After Pan Heng learned that Pan Chun and Zhu He survived an encounter with a shanxiao, he didn't give Zhu He an earful. Oh no, he left that to Zhu He's parents. He was also sure that the scathing glare he sent Zhu He made his displeasure clear enough. His main focus was treating Pan Chun's wounds.
As Pan Heng transferred spiritual energy to Pan Chun, she informed him that there was still a raging fire in the forest that needed to be extinguished.
Fortunately, the flames hadn't erupted into a full-blown forest fire. The villagers carried buckets of water from the nearby rivers while Pan Heng used cultivation spells to put the fire out.
Meanwhile, Pan Chun, who was too injured to help, rested back home to treat her wounds and regenerate her spiritual energy.
The crisis was averted with no casualties.
And so, Xuhou was full of good spirit.
As for Pan Chun, the day of her parting was approaching...
"My courtesy name?"
"Yes." Pan Heng showed Pan Chun the characters written on the sheet. "It took me a couple of years to think of a good courtesy name for you."
Pan Chun read each character aloud carefully.
"Wu…" - 务 - That either meant "military", "martial", or "affairs" depending on the character written and its context. In this case, Pan Heng had chosen 务 (wù) meaning "affairs" or "business".
"...Kun." - 坤 - That meant "earth". But it could also mean "female". - Oh haha. Pan Heng couldn't resist sneaking that in, could he?
Wùkūn - 务坤 -
"Wukun."
Wukun?...Earthly affairs? Ohohohoho no. She was not getting involved in any earthly affairs. Those basically entailed the cultivators' blood feuds!
And with the upcoming Sunshot Campaign - "That is no good" (Thanks, Sonic).
Pan Chun looked back up at Pan Heng. "Why 'Wukun'?"
"The cultivation world is perilous. The courtesy name 'Wukun' is meant to help you make your way in this world. So you have a clue of what you're doing in this foreign land. The name is not meant to get you involved in earthly affairs, but rather, it's for you to be aware and avoid them."
Oh, you have no idea just how much I know, Pan Chun thought. Oh right, she still didn't know if she could tell Pan Heng everything she knew about the future. Damn her indecisive ass...She'll think more on it later.
She appreciated the thought Pan Heng put into her courtesy name, though. Avoiding any worldly catastrophes and wars was a must. "Now that you've explained why, 'Wukun' does sound like a great courtesy name to have."
Pan Heng nodded. "That settles it then, 'Wukun' is your courtesy name."
To the world, she was Pan Wukun now.
…
…
...
Was that sniffling she was hearing? "A-ge...are you crying?"
"What?! N-No!" Pan Heng turned his back to the newly named Pan Wukun, wiping his eyes with his arm. "My eyes are dry and sore from looking at countless characters to choose your courtesy name! I'm just tired, that's all!"
Pan Wukun smiled. "All right, I'll leave you alone, I need some fresh air anyway."
She left the house and stared up at the sky.
"Pan Wukun. Pan Wukun." She smiled as she repeated her new courtesy name. "It's got a nice ring to it."
Pan Wukun strolled through Xuhou, taking in the sights and people.
The reeds swayed in the wind. Kids ran and played in the fields. Customers fought with vendors over prices in the busy marketplace. Same as always.
She was leaving early tomorrow morning. It was time to say her goodbyes.
Pan Wukun walked up to Peng Jiu's noodle restaurant. "One house special, please."
"Ah, xiao-Chun! Welcome!" Peng Jiu set about making her order.
"Oh! It's 'Wukun' now!"
Peng Jiu grinned. "Ah. So xiao-Chun is now the all-grown-up Pan Wukun! My, how time flies!" He shaped some noodle flour with his hands. "So you are to leave Xuhou tomorrow, yes?"
"That's right, Peng-ge."
Peng Jiu laughed heartily. "It shall be a great adventure, exploring the wider world out there!" His laughter trailed off as he sighed wistfully. "Ah. It's a dream of mine, to have my noodles shared around the world. But travel is far too dangerous for me. " He smiled softly. "I am content serving noodles here, seeing the smiles on my customers' faces. I enjoy cheering people up with a good meal, especially after they've had a hard day."
