[{"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-50":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},2337255,4570,"Chapter 50: Earned a Coin","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-50",50,"\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He looked at her with envy. “We’ve never been to Guangxin Prefecture or Kaifeng Prefecture in our lives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun felt sorrow upon hearing this, sorrow for her future days. “Then what’s the largest city you’ve ever been to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yushan County.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t sound large at all. Pan Yun fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao came over with an empty basket on her back; everything she’d brought down the mountain had been sold. Unlike the children’s small trinkets, she sold directly to shops or merchants here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All were regular customers, and prices were mostly fixed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced at their little stall—on the hemp sacks before Miao Zhen and Miao He lay many remaining items, while the sack before Pan Yun was empty. “Your talismans actually sold here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “Yes. Is that surprising?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao nodded. “Very surprising. Who bought them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He burst out laughing. “Fourth Master, our little master is joking—she didn’t sell a single talisman. She plans to sell them in Guangxin Prefecture. Fourth Master, I want to go with her!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen: “I want to go too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao: “When you can descend from the southern peak to the mountain base, you may go wherever you wish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for Pan Yun, whose eyes lit up, Miao Zhen and Miao He slumped their shoulders and sighed, “Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao said to Pan Yun: “Come with me. You two keep selling your goods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun handed her hemp sack to Miao Zhen and Miao He to hold their items, then hurried after Xuan Miao. “Where are we going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To the express post station.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, express post stations were set up every fifteen li. Dasuanwu was close to Mount Sanqing, so there was the nearest one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Operated by the imperial court, they delivered only court documents and official letters. For civilian correspondence, they delivered only to villages, where recipients had to collect them themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only three people were inside, sorting newly arrived letters and packages. The station chief frowned and stepped forward. “What do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao’s face was equally cold. “To collect mail. Is there any for Mount Sanqing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The station chief rummaged through the shelves, tossed out one letter. “And there’s another for ‘Sanzhu of Mount Sanqing.’ Who is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao glanced quickly at Pan Yun. “That’s my third master’s alias while away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The station chief snorted, then tossed out another letter, muttering loudly: “Playing tricks, who knows what scams you’ve pulled out there—using aliases...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao ignored him entirely, swept her hand across the pile, took both letters, and turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun stared, stunned, then hurried after her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao suddenly stopped and handed Pan Yun her letter. “Do you remember where the express post station is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun nodded dumbly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao: “You’ll collect the mail from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun immediately caught up. “Sister, did you deliberately offend him just because I’ll be collecting mail from now on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No,” Xuan Miao said coldly. “I used to do the same. He used to do the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “Aren’t you afraid he’ll damage our Mount Sanqing letters and packages?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He dares not,” Xuan Miao stopped and looked at her seriously. “Remember: when you come to collect mail, if any letter or package is dirty or abnormal, record it and report it to the Yushan County post station. Don’t fear his cold face or threats. If you believe you should have received mail but didn’t, make him search through every single one and cross-check the records.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun pondered. “The precondition for defying power is possessing greater power. I understand—we have someone above him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao looked down at her quietly, then said: “You always give me the feeling you’re not Pan Hong’s daughter—you’re more like Wang Zhen’s daughter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Sister, you’re mocking me. Wang Zhen’s a eunuch—how could he have a daughter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you know he castrated himself to enter the palace? Perhaps he had a daughter before that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun snorted. “I’m virtuous—I’m nothing like Wang Zhen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao then said: “You don’t need power to defy power.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then you’ll end up like your father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun muttered under her breath, looking down at the letter in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The familiar handwriting made her suppress a surge of joy. She glanced around—no one was watching her, no sense of being observed—and immediately opened the letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Pan Hong’s reply. He said he and his two sons had grown accustomed to exile life and were doing well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun’s eyes filled with tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao, who had walked ahead, returned and stood before her. “Did something happen to your father?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun shook her head. “No. But my father always reports good news and hides the bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao: “Just like you—both of you hate telling the truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao finished reading her own letter. “My friend wrote back—your family has safely returned to Changzhou Prefecture. Your second uncle got a teaching job at Jintai Academy. His monthly salary is substantial.