Chapter 506: Reminder

Pan Yun was someone who listened to advice; following Whether Mu Ang's words, she realized that returning to Jingcheng now would achieve little.

Everything she could do, she had already done before leaving the capital.

Returning to Jingcheng now would only mean waiting passively, occasionally provoking or threatening Wang Zhen and the others.

But such matters, even without her entering the capital, her second master and Xue Shao could handle.

Intellectually, she understood this—but emotionally, she still longed to return to Jingcheng to see her father.

After Seeing Miao Zhen learned of her inner conflict, she said: "Just cast a divination."

She said: "When both options are equally viable, leave the decision to Heaven."

Seeing Miao Zhen pulled out three copper coins and handed them to Pan Yun: "Shake."

Pan Yun took the coins: "Leave it to Heaven? I rarely do things like this."

Though she said so, her shaking was swift; she closed her eyes, prayed briefly, then tossed the coins down.

Seeing Miao Zhen glanced at them, arranged the three coins in order, and her expression turned solemn: "Kan hexagram, Xi Kan, with sincerity, the heart is unobstructed, action is auspicious. At line six-three, the hexagram text: Coming to Kan, Kan is dangerous and deep, entering Kan's abyss—do not act."

Seeing Miao Zhen said: "This is an ill omen."

Pan Yun didn't need her to interpret—the moment the hexagram appeared, she knew it was bad, but she hadn't expected it to be this bad.

So she asked directly: "Is there a way to break it?"

Seeing Miao Zhen: "Yes—don't enter Jingcheng."

Pan Yun: "That's the same as saying nothing."

Seeing Miao Zhen put away the coins, about to tuck them into her pouch, then paused, remembering something, and looked up at Pan Yun's face.

Seeing her gaze so intent, Pan Yun touched her own face and asked: "What's on my face?"

"Nothing," Seeing Miao Zhen frowned. "Your cultivation has advanced greatly, Master, and I can barely divine your fortune now—but I remember clearly the first time I saw you, I studied your facial features."

"Your fortune is poor, your familial ties are thin; your relationship with your parents is one of separation. Forcing yourselves to stay together worsens your fortune further."

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow: "Are you saying I curse my father?"

Seeing Miao Zhen shook her head: "Not a curse—some people simply shouldn't meet often. Frequent meetings breed quarrels, foster emotional distance, and harm fortune."

Pan Yun murmured: "You're not the first to say this. If I'm not cursing my father, then he's cursing me!"

Seeing Miao Zhen: …

Pan Yun grew more convinced as she thought: "No wonder whenever I'm separated from my father, I can cultivate—and I get better and better."

Seeing Miao Zhen hurriedly said: "Master, we are proper Daoist Priests—we don't indulge in feudal superstition. Your situation with Lord Pan isn't about one cursing the other—it's simply that your fortunes make it unsuitable for you to be together."

Especially when you were young. When you grow older, this condition may improve."

Pan Yun waved her hand: "Who wants to live with him even when grown?"

I don't want to now—I'm just worried about my father, and it's been three years since I last saw him. I miss him.

Pan Yun frowned, thinking: "If I don't go to Jingcheng, where do we go after leaving Yunnan?"

Seeing Miao Zhen: "Isn't the Imperial Academy reopening soon? And this year's entry examination for the official permits is at the end of March—if we make it, we must return to Guangxin Prefecture to take the test, right?"

Pan Yun sighed heavily: "I'm not looking for a good place—I'm looking for a place where I can get news from Jingcheng faster."

She looked around, regretful: "Yunnan is still too remote—even with flying birds carrying messages, the speed is too slow."

Seeing Miao Zhen chimed in: "Speed is still slow?"

Pan Yun: "Exactly."

Seeing Miao Zhen leaned closer: "Master, when can we set off?"

"Soon. Mu Xi may lack talent, but his mind is decent, and as an adult, he has self-discipline—he's already begun grasping his own consciousness." Pan Yun counted on her fingers: "At most seven days, I can get him to control the insects."

Actually, it would be faster—Pan Yun had too much experience.

In her past life, during school, some classmates couldn't develop their spiritual force, so teachers would step in and guide them directly with their own consciousness.

As an academic top student, she was often asked for help—and naturally, she'd helped out herself.

For them, it was like holding a pen and solving a math problem for someone.

But Mu Xi didn't trust her enough to release his consciousness, so she spent a full day and night guiding his awareness around his body and showing him the Niwan Palace.

Only when Mu Xi was drenched in cold sweat and pale-faced did she let him go.

Looking at Mu Xi, who looked like his head would split open, Pan Yun sneered: "You're not lying to me, are you? You really saw your Niwan Palace?"

Mu Xi nodded, head throbbing: "I saw it—faintly, but I definitely saw a field of sea. I think that's what Daoist Pan described as the Niwan Palace."

