[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming":3,"chapter-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-190":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Unorthodox Sword of Ming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2337395,4570,"Chapter 190: Failure Two","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-190",190,"\u003Cp>Pan Yun helped the two finish washing all the clothes, then squatted down, staring blankly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she had found a shortcut—using spiritual power to wash clothes while still cultivating—she still wanted to build a washing machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He picked up the washed clothes; seeing Pan Yun lost in thought, they slid their arms through the wooden tubs, each carrying two tubs on one arm, “Let’s go, we’ll hang the clothes first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun’s mind was fully absorbed in the washing machine, but her instincts made her follow Miao Zhen and Miao He, so when they called, she mechanically stood up and followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at the laundry bureau, Miao Zhen and Miao He set down the tubs and began hanging the clothes to dry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they shook the clothes, fine river sand and pebbles fell out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He lowered their heads in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun was startled by the sound and looked down at the river sand on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen swallowed hard and said, “Is it still possible to wash them again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun looked up at the sun’s position and shook her head, “Too late now. Look—the original stains are gone; it’s just some pebbles. Shake them out and they’ll be gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen spread the clothes open and shook them vigorously; after careful inspection, she saw the trapped pebbles weren’t small, and even the sand clinging to the fabric would dry and brush off easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she half-closed her eyes and hung them up anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun quickly joined in; the three kept shaking, shaking out countless grains of river sand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they hung the inner sides of the clothes on the lines, the inspector, Zhang Guanshi, never noticed anything wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time she found out the next day, it was impossible to prove the clothes hadn’t been washed clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun refused to admit fault, insisting, “We hung them up clean. Yesterday’s wind was strong—maybe the sand blew onto them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Guanshi stared coldly at them. “Fine. Today I’ll see whether it’s your failure to wash them clean—or whether the wind brought the sand later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun temporarily stopped using the washing machine and reverted to using spiritual power to wash clothes—faster and cleaner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after washing, she piled the clothes on clean stones, and the three silently shook them again, then rinsed them once more in water before lifting them out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had no good solution for the vortex pulling in silt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a night of thought, Pan Yun still wanted to use a wooden tub for the washing machine—cheap, and easy to make.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though in later eras wood was expensive and iron and alloys were cheap, given the current craftsmanship, wooden tubs were indeed relatively inexpensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how could she make this wooden tub strong enough?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun studied the tub for a long time, then ran to find Yuan Daochang, the Daoist in the academy skilled in carpentry, and begged him to rebuild a large wooden tub: “Make it unbreakable—even if you hit it, it won’t crack.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Daochang: “That’s not a wooden tub—that’s a magical artifact.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun asked: “Can you make it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t. Even if I were making a magical artifact, I wouldn’t make a wooden tub—what’s the point?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then just help me make a wooden tub, incredibly sturdy, impervious to wind and rain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Daochang gave her a silent look, then agreed: “Come back in ten days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun pulled out a string of silver taels and gave them to him; Yuan Daochang glanced at them and said, “Come back in five days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun pulled out another Lei Fu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Daochang carefully examined the Lei Fu and said, “Come back in three days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Pan Yun still rummaging in her sleeve, Yuan Daochang feared his resolve might break—he quickly grabbed her hand. “Enough. Don’t give more. I can’t shorten the time further. You want unbreakable? Then I must select materials, plane, sand, and soak it in water for a full day and night. Rush it, and it won’t hold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “I know. I was just tucking my purse deeper into my sleeve so it won’t fall out. My remaining funds are limited.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Daochang withdrew his hand; as Pan Yun turned to leave, he hurriedly asked, “You haven’t told me what you need this unbreakable tub for. Aren’t you being punished to the laundry bureau to calm your mind? Is this tub just for holding clothes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “Something like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You spent a Lei Fu and all this silver just to make a tub for clothes?” Yuan Daochang sighed sincerely. “You’re truly rich.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun said: “It’s all worth it. Sharpening the axe doesn’t delay chopping wood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days later, she received a massive wooden tub, large enough to hold three of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was called a tub, but more like a wooden cask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tub was enormous, extremely heavy, and extremely thick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun was satisfied; she tried lifting it with her own strength but couldn’t budge it—finally, she coated her palms with spiritual power and heaved it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun carried the tub straight to the stream, dug a shallow pit beside it, and set the tub inside, securing it firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she wiped the tub clean and began painting arrays on its surface—this time, she added reinforcing arrays, buffing the tub. She refused to believe it would still shatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He came by briefly, saw their junior master so absorbed, didn’t disturb her, and left. Only Pan Xiaohei waited quietly nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun didn’t stop until the moon hung high; only when she finished the final stroke did the two arrays flash with spiritual light, clinging tightly to the tub. Only then did she realize it was dark. She exclaimed in surprise: “I’ve become this powerful? I can paint arrays in total darkness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Xiaohei couldn’t understand her: “You already have a better way to wash clothes than studying a washing machine—why waste effort on something so pointless?