Chapter 266: Price Just Went Up

Liu Master immediately abandoned Liu Hei and ran toward Pan Yun, but because the cart had overturned into Tian Geng, he stumbled twice on the weeds while climbing up before finally reaching the road.

"Master Sanzhu, please forgive this humble man's transgression—I'm willing to pay five hundred taels for that divine artifact, you…"

Pan Yun smiled faintly at him. "It's gone."

Liu Master collapsed to his knees with a thud and wept loudly: "Master Sanzhu, save my Liu family and all the townspeople—we have over eight hundred souls here~~"

Pan Yun held up five fingers and smiled lightly. "Five thousand taels."

Liu Master's sobs choked off with a sharp "gulp."

Pan Yun looked at his expression, then turned and walked away.

Liu Master suddenly snapped to his senses—he knew Pan Yun was not a person who softened easily; if he pressed further, he might lose even the five thousand taels.

Liu Master was nearly ready to give up—five thousand taels! That was ten times the original five hundred.

If only he hadn't hesitated this afternoon and agreed right away…

Regret washed over him like a tide, yet he quickly regained clarity: between life and money, though money mattered greatly, Liu Master chose life.

He lunged forward and grabbed Pan Yun's pant leg, shouting: "Five thousand taels—I'll buy it!"

Pan Yun impatiently swatted his hand away with her dust whisk and asked: "Will you pay, or will the townspeople pay?"

Liu Master's voice trembled. "I—I'll pay. I'll pay!"

Five thousand taels? The townspeople couldn't afford it. If he dared ask them to pay, they'd rise up against him.

Five hundred taels might still be possible.

When pressure is light, they'll endure and hope it passes; but if pressure hits them all at once, they might not endure at all.

Liu Master had enough wit for that much.

Having gotten his answer, Pan Yun said: "Liu Master, go home and wait. I don't have the array flags or array discs ready yet—I'll come to you once they're done."

"How long will that take?"

Pan Yun looked down at him in silence.

Liu Master's courage faltered; he dared not press further, and sat on the ground, staring blankly as Pan Yun walked away.

Zheng Master walked up to him and reached out to help him up. "Liu Master, please rise."

Liu Master's face darkened; he brushed off Zheng Master's hand and stood.

Zheng Master didn't mind—he smiled gently, wiping his hand on his sleeve as he tucked it behind his back. "Liu Master, night is falling. Stay overnight in the village? Have a meal?"

Liu Master declined. Though he wished to grow closer to Pan Yun, he knew approaching her now would only worsen their rift—there was no benefit in it.

Liu Master gritted his teeth and turned away, ordering his men to separate the horse from the cart and lift the cart onto the road.

Liu Hei had already decided to quit—he paid no attention to Liu Master, stepped through the muddy shoes, climbed onto the road, and kicked off down the path.

Liu Master stood by the roadside, furious, cursing him for a long while.

Pan Yun didn't linger in Zhengjia Village either. After handing the array disc to Zheng Master, she said: "I have urgent matters—I must take my leave."

Zheng Master couldn't persuade her to stay; he bowed deeply again and thanked her solemnly: "Old man knows Master Sanzhu came only out of compassion, to warn us of our peril. This kindness must not be wasted. Zheng hereby thanks Master Sanzhu on behalf of all villagers of Zhengjia."

Pan Yun reached out and steadied his hand. "Zheng Master, you can't chase bandits for a thousand miles—you can't guard against them for a thousand days. This is Great Ming's land, yours by right. How can you be forced into trembling fear by foreign pirates across the sea?"

"Only by exterminating the Japanese pirates and sea raiders—ensuring they can never land—can we achieve lasting peace."

Zheng Master smiled bitterly. "Money stirs the heart. As long as they suffer poverty, they'll keep coming ashore to plunder. How can we stop them?"

"If our navy is strong enough—kill one when one comes, two when two come—and build our defenses on the islands, then the Japanese pirates must break through layer after layer of barriers to enter. That can be held."

Zheng Master gasped. "The cost would be enormous. Not just the imperial court—likely the people wouldn't agree either."

War costs money. A powerful navy costs even more. The people fight the Japanese pirates to survive, to live better.

But if their lives collapse during the military buildup, wouldn't the outcome be the same?

Pan Yun said gravely: "Zheng Master, you know how profitable maritime trade is. What if its revenues were reclaimed by the state to fund the army?"

Zheng Master smiled, his gaze sweeping over the frost-white strands at Pan Yun's temples. "I never thought Master Sanzhu, at your age, could be so naive. Everyone knows maritime trade is profitable—but the pie is only so big. Who would willingly spit out what's already in their mouth?"

"The powerful clans of Zhejiang and Fujian won't give it up. The Emperor won't either. Who among them sees the soldiers training on the shore? Who sees us, living in constant dread?"

Pan Yun looked at him steadily. "Zheng Master, how can you know the pie can't be torn apart if you never try? Besides—who says the pie is only this size? We can simply add more flour and water, and make it bigger."

