Chapter 263: The Mask Slips

Pan Yun figured that, for this reason alone, the money she and Old Liu had taken couldn't be too little.

Pan Yun flicked her dust whisk, striking directly on Liu He's forehead. "Fool, it's this Taoist who wishes to see Old Liu."

Liu He's forehead stung; he was about to rage, but before he could even make out Pan Yun's face, her figure flickered—a phantom passed by his side, and in the blink of an eye, she stood ten paces behind him.

The townsfolk, seeing Pan Yun appear behind Liu He in an instant, stared wide-eyed.

Liu He didn't realize it—he only felt someone had suddenly vanished before his eyes.

He was still dazed when the little Taoist holding his sword glared at him. "What are you standing there for? Don't you dare lead this little master's uncle?"

"I—"

Seeing Miao Zhen pointed behind him.

Liu He turned his head and his eyes widened instantly.

Pan Yun had already taken a few steps and looked back. "Aren't you coming?"

Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He passed Liu He and followed.

Liu He's legs trembled; he shuffled after them, and the townsfolk behind burst into laughter, jeering: "Liu He, what are you afraid of? This is a immortal—go on!"

Hearing this, Pan Yun turned back, her aura—sparked by Old Liu's provocation—fading, and she smiled gently at Liu He.

Liu He felt Pan Yun had truly become an immortal—her face even looked divine, approachable and kind.

Liu He's expression changed instantly; he eagerly stepped forward to guide her, leading her all the way to the main hall.

Only when he saw Old Liu flipping through ledgers in the hall did Liu He suddenly realize—he had done something improper.

He felt a moment of guilt and fear, but quickly suppressed it.

Liu He wasn't a servant; though he was a gatekeeper, he was Old Liu's relative, a true Liu by blood.

Old Liu, seeing Liu He bring three strangers straight into the hall without reporting, frowned.

He looked up at Pan Yun, his gaze sharpened—and froze.

Pan Yun spoke calmly. "Old Liu, great disaster looms over your household. Do you still sense nothing?"

Old Liu rose quickly. "Taoist, why speak such words? Are you merely envious of my wealth, spreading alarm to swindle money?"

Congratulations. You're right.

Pan Yun's expression didn't change; she merely shook her head slightly at Old Liu. "Fate it is. This Taoist should never have thought to alter men's destinies. Si Shui, Wu Huo, let's go."

Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He replied, turning to follow Pan Yun.

Old Liu immediately reacted, face turning pale, rushing after them. "Taoist, wait! Are you the Three Bamboo Taoist who's been slaying Japanese pirates along the Quanzhou coast lately?"

Pan Yun halted, glancing back slightly. "Didn't you just suspect this Taoist of swindling money?"

Old Liu wiped sweat from his brow. "So you truly are Three Bamboo Taoist! This humble one had no eyes to recognize the mountain's majesty—I mistook you for some wandering charlatan from outside."

So he still doubted she was the real Three Bamboo.

Pan Yun studied Old Liu carefully. She'd been wrong—she'd thought her allure would make Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He devour her, so she assumed her pull on others would be stronger.

But she'd forgotten that Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He's closeness to her came with a filter.

Ordinary folk thought little and had weak spiritual cores, so they were easily drawn to her;

yet there were always those with firm wills—even if they liked her, they'd harbor doubts, unlike those townsfolk and Liu He, who believed whatever she said.

Wasn't Old Liu's cruelty and cunning another kind of firm will?

Pan Yun burst into laughter, gesturing for Old Liu to extend his hand.

Old Liu, puzzled, extended his right hand.

Pan Yun reached into her spiritual realm and pulled out something, watching him with a half-smile; when she opened her palm, the object landed in Old Liu's right hand.

It was a plain green jade pendant.

Old Liu felt the jade pendant was familiar, but couldn't recall where he'd seen it.

Pan Yun smiled. "This is the jade pendant Song Bei wore. You've dealt with him a few times—surely you've seen this pendant before?"

Old Liu's hand trembled slightly. "Taoist Three Bamboo, you must be mistaken—I don't know this man. I—"

Under Pan Yun's half-smiling gaze, Old Liu fell silent.

He quickly turned to Liu He and the others. "All of you, leave."

Once the servants were gone, he respectfully invited the three to sit in the hall, personally pouring tea for them with warm hospitality.

He wiped cold sweat from his brow, nervously asking: "How did Three Bamboo Taoist learn I knew Song Bei?"

Pan Yun smiled faintly. "You fear retribution, thinking the danger I mentioned is Song Bei's?"

Old Liu wiped sweat, saying nothing.

Pan Yun shook her head. "It is indeed tied to Song Bei—but not from the government office. It's… from the Japanese pirates."

Old Liu stared at her in surprise. Pan Yun continued: "To the world, Song Bei is a normal merchant. Even those like you, who know his dealings are shady, can't find solid proof for the government office…"

Old Liu realized—true. He'd merely done normal business with Song Bei. How was he to know Song Bei was smuggling with Japanese pirates?

Old Liu straightened his back.

Pan Yun smiled sardonically. "Our government office is a place of reason and law—but Japanese pirates and sea bandits know none of that."

