Chapter 271

Pan Yun swallowed hard, clapped her hands softly, and whispered, "Then I'll take it—will Senior Brother Zhang be willing to give it?"

"I'll write him a letter; he'll give it to you."

Pan Yun gave Master Xuanmiao a thumbs-up.

After finishing acupuncture and administering medicine to the Licentiate, Tao Ji walked over and said casually, "Take more; there's plenty in there your senior sister brought back. If you don't take it, someone else will benefit later."

Pan Yun immediately said, "I'll go get it right away."

She had copied those three martial arts manuals for her two brothers, but since the texts were so valuable, she planned to send them via a security escort after leaving Long Hushan—too risky to use the Minxin Bureau or postal stations.

When she copied them, she memorized every single technique inside.

Cultivators have this ability; she could recite them all again from memory, but there were many more fine martial arts manuals in the Fuxi Academy's library—if she didn't have to copy them, she could send even more to her brothers…

Pan Yun chuckled foolishly.

The people from Huaihua Village arrived soon.

They came as three generations: an old man, a middle-aged man, and a young man.

The Licentiate was the spokesperson of Shuangyang Village; though ill, he still forced himself to come out.

Everyone sat together in the courtyard, and the Licentiate introduced them, mainly introducing the people from Huaihua Village.

After introducing them, his gaze slid over Master Xuanmiao and Tao Ji, then settled on Pan Yun.

This surprised Pan Yun—in front of Master Xuanmiao and Tao Ji, no one would think she was the one in charge.

Master Xuanmiao and Tao Ji said nothing.

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow and smiled, "I am Pan Yun of Mount Sanqing; this is my senior sister, Master Xuanmiao; this is my senior brother, Tao Ji; these are my two junior disciples, Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He."

Liu You, the elder of Huaihua Village, glanced quickly at the Licentiate, then bowed solemnly to Pan Yun, "So you are a high-ranking Daoist of Mount Sanqing! Your kindness, Daoists, we of Huaihua Village thank you deeply."

Pan Yun bowed slightly and said, "I had the honor of meeting Master Sanzhu; before coming, I heard of the affairs of Shuangyang and Huaihua Villages, and knew you intended to erect a stele for her—I felt ashamed, so I came to apologize. The bandits we eliminated were not the ones who massacred your villages, so…"

The Licentiate smiled bitterly, "No wonder the young Daoist arrived claiming to be Master Sanzhu—you were sent by someone."

He looked at the others and said, "Whether Master Sanzhu eliminated the ones who massacred your villages or not, they were still Japanese pirates and sea bandits—this stele is still worth erecting."

"In the future, when we fight Japanese pirates and bandits, we won't kill only those who massacred villages—we'll kill every bandit and pirate."

Liu You and the others nodded quickly, "Yes, yes."

"Young Daoist, this stele isn't erected solely for Master Sanzhu—it's for the children, so they know a great hero died fighting pirates and bandits and was honored for it; they too will grow up to kill sea bandits and Japanese pirates—not just for revenge, but to be like Master Sanzhu, for justice."

The Licentiate nodded, "Revenge alone is too painful. Daoists and heroes, why did you join forces to eliminate these bandits? Was it because those pirates had wronged you?"

"Not because of personal grudges, but because you possess righteous hearts," the Licentiate said solemnly. "I hope the children of both villages will one day possess this same heart."

The Licentiate's expression grew somber. "Revenge is too distant. Only thirty-five children survived from both villages. How many Japanese pirates committed the massacre?"

"They can't possibly kill them all or avenge their families," the Licentiate whispered. "Besides, whether to seek revenge or let go of hatred, you must first survive and carry on with life."

The Licentiate clenched his fists. "But life must go on. The hatred of our families' annihilation must not be forgotten, nor should the righteous hearts of Master Sanzhu and all of you. That is why we must erect this stele to remember."

"This stele is not erected solely for Master Sanzhu—it is erected for the descendants of Shuangyang and Huaihua Villages."

If this generation cannot avenge, the next will. If the next cannot, the one after that will!

The Licentiate intended to engrave this on the stele, so every child would grow up gazing at it, growing into towering trees destined for revenge.

Of course, the Licentiate did not speak it aloud—he buried his hatred alongside the fire of revenge deep in his heart, and smiled gently at Pan Yun. "Thank you, Pan Daoist, for making this journey on Master Sanzhu's behalf, and for bringing us so much."

Pan Yun watched him silently, her gaze fixed on his eyes—as if peering straight into his heart.

The Licentiate shifted his gaze away, afraid she would see the flame of revenge burning deep within him.

After he looked away, Pan Yun said, "The Licentiate is right. Revenge is a matter for later; the urgent task now is to survive."

She pulled out a list. "I heard both villages were completely looted—you have no winter grain or clothing."

The villagers from both villages lowered their heads. Liu Gui of Huaihua Village whispered, "Villagers from nearby gave us some. Our village has enough to eat for this month; relatives sent quilts and old clothes, and we found usable items left behind—we'll make it through winter, but…"

He paused, then said, "We have no grain for next month through next May, not even seeds."

"Our village is better off—we have adults to care for the children; even if we pool the few remaining kids, we can feed them. But Shuangyang Village…" Liu Gui looked at the Licentiate. "You have so few adults—can you feed so many children?"

