Chapter 99: Experiment 1

This time, Pan Yun didn't spend the twenty taels; she saved them, and along the way, she was extremely careful.

And she, throughout the journey, encountered not a single misfortune.

She pondered deeply: 【Last time, those herbs weren't worth twenty taels—does that mean the more merit I accumulate, the more money I can hold onto?】

Black Cat: 【You could try it.】

Pan Yun stroked its head: 【I sent another fifty taels to my father and the others. If they're unharmed this time, I'll send a hundred more—I must find out whether my money affects them at all.】

【Once I've tested that, I'll try lending money to others and see how it affects both me and the borrower. If it affects neither… hehehe…】

Pan Yun smiled with a sly edge.

Pan Xiaohei couldn't help but sigh: 【You really can find a loophole in anything.】

【Nonsense, what loophole? I'm just living well within reason and law, pursuing a better life—what's wrong with that?】

Pan Yun visibly brightened, almost wanting to hug the cat and spin around three times in delight on the cart.

Wang Cong couldn't help turning to look at her again and again. "Little Auntie, what are you thinking about?"

"Money," Pan Yun paused, then sharply turned her head. "I just remembered something—if I borrow money to use, is that a debt, not a deposit?"

Wang Cong: "Huh?"

Pan Yun asked him: "Nephew, do you have any money? Lend me a hundred—no, five hundred taels."

Wang Cong frowned slightly, didn't ask why she needed it, and began pulling out his money pouch. "Little Auntie, I don't have that much on me…"

"Wait," Pan Yun grabbed his hand as he reached for the pouch. "Lend it to me after we get back to the mountain—don't lend it now."

Wang Cong put his money pouch away. "Oh."

Pan Yun was eager to begin, her desire to conduct the experiment reaching its peak.

Indeed, though she had been reincarnated for many years, her past life as a researcher's habits still lingered—conducting experiments gave her immense satisfaction, even when they failed.

After all, eliminating one wrong method brought her one step closer to success, didn't it?

Pan Yun mentally listed several experiments she wanted to try: for instance, borrowing money from Wang Cong and sending it to her father, to see if either she or her father would be affected;

Borrowing money from Wang Cong and giving it to others—observing how both she and the recipient were affected under each method.

The Dao was indifferent; only rules existed. So if she understood the rules, even if she couldn't hold large sums herself, she could still control vast amounts of money.

As soon as they returned to the Daoist temple, Pan Yun reached out to Wang Cong.

Wang Cong hadn't even had time to organize the books he brought back before he went inside to fetch the money for her.

Wang Feiyin saw the stack of silver notes and leapt back ten paces, shouting: "What are you two doing?"

Pan Yun snatched the silver notes, counted them, then slapped them against her palm, glancing at Wang Feiyin with disdain. "Big Brother, what are you afraid of? It's not for you—it's mine."

Wang Feiyin stepped forward two paces, staring incredulously at his son. "Wang Cong, have you lost your mind? Or did Little Auntie stick some new talisman on you and made you stupid?"

Wang Cong: "Father, this is what Little Auntie borrowed."

Pan Yun: "Yes, I borrowed it—I'll pay it back."

Wang Feiyin touched his chest. "How much money have you earned this year?"

Wang Cong grinned. "After paying the clerks and staff, about seven hundred and fifty taels."

"How much is this stack?"

Wang Cong: "Five hundred taels."

"Five hundred taels!" Wang Feiyin's voice rose shrilly. "More than half your earnings just lent away? You wastrel! Don't you know she can't hold onto money? How are we supposed to survive at the Three Pure Ones Temple now?"

"Big Brother, I think you're wrong—why should all the burden of supporting the family fall on Big Nephew? We…"

"Shut up. You're also a beneficiary—everything you eat, use, and spend on medicinal baths comes from his earnings."

Pan Yun: "So I never blame Big Nephew—he's just lending out his own money. He can lend if he wants—what's wrong with that?"

Wang Cong remained silent.

Wang Feiyin began scanning the room for bamboo rods. "Where's my bamboo rod? Where is it?"

Master Xuanmiao immediately handed him one.

Wang Feiyin snatched the rod and swung it at Pan Yun, who spun and ran.

Pan Yun darted out like a snake, slipping through the corner, her toes tapping the air mid-leap, soaring higher and higher until she vanished into the forest.

Wang Feiyin chased after her, whipping the rod through the air with a crack—swinging several times without hitting her, growing more frantic with each step.

Wang Cong and the others rushed out of the main hall and stood before the temple gate, watching Wang Feiyin chase Pan Yun all over the mountain.

Wang Cong's eyes gleamed with awe. "Little Auntie's Wu Gong is astonishingly powerful."

Miao He was thrilled, cheering Pan Yun on: "Little Auntie, run faster—run!"

Seeing Miao Zhen clenched her fists tightly.

Master Xuanmiao's gaze never left Pan Yun. Seeing her circle the mountain peak twice, and noting that aside from being lightly struck twice on the buttocks by Wang Feiyin—due to her insufficient cultivation—she suffered no other mishaps, she called out: "Big Brother, that's enough."

Pan Yun landed gracefully, spun lightly, and hid behind Master Xuanmiao. Wang Feiyin reluctantly lowered his rod.