She said: "I learned of you because, while hiding among a Japanese pirate convoy, I overheard something. Old Liu, Shuangyang Village and Huaicai Village took the disaster meant for you."

Old Liu's body turned cold; his eyes widened. "What did you say?"

Pan Yun spoke coldly. "Japanese pirates come ashore for wealth. But what did Shuangyang and Huaicai have worth slaughtering their villagers? Their combined wealth doesn't equal one Liu household."

"They simply picked the wrong place, killed the wrong people," Pan Yun leaned forward slightly, eyes locked on Old Liu, lips curling in mockery. "Old Liu, guess—how did that band of pirates, who bypassed the city, learn of your family's wealth?"

Old Liu's hands turned icy. Thinking of the carnage in Shuangyang and Huaicai, he staggered two steps, collapsing into the chair opposite Pan Yun, gripping the table.

If those pirates hadn't mistaken their target, wouldn't the Liu household be just like Shuangyang and Huaicai…

Old Liu's lips trembled; he suddenly realized. "T-Taoist, you said you heard Song Bei and those Japanese beasts mention my family—they're going to…"

"They didn't get what they wanted. Naturally, they'll come again. For them, landing, bypassing the city, and attacking isn't difficult, is it?"

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Master Liu's face turned ashen, and he angrily shouted, "Are the imperial court's soldiers all just eating their meals? They can't even hold a single stretch of coastline!"

"I must speak up for the imperial court's soldiers," Pan Yun said. "The Great Ming's coastline is so long, and we have so few soldiers—how can we guard every inch?"

Pan Yun smiled faintly. "Otherwise, how could someone like Master Liu slip past the defenses to sell goods outside?"

Master Liu grew awkward at these words.

Pan Yun picked up her teacup, took a sip, set it down, brushed her robe, and rose. "My duty to warn you is done. Master Liu, take care. I take my leave."

Lost in thought, Master Liu snapped back to reality and immediately blocked her path. "Master Sanzhu, please save me!"

Pan Yun, cold and noble, said, "No time."

With that, she stepped around Master Liu and walked out.

Master Liu hurried to block her again, but in the blink of an eye, Pan Yun was already outside the hall, two steps into the courtyard.

Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He were a step behind, but they summoned their lightness arts and leapt past Master Liu, swiftly catching up.

Master Liu's eyes widened in shock—he could no longer maintain his dignity. He sprinted after her and barely caught up at the front gate.

Seeing Pan Yun lift her foot to step out, he panicked, fell to his knees with a thud, and cried out loudly: "Master Sanzhu, please save my entire Liu family—dozens of lives!"

Pan Yun's step paused slightly.

Master Liu scrambled forward and grabbed her leg, weeping bitterly: "Master, if you leave today, my Liu family is truly finished! I was blind before—I offended you. I know now I was wrong!"

"Master, those Japanese pirates are cruel and vicious. If you don't help me, my Liu family will be utterly destroyed."

Pan Yun looked down at him and said coldly: "Master Liu, to summon me to act comes at a high price."

Master Liu couldn't help but slap himself, repenting: "Master Sanzhu, my earlier words were the result of my mind clouded by greed—"

Pan Yun spoke softly: "Master Liu, you weren't mistaken. I truly do seek wealth."

Master Liu truly wept. He thought Pan Yun was still angry—how he wished he could go back two breaths ago and beat himself.

But fortunately, Pan Yun was now willing to speak a few more words to him.

Master Liu clung tightly to her pant leg. "Master Sanzhu, please return to the hall and take your seat. Let us discuss this properly, shall we?"

Pan Yun looked down, meeting his desperate eyes. Inside, she silently made a little V. On the outside, she remained noble and cold, turned away, freed herself from his grip, and took two steps toward the hall.

Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He also turned. Master Liu snapped out of it, sprang up nimbly from the ground, and hurried ahead to lead Pan Yun.

The villagers still outside the Liu estate had silently watched the entire scene. Only after Master Liu bowed low and led the three Daoists far away did they finally react.

Boom—the sound exploded. Everyone shouted in disbelief.

"Did you see? Did you see? Master Liu knelt before someone!"

"Did you hear what Master Liu called that old Daoist? Sanzhu—Sanzhu!"

"That's the Sanzhu Daoist who fought a hundred alone and killed a hundred Japanese pirates!"

"The ones beside her must be Si Shui and Wu Hu Daoists! Good heavens—I've seen the heroes who slew the pirates!"

"Si Shui and Wu Hu Daoists are so young! How can they be so young and still kill enemies?"

"But Sanzhu Daoist is the real master—just now, she flashed past in a flash! That's magic, surely magic!"

"How could those Japanese pirates compare to the Daoists? No wonder they were wiped out—killed ten thousand at a time!"

Master Xuanmiao and Tao Ji squeezed through the crowd from behind, standing among the villagers and gazing into the Liu estate yard—only catching a fleeting glimpse of the three figures vanishing into the distance.

The people within sight had already disappeared, yet the villagers grew even more excited, unwilling to leave, continuing to gather before the Liu gate, chatting eagerly.

Master Xuanmiao and Tao Ji exchanged glances, and couldn't help but chuckle softly, then turned and left.

The three children's trials were more refined than they'd imagined—they didn't need their guidance at all.

(End of Chapter)