Pan Yun caught the implication and raised an eyebrow. "So what are you suggesting?"

Liu Gui: "Merge the villages."

"I disagree!" A big boy hiding by the courtyard gate rushed in, shouting, "I won't sell our village! I won't leave! My family is here—I won't go!"

His eyes red, he stared pleadingly at the Licentiate. "Licentiate, say something! We won't go to Huaihua Village—we won't!"

The Licentiate remained calm. "I also think it's better to stay separate. If you want to merge, it's simple—our villages are already close. Build a road between them, and in fifteen minutes, it's no different from one village." Liu You sighed. "How will you feed all these children? Without selling houses or land, you won't even survive this winter."

Pan Yun raised her hand. "I have money. I brought grain, cotton, and cloth."

Liu You sighed. "Young Daoist, relying on others is worse than relying on yourself. You can help us now, but can you help us forever?"

"That's true. So I also brought money." Pan Yun extended her hands to either side.

Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He instantly understood and returned the money she had "borrowed" from them.

Pan Yun pulled out a box and slapped three stacks of banknotes together. "This is eighteen hundred taels. There were two thousand, but two hundred were spent on these supplies, so this is all that remains."

Everyone stared in shock at the silver notes she placed on the bench.

Ah, so money is worthless now?

Pan Yun said, "Thirty-five children—three shi of rice per child per year…"

Liu You snapped out of his shock and waved his hands frantically. "Not nearly that much! Not nearly! A little thin porridge keeps them alive—one shi per year is enough."

Pan Yun waved her hand. "To seek revenge, they must train in martial arts and study. They can't be half-starved. Three shi per year is essential—I'm not even counting vegetables; they can grow some themselves."

This book was recently updated in ##!! UPDATE!

"At current rice prices, one person per year is nine hundred wen. Meat and eggs: three hundred wen per person per year. Clothing: new for three years, old for three years—patch and mend yourselves. The biggest expenses are martial arts training and study—I estimate three taels per child per year for that. Total: four taels and two hundred wen. Add medical costs, and one child's annual expense is five taels. Licentiate, is my estimate too frugal?"

The Licentiate said, "Excluding tuition and major expenses, with frugality, five taels is indeed sufficient."

The costs of study and martial arts training would be high, but study—he could teach. Martial arts…

He looked at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun said, "I'll ask my senior sister to hire a martial instructor for you all for a few years, just to teach you the introductory cultivation method. After that, you'll practice on your own, and I'll give you the manuals."

Licentiate Chen said, "Many thanks, Daoist Priest Pan Xiao."

"Five taels per person, thirty-five people for one year comes to one hundred and seventy-five taels. After ten years, I think they'll be able to support a family, don't you?"

Licentiate Chen rose and bowed deeply to the floor. "We shall never forget, for all eternity, the great kindness of our benefactor who gave us a second chance at life. In the future, if there's anything you need of us, just say the word. Even if it costs us our lives, we will not hesitate."

Liu You and the others understood what the two of them meant and gaped in astonishment.

She was going to support the children of two villages for ten years.

They immediately dropped to their knees, wanting to kowtow to Pan Yun.

Pan Yun quickly reached out and held them up, not letting them kneel, and said softly, "There's no need for that."

Liu You asked, "Why is the little Daoist priest willing to give so much for us?"

Pan Yun wasn't good at handling this sort of thing, so she simply said, "This isn't something I'm doing on my own. It was entrusted to me by Daoist Priest Pan Sanzhu. She feels guilty in her heart. If you want to thank someone, thank her. Oh, and Sishui and Wuhuo too."

Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He raised their heads, looking at Pan Yun with blank expressions.

Pan Yun winked at them.

Anyway, this was their account, recognized by the heavens themselves. The facts had proven that farming merit points was useful, so they'd just farm more of them.

Especially before they crossed their Tribulation Crossing.

When the villagers heard this, they were even more grateful to Daoist Priest Pan Sanzhu. But Pan Yun held them back from kneeling, so they cupped their fists and bowed in every direction, then asked Pan Yun, "Which direction is Daoist Priest Pan Sanzhu in right now?"

Pan Yun: "North?"

The crowd bowed toward the north.

The village women even had the children kneel and kowtow toward the north.

The children were incredibly obedient, dropping to their knees in a rush and kowtowing at once.

Ding-dong, ding-dong...

Pan Yun heard a string of ding-dong sounds from the Spirit Realm. Pan Xiaohei couldn't help but activate the broadcast array for her. Received merit points +10 from Liu You; received merit points +10 from xxx...

+10 +10 +10...

A string of +10s — if Pan Yun hadn't been wearing the wooden tablet at her waist, she would probably have started glowing on the spot.

Pan Yun savored the moment for a bit, then had the Spirit Realm turn the broadcast sound off again, and said with a solemn expression, "On behalf of Daoist Priest Pan Sanzhu, I thank you all. Now, let's discuss how this money should be spent and who should manage it..."

Licentiate Chen pulled his gaze back from her face, suppressed the doubts in his heart, and spoke up directly: "I'd like to manage this sum of money myself, and choose six others to oversee it — three from Huaihua Village, three from Shuangyang Village."

Pan Yun liked this kind of decisive, straightforward person who spoke up with their ideas — it saved so much time.

Good night.

(End of chapter)