[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming":3,"chapter-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-38":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Unorthodox Sword of Ming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2337243,4570,"Chapter 38: Three Clear Temple","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-38",38,"\u003Cp>Miaohé’s fourth senior sister is Miaozhen, a disciple of her second uncle, Yin Song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Miaohé, there are currently nine people in the Three Clear Temple, six of whom live in the temple now—“add you, and that makes seven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miaohé shuffled closer to Pan Yun, pressing her shoulder against Pan Yun’s, and said, “Fourth senior sister is too studious—every day she does her chores and cultivates; only Third Senior Brother occasionally plays with me. It’s so boring.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Tao Ji and Xuanmiao returned, the temple was only managed by the eldest uncle, who had three children under his care: one obsessed with cultivation, one an elder, and another a busy senior brother—Miaohé had no one to play with no matter what she did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, Pan Yun also learned the full extent of the formidable senior brother’s background from Miaohé—of course, only as much as Miaohé knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The eldest uncle’s surname is Wang; I wouldn’t dare know his given name, and no one dares call him by name—but I know his honorific: Feiyin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miaohé, utterly unguarded, spilled everything about her eldest uncle, second uncle, master, and aunt: “The eldest uncle lives right down the mountain; the second uncle is now a high official in the capital; Second Senior Brother follows the second uncle; our temple has the most disciples under the second uncle—Senior Brother through Fourth Senior Sister are all his disciples; I’m the only one my master took in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun’s eyes lit up. “What kind of high official?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miaohé: “I don’t know. But he’s definitely a high official.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A high official is good—she loved high officials most; overturning a case needed high officials most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second Senior Brother follows the second uncle; Third Senior Brother and Fourth Senior Sister are here—where’s Senior Brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother went out to earn money,” Miaohé said. “Cultivation costs money—everything we eat, drink, and wear, all comes from Senior Brother’s earnings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun’s expression froze—it sounded pitiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You keep talking about your uncles—they don’t seem that old. Where are the ancestral masters of your generation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right here,” Miaohé softly tapped the ground with her toe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun looked down at her toe. “Where?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miaohé lowered her voice: “It’s the mountain spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miaohé whispered softly: “The mountain spirit is everywhere—if we’re on Mount Sanqing, the ancestral master is always beside us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “...The ancestral master is the mountain spirit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Legend says the eldest uncle met the ancestral master in a dream; the ancestral master taught him the cultivation method, and then the eldest uncle came up the mountain to open the temple and take disciples.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun humbly asked: “Then did the second uncle, your master, and Xuanmiao Daochang also meet the ancestral master in dreams and receive teachings?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No,” Miaohé said. “My master and the others were all taken in by the eldest uncle on behalf of the ancestral master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun immediately sensed something was off. “May I ask, how old is your eldest uncle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miaohé: “Fifty-eight. He’ll be celebrating his big birthday next year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Ji and Xuanmiao looked to be in their twenties—she understood now. The eldest uncle had simply turned his disciples into junior sisters and brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this Master Wang still looked quite young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miaohé gently nudged her shoulder. “Pan Yun, little sister, who will you take as your master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miaohé strongly recommended her own master: “Take my master—he’s so kind. His medical skills are famous far and wide; his elixir cultivation is second only to the eldest uncle’s—even the second uncle can’t match him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “I specialize in talismans and arrays.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah,” Miaohé sighed in disappointment. “Then you’ll have to find Fourth Auntie. But Fourth Auntie doesn’t like taking disciples—she’s strict in teaching, and we’re all a bit afraid of her. Still, Fourth Senior Sister really likes her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miaohé sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun sighed too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had no reverence for Tao Ji or Xuanmiao as teachers—she didn’t want to take them as masters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She thought Master Wang was better: senior brother, head of the temple, older, experienced, kind-hearted—if she had to take a master, she’d naturally take the eldest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She asked Miaohé: “Must one take a master to stay in the temple? Can’t one just join without taking a master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miaohé looked bewildered. “I don’t know. All the senior brothers and sisters took masters. If you don’t take one, how do we address you, little sister?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Three Clear Temple was too small, with too few people—all disciples were direct students, and the curriculum wasn’t uniform—each master taught separate lessons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, Miaohé, besides studying elixir arts with her master, also learned cultivation, astronomy, talismans, arrays, and ghost-catching from other uncles and aunts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The range of subjects she studied was no less diverse than those offered in 26th-century schools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun stared in astonishment, wanting to ask more details, when she heard a sound from the black cat—Master Wang had finished his meditation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She immediately yawned, looking exhausted. “I wanted to hear more from you, but I’m too tired now. Miaohé, how about I come find you first thing tomorrow morning, and we’ll continue talking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, of course,” Miaohé jumped off the bed. “You rest first—I’ll come find you tomorrow morning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun saw her to the door, blew out the lamp, sat cross-legged on the bed, and sank her spirit into the spiritual realm, connecting through Pan Xiaohei to see Wang Feiyin. At this moment, Master Wang appeared much taller—he stroked his beard and said, “Good. The child’s cultivation method has flaws, but it’s merely low efficiency in qi cultivation—not a descent into heretical paths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuanmiao: “She has great talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wang nodded. “She is indeed the most talented person I’ve ever seen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Xuanmiao with a smile. “More talented than you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuanmiao nodded. “Then please, Senior Brother, nurture her well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother asked: “There are many ways to repay a debt. Take her out of the capital, conceal her killing of the Embroidered Uniform Guard—then you’ve repaid the Xue family’s debt. Alternatively, you could entrust her to a trustworthy household. But you brought her back to the Three Clear Temple—clearly, you truly value her talent. If so, why not take her as your own disciple and teach her personally?