"I'll be certain to recommend Peng-ge's noodles on my travels."
"Oh no! That would be too troublesome for you to do!" Peng Jiu protested.
Pan Wukun shook her head. "No trouble at all. Your cooking is delicious and should be shared with as many people as possible!" She smiled at Peng Jiu. "You have also shown me great kindness ever since I first came here. It's the least I could do."
"Ah...well...if that is what you wish to do…" Peng Jiu knew that Pan Wukun was going to do so no matter what he said. "Thank you, Pan Wukun."
"No. Thank you, Peng-ge, for your delicious cooking. Your noodles bring me great comfort." Peng Jiu's noodles helped with the homesickness. She'd eaten noodles with her parents all the time back home...
Leaving Xuhou, she wouldn't be eating Peng Jiu's noodles for a long while. And if she went back home, never again…
Peng Jiu's laughter broke Pan Wukun's line of thought as he set a bowl of noodles before her. "Eat up! Tomorrow's an important day!"
Pan Wukun inhaled the aromas of the broth and noodle seasonings. She picked up her chopsticks and graciously slurped the noodles.
If she was never to eat Peng Jiu's noodles again - meaning she would never see him again either - then she would treasure this taste, this place, and Peng Jiu in her fondest memories.
Pan Wukun walked leisurely along the farmland. She crouched down to inspect her little patch of crops. They were ripe for harvesting.
"Pan Chun! Hey, Pan Chun!" A group of farmers waved at Pan Wukun. She waved back in greeting.
"Could you help us get some fruits down from that tree over there?" The farmers clasped their hands together. "Help us out one last time before you go?"
Pan Wukun nodded and walked over to the tree. She delivered a swift punch, knocking the fruits down to the ground.
The farmers gathered the fruits into their sacks. "It's so much easier having you help us out. With you, we get double the work done! We're gonna miss it!" They playfully smacked her back. "And we'll miss you too, of course!"
The farmers stuffed some of the fruits into a separate sack from theirs, handing it to Pan Wukun. "Here. Take some fruits for your journey."
"Thanks." Pan Wukun carried the sack over her shoulder.
"You're going to pay Blossom a visit too, right?" one farmer asked.
"Yes, I'm going to see Blossom and her family."
"Don't worry, we'll take good care of Blossom and her family while you're gone!" another farmer said.
"Thank you. I trust their well-being in your hands. Oh. And I better not hear any word of the butcher taking a single step towards them."
The farmers, catching the change in Pan Wukun's demeanor, nodded their heads vigorously. "Yes! Yes! Of course! We, as well as the butcher, know this!"
"Good." As Pan Wukun walked away, she shouted back to the farmers, "I have a courtesy name now! It's 'Wukun'!"
The farmers laughed. "Wukun? Wow, he's gotten that old? He's grown up so fast!"
Pan Wukun headed over to the barn that housed Blossom and the other oxen. She knocked on the wooden fence and whistled. "Blossom? A-Chun! - uh - it's 'Wukun' now, is here!"
A "moo" answered her. Pan Wukun opened the fence to enter the enclosure and pet Blossom's head. "Hello, Blossom. Are you doing well?"
A high-pitched "moo" came from behind Blossom. A calf cautiously peeked his head out from behind Blossom. Blossom gently nuzzled her calf's head telling him to go greet Pan Wukun.
The calf's father stood nearby, peacefully chewing on a pile of hay. - It was Pan Wukun, so the father knew that his family was in no danger.
The calf walked over to Pan Wukun, his legs wobbling as they were not fully developed yet. Blossom gently nudged her calf forward, making sure that he didn't fall.
Pan Wukun crouched down and laid her hand on the calf's head. The calf blinked up at her in curiosity. He stared at her for a few moments before nuzzling his head into her hand.
Pan Wukun's heart melted. - Small animals - soft and cute. Must protect at all costs.
