Chapter 573

The Wu County Magistrate, who had already seen a ghost, swallowed hard and asked nervously: "Is it a ghost?"

Pan Yun glanced at him and said nothing.

Seeing her pick up something and leave, the Wu County Magistrate hurried after her: "You haven't answered yet—is it really a ghost? If it is, please bring her to the county office; regarding her death, the testimonies of those few men are all vague."

They don't deny knowing her, but none have clearly seen her—only hazy impressions remain; the only ones who definitely knew her are Fu Dayan, Qian Zhixiao, and Xue Xin.

But all three: one knows only fragments, two speak evasively; no matter how I threaten them, they can't clarify anything. They all admit to killing Liu Xiaohong, yet they stammer about who was present—omitting one person, then another…"

The Wu County Magistrate took two quick steps and blocked Pan Yun's path, saying gravely: "I think Liu Xiaohong's death is different from the others."

"What's different? Aren't they all brutally murdered?"

"The reasons are different!" said the Wu County Magistrate. "Last night Qian Zhixiao was terrified beyond measure—and only Liu Xiaohong's body had soul-locking nails driven into it."

Pan Yun looked around, sighed, and said: "It's hard on you to clear out everyone—fine, I'll tell you."

The Wu County Magistrate's eyes lit up with eager anticipation.

Pan Yun: "She doesn't know either."

"What?" The Wu County Magistrate was bewildered.

Pan Yun: "She can't even remember her own surname. What information can you expect from her?"

The Wu County Magistrate opened his mouth, then took a long moment before speaking: "Is it because of the soul-locking nails—or because she's been a residual soul too long, becoming a fragmented spirit?"

"Neither and both," Pan Yun sighed. "Because of the soul-locking nails, she didn't dissipate like other residual souls—only a single wisp of spirit clinging to her obsession remained. Instead, most of her soul was locked in place, turning her into a great ghost."

The Wu County Magistrate's eyes widened.

Pan Yun: "She was extraordinarily lucky—her corpse leaked spiritual energy, which was discovered by an unscrupulous Daoist Priest who kept her as a spirit pet. Just as she was about to vanish, a righteous Daoist Priest came along and solidified her soul—but still, she has no memory."

The Wu County Magistrate: "Was that righteous Daoist Priest… you, Master Pan?"

Pan Yun: "Indeed, this humble one."

The Wu County Magistrate chuckled: "... Then she really was lucky."

"Wu County Magistrate, don't laugh like that next time—you'll make me misunderstand," Pan Yun said. "This is also one reason I'm taking her corpse away. When she reunites with her body, she might remember something."

The Wu County Magistrate grew solemn: "Then I entrust this matter to Master Pan."

Pan Yun bowed, sighed, and said: "Who but me has a soft heart?"

The Wu County Magistrate smiled: "Master Pan is righteous and loyal."

"Wu County Magistrate, you must not tell anyone else—only you and I know. If word gets out I have this evidence, my future will be unbearable."

The Wu County Magistrate: "Master Pan, rest assured—I specifically cleared everyone out. No one knows this evidence is in your possession."

"One copy is submitted through proper channels, one is sent by fast horse to Jingcheng—so what do you do with the third? You had three clerks transcribe the testimonies, each stamped their fingerprints three times. That's not a secret; anyone who asks will find out."

The Wu County Magistrate: "Master Pan, rest easy—this matter will never implicate you."

Pan Yun sighed softly, shoved the thick stack of evidence into her sleeve, returned indoors, found a large box, packed everything inside, and placed it into her Spirit Realm space.

Pan Xiaohei saw her pull out talismans, cinnabar, and a talisman brush, then leapt onto the table and watched sideways: "We're about to leave—why waste your Yuan energy drawing talismans now?"

Pan Yun: "Flying artifacts don't require me to control them—don't we have a ready-made person?"

She couldn't just let Wu Zhihong walk to his death.

Pan Yun mixed the cinnabar, laid out the brush and talisman paper, then raised her palm upward, formed the hand seals, and calmed her breath.

After fifteen minutes, she opened her eyes, picked up the brush, and began drawing the talismans.

Li Wenying had already bid farewell to Li Master and the others.

Although Li Master provided crucial evidence and earned merit by atoning, he was still to be imprisoned.

He was holding Li Wenying's hand, weeping and complaining: "Master Pan said she'd save me—why am I still going to prison?"

What was the point of him traveling so far to bring her here?

Li Wenying's head throbbed: "She took your case—you should ask her."

Li Master: "She didn't deliver on her promise—she should return the money. If she doesn't, will Long Hushan intervene?"

Li Wenying: "If it damages Long Hushan's reputation, we will intervene—but Li Master, the money you gave was returned by my younger sister."

He glanced at Li Young Master beside him.

Li Master followed his gaze.

Li Young Master nodded: "Father, she returned all the money to me."

