying on a sword had no advantage except looking cool.

She absolutely refused to admit it was because she couldn't afford a better sword.

Since she had no experience nurturing a sword, she needed to ask Wang Feiyin.

This sword was her life-sword; naturally, she had to consult someone she trusted.

She knew some methods of nurturing swords could turn them malevolent, corrupting the sword's master along with it.

Pan Yun wrote Wang Feiyin a very serious letter, then opened the money box, carefully counted the silver notes, and clearly noted the exact amount inside so he'd know precisely what he'd received.

Pan Yun: "Big Brother, our Mount Sanqing has struck it rich—Third Brother and Fourth Sister can return home. I feel just the medicine we sold to Zhang Liuzhen is enough to support the entire Mount Sanqing."

She shook her head and wrote: "Whether this is a misfortune for the Zhang family of Mount Taiyi or for our Mount Sanqing, I'm not sure. One person's medicine from their household can sustain our entire mountain."

"Bring Third Brother and Fourth Sister back. One has a mouth like that, the other a face like that—sending them out to earn money for the family is too hard, too unfair."

At this moment, Pan Yun's confidence soared, and she wrote directly: "Not just Third Brother and Fourth Sister—even your eldest disciple shouldn't be overburdened. He's still so young; we can't saddle him with the weight of supporting the family…"

Pan Yun wrote much as an elder, then finally remembered to ask: "Has your eldest disciple passed the first round of his ordination exam?"

Wang Feiyin, upon receiving the letter, only exhaled the breath he'd been holding when he reached the last line: "Finally, this child remembered to ask. I thought she'd forgotten entirely."

Yin Song said: "Isn't it you who forgot entirely? If I hadn't returned, would you have even remembered to ask about Cong'er's results?"

"Ah, ah, ah—I trust him. I knew he'd pass," Wang Feiyin denied, adding: "Besides, I've been truly busy lately—I just finished preparing new medicine for Zhang Liuzhen, then word came of your little sister's encounter with soul-draining worms on Long Hushan. I'm old now, my energy is limited—I can only manage one thing at a time."

Yin Song: "Fortunately, Cong'er has always been cheerful and open-hearted. If he were from another family, he'd have grown bitter, resentful, and twisted."

Wang Feiyin rubbed his nose.

Yin Song, seeing him act like a child, shook his head again: "Fine, fine—if you weren't this way, you wouldn't have raised a child like Cong'er."

Moreover, none of them had the right to judge the relationship between Wang Feiyin and Wang Cong.

Yin Song and Tao Ji were only a few years older than Wang Cong, both raised by Wang Feiyin; when Wang Cong was still young, Wang Feiyin's attention was mostly devoted to them.

Later, when they grew older and advanced in cultivation, their futures seemed bright—until Fourth Sister was brought back to Mount Sanqing grievously wounded.

Wang Feiyin's attention was then diverted to Fourth Sister.

These past two years, Fourth Sister recovered, her cultivation restored, and even her inner trauma largely healed—just as Wang Cong was preparing for his ordination exam, and everyone assumed Wang Feiyin's focus could finally be entirely on him—Mount Sanqing gained another little sister.

Yin Song had never met this little sister, but he'd heard plenty about her; every letter from Wang Feiyin, Third Brother, Miao Zhen, and the others always mentioned her.

He also investigated Pan Hong's case in detail; to be honest, it was tragic.

Because Pan Hong was the most innocent, yet the one sacrificed the most.

So for this little sister he'd never met, Yin Song felt a measure of pity.

Yet alongside that pity, he also felt a touch of resentment—he believed she had drawn too much of Big Brother's attention, leaving Wang Cong neglected.

Yin Song had returned now specifically because of Wang Cong's exam.

Wang Cong had passed the exam in Guangxin Prefecture and earned the right to take the capital's examination. Next came the Dao Lu Si exam in the capital; passing it would grant him an ordination certificate.

Yin Song said: "This year, the court has set a limit of no more than twenty ordained Daoists and Buddhist monks combined—half for each side, so Dao Lu Si has only ten slots."

Wang Feiyin was astonished: "So few? Then what's the point of taking the exam? All the slots will be filled by insiders."

Yin Song nodded: "I've inquired—eight slots are already confirmed. Only two remain, and people are still fighting over them."

