Chapter 521: Fly

Pan Yun turned to Seeing Miao Zhen and said, "Take Tao Yanbai to the canteen to get food; after eating, I'll enter seclusion."

Seeing Miao Zhen looked at Pan Yun seriously, knowing she couldn't dissuade her, and quietly rose, pulling Tao Yanbai and Mei He to the canteen for food.

After eating, Pan Yun locked herself in her room.

She looked at Hong Yan: "I won't be around these two days—I'll find you and Xiao Hong a good place to stay."

Hong Yan: "Can't we just stay in your room?"

Pan Yun: "I could allow it, but there are three particularly annoying people in this courtyard—they'll return after the term starts. Though I'm confident they won't dare bully mine again, people are unpredictable: you fear the one in ten thousand, not the nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine."

You can die three times and come back, but Xiao Hong dies once and her soul scatters—so I must arrange things properly for you both."

Hong Yan: "... You're truly thoughtful."

Pan Yun nodded: "Thank you for the compliment."

Hong Yan asked: "Where are you planning to send us?"

"Don't worry, it's not far—still inside the academy," Pan Yun said. "You'll still be able to play with Seeing Miao Zhen and the others every day."

A moment later, Pan Yun carried Hong Yan and shouldered Pan Xiaohei into Fuan Courtyard.

Zhang Liuzhen, seated by the window meditating under the moonlight, opened his eyes and watched her silently.

Pan Yun looked up and saw Zhang Liuzhen sitting by the window; she smiled at him, then leapt upward with Hong Yan in hand.

Zhang Liuzhen glanced at the red fox placed beside his knee, his fingers twitched, yet he couldn't resist gently stroking its smooth fur: "You've got quite the nerve."

Pan Yun: "Brother, will you help or not?"

Zhang Liuzhen smiled but said nothing.

Pan Yun bowed: "Thank you, Brother. She's already grown three tails and can partially transform."

Zhang Liuzhen's lips curled slightly: "Within Fuan Courtyard, she may move freely."

Pan Yun gave Hong Yan a meaningful look: "Did you hear that? You must behave and not leave Fuan Courtyard."

Zhang Liuzhen's gaze drifted to her sleeve and asked: "Is there more?"

Pan Yun chuckled, pulling a golden hairpin from her sleeve and placing it on the table beside her.

A wisp of smoke rose; a flash of light appeared on Zhang Liuzhen's forehead—he opened his Heavenly Eye without forming hand seals or drawing talismans.

Pan Yun thought inwardly: No wonder even my senior brother praised him—he's truly gifted.

Still, not as gifted as I am.

Knowing Zhang Liuzhen had seen Xiao Hong, Pan Yun introduced directly: "Zhang Shixiong, this is Xiao Hong."

Zhang Liuzhen's smile faded slightly: "Disciples of Long Hushan are forbidden from keeping spirit familiars."

Keeping a beast is one thing—but keeping a ghost is going too far.

Pan Yun said: "She lingers in the mortal realm, wandering and kept against her will—really, this is Zhang Weiliang's fault."

Zhang Liuzhen stared at her silently.

"Fine, I can't convince her—Senior Brother, try?"

Xiao Hong looked at her, panicked.

Pan Yun soothed her: "Don't worry—Zhang Shixiong won't force you. If you refuse, he won't forcibly guide your soul."

Xiao Hong stole a glance at Zhang Liuzhen; seeing his expression was still gentle, she quietly exhaled in relief.

Pan Yun kept watching Zhang Liuzhen, waiting for his answer.

Zhang Liuzhen, unable to endure her gaze, sighed: "I'll watch over them. As long as they stay within Fuan Courtyard, no one can harm them."

Pan Yun was satisfied: "Thank you, Zhang Shixiong—I'll take my leave now." "Wait," Zhang Liuzhen called after her. The moonlight was bright, and as a cultivator, he studied her thoroughly by its glow, frowning: "Are you traveling far? Your fortune has been poor lately—traveling far may bring blood disaster."

Pan Yun: "Will I die?"

Zhang Liuzhen paused, then said: "Not that severe—but…"

"As long as I don't die," Pan Yun turned and leapt away: "Senior Brother, I'm off! Please watch over my three junior disciples!"

"... But it's not trivial," Zhang Liuzhen sighed helplessly. "Can't you at least hear me out before leaving?"

He turned again to the fox and the ghost, and sighed: "I've become a nanny."

Pan Yun leapt out of Fuan Courtyard, daring not to summon the Three Treasures Cauldron to fly—instead, she used her lightness skill to run silently along the rooftops.

From the academy to Da Shangqing Palace, then to its outer wall—she leapt over it.

The moment she landed, she sprinted downhill as if a mad dog chased her.

Wind rushed past her ears; at full speed, her lightness skill made her feel as free as a bird in flight.

No mistake! One word, one phrase, one detail—all correct!

The wilderness was empty; Pan Yun didn't stop, sprinting as she pulled the Three Treasures Cauldron from her waist and hurled it forward with all her strength…

The Three Treasures Cauldron grew in midair—grew, grew, grew…

Pan Yun casually tossed Pan Xiaohei onto the cauldron, then leapt upward, stepping on roadside trees to flip into the air, kicking the void three or five times to catch up with the flying cauldron, spread her wings, and dove straight into its mouth.

The moment she entered, the cauldron shot away with a *shoo! * and vanished into the horizon—only Pan Xiaohei's furious "meow-meow" echoed inside.

Traveling a thousand li by night isn't just legend.

Before dawn, Pan Yun arrived at the gates of Jingcheng.

She found a quiet spot, changed into plain clothes, dressed as a neighborhood girl, and waited outside the city gate; Pan Xiaohei she casually dropped beside her.

He had to enter the city on his own.

Already gathered outside the gate were many cart-pushers and pole-bearers; Pan Yun glanced once and quietly followed behind an elderly couple carrying a basket of vegetables and a basket of tofu.

She looked up at the gates of Jingcheng.

She could fly in—she'd done it before.

But precisely because she had, she knew Zhang Zijin would monitor all city gates, and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau would track Jingcheng's movements.

Otherwise, how did my second senior brother know I'd entered the city last time?

She didn't want anyone to know she had arrived; the best way was to enter and exit the city gate like an ordinary commoner.

She had barely stood still for a moment when the gate clanged open; she looked up and saw the tightly sealed gate slowly opening before her eyes. Beyond the crowd, she saw the men lifting the gate bar grumbling, one of them clutching his arm.

Pan Yun blinked, silently reciting: Whatever happens, benefits me.

She would absolutely not encounter such bad luck!

The gate began to let people in.

Villagers from the outskirts of the capital, like elderly couples selling vegetables, typically did not need household registration to enter or leave the city, and were rarely checked thoroughly—just a quick glance was enough.

As for someone like Pan Yun, empty-handed, it was even simpler: if the soldiers at the gate suspected her, they'd ask a few questions; if not, they'd simply wave her through.

Pan Yun put on a look of complete innocence, even cheating by activating the spiritual realm within her dantian.

The spiritual realm within her dantian emitted a soft glow, making Pan Yun appear gentle and trustworthy.

This was the effect of the Merit Stone within the spiritual realm.

Pan Yun passed through smoothly, thinking smugly: Thank goodness I only used a small piece of Merit Stone infused into my spiritual realm—if I'd pulled out a whole one, they'd probably kneel and call her Dad!

Pan Yun tilted her head slightly, striding into the city gate with self-satisfaction.

Just as she was reveling in it, a sudden thought struck her, and she instinctively stepped back.

A pile of bird droppings splattered right in front of her shoe tip. (End of chapter)