Chapter 98: I Have Fortune

Ming's county magistrate's handwriting was utterly unreadable.

Wang Cong had expected this; his expression barely changed, and he nodded, saying, "A slight improvement from last time."

Pan Yun couldn't help sighing inwardly: 【My senior disciple isn't having an easy time—his handwriting is even worse than my second brother's.】

The black cat poked its head out from Pan Yun's arms and silently mocked him.

Ming Xuan didn't notice, and Wang Cong's approval boosted his confidence: "I now practice calligraphy for half an hour every morning."

Lady Ming entered with tea and smiled: "Yes, our lord is working very hard now."

But Wang Cong merely smiled—he knew it was absurd to think Ming Xuan truly practiced so diligently; if he really spent half an hour daily on calligraphy, he could never write so poorly.

At dinner, Pan Yun whispered to Wang Cong: "Senior disciple, perhaps next time you could give him a calligraphy copybook."

Wang Cong lowered his voice: "Useless—I've given him several already. Now I think keeping them with him is a waste; I'm tempted to take them back for Seeing Miao Zhen and the others to practice with."

Ming Xuan helped set the chopsticks and asked, "What are you two discussing?"

"Oh, we're talking about books," Wang Cong said. "My father said the children in the temple have grown up and should study the classics, histories, philosophers, and anthologies, so he sent me down the mountain to buy more books."

He added: "Other books are fine, but the Great Ming Code is hard to find—I was just about to ask if Zi Bi has any extras."

Ming Xuan's courtesy name was Zi Bi; since he wasn't in the front office, Wang Cong no longer called him "County Magistrate" but used his courtesy name directly.

"I do—I still have the Great Proclamation. Do you want it?"

"Yes yes yes," Wang Cong hurriedly said. "I'll take as many as you have—I know our temple has many people; one or two copies won't be enough."

"You think it's cabbage, that you can have as many as you want," Ming Xuan said. "The copies I have of the Great Ming Code and the Great Proclamation were issued by the imperial court or given by colleagues. I'll check my study later and see how many sets I can find—you can take them all."

Wang Cong smiled and agreed, then began chatting with him about his journey.

Pan Yun sat quietly beside them, eating without speaking, fully adhering to the rule of silence at meals.

Seeing how well-behaved she was, Lady Ming gave her several bites of food and asked gently, "You're so young—why did you become a Daoist Priest?"

Pan Yun said: "My senior brothers and sisters say I have a natural talent for cultivation."

Lady Ming asked: "What about your parents and family? Did they allow you to leave home?"

Pan Yun lowered her head, dejected: "My mother died. My father… I was sold into slavery, and I happened to meet my senior brothers and sisters."

Lady Ming was filled with pity: "Now that you're here in Yushan County, forget your past. I can see your senior brothers and sisters treat you very well."

"You're already the temple attendant—you'll have a future. Even if you fail the ordination exam when you grow up, you can still settle in the Fen River villages and live as a temple attendant."

Temple attendants had extra income—not only could they take on side jobs related to the mountain god temple, but they could also claim a share of the offerings made by villagers to the temple.

So she had already secured a foothold in this world.

Lady Ming felt the Three Pure Ones Temple truly treated this little girl well.

Pan Yun nodded with a smile and confidently said: "But I will pass the ordination exam."

"Oh? You're so confident?" Ming Xuan laughed. "Do you know how hard the ordination exam is now?"

Pan Yun was utterly confident: "No matter how hard it is, I will pass."

In her past life, she had studied Daoist methods for years; even if the Daoist methods of these two worlds differed somewhat, she could still learn faster and more efficiently—she refused to believe she couldn't pass.

Ming Xuan clapped his hands and laughed: "That confidence is good—it has my style. How about this: next year, go take the exam with Wang Cong. If you pass, I'll grant you the same benefits as a scholar-pass candidate."

Pan Yun turned to Wang Cong: "Take the ordination exam next year?"

"Yes," Wang Cong said. "The ordination exam is in June next year, so after this trip, I won't travel far—I'll only do business nearby and go to Guangxin Prefecture for the exam."

Hearing the confirmed news, Ming Xuan sighed again: "With your talent, you're going to take the ordination exam? What a waste. Have you truly considered taking the imperial civil service exam instead?"

Wang Cong shook his head.

"Fine, I won't pressure you."

Though he said he wouldn't pressure him, when he went to his study to find the Great Ming Code and the Great Proclamation, he also dug out extra classics, histories, philosophers, and anthologies, along with his own old study notes, and shoved them into Wang Cong's arms: "These are all the materials I used for the imperial exams. Some of the essays are outdated, but the analyses of the classics and histories aren't—read them carefully. If you fail the ordination exam next year, come back and take the civil service exam."