She used her other hand to pet Blossom's head. "I've come to tell you that I'll be leaving soon."
Her smile dropped. "You won't be seeing me for a long time." - And probably never again...
Blossom licked Pan Wukun's face. The calf and father followed. Soon all of them were licking her face.
Pan Wukun laughed, giving the oxen hugs. "Yeah. I'll miss you too."
"No! No! This isn't enough! Pan Wukun needs more food for his travels!"
The village women fussed over Pan Wukun, stuffing more buns and homemade meals into her pack.
Pan Wukun, familiar with the ways of mothers, aunties, and grannies, didn't protest and stepped back.
Pan Wukun's cloth sack grew bulky and heavy as the village women piled more and more food into it.
(Wow. All that food was going to feed her for weeks. Rice, of course. Century eggs. Beef. Pork… - Wait. Meat? That was usually reserved for sale to the wealthy in other villages and cities. They really wanted her to eat well…)
Once the village women were satisfied with the amount of food they gathered, Pan Wukun's pack was close to bursting…
(Good thing farming and martial arts enhanced her strength.)
A village elder, Cai Jinghua approached Pan Wukun. "Pan Wukun, may I speak with you in my home?"
Pan Wukun agreed and followed Cai Jinghua into her house. She sat at a table, across from Cai Jinghua and another elderly woman, Huo Zan.
Some days, whenever Pan Wukun passed by their home, Cai Jinghua and Huo Zan invited her inside their home for tea. She would talk about her troubles, daily happenings, training, farming, and life. Cai Jinghua and Huo Zan would impart upon her their elderly wisdom.
("If a man dares to touch you without consent, be certain to kick him in his-")
("A-Hua!")
"So," A twinkle appeared in Cai Jinghua's eyes, "does the cotton dudou feel more comfortable than layers of cloth?"
Pan Wukun blinked, her mouth dropping open in surprise. "Wait. You knew? You knew this whole time?"
"It wasn't too hard to put the pieces together when you asked for help about your menstrual period. How else would you have known about it unless you were a woman yourself?" Cai Jinghua took a sip of tea. "Especially if the only other person you live with is Pan Heng."
Pan Wukun sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. "Hah...I see." Then she asked, "So why wasn't it revealed to everyone else that I was actually a woman?"
"Only the elderly women in the village are aware that you are a woman. You have your reasons for hiding it and we shall respect that. As for the young ones…" Cai Jinghua tapped a finger to her cheek, smiling slyly. "It's much more fun for them to figure it out themselves."
Huo Zan placed her hands on Cai Jinghua's. "A-Hua. Of course, you would notice that Pan Wukun is a woman. You disguised yourself as a man once before as well, when you traveled around before settling in Xuhou. In fact, you still enjoy dressing up in men's clothing sometimes."
Cai Jinghua chuckled. "Ah. Yes. How could I forget?"
Cai Jinghua and Huo Zan gave each other fond smiles.
Hmm...Two elderly women living together. No husbands in sight. Affectionate with each other, but don't refer to themselves as relatives or best friends… - Oh. Oh. Could they be…?
"You two are a couple, correct?"
Cai Jinghua and Huo Zan stared at Pan Wukun in shock. Then they turned to each other, laughing.
"Oh. Figured that out, did you?" Cai Jinghua remarked. "Did your cultivation training under Pan Heng strengthen your intuition enough for you to notice?"
"No. I just have my own experiences with such feelings." So Pan Wukun's gaydar was on the mark, after all.
Pan Wukun placed a hand to her chest. "I too have a fondness for women. And men. And those who don't identify as either gender." - Yes, yes, she was bisexual.
Cai Jinghua and Huo Zan beamed.
"Ah! That explains it!" Huo Zan exclaimed.
Cai Jinghua smiled softly. "It's good to see the young be so open and at peace with themselves."
Wlw solidarity.
Cai Jinghua tilted her head back, eyes closed as she reminisced about her youth.
