Chapter 183

Zhang Ziming thought of that night's qi cluster caused by Pan Yun, feeling irritable: "What do you want with me?"

Yin Song: "Can't I come see you if there's nothing important? We've been classmates for years, even shared a room for years…"

"Don't act like we're that close," Zhang Ziming scoffed, cutting him off. "Pan Yun and the others are already at Tai Su Academy—class is over. Go now, you'll catch them."

Yin Song waved a hand. "There's still one more class. Don't disrupt the children's studies. Let them finish class—I'll wait till they're done. You don't have any classes left, right?"

Zhang Ziming was about to speak, but Yin Song said: "I just saw the class schedule posted on the announcement wall—you're free."

Zhang Ziming fell into gloom and refused to speak.

But Yin Song had plenty to say: "I heard you're trying to give my little sister a Dao name?"

Zhang Ziming's expression turned cold. "Who told you that? Xuanmiao?"

Yin Song waved his hand. "My fourth sister wouldn't gossip like that. I heard it from someone else."

"Then it must've been Tao Ji. Xuanmiao and Tao Ji are together—he'd know. So he complained to you?" Zhang Ziming sneered. "After all these years, he's still such a tattletale."

Hearing him speak ill of his own junior, Yin Song was displeased: "It wasn't my third junior who told me—it was someone from your Zhang family. Figure it out yourself."

Zhang Ziming: "Don't act like you're not a monk and start spouting nonsense. Who among the Zhangs present that night would be so gossipy? You're not suggesting it was Zhang Ziwang, are you?"

Yin Song smirked in silence.

Zhang Ziming felt as if a centipede had crawled over his heart. "Who told you? Are you afraid of offending him?"

Yin Song: "I won't tell you—because I'm not afraid of offending you."

Zhang Ziming flew into a rage and fought Yin Song.

He didn't want to fight, but his temper always tightened the moment he faced Yin Song. If he didn't fight, his Dao heart might crack.

The commotion was loud—Pan Yun and the others still studying alchemy at Tai Su Academy heard it.

Even Instructor Yuan Daozhang poked his head out to look. The students surged to the windows: "The noise's coming from Shi Hua Academy—this fight's brutal. Both sides are at least Fifth Stage."

"At least? Why not say First Marquis? That's Academy Director level, isn't it?"

"Wait—Academy Director Zhang of Shi Hua Academy is fighting someone?"

"It sounds like Academy Director Zhang of Da Guan Academy went over too…"

…

After circulating a few times, by the time the rumor reached beyond Tai Su Academy, it became: "The two Academy Directors—Da Guan and Shi Hua—fought each other."

"Why?"

Some fourth- and fifth-year students who knew a bit speculated: "Could it be about the Senior Disciple?"

"Senior Disciple? What does he have to do with it?"

After the rumor circulated again, it became: "The two Academy Directors fought over who will be the next Celestial Master."

Pan Yun's expression went blank for a moment. "Could this be fake news?"

"How could it be fake? I heard it myself—someone outside Shi Hua Academy heard them arguing, dredging up old grudges, saying how the other was like this or that since childhood. They've hated each other since they were kids."

Pan Yun was half-skeptical. "But Academy Director Zhang Ziwang doesn't seem the type to lose his temper like that."

"When pushed to the edge, what won't someone say? I heard Shi Hua's Academy Director struck first. Da Guan's couldn't just stand there and take it—so they started fighting."

Hearing this, not only Pan Yun, but even Instructor Yuan Daozhang, who'd been straining to listen, believed it a third more—and began wondering whether he should go watch… or go watch.

Zhang Ziwang, usually so composed and restrained, had actually fought another Academy Director…

He shifted his gaze, cleared his throat, and said: "I see you're all too distracted to study—wasting my time. Dismissed. Dismissed."

The students bowed hastily and rushed out.

Pan Yun sprinted ahead, clutching Pan Xiaohei.

By the time they reached the gates of Shi Hua Academy, a crowd of students and instructors had already gathered.

Inside Shi Hua Academy, the roar of magical artifacts and spells never ceased. Everyone kept their distance, standing at the perimeter to gossip.

"Who's winning?"

"The walls are too high—we can't see."

"Climb the wall?"

"You've got the guts, but do you have the life? Two Grand Masters are fighting—climbing the wall? You're asking to die?"

"You don't even need to watch. Use your toes to think—it's obvious Da Guan's Academy Director will win."

"Da Guan? What does that have to do with Academy Director Zhang Ziwang? Wasn't it some outsider who came to challenge them?"

"Hey, aren't those people outside our academy's teachers?"

As they speculated, Zhang Ziwang suddenly rose into the air, riding his sword, flipped a somersault midair, and roared in fury: "Zhang Ziming, Yin Song—if you don't stop right now, I'll summon the Law Hall!"

Pan Yun, hugging her cat and gleefully watching the spectacle, froze. She turned to Seeing Miao Zhen, eyes wide. "Who did he just say?"

Seeing Miao Zhen, mouth slightly open, snapped back to awareness. "Master—it was your name!"

Pan Yun, hearing this, clutched Pan Xiaohei and charged forward. "So you're picking on people from Mount Sanqing again, are you? Miao Zhen, Miao He—follow me!" Miao Zhen and Miao He, indignant, rushed after her.

