Chapter 559

Pan Yun paced once around the front hall, accepted the hot tea offered by the servant, sat down nowhere, and simply held the teacup as she stepped over the threshold.

The steward hurried after her, opening his mouth to speak but holding back.

Fortunately, Pan Yun stopped only at the doorway; after walking eight or nine steps, she turned back, scanned the front hall from top to bottom and left to right, then looked around.

She sighed once in each direction, until the steward's heart trembled with dread.

Compared to Master Li and Mistress Li, he knew Pan Yun better—he didn't think she had such great abilities, but he believed she had some small skills.

Yet given the money the young master had paid, he still thought Pan Yun was deceiving them.

But her sighs made him terribly uneasy.

The steward stared at her hopefully, wishing she would reveal more.

Yet Pan Yun sipped her tea slowly, then returned leisurely to the front hall.

She sat to the lower right of Li Wenying, and amid the steward's half-spoken words, let out a long sigh: "What a tragedy~~"

The steward's heart jolted.

Li Wenying also sighed: "What a tragedy~~"

The steward's heart trembled harder.

Pan Yun and Li Wenying shook their heads together and sighed: "Truly, what a tragedy~~"

The steward hurriedly said: "Master Pan, what troubles afflict my masters? Please, Master, reveal them clearly."

Pan Yun asked: "Has their family of three not finished discussing yet?"

The steward immediately replied: "I'll go fetch Master and Mistress right away."

The steward sprinted toward the back courtyard, but halfway there, he met the family of three walking together.

Mainly because the young master was supporting Master Li.

After having bled out, Master Li felt extremely weak—even if he could move swiftly, he was still weak.

Master Li: "Why aren't you serving in the front hall? Why come back?"

The steward immediately stepped forward and whispered into his ear.

The young master strained to eavesdrop, but Mistress Li grabbed his ear and yanked him aside.

The young master protested: "Mother, why won't you let me listen? I'm the one who invited her."

"This is all your father's sin—what you don't know doesn't concern you. Later, help your father into the front hall, then go back to sleep. You were beaten badly today—hurt, aren't you?"

The young master: "When ancestors sin, descendants suffer. Father has only me as his son. Even if you don't tell me, I'll still suffer the consequences. Better to know now and prepare."

Mistress Li slapped him in anger: "Don't talk nonsense! Pah, pah, pah—childish words, swept away by the wind!"

The young master: "... Mother, open your eyes—do I look like a child?"

Mistress Li clutched her chest and said to Master Li: "Husband, why don't you beat him again?"

Master Li grunted and leaned on the steward's arm as he headed toward the front hall: "You beat him yourself!"

The family of three gathered in the front hall.

Master Li smiled warmly and ordered the steward to bring out the family's finest crimson python robe: "Besides New Year's Eve, tonight is the first time we've stayed this late in the front hall. Master Li, Master Pan—would you prefer to rest first, or begin at once?"

If you want us to rest, then don't put on that crimson robe.

Drinking such thick tea at this hour—who are you trying to keep awake?

Pan Yun set the teacup beside her and said: "Let's cut to the chase—let's begin at once."

Master Li stared at her intently.

Pan Yun's eyes flickered with golden light; first she saw a mass of gray-black qi swirling around Master Li, then noticed his complexion was unnatural.

Thin strands of black qi seeped into his body—no wonder he was so irritable and so frail.

Most human illnesses arise from the seven emotions and six desires; Master Li clearly wasn't a man of broad mind. Once the black qi invaded, joy, anger, sorrow, fear—all became poison.

Pan Yun's gaze swept over Mistress Li and the young master beside her, and saw faint traces of black qi clinging to them—only a few strands, clearly influenced by Master Li.

Just as ancestral virtue and good deeds can bless descendants, ancestral evil naturally taints their fortune.

Pan Yun retracted her ability and asked in a lowered voice: "Has Master Li encountered something?"

A chill shot up Master Li's spine; he shuddered and instinctively denied: "No, no."

But Mistress Li glared at him, leaned forward eagerly, and asked Pan Yun: "Master Pan, is there a foul spirit in our home? My husband is shy and won't speak the truth—he's encountered foul spirits several times outside."

Master Li's face flushed slightly, tacitly admitting: "Master Pan, is our home's feng shui bad? Do we need to buy something to neutralize it?"

Pan Yun: "The feng shui of this house is excellent. Since Master Li encountered it outside, it has nothing to do with this house."

Master Li frowned, half-skeptical.

Pan Yun had been watching his expression closely; seeing this, she smiled slightly: "Master Li wants me to alter the house's feng shui to resolve it, doesn't he?"

Master Li nodded vigorously, even without asking why: "Can't we resolve it that way?"

Pan Yun: "That only treats the symptoms, not the root. Besides, your home's feng shui is already excellent. Haven't you wondered why you encounter these things only outside, and why the problem lessens once you enter the house?"

Master Li answered quickly: "Because I've posted talismans of exorcism and safety inside!"

Pan Yun: "... That's not wrong—they do have some effect."

