Chapter 919: Drawing Cakes

Zhang Liuzhen: "Those who truly study the Dao do not care about official licenses; all they ask is that the imperial court slightly loosen travel permits, allowing learners to roam mountains and rivers to deepen their study of the Dao. Those who seek licenses mostly want a guarantee for their lives."

Pan Yun tilted her lips upward: "I've come back this time to find my fellow disciples a better path—one that lets them enjoy state benefits even without a license."

Zhang Liuzhen blinked in surprise: "What?"

Pan Yun said: "I plan to recommend them to the Ministry of Works—no, I'll create a new department myself, under the Dao Record Office, called the Dao Instrument Department, dedicated solely to researching Dao instruments useful for civilian life."

Zhang Liuzhen reached out and touched her forehead, then turned to Tao Ji: "Didn't she lose too much primordial energy yesterday? Is she running a fever?"

Pan Yun slapped his hand away: "I'm serious!"

Zhang Liuzhen: "I'm not joking either."

He spread his hands: "What Dao instruments do you want them to make? Talismans to catch ghosts? But how many spirits linger in the mortal world to become vengeful ghosts? There aren't enough to keep even the Daoist Priests busy—why trouble ordinary people?"

"Or talismans to cure illness? Though talismans help with some ailments, they mostly regulate the body's qi field or replenish a bit of spiritual energy—fine for minor illnesses, but for serious ones, they only bring temporary relief; for true healing, go to a Physician."

Pan Yun opened her mouth to speak, but Zhang Liuzhen raised his hand to cut her off: "Don't tell me you also plan to mass-produce peach-wood swords, ritual seals, tokens, and soul-stilling bells—what would ordinary people do with these? Fight with each other at home or next door?"

Pan Yun shook her head, looking utterly disappointed: "Brother Zhang, you've disappointed me. Your imagination is too barren."

Zhang Liuzhen had never been told this before—he stared wide-eyed at Master Xuanmiao and Tao Ji.

Both had put down their chopsticks and were sitting together peeling tangerines, their faces calm.

Seeing him look, Master Xuanmiao said: "I heard there's a kind of washing tub in laundry houses in Hangzhou and Yangzhou that washes clothes automatically."

Pan Yun's eyes lit up instantly; she slapped her chest toward Zhang Liuzhen.

Zhang Liuzhen: "You made that?"

Pan Yun nodded fiercely, triumphant: "Dao instruments aren't about making existing ritual tools—they're about researching things that don't yet exist but benefit civilian life, military use, or one's own cultivation."

"Brother, before we came to the Imperial Academy, we all studied literature and writing. Here, we directly learn Daoist arts, Daoist medicine, and instrument craft. Among these, arts and medicine are primary; though instrument craft is less emphasized, everyone studied it seriously, and many classmates specialized in it—why can't they carry Dao instruments forward?"

Zhang Liuzhen fell into thought.

Pan Yun said: "Not just instrument craft—medicine can also collaborate with the imperial court. Daoist medicine and medicine are inseparable; all who study medicine understand Dao, and all who cultivate the Dao know some medicine. Their origins are the same—they both seek balance of yin and yang, eternal cycles."

"Increasing licenses is impossible, but we don't have to fixate on them. Which aspect of our disciples is inferior to ordinary people? Must they really have no other way to earn a living or pursue official advancement?"

Zhang Liuzhen looked speechless: "Daoists pursuing official advancement?"

"Ah, don't be narrow-minded," Pan Yun bumped his shoulder: "Like you, Brother Zhang—you come from a thousand-year clan; even one thing you carry costs a whole family a lifetime's income. Of course you can have grand ambitions and do great things. But most people in this world are ordinary."

"They come from ordinary families; all they want is enough to eat, clothes to wear, to support their families, to pay less—or no—taxes. And if they can support their families with a little surplus, they won't bother thinking beyond that."

Pan Yun said: "Their aspirations and ideals are just as noble as yours, Brother."

Master Xuanmiao said: "The people's wishes are simple—but if we can fulfill even these small wishes, together they become national peace and prosperity."

Tao Ji nodded and asked Zhang Liuzhen: "Isn't this exactly your ultimate wish?" Pan Yun beamed: "Different paths, same destination! Different paths, same destination!"

Zhang Liuzhen lowered his head, thinking long, then softly laughed: "Indeed—different paths, same destination."

Pan Yun's eyes sparkled as she watched him: "So, Brother Zhang…?"

Zhang Liuzhen gave a slight nod: "Alright."

Pan Yun was overjoyed.

Zhang Liuzhen's gaze shifted between the three of them, suspicious: "You three didn't conspire ahead of time and dig a pit for me, did you?"

Pan Yun looked down her nose at him: "You underestimate us? Brother Zhang, my senior martial brother and I are in perfect sync—if I'd gotten word from them, would I have rushed here from the capital like my life depended on it?"

Then Pan Yun remembered: "How did you lose contact? Who blocked your messages? Amazing—even the Embroidered Uniform Guard didn't get word. This person deserves promotion."

"I had Lin Jing seal off Long Hushan to prevent the second branch from contacting outsiders. For absolute safety, even our letters couldn't be sent out."

Well, kill a thousand, lose eight hundred.

Pan Yun touched her chest: "I was so worried."

Zhang Liuzhen looked apologetic, but Master Xuanmiao and Tao Ji remained calm, continuing: "Besides this, what else brought you back?"

"Oh, it's not a big deal—Brother, since you've agreed, could you hand me the fifth-year students this year, and last year's graduates who didn't get licenses or take posts in the Celestial Master's Mansion or local Daoist temples?"

Zhang Liuzhen pursed his lips: "What do you want them to do?"

Pan Yun: "First, test it. If this path works, future graduates of the Academy will have another option. No—this path is like an egg: egg gives chicken, chicken gives egg, multiplying endlessly. By the time they graduate, there may already be many paths."

Zhang Liuzhen, seeing her full of vitality, shook his head and smiled: "You're optimistic."

"Come on, optimism is one day, pessimism is also one day—why not be optimistic?" Pan Yun urged him: "So? So? Brother, say yes."

Zhang Liuzhen: "I can gather the people for you, but whether they go or not depends on their own will—no forcing."

"Of course. Daoists forbid forcing people—I'd never force them."

Zhang Liuzhen glanced at her, thinking: You won't force people—but you'll bribe them, and you'll draw giant cakes.

Zhang Liuzhen grew uneasy, fearing she'd draw too big a cake, leaving everyone disappointed: "You…"

Seeing him hesitate, Pan Yun looked up curiously: "What?"

"Don't draw too big a cake when you're painting—it'll crush their Dao heart if they're too disappointed."

Pan Yun cried out: "Am I that kind of person? Don't worry—I'll draw just a tiny one."

"…I thought you were going to say you don't draw cakes at all."