Chapter 471: Stealing Back to Jingcheng

Wang Cong nodded firmly: "And isn't there a saying that the most dangerous place is the safest?"

"Right now, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is hunting you everywhere—who could possibly imagine, who would dare think, that you're hiding right among them?"

Hu Jing pondered, finding his words reasonable.

Seeing Hu Jing was convinced, Wang Cong immediately said: "Change your appearance again, take a new name—we start over."

When the convoy stopped for midday rest, Wang Cong finally caught up with one man and one dog.

Pan Yun saw Hu Jing and Xiao Huang, her eyes instantly welling up; she seized Hu Jing's hand.

Wang Cong spoke up at the right moment: "Little Master, on my way to pick up Xiao Huang, I met Master Gu—he heard you're going to treat the corpse worms and insisted on coming along, afraid you'll mishandle things and ruin the patient."

An Chen and Mu Yuan immediately stepped forward: "This master can treat corpse worms?"

Hu Jing: "... I can't treat them, but I know a little."

"Knowing a little is enough," Pan Yun pulled Hu Jing's hand toward the carriage, "I first heard of corpse worms from you—I feel safe with you here."

Hu Jing was dragged onto the carriage.

An Chen and Mu Yuan exchanged glances and said nothing.

This man's martial skill is no small thing, but as long as Pan Yun has no intention of fleeing, the stronger the escort, the better.

They hadn't forgotten last night's battle between humans and demons outside the Imperial Prison.

Before leaving, Commander Yun (Duke) had specifically warned them: demons and evils might still appear on the road.

Minor demons, Pan Yun's group can handle; for major demons, they must seek help from the local Dao Lu Si.

Long Hushan has already sent people to meet us—only when we join the Daoists of Long Hushan will we have any real safety.

An Chen and Mu Yuan didn't know Pan Yun's cultivation level, but judging by her age, neither had much confidence in her.

Didn't she get thoroughly beaten by that eagle last night?

When she was carried out of the Imperial Prison this morning, her face was deathly pale—she's only just improved now.

Pan Yun was eating lunch.

Lunch was still congee, but now with vegetables and lean meat, a little salt—she ate it with great relish.

Hu Jing sat across from her, watching her look utterly happy, glanced down at his own bowl, then turned to Miao He: "What's wrong with her? It's just a bowl of meat congee—is it really that special?"

Miao He: "My little master hasn't eaten for over ten days."

Hu Jing stared, utterly baffled: "You have food and still refuse to eat? Isn't that just asking for suffering?"

Pan Yun finished her congee in small sips: "I've found the secret to fasting—I'm already adapting. If we were stranded somewhere with no food, you'd last at most fourteen days—I'd last over three months."

Hu Jing: "If we're stranded together, why assume there's no food?"

Before Miao He could react, Miao Zhen looked up: "You can't beat my little master—if you're going to become food, it'll be you."

Pan Yun nodded in deep agreement.

She handed her bowl and chopsticks to Miao He, smiling at Hu Jing: "Seeing Master Gu, my heart finally settles."

Hu Jing was puzzled: "I won't harm you—right now, distance is safer than proximity. Leaving me in Jingcheng would be best for you."

Pan Yun's face turned serious: "My sense of righteousness won't allow me to do such a thing."

Hu Jing was skeptical: "Really?"

Pan Yun said: "If I were lying, wouldn't it have been better to bury you and the two Japanese pirates together in the temple back then?"

Pan Yun didn't explain clearly, but they all understood.

If she'd had ill intent, she could've buried you and the two Japanese pirates in the temple—after the rain, who'd ever trace it back to her?

Hu Jing felt ashamed: "I apologize—I underestimated Daoist Sanzhu."

Pan Yun waved it off indifferently: "It's fine—I'm used to it. I don't know why, but despite having a kind heart, the world always misunderstands me—sigh~~"

Hu Jing fell silent.