He tossed the bamboo rod to Miao He. "I've tried this method—it works in emergencies, but if money stays in your hands too long—even borrowed—it starts bringing misfortune." Pan Yun stepped out from behind Master Xuanmiao. "Have you ever tried lending money to others?"

"Lending?" Wang Feiyin snorted. "Do I look like someone who lends money?"

Pan Yun: "Earn it—earn it, then lend it right away. That's how you test it."

Wang Feiyin was speechless.

Master Xuanmiao said: "Big Brother never tried this experiment. You should."

Pan Yun smiled sweetly. "Fourth Sister, I'll lend you some money in a few days?"

Master Xuanmiao: "You lend, I'll take."

Only then did Wang Cong realize: Pan Yun was running experiments.

Pan Yun stored the five hundred taels she borrowed inside her Spirit Realm, ensuring they couldn't fall out even if they wanted to.

With the money secured, the rest would be left to fate.

!.

The rice at the Daoist observatory had been dried sufficiently; Wang Cong led them down the mountain to carry the dried rice back up.

The shrine to the mountain god had begun construction; fortunately, Wang Cong had returned and could go down to assist and supervise, so Pan Yun and the other younger ones no longer needed to descend the mountain constantly.

They attended classes, cultivated, pounded rice, and planted and harvested vegetables.

Winter on Mount Sanqing was bitterly cold, with snow falling on the mountain, so the observatory had underground cellars where vegetables for winter storage had to be prepared in advance.

Cabbage and radishes could be stored in the cellar for a time, but it was far from enough, so they had to dry vegetables and pickle them.

Pan Yun learned for the first time that her fourth sister, who appeared so ethereal and Daoist, could pickle vegetables.

According to Miao and Seeing Miao Zhen, her pickled vegetables were quite tasty.

Master Xuanmiao taught them how to dry and pickle vegetables while giving them lessons: "The essence within food is like the medicinal power of herbs—it can provide energy to the body and transform into Yuan Qi within."

"Therefore, the cultivation methods of the Alchemical Path, besides sitting meditation, also include eating."

Master Xuanmiao said calmly: "Pills, vegetables, birds, beasts—anything edible can provide essence and Yuan Qi to the body, and all can be used for cultivation."

"Among these, plants grown naturally from earth and heaven are best; thus, herbs and vegetables always rank first—they are the finest and most delicious ingredients."

"Next are herbivorous animals; they are inferior, but still provide essence and blood-nourishing High-quality items, though they also generate considerable turbid qi within the body."

"The lowest rank are carnivorous animals; they provide little essence, generate heavy turbid qi, and are the worst of all food sources."

Pan Yun: "Like tigers, wolves, and leopards?"

Master Xuanmiao nodded: "Their meat and blood are unpalatable—you should know that…"

Pan Yun shook her head directly: "I don't know. I've never eaten any."

Master Xuanmiao glanced at her and said: "If you're curious, I can take you to hunt a tiger next time."

Pan Yun shook her head rapidly: "No, no, no—better not accumulate karma."

Even in the 26th century, tigers had mutated and become extraordinarily fierce, yet remained rare, making them still a rare species.

Miao He, though drooling, nodded: "Boundless Heavenly Venerable of Salvation—killing a tiger just to find out if its meat tastes good would be too much karma. But if someone urgently needed tiger meat for medicine, I'd try a small piece."

Master Xuanmiao shook her head: "The medicinal value of tigers is not nearly as great as their price suggests. Other herbs can fully replace all their medicinal uses—it's merely that the wealthy, drawn to their rarity, have inflated their value."

"The only true justification for killing them is when they threaten human lives. Since you don't wish to accumulate karma, if you ever see one, just keep your distance."

Pan Yun rolled her eyes, curiously asking: "Fourth sister, are there demons in The world beyond?"

Master Xuanmiao glanced at her and said: "The world holds wonders beyond imagining. Just because you haven't seen them doesn't mean they don't exist."

That meant they did exist.

"Have you ever seen one, Fourth Sister?"

Master Xuanmiao: "Why are you asking this?"

"I'm just curious—if we encounter demons outside, shouldn't we subdue them and expel evil?"

Master Xuanmiao: "If they haven't harmed you or anyone, why would you go after them?"

"Don't emulate those Daoist Priests from Long Hushan," she said. "This world is not solely humanity's. Under the Dao, countless species live. Follow the natural Way—let things unfold as they should."

Seeing Miao Zhen: "But what if a demon harms people?"

"Then, as a member of the human race, you must save your fellow beings—subdue demons and expel evil," Master Xuanmiao said. "At that moment, you may join the Daoist Priests of Long Hushan."

"Sister, how many demons have you slain?" Pan Yun gazed at Master Xuanmiao with bright eyes.

Master Xuanmiao: "Don't ask about such things. You may never encounter one in your lifetime—and I hope you never do."

"Ah, whether we meet them or not is another matter—but if you tell us, we'll be prepared. We can't wait until we're attacked to learn—what if we're the ones devoured?"

Miao and Seeing Miao Zhen nodded eagerly, their eyes shining brightly at her.

Tail number 1

(End of Chapter)