The main gate of Shi Hua Academy was locked. Pan Yun kicked it open. A wave of spiritual energy surged toward them. She waved her hand—a transparent barrier appeared before them. The energy wave struck the barrier; Pan Yun stepped back two paces, then planted her feet firmly, lifting her gaze ahead.

Yin Song and Zhang Ziming had just exchanged a punch and stepped apart, landing on the ground. Hearing the gate crash open, they turned to look.

Seeing Pan Yun appear with fierce (arrogant) determination, Yin Song's expression relaxed. Zhang Ziming frowned tightly.

Zhang Ziwang, still hovering midair, looked even worse.

He landed at once, his gaze heavy on Pan Yun. "You broke the gate?"

Pan Yun, unflinching: "The wind blew it open."

Yin Song:!!!

Wasn't she supposed to be straight-up and honest?

This doesn't sound like her.

Seeing Miao Zhen had already cried out excitedly: "Master!"

Yin Song smiled at her, nodded slightly, then turned to Zhang Ziwang: "My junior sister and disciple have arrived. I won't spar with you today—let's catch up another time."

!. Du

Under Zhang Ziwang's piercing gaze, Zhang Ziming could only nod. "Fine. Today's sparring has benefited me greatly."

Yin Song grinned. "Same here!"

Pan Yun's gaze slid between the two men, then she shot a glance at Seeing Miao Zhen.

Seeing Miao Zhen immediately stepped forward to express her longing for Yin Song.

Yin Song immediately put on a look of yearning and concern, eager to catch up with his own people. Zhang Ziwang couldn't stop him, nor could he reprimand them for fighting in the academy and causing a bad impression.

Yin Song grabbed Seeing Miao Zhen's arm. "Quick, I brought you so many things. Feng Yan, Feng Yan, where are you?"

Feng Yan silently stepped out from inside the room, hugging the items in his arms. "Master, I'm here."

Pan Yun and the other two hurried to help, carrying out bundle after bundle from inside the room, then sprinted back to Phoenix Perch Courtyard as if chased by demons.

Only after returning to Phoenix Perch Courtyard did the two senior siblings, who had long heard of each other's names, finally meet properly and size each other up.

Yin Song knew his junior sister was young—born in the ninth year of Emperor Xuande, she was only nine this year.

But now that he saw her in person, he realized she truly was small.

And she had only stepped back twice when caught in the crossfire of his fight with Zhang Ziming.

Though neither had used their full strength, to retreat only two steps…

Yin Song couldn't help sighing. "I never expected Mount Sanqing would get a true genius."

Pan Yun: "... Senior brother saying that makes me uneasy."

Yin Song chuckled. "In terms of Dao cultivation talent, your fourth sister is the best. But she's strong—yet so am I, and so is your third brother. We have strengths far beyond hers, and our cultivation isn't far behind. So I'm confident. She's a genius—I'm no less one."

His expression was as if he'd carved "I'm a genius too" right onto his face.

"But whether it's her, or Zhang Liuzhen of Long Hushan, whose power terrifies even the brave—I think neither compares to you."

Pan Yun: "Senior brother flatters me so much I'm embarrassed."

Yin Song blinked, then laughed and shook his head. "Your composure alone surpasses ours. At your age, we didn't have this kind of confidence—and those who did lacked your steadfastness."

At your age, being called a genius constantly makes pride and arrogance easy, which leads to downfall. You can't see things clearly, and you can't hold firm—like once were Master Xuanmiao and Zhang Liuzhen. They fell because of it.

Now Yin Song finally understood why his senior brother loved her so much—why he'd even dropped his lazy nature and started finding ways to earn money;

Not only did he write letters regularly, urging Yin Song to save up and send money back, but he also sent Lao San and Master Xuanmiao out to earn money…

If it were him, he'd feel the same joy seeing such a genius.

No wonder Master Xuanmiao forcibly brought her back to Mount Sanqing—claims of a benefactor's last wish, or a divination that she'd bring disaster to the Pan family—he didn't believe any of it.

Yin Song confidently told Pan Yun: "Junior sister, let me cast a divination for you and your family. Later, I'll perform a protective ward for you."

Pan Yun was startled. "My fourth sister did one for me before—now again?"

"Time has passed; it needs reinforcing. Besides, you're among Daoist Priests now—every kind of odd and extraordinary person is here, and geniuses aren't rare. Caution is essential."

Pan Yun quickly agreed. "Of course! Thank you, Senior brother. I'd also like to know how my father and elder brother are doing in Datong—they only write that they're fine, but I don't know if it's true."

Yin Song smiled confidently, then began his divination. Moments later, his smile faded. He reluctantly retracted the tortoise shell. "Junior sister, don't meet your family before you're fourteen."

Pan Yun froze. "Why?"

Because you curse them.

Yin Song of course couldn't say that. He smoothly continued: "Because you're too talented. Heaven favors you, so it always tries to take something from you. Since you're close to your father and brother, Heaven will strike through them. So being together harms your peace and health. Don't meet until you're fourteen."

"Why fourteen?"

Yin Song paused, then lowered his eyes. "Perhaps because by fourteen, you'll have already left behind the mortal world, and your ties to family will have weakened."

Pan Yun's eyes lit up. "So Senior brother means I'll reach the First Marquis before I'm fourteen?"

(End of Chapter)