Wang Cong laughed and scolded: "Stop being a crow of ill omen—I've studied Dao since childhood; how could I possibly fail?"

There were too many books—they filled an entire chest, and finally, servants had to carry them onto the cart.

Wang Cong bowed to Ming Xuan: "I'll be off now—we'll meet again another day."

Ming Xuan returned the bow and watched them climb onto the mule cart, sighing: "It's all his father's fault."

Lady Ming had quietly walked to his side and said: "A thousand gold pieces can't buy inner contentment. I see Master Wang is truly happy—why force him against his will?"

"You don't understand—outside the civil service exams, everything is a dead end."

"I think you've gone mad. Studying is good—why must it be through the civil service exams?" Lady Ming said. "If not for our family's wealth, your salary as county magistrate wouldn't even feed us properly."

"Nonsense. Our ancestors calculated officials' salaries precisely—there's no way we'd go hungry, even if the food isn't top quality."

"That's right. Tomorrow, no meat for you. For the next month, no tea, no wine." Lady Ming turned and walked away.

Ming Xuan's mouth hung open; he hurried after her, apologizing: "Lady, I'm sorry! I didn't mean it—I know most of our money comes from you. Thanks to your management, our household survives…"

Ming Xuan went to soothe his wife, while Wang Cong soothed Pan Yun: "Little junior aunt, are you bored? I'll take you for a stroll later?"

Pan Yun wasn't really a child—she refused outright: "Go to the Qian household."

Last time, she sold twenty talismans to the Qian family and spent all the money in one day. Fifty taels were still sent to Datong; one hundred and fifty taels repaid her debts to Tao Ji and Wang Feiyin; the rest went to the temple's account for mountain god temple repairs.

True enough, after spending all the money, she didn't suffer misfortune—instead, these past two days, she'd been unusually lucky. She sensed faintly that her fortune was improving—or rather, that she was becoming less unlucky.

Though the change was subtle, she felt it.

Wang Cong knew she was going to sell talismans to the Qian family and hurriedly said: "Little junior aunt, I've made a good profit from this business trip—if there's a shortfall for building the mountain god temple, I can cover it."

"Didn't you just say only you and your father can fund the mountain god temple?"

Wang Cong: "That's what my father said—but I think the money I earn will eventually go to the temple anyway. The temple is my father's, so if I pay for it, it's still his money—doesn't that count?"

Seeing him treat money like dirt, Pan Yun sighed deeply and patted his shoulder: "Good nephew, you're truly burdened—such a large temple rests on your shoulders…"

"I'm not burdened," Wang Cong said matter-of-factly. "After Father passes, the temple will be mine. Isn't it natural for me to maintain it now?" The temple was his family home—what was wrong with supporting it?

Pan Yun paused, then said: "But we might all scatter eventually. I heard Third Senior Brother's medical income doesn't even cover his alchemy costs—the entire temple's expenses rely on you. Everything we eat, wear, use, and spend on medicinal baths depends on you."

Wang Cong laughed at her adult-like worry, reached out, and patted her head: "Little junior aunt, you're still young. Don't worry about these troubles. We're family—supporting each other is only natural."

"You don't need to fear spending money—I have no other talents, but I can still earn enough to support you all," Wang Cong said gently. "Just focus on cultivating with Miao Zhen and Miao He, and don't worry about anything else."

He paused, then added: "Besides, your fortune in wealth is poor—you shouldn't trouble yourself with such matters, lest it disturb your Dao heart."

Pan Yun's voice rose sharply: "My fortune in wealth is poor?"

She snorted, defiant: "I can't hold onto money, but that's not because my fortune is poor—I'm excellent at earning and lucky too."

Wang Cong merely smiled.

Seeing he didn't believe her, Pan Yun pointed ahead: "Go to the Qian family—right now, go to the Qian family!"

Pan Yun had originally only wanted to visit the Qian family to strengthen ties with Master Qian and his son, since she couldn't keep money anyway and had no major expenses. Also, the consumption of talismans required a long cycle, so she hadn't planned to sell any this time.

!. Read

But now she had changed her mind.

Pan Yun pulled out her large money pouch, unfastened it, moved her hand inside the cloth bag, and the talismans stored in her spiritual realm appeared in her palm. She took them all out, selecting one by one.

She wanted to pick a fascinating, unique talisman for Master Qian.

Pan Yun quickly chose a Strength Talisman, folded it, then stuffed all the others back into her large money pouch and hung it at her waist.

