Chapter 183: Prophecy

Zhang Zi Ming 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 urgent? We've been classmates for years, even shared a room for years…"

"Don't act like we're close," Zhang Zi Ming 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 dismissal. You've got no class left, right?"

Zhang Zi Ming was about to speak when Yin Song said, "I just saw the schedule posted on the notice board—you're free."

Zhang Zi Ming 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 Zi Ming's expression turned cold. "Who told you that? Xuan Miao?"

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

"Then it must be Tao Ji. Xuan Miao and Tao Ji are together—he must know. So he complained to you?" Zhang Zi Ming sneered. "After all these years, he still loves tattling."

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 Zi Ming: "Don't spout nonsense just because you're not a monk. Who among the Zhangs present that night would be a gossip? You're not suggesting it was Zhang Zi Wang, are you?"

Yin Song sneered in silence.

Zhang Zi Ming's heart felt like a centipede crawling over it. "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 Zi Ming 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 destabilize.

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

When Instructor Yuan Daozhang leaned 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 Realm."

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

"What? The Zhang Academy Master of Shi Hua Academy is fighting someone?"

"It sounds like the Zhang Academy Master 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 Zhang Academy Masters—Da Guan and Shi Hua—fought."

"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 Masters fought over who will be the next Heavenly Master."

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

"How could it be false? 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 never gotten along."

Pan Yun was half-skeptical. "But Zhang Zi Wang doesn't seem the type to lose control like that."

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

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

Zhang Zi Wang, usually so composed and restrained, had actually fought another Academy Master…

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, clutching Pan Xiao Hei, led the charge.

When they reached the gates of Shi Hua Academy, a crowd of students and teachers had already gathered.

Inside Shi Hua Academy, the roar of magical artifacts and spells never ceased. Everyone wisely stayed back, chatting at the perimeter.

"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 to climb? Two Grand Masters are fighting—climbing that wall means you're asking for death."

"You're wasting your time watching. Use your toes to figure it out—Da Guan's Zhang Academy Master will win."

"Da Guan? What's that got to do with Zhang Zi Wang? Isn't he fighting some outsider who came to challenge them?"

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

As they speculated, Zhang Zi Wang suddenly rose into the air, riding a sword, flipping mid-air, then roared in fury: "Zhang Zi Ming, Yin Song—stop now, or I'll summon the Punishment Hall!"

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

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

Pan Yun, hearing this, clutched Pan Xiao Hei and charged forward. "So you're bullying people from Mount Sanqing again? Miao Zhen, Miao He—follow me!" Miao Zhen and Miao He, outraged, rushed after her.

The gates of Shi Hua Academy were shut. Pan Yun kicked them open. A surge of spiritual energy blasted 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, looking ahead.

Yin Song and Zhang Zi Ming each landed after trading a punch, turning at the sound of the kicked-open gate.

Seeing Pan Yun appear with determined (arrogant) resolve, Yin Song's expression softened; Zhang Zi Ming frowned tightly.

Zhang Zi Wang, still hovering mid-air, looked even worse.

He landed at once, eyes heavy on Pan Yun. "You kicked open the gate?"

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

Yin Song:!!!

Wasn't she supposed to be upright and principled?

This doesn't sound like her.

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

Yin Song smiled at her, nodded slightly, then turned to Zhang Zi Ming. "My sister and disciples have arrived. No more sparring with you. We'll catch up another day."

!. Read

Under Zhang Zi Wang's piercing gaze, Zhang Zi Ming could only nod. "Fine. Today's sparring taught me much."

Yin Song grinned. "Same here!"

Pan Yun's gaze flickered between the two men, then gave Miao Zhen and Miao He a signal.

Miao Zhen and Miao He immediately stepped forward to express their longing for Yin Song.

Yin Song promptly put on a look of fondness and concern. Since he was reuniting with his own, Zhang Zi Wang couldn't stop him—or press them on why they'd fought in the academy, causing such a scandal.

Yin Song grabbed Miao Zhen and Miao He. "Quick—I brought you so many things. Feng Yan, Feng Yan, where are you?"

Feng Yan quietly emerged from the room, arms full. "Master, I'm here."

Pan Yun and the others hurried to help, hauling out bags and bundles from inside, then sprinted back to Feng Qi Academy as if chased by demons.

Back at Feng Qi Academy, the two siblings, long familiar with each other's names, finally met properly and sized each other up.

Yin Song knew his little sister was born in Xuan De Ninth Year—only nine years old.

But seeing her in person, he realized she truly was small.

And just now, when caught in the crossfire of his and Zhang Zi Ming's fight, she'd only stepped back two paces.

Though neither had used full strength, stepping back only two paces…

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

Pan Yun: "…Brother Two, saying that makes me uneasy."

Yin Song smiled. "Of all my sisters, my fourth has the greatest Dao talent. But she's strong, and so am I—and so is my third brother. We're not far behind her in cultivation. 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 on his face.

"But whether it's her or Zhang Liuzhen of Long Hushan, terrifyingly powerful as she is, I think neither compares to you."

Pan Yun: "Brother Two, you flatter me too much."

Yin Song paused, then laughed and shook his head. "Your character surpasses ours. At your age, we had none of your confidence—and those who had confidence lacked your resolve."

At your age, being called a genius too often breeds arrogance and ruin. You can't see clearly, and you can't stay grounded—like Xuan Miao and Zhang Liuzhen once were. They fell because of it.

Now Yin Song understood why the Senior Disciple loved her so much—why he'd shed his lazy nature and started finding ways to earn money;

Why he constantly wrote letters asking him to save up and send money home, and why he'd sent the third brother and Xuan Miao out to earn too…

Even he, seeing such a genius, couldn't help but feel joy.

No wonder Xuan Miao had forcibly brought her back to Mount Sanqing—"a benefactor entrusted her," "she'd bring disaster to the Pan family"—he didn't believe a word of it.

Yin Song confidently told Pan Yun: "Little sister, let me cast a divination for you and your family. I'll make you a protective talisman afterward."

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

"Time weakens the protection. Besides, you're surrounded by Daoists now—strange people, odd talents, geniuses everywhere. Caution is wise."

Pan Yun quickly agreed. "Yes, yes, thank you, Brother Two. I'd also like to know how my father and brothers are doing in Datong. Their letters only say 'fine,' but I don't know if it's true."

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

Pan Yun froze. "Why?"

Because you curse them.

Yin Song couldn't say that. He smoothly replied: "Because you're so gifted—the heavens favor you, so they always take something from those near you. Since you're close to your father and brothers, the heavens will strike at them. So your togetherness harms their peace and health. Don't meet until you're fourteen."

"Why fourteen?"

Yin Song paused, then lowered his eyes. "Because by fourteen, you'll have transcended the mortal realm—your ties to family will weaken."

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

(End of Chapter)