Master Li beamed with pride.

"But the root lies outside. If you don't treat the root, no matter how fortified you make this house, your family of three still must go outside, don't you?"

Master Li's heart trembled slightly, and he asked: "Then, Master Pan—can you eliminate these foul spirits?"

Pan Yun smiled faintly: "I can try. Do you know where these foul spirits are?"

Master Li shook his head immediately: "I don't know—but I can lure them out."

He said: "If I walk outside at night, they'll gather. Then, Master, just destroy them utterly—oh, and please protect me."

Pan Yun nodded gently: "Master Li, rest assured—you are my client. Your safety is my priority."

Master Li exhaled, then brightened: "Master Pan, do we need to prepare anything?"

Not a single mistake in content, one by one, look carefully!

This is meant for Pan Yun to make extra money.

Pan Yun's gaze was gentle, and she softly shook her head with a tender expression: "No, the exorcism talisman and peace talisman have already been purchased by Young Master Li; no other items need to be prepared."

Master Li was slightly surprised she didn't seize the chance to demand money or goods; after a pause, he asked again: "Really, there's nothing else to prepare?"

Pan Yun smiled and nodded: "Truly, nothing else."

Master Li laughed heartily, rose, and bowed: "Disciple Pan, no wonder you're a high disciple of Long Hushan—truly noble and upright! The night is late, and you've both endured long journeys; I'll have someone show you to your quarters to rest. Shall we perform the ritual tomorrow at dawn?"

Pan Yun nodded with a smile: "Alright."

Li Wenying silently left with Pan Yun.

The steward led them to the guest rooms.

The two guest rooms were connected; any movement in one could be heard in the other.

As soon as the steward left, Li Wenying pushed open Pan Yun's door, crossed his arms, and leaned against the frame watching her make the bed.

Seeing her roll up the bedding and set it aside, then take out her own quilt and pillow, he twitched his lips: "Is your space so spacious you carry your quilt everywhere?"

Pan Yun immediately turned: "You don't know yet, Li Shixiong—our Mount Sanqing has several idle space artifacts. Would you like one? I'll sell you one cheap."

"Forget it. Even if it were cheap, I couldn't afford it."

"You can afford it," Pan Yun insisted. "I can lower the price to something you can pay. I even offer installment payments."

"I'm afraid your Second Senior Brother will find out—he'll chase me down from Jingcheng, a thousand li away," Li Wenying said, showing little interest in space artifacts, and changed the subject: "Why didn't you give Master Li a list?"

Pan Yun feigned ignorance: "A list of what?"

"You're close to Mu Lin from Yunnan, and you adore Governor Mu. When you saved Mu Xi, you listed a whole pile of unnecessary items, and at the end you not only took a box of silver notes but also grabbed so many precious herbs—so why are you being so reserved with the Li family?"

Li Wenying watched her face turning red as she struggled to hold back, and smirked: "Don't tell me you've taken a fancy to that Li boy…"

The breath Pan Yun had been holding instantly escaped; her face returned to normal. She snapped: "What are you thinking? I'm still so young…"

Under Li Wenying's steady gaze, Pan Yun sighed: "Fine, I can't fool you, Li Shixiong. I didn't take the chance to extort money because I'm a law-abiding citizen!"

Li Wenying looked at her.

Pan Yun stared back with wide, earnest eyes.

Li Wenying lowered his arms and turned away: "I see."

Seeing him leave so easily, Pan Yun raised an eyebrow, waved her hand, and the two open doors slammed shut with two loud thuds.

Her right hand slid leftward; the door bolt slid automatically into place with a soft click.

Pan Yun arranged her pillow, then changed her clothes, sat in meditation for fifteen minutes, rubbed her soles until they warmed, then lay back on the bed, drifting into a drowsy sleep.

Pan Xiaohei also leapt onto the bed, found a spot at the foot, half-buried his body under the quilt, leaving only his head exposed, and closed his eyes to sleep.

Both Pan Yun and Pan Xiaohei slept deeply and refreshed, for though the bed wasn't theirs, the quilt and pillow were—familiar scents all.

Pan Yun stretched and rose, packed her belongings into her space, casually picked up the Li family's quilt and laid it on the bed, then twisted her neck and opened the door.

Li Wenying opened his door at the same moment, yawning widely into the sunlight.

Pan Yun looked at him: "Senior Brother didn't sleep well last night?"

Li Wenying: "Their bed's too soft—I couldn't adjust. What are you doing today?"

Pan Yun: "I'll go see the places where he often encounters spirits. When I met Young Master Li at Long Hushan, there was no black aura on him. Either Master Li hadn't influenced him yet, or the black aura dissipated automatically once he entered Long Hushan Realm—or…"

Li Wenying waited for her next words; seeing her frown and fall silent, he urged: "Or what?"

Pan Yun: "Or these things can only be confined to one place."

"Pan Yun, don't just focus on cultivation—take time to read. Three 'ors'—next time, number them one, two, three."

Pan Yun: "... I just thought of them on the spot!" (End of Chapter)