Pan Yun reluctantly nodded: "Fine. Remember that feeling. Next time you cultivate, grasp your consciousness like that."

Mu Xi looked utterly defeated: "Is cultivating consciousness always this painful?"

"No—cultivating spiritual awareness is very comfortable. Today it hurt because you needed someone guiding you. Once you master the method of refining the spirit, when you cultivate alone, you'll feel weightless, as if ascending to immortality."

Pan Yun paused, then added: "If you feel pain, congratulations—your spirit is advancing, and that's why it hurts."

Mu Xi: "What's the other possibility?"

"Don't even consider the other possibility," Pan Yun said. "With your current physique, if it were that, you'd die instantly. Since it's an immediate death, thinking about it is useless."

Mu Xi froze: "Even if it's useless to think about, I still want to know what it is."

"Qi deviation."

Mu Xi: "Is there any way to avoid it?"

Pan Yun: "Don't do shameful deeds. Don't rush."

Mu Xi: "Just those two?"

Pan Yun nodded: "Just those two."

Mu Xi pondered, then, seeing Pan Yun rise to leave, hurriedly asked: "I heard Lin'er is also practicing this method—how is he doing?"

Pan Yun looked at him with a complex expression: "He's far stronger than you—he grasped his own consciousness in twenty minutes."

Mu Xi's eyes widened: "How is that possible?"

"What's impossible?" Pan Yun snapped. "He trusts me, his comprehension is decent, his talent isn't bad—he learns after one trip with me. How are you like that..."

Pan Yun clutched her stomach in pain and weakly said, "I can't—I'm starving."

She turned and left to eat.

Mu Lin sat cross-legged on a stone bench in the courtyard, bathed in moonlight, palms facing upward, meditating quietly.

Pan Yun glanced at him, didn't disturb him, and hurried back to the courtyard, clutching her stomach, searching for food.

The guest courtyard had a small kitchen.

Ever since learning Pan Yun could save Mu Xi, the Mu household treated them exceptionally well—providing the finest ingredients, staffing the kitchen with several chefs and cooks, keeping hot water ready twenty-four hours a day; even without meals, there were always snacks. Pan Yun burst into the small kitchen, lifted the lid off a pot, and began searching for food.

As she lifted the large lid, steam billowed out; inside, a rack held five plates of dishes.

Pan Yun's eyes widened. She immediately set down the lid and pulled out the dishes.

The young maid on duty in the adjacent room heard the noise and came over. Seeing Pan Yun, she hurried forward to help: "Master Daoist Pan, let me carry these to the dining hall."

Pan Yun had planned to eat squatting in the kitchen, but seeing the maid, she waved her off: "No need. Just bring me a basin of rice."

Pan Yun placed all five dishes on the stove counter and asked, "There's rice too, right?"

The maid paused, then nodded frantically: "Yes, yes! Master Daoist Wang specifically instructed us—said Master Daoist Pan would be hungry when she returned at night, so we cooked extra rice and kept it warm on the stove with charcoal."

The rice was still hot. Pan Yun was satisfied.

She scooped a full basin of rice, grabbed a pair of chopsticks, and began eating.

When Li Wenying wandered over, her face was half-buried in the rice basin.

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He stood silently at the kitchen doorway for a while. When she finally lifted her head and mixed minced pork with eggplant into her rice, he let out a soft "tsk." "You look like this—anyone would think the Mu household is mistreating you, not even feeding you properly."

The young maid, who was heating water for Pan Yun, turned pale at this. She dropped to her knees with a thud and bowed her head repeatedly: "It's my fault for neglecting you! Please, Master Daoist, spare my life—don't tell the Guanshi!"

Pan Yun glared at Li Wenying, one hand gripping her rice basin and chopsticks, the other pulling the maid up. "Don't be afraid. We won't report you. He's just a mouthy fool who likes teasing me—it has nothing to do with you."

The maid calmed slightly but still timidly glanced up at Li Wenying.

Li Wenying awkwardly rubbed his nose and nodded under Pan Yun's glare. "Don't worry—I won't report you."

Pan Yun told the maid, "Keep heating the water. I'll need it soon."

The maid exhaled in relief, nodded vigorously, and squatted again by the stove to stoke the fire.

After eating several mouthfuls, Pan Yun's stomach felt alive again, and she no longer wanted to stand.

She placed all the dishes on the small table in the kitchen, dragged over a stool, and sat down to eat.

Li Wenying also pulled over a stool and sat across from her, propping his chin as he watched her eat.

"You left at Chen hour and didn't return until after Xu hour—over six hours. Why are you busier than when you saved Mu Xi the past two days?"

Pan Yun picked up a chicken leg, gripped it with her hand, and tore off a large chunk with her teeth. Mumbling, she said, "We have to go take the Daoist license exam—we must heal the person quickly and leave..."

