Chapter 81

The next morning, Wang Feiyin led Xuanmiao and the others back to Sanqing Temple on a donkey cart; Pan Yun stood at the village entrance watching them depart, and only returned to find Sun Xianniang once they were out of sight, asking for a piece of white cloth, on which she wrote and drew with ink and brush, soon fashioning a banner.

Tao Ji went to take the girl's pulse, administer medicine, and change her dressings; passing by, he paused, "What are you doing?"

Pan Yun instantly raised the banner before him, "Third Brother, what do you think of my customer-attracting banner?"

Tao Ji looked.

On the banner were written "Fortune-Telling / Healing," beneath which was a Bagua diagram, and below that two smaller lines: "Sanqing Immortal Child, descended to endure trials; casting lots to accumulate fortune, no payment if inaccurate."

Tao Ji: "You—you—you—what are you trying to do?"

Pan Yun said solemnly, "To spread the Dao!"

"Of course I also earn money, but earning money isn't the main goal—the main goal is practice, applying what I've learned in practice. Third Brother, don't you think this improves learning efficiency?"

Tao Ji: "... You've only studied for how long? Big Brother said you're missing many fundamentals in physiognomy. What if you get it wrong? Not to mention healing—you haven't even learned to take pulses."

"That's why I charge so little—my main goal isn't to earn money. As for healing, isn't there still you, Third Brother?" Pan Yun said. "Look, I put fortune-telling first; healing is just incidental."

Tao Ji: "Sanqing Temple specializes in alchemical Dao. Those who descend the mountain mostly practice medicine and seek the Dao. You, waving banners to tell fortunes... only Second Brother ever did something like that—but even he focused on healing and saving lives. You—you—you're going to ruin Sanqing Temple's reputation! Burn that banner, and come out only after you've mastered your skills."

Pan Yun refused. "Time doesn't wait. I'm already eight. If I don't practice now, when will I? Don't worry, Third Brother—I'm good at fortune-telling. Look at Zhou Wang, then Qian the Elder, then Zhou Meiniang—when have I ever been wrong? Healing isn't a problem either—I'll just wander nearby; if I encounter someone I can't treat, I'll bring them back to you."

After speaking, Pan Yun found a wooden stick, propped up the banner, called the black cat, and shouldered the banner as she walked off.

Tao Ji stood dumbfounded, helplessly watching her leave.

Only when she vanished did he grit his teeth and mutter, "I knew it—I can't control her..."

As soon as Big Brother and Fourth Sister left, Tao Ji missed them terribly.

"Big Brother told me to take good care of her, to comfort her these days. Does she look like someone who needs comfort?" Tao Ji muttered to himself as he went to see Zhou Meiniang.

Pan Yun, banner on shoulder, stood before the Zhou family gate, observing the qi.

Zhou the Elder appeared out of nowhere beside her and asked, "Little Immortal, my daughter-in-law says your cultivation is profound—could you truly be a celestial Immortal Child reincarnated?"

Pan Yun nodded. "I am. But after reincarnation, my memories were damaged and not fully restored; my power remains only one in a hundred million. Sigh—I'm merely flesh and blood now."

Zhou the Elder: "Last night, Little Immortal, you only said half your words—about bound feet harming families and the nation—what came after?"

Pan Yun calmly shook her head. "Cannot be spoken. Cannot be spoken. Master Zhou, don't tempt me to break heavenly law again."

Saying this, she shouldered the banner and walked toward the village's depths.

Zhou the Elder paused, then hurried after her. "Little Immortal, aren't you here to tell fortunes? Could you perhaps tell mine?"

Pan Yun stopped. "What does Master Zhou wish to know?"

Zhou the Elder hesitated, then said, "Tell me of the Zhou family's fortune."

Pan Yun studied him, carefully examining his features, then held out her hand. "Five taels."

Zhou the Elder stared. "A fortune-teller on the street charges twenty cash per reading."

Pan Yun: "Then don't have it done."

Zhou the Elder immediately said, "Do it, do it, I'll have it done—I'll owe you. I'll pay you when you return."

Zhou the Elder had no such sum on him—who carries five taels of silver around the village for no reason?

Pan Yun said, "After this trial passes, the Zhou family's fortune will flourish greatly—everything will proceed smoothly; even major setbacks will be trials leading to better outcomes. This fortune also benefits Master Zhou himself—your blood and qi will be robust, your body healthy."