"Back then, I was a city girl. I was an inn servant, passing drinks to customers, cleaning up people's shit, getting unwanted attention from men…"
She frowned. "I grew tired of it. Day in, day out, I was trapped in that dingy inn, scraping by with meager earnings while living on my own. Being suffocated in such an environment was not how I wanted to live my life."
She grinned. "So I stole some men's clothes off the laundry line and left the city in the back of a merchant's wagon.
I'd like to say that my escape attempt went unnoticed. But one of the merchants managed to spot me asleep behind a pile of rice bags. Sharp eyes, those merchants. Fortunately, with my silver tongue, I managed to convince the merchants that I would make a good worker, an extra set of hands to carry and transport their goods. So I traveled around with the merchant caravan. The world was so much bigger than I possibly imagined...
One fateful day, we arrived in Xuhou. And dear Huo Zan fell in love with me at first sight."
"What? I didn't fall in love with you that quickly!" Huo Zan remarked.
"Please. Your eyes were practically glued to me any time we were in the same vicinity, A-Zan."
Cai Jinghua continued. "As A-Zan and I got to know each other, I grew to feel the same way towards her. How could I not? Sweet, kind, and beautiful. She had my heart in her grasp...
Huo Zan thought I was a man, of course. But I couldn't lie and play with her feelings. So one day, I took her aside and told her my secret…
I wasn't certain if Huo Zan accepted the truth, as she immediately ran off without a word. But just when I was about to leave Xuhou with the merchants, Huo Zan rushed to meet me, shouting at the top of her lungs, 'I accept who you are! I accept your feelings!'
And of course, I chose to settle in Xuhou and we wed."
Huo Zan placed a hand to her face, flustered. "Ah. A-Hua, you're describing events as if they're that of a romance novel."
"Oh, A-Zan. You knew who you were going to spend the rest of your life with when you chose to marry me. Teasing is one of the ways I show affection~."
Huo Zan sighed, shaking her head fondly. "True. True."
Pan Wukun smiled. "That's sweet." Then her smile dropped. "But...didn't people disapprove?"
Cai Jinghua huffed. "Hmph. Would general society pay any attention to a remote mountain village like Xuhou? The love between two women is nothing people should be bothered about.
We chose to be together and not bear any children. And we are quite happy about it.
Trust me. Women disguising themselves as men and two women falling in love with each other are not really that unusual. Surrounded by cultivators and supernatural creatures, we've witnessed some actual strange events. The merchants I traveled with and the other villagers in Xuhou agree on this."
Pan Wukun was relieved. "Ah. I'm happy that is the case." - *sniffle* So romantic love does exist.
Cai Jinghua placed a hand on Pan Wukun's shoulder. "Whatever happens out there as you explore the vast world outside Xuhou, remain true to yourself, Pan Wukun."
"Do not rush into things with reckless abandon," Huo Zan added.
"I…will try. In being true to myself, I mean, when it's safe to do so. As for being reckless, I will definitely not be." Pan Wukun stood up from her seat. "Thank you for your care. Goodbye Granny Cai and Granny Huo."
Cai Jinghua pinched Pan Wukun's cheek. "Remember to eat and sleep well."
Huo Zan patted Pan Wukun's head. "Safe travels, Pan Wukun."
"Pan Wukun?" A soft and meek voice called out.
Pan Wukun turned around and smiled. "Ah. Xing Ru."
Xing Ru smiled back timidly and turned to look back at her friends. They nodded at her encouragingly.
"Here, Pan Wukun. Please accept this gift." Xing Ru placed something into Pan Wukun's hands.
A lucky charm in the shape of a butterfly.
"Ah! I'm not gifting this to you romantically, Pan Wukun! I know you've made it quite clear that you have no interest in such feelings!"
Pan Wukun made it widely known that she held no romantic feelings for anyone in Xuhou. - ("I'm sorry. I'm not planning to settle down in Xuhou. I must journey back to my homeland.")
Xing Ru looked down shyly. "I just wanted to make something nice for you."
Pan Wukun smiled softly at her. "Thank you. I shall treasure this."
Xing Ru blushed and ran back to join her friends. They giggled and cheered her on for her courage.
