Chapter 96: Wang Cong

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. Each person may give or sell it as they wish—I have no objections. But one thing: 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 people loved most, so among the ten talismans 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.

Qian Master watched his son leave, then said to Pan Yun, “I hear you’re building a shrine to the Mountain God on Mount Sanqing?”

Pan Yun nodded. “Yes.”

“I’d like to sponsor part of it—the pillars or the main gate, I can pay for either.”

Pan Yun shook her head. “My master has ordered that we not solicit donations; only my fellow disciples and I may build it. Otherwise, how could my senior brother, who has labored for years, let me take credit for this?”

Qian Master sighed. “The Mountain God pities mortals.”

Pan Yun smiled.

Qian Master: “Has the county office approved the shrine’s construction?”

“Not yet submitted. I’ve heard you, Sir Qian, have excellent ties with the county office—when the time comes, please speak well of us.”

Qian Master agreed at once.

In truth, no persuasion was needed: when the county office learned of it, they asked only one question: “Can the temple or monastery recruit more Daoists?”

Upon receiving a negative answer, they approved it: “Bring the household registry, land deeds, and ordination certificates to complete the paperwork.”

Pan Yun asked, “I don’t have an ordination certificate—would it suffice if only my senior brother and sister have them?”

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 pause, the Registrar said, “It’s possible—but your monastery must issue a document certifying you as a Daoist of the temple, and your parents or family must also submit a written statement and pay the required fees.”

The Great Ming decreed that minors under sixteen, male or female, who wish to become monks or Daoists must have parental consent;

and parental consent requires a fine, which may be paid in silver.

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

During the Yongle reign, the 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, they must endure corporal punishment.

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

The Registrar thought Pan Yun was rich—her parents letting her become a Daoist at such a young age were clearly mad.

“Will the county office send someone to check with Zhang Xiaomei’s family in Guangxin Prefecture using this household registry?” Pan Yun worried. “Do the Zhangs even know Zhang Xiaomei is dead?”

Xuanmiao: “They likely don’t know—and wouldn’t care.”

“What if they come after me because of it…”

Xuanmiao said, “Don’t worry. When your senior nephew returns, he’ll resolve it.”

Pan Yun: “Your senior nephew is that powerful?”

Xuanmiao nodded. “Very.”

“Where is he now?”

Xuanmiao shook her 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 hill beyond the bridge—clearly lively.

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.

Miaohé 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.

Miaozhen also dropped her stone and rushed over. “Senior Brother’s back!”

Wang Cong steadied the excited Miaohé and sighed. “I’m back, I’m back. I brought gifts for all of you—what are you doing?”

His gaze fell on the little girl he’d never seen before. “Who’s this?”

Miaozhen hurried to introduce her. “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 as if soothing a child.

Being treated like a child, Pan Yun felt no anger—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 now—I’ll handle this.”

The villagers greeted Wang Cong warmly. “Wang Cong’s back!”

“Wang Cong, if you don’t come back soon, your family home will collapse—your father doesn’t care about anything.”

“Yes, you should persuade your father—he shouldn’t stay holed up on the mountain. He should come down, till the land, repair the house—those are ancestral legacies.” Wang Cong nodded to each, then helped gather all the stones and tree roots. He studied the foundation and nodded. “Good digging—but deeper still. Only then will the structure last.”

“We said the same. This is a Mountain God shrine—it must stand for centuries. The foundation must be solid.”

“Don’t worry, Wang Cong—we’re all neighbors. We’ll build it right. Even if the mountain collapses, this shrine won’t.”

“Shh, don’t talk nonsense. Wang Cong, you’ve just returned—go up the mountain with your junior aunt. We’ll finish the rest.”

Wang Cong didn’t refuse. He nodded and climbed the mountain with Pan Yun and the two girls.

Miaohé eagerly reached for his pack. “Senior Brother, let me carry it.”

“No need, it’s heavy.”

Miaohé insisted, taking part of the load. “Senior Brother, haven’t you noticed? My cultivation has improved—I can climb and descend the mountain easily now.”

