Chapter 8: Escape Together (Thank You to Our Readers)

Yet the young man was stubborn; he wouldn’t listen, wouldn’t listen, wouldn’t listen—even if he didn’t turn Pan Yun over to the authorities, he refused to let her go.

“Letting someone like this go makes me uneasy; I don’t know when she’ll grow into a great weapon of destruction. You say killing evil stops evil—doesn’t letting evil go count as evil too?” The young man pointed at Pan Yun. “Isn’t she already an evil person?”

The young woman thought for a moment, then nodded. “Third Senior Brother is right. Let’s take her back and have her cultivate her mind and spirit—only release her once she’s improved.”

Pan Yun interrupted: “My heart is kind. I killed to defend myself—it was an accident, not intentional. As for killing the cat, that’s nonsense—we were companions. Before you arrived, I was treating its wounds; that’s why it screamed so loudly from the pain.”

“The wounds on its body were from Wang Yong—he did it! Really!”

The black cat let out a sharp “meow” beside her, snorting at Pan Yun.

To the young man and woman, it looked like the cat was testifying for Pan Yun.

The young man smiled awkwardly. “Oh, you were healing it? I misunderstood.”

“I forgive you,” Pan Yun studied their expressions and pressed further. “But may I make a request?”

Her eyes welled with tears. “I haven’t seen my father in a long time—I miss him terribly. I want to go to Datong to find him…”

The young man: “No. You’re too cruel—we can’t just let you go like this…”

The young woman, tired of their bickering, cut in: “Either come with us, or go to the county jail. Choose one.”

Pan Yun fell silent at once.

She dared bargain with the young man, but not dare argue with the young woman.

The black cat suddenly lifted its upper body, raised its head toward the forest’s edge, and meowed: “Someone’s coming.”

This time, the voice didn’t come from inside her mind—it came through her ears.

Pan Yun couldn’t help glancing at it, but didn’t hesitate—she turned to the young woman. “Someone’s coming.”

The young woman sensed it too, turned her head, and glanced outside. “You have half a candlemark. Fill the pit and erase all traces.”

She turned and walked out. As she passed the stones Pan Yun had used to set her array, she paused, kicked them with her foot, and shifted their positions.

Pan Yun saw this, her eyes flickering—it was a simple illusion array. It couldn’t trap anyone, but would make those who entered unconsciously avoid this spot.

The young man leaned on his shovel, eyes gleaming. “Ah! You use occult arts! This grave’s so flat—how could someone your size bury it without occult arts?”

Pan Yun said: “That’s not occult art—it’s spellcraft.”

After some time, she had already refined more spiritual energy. Without delay, she formed a hand seal, and the excavated soil wriggled and slid back into the pit, gradually compacting—every trace of digging vanished.

Not only that—the earth she had previously fallen on or stepped over also gently stirred, the marks fading until not a single clue remained.

The young woman returned, saw it all, and immediately sealed Pan Yun’s meridians.

Meeting Pan Yun’s wide eyes, the young woman smirked. “This is for our safety. Only when we’re safe can you be safe.”

She tossed Pan Yun to the young man. “Let’s go.”

The young man grabbed her and walked off. Before leaving, Pan Yun couldn’t help glancing back at the forest’s edge—her gaze passed over the plum trees and caught a fleeting human face.

It was Liu Jing.

Pan Yun instantly went still. The spiritual talisman hidden in her sleeve slowly dissipated. She pressed her palm against the black cat’s belly.

The black cat sensed the familiar spiritual energy leaking from her and immediately absorbed it—but far weaker than its true form, it absorbed less than one-tenth before the talisman vanished completely.

【You’ve got some conscience,】 the Spirit Realm said in her mind. 【We’re inseparable allies.】

Pan Yun: 【You’re right. Cooperation is pleasant, black cat.】 Black cat: 【Call me Spirit Realm.】

Pan Yun said nothing inside or out—they had been carried into a temple. The young man and woman moved with practiced ease into a courtyard, opened a door, and entered.

The young woman said: “Pack your things. I’ll bid farewell to the abbot.”

The young man nodded, set Pan Yun on the kang, and began packing.

Pan Yun sat on the kang, hugging the cat, swinging her legs, and asked sweetly: “What should I call you, brother?”

The young man glanced at her. “Call me Uncle. I am Tao Ji.”

“Uncle Tao, what about that girl?”

Tao Ji folded his clothes neatly onto a large cloth, straightened up, and stared at her silently. “You call me Uncle, but call my junior sister ‘sister’? Don’t you fear she’ll beat you when she returns?”

Pan Yun: “Girls don’t like being called old.”

“My junior sister isn’t an ordinary girl. Besides, who doesn’t enjoy being an elder?” Tao Ji studied Pan Yun, then his eyes brightened. He leaned close. “Hey, why not become my junior sister’s disciple? You use occult arts too, and at your age, you’ve already reached this level—your talent must be exceptional.”

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Pan Yun boasted: “My master isn’t someone just anyone can be.”

Tao Ji snorted. “My junior sister’s disciples aren’t for just anyone either. She’s from the Zhang family of Long Hushan—her arcane arts are a direct lineage. You? You barely know a few occult tricks.”

Pan Yun: “Do you study at Long Hushan too?”

“Of course not. I’m a Daoist of the Three Pure Ones Temple on Mount Sanqing. My junior sister trains there too. This time, we’re taking you back to Mount Sanqing to cultivate your spirit…”

“Third Senior Brother!” The young woman entered holding a set of clothes, frowning at him.

Tao Ji snapped back to himself—he’d revealed too much.

He glared at Pan Yun, then turned to finish packing.

The young woman said: “Come. Change into these clothes in my room. The plum forest’s illusion array won’t hold him long—he’ll either find the corpse or come to the temple.”

Pan Yun obediently followed her.

The clothes the young woman brought were common dark blue cloth, half-worn, boy’s attire. When Pan Yun put them on, the sleeves were too long—but rolling them up fixed it.

Pan Yun didn’t really want to wear them. Though she smelled the soap-scent on them—clearly washed—she still felt uncomfortable.

“Whose clothes are these?”

The young woman had already packed her own things, tied her bundle, and slung it over her shoulder. She looked up at Pan Yun for a moment. “Taken from the temple’s charity hall. Some pilgrims donate oil money; others wash and donate unused clothes for those in need.”

Pan Yun no longer minded. She folded her old clothes, wrapped them in the small cloth the young woman handed her, and tied them on her back just as the woman had done.

Hmm. She was a traveler with luggage now.

Tao Ji called out from outside. The young woman grabbed Pan Yun. “I’m Xuanmiao. Stay obedient on this journey—I’m nothing like my Senior Brother. I won’t be fooled easily.”

The two met up and immediately took a back path out the temple’s side gate.

Shortly after they left, Liu Jing, who had been circling the plum forest, finally emerged and pushed open the temple’s back door.

He frowned, searching the temple—but found no trace of Wang Yong. After thinking, he followed his instinct back to the plum forest. This time, he took a monk with him.

The plum forest was clearly strange. Since it belonged to the temple, the monks must know where the strangeness lay.

(End of Chapter)