Chapter 188: Inspiration

Seeing Miao Zhen: "My junior uncle wasn't angry to begin with."

Sister Xuan Li was just beginning to relax when Seeing Miao Zhen said, "If she were angry, wouldn't that be punishing herself for someone else's mistake?"

Sister Xuan Li: …

Seeing Miao Zhen lowered her head and continued washing clothes.

Sister Xuan Li, visibly troubled, asked, "Are all of you angry with me?"

Seeing Miao Zhen looked bewildered. "We already said we're not angry—why do you keep asking this question?"

Sister Xuan Li: "The way you say that doesn't sound like you're not angry."

Seeing Miao Zhen's expression turned serious. "But that's the truth."

Nearby, Seeing Miao He said, "My junior uncle and sister merely realized you can't be our close friend—they're not angry with you."

Sister Xuan Li was deeply hurt, her eyes reddening. "Because of this one thing, are you all going to cut ties with me?"

Even Seeing Miao He was now confused. "We never meant to cut ties with you."

Pan Yun returned with water and heard their conversation. Realizing they had misunderstood each other, she stepped forward and said, "Sister Xuan Li, we don't want to cut ties with you, and we're not angry with you."

"You know, feelings accumulate over time, friendships deepen with continued interaction, and bonds grow stronger."

Sister Xuan Li nodded. That was true.

"We've only known each other for four months. We're not yet at the point of being close friends—we're just ordinary friends," Pan Yun said. "I won't deny that spending time with you has brought me joy and great benefit, but we're not suited to be close friends."

Sister Xuan Li, eyes red, asked, "Is it because of this incident?"

Pan Yun nodded. "Yes. Because of this incident."

Sister Xuan Li sniffled. "I apologize to you—I'm the one who got you caught..."

"You still don't understand," Pan Yun interrupted. "The issue isn't that we were 'discovered' by the Mr. s—it's your character." She paused, then decided to speak plainly. "I can accept a friend who holds firm to their views, but I cannot accept a friend who knows they're wrong yet stubbornly refuses to listen."

Pan Yun said, "Your actions dragged all three of us into danger—and hurt you too. Before this, I warned you repeatedly. You knew you weren't suited for it, yet you still recklessly joined in just to boost your strength. That's why we don't want to grow closer to you."

Sister Xuan Li opened her mouth in shock.

Pan Yun extended her hand. "Even though we can't be close friends, a gentleman's friendship is as pure as water—we're still friends, and we can still exchange things in the future."

Sister Xuan Li stared blankly at her hand. She understood the gesture—it was an offer of reconciliation—but she couldn't accept it. With red eyes, she turned and ran away.

Pan Yun called after her retreating back, "Sister Xuan Li, this is one reason I didn't want to get closer—if we were still bound together, would you just run off like this and leave all the dirty clothes for us?"

Sister Xuan Li stopped. Finally, her face flushed red as she returned, dumped the half-washed clothes into the wooden tub—clean and dirty mixed together—and ran off crying.

Seeing Miao Zhen: "Junior uncle, she's embarrassed and furious. You shouldn't have said it so plainly."

Pan Yun: "Then watch you two talk past each other for half a day without ever making sense?"

Seeing Miao He: "Will she really cut ties with us?"

She frowned. "Friendship comes in many forms—why must she be our close friend? Honestly, I like being friends with her, just as a regular friend, or a slightly closer one." Pan Yun: "Because she takes you out to play?"

Seeing Miao He lowered her head, embarrassed.

Pan Yun said, "Don't worry. After she cools off for a couple days, she'll come back and be friends with us again."

Pan Yun was right. After her anger faded, Sister Xuan Li calmed down and thought carefully. She realized Pan Yun and Seeing Miao Zhen truly cared for her and wanted her to improve.

So two days later, she returned to find Pan Yun and the others, and volunteered, "Can I wash your clothes?"

Pan Yun refused. "If Zhang Guanshi finds out, he'll punish us severely."

In the past, Sister Xuan Li wouldn't have cared about that—she'd have insisted she was doing it for their good and snatched the clothes away to wash them herself;

but after her recent mistake, she dared not reach out this time.

Pan Yun's lips curled slightly. At least she was willing to listen now.

Pan Yun offered, "Then help us secure good seats and take notes on the after-class assignments. Sometimes we return late and miss good spots, or have to rush off and can't write down the homework."

!. Read

Sister Xuan Li immediately agreed, looking terrified Pan Yun might change her mind.

Without Sister Xuan Li, the laundry group now consisted only of the three junior nuns washing clothes by the stream each noon—how boring.

Pan Yun wrung out a set of clothes and tossed them into the tub with a sigh. "One and a half months left—another month and ten days. My hands are already wrinkled and peeling. When will this end?"

Seeing Miao He: "We're only doing this five days a week and it's already unbearable. Imagine how hard it is for the laborers who wash clothes every day. If only there were a spell to help them."

Seeing Miao He's words sparked an idea in Pan Yun. Her eyes lit up. "That's right—we don't have spells, and even if we did, wasting Qi on washing one set of clothes isn't worth it. But talismans are different."

Seeing Miao Zhen: "Are there talismans that clean clothes?"

Pan Yun: "Of course. But talismans that directly act on clothes are rare and weak—better to save your Qi for other things. Indirect talismans, however—I've thought of several. One I believe is best."

Seeing Miao Zhen and Seeing Miao He stared at her intently. "What talisman?"

"Power talisman," Pan Yun said. "We wash clothes by rubbing and twisting, right? But if you stick a power talisman on it and let it shake violently, the water rushes over it—the effect is the same."

Pan Yun grew more excited. "I can draw power talismans. But we also need a formation on the wooden tub—so it spins rapidly and washes the clothes clean."

Seeing Miao Zhen and Seeing Miao He stared, bewildered. "Junior uncle, are you feeling a headache again? Why are you daydreaming in broad daylight?"

Pan Yun glared at them. "I'm perfectly fine. Don't doubt me—I'll make it tomorrow and show you."

Seeing Miao Zhen immediately said, "I believe you, junior uncle—but let's get through today first."

Pan Yun looked down at the mountain of dirty clothes still piled before her and felt her vision darken. She gritted her teeth. "I will make a semi-automatic washing machine!"

Just so I won't go blind again when I enter the laundry bureau.

This chapter is only two thousand characters—I'll be home tomorrow, and resume extra updates the day after.

(End of chapter)