Chapter 552: The Changes at the Mountain God Temple (Part One)

Pan Yun carried a bowl of meat scraps up the mountain.

I wonder if Big Brother had timed it just right—Pan Yun had barely reached the mountaintop when he tossed the stretched noodles into the pot; by the time she brought the bowl to the kitchen, the noodles were half-cooked, and he grabbed a handful of washed greens and dropped them in. Seeing the meat scraps she'd brought, he grinned: "Perfect—just right for the topping."

The four eggs sitting on the stove had long been put away.

Pan Yun set down the bowl: "Big Brother, did you already know I'd bring something up the mountain?"

"I didn't predict it," Wang Feiyin tapped his ear. "I heard it. Whether you come up or not, I can tell just by listening. You hadn't come up in so long—you must've been delayed. And since you hadn't returned in so long, the villagers, seeing you again, would surely give you food."

The villagers of Fen Shui Village are just that warm-hearted.

Pan Yun took out two large bowls. Wang Feiyin scooped up the noodles and greens, divided the big bowl of topping evenly into two portions, then poured two ladles of broth over each—soon, the fragrant noodles were ready.

These were the two largest bowls on the mountain, usually used for soups and big dishes—one was as big as Pan Yun's head.

Pan Yun picked up her bowl and walked outside to eat.

Wang Feiyin carried his out too. After taking one bite, he went inside to fetch the salt jar, watched Pan Yun happily eating, shook his head, and realized: she was truly starving—even without salt, she ate with such joy.

Wang Feiyin added a pinch of salt to his own bowl, then casually handed the salt jar to her. "When are you returning to the Academy?"

Pan Yun: "Tomorrow!"

Wang Feiyin nodded slightly. "I've just refined another batch of pills. I'll sort them out in a moment—you can take them back for everyone."

Pan Yun stirred her noodles, then paused. "Why are you making so many pills for us?"

"What do you think?" Wang Feiyin grumbled. "There's another portion for your Third Brother and Fourth Sister—they're in Japan now. I've never been there; I don't know if they have herbs. If they don't, they won't be able to make medicine. Take extra for them."

Pan Yun nodded vigorously.

"Besides ready-made pills, I've also prepared some raw herbs for you—all of it. If you fall ill or get injured later, you can mix your own medicine."

Pan Yun finished eating, followed Wang Feiyin to collect the herbs he'd prepared, and opened her mouth wide.

After a long moment, she found her voice: "Big Brother, are you asking me to move the entire Mount Sanqing Temple?"

Wang Feiyin gave her a sharp tap on the back of the head. "Our temple isn't that destitute—it's just herbs. Pack them up."

Wang Feiyin was thoughtful—he'd separated each person's herbs into individual bundles, each labeled with a name.

Tao Ji's herbs alone made up three-quarters of the total. Of the remaining quarter, Tao Yan Bai and Miao He took three-quarters again; what was left was barely enough for her, Fourth Sister, and Seeing Miao Zhen to share equally.

Pan Yun hefted the bundles, laughing as she put Fourth Sister's herbs into her Spirit Realm: "Big Brother, you clearly understand Fourth Sister's medical skills well—these are all herbs for healing, replenishing blood and qi. And there's so little."

Wang Feiyin: "Of course I understand—not just hers, but yours too."

He said: "If you don't work harder, I'll have to punish you on Master's behalf. You're a disciple of Mount Sanqing, carrying Ge Gong's legacy—how could your medical skills be this poor?"

Pan Yun instantly fell silent and quietly packed away everything.

Pan Yun diligently closed herself off for a night to consolidate her cultivation, then the next day returned to the Mountain God Temple to preside.

It was peak farming season, so few villagers came to worship—unless…

Unless their family or they themselves faced great calamity or were torn by a major decision.

Pan Yun sat from morning until evening and received only three visitors—all came from other villages, trekking over mountains and rivers. The first was an old woman with a young daughter-in-law. As soon as they entered, the old woman looked up and said: "The Mountain God has grown even more compassionate."

Then she dropped to her knees, raised her hand, and wiped away tears.

Pan Yun, sitting by the door, jumped half an inch in surprise.

Seeing the woman simply held her daughter-in-law and wept, Pan Yun rose and placed a cushion before their knees. "Elder, the ground is cold. Whatever troubles you have, tell me. Even if I can't solve it, I can help ease your heart."

The old woman looked up and saw Pan Yun. She seized her hand: "The temple attendant has returned from school."

She wiped her tears, pushed the cushion toward her daughter-in-law, then gripped Pan Yun's hand tightly: "Please ask the Mountain God for me—is it better to keep my daughter-in-law, or let her go?"

This was cryptic—most people wouldn't understand.

But Pan Yun scanned their faces and heads: both wore plain white clothes, eyes swollen, faces sorrowful. The young daughter-in-law wore a small white flower in her hair. Pan Yun understood her question.

Pan Yun studied the daughter-in-law's face: cold, obedient, but with a hidden death wish. Then she looked at the old woman's grief and regret—and knew: she cherished her daughter-in-law.

The rarest thing in this world is to be loved—especially when there's no blood tie.

No error! No misreading! No misinterpretation!

How many parents lack the heart or ability to love their children? How much less so a mother-in-law?

Pan Yun seized the young daughter-in-law's hand and pressed it against the old woman's. "Your bond as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is not yet finished. If you, a kind soul, care for this gentle soul, why not keep her by your side for a few more years?"

The old woman turned to look at her daughter-in-law, then pulled her into a sobbing embrace.

The young daughter-in-law, who had remained cold and silent, seemed to have a switch flipped—she returned the embrace and wept bitterly too.

Pan Yun gently patted both their backs, offering comfort.

…

Pan Yun took the incense from the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law and stuck it into the incense burner.

The old woman nudged her daughter-in-law to wait outside, then pulled out a handful of copper coins and tried to press them into Pan Yun's hands.

Pan Yun smiled, accepted them, then handed back two talismans of safety: "One for you, one for your gentle one—may they keep you both safe and prosperous."

The old woman still looked uneasy, wiping her tears: "Temple Attendant, my daughter-in-law is only twenty. Making her remain chaste… her life is still so long. I feel guilty. But the in-laws have found her only widowers—none of them good. I fear she'll suffer if she returns home…"

Pan Yun said: "If you know they'll treat your gentle one poorly, why insist she return?"

"I see she loved her husband deeply—she already wished to die. Only your presence keeps her alive. Once you're gone, I fear…"

The old woman's face changed. She bit her lip, then muttered: "I understand. What a sin—what a terrible sin. They must've whispered to her behind my back, trying to force her to die for a chastity arch. Pah! A pack of dogs without a backside—unable to support themselves, they'd use my daughter-in-law's life to win fame and glory…"

As soon as she finished, she realized her words were improper and looked sharply at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun's gaze was gentle, as if she hadn't heard. She took the old woman's hand, blinked, and said: "Elder, you are bound now as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Bonds change over time. As years pass, mother-in-law becomes mother. When the time comes, if she wishes, you can take a son-in-law who lives with you."

The old woman's mouth fell open: "What?"

Pan Yun pointed up the mountain. "If you ever have trouble, come to the Mountain God Temple and ask for help. Ask my Big Brother—he's very powerful."

Wang Feiyin on the mountain sneezed loudly.

Wang Feiyin: "Someone must be thinking of me." (End of Chapter)