Zheng Master shook his head. "I'm old. I have a whole family behind me. I dare not try. I dare not."

Pan Yun smiled, bowed, and took her leave.

Zheng Master only saw them off to the gate.

Pan Yun did not exit through the village entrance—Liu Master was still struggling with his cart there.

The three of them used lightness skill to leap out from the village's side, circling past Liu Master to reach the main road.

Only when they were alone did Pan Yun retrieve the longsword from Seeing Miao Zhen's arms and drop Pan Xiaohei to the ground to run on his own.

Seeing Miao Zhen shook her slightly numb hand. "Little Master, shall we return to find Third Master and the others?"

Pan Yun grunted. "Will we still do business with Liu Master?"

"Of course—we're talking five thousand taels. Why not?" Pan Yun said. "Have Fourth Mistress handle it. I'll teach her this array set."

Seeing Miao Zhen: "I want to learn too."

Pan Yun: "Then learn. But with your current cultivation, you'll likely struggle to draw it."

Seeing Miao Zhen: "Who cares? Learn first, worry later."

Pan Yun liked her spirit—she immediately agreed. "I'll teach you both tonight."

Seeing Miao He knew she couldn't learn it, so she decided not to join. "I want to soak in a bath and sleep tonight."

She hadn't soaked in a bath or slept well in a long time.

Pan Yun and Seeing Miao Zhen turned to look at her, envious and jealous.

The three moved quickly and soon caught up with Liu Hei, who was still grumbling as he walked.

Walking behind him, they could clearly see the bloody welts on his back.

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Pan Yun frowned and quickened her pace to catch up with him. "Hey, dummy."

Liu He turned around, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the three, and immediately clasped his hands together. "Master Daoist."

Seeing him bow with clasped hands, Pan Yun couldn't help but smile, unbothered, and tossed him a jar. "This is for your face."

Then she pulled out another bottle and a roll of gauze, gesturing for him to turn around. "You've been traveling through dust and dirt all this way—if you don't bandage it, what was minor will become serious."

Liu He blinked in surprise, quickly thanked her, and turned his back.

Seeing and Miao Zhen took out scissors and water, cut away the torn fabric around the wound, used tweezers to remove the embedded fragments of cloth, washed away the dirt with water, then pressed the area dry with cotton cloth before applying the medicine.

The three moved swiftly and worked in perfect harmony, quickly treating and bandaging the wound on his back.

Liu He's heart swelled with a bittersweet ache, and he couldn't help raising a hand to wipe his eyes.

Pan Yun saw he was crying and asked, "Is it very painful?"

Liu He shook his head.

Pan Yun changed the subject to distract him. "What will you do after quitting your job?"

"I don't know," Liu He said. "I still have two mu of land back home. If I don't farm, I'll go to the city to find work. I eat, and my whole family doesn't starve. Even carrying sacks can keep me alive."

Pan Yun blinked. "You have no family left?"

"None," Liu He said. "My mother died of illness a few years ago. My father was working in the fields when pirates came ashore—he grabbed his hoe and ran, but the pirates didn't chase him; he fell into a ditch and died. Only I'm left."

"The clan saw I couldn't manage on my own, so Liu Tai found me a job—I became his gatekeeper. As long as I don't starve each month, it's enough."

He paused, then added, "But I feel this isn't how I should live. I don't drink, I don't gamble, I have no woman—I work hard every day, yet why, after a whole year, do I still have no money?"

Pan Yun: "Why is that?"

Liu He slapped his thigh. "Because the money he pays me is wrong."

He said, "I've finally figured it out—Liu Tai is stingy. He's stingy with outsiders, and he's stingy with us kin too. Anyone who works for him gets cheated."

"When people borrow grain from him, he makes them repay in cash—at the price he sets. The money they repay could buy two or three times as much grain."

Liu He: "So anyone who borrows grain from him, no matter how hard they work, grows poorer and poorer."

"I feel this is wrong. I can't keep living like this with him."

Pan Yun sighed. "He's draining the wealth of everyone around him."

Liu He's eyes widened. "Master Sanzhu, you think he's draining us too?"

Pan Yun nodded.

Liu He slapped his thigh. "I knew I wasn't imagining it!"

Then he sighed again. "But what good does knowing it do? Many still can't leave him."

Pan Yun sighed too.

Liu He glanced around, then whispered, "Master Sanzhu—is there any way to stop him from draining us?"

What way could there be?

Old Master Liu was born with a black heart and held power and resources—not because he was clever enough to scheme, but because he stood at the top; with just a slight motion of his hand, he could seize the resources others had worked hard for.

Such people never last long—no more than three generations before their family falls.

But Liu He and the townspeople now clearly couldn't wait until then.

There was one possible method…

Pan Yun shook her head directly. "There's no way. Only when your fortune surpasses his, leave him far behind."

A wicked man's fortune opposes the Dao, and such methods are too dark and cruel. Better to defeat him with wisdom and wit.

Liu He deflated. "How do we know when our fortune surpasses his?"

(End of Chapter)