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuanmiao: “Senior Brother, I am a Tian Sha Gu Xing. Everyone who draws near me meets misfortune. Why burden another?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All destinies can be broken. It’s precisely because you care too much and are too cautious that your fate grows stronger. I see her destiny is equally strong—she’s as unyielding as a mountain rock. You, a Tian Sha Gu Xing, and she, a rock-hard fate—perfectly matched.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuanmiao said bluntly: “I dislike trouble. I dislike worrying. I dislike being a master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother’s beard twitched in irritation. “So you’re dumping the trouble on me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.read\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuanmiao frowned at him. “I never meant for you to take a disciple. Just keep her in the temple like Miaozhen and Miaohé—two people to care for, three people to care for—what’s the difference?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother: “There must be a formal status.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuanmiao: “Put her under Second Senior Brother’s name. He already has so many disciples—adding one more won’t hurt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother was speechless for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two siblings exchanged glances. Finally, Senior Brother gave in, waving his hand. “Fine. Go. I’ll think about it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuanmiao turned and left—swift and decisive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother silently watched her back disappear. The black cat sensed it was over, stood up to leave. Pan Yun was about to withdraw her spiritual sense when she heard Senior Brother say: “Come here and let me see you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun paused. Then she felt her entire body being lifted into Wang Feiyin’s arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh—it was the black cat’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Xiaohei stiffened, eyes wide open, staring at him alongside Pan Yun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother stroked its head, eyes crinkling with delight. “Truly a genius. Truly extraordinary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had she not walked into the Three Clear Temple herself, passed before the Three Clear statues, and entered the back courtyard, he might have suspected her of being a spirit-possessed creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, how could a child so young know so many techniques?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suspected she once had a teacher—but for some reason, she couldn’t speak of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter the reason, now that she had entered the Three Clear Temple, she belonged to the Three Clear Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother smiled as he stroked the black cat. “When were you left here? I never noticed. Don’t misunderstand Xuanmiao—she’s hard on the outside but soft within. Don’t fear her destiny. Everyone in our temple, except me, has some flaw. The Tian Sha Gu Xing won’t harm you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: … Is he complimenting himself—or scaring her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xuanmiao once owed a debt to the Deputy Minister of the Dalisi , Xue Xuan. Your… master’s father was exiled partly due to Xue Xuan’s influence. When Xue Xuan returned to his hometown, he happened to meet Xuanmiao repaying her debt and asked her to escort your… master’s family to Datong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Hong refused, instead asking Xuanmiao to care for your master. He originally only intended to secretly escort the second branch of the Pan family back to Changzhou. But before he could even reach your home, he witnessed your master killing someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother sighed. “This is fate—destiny draws you together across a thousand miles. You, this girl and this cat, and our Three Clear Temple—your bond cannot be stopped.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun and Pan Xiaohei: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother set the cat down, patted its round head with a smile. “Alright, story’s over. It’s dark and cold now—even cats shouldn’t catch cold. Go on now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Xiaohei shuddered, bolted off, and vanished in a flash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother smiled, stroking his beard. “That’s better. Speak openly—hiding things only breeds worry. Look what they’ve done to this poor child—she’s even resorted to spirit-attaching to a cat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who has an eight-year-old this suspicious?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother sighed. Poor children grow up fast. With Pan Yun’s family exiled, she’ll have to bear the burden alone from now on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother shook his head, turned, and walked back inside, muttering: “Where did I put that half-scroll of the cultivation method?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in his room, he began rummaging through drawers—first the bookshelf, found nothing; then the clothing chest; finally, he dragged out the money box hidden under the bed and searched it thoroughly—still nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I definitely put it inside the room. Even though it’s only half a scroll, I’d never throw it away—it must still be here. Look again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He searched the same places again, then collapsed onto a pile of books and clutter, frowning. “Should I go ask Fourth Sister to divine it? Will she get angry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking it over, he decided not to disturb Xuanmiao. Instead, he went to the front of the temple and fetched a tortoise shell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My divination isn’t great, but I still have some skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother offered a sincere prayer, then tossed the tortoise shell…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lucky number is any number ending in 0. Screenshot as proof—screenshot deadline: before next chapter’s release.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1852,"2026-06-20T22:03:57.478Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","49ce08571483a04b7198da4e7cf14cf945f722b5c653cd6bfd922923b2edf332","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-39","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-37",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-cover.jpg"]