Chapter 181: Yin Song

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

Xue Hua, seeing her smile so brightly, couldn't help asking, "Why is Sister Pan so happy?"

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

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

Pan Yun also looked up at the sky and insisted, "It's wonderful—no sun, no cold, a gentle breeze, truly perfect weather to go 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 sword, and examined it closely.

She summoned fingertip force and lightly tapped it—the sound rang clear and lingering, intoxicating to hear alone.

Pan Yun kissed the hilt solemnly and weightily, closed the sword, and rolled twice on the bed while hugging it.

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

Pan Yun knew swords needed to be nurtured.

Her sword's edge was too sharp and exposed—it wasn't a good thing; she must nurture it until its brilliance was internalized, sharp but not outwardly glaring.

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

In her past life, she could fly using objects, but she rarely used swords—after all, flying on a sword had no advantage except being cool.

She absolutely refused to admit it was because she lacked money to buy a better sword.

Since she had no experience nurturing swords, she had to ask Wang Feiyin.

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

She knew some sword-nurturing methods could turn the sword evil, and with it, the sword's master as well.

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

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

She shook her head and wrote, "Whether this is unfortunate for the Zhang family of the Celestial Master's Mansion or for our Mount Sanqing, I'm not sure—just one person's medicine from them can sustain our entire mountain."

"Bring Third Brother and Fourth Sister back—they have mouths like that and faces 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 Big Nephew shouldn't be overburdened. He's so young; don't heap the responsibility of supporting the family on him…"

Pan Yun wrote much as an elder, then finally remembered to ask, "Has Big Nephew passed the first round of his Daoist credential 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 completely."

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

"Oh dear, I'm just trusting him—I knew he'd pass for sure," Wang Feiyin denied, adding, "Besides, I've been truly busy lately—I just finished preparing new medicine for Zhang Liuzhen, and news came again about your little sister's encounter with the 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 not for your nature, Big Brother, you'd never have raised a child like Cong'er."

Moreover, they were the very ones least qualified 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 devoted most of his energy to them.

Later, when they grew up and advanced in cultivation, it was clear they had promising futures—until Fourth Sister was brought back to Mount Sanqing grievously wounded.

Big Brother's attention was then diverted to Fourth Sister.

These past two years, Fourth Sister recovered from her injuries, restored her cultivation, and even largely dispelled the root of her mental affliction—just as Wang Cong was preparing for his credential exam, and we thought Big Brother could finally focus 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 Big Brother, Third Brother, and Seeing Miao Zhen 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.

Thus, 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 Big Brother no time for Wang Cong.

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

Wang Cong had already passed the exam in Guangxin Prefecture and earned the right to take the exam in Jingcheng; next comes the Daoist Registry Office exam—if he passes, he will be granted his credential.

Yin Song said, "This year, the imperial court has set a maximum of twenty Daoists and monks to be certified—split evenly, the Daoist Registry Office 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 inquired—eight slots have already been confirmed; only two remain, and people are still fighting over them."

Hearing this, Wang Feiyin's face turned grim—he slammed his fist on the table, and 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—the Daoist Registry Office fears the scandal if it becomes too blatant," Yin Song said. "Before returning, I was still trying to secure all two remaining slots for outsiders—this would not only give Wang Cong a better chance, but also offer more opportunities to Daoists outside."

"Does True Person Zhang know about this?"

Yin Song sighed.

Wang Feiyin sneered.

Yin Song said, "Big Brother knows—he has no authority to decide."

Wang Feiyin: "If he can't decide, neither can you—what good is your return? Will Cong'er see you and gain confidence, then win first place, forcing them to choose him?"

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Yin Song chuckled: "Do I have that kind of power? Big Brother, stop being sarcastic with me."

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

Yin Song paused, then added: "The Emperor places great importance on the Luchuan campaign. Many court ministers now oppose continuing the Luchuan campaign. The Emperor says nothing, outwardly appearing to waver—but inwardly, he remains resolute. I believe, unless Luchuan falls, he will not cease the war."

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

"You want Cong'er to take a risk—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 earn his credential—even a position in the Daoist Registry Office is possible," Yin Song said. "Don't fear the scholars and generals cursing him—once the court ultimately wins, they'll realize his brilliance."

Wang Feiyin: "Is this his strength, or yours?"

Yin Song: "This isn't an exam question—just a subtle hint for Cong'er to drop before the Emperor. It's not cheating."

Wang Feiyin snorted, frowning deeply. "My celestial divination and face-reading can't match yours. Are you certain the Luchuan campaign will bring advantage?"

Yin Song answered firmly: "Yes!"

Wang Feiyin frowned. "But I heard that by year's end, the imperial court poured in massive troops for Luchuan—and barely won, suffering defeat. The Emperor was in terrible spirits."

Yin Song: "The Emperor has already decided to send more troops to Luchuan. Supplies and military gear 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 exams. You must not interfere."

"Senior Brother…"

Wang Feiyin raised his hand. "Say no more. My divination and face-reading may not match yours, but my intuition far surpasses yours. This matter feels deeply wrong. Even if Luchuan wins, such actions won't wash away Cong'er's reputation as a villain. The karmic weight is too great—I won't let him be involved."

A single phrase woke the dreamer. Yin Song slapped his forehead. "I never doubted Luchuan's victory was real—I've calculated it multiple times, all pointing the same way. I forgot the karmic consequences."

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

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

"So we just let it unfold? Though I trust Cong'er's ability, the top rank in the empire—I…"

"You have no confidence."

Yin Song nodded heavily.

"If Little Sister were here, she'd have full confidence—and give Cong'er boundless confidence. I'll write her a letter, tell her Cong'er is going to Jingcheng for the exams. Have her write him soon, to encourage him."

Yin Song: "... Just encouragement?"

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

After a pause, Yin Song said: "Senior Brother, I'd like to see Little Sister."

"Then go. The distance isn't far. While you're there, visit True Person Zhang. Ask him: after Zhang Tian Shi became True Person, did he truly become nothing but a human shell?"

(End of Chapter)