Li Wenying was startled: "You're going to take the Daoist license exam?"

The maid poured the boiled water into a bowl, added a little cool boiled water, waited until the temperature was just right, then brought it to Pan Yun.

Pan Yun took a sip of warm water, cleared her throat, and said, "What's so strange about me taking the Daoist license exam? Every Daoist priest wants one."

Li Wenying's fingers tapped his knee unconsciously. "Do you know how hard the Daoist license exam is? You have a ready shortcut right here—why not use it?"

Pan Yun knew he meant Whether Mu Ang. She lifted her chin, proud. "If others can pass, so can I. It's just a license—I'll earn it by my own ability."

Li Wenying stared at her, then smiled faintly and nodded. "Ambitious. Good."

He leaned back, resting against the kitchen door, crossed his legs, and said lazily, "Fine. If you take the exam this year in Guangxin Prefecture and pass, you'll gain eligibility for the next round. Next year you'll retake it; if nothing goes wrong, the year after that you can go to Jingcheng for the final license exam."

Pan Yun's chopsticks paused. She looked up. "If nothing goes wrong? What, can the license exam have accidents?"

Li Wenying chuckled. "Do you think our Daoji Office exams are like the imperial civil service exams—held every three years on schedule?"

"Do you know how many years passed between the last and the one before that?"

Pan Yun tightened her grip on her chopsticks. "How many years?"

Li Wenying held up four fingers. "Four."

Pan Yun exhaled in relief.

Li Wenying grinned at her. "Do you know the longest gap between two Daoist license exams?"

Pan Yun felt a bad premonition. "How many years?"

Li Wenying: "Seven. During Emperor Xuande's reign, there was a proposal to open Daoist and Buddhist licenses only once every ten years."

Pan Yun stared, dumbfounded. "Then—if you're past the age limit when you take it..."

"Exactly. If licenses open every ten years, those who awaken late or fail the first time must be beaten with sticks when they retake it. But we're lucky—Emperor Xuanzong favored Daoism, called himself the True Person of Everlasting Spring, so the proposal was dropped. Otherwise, you and I would've been beaten when we took the exam."

Pan Yun snapped back to attention. "You might get beaten—I won't. With my knowledge, I'll pass on the first try."

Li Wenying grinned at her.

Pan Yun frowned. "What are you grinning at?"

Li Wenying grinned. "Do you think the imperial civil service exams are fair?"

Pan Yun's face turned serious. "Of course they're fair!"

Li Wenying snorted. "Fine, assume they're fair. Then I'll tell you: the Daoist license exam is completely different. If you think the civil service exams are fair, the Daoist license exam is a hundred times worse. If you think the civil service exams are unfair, it's still a hundred times worse than that."

Pan Yun frowned. "What does that mean? If it's so unfair, why haven't Daoist priests petitioned to change it?"

"Why change it?" Li Wenying said. "It seems unfair—but it's the fairest thing in the world."

Pan Yun stared at him silently. "Can you speak human?"

Li Wenying said, "You'll understand when you take the exam. I guarantee—you'll fail."

Pan Yun looked unconvinced. "I'm so talented..."

"You're only strong in cultivation," Li Wenying said. "But the Daoist license exam barely tests cultivation at all—so little it's negligible. In my view, your three disciples have better chances than you."

Pan Yun lowered her head and ate, mumbling, "I'll start studying as soon as I get back."

"It's too late to cling to the Buddha's foot at the last minute," Li Wenying waved to the young maid still standing by the stove: "The water's boiled—go now. We'll extinguish the fire ourselves later."

The young maid bowed and withdrew.

Li Wenying watched the maid return to her room and close the door before turning to Pan Yun: "Wang Zhen is the Emperor's favorite. He must know a lot about affairs of the imperial court, right?"

Pan Yun was already half-full; she slowed her eating: "Say what you mean outright."

"Such a powerful man still knows almost nothing about cultivators, about our world—do you know why?"

Pan Yun: "Information barrier?"

Li Wenying had never heard this term before, but after pondering it, he smiled: "That's a clever word."

He nodded: "Exactly—an information barrier. Because there are few who can cultivate in this world, and to maintain stability, the state must pacify the people's hearts. Thus, our kind, our world, remains hidden."

"Only high-ranking civil and military officials in the court glimpse fragments of it. Beyond them, only a few established clans and gentry know anything. Someone like Wang Zhen—unless the Emperor specifically mentions it—he knows nothing."

Pan Yun blinked: "So?"

"So don't make mistakes. The first lesson at the Academy is memorizing the Dao Dao Lu Si's Ninety-Nine Rules for Monks and Taoists—two of them forbid you from secretly transmitting cultivation methods or displaying magical arts before commoners. Do you still remember?"