Chapter 999

Almost the instant the young man stood up, a gasp rippled through the examination hall; 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 snapped: "Drag him away!"

After a moment's thought, he realized it would be too crude under so many eyes, so he glared and changed his tone: "Carry him out, send for 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 expect him to protect my daughter or expand my Feng family? Record his name—expel him!"

The steward bowed in assent.

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

But it was precisely this gesture that caught Shen Shukang's eye—he had been weaving through the crowd searching for her, and now he shoved past those blocking his path.

Those jostled by him grumbled, about to speak, but Shen Shukang had already lunged straight for Pan Yun.

Pan Yun turned; seeing it was Shen Shukang, she released the tension in her hand and instead caught his arm with an upward motion, pulling him firmly to her side.

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

Shen Shukang flushed, snapped back to himself, and gripped Pan Yun's hand tightly, as if afraid she'd vanish: "Miss Pan, come out with me—I need to speak with you."

Pan Yun obediently followed him through the crowd.

Shen Shukang asked anxiously: "Miss Pan, where's what I gave you?"

Pan Yun: "What's wrong?"

Shen Shukang bit his lip nervously, whispering imploringly: "Can you give it back? It's vital to our military colony—you wouldn't tell Commander Feng, would you?"

"Shukang!" Shen Boxiu and the others in the crowd also pushed through, spreading out to gather around her, forming an invisible circle without a word.

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

Shen Boxiu stared intently at Pan Yun and asked Shen Shukang: "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 arched an eyebrow, swept her gaze over their faces, saw the hidden hope and wariness in their eyes, and after a moment's thought, nodded.

Shen Boxiu's eyes lit up like fireworks; he nearly lunged forward: "State Preceptor, my lord, please save us!"

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

Pan Yun's heart softened; she glanced at the examination hall, then turned: "Follow me."

With eavesdroppers everywhere, 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 this half-street nearly empty.

Only their two tables were occupied, yet the stall owner was frantic—he had two children carrying cooked fish balls and noodles to sell at the other end.

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

The parents worked themselves to exhaustion, their voices constantly clashing like an argument; naturally, they had no attention to spare for Pan Yun and the others.

But Shen Boxiu dared not speak plainly, fearing eavesdroppers: "My lord—is he the one you're investigating?"

Pan Yun understood their caution; 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 his name: "I'm already investigating. Rest assured."

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 soothed: "Those are interrogation tools. By the time they're needed, 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 slightly: "Can the law really punish him?"

Pan Yun: "Even a prince is subject to the law—how much more so a mere Commandant?"

Shen Boxiu swallowed hard; Shen Shukang, anxious, whispered: "What if he's not just a Commandant?"

Shen Boxiu turned and glared at him.

Shen Shukang muttered under his breath: "It's true—we've reported him before, Censorate officials came to investigate, but every time he slipped away. If he had no backing, how could he keep evading justice? Uncle Dade and others just… vanished without a sound…"

Pan Yun's gaze sharpened slightly; she spoke softly: "Rest easy—no matter who stands behind him, the Censorate will uncover it. I won't let him go."

Shen Shukang looked up, eyes blazing: "Really?"

Pan Yun nodded: "Really."

Beside her, Shen Boxiu hesitated, then said: "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 the title to validate herself.

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

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

Just as they puzzled, Pan Yun opened her hand—a flame erupted violently from her palm. Everyone recoiled sharply; before they could react, the flame vanished instantly, replaced by a translucent blue sphere of water…

Their eyes widened; inside, they cried "Whoa!" again and again—but their mouths stayed tightly shut, afraid to make a sound and draw attention.

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

Pan Yun smiled faintly, closed her palm—and the fire and water vanished. She whispered: "Actually, this is just a trick. But I have no other way to prove who I am."

Shen Shukang was ecstatic—he thought this was more than enough. But Shen Boxiu wasn't convinced.

He was older, and knew more.

Since the Great Ming appointed its first State Preceptor, Daoist Priests and Monks had multiplied, along with wandering cultivators claiming 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 State Preceptor 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 light breeze passed, but the wind high above grew stronger; the white clouds drifting north suddenly halted, swirling eastward, and within moments rolled and gathered above the group.

Pan Yun glanced at the growing crowd, scanned the sun, estimated the time, and decided Xue Shao had likely finished writing—she smiled faintly. "I can make it rain."

Shen Boxiu and the others perked up: "Rain?" Pan Yun nodded, pointing to the crowd nearby. "Let it rain there."

With a flick of her fingers, the clouds above them rolled toward that spot, contracting tightly—white clouds halved in size, turning pale gray.

