Chapter 360: Can't Win

Pan Xiaohei didn't expect to have to act as a bodyguard, and was momentarily stunned.

Pan Yun grabbed it by the neck and walked out, "What's so surprising? You and I are one; our fates are intertwined. I've always protected you—now that I'm in danger, aren't you supposed to protect me?"

Pan Xiaohei: "I'm just a Spirit Realm device—I'm meant to assist."

Pan Yun: "I don't believe that. You've been sealed, so your memories are missing."

Pan Xiaohei refused to respond.

In the kitchen, Wang Feiyin and the others had put down their bowls and chopsticks and were sitting at the table watching the younger ones eat porridge and eggs.

Wang Feiyin's gaze slid back and forth among them, asking, "How's the research on that laundry tub and separator you made at Hanxing Pool?"

Pan Yun raised her hand, "The power system is nearly figured out—we just need to find a craftsman who can build it according to the blueprints."

Wang Feiyin turned to Wang Cong, "You want to go into this business?"

Wang Cong nodded, "But there are no suitable craftsmen in Yushan County—we'll have to go out and find them, then set up a workshop. Father, before we find craftsmen, let's use talismans as power sources for research and try to locate the optimal array points."

Wang Feiyin nodded.

Wang Cong carefully watched Wang Feiyin's expression, "Father, what if my martial skills never improve, but I still need to go down the mountain to find craftsmen?"

Wang Feiyin glanced at him and asked, "If I forbid you from going down the mountain, will you just stay quietly up here?"

Wang Cong: "Of course not."

"Then isn't that settled?" Wang Feiyin said. "This mountain, this Daoist temple, is your home—but it's only one point in your long life."

"Mount Sanqing can't hold you. The Three Clear Temple can't hold you. And I certainly can't."

Everyone fell silent.

From this moment on, Wang Feiyin began stuffing knowledge into their heads.

Every morning they woke up, did morning rituals, practiced swordplay, then went to the elixir room to study medicine and alchemy; in the afternoon, he and Master Xuanmiao individually guided their martial skills and cultivation.

Even Tao Ji was thrown in between Pan Yun and Wang Cong to train with them.

The three of them were alternately beaten by Master Xuanmiao's sword and pounded by Wang Feiyin's palms.

As for Wang Feiyin, no need to mention—he was beyond comparison. Pan Yun didn't even need to suppress her cultivation; she couldn't beat him, not even close.

What surprised her was that even when she suppressed her cultivation to the Fifth Stage against Master Xuanmiao, she still couldn't win—and even after unsealing her meridians and using her First Marquis-level cultivation, she still couldn't win.

Unless she was willing to fight to the death… but…

Pan Yun couldn't bring herself to do it.

This left Master Xuanmiao's brow permanently furrowed, and the crease never faded until New Year's Eve.

After holding out for half a day, Pan Yun was driven back step by step by Master Xuanmiao, until finally being kicked off the bamboo top.

As Pan Yun was about to smash into the ground, she kicked a nearby bamboo stalk, sending her body flying backward; she landed, staggered several steps, and barely stabilized herself.

She couldn't help coughing, feeling a metallic sweetness in her throat; she clutched her bruised chest and shouted, "I—I'm internally injured!"

Master Xuanmiao floated down lightly from the bamboo top, expressionless, staring at her. "Where did your ruthlessness go? Seven days—you've never once fought with your full strength."

Pan Yun rubbed her chest. "I've used every technique I have, Fourth Sister. This is sparring—can I really fight you to the death?"

Master Xuanmiao sheathed her sword with two swift swishes and said coldly, "Every time I fight you, I'm fighting to kill."

Pan Yun: "... But if I fought to kill, I'd scare even myself—I couldn't hold back. You'd die."

Master Xuanmiao's gaze turned slightly colder as she fixed her eyes on Pan Yun. "How do you know it'll be you who dies, and not me, unless you try?"

Pan Yun: "Though my sword technique and experience can't match yours, I'm still the First Marquis. When I truly fight to the death, even I'm terrified."

Master Xuanmiao: "It's just your fantasy."

Seeing the two about to argue, Tao Ji and Wang Cong, already collapsed beside them, immediately rushed forward to intervene.

Tao Ji blocked Master Xuanmiao. "Little sister, our little sister is still young—she's holding back because she doesn't want to hurt you."

Master Xuanmiao: "Do I need her to spare me?"

"And her sparing me isn't helping me—it's harming me, and harming herself. She's just the First Marquis—I've fought plenty like her."

Wang Cong went to block Pan Yun. "Little Aunt, Fourth Aunt's words may sound harsh, but she's only trying to help you. You can't stop at the last moment—that means you still lack control over yourself."

Pan Yun: "Of course I know that. That's exactly why I dare not fight to the death—I know I can't control my moves. If I still risk my life, isn't that irresponsible toward Fourth Aunt's life?"

Wang Cong paused, suddenly finding Little Aunt's logic sound—but then asked, "Little Aunt, when did you become so morally upright?"

Pan Yun rolled her eyes. "I'm not moral toward enemies—but toward my own people, I'm a good person, alright? Why do you think so poorly of me?" Her chest hurt more; she pulled a vial from her Spirit Realm, poured out a pill, swallowed it, and used her Yuan force to dissolve it, muttering irritably: "To enemies, I must be as ruthless as autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves—but can I do that to Fourth Aunt?"

