Chapter 184: The Arrival of the Embroidered Uniform Guard

Yin Song gave no clear answer, only said: "Disciple, work harder."

All were cultivators; they understood implicitly—this remark was no different from a direct instruction.

Pan Yun's face lit up with a smile.

Miao Zhen asked: "Master, what about me?"

Miao He also asked: "Senior Uncle, what about me?"

Yin Song: "Both of you still need to work harder."

Miao Zhen: "Is just working hard enough?"

Yin Song smiled: "With your talents, effort alone will carry you there."

Both girls exchanged excited glances—they knew their efforts had truly been worth it.

Pan Yun watched them, suddenly enlightened: people all needed encouragement. No wonder, in her past life, her teachers' praise made her so happy—even staying up all night doing experiments felt joyful and willing.

Miao Zhen and Miao He hadn't seen Yin Song in a long time; both missed him dearly and chattered away about many things.

Pan Yun rarely saw Miao Zhen so lively.

She realized that compared to Wang Cong and Tao Yan, her unseen second nephew and Miao Zhen were truly Yin Song's own disciples.

Though Miao Zhen was now being taught alternately by Wang Feiyin and Xuan Miao, it was only because she was still learning basics—Wang Feiyin and Xuan Miao could teach those well enough, while the academy could fill any remaining gaps, and Yin Song would guide her remotely through letters.

In truth, Miao Zhen had already leapt ahead of many of her peers from the start.

Yin Song had already planned for Miao Zhen's future: "I didn't expect you to enter the academy so early, so I'm giving you the practice booklet I wrote for you ahead of time. I also need to talk with you about your future cultivation and studies."

People of Mount Sanqing always acted with order: they planned ahead for everything they would do. Changes could happen, but the broad direction was fixed—only speed or delay could vary.

Wang Feiyin seemed careless, yet he was the same way. Yin Song and Tao Ji had both been raised by him; naturally, they shared the same lineage.

Even Pan Yun, deep down, was the same kind of person—hence Wang Feiyin often said she was born to be of Mount Sanqing.

The Dao has no name, but the Dao is orderly.

For mortals, the lie that the Dao can be reached through effort is the kindest lie of all.

Without this assurance, human effort would be meaningless.

Yin Song stayed at the academy; his fight with Zhang Zi was left unresolved.

For two days straight, he taught Miao Zhen; as a result, Miao Zhen skipped all her classes.

Pan Yun and Miao He, feeling lazy, also didn't want to attend classes. Yin Song didn't mind—he taught one, he taught two; it made no difference.

So at night, he took all three up to the rooftops to observe the stars.

Pan Yun absorbed a flood of stellar lore, then returned to her room with a pile of assignments.

Miao Zhen's assignments were both more numerous and more difficult than theirs; she also pulled out a notebook and asked one by one about all the questions she'd accumulated.

Yin Song answered them all.

If she'd held onto these questions until now, it meant she truly hadn't found the answers herself.

Yin Song's lessons were always in the evening or night; daytime was reserved for their assignments.

Learning how Miao Zhen had spent these two days, Pan Yun and Miao He said nothing. The next day, they silently rose early to attend class.

Forget it—private tutoring wasn't for them. Night-owl schedules weren't for them either. Better to attend the academy's classes.

Yin Song smiled at them and said to Miao Zhen: "Nothing in the world is hard—if you're willing to give up. Your little aunt and little cousin are perfect examples: they know their limits and quit in time, sparing themselves unnecessary struggle."

Miao Zhen: "Master, do I have any areas I'm not good at?"

Yin Song tapped her forehead lightly and laughed: "Your talents are fine in every area, but be humble. Know it in your heart, don't say it aloud—others might grow jealous."

Miao Zhen nodded.

Yin Song said: "I can't stay here long. Once the court's letter arrives, I must leave. If you have questions you can't solve and can't reach me, write to your second senior brother."

Miao Zhen replied: "Master, if you come back, why won't Second Senior Brother return?"

Yin Song sighed: "He's too lazy. He rarely takes initiative to enter seclusion, so I didn't call him."

"Oh, so Second Senior Brother is still this lazy? Will Big Senior Brother be dragged into slacking off when he goes to the capital for the exam?"

Yin Song hadn't worried about this before, but now that Miao Zhen had raised it, he felt a flicker of concern.

Wang Cong was always diligent—but if he was influenced by Qing Jun…

He wasn't sure anymore.

The most important matter for Mount Sanqing right now was Wang Cong's examination for his ordination certificate. Yin Song said: "I'll write to Qing Jun immediately and warn him—don't let Cong'er slack off."

He also grew anxious, eager to finish his business and return to the capital—perhaps he could catch Wang Cong by the tail and force him to cram at the last minute. Yin Song couldn't sit still; he kept pressing the capital: should he go to Luchuan alone, or bring Mo Rushi from the Celestial Master's Mansion? Give me a clear answer!