Wang Cong couldn’t tell by sight, so he tested her—he flicked his hand, and Miaohé instinctively blocked. In an instant, they exchanged five moves.

Wang Cong stopped, astonished. “Impressive. Junior Sister has truly improved.”

Miaohé lifted her chin proudly. “Of course I have—I’m amazing.”

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Miaozhen hurried to say, “Senior Brother, my cultivation has grown too.”

Wang Cong patted her head gently. “Good. All my junior sisters work hard—I’ll reward you all soon.”

Miaozhen and Miaohé beamed.

Wang Cong smiled at Pan Yun. “And I’ll reward Junior Aunt too.”

Pan Yun pointed at herself in surprise. “Me? I get a reward too?”

Wang Cong nodded. “Of course. Everyone gets one.”

Wang Cong asked, “Where’s Third Master? Shouldn’t he be overseeing the shrine’s construction?”

Miaohé chattered, “Master went to the Cheng family in Guangxin Prefecture to treat a patient—he won’t be back anytime soon.”

Wang Cong sighed. “If I’d known Third Master was in Guangxin, I’d have visited him yesterday.”

As they climbed higher, just before reaching the summit, they saw a head peeking from behind the shrine 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 the birds were unusually loud this morning—and just now they shat on me. So it’s you back. Come up.”

Wang Cong climbed the mountain with his heavy pack. When they turned the bend, Wang Feiyin noticed the two assistants trailing behind. “Why bring assistants up the mountain? Now that you’re rich, you’ve started enjoying yourself.”

Wang Cong: “There was too much to carry. I had to bring two assistants.”

Wang Feiyin eagerly stepped forward. “What did you bring?”

Wang Cong set the pack on a stone table. Knowing the monastery didn’t host outsiders, he told the assistants, “Go back down. My family home is uninhabitable. Find a villager to stay with tonight, then return to Guangxin tomorrow.”

The two assistants were about to nod when Wang Feiyin suddenly said, “Wait. Let them stay. They might be useful for errands later.”

Wang Feiyin pulled Pan Yun forward. “You know her—this is your junior aunt.”

“I know,” Wang Cong smiled and bowed. “Junior Aunt.”

Wang Feiyin said, “She is the Mountain God’s direct disciple.”

Wang Cong’s smile faded. He grew solemn. “The Mountain God’s direct disciple?”

“Yes. The Mountain God personally took her as a disciple.”

Wang Cong’s expression turned grave. He bowed again, deeply. “Junior Aunt.”

Pan Yun waved dismissively. “When did Mount Sanqing become so formal? One bow is enough—no need for repeated greetings.”

Wang Feiyin said, “She has a task for you.”

He sent the two assistants down the mountain to wait for orders. Once all outsiders were gone, he explained Pan Yun’s background.

As soon as he finished, Wang Cong asked Pan Yun directly: “So you still want to keep the name Pan Yun, and not alert Zhang Xiaomei’s family?”

Pan Yun nodded.

Wang Cong: “And you still want to be temple keeper?”

Pan Yun hesitated, then nodded. “Actually, I’d be better off not being temple keeper—let someone else…”

“No!” father and son spoke in unison.

Wang Cong paused, then said, “Junior Aunt, it’s not that I underestimate you—in fact, I hold you in the highest regard.”

He said, “You’ve lived this long under the Mountain God’s tutelage—your fortune and ability are unmatched by anyone else.”

Wang Feiyin added, “Yes. No one else has your stubbornness.”

Wang Cong cleared his throat, reminded his father, then returned to the matter. “It’s simple—just like Miaohé and Miaozhen.”

He said, “Since you have the indenture and Zhang Xiaomei’s household registry, I’ll go to the Registrar and re-register you under Mount Sanqing as a redeemed servant.”

Pan Yun looked troubled. “Can we really do this? What if the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigates…?”

“Don’t worry, I have my own plan. Unless the Embroidered Uniform Guard actually shows up nearby and sees Little Master Shu with their own eyes, no one will ever find out—except you four.”

Today’s lucky number is any number ending in 9, screenshot as proof.

(End of Chapter)