Chapter 751: Junior Uncle, You Understand Me

Pan Yun set off at dawn, carrying Pan Xiaohei.

Xue Shao stood wide awake inside the Three Treasures Cauldron for the first time; he carefully examined the cauldron inside and out before looking toward the thinning stars outside.

The moon in the sky, however, remained bright; as the Three Treasures Cauldron flew through the air, the cassia tree and jade rabbit within it grew clearer, as if one could reach out and grasp them.

The wind howled past; Pan Yun activated a mechanism on the cauldron, the formation sprang to life, and the wind was sealed out.

Xue Shao couldn't help reciting: "The Milky Way turns through the night, stars drift back; silver river clouds mimic the sound of water. In the Jade Palace, cassia blossoms have not yet fallen; immortal maidens gather incense, their pendants dangling."

Pan Yun flew using her spiritual awareness, arms crossed beside him, saying: "With your comprehension, I think you can learn to fly by controlling objects long before you reach the First Marquis rank."

Xue Shao smiled slightly: "No rush."

With only one person and one cat aboard, the Three Treasures Cauldron became much faster after weight reduction; she rested three times mid-flight and spotted Seven Zhang Weigang by noon the next day.

Although this was Wa Country, Seven Zhang Weigang was filled with Han people; so Pan Yun ordered the Three Treasures Cauldron to ascend, then surged forward with a whoosh, flying straight over the harbor.

Wang Xiaojing, unloading cargo, sharply lifted his head and stared blankly at the clear sky.

Song Dalin walked by and slapped him on the back: "What are you daydreaming about? Hurry up—the young master said we need to unload half more today."

Wang Xiaojing pulled his gaze back and murmured dazedly: "I think I just saw my junior uncle."

"Pan Yun?" Song Dalin looked around. "Where did you see her?"

Wang Xiaojing paused, then smiled: "Maybe I imagined it."

Outsiders might not know, but their family had lived for generations in Fen Shui Village beneath Mount Sanqing—they knew the Daoist priests on the mountain could fly.

Wang Xiaojing had once seen Pan Yun and others riding a medicinal cauldron, yelling wildly as it flew out into the night.

He withdrew his envious gaze and smiled at Song Dalin: "We've unloaded almost all of it—give me two more sacks."

Song Dalin had just placed the sack on Wang Xiaojing's shoulder when a cheerful voice rang out from shore: "Wang Xiaojing—"

Song Dalin startled, his hand slipped; Wang Xiaojing jerked his head up—CRACK—the sound of his neck snapping echoed, and he let out a loud "Ow!"

Moments later, Wang Xiaojing sat on a rock by the harbor while Pan Yun massaged his neck.

Xue Shao hurriedly fetched Wang Cong.

Wang Cong took over from Pan Yun, massaging Wang Xiaojing's neck as he asked: "How old are you? You twisted your neck lifting a sack of tea?"

Pan Yun guiltily rubbed her nose: "It's my fault—I called out to him suddenly."

Wang Xiaojing quickly tilted his neck to explain: "It's not junior uncle's fault—I was just too startled."

"That startled you? Then look over there—who's that?"

Wang Xiaojing instinctively followed Wang Cong's pointing finger: "Who?"

As soon as his eyes turned, Wang Cong suddenly gripped his head, twisted, then snapped it back—CRACK, CRACK.

A brief stab of pain passed; Wang Xiaojing heard the cracks, his toes clenched the ground, but soon felt relief.

He pressed his neck and exclaimed happily: "It doesn't hurt anymore!"

Wang Cong shook his hands, stretching his fingers: "Of course not—I'm my father's son, after all. I've got this much skill."

Pan Yun finally looked closely at Wang Cong, heartbroken: "Cong'er, how could you have deteriorated so much in just a few days? You look aged."

Wang Cong: "... Junior uncle, you call that a few days? If you don't come back soon, these people here will tear me apart and eat my bones." Pan Yun patted his shoulder: "You've suffered—I wanted to return sooner too, but..."

Wang Cong raised his hand to stop her: "No need to explain. When Xiao Jing and the others arrived yesterday, they told me everything. I never imagined our Wang family would produce a rebel Assistant Regional Commander—I understand completely."

Wang Xiaojing's face flushed red.

Wang Cong patted him: "Don't blush—no one blames you. I just feel sorrow—you're barely ten, still not even crowned, yet forced to support your family, driven to rebellion. It breaks my heart."

Wang Cong had begun supporting his family at fourteen; he knew how hard it was, so he felt even greater pity for this clan brother.

Wang Xiaojing's eyes welled up; he stood: "Cong-ge, I'll go move tea."

"Just watch—it just got fixed. Don't twist it again."

Wang Xiaojing replied softly and quickened his pace.

Song Dalin finally asked: "Master Pan, how did you get here? No new ships docked today."

Pan Yun waved dismissively: "I didn't come by sea. What do you think of Wa Country?"

Song Dalin swallowed his questions and frowned: "Poor, desolate. Does Wa Country even have a maritime ban? Their harbor is as quiet as ours, but nowhere near as grand or clean as Quanzhou Port."

"None of that matters," Pan Yun waved. "Poor? Make it rich. Quiet? Make it bustling. This harbor is currently my private property—until the imperial court takes it over, it belongs to me."

Song Dalin's eyes widened: "Really yours? I thought you were just teasing me before."

Pan Yun shot him a glare: "Do I seem like that kind of person?"

Pan Yun told Song Dalin to oversee the unloading; once he left, she turned to Wang Cong.

Wang Cong led her to a nearby wooden house: "This is our newly built hut. The old one was destroyed when the Oda clan withdrew."

Wang Cong briefly explained: "Now we co-manage the harbor with the Metada family. But since it's been so short a time and few foreign ships arrive, no power structure has settled yet—how should we arrange the people who came with the ships?"

Pan Yun asked: "Do you have the energy to control this harbor?"

Wang Cong fell silent.

Pan Yun said: "Wang Cong, when I asked for the harbor and ships, I only gave you another option—I never demanded you take up maritime trade."

We are Daoist Priests—we follow our nature. Though I've always believed cultivation should be our priority, if you enjoy business, if you enjoy making money, I won't stop you. This is just a small gift. If you want it, take it. If not, discard it. You don't have to hold onto it."

The mountain pressing on his back vanished instantly; he felt light all over.

Wang Cong smiled, but his eyes welled with tears: "Junior uncle, I understand."

He paused, then added: "I want to try."

He lowered his gaze: "You know—I lack perseverance in cultivation. I know I have some talent, but I don't believe I'll ever reach Father's level of attainment, let alone yours, Junior uncle. I'm not as focused as Third Brother or Fifth Sister, who've achieved mastery in medicine and inherited the ancestral legacy. I'm nothing like Fourth Sister, who devotes herself entirely to Dao arts. Only when I make money do I feel truly happy—even when I lose money, suffer losses, or face danger, I still gladly endure it."

Pan Yun looked at him with deep sympathy: "I get it. Like a stock trader and the A-share market."

Wang Cong: "Who's who?"

Pan Yun waved: "That doesn't matter. What matters is I understand you."

Wang Cong's eyes shimmered with tears: "Junior uncle, you're so kind. On all of Mount Sanqing, only you truly understand me."

Pan Yun met his gaze calmly: "Last time you borrowed money from Seeing Miao Zhen and the other two, you said the same thing. Miao Zhen told me to ask you—when will you pay her back? She needs it." (End of chapter)