Chapter 96

Beside him, Qian Dahong's eyes flickered and he said, "Young Immortal, may I give this talisman to someone else?"

Pan Yun smiled, "Of course you may, as each person wishes—give it away or sell it, I have no objections; one thing only: this talisman was drawn by Pan Yun of Mount Sanqing."

"Of course, who would dare steal and pass it off as their own?"

Pan Yun knew what talismans people loved most, so of the ten she brought out, four were for safety and four for wealth, with two more for health.

Qian Dahong took the talismans and stepped back to fetch the money.

Seeing his son leave, Qian the Elder said to Pan Yun, "I hear the Young Immortal is building a temple to the Mountain God?"

Pan Yun nodded. "Yes."

"I wish to donate part of the cost—the pillars or the main gate may be funded by me."

Pan Yun shook her head. "My master has decreed no fundraising; only my fellow disciples and I may build it. Otherwise, how could my senior brother, who has labored for years, yield this merit to me?"

Qian the Elder sighed. "The Mountain God pities mortals."

Pan Yun smiled.

Qian the Elder: "Has the county office approved the temple construction?"

"Not yet submitted. I've heard you, Master Qian, have excellent ties with the county office—when the time comes, please speak well of us."

Qian the Elder readily agreed.

In truth, even without Qian the Elder's words, the county office, upon hearing of it, asked only one question: "Can the monastery or temple recruit more Daoist Priests?"

Upon receiving a negative answer, the office approved, saying, "Bring your household registration, land deeds, and ordination certificates to complete the paperwork."

Pan Yun asked, "I don't have an ordination certificate—only my senior brother and sister do. Is that enough?"

The Registrar: "We're asking for the temple keeper's ordination certificate."

Pan Yun: "I am the temple keeper."

The Registrar stared at her in surprise. "You paid for this?"

Pan Yun nodded.

After a moment of silence, the Registrar said, "It's possible, but your monastery must issue a document certifying you as a Daoist Priest of your temple, and your parents or family must also issue a written statement and pay the required fees."

The Great Ming has a decree: minors under sixteen, male or female, who become monks or Daoist Priests must have parental consent;

and parental consent requires punishment, which may be paid in money.

The Great Ming also has a law: those over twenty may no longer become monks or Daoist Priests; those who insist must take an exam, and those who fail are beaten with bamboo rods.

During the Yongle era, the imperial court changed policy: the ordination exam, once held every three years, became every five years—meaning those with living parents have only one chance to pass; if they fail once, any further attempts result in beatings and punishment.

Because of this system, families who can still survive rarely let their children become monks or Daoist Priests.

The Registrar thought Pan Yun was rich—her parents letting her become a Daoist Priest at such a young age must have been brain-dead.

"Will the county office send someone to investigate Zhang Xiaomei's family in Guangxin Prefecture using this household registration?" Pan Yun worried. "Do the Zhangs even know Zhang Xiaomei is dead?"

Master Xuanmiao: "They likely don't know, and wouldn't care."

"What if they come after me because of it…"

Master Xuanmiao said, "Don't worry—when your senior nephew returns, he'll resolve it."

Pan Yun: "Your senior nephew is that powerful?"

Master Xuanmiao nodded. "Very."

"Where is he now?"

Master Xuanmiao shook his head.

Wang Cong had just returned to Guangxin Prefecture; after arranging the caravan, he took only two assistants and headed for Mount Sanqing.

As he entered the village, he saw a crowd bustling at the foot of the mountain across the bridge, lively and noisy.

He walked over, his pack on his back.

Villagers were felling trees, leveling the ground, and digging foundations, chatting happily as they worked.

Three boys in Daoist robes were tossing the excavated stones aside.

Miao He turned, saw him, screamed, dropped the stone, and leapt onto the young man, shouting, "Senior Brother! Senior Brother!"

Wang Cong caught her, nearly toppling backward from the impact.

Seeing Miao Zhen also drop her stone and rush over, "Senior Brother's back!"

Wang Cong steadied the excited Miao He and said helplessly, "I'm back, I'm back—I bought gifts for all of you. What are you doing?"

His gaze fell on the little girl he'd never seen before. "Who is this?"

Miao Zhen quickly introduced, "Senior Brother, this is our junior aunt."

Wang Cong smiled warmly, gazing tenderly at Pan Yun; though he bowed and called her "Junior Aunt," his tone was like soothing a child.

Being underestimated, treated like a child, Pan Yun felt no anger at all—she smiled faintly at him. "You're the senior nephew, aren't you?"

"Yes." Wang Cong nodded, set down his heavy pack, rolled up his sleeves. "Rest—you all rest. I'll handle this."

The villagers greeted Wang Cong warmly. "Wang Cong's back!"

"Wang Cong, if you don't come back soon, your ancestral home will collapse—your father doesn't care about anything."

"Yes, you should persuade your father—not to stay holed up on the mountain forever. He should come down occasionally, till the land, repair the house—that's what Laozu Sect left behind." Wang Cong nodded to each, then joined the villagers gathering stones and tree roots. He glanced at the foundation and nodded slightly. "Good digging, but deeper still—it must be deeper to last."