Pan Wukun smiled fondly as she observed the group of young teenage girls run off to play in the flower fields. These young ladies were still in teenage bliss, not yet burdened with the responsibilities of adulthood.
Ah, the teenage years - stressing over high school and college applications, roasting marshmallows with friends...
Her friends…
Pan Wukun looked upon the teenage girls laughing as they ran on the grass.
I hope you find happiness in your futures, just as I hope to find mine.
"Pan Wukun!"
An arm slung over Pan Wukun's shoulder.
She turned her head. - Zhu He?
Zhu He shot a cheerful grin at her. He turned to his group of friends. "I want to have a nice little talk with Pan Wukun here."
Zhu He's friends nodded and went off.
Zhu He removed his arm from Pan Wukun's shoulder, placing his hands on his sides and sighing. "So you are to leave Xuhou tomorrow, huh?"
"Yes. That's right."
Pan Wukun and Zhu He stood in awkward silence. They had been in hostilities for years until the recent shanxiao incident.
So what exactly were they now?
Friends? Was it so easy to become friends after being enemies for so long?
Neither of them was sure how to proceed next.
"Pan Wukun, I-I-..."
Before Zhu He knew it, the words wouldn't stop flowing out.
"I was jealous of you, Pan Wukun. Why would Pan-ge choose to train a scrawny no-name pipsqueak to be a cultivator? Ever since our first meeting, I glared at you from a distance every time you stepped outside with Pan-ge. I'd glare behind trees, behind buildings, behind tall grass. Yet you wouldn't even spare me a glance!
But then...you saved my life...and well...
What I mean to say is…" Zhu He kneeled, his head hanging low in shame. "I'm sorry."
"Hmmm..." Pan Wukun crossed her arms, frowning down upon Zhu He.
Zhu He's gaze stayed on the ground. A bead of sweat ran down the side of his head in response to Pan Wukun's silence. Of course, a simple verbal apology wasn't enough. He had to do more! He had to-
"Apology accepted."
Zhu He turned his head back up to face Pan Wukun. "Wh-what? But-but is that really enough?"
"Look Zhu He, you were an ass to me. But you did help save my life when we fought the shanxiao. And you actually have the decency to apologize for your actions. I don't want to leave Xuhou with bad blood between us."
"If you're certain that is fine…" Zhu He stood back up, saluting Pan Wukun. "I am grateful for your forgiveness."
Pan Wukun saluted back.
Moments later, Zhu He spoke up again. "Pan Wukun…I'm going to study to be a merchant."
"Wait. You're the village chief's son. Aren't you next in line to become the village chief?" Pan Wukun asked in surprise.
"I am..." Zhu He turned his head towards the ground, troubled. "But managing and leading a village is not how I want to live.
I thought about it for years. It wasn't until recently that I argued with my parents about it for days on end. One night, I decided to prove to them and anyone who doubted me that I could survive outside Xuhou on my own. And so, during a hunting expedition, I ventured out into the forest alone. It was the night we fought the shanxiao."
Zhu He sighed.
"I know that merchants are considered the lowest of society but…" Zhu He turned his head towards the horizon, "I want to see what's out there, beyond Xuhou."
Pan Wukun gave Zhu He a sardonic smile. "You're lucky, Zhu He." - You know exactly what you want and where you belong. You're not stranded universes away from home.
Zhu He looked at her with confusion. "Why do you say that?"
Her sardonic smile remained. "I'm a foreigner, remember?"
Zhu He flinched, remembering when he beat Pan Wukun in that back alley five years ago. What he did...was truly detestful.
Pan Wukun, noticing Zhu He's discomfort, said, "What I mean to say, Zhu He, is that I am not from around here. My circumstances are not the same as someone raised and born in this land. So that means I'll have a difficult time making my way back home. I didn't become a cultivator for fun or for power and prestige, Zhu He. I'm merely building the skills and gathering the resources I need to return."