He thought he might know why.

Because Pan Yun's behavior simply didn't look like that of a good person.

Hu Jing shook his head, pushing aside his prejudice, and asked: "Daoist Pan, what can I do for you?"

Pan Yun smiled: "Master Gu just needs to stay safely by my side." She placed her hand on his, tapped lightly, and whispered: 【Don't reveal your identity—that's the greatest help.】

Hu Jing agreed at once.

Pan Yun turned to the window, lips curling slightly: Wang Zhen, "I've taken the treasure map—what other cards do you have left? Play them all."

If you don't play them soon, you'll spend the rest of your life in the Imperial Prison.

On the first day's journey, they moved slowly, stopping only at a post station sixty miles from Jingcheng for the night.

After dinner, Pan Yun meditated for half an hour; once she heard everyone was asleep, she opened her eyes, got up, and pushed open the window.

A black cat climbed in through the window, dared not meow, only glared at her: 【Why did you wait so long to open the window?】

Pan Yun sat at the table, poured herself a cup of water, and drank it down: 【I was cultivating.】

Pan Xiaohei then noticed her Qi had recovered to half its strength.

It was astonished: 【Does eating really work that well?】

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Pan Yun: 【I took a Soul-Returning Pill.】

Pan Xiaohei was even more astonished: 【You wouldn't even eat a Soul-Returning Pill when you were starving—now that you've got food and drink, you're using them? What are you planning?】

Pan Yun smiled at it: 【I'm going back to Jingcheng—you're coming with me.】

Pan Xiaohei tilted its head: 【Run back?】

Pan Yun pulled out her precious sword, stroked it, and said: "Though flying at night isn't ideal, it's the only option."

Fifteen minutes later, Pan Xiaohei sat on her shoulder, boredly scratching its head: "You call this flying?"

Pan Yun stared straight ahead, refusing to look down, expressionless: "Just tell me—is it faster than a horse?"

Pan Xiaohei: ……

Half an hour later, they finally flew over the Jingcheng city gate.

Pan Yun landed on a rooftop and sheathed her sword.

She sat on the ridge and rested for fifteen minutes; the weakness in her limbs vanished.

She stood up, once again becoming the spirited Hu Hansan.

Pan Xiaohei asked, "Where are you going?"

Pan Yun extended her arm and said, "To meet Yang GeLao."

Pan Xiaohei leapt onto her arm and scrambled up to perch on her shoulder: "There are two Yang GeLao— which one are you seeing?"

"Of course the bigger one."

Pan Yun fixed her direction and headed toward Yang Shiqi's home with Pan Xiaohei.

Yang Shiqi was not asleep.

Elderly people sleep less; it's still not late.

Coincidentally, Yang Pu and several ministers were also there.

As Pan Yun quietly lifted a tile, Yang Shiqi was urging them: "Your Majesty has grown up; he intends to rule personally and will inevitably need his own power. If you oppose him, the people will suffer. Better to each take a step back."

"Grand Secretary, we act solely for the sake of the people. That Wang Zhen is a treacherous villain; if we allow him to remain by Your Majesty's side, countless absurdities will follow. Now, Wang Zhen controls court affairs, tribute demands from the provinces have increased, and the people's burdens are increasingly heavy. If this continues, civil unrest may erupt."

"Exactly. Now that Your Majesty has finally imprisoned Wang Zhen, we must not miss this opportunity."

Yang Shiqi, seeing their confidence yet inability to grasp the core issue, had to point it out: "Your Majesty seeks to crack down on collusion between inner and outer officials. Wang Zhen and his faction are one group; the Jiangnan gentry, local officials, and capital officials' connections are another."

"Gentlemen, Your Majesty has imprisoned Wang Zhen—that is a gesture of sincerity. What about Jiangnan?"

Everyone fell silent.

The hall grew still, so quiet a pin could be heard dropping.

Good night

(End of Chapter)