"We said the same. This is a Mountain God temple—it must stand for centuries. The foundation must be perfect."

"Wang Cong, don't worry—we're all neighbors. We'll build it right. Even if this mountain collapses, the Mountain God temple won't."

"Shoo, shoo—don't speak nonsense. Wang Cong, you just got back—go up the mountain with your junior aunt and the others. We'll handle the rest."

Wang Cong didn't refuse—he agreed and climbed the mountain with Pan Yun and the three girls.

Miao He eagerly reached for his pack. "Senior Brother, let me carry it."

"No need, no need—it's heavy."

Miao He insisted, taking part of the load. "Senior Brother, haven't you noticed? My cultivation has improved—I can climb and descend the mountain without trouble now."

Wang Cong couldn't tell, so he tested her—he waved his hand, and Miao He raised her arm to block; instantly, they exchanged five strikes.

Wang Cong withdrew his hand, astonished. "You've improved a lot, little sister."

Miao He lifted her chin proudly. "Of course I have—I'm amazing."

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Miao Zhen hurriedly said, "Big brother, my cultivation has also grown."

Wang Cong reached out and patted her head, smiling. "Good. All my little sisters are working hard—I'll reward you all soon."

Miao Zhen and Miao He both brightened.

Wang Cong smiled at Pan Yun. "And I'll reward little auntie too."

Pan Yun pointed at her own nose in surprise. "I get a reward too?"

Wang Cong nodded. "Of course. Everyone gets one."

Wang Cong asked, "Where's Third Master? Isn't he supposed to be overseeing the temple construction?"

Miao He chattered, "Master went to Cheng's household in Guangxin Prefecture to treat a patient—he doesn't know when he'll return."

Wang Cong sighed. "If I'd known Third Master was in Guangxin Prefecture, I should've gone to see him yesterday."

As they climbed the mountain, before reaching the summit, they saw a head peek out from behind the gate's tree, looking down.

Wang Cong paused, then called out, "Father~"

Wang Feiyin stepped out from behind the tree, gripping a rock as he leaned further down. "I thought so—this morning, the birds on the mountain were unusually loud, and just now they shat on me. So it's you back. Come up quickly."

Wang Cong climbed up with a large sack. When they all turned the bend, Wang Feiyin spotted the two attendants trailing behind. "Why did you bring attendants up the mountain? Now that you've got money, you're starting to enjoy yourself."

Wang Cong: "There's too much to carry up, so I had to bring two attendants."

Wang Feiyin eagerly stepped forward. "What's in the sack?"

Wang Cong set the sack on the stone table. Knowing the monastery didn't allow outsiders to stay overnight, he told the two attendants, "Go back down the mountain. My old family home is uninhabitable—find any household in the village to crash in. Return to Guangxin Prefecture tomorrow."

The two attendants were about to nod, when Wang Feiyin suddenly said, "Wait—let them stay with you. You might need them to run errands later."

Wang Feiyin pulled Pan Yun forward. "You know her—this is your little auntie."

"I know," Wang Cong smiled and bowed. "Little auntie."

Wang Feiyin said, "She is the direct disciple of the Mountain God."

Wang Cong's smile faded slightly; he grew solemn. "The Mountain God's direct disciple?"

"Correct. The Mountain God himself personally took her as a disciple."

Wang Cong's expression turned solemn again; he bowed deeply once more. "Little auntie."

Pan Yun waved dismissively. "When did the Three Pure Ones Monastery become so formal? One bow is enough—no need for repeated greetings."

Wang Feiyin said, "She has something for you to do."

He sent the two attendants down the mountain to wait for orders. Once all outsiders were gone, he began explaining Pan Yun's background.

Upon hearing it, before Wang Feiyin could even state his request, Wang Cong directly asked Pan Yun, "So little auntie still wants to keep the name Pan Yun, and not alert Zhang Xiaomei's family?"

Pan Yun nodded.

Wang Cong: "And you still want to be the temple keeper?"

Pan Yun hesitated, then nodded. "Actually, it'd be better if someone else…."

"No!" the father and son said in unison.

Wang Cong paused, then said, "Little auntie, it's not that I underestimate you—in fact, I hold you in the highest regard."

He said, "You've lived this long after becoming the Mountain God's disciple—your fortune and ability are undeniable. No one else could survive it."

Wang Feiyin: "Yes. No one else has your stubborn luck."

Wang Cong cleared his throat, reminded his father, then returned to the topic. "This isn't hard—it's just like with Miao He and Miao Zhen."

He said, "Since you have the indenture contract and Zhang Xiaomei's household registration page, I'll go to the Registrar to re-register you—treat it as redemption, and list you under the Three Pure Ones Monastery."

Pan Yun looked troubled. "Will that work? What if the Brocade Guard investigates…?"

"Don't worry. I have my own clever plan. Unless the Brocade Guard actually shows up nearby and sees you with their own eyes, no one will ever find out—oh, except you four."

Today's lucky number is any number ending in 9—screenshot as proof

(End of Chapter)