Chapter 999

Almost the instant the young man stood up, both inside and outside the examination hall, everyone was startled. Feng Hongde frowned, about to send someone to find out what was happening, when the young man rolled his eyes and collapsed with a thud.

Feng Hongde: …

He was angry, feeling this man had ruined his daughter’s chances, and immediately ordered: “Take him away!”

After a moment’s thought, he realized it would be too crude under so many eyes, so he changed his tone, face darkening: “Carry him out, and get him a physician.”

He swept his sleeve aside in displeasure: “It’s just a literary exam—this is enough to make him faint? How can I possibly rely on him to protect my daughter and expand my Feng family? Record his name—expel him!”

The steward bowed in acknowledgment.

The young man was carried away. Pan Yun exhaled in relief, raised her hand to wipe away nonexistent sweat from her forehead, easing her tension.

But it was precisely this gesture that caught Shen Shukang’s eye as he continuously weaved through the crowd searching for her—he quickly pushed aside those blocking his path and rushed forward.

The people jostled aside grumbled, about to speak, but Shen Shukang had already lunged straight for Pan Yun.

Pan Yun turned around; seeing it was Shen Shukang, she released the tension in her hand, instead lifting her palm to catch his arm and gently pull him to her side.

She apologized to those around her: “Sorry, sorry, my younger brother is uncouth.”

Shen Shukang’s face flushed red; he snapped back to awareness and gripped Pan Yun’s hand tightly, as if afraid she’d run off: “Miss Pan, come out with me—I need to speak with you.”

Pan Yun obediently followed him as they squeezed out of the crowd.

Shen Shukang asked anxiously: “Miss Pan, where’s the thing I gave you?”

Pan Yun: “What’s wrong?”

Shen Shukang nervously bit his lip and pleaded softly: “Can you give it back? It’s vital to our military colony—you wouldn’t tell Commander Feng, would you?”

“Shen Shukang!” Others from Shen Boxiu’s group also pushed through the crowd, spreading out to form an invisible circle around them.

Pan Yun glanced at them and smiled slightly—even though the military colony no longer trained rigorously, they were still stronger than ordinary civilians, at least in basic cooperation.

Shen Boxiu stared intently at Pan Yun and asked Shen Shukang: “Shen Shukang, is this the Miss Pan you mentioned?”

Shen Shukang nodded fiercely.

Shen Boxiu fixed his gaze on Pan Yun, stepped forward two paces, and lowered his voice: “Miss Pan—are you the State Preceptor?”

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow, scanned their faces, and saw the hidden hope and wariness in their eyes. After a moment’s thought, she nodded.

Shen Boxiu’s eyes lit up like fireworks—he could barely contain himself as he stepped closer: “State Preceptor, my lord, please save us!”

The others stared at her with equal intensity, their eyes nearly brimming with tears.

Pan Yun’s heart softened. She glanced at the examination hall, then turned: “Follow me.”

Walls have ears. Pan Yun led them to the street beside the wall. Seeing their exhaustion and hearing stomachs rumble, she sat at a small stall—coincidentally, the very one they’d eaten at when entering the city.

Pan Yun ordered noodles and fish balls for them, and two bowls for herself: “Eat first. Then we’ll talk.”

Everyone in the street had rushed to watch Feng’s matchmaker event; even mobile vendors had drifted toward the commotion, leaving half the street nearly empty.

Only their two tables were occupied, yet the stall owner was frantic—his two children carried cooked fish balls and noodles to the other side to sell.

Indeed, this method sold well, especially the fish balls, which were especially popular.

The parents worked tirelessly, heels nearly hitting their heads, their conversation sounding like constant bickering—no time to pay attention to what Pan Yun and the others were saying.

But Shen Boxiu dared not speak plainly, fearing eavesdroppers: “My lord—is this about investigating him?”

Pan Yun understood their fears. Feng Ban Cheng wasn’t called that for nothing—even the Prefect avoided his wrath, let alone ordinary military households like Shen Boxiu’s.

Their entire families, even the whole military colony’s lives, rested in Feng Hongde’s hands.

So Pan Yun nodded in agreement, avoiding naming Feng Hongde directly: “It’s already under investigation. Don’t worry.”

Shen Boxiu whispered: “Will those two items be used later—or immediately? If he finds out, what will happen to our colonies and households?”

