[{"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-47":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},2337252,4570,"Chapter 47: Great Unity","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-47",47,"\u003Cp>A few coughs came from inside the room; after a long while, a thin, refined middle-aged man finally opened the door and stepped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused at the threshold, squinting to make out the visitor, then walked forward to open the half-closed wooden fence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wooden fence stood only halfway up a person’s waist, and the courtyard wall was low; anyone outside could turn their head and see inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Minxin Bureau clerk clearly recognized him and grinned as he approached. “Master Pan, you’ve got another letter—this one from Guangxin Prefecture in Jiangxi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Hong thanked him and took the letter, struggling to recall who among his relatives or friends lived in Guangxin Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As usual, he corrected the clerk: “Call me by my name from now on—don’t call me ‘Master.’ If you don’t mind, you may call me Uncle Pan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clerk smiled and replied cheerfully, but he’d still call him “Master” next time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their shopkeeper had instructed them: be courteous to customers, especially those in the exile village—though most were disgraced officials and their families, who knew when they might be recalled and reinstated?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So better to smile more, bow more, than offend someone and lose your business—or even your head—without reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seeing off the clerk, Pan Hong returned inside, examining the envelope carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brow furrowed; the handwriting on the envelope felt eerily familiar—was it his youngest daughter’s?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t sure. As he opened the letter, he tried to reassure himself: perhaps it was just similar handwriting; it couldn’t be his little daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he unfolded the letter, a thin silver draft slipped out—he glanced at it and saw one hundred taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t pause to examine it further, immediately turning to read the letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As more words came into view, his heart sank. He scanned the opening, then flipped straight to the signature at the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart dropped—it was truly Yun’er.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he finished reading, tears nearly spilled from Pan Hong’s eyes. “How did she go to Guangxin Prefecture alone? And now she cultivates… What of Er’s family? Did my troubles drag Er down too? Then Mother—what of her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Hong stamped his foot in anguish. “Ah!” He paced frantically in circles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His youngest daughter was officially dead—otherwise he could have written back openly, or inquired through other relatives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that why she used so many metaphors in her letter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he didn’t know Er’s condition, who could he ask?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cultivating on Mount Sanqing? Could she have followed the two Daoists she met?” Pan Hong’s mind raced through possibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had his troubles dragged down Er’s family, and his daughter escaped, only to be taken by those two Daoists?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or had Er’s family, fearing exposure of his daughter’s situation, handed her over to the Daoists to be taken away?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it possibly be that his daughter had a natural talent for cultivation, and the two Daoists spotted her at once and took her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But all he’d asked them to do was watch over the Pan family and escort them back to Changzhou Prefecture—he never told them to take his daughter away to become a Daoist!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Hong’s heart ached: he feared his daughter had truly become a Daoist, yet hoped it was the third possibility—because then at least Pan Yun’s situation wasn’t the worst, implying her family still stood behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reread her letter carefully, then studied the draft again, thinking more: how could a child like her have so much money?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She even wrote: if you have trouble, write to me—I’ll find a way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, Pan Hong’s mind swirled with more questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father—Second Uncle sent us a letter and some things!” Pan Yu, dressed in a short tunic, rushed in carrying a bundle, followed by Pan Yue, shouldering a large sack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Hong stood up quickly. “Where’s the letter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yue set down the burlap sack and pulled out the letter from his robe, handing it over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Pan Hong touched it, he knew it had been opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression shifted slightly, but he said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Disgraced officials were like this—especially one who had angered the Embroidered Uniform Guard. They often opened and inspected his correspondence and packages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they were discreet, what could he do? He’d once been a Censorial Inspector himself—he knew how they operated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Tao had returned to their ancestral home in Changzhou Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His first act after settling in was to write Pan Hong, omitting Pan Yun entirely, and detailing all major events of the past month, not hiding anything from the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s scrutiny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These matters could be easily verified—he was merely informing his elder brother truthfully; the Guard couldn’t punish him for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The letter said that after Pan Hong’s