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Safety is enough. I’m not worried about my second uncle’s ability to earn and support the family.” He was slightly better than her father in that regard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at the stall, a crowd had gathered around Miao Zhen and Miao He. Pan Yun hurried forward, alarmed. The crowd consisted entirely of young women, brides, and elderly ladies. Two lines had formed: the elderly mostly clustered around Miao He. One old woman gestured to her waist. “Right here, right here—I hurt standing, sitting, even lying down. Little Daoist Miao He, tell me what’s wrong with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He’s plump little hand pressed on her waist. The old woman cried out, “Ouch, ouch!” but smiled happily. “There, there—press more, press more!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young women and brides lined up before Miao Zhen, stretching out their palms, jostling to get close. “Little Daoist, please read my marriage line—will I find a match this year?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen carefully examined her palm, studied her face, then shook her head. “Not this year. Maybe next year—your good fortune comes late.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh...” The girl looked disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Pan Yun suddenly felt as if her meridians had been unblocked. She pushed forward enthusiastically. “Better late than soon! Delayed fortune benefits your health and your wealth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl’s eyes instantly brightened. She sized up Pan Yun—also dressed in Daoist robes, clearly part of the same group—and abandoned Miao Zhen, rushing to Pan Yun. The two met in the middle between Miao Zhen and Miao He. “Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun nodded firmly. “More true than gold. Miss, let me look again at your palm—see where your romantic fate lies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl immediately extended her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun took it, glanced up at her face, and barely suppressed her expression—this girl’s destiny was terrible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!. Read\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun frowned. The girl’s heart immediately tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun lowered her gaze, hiding the light in her eyes, and smiled. “Miss, your romantic fate is best near, not far. Good fortune lies ahead, though the path is hard. But hardship will eventually turn to sweetness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl focused only on “best near” and “good fortune lies ahead,” asked twice more, then happily pulled out one cash coin and gave it to Pan Yun. “Little Daoist, you’re so accurate. Here’s one cash coin for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He never charged for this. Pan Yun never intended to take money—she’d already seen these people had none. Beyond selling goods, Miao Zhen and Miao He were doing charity work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d pushed forward only to test her recent studies, to gain experience, so she could later read faces in wealthier places and earn money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, seeing the one cash coin offered, she reached out and accepted it solemnly. “Good person, if you ever face uncertainty in your romantic fate, come to Mount Sanqing and seek me. I will do my utmost to cast your fortune and resolve your troubles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She added: “If climbing the mountain is difficult, ask the gods of Mount Sanqing at the shrine at the mountain base.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing Pan Yun’s sincerity, the girl happily agreed and walked away beaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others heard and thought Pan Yun’s face-reading skills were superior. They immediately formed a new line before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After examining every young woman, bride, and elderly lady on the street, all three were hoarse—and of course, Miao Zhen and Miao He had sold all their herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao handed them a bamboo tube to drink from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three sat together in silence, drinking water, utterly quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The return journey was also silent, nothing like the morning when their mouths never stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t speak, but Xuan Miao did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at Pan Yun and Miao Zhen. “Why did you lie?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun, voice hoarse, replied: “Who did we lie to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The girl who asked about marriage. She should marry this year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “But it’s not her true match.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao: “But it’s her destiny.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “Isn’t the point of face-reading and fortune-telling to avoid bad destiny and seize good fortune?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen nodded vigorously. “I saw her marriage carried mortal danger, so I told her to wait until next year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao frowned. “As you say, face-reading and fortune-telling aim to avoid bad destiny. But why lie? Why not tell the truth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “Come on—avoid bad things, why make people unhappy by telling them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao turned to Miao Zhen. “And you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen: “I feared she’d get angry, or her family would come beat me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun turned in surprise. “Is the local folk so violent? It’s just fortune-telling—why beat someone? Has anyone from Mount Sanqing ever been beaten?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen looked up at Xuan Miao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun followed her gaze, met Xuan Miao’s eyes, and swallowed hard. “They... couldn’t have beaten Fourth Sister, could they?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao glanced at her, then turned and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun was intensely curious. She grabbed Miao Zhen and Miao He. “Did Fourth Sister really get beaten? Did they win?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen said: “Master One and Third Uncle were beaten too. I heard even my master was driven out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That sounded bad. No wonder we’re focusing on martial training—we need some skill to defend ourselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Miao turned back. “Hurry up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Coming—” The three hurried after her, their small baskets on their backs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coming down the mountain, Pan Yun earned one cash coin!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lucky number for this chapter is any number ending in 1. Screenshot as proof—screenshot deadline ends before next chapter update.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1745,"2026-06-20T22:03:57.478Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e123e8d137abefdba2fd373b699473210bcc9f757b8838bfc4ceb74ac2f3883f","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-51","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-49",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-cover.jpg"]