Chapter 70

Master Qian, seeing Master Sun stare at him, immediately said: "Don't look at me—I'm a good person too. My family, the Qians, have been loyal for three generations. My sister is soft-hearted and kind—this can't be blamed on us Qians."

Master Sun sank into despair.

After a pause, Master Qian comforted him: "Brother-in-law, in this world, dragons don't always give birth to dragon offspring—otherwise, how could there be sayings like 'bad bamboo produces good shoots' or 'a tiger father has a dog son'? Clearly, a child's nature depends not on parents, but on fate."

Master Sun: "If not parents, then why the teaching 'lead by example'? Have my lifelong diligence and good deeds become a joke?"

Master Qian: "Still, it's the child that matters. My own children learn from me and obey me—so 'leading by example' does work. It's still about the child."

Master Sun's mood grew even more gloomy.

Sun Da Chang and the others saw Master Qian muttering to empty air, and immediately stepped eight paces away, walking around that space entirely, daring not even to glance at it with the corner of their eyes.

The funeral hall's restrictions were lifted; guests began entering to pay respects. Wang Feiyin, seeing it was safe, pulled Pan Yun aside quietly, while Hui Yuan followed silently behind them.

Once away from the crowd, Wang Feiyin exhaled and turned to Hui Yuan with a smile: "Master Hui Yuan, let us part here—I'll take my junior sister back to rest."

Hui Yuan stepped before them, his gaze fixed directly on Pan Yun: "Young friend, extreme brilliance harms. Your talent is exceptional, but your fortune is poor. You must act with caution in daily life."

Wang Feiyin frowned: "Who are you saying has bad fortune? Her talent itself is immense fortune—it's Heaven's favor! How can it be bad?"

Pan Yun squeezed out from behind Wang Feiyin, bowed deeply to Hui Yuan with gratitude: "Thank you, Master Hui Yuan. I also feel my fortune is terrible. Do you have anything that can help dispel it?"

Wang Feiyin immediately changed tone: "Nonsense! Master Hui Yuan once resided at Nanjing's Huguo Temple—how could he lack such small items? Isn't that right, Hui Yuan?"

Hui Yuan thought a moment, then removed the Buddhist prayer beads from his wrist, untied them, and counted out fourteen to give her: "We have karmic ties. These fourteen beads I give you. They cannot change your fortune, but in great peril, they may grant you clarity."

Wang Feiyin immediately nudged Pan Yun, signaling her to accept quickly.

Pan Yun cupped the fourteen beads in both hands and bowed repeatedly: "Thank you, Master Hui Yuan."

Hui Yuan smiled: "You have karmic ties with the Buddhist path…."

"There is no 'later,'" Wang Feiyin cut in. "Hui Yuan, don't keep telling me every talented disciple of Mount Sanqing has karmic ties to Buddhism."

Wang Feiyin dragged Pan Yun away: "Come on, come on—hurry to the feast, or you'll miss lunch."

Pan Yun, having accepted the beads, couldn't be too cold—she turned back firmly and nodded at Hui Yuan. The next instant, Wang Feiyin dragged her into a room and slammed the door shut.

Wang Feiyin crossed his arms and glared at her: "So, you want to switch to Buddhist cultivation?"

Pan Yun shook her head vigorously: "Impossible."

Wang Feiyin was just about to relax when Pan Yun added: "Buddhist precepts are too many. The first one—no meat or alcohol—I can't give up. I'd break it the second day."

Wang Feiyin: …

He protested: "Our Daoist precepts aren't few either."

"Yes, yes, yes—plenty of them," Pan Yun nodded vaguely. "Don't worry—I'll follow them all naturally."

So if it wasn't natural, she wouldn't follow them.

Pan Yun took all the teacups off the tray and happily placed the beads she'd been clutching onto it.

She could feel the Buddhist power within—the beads were naturally protective against evil, calming the mind and quieting the spirit.

In her past life, each bead would've sold for at least a hundred thousand.

Wang Feiyin glanced at them and said: "Not bad. These beads were worn by Hui Yuan since childhood, infused with Buddhist essence for over thirty years—they're a true talisman."

Wang Feiyin rolled his eyes, then sighed and fell silent: "Too bad the timing's wrong. Otherwise, I'd take you around every major Buddhist temple and Daoist monastery to collect a round of greeting gifts."

