Chapter 220: To the One With Destiny

A soldier slammed his palm hard on the table, furious: "But as soon as she entered the city, she went straight to the county office—she's got old ties with the magistrate, she's definitely filing a complaint against us. Damn it, if I'd known—"

He sharply turned to the soldier who had demanded one tael of silver, shoved him hard, and roared: "Ding Yuan, what the hell are you doing today? It's just a cart of grain, and you're demanding a one-tael entry tax? Who'd pay that?"

The big man had just punched him too, a slap to the head—his ears still rang, and with the shove, Ding Yuan toppled backward, dazed and stunned.

The soldier moved to strike again, but the big man blocked him, his face grim: "Enough. The damage is done—beating him won't fix it. Everyone, tighten your belts. Ding Yuan, I know your mother's medicine costs money, but don't push it too far. If this blows up, none of us will survive."

Ding Yuan hung his head: "My wife is about to give birth…"

The big man frowned at him.

Tears fell one by one onto the ground as Ding Yuan choked out: "The midwife says the baby's in the wrong position—we need a physician, and ginseng to save her life."

Everyone fell silent.

Ginseng wasn't something you could buy for one or two taels—and even then, it might not save her life.

Wei Guangxiang couldn't help speaking up: "Why not just give up? Ginseng to save a life costs at least five taels—five taels could buy you a whole new wife. Just find another."

Ding Yuan shoved him hard, eyes blazing: "What the hell did you just say?"

"I'm only speaking for your own good—your family already has one invalid. Now you're adding another. Just cut out your flesh and feed it to them directly. You're useless—you can't earn money, so why take it out on me?"

Ding Yuan's eyes turned bloodshot as he shouted: "That's my mother and my wife!"

Wei Guangxiang grew furious too: "Yes, they're yours—but not ours. We're still taking the blame for you. Do you know what you're doing? You're squandering money that's tied to our futures and our lives. Do you think you're the only one with a mother?"

"Because of you, our superiors have warned us twice. Now it's reached the magistrate's ears—we might lose this job entirely. You're the only one who's human, and we're not?"

Wei Guangxiang shoved aside the companion trying to hold him back, turned to leave, and pointed at Ding Yuan: "Let me be clear—I won't take the blame for you. If superiors ask, I'll tell the truth. The money you stole? You didn't share a single copper with me!"

"Enough, enough," said a soldier whose appearance differed slightly from the others: "Everyone, stop. Guangxiang, Ding Yuan really is in trouble right now—"

"He's in trouble? What about me? What about us? At least he's married. I can't even find a wife. I'm saving up to marry one someday—and because of him, I've been punished twice. All the money I saved these past two years? Gone—taken by our superiors. Who do I complain to?"

He glared at the soldier: "Pu Min, your family's rich—you don't rely on this salary. We're not like you. Who among us doesn't have a whole family waiting to be fed?"

Pu Min's face flushed with embarrassment.

The big man growled: "Enough!"

He paused, then said: "This ends here. I'll handle the magistrate."

He turned to Ding Yuan and Wei Guangxiang, his expression dark: "No next time. Ding Yuan, I repeat: don't push it too far. Guangxiang, we're pretending we didn't hear any of that. If you can't stay in this unit, apply to leave—but you know better than to say things you shouldn't."

Wei Guangxiang dared not argue, lowering his head: "Yes, Brother."

The big man took a deep breath, ordered them back to duty, and kept Pu Min behind.

"Pu Min, I need to borrow some money."

Pu Min: "Are you buying gifts to apologize at the magistrate's office?"

The big man sighed: "What other option do we have?"

Pu Min: "They're young, but I've seen their temper—they won't be swayed by an apology."

"Whether it works or not, we have to try. The men need to feed their families. Losing this job is bad enough—but I fear they'll transfer us to Laiyuan Post to guard the maritime ban."

Before the big man finished, Pu Min shuddered.

Laiyuan Post was at Citong Harbor. Since the maritime ban, it's been largely abandoned. The garrison there must patrol—both against Japanese pirates landing and against fishermen poaching and merchants smuggling out of the port. Casualties there are frequent.

Beyond the danger to life, it's far from Nanan County—we might not return home for a month.

Our magistrate especially likes to send people he dislikes to Laiyuan Post.

Laiyuan Post also needs laborers. Whoever's sent, they take them all.

The big man feared his unit would be transferred there—it would be like crying to heaven and getting no answer, crying to earth and getting no reply.

Pan Yun knew none of this. She and the others knocked on the door with Master Xuanmiao's letter, and the magistrate's gatekeeper bowed deeply to admit them.

Lady Zhuang Wenji hurried out to greet them, pausing when she saw three young female Daoist priests.

But she immediately smiled and stepped forward: "Are you three young Daoists here to see Master Xuanmiao and Physician Tao?"

The gatekeeper quickly said: "This is our magistrate's lady."

Pan Yun and Seeing Miao Zhen bowed in greeting, introducing themselves: "Our senior sister wrote that they were treating the Lady's mother in Nanan County, so we came to join them."

Lady Zhuang smiled: "You've come at an unfortunate time—Master Xuanmiao and Physician Tao left Nanan County two days ago." Pan Yun froze, glancing at Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He.