Pan Yun reassured them: “Those are interrogation tools. By then, he’ll be powerless to harm you. At that point, you’ll need to come forward as witnesses—to pin him to the law.”

Shen Boxiu’s eyes brightened: “Can the law really punish him?”

Pan Yun: “Even a prince is subject to the law—how much more so a mere Battalion Commander?”

Shen Boxiu swallowed hard. Shen Shukang, anxious, whispered: “What if he’s not just a Battalion Commander?”

Shen Boxiu turned and glared at him.

Shen Shukang muttered low: “It’s true—we’ve reported him before. Censors came to investigate. If he had no backing, how could he always escape? Uncle Daide and others just… vanished quietly…”

Pan Yun’s gaze sharpened slightly. She spoke softly: “Rest assured—no matter who stands behind him, the Censorate will uncover it. I won’t let him go.”

Shen Shukang looked up, eyes fixed on her: “Really?”

Pan Yun nodded: “Really.”

Beside her, Shen Boxiu hesitated, then asked: “You say you’re the State Preceptor—what proof do you have?”

Pan Yun blinked. She’d never before been asked to prove her identity as State Preceptor—she rarely needed to invoke that title to validate anything.

After a moment’s thought, she clenched her fist and held it out among them.

All stared at her fist, wondering: What does this mean?

Just as they puzzled, Pan Yun opened her hand—a flame erupted instantly from her palm. Everyone recoiled backward in shock. Before they could react, the flame vanished in an instant, replaced by a translucent, blue-tinged water orb…

The men stared, wide-eyed, hearts pounding silently, mouths tightly shut to avoid drawing attention.

Shen Shukang and the others clamped hands over their mouths, eyes darting between her and the water.

Pan Yun smiled faintly, closed her palm—and the flame and water vanished. She whispered: “Actually, this is just a trick. But I have no other way to prove my identity.”

Shen Shukang was ecstatic—he thought this was more than enough. But Shen Boxiu disagreed.

He was older, and knew more.

Since the Great Ming appointed its first State Preceptor, Daoists and monks had multiplied. Outside them, even wandering cultivators claimed to be true practitioners—some genuine, but most frauds.

As Pan Yun said, fire in the palm and water condensation were strange, but in his experience, many con artists could do the same.

He needed her to do something only a true cultivator could.

He glanced around, then looked up at the sky, pointing directly: “Can you make that cloud drift over here?”

Pan Yun looked up, gave Shen Boxiu an approving glance, and praised him without hesitation: “Clever!”

She subtly formed a hand seal and whispered: “Wind, rise!”

A gentle breeze stirred, but the wind above grew stronger. The white cloud drifting north suddenly halted, twisted, and surged eastward—soon, it rolled and gathered directly above their heads.

Pan Yun glanced at the growing crowd, scanned the sun, estimated the time, and judged Xue Shao should be nearly finished. She smiled slightly: “I can make it rain.”

Shen Boxiu and the others’ eyes lit up: “Rain?” Pan Yun nodded, pointing to a nearby crowd: “Let it rain there.”

With swift finger movements, the cloud above them rolled toward the target, shrinking to half its size, turning pale gray.

Under Shen Boxiu and the others’ stunned stares, the darkened cloud hovered overhead, against a backdrop of brilliant sunshine—and fine rain began to fall, then grew heavier…

Suddenly, rain fell—only here. The crowd erupted into chaos, people scrambling away from under the cloud, shouting: “Sun rain! Sun rain! It’ll pass soon…”

Even if it passed quickly, no one wanted to stand under the cloud and get soaked.

Everyone who could run, ran.

Xue Shao had just submitted his exam paper. Feng Hongde was admiring it, barely halfway through, when rain suddenly fell—both the onlookers and the examination hall descended into chaos.

This was an open-air exam—their papers were getting soaked…

Some immediately shielded their papers with their bodies; others, cleverer, deliberately exposed their scrolls to the rain, then cried out: “Oh no! My paper’s soaked! My exam!”

What a genius.

Not only Feng Hongde, but even Feng’s daughter behind the screen was furious, pointing at the most obvious offenders: “Record their names—if they make it to the martial exam, tell Brother Tang to give them a beating!”

The senior maid bowed in response.

Seeing the chaos, Feng Hongde slammed his table and rose to organize—ordering all exam tables moved under cover.

In the confusion, candidates began comparing and copying answers.