Wang Cong found her reasoning even more convincing and turned back. "Fourth Aunt, I think Little Aunt is right—why don't you wait? When she gains control over herself, then you can spar hard… oh no, I mean, practice together."

Tao Ji also agreed with Pan Yun, nodding vigorously. "Yes, Little Sister, Little Sister's techniques are basic, limited, and unrefined—but her Yuan force is deep. If she truly fought like she did when we first met, you might really get seriously hurt. It's not worth it for just sparring. Why not wait until she trains more and gains control before going all out?"

Master Xuanmiao stared coldly at Pan Yun, then said after a pause, "I'll teach you. Starting tonight, spend one hour every night practicing swordplay with me."

Pan Yun's eyes widened: "Tonight?"

Master Xuanmiao asked coolly, "Do you have any free time during the day?"

Pan Yun thought for a moment and realized her schedule was packed—she truly had none.

Master Xuanmiao turned and left. "As you said yourself—if you're weak, you train more. There's no other way."

Pan Yun snapped out of it and shouted after her back, "But tonight is New Year's Eve!!!"

Master Xuanmiao didn't care.

!. Read

So after eating the New Year's Eve reunion meal, while Tao Yanbai and the others kept pulling out snacks for the night watch, Master Xuanmiao told Pan Yun, "Wait for me in front in two geng."

Pan Yun looked at Wang Feiyin. Though she deeply wanted to train hard and become a sword master overnight, she also wanted to rest properly on New Year's Eve.

There was only one New Year's Eve each year—over her hundred-year life, she'd have only a hundred New Year's Eves.

Wang Feiyin avoided her gaze and pulled out a letter from his chest. "Good timing—while everyone's free, let's read the letter from your second elder."

Seeing Miao Zhen sighed. "Master didn't come home for the New Year again."

Wang Feiyin smiled warmly. "He wrote that he was promoted, so this year his superior assigned him to guard the imperial palace—he won't be returning. If you really miss him, go to Jingcheng to visit him after the New Year."

Pan Yun's eyes lit up, her heart stirred, and she quietly poked Seeing Miao Zhen.

Seeing Miao Zhen, who had just been about to voice her disappointment, immediately changed her tone, "Fine!"

Wang Feiyin had already read the letter; now he merely pulled it out to pass along the news and extricate himself from an awkward situation.

Sigh, it's so hard being caught between two junior sisters.

If the two junior brothers were still around, I could just punch them—but with junior sisters… I've just got to endure it myself.

Wang Feiyin handed the letter to Wang Cong and told him to read it aloud.

In the letter, Yin Song said he earned merit in the Luchuan campaign, so upon returning to Jingcheng, he was promoted to Xia Guanzheng, sixth rank; even his second disciple Yin Qingjun received an official post—ninth rank, Si Li of the Wu Guan.

Though ninth rank is a lowly position, it grants free access to the imperial palace.

The Wu Guan include the Five Offices—Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Earth—responsible for calculating the calendar and determining seasonal transitions, duties directly tied to the people's livelihood.

Si Li is one of the assistants to the Wu Guan; Yin Qingjun still serves alongside Yin Song.

Yin Song asked in the letter, "Cong'er, now that you've obtained your degree certificate, have you considered entering official service? If so, while I still enjoy the emperor's favor, come to Jingcheng quickly—I can still secure you a post."

Wang Cong shook his head as he read this, "I heard from my second brother that once you enter the palace, half the month is spent inside the imperial city; once the gates lock, you're stuck there."

"And our master is obsessed with stargazing and divination—if he gets a chance to stay on the stargazing terrace, he won't leave the palace. Just thinking about it is terrifying."

Wang Feiyin nodded, "Even Mount Sanqing couldn't hold your free-spirited soul—how could a mere imperial city? I'll write back and refuse him."

Pan Yun slid over beside Wang Feiyin, "Big brother, ask my second brother—does the Qintianjian have gender restrictions for officials? Can a Kun Dao serve?"

Wang Feiyin froze, turning to look at her, "You want to go?"

Pan Yun nodded: "I think I'm perfect for officialdom. Really—I've got this knack for saying the right thing to every person, every ghost; it'd be a waste not to be an official."

Wang Feiyin stared at her with a look of utter disbelief: "Little sister, are you mocking your second brother—or are you serious?"

"Serious! My second brother never wronged me—why would I mock him?"

Pan Yun studied his expression, then suddenly understood. "Big brother, I'm just stating facts. You should praise me for my honesty and clear self-awareness…"

"Get out, get out, get out—you don't even have a degree certificate, what are you talking about becoming an official?" Wang Feiyin said. "Wait until you get your degree certificate, then we'll talk."

Pan Yun remembered she didn't yet have a degree certificate, and could only mutter, "Oh," before returning to her seat.

Wang Cong continued reading; the rest was mundane—Yin Song inquired after everyone on the mountain, assigned Seeing Miao Zhen a list of books to read for the new year, then informed everyone he was broke.

Though promoted and granted rewards, the imperial court's rewards… ah, never mind—they're just for display, useless, and even if you secretly tried to trade them, you'd get barely any money.

He'd always paid for his business trips out of his own pocket; after returning from Luchuan, he was completely penniless.

Good night

(End of Chapter)