Chapter 474: People from Long Hushan

I don't know if An Chen knows, but since that night, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has been taking turns on duty, occasionally passing near Pan Yun.

After feeling unwell for two days, Pan Yun peacefully began cultivating at night, treating them as extra guardians.

After leaving the Imperial Prison, her malevolent aura decreased and spiritual energy increased; combined with nourishing her essence through food, her Yuan power began recovering rapidly.

Wang Cong and the others, who had been tense all along, gradually relaxed when they saw her cultivation restored: "Little Master Aunt, you've gathered quite a bit of merit—I see even the beauties aren't drooling over you anymore."

Hong Yan, forced to remain in her fox form due to following the Embroidered Uniform Guard, shot Wang Cong an irritated glare.

Pan Yun gazed thoughtfully at An Chen—they must have something on them that blocks her aura from leaking out.

Of course, she now had greater mastery in concealing her aura and hiding her merit.

Pan Yun slightly lifted her head toward the sky.

In her eyes, countless golden lights mingled with sunlight, pouring over her.

This made her feel warmly enveloped—this was one reason her Yuan power recovered so quickly.

The merit entering her body was instantly absorbed by the Spirit Realm, circled within it, then settled quietly in her Niwan Palace.

The golden progress bar above the Spirit Realm was slowly advancing; it was nearly at the top, and soon the next seal of the Spirit Realm would be broken.

This good deed was truly worth it.

Pan Yun's lips curled slightly—using Wang Zhen's money to earn her own merit was delightful.

Pan Yun said to Wang Cong: "Be courteous to the Embroidered Uniform Guard—they've been working hard to look after us."

Wang Cong: "... Yes."

Seeing Miao Zhen: "Little Master Aunt, who will Long Hushan send to escort us?"

Pan Yun: "Who knows? I hope it's not Zhang Yuanzhu."

"There are two Zhang Yuanzhus— which one are you referring to, Pan Yun?" A voice came from afar; two green-robed Daoist Priests walked slowly toward them, accompanied by two blue-robed junior Daoists.

In two steps, they reached close range—each step covering at least forty to fifty meters. An Chen's eyes widened, and in a flash he drew his blade: "Who are you?"

The four halted. The voice said: "Zhang Ziwang of the Ten Hua Courtyard, Long Hushan."

He bowed, then turned to Pan Yun with a faint smile: "Little Yun, the Zhang Yuanzhu you meant isn't me, is it?"

Pan Yun stared at his gentle smile, shuddered, and shook her head rapidly: "No, no, Master Zhang, Brother Li—it's you two coming to escort me…"

Li Wenying: "Not escorting—we're here to subdue demons and exterminate evil."

Zhang Ziwang nodded: "Indeed, demons have been causing havoc in Jingcheng. We've been given a bait to lure them out of the capital, and we'll follow to hunt them down. Exterminating demons is our Long Hushan duty—we cannot refuse. But we never expected the bait would be you."

Li Wenying immediately undercut him: "He's lying. Everyone knew it was you before we even left. They also knew you'd entered the First Marquis through Tribulation Crossing. He volunteered for this mission."

Zhang Ziwang turned silently to look at him.

Li Wenying, undaunted, said directly: "Why bother? She always shouts Long Hushan's name when trouble strikes, but when there's a reward, she claims to be Pan Yun of Mount Sanqing. Clearly, she won't abandon her sect to join Long Hushan. Stop trying to make her your disciple."

Zhang Ziwang: "Your mouth is as annoying as ever. She's a student of Long Hushan's Academy—how isn't she Long Hushan's?"

Zhang Ziwang smiled at Pan Yun: "Just keep shouting Long Hushan's name. No matter how big the trouble, Long Hushan will cover for you."

Li Wenying: "That's not his promise—he can deny it after saying it, or acknowledge it and still do nothing."

Zhang Ziwang couldn't take it anymore—he turned and glared at Li Wenying: "You're as annoying as ever." Li Wenying: "Thank you. The feeling's mutual."

Wang Cong, seeing their tension, stepped forward immediately to bow: "Student greets both Masters."

Zhang Ziwang stared hard, unpleased: "It's you? What are you doing here?"

Li Wenying: "Isn't it natural for him to serve his own Master Aunt here?"

Zhang Ziwang, at his limit, turned and glared at Li Wenying: "If Zhang Ziwang forced you out to work, vent your anger at him—not at me!"

Li Wenying: "We both share the surname Zhang—brother substitutes for brother."

Zhang Ziwang: "Liu Zhen is his nephew too—why don't you vent at him?"

Pan Yun quickly intervened: "Stop arguing—are you two the only ones Long Hushan sent?"

Behind them, Zhang Weiyi murmured quietly: "There's me too."

He glanced at the young man beside him and added: "And Xue Hua."

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Pan Yun scanned the two and said to Zhang Ziwang: "The eagle that attacked the capital three days ago has already reached the fourth stage—I can't defeat it. By the way, the five officials of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau teamed up and only survived five strikes against it."

Zhang Ziwang nodded: "We know. That eagle has been driven back to the grasslands by Master Zhang Gong and won't return to the Central Plains anytime soon. As for other demons, though you now carry merit, you're not as magnetically attractive to them as the report claimed. If any foolhardy ones come looking, you and Wenying are enough."

Li Wenying: "Two First Marquises—no, three including you—should be enough to fight that eagle if it shows up again."

Pan Yun: "And then? Just 'enough to fight'?"

"Enough to hold it off—that's all we need," Li Wenying winked at her. "Not to mention Long Hushan's elders—even your Senior Brother has more than enough time to arrive."

Zhang Ziwang: "Pan Yun, the elders' time is precious—they can't possibly follow you around the country. That's why it's me: I'm easygoing, young, still young at heart, close to your age, and can chat with you. So I'm willing to waste time on this trip."

Otherwise, the ones sent to escort you would be people like these."

Zhang Ziwang pointed behind him at Zhang Weiyi and Xue Hua.

Pan Yun looked at the two: "So who's protecting whom?"

Zhang Weiyi and Xue Hua remained silent—they were both quiet types, incapable of retorting, so they stayed silent.

Zhang Ziwang, however, had no sense of solemnity—he grinned cheerfully: "Don't underestimate them. Their cultivation may not match yours, but their spells and arrays are just as strong. If their Yuan power falls short, they make up for it with technique. And you won't just encounter demons on this journey—you'll also run into clueless martial artists."

"Their Wu Gong isn't weak."

Li Wenying added: "Their Wu Gong ranks among the second tier in the martial world. Don't underestimate small people—even ants can swarm your feet and bite you to death."

Pan Yun imagined the scene of a swarm of ants devouring her feet, shuddered, then nodded: "I understand."

An Chen stood silently beside them, listening to their banter, gradually understanding their relationships and personalities. Then he stepped forward: "You're from Long Hushan—do you have official documents?"

Zhang Weiyi immediately stepped forward to hand them over.

They carried official documents from the Celestial Master's Mansion.

An Chen verified each document, confirmed the identities of the four, and ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to clear a baggage cart for them.

"We're pressed for time, so from now on we'll speed up, traveling day and night, stopping only when the horses are exhausted, and changing horses at any station we encounter; please all the Dao Masters prepare yourselves."

An Chen spoke these words mainly looking at Zhang Ziming and Li Wenying, since the two appeared to hold the highest status.

(End of Chapter)