Zhu He reflected on Pan Wukun's words for a moment. To think, he'd made assumptions about Pan Wukun without an ounce of sympathy. Jealousy had overtaken him like poison. He must learn from this. He saluted. "I hope you are able to return safely to your homeland, Pan Wukun."
Pan Wukun returned Zhu He's salute. "Thank you, Zhu He."
Pan Wukun took out a piece of straw grass from her pouch, offering one for Zhu He to chew too.
They walked along the farmland path, chewing the straw grass and savoring the sweetness.
"You know, Pan Wukun, when my parents tried persuading Pan-ge into teaching me cultivation with quality wine, he adamantly refused. 'Do you want your son to die that badly?! Too dangerous! Cultivation is not a game!' Pan-ge said to them."
Pan Wukun chuckled. "Yeah. That sounds like him."
"So Zhu He, at first, you wanted to be a cultivator because you wanted to see the world?"
Zhu He nodded. "Being a powerful cultivator while getting to meet new friends and foes? Explore the world? What wasn't to like?
But then…the shanxiao…"
Zhu He shivered. "It - it - we could've died that night."
The shanxiao's fangs flashed in Pan Wukun's mind, her blood coating its claws and mouth. She placed a hand to her side. The shanxiao's claw marks were fading but the phantom pains hadn't gone away yet. "Yes...we could've. But we survived, Zhu He. And that is no small feat."
"All thanks to your quick thinking and cultivation skills!" Zhu He made motions with his hands as if swinging a sword and then thrust his hand out, shouting, "Wooosh!"
"Heh. Your archery wasn't too shabby either." Pan Wukun pretended to hold an invisible bow and arrow, a look of concentration on her face, before letting the arrow loose with a "Pew!".
The two of them laughed.
"Drinks at the tavern! My treat!" Zhu He shouted with a flourish.
"I'll just have some fruit juice, thanks." Alcohol was too bitter for Pan Wukun's liking.
"What? You still haven't changed your mind about alcohol?" Zhu He asked in disbelief.
"No. I have not."
Zhu He rolled his eyes. "Well, all right then. I'll treat you to fruit juice that is to your stiff taste."
"You're not planning to poison me, are you?"
Zhu He gave Pan Wukun a horrified expression. But seeing her amused smile, he realized that she was joking. He laughed. "If I poisoned you, Pan-ge would murder me in retaliation."
Pan Wukun smirked. "Ha! That he would! And don't you forget it!"
Pan Wukun and Zhu He bumped shoulders as they sauntered off to the tavern.
Arriving at the tavern, Zhu He whirled around with an "Ah!".
"Wait here! I'll tell the tavern owner to prepare us the best wine and fruit juice!" With that, Zhu He entered the tavern first.
After a couple of moments, Zhu He opened the door, waving Pan Wukun in. "All right, you can come in now."
Pan Wukun entered.
"Surprise!"
Colorful bits of paper rained down on Pan Wukun.
Pan Wukun blinked, confetti scattered all over her head and shoulders.
Two tavern workers stood on both sides of Pan Wukun, holding baskets of confetti.
"We shall have a big party before you head off, Pan Wukun!"
Pan Heng. Cai Jinghua. Huo Zan. Peng Jiu. Zhu He. Everyone was here.
"Come, come." Cai Jinghua and Huo Zan pulled Pan Wukun forward by her arms, leading her to sit down at a dining table.
Food and drink were set out and candles lit. Families and friends gathered for the festivities.
Standing atop an empty table (a makeshift stage), Zhu He recounted the night of the shanxiao fight, mimicking his archery and Pan Wukun's motions with Yuyun. The audience "oohed" and "ahhed", turning to look from Zhu He to Pan Wukun with awe. Pan Wukun's cheeks flushed as she smiled and waved.
Pan Heng sat down beside Pan Wukun with a drink in hand. "Ah. I remember like it was yesterday that you showed up here with mud all over your face." He closed his eyes and smiled fondly, picturing the exact night vividly.
"Ah yes. The night a small 'demon' showed up out of nowhere and was reluctantly taken in by the local rogue cultivator," Pan Wukun responded.