Muddy water makes it easier to catch fish—so the candidates deliberately stirred things up further.

The canopy Feng Hongde had set up for shade now became a shelter—everyone rushed in, crowding together.

Xue Shao stood beside a pillar, glanced at the chaos, then looked up at the sky.

That cloud…

He glanced at the bright sun beyond the cloud, and couldn’t help laughing.

He shook his head, glanced back at Feng Hongde, trapped and surrounded, then lifted his robe and stepped calmly into the rain.

In just a few dozen steps, he walked out of the rain.

He stood in the sunlight, brushing off droplets. Xi Jin arrived with an umbrella, flustered, trying to hold it over him.

Xue Shao raised his hand to block the umbrella: “You’re like the county clerks—always one step late.”

Xi Jin: “Master, you’re an official too.”

Xue Shao glanced around: “Where’s Pan Yun?”

“I don’t know. Miss Pan hid in the crowd—I was watching you, so I couldn’t watch her.”

Xue Shao thought for a moment, then turned and walked in a random direction: “Let’s walk ahead and see.”

Not long after, he spotted Pan Yun sitting at a stall, surrounded by people.

The small stall was packed.

The rain had scattered the crowd; every stall now had customers.

By the time Xue Shao arrived, Pan Yun had won the full admiration of Shen Boxiu’s group—they looked at her as if she were a deity, more reverently than even their own mothers.

Seeing Xue Shao and Xi Jin approach, Pan Yun rose, placed copper coins on the stall: “We’re done. Pay up.”

She rose, leading the bewildered military households, and said to Xue Shao: “Let’s leave the city.”

Xue Shao nodded.

Pan Yun told Shen Boxiu and the others: “Go ahead. Wait for us outside the city.”

Shen Boxiu glanced at Xue Shao once, then nodded.

The State Preceptor had said they mustn’t let Feng Hongde know they met—so entering and leaving the city must be done separately.

Xue Shao waited until they were gone before asking, “Who are they?”

“Military householders from Chaozhou.”

Xue Shao’s heart stirred; he looked at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun nodded with a smile: “You thought of it too, didn’t you? A better guarantee than that uncle of yours.”

Xue Shao exhaled.

He left the city with Pan Yun.

Outside the city, communication became much easier.

Pan Yun introduced Xue Shao directly: “This is an Inspector of the Censorate, also the Circuit Inspector of Jiangnan—Xue Shao. His Majesty has ordered him to jointly inspect Fujian and Guangzhou.”

The military householders all turned to Xue Shao, but showed no excitement—only suspicion: “An inspector? Can an inspector who comes to Chaozhou even leave alive?”

Pan Yun smiled gently: “He’s different. I guarantee he will leave alive—and go wherever he wishes.”

The military householders instantly believed her, their eyes shining as they looked at Pan Yun.

Xue Shao: …

The overlooked Xue Shao cleared his throat, drawing their attention, then said: “I hold the maps and lists. I know you still have your petition. Until Feng Hongde is captured, act as if you know nothing, as if nothing happened. Carry on as before—your own safety comes first.”

He added: “When Feng Hongde is arrested, and I personally interrogate him, I hope you will appear with the military householders’ petition and testify. I guarantee your safety—and that no one will retaliate against you afterward.”

The military householders all looked at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun gave them a slight nod: “Inspector Xue is trustworthy.”

She paused, then said: “The court is investigating military affairs—embezzlement, ghost soldiers, and land seizures from military colonies. These investigations aim to ensure you receive what is rightfully yours, to let you live better and secure a brighter future. That’s why he makes this promise.”

Shen Boxiu solemnly said: “National Teacher, Inspector Xue, we believe in you.”

The other military householders also said: “We believe in you.”

They all pledged to safeguard what they held and come forward to testify once Feng Hongde was arrested.

They agreed on a final deadline; Pan Yun gave each of them a Peace Talisman and gave Shen Boxiu a Mountain God wooden statue, saying: “If danger arises, pray sincerely to this Mountain God statue. My master made it—so long as your heart is true, I will sense your thoughts.”

Shen Boxiu received it with both hands, holding it motionless, and said solemnly: “National Teacher, rest assured—we will protect the statue.”

Pan Yun said: “It’s not about protecting the statue—it’s about protecting yourselves.”

A group of young men, eyes glistening, nodded fiercely: “Don’t worry, we’ll protect ourselves—and the statue too.”