exile, his family had struggled to survive in the capital and had already decided to return home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently, the Embroidered Uniform Guard stormed their home under the pretext of searching for hidden fugitives’ relatives… Life in the capital had become unbearable, so Pan Tao decided to take their elderly mother back to Changzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Tao didn’t know how to tell Pan Hong that his niece had vanished after leaving, and whether she was alive or dead—he didn’t dare mention her supernatural abilities either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fearing his brother’s worry from afar, he lied: everything at home was fine, though bumpy, but all arrangements were made—no need to worry. After reading the letter, Pan Hong had calmed down. He opened the draft: such a large sum—even for Er, it wouldn’t be easy to raise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could a child like Yun’er, alone and away from home, have so much money?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Hong told his two sons: “Bring me ink and brush—I’m writing a letter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yu’s eyes lit up at the draft. He leaned in. “Father, who sent this? So rich!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Hong had planned to hold onto the draft temporarily, waiting for Pan Yun’s reply—but when he looked up and saw his second son’s emaciated face, his throat tightened as if sealed with cement. He struggled for a long moment before finding his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s… a friend’s gift. I’ll tell you later—don’t go calling him anything. You,” he handed the draft to his eldest son, “take Yu with you again to the bank. Withdraw ninety taels in small-denomination drafts. Turn the rest into silver scraps or copper coins. Bring the money back first—we’ll buy things later when we have time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yue agreed, took the draft, and tucked it away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The password is ‘Fen Jie Shuang Yun Man Sui Han.’ Hurry—before the headman comes knocking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yue was startled by the password; Pan Yu burst out: “Father, isn’t that Sister’s name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Hong waved them off. “No more questions—go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yue pulled Pan Yu out. Pan Yu, uneasy, tugged his brother’s sleeve. “Who is this? Why use Sister’s name as the password?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!. Read\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Say less once you’re outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This exile village is full of all kinds—Sister’s situation is delicate. Better not mention her at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yu swallowed his questions and held them inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two carried the draft and password to the bank to withdraw the money—this was the largest sum they’d ever received.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Second Uncle’s first remittance hadn’t been this much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alas, they’d never gotten that first sum—it all went to others. Afterward, they’d told Second Uncle to send only goods, no money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they’d warned him, Pan Tao still slipped in small drafts or silver notes with each letter, hoping one or two might slip through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The censors seemed to know not to drain the pond entirely—they’d always miss one or two, to keep the family’s old friends sending money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They and Second Uncle both knew those funds were “lost” during official inspections. Though furious, they couldn’t stop sending entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exiled officials had no way to appeal—if they reported upward, they’d get the beating stick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither their father nor their own bodies could withstand it now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For matters touching their own small interests, the three of them could still endure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yu wondered: whoever sent this large draft, and managed to get it to them—how powerful must they be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father actually has connections like this? Amazing—truly amazing…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yue: “Stop talking. Aren’t you hungry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Starving, Brother. Once we get the money, let’s buy some buns—get some for Father too, and more rice and flour…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d been escorted to Daxi and fell ill immediately upon arrival—no time to rest, dragged straight to the fields and military labor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fourteen years, Pan Yu had never known hardship—this year, he endured it all at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never knew farming was so grueling, nor that conscription meant not just suffering but humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In less than three months, the once sturdy, lively boy had shriveled to skin and bone. His round face had sharpened into sharp angles—when touched, it was all bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yue pitied his brother. After fetching the money as instructed, he took him to buy buns and plenty of rice, flour, and oil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though their father said they’d come back tomorrow, they were under tight surveillance—constantly summoned for military duty or fieldwork. Time wasn’t theirs. Better to buy now while they could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two returned, laden with packages. Pan Hong had already written two reply letters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yu rushed forward eagerly. “Father, let me deliver the letters!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucky number is any number ending in 6, screenshot as proof\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1560,"2026-06-20T22:03:57.478Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","900af5107c94ffe5d347626d1355c287c646394a920c6ca3f3b6e3f853ec1fa2","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-48","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-46",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-cover.jpg"]