Under Shen Boxiu and the others' stunned gazes, dark clouds drifted overhead, and against the brilliant sunshine all around, fine rain began to fall—then the drops grew larger…

Rain suddenly poured down—only over this patch—and the crowd erupted into chaos, people sprinting away from beneath the dark clouds, shouting: "Sun rain, sun rain, it'll pass soon…"

Even if it passed quickly, no one wanted to stand under the dark clouds 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 grounds plunged into chaos.

This was an open-air exam; the papers got drenched…

Some immediately used their bodies to shield the rain, while others had a sudden idea—deliberately exposing their exam papers to the rain, then crying out beside them: "Oh no! My paper's soaked! My exam paper!"

What a brilliant mind.

Not even Feng Hongde could contain his fury—nor did the young lady behind the screen; she pointed at several especially conspicuous individuals: "Write down their names. If they make it to the martial trial stage, tell Brother Tang to give them a thorough beating!"

The senior maid bowed in agreement.

Seeing the examination grounds in disarray, Feng Hongde slammed his table and rose to organize—ordering all exam desks moved under shelters.

In the confusion, candidates exchanged and copied answers.

Muddy water made fishing easier, so the candidates deliberately stirred the chaos further.

The shelters Feng Hongde had set up were meant to block the sun—now they proved convenient; everyone rushed in en masse.

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

These dark clouds…

He glanced at the bright sunshine beyond the clouds and couldn't help laughing.

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

In just a few dozen steps, he stepped out of the rainy zone.

Standing in the sunlight, he brushed off the water droplets; Xi Jin arrived slowly with an umbrella, fumbling to hold it over him.

Xue Shao raised his hand to block the umbrella. "You're just like the county officials—always a step late."

Xi Jin: "Master, you're an official too."

Xue Shao looked around. "Where's Pan Yun?"

"I don't know. Miss Pan hid in the crowd—I had to keep watch on you, not her."

Xue Shao thought a moment, then turned and walked in any direction: "Let's keep walking."

Not long after, he spotted Pan Yun sitting at a stall amid a crowd.

The small stall was packed with people.

The rain had scattered the crowd, and every stall suddenly buzzed with life.

By the time Xue Shao arrived, Pan Yun had won the complete admiration of Shen Boxiu and the others; they gazed 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 a handful of copper coins on the stall counter, and said to the vendor: "We're done. Settle the bill."

She rose with 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 in agreement.

The State Master had said they must not let Feng Hongde know they met—so entering and leaving the city must be done separately.

Only after they left did Xue Shao ask: "Who are they?"

"Military households 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 far easier.

Pan Yun introduced Xue Shao directly: "This is a Censorate Censor, also the Jiangnan Inspector Censor, Xue Shao. The Emperor ordered him to jointly inspect Fujian and Guangzhou."

The military households turned to Xue Shao—but showed no excitement, only suspicion: "Censor? Can a Censor who comes to Chaozhou even survive to leave?"

Pan Yun smiled gently. "He's different. I guarantee he'll leave alive—and go wherever he pleases."

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

Xue Shao: …

The overlooked Xue Shao cleared his throat, drew their attention, and said: "The maps and lists are in my hands. I know you still hold your petition. Until Feng Hongde is arrested, pretend you know nothing, that nothing happened—live exactly as you did before. Your safety comes first."

He added: "When Feng Hongde is captured and I personally interrogate him, I hope you'll appear with the military households' petition and testify. I guarantee your safety—and that no one will retaliate against you afterward."

The military households turned to Pan Yun.

Pan Yun gave them a slight nod. "Censor Xue is trustworthy."

She paused, then added: "The imperial court is investigating military affairs—corruption, embezzlement of rations, and land seizures from military farms will all be thoroughly probed. This is to ensure you receive what you're owed, live better lives, and secure better futures. That's why he makes this promise."

Shen Boxiu solemnly said: "State Master, Censor Xue, we believe you."

The other military households echoed: "We believe you."

They pledged to safeguard what they held and emerge to testify once Feng Hongde was arrested.

The two sides agreed on a latest possible date, and Pan Yun gave each of them a peace talisman, and also gave Shen Boxiu a wooden statue of a Mountain God, saying, "If anything unexpected happens, if you run into danger, pray sincerely toward this Mountain God statue. This is my master—as long as you are sincere, I will be able to sense your consciousness."

Shen Boxiu received it with both hands, held it perfectly still, and said solemnly, "Rest assured, National Advisor. We will definitely protect the statue well."

Pan Yun said, "It's not about protecting the statue well—it's about protecting yourselves."

A group of young men, eyes brimming with tears, nodded hard: "Don't worry, we'll protect ourselves, and we'll protect the statue too."