"And might I say this little 'demon' was a real handful!" Pan Heng ruffled Pan Wukun's hair.
As the dinner party neared its end, a couple of farmers approached Pan Wukun. The same farmers from earlier in the day when Pan Wukun went to see Blossom and her family.
"You're going to be traveling far and wide. But don't forget to take this too!" One of the farmers placed a tattered hat onto Pan Wukun's head.
"Ah! How could I forget my trusty hat!" It was the same straw conical hat Pan Wukun wore since she first started farming.
"It'll be good protection from the sun! And..." The farmers sighed. "Well - you're going to go out into the world and become a legendary cultivator...but are you going to remember us? Remember Xuhou?"
Everyone in the tavern grew quiet.
Pan Wukun stood up from her seat and bowed. "I could never forget Xuhou. I am grateful for your care. Thank you for giving me this home away from home."
Pan Wukun didn't say anything more.
Everyone remained silent.
"..."
Ok, this silence was stretching a little too long. She couldn't come up with an elaborate speech on the spot! Was her wording really that bad? Too simple?
Then came the chuckles and sniffles from the villagers. - Oh gosh. Was Peng Jiu crying?
"A toast!" Cai Jinghua lifted her wine bowl. "To Pan Wukun's good fortune on his journey!"
After everyone cheered and chugged their drinks, Pan Wukun cleared her throat. "Oh...and one more thing..."
Everyone quieted down.
"I'm actually a woman." Pan Wukun gulped down the last of her drink.
A stunned silence.
And then-
"What?"
"What?"
"WHAT?!"
"Is that true? You're not joking, Pan Wukun?"
"So Pan Wukun is just like Cai Jinghua?!"
The villagers conversed quite loudly on the topic.
Huo Zan groaned while Cai Jinghua cackled. "Oh, Pan Wukun, you spoilsport! I was trying to have some fun waiting for everyone to figure it out themselves!"
Pan Heng stared on impassively. "Really, A-Kun? Really?"
Peng Jiu blinked. "Oh. So A-Kun was actually a young lady this whole time. Who knew?"
Xing Ru and the other young village ladies were astonished. The handsome cultivator boy of Xuhou turned out to be a beautiful cultivator girl! A most unexpected surprise! But Pan Wukun was still quite the beauty, indeed!
Zhu He was in the middle of a crisis. Oh, gods. It was a young girl, not a young boy that he'd beaten up years ago. To think he'd treated a young lady so badly. How shameful!
Eventually, Pan Wukun and Pan Heng got everyone to calm down (Zhu He got on his knees and apologized profusely to Pan Wukun again. She had to reassure him that she already accepted his apologies from earlier).
Pan Wukun explained her reasons for why she hid from them for so long. The sexism and gender roles enforced by society were awful. She didn't know if Xuhou would be the same. But after Pan Heng and Cai Jinghua's acceptance, she now knew that it was safe to reveal herself.
Familiar with Cai Jinghua's story, the villagers were quite understanding of Pan Wukun's circumstances.
The Xuhou villagers wished Pan Wukun well.
And so the going-away party came to a close.
Let's see. Do I have everything I need?
Pants. Hoodie. Sneakers. - Yeah, Pan Wukun was bringing her old clothes with her. Who knew if she might need a change of clothes? Who knew if she might suddenly run into a portal back to her world and had to leave right then and there. She was not leaving her favorite hoodie behind.
"A-Kun. May I come in?"
"Yes!"
Pan Heng entered her room, looking over the belongings organized on her bed. "Here. This should make packing a lot easier." He handed her a worn-out qiankun pouch. Sewn into it was a large plain patch. The patch mended a large tear in the center of the qiankun pouch. Whatever sect emblem was on it had long since been removed.
Ah. A hand-me-down. Looks like the sect emblem was torn off. A-ge really doesn't like being reminded of his past sect... - Ok. Ok. Brighter note, please. She was definitely going to keep all the food the village women gave her in the qiankun pouch. Thank goodness for her back!