As he pressed the capital, Yin Song couldn't help silently grumbling about the Celestial Master's Mansion: "This matter should have been handled jointly by the Celestial Master's Mansion and the Ministry of Justice or the Embroidered Uniform Guard—the Mansion should have held half the authority. But Zhang True Person ignores affairs, so we Daoists are publicly ordered by the Mansion and the Ministry of Rites, yet secretly answer to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The Ministry of Rites barely cares for us, leaving us outsiders constantly humiliated at court."

Pan Yun: "Since we are outsiders, those within the court naturally don't wish to work with us. Our worldviews differ, our methods differ. You should be grateful—we're of the same race, raised since childhood on Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist teachings, so our core thoughts share common ground. Otherwise, they wouldn't just reject us—they'd see us as enemies."

Yin Song stared at her in surprise: "You—you have such insight?"

Because she came from the 26th century, when spiritual energy had revived.

Historical records showed that when the disasters began, some had already speculated about spiritual energy revival and future national fortune.

But few believed them; instead, they were arrested as feudal superstitious fanatics—or outright labeled insane.

Had the disasters not expanded in scope and hadn't manifest psychic abilities appeared—visible, undeniable changes—no one knew what the world would have become.

The people's long-held beliefs were overturned; everything had to start anew.

Fortunately, occult practices had always had deep roots among the populace, so everyone accepted the changes without hesitation.

!.

Other nations fared worse.

Their old worldviews were constantly shattered and rebuilt. Some accepted gladly, some reluctantly, others clung stubbornly, insisting everything was false.

Before the heavenly calamities arrived, human calamities came first.

So she knew better than anyone the catastrophic disasters caused by differences in core belief.

Yin Song pondered deeply, gaining new insight.

No wonder, soon after Little Cousin joined, Big Senior Brother's cultivation advanced so rapidly—she truly is a child with remarkable ideas.

The court's reply arrived quickly—and with it came a squad of Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Clearly, the young emperor took the Luchuan campaign seriously; even a suspicion prompted him to send his trusted men.

Hearing it was the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Pan Yun—who had enthusiastically escorted them down the mountain—found an excuse to slip away.

Yin Song helped cover for her: "Miao Zhen, Miao He, go with her to buy medicinal herbs. Buy plenty—it's all on me. If I have to pay again, I don't know when that'll be."

Pan Yun and the two girls agreed and hurried off.

Zhang Ziwang and Lin Jingle, who had come down with Yin Song, didn't suspect a thing.

They were there on behalf of the academy to liaise with the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The Guard intended to take Mo Rushi away and needed to investigate how he was discovered and captured.

Seeing the full squad of Embroidered Uniform Guard, Yin Song inwardly regretted it—he should never have mentioned this to the court. He should've gone straight to the Celestial Master's Mansion to retrieve him. Bringing them here might unleash chaos.

Worse, Mo Rushi's discovery and capture were both tied to Pan Yun.

Yin Song lowered his eyes, subtly quickening his pace, stepping half a step ahead of Zhang Ziwang and Lin Jingle.

Zhang Ziwang and Lin Jingle didn't notice—but the waiting Embroidered Uniform Guard, seeing Yin Song leading, all turned their gazes to him and bowed: "It's Master Yin."

Yin Song smiled and returned the bow: "I didn't expect this mission was led by Captain Cao—now I'm at ease."

He introduced them: "This is Captain Cao Ye of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Captain Cao, these are the two academy directors—Zhang Ziwang and Lin Jingle. The academy played a major role in capturing Mo Rushi."

"Oh?"

Yin Song mentioned casually: "Mo Rushi planned to use academy students as fertilizer to cultivate Yuan-Draining Worms. Fortunately, several Daoists from Grand Shangqing Palace were doing evening rites that day and descended promptly to assist. They also summoned the academy directors to act—only then was Mo Rushi captured, and the kidnapped students saved."

Cao Ye nodded to Zhang Ziwang and Lin Jingle: "How was he captured? Is the case file still available?"

"The academy's case files aren't as clean as the government office's—too detailed, too messy. You'd need a full day to read them. Did His Majesty set a deadline for your return to the capital?"

Cao Ye replied immediately: "Yes. We must resolve this within half a month."

Yin Song frowned, muttering under his breath: "Too rushed. We've only just arrived in Luchuan!"

Who wouldn't say so?

But Cao Ye dared not voice it; he merely glanced at Yin Song and whispered: "Master Yin, any good ideas?"

Yin Song whispered back: "Before coming down, I cast a divination. The matter is difficult, but the outcome is favorable."

Cao Ye's expression relaxed. He outwardly disbelieved in occult arts—but as an Embroidered Uniform Guard, he'd handled too many cases to doubt the existence of spirits and gods.

So he believed deeply. He'd sought Yin Song's help three times—each time, Yin Song solved his problems. Even if he wanted to disbelieve, his heart wouldn't let him.

Seeing Yin Song walk toward the Celestial Master's Mansion, Cao Ye followed unconsciously: "Where should we begin?"

"Start with the origin of Mo Rushi's Yuan-Draining Worm eggs. Captain Cao, let me tell you about Mo Rushi first."

(End of Chapter)