Chapter 783: Being a

Everyone turned to look at Pan Yun—should they bow?

Pan Yun refused: "We're just here to look, fellow villager. Is this place efficacious?"

"Of course it's efficacious! Even wishes for going out to sea to fish have been fulfilled—what can't be achieved?"

The villagers laughed happily, endlessly.

But Pan Yun couldn't smile—she felt she couldn't possibly fulfill each of their wishes.

On this land, a "god" with no use is eventually abandoned; she felt accumulating merit through this temple was impossible—it would soon fall into ruin.

Then, should she even leave this merit stone here?

Xue Shao glanced at her expression and said to the villagers: "Master Pan is merely a mortal now—she likely lacks the power to fulfill everyone's wishes."

"That's fine—we just say our wishes offhand; what if one comes true?"

Pan Yun perked up: "So low a bar?"

They began talking all at once: "We come to worship Master Pan not because we demand she fulfill our wishes—we're grateful she helped lift the sea ban, letting us fish and giving us a way to live."

"Yes, yes."

Pan Yun brightened.

But Seeing Miao Zhen asked curiously: "Then why build the temple here? There are so many graves here, and it's far from the harbor—you must have trouble coming here."

"It's convenient, very convenient—placing it near the harbor entrance would be inconvenient," someone pointed toward the beach: "We always launch from there; our fishing boats can't go in and out through the harbor—our lords wouldn't allow it, and it'd cost us too much."

"So this beach is perfect. My grandfather said they used to launch from here too—this path has always been the only way."

"With so many skeletons and graves here, and fishing usually happening at night, passing through here is terrifying—but with Master Pan guarding it, we fear nothing."

"Yes, yes! I heard last year Japanese pirates ambushed here to kill Master Pan, but she turned the tables and slaughtered them all—she alone killed over a hundred Japanese pirates."

"I heard there were a thousand?"

"Either way, they were a dark swarm—after she left, crows filled the area, all come to feast on human flesh."

Pan Yun understood: the temple's greatest purpose here was to suppress evil; as for other wishes, they didn't truly expect her to fulfill them.

Understanding their intent, Pan Yun sighed with relief.

She scanned the surroundings, nodded slightly—she could hardly fulfill wishes for safe voyages, bountiful catches, children, or wealth—but she could ensure safe passage through this path, free from demonic interference.

After the villagers finished burning incense and praying and left, Pan Yun began walking slowly around the area.

Wang Cong and Seeing Miao Zhen already guessed what she intended to do and silently searched their belongings; soon they found enough materials for an array.

Jade, peach wood—Wang Cong even pulled out a piece of huai yin wood, entirely black, radiating chilling cold the moment he held it.

The moment he revealed it, a cold wind surged—Xiao Hong shot over to his side, staring fixedly at the wood in his hand.

Seeing this, Wang Cong handed the huai yin wood toward her: "You like it?"

Xiao Hong cautiously reached out to touch it, her eyes sultry: "May I?"

Even Wang Cong was momentarily dazed, then nodded: "Of course. This place is heavy with yin energy—Little Master Shu won't need much. You only need to chip off a piece the size of a fingernail for her."

Pan Yun had drifted over unnoticed, murmuring softly: "Who said I only need a fingernail-sized piece? I need the whole thing."

Xiao Hong stared at her with a look of deep resentment.

Pan Yun patted her head: "Don't rush—it's not time for you to use it yet." Xiao Hong looked confused; Wang Cong also didn't understand: "Little Master Shu, don't you already have yin hun wood? Yin hun wood can also be used to set arrays for protecting the soul."

Pan Yun: "All ours are already used elsewhere. For now, just chip off a piece from this huai yin wood."

Xiao Hong watched, reluctant, as Pan Yun chipped off a small fragment—and then casually took the rest of the huai yin wood away, her expression one of profound regret.

Pan Yun set up two arrays here: one to guide the souls entering this place into reincarnation, protecting them from being devoured by yin-sha qi or scattered;

the other to ensure living travelers passing through remain safe, free from demonic interference.

After completing the arrays, Pan Yun took out the small piece of merit stone, refined it before the stone tower, marked it with her own sigil, then linked it to both arrays. Carefully, she dug a hole from the ground down to the tower's base and placed the merit stone inside.

Seeing Miao Zhen and the others helped cover the hole, sighing deeply: "Thank goodness for Mazu—everyone's big wishes go to her; otherwise, Little Master Shu's reputation would've collapsed."

Pan Yun nodded vigorously—how could she not feel guilty accepting incense and devotion while failing to fulfill people's wishes, taking their thoughts and merit?

The task was complete; the sky was fully dark.

Everyone was tired and hungry; realizing Quanzhou City was some distance away, none wanted to return—instead, they headed straight for the beach.

He He held Pan Xiaohei, dragging Xiao Hong and Tao Yanbai along to catch fish; Seeing Miao Zhen pulled out firewood from her space and lit a fire—they decided on a beachside fish roast, freshly caught and grilled, utterly fresh.

Xue Shao checked the weather and asked: "Did you bring all your luggage?"

Pan Yun nodded: "Always carried with me."

"Then after dinner, let's leave."

Pan Yun: "Leave without saying goodbye?"

Xue Shao: "Before we left, I left a letter on the table."

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow.

Xue Shao: "If we return, the letter is useless—just keep it. If we don't return, it serves its purpose."

Pan Yun learned: "That's a good trick—like a will."

Xue Shao: …

Nearby, Wang Cong was still thinking about yin hun wood, growing increasingly uneasy—he pulled Pan Yun aside: "Little Master Shu, where did you take the yin hun wood? Father prepared it for you to nourish your soul awareness—each disciple gets one when leaving for trials. It's not as powerful as huai yin wood, but it's balanced and gentle; carrying it calms the spirit and nurtures the soul, and at critical moments, it can prevent your soul from scattering."

Pan Yun glanced at Xiao Hong, who was floating over the sea helping He He catch fish, and reassured him: "You'll know when we return to Long Hushan."

"We're going back to Long Hushan? Aren't we returning to Mount Sanqing for the New Year?"

Pan Yun: "We will! But first, we'll make a detour to Long Hushan."

Shouts erupted from the sea—He He and the others ran toward them, arms full of fish: "Little Master Shu, look! All ours!"

"There are so many fish in the sea—I just saw, when the waves surged, more fish were washed ashore."

The sea wind blew steadily; the waves were indeed growing larger.

Pan Yun gazed at the ocean, looked up at the moon, calculated with her fingers, and murmured: "Tonight there'll be a great tide… ebb around yin hour…"

"Look." Xue Shao gestured for her to look. (End of chapter)