Upon hearing this, Wang Feiyin's face darkened. He slammed his fist on the table; even the box of silver notes couldn't cheer him: "Are they planning to leave not a single slot for outsiders?"

"At least one must be left—Dao Lu Si fears the scandal if it becomes too blatant," Yin Song said. "Before returning, I tried to secure all remaining slots for outsiders—this would give Wang Cong a better chance, and more opportunities for Daoists outside."

"Does Zhang True Person know about this?"

Yin Song sighed.

Wang Feiyin sneered.

Yin Song said: "Big Brother knows—he has no authority over this."

Wang Feiyin: "If he can't decide, neither can you. What good is your return? Cong'er sees you and gains confidence, then wins first place, forcing them to choose him?"

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Yin Song chuckled: "I have no such power. Big Brother, stop being sarcastic with me."

He said: "I returned to tell Cong'er—the number of those selected this year was decided by the Emperor, and by tradition, the Emperor personally selects the successful Daoists."

Yin Song paused, then added: "The Emperor places great importance on the Luchuan campaign. Many ministers now oppose continuing it. He says nothing, outwardly appearing to waver, but inwardly he remains resolute. I believe he won't halt the war unless Luchuan falls."

Wang Feiyin was no fool; Yin Song suddenly brought up court politics and analyzed the Emperor so precisely—he understood his meaning immediately.

"You want Cong'er to risk everything and use divination to support the Emperor's Luchuan campaign?"

Yin Song said: "Big Brother, I've calculated it—the outcome of the Luchuan campaign is favorable, and the hexagram indicates significant victory and merit."

"If Cong'er stands with the Emperor while everyone else opposes the Luchuan campaign, he will surely obtain his ordination certificate—even a position in Dao Lu Si is possible," Yin Song said. "He needn't fear the scholars and generals cursing him—once the court wins, they'll recognize his brilliance."

Wang Feiyin: "Whose brilliance—his or yours?"

Yin Song: "This isn't an exam question—it's merely a subtle hint during his audience with the Emperor. It's not cheating."

Wang Feiyin grunted, frowning: "I'm worse than you at astronomy, divination, and physiognomy. Are you certain the Luchuan campaign is favorable?"

Yin Song answered firmly: "Yes!"

Wang Feiyin frowned: "But I heard that at year's end, the court poured massive troops into Luchuan and barely won a pyrrhic victory—the war went poorly, and the Emperor was in terrible spirits."

Yin Song: "The Emperor has already decided to reinforce Luchuan with more troops. Supplies and military equipment are already being quietly prepared."

Wang Feiyin fell silent for a long while, still uneasy. He shook his head: "No—don't tell Cong'er. Let him focus on his exam. You must not interfere."

"Big Brother…"

Wang Feiyin raised his hand: "Enough. I may be inferior to you in astronomy and physiognomy, but my intuition far surpasses yours. This feels wrong to me. Even if Luchuan wins, this won't wash away the label of 'villain.' The karmic consequences are too great—I won't let him get involved."

A single phrase woke the dreamer. Yin Song slapped his forehead: "I didn't doubt Luchuan's victory—I've calculated it multiple times, always the same result—but I forgot the karmic consequences."

Regardless of victory or defeat, because of Wang Cong's words, if the Emperor grows even more determined to wage war on Luchuan, part of that karma will fall upon Wang Cong.

The karma of war—this is no trivial matter. Whether winning or losing, right or wrong, the karma is heavy.

"So we just do nothing? Though I trust Cong'er's ability, the top spot—I…"

"You have no confidence."

Yin Song nodded heavily.

"If the little sister were here, she'd have full confidence—and give Cong'er boundless confidence. I'll write her a letter, telling her Cong'er is going to the capital for the exam, and ask her to write him a letter of encouragement."

Yin Song: "... ust encouragement?"

Wang Feiyin shot him a glare: "You're a Daoist—don't you know how powerful confidence is? For Cong'er, encouragement is enough."

Yin Song paused, then said: "Big Brother, I'd like to meet the little sister."

"Then go. The distance isn't far. While you're there, visit Zhang True Person and ask him—has Zhang Tian Shi become nothing but a human shell since becoming Zhang True Person?"

(End of Chapter)