Lady Zhuang invited them inside to sit, had tea and snacks served, then added: "But before leaving, Master Xuanmiao left a letter saying that if any Daoist from Mount Sanqing came, the letter should be given to them."

Lady Zhuang ordered a maid to fetch the letter and handed it to Pan Yun.

Pan Yun traced the seal with her fingers—confirmed it hadn't been opened—then read the front: "To the One With Destiny."

Pan Yun took it as a sign she was the one, and broke the seal.

I don't know who you are, but you're most likely my junior sister:

If it's you, receive this letter and turn back. I know you're using us as an excuse to head north—I've calculated it's possible, you may go, but you must return to Mount Sanqing before Xiao Nian, or you'll face bloodshed.

If it's not my junior sister, but my second senior brother, come to Quanzhou Prefecture to find us.

Below was an address.

Pan Yun blinked, puzzled: "Why would Second Senior Brother also be looking for Third Senior Brother and Fourth Senior Sister?"

Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He leaned in to read together.

!. Read

This letter was clearly written by Master Xuanmiao—extremely concise.

Pan Yun folded the letter and handed it to Seeing Miao Zhen, then asked after a pause: "Lady Zhuang, why did my senior sister and brother suddenly go to Quanzhou Prefecture? They still had patients in Changzhou Prefecture."

Lady Zhuang smiled: "Young Daoist, Quanzhou Prefecture isn't far—just a day's journey. It's the regional capital, and from there, it's easy to reach Changzhou. Master Xuanmiao received a letter saying a friend there was in trouble. Since they were returning to Changzhou anyway, they decided to stop by."

If it were truly just a detour, why tell Pan Yun to turn north and return to Changzhou herself?

Unless it wasn't a detour at all—and there was danger.

So she sent Pan Yun and the others away, and called Yin Song to help.

Pan Yun sealed the letter, pressed it with her Nascent Soul energy, and returned it to Lady Zhuang: "Lady Zhuang, please keep this letter. If any other Daoist from Mount Sanqing comes, give it to them."

Zhuang Wenji: …

She took the letter and nodded. "All right."

Pan Yun cupped her fist. "Then we'll take our leave."

"Wait a moment," Zhuang Wenji hastily called them back. "Are you heading to Quanzhou, or going back?"

Pan Yun rolled her eyes, then said, "We've decided to follow Senior Sister's advice and go back."

Zhuang Wenji smiled. "There's no rush, then. Since you're here, stay at home. I'll have someone prepare the guest room."

Pan Yun declined. "On the way here we bought some grain, planning to sell it. Business matters aren't something we should trouble Lady Zhuang with. We'll stay at an inn outside."

Zhuang Wenji heard this and didn't press further—what if people thought she was angling for a bribe?

Zhuang Wenji thought for a moment, hurriedly told a maid to wrap up two big bundles of pastries, saw them to the gate, and pressed the pastries into their hands. "Our family's Old Lady's illness was thanks to Daoist Priest Tao. Even if you won't stay here, if you run into any trouble in Nan'an County, you can come find us. Take these pastries and try them—Master Xuanmiao and Daoist Priest Tao loved these two kinds when they stayed here."

Pan Yun agreed with a smile, didn't mention the matter at the city gate, took the pastries, and left.

Seeing Miao Zhen turned the cart around, waited until all three had climbed onto the shaft and settled, then cracked the whip and drove off. "Little Xiao Shishu, where are we going now?"

Pan Yun said, "To Ping'an Inn."

Seeing Miao Zhen tilted her head to glance at her and whispered, "To do evil?"

"Shh—" Pan Yun whispered. "To try our luck. I feel that the closer we get to Quanzhou, the heavier the city-gate tax. In a bit, let's ask the grain shop what price they pay for grain. If it's right, we'll sell off all the grain on the cart right here in Nan'an County."

Actually, she could have tossed it all into her spirit-realm space, but she felt there was no need—things that could be kept outside should be kept outside.

Wealth should not be flaunted. Even though she could construct a space, she couldn't be too showy about it. What if someone insisted on capturing her and locking her in a dark room to make a space?

So Pan Yun and the others had always been careful—only revealing it when they had to put on a show for reputation; at other times they kept it hidden.

And as for the former, opinions vary—plenty of people probably thought they were just doing tricks to fool people.

She wanted people to be half-believing, half-doubting—credible yet suspect. Things in this world lose their fun once they're pinned down.

Miao He: "So you're lying. We're not going back—we're going to Quanzhou."

Pan Yun smacked her head. "Keep your voice down. Don't you know you can't be too careful around people? How could we tell outsiders what we're about to do?"

Seeing Miao Zhen nodded in agreement.

Miao He: "But Master and the others came all the way from Changzhou Prefecture to treat the Old Lady here. Surely there's some friendship. Do you treat friends like this too?"

Seeing Miao Zhen: "Dummy, don't you get it yet? Little Xiao Shishu isn't just guarding against outsiders—she's also guarding against my Master, Third Xiao Shishu, and Fourth Xiao Shishu. She plans to sneak off to Quanzhou quietly. If my Master really comes later, they'll think we went to Changzhou."

There's another update tonight.

(End of chapter)