Chapter 81: I

Early the next morning, Wang Feiyin led Xuanmiao and the others back to Mount Sanqing on a donkey cart; Pan Yun stood at the village entrance watching them depart, and once they were out of sight, she returned to find Sun Xianniang, asked for a piece of white cloth, and with brush and ink scribbled on it until she had quickly made a banner.

Tao Ji went to take the girl’s pulse, administer medicine, and change her dressings; passing by, he stopped in his tracks, “What are you doing?”

Pan Yun instantly raised the banner in front of him, “Third Shixiong , what do you think of my customer-attracting banner?”

Tao Ji looked.

On the banner were written “Fortune-Telling / Healing,” beneath it a Bagua diagram, and below that two smaller lines: “Sanqing Immortal Child, descended to endure tribulation; divining to accumulate fate, no charge 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 reality. Don’t you think this improves learning efficiency, Third Shixiong ?”

Tao Ji: “...You’ve only studied for how long? Big Shixiong said your face-reading lacks many fundamentals—what if you get it wrong? Never mind healing—you haven’t even learned to take a pulse.”

“That’s why I charge so little—my main goal isn’t to make money. As for healing, isn’t there still you, Third Shixiong ?” Pan Yun said, “Look, I put fortune-telling first; healing is just secondary.”

Tao Ji: “Our Mount Sanqing Sect primarily cultivates the Elixir Dao; those who descend the mountain mostly practice medicine and seek the Dao. Someone like you, waving a banner for fortune-telling... only Second Shixiong ever did something similar, but even he focused on healing and saving lives. You—you—you’re going to ruin our Mount Sanqing Sect’s reputation! Burn that banner, and don’t come out until you’ve mastered your skills.”

Pan Yun refused, “Time doesn’t wait. I’m already eight years old—if I don’t practice now, when will I? Don’t worry, Third Shixiong , I’m good at fortune-telling. Look at Zhou Wang, then Master Qian, 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 stunned, helplessly watching her leave.

Once she was out of sight, he clenched his teeth and muttered, “I knew it—I can’t control her...”

As soon as Big Shixiong and Fourth sister left, Tao Ji missed them terribly.

“Big Shixiong told me to take good care of her, to comfort her these days—is she even the kind of person 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.

Master Zhou appeared from nowhere, standing beside her, asking, “Little Immortal, my daughter-in-law says your cultivation is profound—could you truly be an Immortal Child reincarnated?”

Pan Yun nodded, “I am. But after reincarnation, my memories were damaged and haven’t fully recovered; my power is now only one in a hundred millionth of what it was. Sigh—I’m just a mortal body now.”

Master Zhou: “Last night, Little Immortal, you only spoke half your words—about bound feet harming families and the state—what came next?”

Pan Yun calmly shook her head, “Cannot be spoken, cannot be spoken. Master Zhou, don’t make me break heavenly law again.”

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

Master Zhou paused, then hurried after her, “Little Immortal, aren’t you here to do fortune-telling? Could you please read my fate?”

Pan Yun stopped, “What would you like to know, Master Zhou?”

Master Zhou paused, then said, “My family’s fortune.”

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

Master Zhou stared, “A fortune-teller on the street charges twenty cash per reading.”

Pan Yun: “Then don’t get it read.”

Master Zhou immediately said, “Read it, read it—I’ll pay you when you return.”

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

Pan Yun said, “After this tribulation passes, the Zhou family’s fortune will flourish—everything will go smoothly; even major setbacks will be trials leading to better outcomes. This fortune also benefits you personally—your blood and qi will be strong, your body healthy.”

Master Zhou’s expression remained calm as she added, “The Zhou family will gain literary fortune.”

Master Zhou’s eyes lit up instantly, his face flushed with excitement, “Literary fortune?”

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

Master Zhou hurriedly asked, “Little Immortal, which of my grandsons? How high will he rise?” Pan Yun: “Master Zhou, I read fate, not travel to the future and return to recount your family’s destiny. Literary fortune belongs to your family as a whole, not just one person. How high he—or they—will rise depends on future fate.”

Pan Yun’s reading was vague, but Master Zhou’s trust in her surged; he whispered, “Little Immortal, is it that you truly can’t see it, or that you saw it but won’t tell me? If you tell me, will I suffer misfortune like you did a few days ago?”

Pan Yun silently regarded him; after a long moment of eye contact, she asked, “How do you know I was punished by heavenly mandate a few days ago?”

Master Zhou smiled at her—unless she had defied heavenly fate and been punished, how else could she trip on flat ground, choke on water, and have chairs collapse beneath her?

Master Zhou had never met anyone more unlucky than her.

Moreover, as she gave gifts to others, her bad luck 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 Taoist after a few words?

Pan Yun saw he wouldn’t speak, but guessed part of it from his expression; after a pause, she said calmly, “Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed, Master Zhou. Your reading is done—remember to pay me when I return.”

Saying this, she shouldered the banner and walked off.

Master Zhou silently watched her leave; when he returned home, he painfully retrieved five taels of silver. Fine—other expenses could be cut, but fortune-telling money couldn’t.

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

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

Though young, she wore a Daoist robe.

!. Du

Everyone knew the wealthy Zhou family had invited a group of Daoists—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 preparing herself; after a long while, she forced a smile, shouldered the banner, and marched toward them with determination.

What’s socializing?

Hadn’t she done this before?

Go on—what’s to fear?

“Hello, sisters and aunts,” 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 never did farm work—after one twist, they turned red.

Nearby women pitied her, grabbed her hand, “Little Daoist, stop twisting—this rough work isn’t for you.”

“Yes, yes—your hands clearly never worked. Being a Daoist is so nice.”

“I want to be a Daoist too.”

“Go, go—who thinks anyone can be a Daoist? First, do you even know what the characters on the banner mean?”

Someone immediately asked, “Little Daoist, what does the banner say?”

Pan Yun pointed to each character and read them aloud: “Fortune-Telling / Healing, Sanqing Immortal Child, descended to endure tribulation; divining to accumulate fate, no charge if inaccurate.”

“Who is the Sanqing Immortal Child?”

Pan Yun: “Me.”

“Oh! Little Daoist can do fortune-telling? If it’s inaccurate, you really won’t charge?”

Pan Yun: “Really won’t charge.”

“Little Daoist, my aunt doubts you’re inaccurate—won’t you get angry?”

Pan Yun: “If you seek fortune-telling but don’t believe fate, that’s fine. We cultivators must see the future: good outcomes, we accept naturally; bad ones, we fight heavenly fate, change destiny.”

Today’s lucky number ends in 6

(End of Chapter)