Zhou the Elder's expression remained calm, until she added, "The Zhou family has gained literary fortune."

Zhou the Elder's eyes flashed bright with excitement. "Literary fortune?"

Pan Yun nodded. "Indeed. As long as your feng shui remains intact, one of your grandsons will possess literary fortune. Congratulations, Master Zhou—your deepest wish can be fulfilled."

Zhou the Elder hurriedly asked, "Little Immortal, which of my grandsons? What height will he reach?" Pan Yun: "Master Zhou, I tell fortunes, not travel to the future and return to recount your family's fate. Literary fortune belongs to your household, not to one person alone. As for how high he—or they—will rise, that depends on future destiny."

Pan Yun's reading was vague, but Zhou the Elder's trust in her surged. He whispered, "Little Immortal—can you truly not see, or are you refusing to tell me? If you tell me, will I suffer misfortune again like the other day?"

Pan Yun silently regarded him. After a long moment of silent gaze between old man and child, she asked, "How do you know I was punished by heavenly mandate the other day?"

Zhou the Elder smiled at her. If she hadn't defied heavenly mandate and been punished, how else could she fall flat on the ground, choke on water, and have chairs collapse beneath her?

Zhou the Elder had never met anyone more unlucky than her.

Moreover, as she gave gifts to others, her misfortune gradually faded. Had it not been for this, he would never have agreed to release his granddaughter's bound feet.

Was he the kind of man who trusted any Daoist after a few words?

Seeing he wouldn't speak, Pan Yun guessed part of it from his expression. She paused, then said calmly, "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed, Master Zhou. Your fortune has been told. Remember to pay me when I return."

Saying this, she shouldered the banner and walked off.

Zhou the Elder silently watched her depart, then returned home and painfully retrieved five taels of silver. Fine—other expenses could be cut, but fortune-telling money must not be spared.

Pan Yun carried her banner into the village center. The rice paddies' leaves had turned yellow; some rice was ready for harvest, but most still needed a few more days—so it was not yet the busy season of autumn reaping.

Villagers were twisting hemp ropes or stripping hemp; seeing Pan Yun approach with her banner, they stared curiously but dared not greet her.

Though young, she wore a Daoist robe.

!. Read

Everyone knew the wealthy Zhou family had invited a group of Daoist Priests—no one knew why, but they seemed mysterious.

Pan Yun scanned the crowd, looked around, saw no potential clients, then fixed her gaze on the village women and girls twisting hemp.

She fell silent, mentally bracing herself. After a long while, she forced a smile, shouldered the banner, and marched toward them with determination.

So what if it's socializing?

Hadn't she done this before?

Go on—what's to fear?

"Aunties, big sisters, young ladies—hello!" Pan Yun cheerfully greeted them.

The village women and girls immediately burst into warmth, calling her over. "Little Daoist, come sit! Would you like water? I have some."

Pan Yun sat among them, her banner propped against the wall behind her, holding several strands of hemp, learning to twist rope.

Hemp was coarse and prickly; her hands, clearly unused to farm work, turned red at once.

One nearby village woman, seeing this, winced and seized her hand. "Little Daoist, stop twisting—this rough work isn't for you."

"Yes, yes, just look at these hands—never done a day's hard work. Being a Daoist Priest is truly good."

"I want to be a Daoist Priest too."

"Go, go! Do you think anyone can become a Daoist Priest? First off, do you even recognize the characters on this banner?"

Someone immediately asked, "Young Daoist Priest, what does it say on this banner?"

Pan Yun pointed to the characters on the banner and read them out one by one: "Fortune-telling / Healing, Three Pure Ones' Immortal Child, descended to endure trials; divining to accumulate fortune, no charge if inaccurate."

"Who is the Three Pure Ones' Immortal Child?"

Pan Yun: "I am."

"Oh! Young Daoist Priest, you can do fortune-telling too? If it's inaccurate, you really won't charge?"

Pan Yun: "I truly won't charge."

"Young Daoist Priest, my aunt suspects your fortune-telling is inaccurate—yet you're not angry?"

Pan Yun: "To seek a fortune yet not believe in fate—that's fine. We who cultivate the Dao must see the future: the good, we let flow naturally; the bad, we defy heavenly fate and change destiny."

Today's lucky number is any number ending in 6.

(End of Chapter)