Li Master: "... When?"

"That morning, before we left, while you went to change clothes, she returned it all."

Li Wenying smiled, about to speak—then his smile froze. He turned toward Pan Yun's room.

Li Master and Li Young Master turned too.

Li Master stared for a long time, saw nothing, and whispered: "Master Li, what's wrong?"

Li Wenying's smile vanished: "Nothing. Li Master—you should be going to prison."

Li Master: "... The County Magistrate hasn't even urged me—he let me stay one more night. Why are you rushing me?"

Li Wenying: "My brother and I are leaving tonight. I just reminded you—you might forget."

"Leave tonight? So soon?"

Li Wenying: "It's urgent—today is a day off, but tomorrow classes resume. Pan Yun claimed she'd enter seclusion for two days. If she doesn't return, Lin Jing will come to fetch her."

Li Wenying waited in the courtyard, watching the gathered spiritual energy dissipate completely. The distant swirling spiritual energy seemed to lose its direction and scattered uselessly. Only then did he step forward and knock on the door.

"Hurry up—it's getting late."

Pan Yun folded the drawn talismans, scribbled a few notes on scraps of paper listing their order and usage, wrapped them in paper, tossed the bundle into a money pouch, and opened the door.

"Brother, wait a moment."

Pan Yun handed the money pouch to the Wu County Magistrate: "Inside are some talismans I drew. I hope they protect you and your family."

The Wu County Magistrate took it, stunned.

Pan Yun: "Since you can't be an official anymore, then go back to your hometown. Jiangnan is nice, but it's no longer suitable for you."

Magistrate Wu opened the money pouch and took a look, his eyes growing warm. He cupped his fists and said, "Take care, Daoist Priest Pan."

Pan Yun also cupped her fists, then turned and walked away. "Wait!" Magistrate Wu chased after her, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Pan Yun waited a while, and seeing him dawdling, urged him: "If you have something to say, say it quickly."

Magistrate Wu's face flushed red, and he asked in a low voice: "I want to apologize to Daoist Priest Pan. During the Xue Pan case, the imperial censors in the capital came to investigate Yang Ji, and I, I…"

"You want to say you took a side?"

Magistrate Wu: "You knew?"

"I knew," Pan Yun said. "I knew before I even came to Ji'an."

Magistrate Wu opened his mouth, unable to speak.

"So what? You didn't frame Yang Ji," Pan Yun said. "Your mistake was indulging Yang Ji's crimes without prosecuting him. But I can understand — you've been in Ji'an less than three years, while Yang Ji has been entrenched here for forty or fifty years and has long become a local tyrant. If you had tried to prosecute him the moment you arrived, the grass on your grave would probably be half a man's height by now."

Magistrate Wu: …

Pan Yun patted his shoulder and said earnestly: "Magistrate Wu, forming a faction without pursuing private interests is not wrong, because there's also an idiom — going along with things insincerely. In life and in work, as long as you have a clear conscience, that's enough."

Magistrate Wu: …Which of the two of them is actually older?

!

Pan Yun seemed to know what he was thinking. She chuckled and said: "As for principles, they're not something you understand better just because you're older. Look at Old Master Li, for instance? So, having reason doesn't depend on age."

Magistrate Wu: "Daoist Priest Pan certainly has a lot of principles."

"Just so-so," Pan Yun said, cupping her fists: "Magistrate Wu, until we meet again."

Magistrate Wu cupped his fists and bowed, watching her leave.

Old Master Li had been keeping an eye on the movements in Pan Yun's room. Seeing her about to leave, he rushed out at once and threw himself at her leg with a thud: "Daoist Priest Pan, you can't just stand by and watch me die!"

Pan Yun got a huge fright and nearly kicked him flying, barely managing to hold back her strength in time.

She clutched her twitching right leg and said irritably: "Old Master Li, if you don't want your life, don't drag me down with you. Do you have any idea how powerful one kick of mine is? If I'd kicked out in fright, you could've flown all the way to the county government office entrance, and I'd have shattered your breastbone — believe it or not?"

"I believe, I believe. Daoist Priest Pan, you're terribly powerful. Whatever you say now, I'll believe," Old Master Li clung tightly to her leg and wailed: "Daoist Priest Pan, I hired you at great expense. Although you returned the later payments, there's still the deposit. You can't just stand by and watch me die."

Pan Yun forcefully pulled her leg free and said: "Don't ruin my reputation — I've already settled everything for you."

Pan Yun counted on her fingers: "You were tormented by ghosts — didn't I find them for you? Once their remains were reburied in a new place, they stopped haunting you. Does that count as resolved or not?"

"That is resolved, but…"

"No 'buts,'" Pan Yun said, folding down a second finger: "Second, you were afraid of retaliation. Didn't I pull up the radish and bring out the mud, digging out all the muck for you? And what's more, mud biting mud — the main contradiction and target have both shifted. Who would still care about a small fry like you? Doesn't the retaliation no longer exist?"