Wang Cong watched, curious: "What kind of talisman is this? I've never seen one like it."

"Of course you haven't—it's a new talisman I drew. Only I can draw it. It's called the Strength Talisman. When activated, it grants immense strength, boosting power in work and combat."

Wang Cong frowned: "Such a talisman exists? Where does the strength of the Strength Talisman come from?"

Pan Yun said: "We always assumed the strength came from the body—like concentrating one's Yuan energy briefly in one place. That's why users often suffered muscle soreness and fatigue afterward. But now I know: the strength of the Strength Talisman is borrowed from the immortals."

"This talisman I've drawn now borrows power from the Queen of the Earth," Pan Yun said. "After many trials, I found borrowing from the Queen of the Earth is the most effortless and yields the greatest strength boost. I believe it's because the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is closer to the Queen of the Earth. When the talisman activates, it directly captures ambient spiritual energy and converts it into Yuan energy, bypassing the Upper Dantian entirely."

The Strength Talisman was a basic talisman from her past life, always causing soreness and weakness as a side effect.

She and everyone in her past life never thought anything was wrong with it—until she came to this world.

Only then did she realize talismans could be used so comfortably, so smoothly.

She learned that drawing talismans wasn't just about communicating with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and borrowing cosmic rules—it was also about forming a cooperative relationship with the will of the gods.

When all three are united, the talismans drawn are stronger, the user expends less effort, and the effect is smoother.

Only heaven knew how happy she was studying these talismans on the mountain.

Sigh, worldly affairs are such a nuisance. Once the Mountain God Temple is built, she would definitely cultivate hard and stay on the mountain for two months.

At the Qian family, Master Qian welcomed her as warmly as ever.

He didn't think twice about Pan Yun's recommendation—he closed his eyes and activated it immediately.

Seeing only one talisman, he sighed regretfully: "Little Immortal, why did you draw only one this time? Are you unwell?"

"Your humble Daoist is in perfect health—just deeply absorbed in cultivation, with no spare time to draw talismans."

Wang Cong couldn't help turning to look at her—he'd seen her just now pull out a large handful of talismans, all glowing with spiritual light, clearly already drawn.

Pan Yun wanted to maintain the relationship, but didn't want to pluck every last feather from the fat sheep. Earning money should be a steady trickle.

Pan Yun earned twenty taels and chatted with Master Qian for a while, only taking her leave once he'd finished talking.

This time, Master Qian gave her two silver ingots—pale, large, and beautiful.

Pan Yun held one in each hand, sat on the carriage, and showed Wang Cong: "See? I told you earning money isn't hard."

Wang Cong didn't understand: "Why? My father and Fourth Master also draw talismans—why can't they sell them in Yushan County?"

Pan Yun: "Because they never sold them? I've never seen them sell talismans—not even draw them, except during lessons."

Wang Cong turned to look at her: "Little Master, you're too naive. My father and Fourth Master don't draw talismans because, outside ritual duties, their talismans are practically useless."

"Why?" Pan Yun didn't understand. "I think their talismans look fine."

Wang Cong spread his hands: "Perhaps it's simply because they lack fortune in wealth."

Pan Yun leaned close to Wang Cong and whispered: "Big nephew, do you know why everyone on Mount Sanqing has such poor fortune in wealth?"

Wang Cong: "Probably because of the Mountain God's influence—but only affecting your generation. My younger brothers, sisters, and I aren't much affected."

"Do you know the origin of the Mountain God, Pan Gong?"

Wang Cong shook his head: "No. Even my father never dared ask the Mountain God. But…"

He glanced around, lowered his voice: "My father secretly researched ancient texts and suspects He took part in the Divine War—and may have chosen the wrong side."

Pan Yun's eyes widened. She whispered: "True or false?"

"I don't know if it's true. My father only suspects it—and told only me. Little Master, don't tell anyone."

Pan Yun nodded: "I won't tell. So which side did He take?"

"Maybe related to demons—or a god who favored demons. Isn't the Mountain God a bird with a rooster's head and crane's body? As a demon god, He naturally sided with the demons."

Pan Yun turned to look at him.

Wang Cong felt uneasy under her gaze: "What's wrong?"

Pan Yun patted his shoulder: "Big nephew, rumors aren't trustworthy. Who said the Mountain God has a rooster's head and crane's body? He's clearly just a crane—a beautiful crane. Go ask your father if you don't believe me."

Wang Cong: "…Did Little Master actually see the Mountain God?"

Pan Yun beamed proudly: "Of course I have—more than once."

Today's lucky number ends in 9—screenshot as proof

(End of Chapter)