Pan Yun drew quite a few talismans and decided to take them down the mountain to sell. Besides talismans, she also dug out a number of books on physiognomy.
Sanqing Temple did not have many books on physiognomy, only two in all. The spirit realm, on the other hand, contained quite a bit of knowledge on the subject.
For the first eight years, Pan Yun had never worried about making a living, so she had never seriously studied physiognomy. But from Xuan Miao's experiences at Prince Zhou's Mansion, she came to a realization: physiognomy was even more profitable than alchemy and medicine.
Of course, she had also seen Tao Ji's role at Prince Zhou's Mansion. Though doctors were competitors, knowing a little alchemy and medicine and combining it with physiognomy would make even more money.
Besides, Sanqing Temple's greatest strength was alchemy.
Of their daily lessons, physiognomy and talismans each occupied one class. Everything else was devoted to alchemy and medicine.
Moreover, the Daoists permanently residing at the temple were Wang Fei Yin, Tao Ji, and Xuan Miao.
Xuan Miao spent long periods in seclusion and had yet to leave her retreat. Wang Fei Yin taught them only the most basic physiognomy and talismans, and so far, Pan Yun could draw every talisman he had taught.
Every few days, Tao Ji took Tao Yanbai down the mountain to practice medicine. Even when he stayed on the mountain, he was usually gathering herbs. Wang Fei Yin was still their teacher in alchemy and medicine.
Honestly, when she opened her eyes every day, it was Senior Brother; when she closed them, it was still Senior Brother.
No wonder Tao Ji said it made no difference whom one took as Master, because Wang Fei Yin taught them all anyway.
Pan Yun stirred and stirred, mixing her rice and dishes together so the rice seemed to have a little more flavor. She wolfed it down, then asked her daily question, "Has Fourth Senior Sister come out of seclusion yet?"
Miao Zhen said, "I pinched my fingers and calculated it. Fourth Martial Aunt will come out this afternoon."
Pan Yun said, "I'll go down the mountain with Fourth Senior Sister tomorrow."
Miao Zhen and Miao He turned together to look at First Martial Uncle, who was sitting some distance away facing the cliff.
It was obvious Junior Martial Uncle had not said that to them, but to First Martial Uncle.
Sure enough, First Martial Uncle, who had been eating intently, glanced at them and asked, "What are you going down the mountain for?"
"First, to collect letters. Second, to earn money for Master in His old age."
The first was nothing much; Tao Ji and the others going down the mountain could handle that for her. But the second...
The reason was too righteous. Wang Fei Yin could not find an excuse to refuse for the moment.
But then he thought it over. This child was unlike Miao Zhen and Miao He. She matured early, and the things she knew were all over the place. She could not be raised in the same way as Miao Zhen and Miao He. So he nodded. "All right, go ahead."
The moment Miao He heard that, she carried her bowl over and squeezed herself beside Wang Fei Yin. Looking at him eagerly, she said, "Martial Uncle, I want to go down the mountain too. I-I can show Junior Martial Uncle the way and keep her company."
Miao Zhen said nothing, but she also carried her bowl forward and looked eagerly at Wang Fei Yin alongside Miao He.
Wang Fei Yin: ...He knew it. Pan Yun's appearance was the greatest challenge to his teaching. One of the hardest problems under heaven was not fearing too little, but fearing unevenness.
Meeting the gazes of the two children, Wang Fei Yin gritted his teeth. "Fine. All of you can go."
Miao He and Miao Zhen cheered, then carried their bowls back to their places and happily crowded around Pan Yun as they ate.
Miao Zhen's calculation was very accurate. That afternoon, Xuan Miao truly emerged from seclusion.
She ate something, then bathed and changed clothes. Only after finishing the evening lessons did she learn that tomorrow she would be taking three children down the mountain.
Xuan Miao: ...
Wang Fei Yin said, "Master Qian of Yushan County is ill, and after prolonged treatment, he still hasn't recovered. Third Junior Brother took Yanbai to see him, and they won't return to the mountain for the next few days. So this matter can only be handed to you. Besides, the three children are grown now. Take them out to see the world."
Xuan Miao said, "I wasn't planning to go far, only to Dayuanwu Village."
Dayuanwu Village was the largest nearby village and the local township seat. On every fifth and tenth day of the month, there was a large market. Tomorrow was the tenth, so it happened to be market day.
There was an Express Post Station there, and all the letters in this area were sent there.
It would be good to bring Pan Yun along. This trip down the mountain was originally meant to collect the reply regarding her inquiries into the Pan Family Second Branch.
Going down the mountain meant getting up early. Before the hour of the Rabbit arrived, the three children were called awake. After a quick wash, they slung on the baskets they had packed the night before and headed down the mountain.
Xuan Miao had Pan Yun walk at the rear while she led the way at the front. She explained, "We are the elders, and our martial skills are better than theirs."
"I know. Cherish the juniors and protect the weak." Just like when she had gone up the mountain, Tao Ji and Xuan Miao had protected her in the middle.
The four of them went down the mountain with baskets on their backs.
Though Miao Zhen and Miao He were young, they had begun training in martial arts and cultivation long ago. Their skills were not much worse than Tao Yanbai's. The two often gathered herbs in the mountains as well, so as they traveled through the hills, their stamina was not inferior in the slightest to Pan Yun's, who had made progress in cultivation.
They followed Xuan Miao smoothly all the way to the foot of the mountain, moving at great speed.