Pan Yun had already strung the beads onto her wrist. She looked up immediately: "Senior brother, it doesn't matter if we wait a while—I'm not picky."

Wang Feiyin sighed sadly: "You don't understand. I can't travel far from or stay away from Mount Sanqing for long. This matter—I can't handle it. Third and fourth juniors are too shy—they'd never agree. Sigh—if only Second Brother were here."

Pan Yun: "Why can't Senior Brother travel far or stay away long?" Wang Feiyin's face darkened, tears welling but not falling: "I'm the eldest disciple of our master. My responsibilities are heavy. Our master… has bad fortune. Our sect's fate is inherited. I carry most of it—so my fortune is poor too. If I stray too far from Mount Sanqing, I might die an unnatural death."

Pan Yun clutched the beads on her wrist: "Senior Brother wants to take some of my beads?"

Wang Feiyin grasped her hand: "If only I could have seven or eight to cleanse your filth, your fortune might improve. Even five or six would help."

Pan Yun yanked her hand back and looked outside: "Senior Brother, it's so lively out there—everyone's already seated. Let's hurry out, or we'll miss lunch."

Wang Feiyin watched her run off, wiped his tears instantly, and followed slowly behind, hands behind his back.

Dividing the family was exhausting—physically and mentally. Though Pan Yun had only set one array, eating gossip all morning was draining too. She now felt she could devour an entire ox.

The monks' and Daoists' meals were served separately.

Daoists could eat meat, but during rituals, they fasted to show respect for the dead and the gods.

So their table was separated from the others'.

Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He had reserved seats for them; they sat down immediately upon arrival.

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Pan Yun glanced at the dishes—only vegetarian, but rich in oil. The staple was large white flour steamed buns, far better than the coarse grain mixtures they ate on the mountain.

Pan Yun grabbed a large bun and bit into it.

Miao He kept piling food onto her plate: "This is good, this is good too, that one, that one—all good."

Seeing Miao Zhen had already eaten half her fill, nibbling her bun slowly, she whispered: "Junior Auntie, what did you and Senior Uncle do?"

Pan Yun: "We went to earn extra cash."

Sure enough, after lunch, Qian Dahong came personally to deliver red envelopes to her, Wang Feiyin, and Hui Yuan.

Qian Dahong treated Pan Xiao with special courtesy: "Junior Daoist Pan, my father wanted to come himself, but my uncle-in-law still has many matters to settle—he can't leave. My father wishes to meet you tonight to thank you properly."

Qian Dahong quickly explained to Wang Feiyin: "Master Wang, don't misunderstand—my father holds Junior Daoist Pan in great respect."

Wang Feiyin waved dismissively: "I know. Master Qian has karmic ties with my junior sister—I'd never stand in the way. Go ahead."

Pan Yun was young, so everyone found her approachable. Not just Master Qian, but the village head and elders were all curious. Knowing she rarely performed rituals due to her age, they still came to invite her—this one, then that one.

Pan Yun ran all over the village with her three junior disciples.

This morning at Uncle Sun's second house, this afternoon at Uncle Sun's third house, the next day appearing at another elder's home.

Each visit, she left something behind and took something away—her talisman stock vanished quickly.

Grandmother Sun was still waiting at the end of the line.

Grandmother Sun's complexion had improved greatly—no longer pale and weak as before. Though still slightly pale, she radiated vitality, no longer the lifeless shell she'd been.

She was also the most generous.

The moment she saw Pan Yun, she stuffed silver into Pan Yun's arms — real silver.

Lord Qian and the others gave red envelopes stuffed with silver notes, but Old Madam was different — she shoved whole ingots of silver, whole ingots of silver, into Pan Yun's bosom.

She stuffed her so full that Pan Yun's eyes were practically turning into stars as she said, "How could I possibly accept this? Old Madam is far too kind."

Pan Yun gathered the five large silver ingots into her arms, nearly tumbling over. She caught the silver in the fold of her robe, freed one hand, and thumped her chest with a clatter: "Whatever you need, Old Madam, just say the word. If this poor Daoist can do it, I'll get it done for you, no question!"

Old Madam saw her acting like a little grown-up and couldn't help doubling over with laughter. She patted Pan Yun's head and said, "You don't need to do anything. If you can let me see my late husband that day, that will be enough. I just like a clever little miss like you — it makes me happy to look at you."

The lucky number for this chapter is a number ending in 1 — screenshot as proof.

(End of chapter)