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “Don’t underestimate a researcher’s curiosity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Xiaohei: “I never knew you had something like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If not for state restrictions and your status as state property, countless people in my past life would have wanted to dismantle you for study—including me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Pan Yun chose reason over crime. After all, she was already a famous genius student of the national academy, proficient in arrays and talismans—her research into the spiritual realm would inevitably require her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she couldn’t lead the research, assisting would still bring her joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun looked at Pan Xiaohei with a half-smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Xiaohei’s spine chilled with fear: “W-why are you looking at me like that? Y-you’re not planning to dismantle me this life, are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “Am I that kind of person?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!. Read\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She said: “We’re companions, comrades. How could I ever do that to you? I just want you to know—I’m a qualified researcher. If you discover anything about your own body, tell me. What you don’t know, what you can’t think of—maybe I can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Xiaohei: “Thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun grinned: “No need to thank me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While painting the power array, Pan Yun instinctively reduced the energy output and speed—based on the last experiment, the tub shattered not just because it was weak, but because the power was too great, too forceful, and she lost control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun bit her brush, thought for a moment, then painted two new power arrays.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she slapped them—one on each side of the tub.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun clapped her hands: “Done. We can test it tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Xiaohei expressed doubt: “I’m not doubting you—I just don’t think you’ll succeed this fast. Why not check the books and data transmitted to me? Maybe you can still figure it out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun asked: “Do you think I could build a motor using only those materials?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Xiaohei: “Why not? You don’t know how much data you pumped into me while I was asleep. It even explained how to forge a single screw—afraid that after the apocalypse and human exodus, future humans wouldn’t know how to make one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “Then tell me—how is my power array worse than their motor? Why can’t my power array replace a motor? Who says a washing machine must use a motor? Why not use talismans?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Xiaohei said bluntly: “Sorry, I was narrow-minded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun snorted and waved her hand: “Forget it. I forgive you. After all, you’re just a cat. What wisdom and foresight could I expect from you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Xiaohei: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun dropped the tub and lifted her chin, walking toward Fengqi Courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He were just coming out with lanterns to find her; they met her and walked home together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the first washing machine experiment had failed, Pan Yun didn’t tell Miao Zhen and Miao He in advance—so they wouldn’t get excited for nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she was confident the experiment wouldn’t fail again, what if it did?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, Pan Yun dumped both buckets of dirty clothes into the large wooden tub, then chanted the Water-Drawing Incantation, drawing water directly from the stream into the tub.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen activated the power arrays as instructed; the tub began to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First it spun clockwise, then counterclockwise. When the water reached the right level, Pan Yun, Miao Zhen, and Miao He tiptoed to the edge and peered inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the clothes churned evenly, Pan Yun cheered: “Success!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He cheered too: “Wonderful! Now we’ll never fear being sent to the laundry bureau again. Junior Master, tomorrow at noon, let it wash here—we’ll go fight with our senior brothers and sisters?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun nodded: “But someone must stay to take out the clothes, put them in, and add pig pancreas soap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He exchanged glances: “Let’s settle it with rock-paper-scissors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three immediately played rock-paper-scissors to decide who would stay tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the washing machine, the three slacked off—they stopped washing the remaining clothes, waiting to take out the clean ones and start the next batch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tub did the work for them; when it stopped, Pan Yun noticed a flaw: “I designed an outlet, but the array lacks compression capability. This won’t do—I need to revise the array.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen found another flaw: “Every time we activate the power array, we need to chant. That means only cultivators can use it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He: “Junior Master can use the Water-Drawing Incantation, so filling water is easy—but ordinary people can only carry bucket after bucket to fill it, and must watch constantly to add water at the right time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun noted them all down, confidently waved her hand: “These are minor issues! I’ll think about them when I get back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the three pulled the washed clothes from the tub, they were tangled together, and many stains on the hems, knees, and sleeves remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just Miao Zhen and Miao He—Pan Yun herself couldn’t accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1838,"2026-06-20T22:03:57.478Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6b3781d6681dacb5060cdd550761db53ad6938afc4a3cec754ea00cdde33b352","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-191","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-189",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-cover.jpg"]