When they came down the mountain, the sky was still dark. But people in the village were already awake. Xuan Miao led them through the settlement amid endless crowing chickens and barking dogs.
Someone poked their head out from a roadside home. Catching a hazy glimpse of Xuan Miao in the dim morning light, they hurriedly called, "daoist priest Xuan Miao, are you heading out?"
Xuan Miao answered, "I'm going to Dayuanwu Village for the market."
"Oh my, going so early?"
Xuan Miao gave another acknowledgment and swiftly led the three youngsters through the village.
Once the first morning light appeared, the sky brightened especially fast. In that brief while, they could already see the road beneath their feet clearly.
By the time they reached Dayuanwu Village, it was fully light.
Pan Yun had never been to Dayuanwu Village. She had not passed through here when she came before.
Like them, quite a few people had risen early to attend the market. By the time they entered the village, the market was already bustling, and a steady stream of people carrying shoulder poles came from all directions.
There were also many food stalls.
There were few shops here. The roads were flat dirt and grass, and anyone could claim a spot. So the food vendors had come before dawn to seize their places. At this moment, the steamers selling steamed buns and mantou were billowing with heat, and the fragrance of white flour kept burrowing into people's noses;
The soup at the noodle stalls had also come to a boil, and the vendors were working hard to knead dough;
There were even stalls specializing in flatbreads. At the larger ones, the braised meat was brought out and chopped right before customers' eyes, waiting for someone to come buy a meat flatbread.
Miao He could not move once she passed the meat flatbread stall.
Xuan Miao said, "Let's eat breakfast first."
She sat down at a noodle stall, then grabbed a handful of copper coins and gave them to Miao He. "The three of you go buy some other food."
Miao He happily agreed. She set down her basket, took Miao Zhen's hand with one hand and Pan Yun's with the other, and left.
She also shared her own little insight with Pan Yun. "I like going down the mountain with Master and Fourth Martial Aunt the most. Master has a soft heart; if we beg him a little, he'll take us lots of places. Fourth Martial Aunt is generous. No matter what we want to eat, she'll give us money."
"What about Senior Brother?" Pan Yun asked.
Miao He said, "First Martial Uncle is good too, but First Martial Uncle has no money."
Seeing Pan Yun's puzzled look, Miao Zhen explained, "First Martial Uncle has no fortune with money. As long as he has money in his hands, some accident will inevitably make him lose it."
"Really?" For some reason, Pan Yun felt faintly uneasy.
Cultivating the Dao, cultivating the Dao—in truth, it meant allowing people to draw infinitely closer to the Dao. Thus, Daoists placed particular faith in their feelings, believing them to be hints bestowed by the Heavenly Dao.
Pan Yun seized hold of that feeling, but could not figure out what it meant.
Until after they had eaten and drunk their fill, she set out the talismans she had folded beside Miao He and Miao Zhen's small stall.
Everyone passing by would glance at them, but only for a moment before walking on.
Meanwhile, quite a few bundles of herbs prepared by Miao He and Miao Zhen sold, and money kept coming in.
Pan Yun sat to one side, propping her chin on her hand as she watched them.
Miao He generously tried to give her half the money they had earned.
Pan Yun would not take money from two children. She pushed it back. "Does no one here buy talismans?"
Miao Zhen said, "They have no illness, no disaster, no ghosts, no monsters, no strange occurrences. Why would anyone spend money on talismans?"
Pan Yun looked toward the medicinal herbs they were selling. "Then these herbs..."
"They are all herbs that dispel toxins and clear heat. Taking them in summer refreshes the mind and prevents heatstroke," Miao Zhen said. "We sell them like this every summer. Even the pharmacies in Yushan County come to purchase herbs from us. The nearby villagers all know this, so they buy from us."
"And people from Mount Sanqing often come down the mountain to practice medicine. They all know our medical skills are good and our herbs are good," Miao He said. "Junior Martial Uncle, I don't think selling talismans will work for you. There are no demons, ghosts, or monsters around Mount Sanqing, so no one needs these things."
"Why are there no demons, ghosts, or monsters?" Pan Yun asked.
The two answered as though it were only natural, "Because we have the protection of the mountain god."
That was beyond Pan Yun's expectations.
In her past life, ghosts and monsters ran rampant, and talismans sold best.
Pan Yun's talismans were excellent. So long as she listed them online, they would sell out in no time. Yet here, she could not sell a single one!
Pan Yun raised her head and spread spiritual power over her eyes, using her innate talent to examine the people of this village. She discovered... there truly was not the faintest trace of black qi.
Even those living in hardship had not suffered some unexpected calamity. They were simply poor to begin with. Such people needed a talisman to strengthen the body, one that could lessen illness and physical harm caused by hardship. Even a Talisman for Good Luck would be useless.
Because this place was poor overall. No matter how good one's luck was, one could not walk outside and pick up silver. Besides, that sort of good fortune was built upon another person's misfortune. She had never drawn such talismans.
Her Talisman for Good Luck merely allowed people to avoid accidents tainted by misfortune; it could not make benefits appear from thin air.
But hardship itself was not an accident.
As for talismans, if they could not show an immediate effect, who would spend money to buy them?
Even if they did buy one, they would suspect it was fake. When they did not believe in it, the talisman's effects were halved.
Pan Yun silently put away her bundle of talismans. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have sold talismans here. I should go to a big city, such as Kaifeng Prefecture or Guangxin Prefecture."
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