Chapter 840: Heavy Rain

Who knew that this time they couldn't even see the Emperor's face—they were directly dismissed by Wang Zhen.

That night, rain poured down in torrents.

No matter how healthy a person is, being soaked in rain all night will make them sick, let alone that the north is colder than the south, and the soldiers had marched seven days straight without adequate rations, none of them fully fed.

Under the combined assault of hunger and cold, many soldiers fell ill.

Pan Yu was healthy and ran around, snatching medicine for his comrades.

True, medicinal herbs were scarce, and military doctors were few—it was extremely hard to get even one.

Yu Rui, who had entered the Five Armies Camp with him, stared at him in silence.

Pan Yu turned and saw the snot hanging from his nose, his face twisted in disgust; he casually plucked a few leaves and tossed them over: "Wipe your nose."

Yu Rui sniffed, and the snot sucked back in.

Pan Yu moved three steps away in disgust, then turned again—Yu Rui's eyes were red.

Pan Yu froze, then hurried forward: "Don't cry, I—I don't mind you anymore."

Yu Rui shook his head, voice hoarse: "Pan Yu, I think I'm going to die... wu wu..."

Pan Yu clapped a hand over his mouth, his face stern, not a trace of smile: "Yu Rui, don't say things like that—it's bad luck, and if it reaches Your Majesty's ears, you'll be punished!"

Yu Rui nodded, tears welling.

Pan Yu withdrew his hand and said gravely: "Wait here—I'll go find medicine for you."

Yu Rui choked out: "It's already enough—you've managed to snatch two herbs for us. More should be left for others."

Pan Yu: "I won't fight the military doctors—I'll find someone else."

He lowered his voice: "I know someone among the traveling officials."

The person he meant was Yin Song.

But over two hundred thousand people stretched endlessly, the road narrow, the column drawn out for miles.

Among them were fifty thousand auxiliary troops and laborers hauling supplies.

To reach the position of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, he had to cross a very, very long distance.

Fortunately, the camp's management was chaotic—due to insufficient supplies and the heavy rain, many soldiers had fallen behind, so the formation was in disarray; he could run from here to the front to find someone.

In any other military march, a soldier deserting his post would be punished.

Pan Yu slipped along the line until late at night, when he finally found Yin Song.

Yin Song hadn't slept; he sized up Pan Yu and exclaimed: "You're not only bold, you're lucky—pitch dark, raining, and you still dared to find your way here."

This place is close to the Emperor's carriage—if the guards were even slightly strict, you'd be arrested; a charge of spying on the Emperor's person could cost you your life—or at least peel off a layer of skin.

Pan Yu came for medicine and added a complaint: "No one's on duty, so I made it through without trouble."

Yin Song frowned and handed him a vial: "Take it. Use it sparingly—I don't have much left."

Pan Yu thanked him repeatedly, stuffed the vial into his robe, pulled on his hood, and turned to leave—then remembered something and turned back: "Yin Shixiong, give me that vial of tonic for strengthening the body too. The rain's getting heavier; if my friend takes two pills, his strength might improve."

Yin Song said: "I lost it during the chaos at the Dragon-Tiger Altar a few days ago."

"Ah!" Pan Yu's eyes widened; he could only comfort him: "It's fine—I'll write to my little sister when I get back and ask her to send us some."

Yin Song nodded.

Watching him vanish into the rain, Yin Song sighed: "Too bad it's too late."

Yin Qingjun stepped forward, draped a cloak over his master's shoulders, and stared at Pan Yu disappearing into the dark: "At least Pan Hong and Pan Yue fell ill in time—they escaped this disaster."

Yin Song fell silent.

Yin Qingjun lowered his voice: "Master, didn't Little Shu take medicine to Jingcheng before the Emperor's decree for personal campaign? Did she foresee this?"

Yin Song remained silent for a long while, then said: "If we return safely to the capital, you and I will resign our posts and return home."

Yin Qingjun opened his mouth: "Then what about our family's patron?"

Yin Song's face was expressionless: "The patron must be replaced."

Is it Little Shu?

Yin Qingjun wondered.

But Little Shu is a Kun Dao; though there are Kun Dao in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, advancement is extremely difficult—she'd be a far harder patron than we'd ever be.

Pan Yun had lately been obsessed with flying around inside pots, leaving right after class and returning only at night.

Seeing Miao Zhen hadn't eaten with her in nearly a week; today, seeing her finally stay in, he hurried to ask: "Little Shu, where have you been going lately?"

Pan Yun: "Looking for alchemical materials."

"Ah?" This was an answer no one had expected.

Seeing Miao Zhen leaned in eagerly: "You already have your True Sword and flight artifact—what are you forging now?"

Pan Yun smiled at them: "I'm making them for you."

All three's eyes lit up.

Pan Yun said: "Your cultivation is growing—you should each have your own True Artifact. I still have a few good items on hand; if I search further, I might gather enough material. From now on, think about what kind of True Artifact you want."

Seeing Miao Zhen: "Didn't Grandmaster also store materials for us?"

Pan Yun smiled at them: "Adding more will make them better."

Xue Shao stood silent beside them; Pan Yun turned to him: "I've prepared one for you too."

Xue Shao: "I don't plan to make a True Artifact."

Pan Yun: "Make one—even a sword will help with defense."

The sword is the gentleman's weapon; this time, Xue Shao did not refuse.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, Pan Yun took them back to Mount Sanqing.

Wang Feiyin saw them and smiled faintly; after a family meal, he handed Pan Yun a storage pouch: "This is what your senior brother and I stored for them—we planned to give it when they were older, but since they've been with you, their cultivation has grown so fast—they're ready now."

Pan Yun took it, tucked it away, stared silently at her senior brother for a moment, then knelt and bowed her head deeply to him.

Wang Feiyin stood still and took it.

Pan Yun looked up and asked, "Senior Brother, the celestial phenomena have changed—why don't you expel me from the sect?"

Wang Feiyin reached out and patted her head, smiling gently: "Mount Sanqing stands tall and perilous—it is right here, and no one can move it. Since the mountain formed, it has remained unmoved for ten thousand years; since the mountain gained its spirit, it has not shifted for a thousand years. Even if you pierce a hole through the heavens, Mount Sanqing will still be here."

Pan Yun's eyes glistened with tears as she bowed her head in a deep kowtow. "Disciple understands. Disciple's resolve will not waver."

Wang Feiyin patted her head and sighed softly: "Go."

Pan Yun wiped away her tears and left. Seeing Miao Zhen appeared out of nowhere, sidling up to Wang Feiyin: "Senior Grandmaster..."

Wang Feiyin jolted in fright and quickly turned around: "You scared me half to death—why are you hiding behind the statue without a sound?"

Seeing Miao Zhen: "... I got here first. I was meditating behind you, and you two were whispering secrets right in front of me."

She paused, then suppressed her irritation and asked: "What trouble is Little Auntie planning to cause?"