"Two major matters, both resolved for you, and I only took fifty taels of your deposit. What are you dissatisfied with?"

Old Master Li was stunned: "Fifty taels? Wasn't it a hundred taels?"

Oh no, her mouth had slipped.

Pan Yun immediately waved her hand: "Don't worry about how much. Just tell me — did I resolve things for you or not?"

Old Master Li immediately tossed the matter of the deposit out of his mind and wailed: "Yes, those two matters are resolved, but I still have to serve time in prison."

Pan Yun: "Your life is safe."

Old Master Li slapped his thigh: "But I'll suffer!"

Pan Yun: "That's the law! Old Master Li, I'm not one of those wild Daoist priests outside who take money and do whatever they please. I'm the temple keeper of the Mountain God Temple of Mount Sanqing, a proper and upright Daoist Priest! The rules set down by the Founding Emperor, this poor Daoist strictly observes and absolutely will not violate!"

Old Master Li: "So Daoist Priest Pan is the temple keeper of the Mountain God Temple of Mount Sanqing. From now on, my Li family will worship the Mount Sanqing Mountain God. I want to enshrine Him as our household god, and I'll fulfill my vow by casting a golden body for the Mountain God, burning three sticks of incense morning and evening. Temple Keeper Pan, please save me."

Pan Yun's expression softened. She stroked her beard — oh, she didn't have a beard. She drove the image of her senior brother from her mind and replaced it with the image of her fourth senior sister. Lifting her chin slightly, she said coldly: "Since Good Man Li has sincerely pleaded, then I shall also sincerely guide you across."

Old Master Li nodded vigorously, looking at her with a face full of hope.

Pan Yun: "Prepare thirty."

Old Master Li immediately pulled out a handful of silver notes from his bosom and pitifully stuffed them into her hand: "I didn't count, but it's definitely more than thirty-six taels."

Pan Yun put her hands behind her back and said irritably: "Why give it to me? Give it to Magistrate Wu!"

"And you call yourself a scholar? Did you read all your books into a dog's belly?" Pan Yun rattled on: "Great Ming Code — redemption of a penal sentence is twelve taels per year. Your crime, at the very most, is three years of penal servitude. Hand over thirty-six taels of redemption money, and within three years, report to the county government office once every ten days, and you may not leave Ji'an County without permission."

Old Master Li was stunned: "Th-that's it?"

Pan Yun looked down at him: "What else?"

Old Master Li whisked the money back in a flash, and pushed himself up off the ground with his hands.

Pan Yun said slowly: "But not necessarily."

Old Master Li dropped to his knees with a thud, grabbed Pan Yun's calf, and started crying: "Daoist Priest Pan…"

Pan Yun snorted. This time she didn't pull her leg away, letting him shake it a couple of times before saying: "Redemption of a sentence isn't something you can redeem just because you want to — it requires the magistrate's approval. I see Magistrate Wu doesn't like you very much, Old Master Li~~"

Old Master Li immediately pulled the money from his bosom again and stuffed it into Pan Yun's hands: "Daoist Priest Pan, you and Magistrate Wu are on good terms. Please put in a good word for me."

Pan Yun took the money, counted it, and nodded: "Easy, easy."

Pan Yun turned her head and split half the money with Li Wenying: "Li Shixiong, I still need to stay another shichen."

Li Wenying looked up at the sky.

Pan Yun casually handed over another ten-tael silver note: "Li Shixiong, we're about to go out to gain experience. Have you prepared your money?"

Li Wenying: "I won't starve."

"Not starving and eating well are still different."

Li Wenying took the money and asked: "What do you want me to do?"

Pan Yun clutched her chest and said: "My Yuan force is too depleted today, the flying artifact…"

"I'll pilot it."

Pan Yun: "The government office has prepared a new burial ground for them, already dug out. Originally it would've been fine to just bury them directly, but I suddenly thought — if we could perform a ritual or two to help the spirits pass on sooner, it might be better."

Li Wenying glanced at her and said: "Fine, I'll do it."

Pan Yun smiled, stepped forward, and pounded his shoulders and rubbed his hands: "I knew it — Li Shixiong has the heart of a chivalrous hero."

Pan Yun said to Old Master Li, "Go find Magistrate Wu. Tell him you paid us to deliver the spirits, to atone for all these years of watching people die without lifting a hand and knowing the truth without reporting it."

"Huh?" Old Master Li's face was blank with confusion.

Li Wenying clicked her tongue and asked her, "Is this person someone you absolutely must save?"

Old Master Li immediately came to his senses, scrambled up from the ground in one motion, and ran toward the front courtyard: "I'll go find Magistrate Wu right now."

(End of chapter)