Chapter 637

With the checkpoint established, the great heroes put their minds at ease and slept well.

So the next morning, when they saw the two young masters of the Honsan and Chōsokabe families hanging from the trees, they all recoiled two steps in shock.

"What happened? Why didn't we hear a single sound?"

Ichino Kenjin's knees buckled and he collapsed to the ground upon seeing the bodies hanging from the tree.

Pan Yun stepped out from behind him, standing at his side, and addressed the group: "They plotted evil last night—trying to steal our goods and report to Ichibata Temple—so I punished them. Is there anyone else with a problem?"

Who would have a problem? The Honsan and Chōsokabe families had brought only four guards total, and now all of them hung from the trees alongside their masters—who would speak for them?

Ichino Kenjin felt a chill at the back of his neck; the confidence nurtured by Pan Yun's friendliness vanished completely, and he treated her with even greater obedience and humility than before.

Not to mention the captives—they wore blank expressions and wouldn't grieve or panic over a few deaths.

In their eyes, they were different.

Pan Yun's gaze swept over everyone, and she nodded in satisfaction, waving her hand: "Let's move out."

Less than half an hour's travel brought them to the checkpoint.

This was indeed a sizable checkpoint, for after days of travel, Pan Yun's group had seen their first glimpse of a city.

There were two walls and two large gates; on either side of the gates stood barriers to detain and inspect travelers.

Aside from the fact that some of the inspectors wore monk's robes—which seemed odd—the procedure closely resembled Great Ming's official inspection of travel permits at city gates.

The group exchanged glances and默契ly split into lines, pairing those fluent in Japanese with those who weren't.

Gao Zhiming and the others suddenly realized: "Strange—why are the Daoist Priests learning Japanese so quickly?"

Hu Jing couldn't help but say: "I've wondered this too. I learned Japanese because… so I picked it up, but these people—how long have they even been around the Japanese? Yet they've become so fluent."

Song Xuan, quick-witted, asked: "Why did Master Gu learn Japanese?"

Hu Jing paused, then mumbled: "When I was young, I hung around the coast—back then, I encountered many Japanese."

The great heroes sized him up, suspecting his "hanging around" meant he'd been a pirate.

Hu Jing remained expressionless as they stared.

The group shifted their focus: "Indeed, we've been learning Japanese daily from the Japanese these past few days, yet we've only memorized a few basic phrases—but look at them, they can hold full conversations in Japanese."

"Pan Yun and Xue Shao are understandable—they're clearly smart—but how come Zhang Weiyi and the others learn it so easily too?"

Zhang Weiyi: … I was a top student back then, you know?

I'm just not as gifted as Pan Yun.

Zhang Weiyi gathered his Qi and turned to Zhang Weiliang: "How's your Japanese coming along?"

Zhang Weiliang lifted his chin: "Fine. Daily conversation is no problem anymore."

Zhang Weiyi gave a slight nod—he hadn't brought shame to Long Hushan.

Gao Zhiming, overhearing, grew even more curious; during the wait in line, he squeezed beside Wang Cong to pry.

Among all the Daoist Priests, only Wang Cong, Tao Yanbai, and Miaohe had the best tempers and answered any question honestly.

But Tao Yanbai and Miaohe had a foolish air about them, and there was an age gap—he felt a generation gap—so he chose Wang Cong.

Wang Cong, as expected, didn't hide anything: "Because for Dao cultivators, mastering Wu Gong is the least important task—cultivating the spirit is the priority."

"Cultivating the spirit?"

Wang Cong: "That means consciousness."

He smiled: "Our ancestors believed the body is a burden, destined to be shed one day—only the spirit can endure eternally, so we prioritize spirit cultivation."

"It's a secret passage: training the spirit means opening and connecting the mind's and brain's secret points. Those who make minor progress gain photographic memory; those who advance further gain perfect auditory recall…"

Gao Zhiming and the others widened their eyes: "I've heard this before—but always thought it was superstition… so Dao cultivation really can enhance intelligence?"

"Naturally—enhancing intelligence is the most basic step," Wang Cong pointed to Pan Yun: "My junior aunt grows smarter the more she cultivates."

Xi Jin exclaimed excitedly: "My young master is even more extraordinary—he was born with photographic memory!"

Wang Cong immediately said: "My junior aunt was born with photographic memory—and perfect auditory recall too!"

His voice was too loud; even Pan Yun, standing ahead in line, heard it. She turned back and snapped: "What are you shouting? Stand in line properly!"

The group instantly fell into line, no longer arguing.

Ichino Kenjin walked at the front, his sleeves stuffed with several strings of copper coins. When it was their turn, he stepped forward with his guards, shoving coins into the monk's hand while introducing Pan Yun: "This is our merchant house's Young Lady."

Pan Yun's toes curled slightly against the ground, but she met the monk's gaze without fear and gave him a slight nod.

The monk sized her up, then suddenly laughed, pointing at her clothes: "Has your Young Lady already switched to the new style? But this outfit doesn't look new—it looks worn."

The question came out of nowhere; Ichino Kenjin was stunned, unsure how to answer.

Because he didn't understand.

In a flash, Pan Yun understood perfectly. She nodded haughtily: "I bought this off-the-rack from a shop. The fabric isn't good—it's already worn after just two days. Do you have better cloth in your town's clothing shops?"

Pan Yun spoke with flawless Ishikawa dialect; the monk smiled, assuming she was from Ishikawa: "You're from Ishikawa, aren't you? There, trends spread faster than here—but we have many temples, and above all, we have Ichibata Temple."

Ichino Kenjin's forehead glistened with sweat—he still didn't understand.

But Pan Yun conversed with him as naturally as a native: "So… are the two gods at Ichibata Temple?"

The monk lifted his chin but smiled without speaking.

Pan Yun immediately turned to Ichino Kenjin.

Ichino Kenjin jolted—he finally understood. He pulled out a handful of copper coins and shoved them into the monk's hand.

The monk quietly slipped the coins into his sleeve and nodded: "Correct. Two divine figures arrived at Ichibata Temple yesterday. If you sincerely offer worship to Ichibata Yakushi, perhaps you'll meet them."

Pan Yun beamed with excitement, nodding rapidly: "I'll go, I'll go—I'm deeply sincere. Please let us enter the city."

Seeing her nearly levitating with joy, the monk chuckled and granted them passage without further inspection.

Ichino Kenjin entered the city in a daze, standing by the roadside waiting for his men to push the goods inside, then whispered to Pan Yun: "Your Grace—who did you speak of? Which two divine figures?"

How would Pan Yun know how the locals referred to her third and fourth senior siblings?

No—there might be impostors. She had to see them with her own eyes to be certain.

Pan Yun said in a low voice, "Take some men and find out whether two Han people have come to Yitian Temple, or whether there are two Shinto practitioners in Daoist robes like me — one man and one woman. Find out clearly what names they go by now." (End of chapter)