"Oh. And take this too." Pan Heng handed Pan Wukun a lucky charm. Unlike Xing Ru's, this one was shaped like a fish. "Heh, this will give you some good luck with fishing on your travels. You enjoy eating fish a lot, A-Kun. You know how many you eat after we manage to catch a load from the river?"
Pan Wukun chuckled. "Yes, well, I do enjoy seafood a lot. I suppose I eat so much that you're lucky if there are any leftovers for you, hmm A-ge?"
She inspected the fish lucky charm more closely. She recognized the runes woven into the fabric. Protective spells. Her eyes softened. "Thank you, A-ge."
Pan Heng nodded. Then he set a pair of black boots on the floor. "Here, I got you these boots tailored a few weeks ago."
Wait. There were no shoemakers in Xuhou. A few weeks ago? That was when she and Zhu He fought the shanxiao. "Oh. So that's why you went out on an errand outside Xuhou that day."
Pan Heng winced. "Such bad timing though."
Pan Wukun shrugged. "What's done is done, A-ge. How were you supposed to know that Zhu He would be stupid enough to wander alone into the forest at night?"
Pan Heng snorted.
The straw sandals Pan Wukun usually wore were ideal for a farmer. But they were not so durable for traveling long distances. She changed into the boots, wrapping strips of cloth around them, from her shin to her ankle.
As Pan Wukun stood back up, Pan Heng returned from his room with a chest. "It's time I gave you this." He dispelled the rune placed on the chest, unlocking it. Inside lay the spirit-trapping pouch found near the blood array of the dark ritual all those years ago.
Pan Wukun's hand hovered over the pouch.
"I know that I've said that it's impossible to find whoever brought you here. But you've made your decision and I shall not dissuade you, A-Kun."
Pan Wukun grabbed hold of the pouch. "Not impossible, just highly improbable."
Pan Heng grinned, patting Pan Wukun on the shoulder. "Ha! With that kind of determination, you just might be able to accomplish it!"
"I hope so." Pan Wukun tucked the spirit-trapping pouch away into her qiankun pouch. "Thanks, A-ge. I should head to sleep early for tomorrow."
Pan Heng stretched and yawned. "Good night, A-Kun. Rest well."
"Good night, A-ge."
Later, as Pan Wukun lay in bed, her hand reached for her sketchbook. She flipped through it and paused on a specific page.
Crudely drawn pictures of her family and friends displayed with their names above each one. She was no good at portraits but she drew them as best as she could from memory. She didn't want to forget their faces after being gone for so long. She traced her fingers over the drawings.
"I will get back home. I will."
A rooster crowed, signaling sunrise.
Pan Wukun opened her eyes.
All right. Time to go.
Pan Wukun tied Yuyun and the qiankun pouch to her waistband and hung her cloth pack across her left shoulder.
She walked outside and stood in front of a tree. The tree bark was worn out and splintered, with fist and foot imprints scattered across it. She laid her knuckles against the tree and clenched her fist. - This is it. I can't let all my training and hard work go to waste.
"You're up early." Pan Heng leaned against a tree next to Pan Wukun.
"All those years of farming and martial arts training did wonders for my sleeping habits."
"They certainly did. And they will continue to serve you well on your journey. Now, A-Kun, let me see your map."
Pan Wukun took the map out of her qiankun pouch, handing it to Pan Heng.
"Here." Pan Heng circled a spot on her map. "This is the nearest village to Xuhou." It was the closest place Pan Wukun could stop to rest. Better to rest in a human settlement than alone in the wilderness. Especially when night came...
Pan Wukun nodded in understanding. Then her eyebrows furrowed. She bit her lip, staring at the ground.
Pan Heng lived with her long enough to understand her body language well. - Oh no. Was she feeling nervous already? - "A-Kun. Is something troubling you?"
She owed everything to Pan Heng and the rest of Xuhou. She must repay them with this...
"A-ge. There's something important that I need to tell you." Pan Wukun took a notebook out of her qiankun pouch, giving it to Pan Heng.
Pan Heng opened the notebook and frowned. "What is this nonsense?"
"Oh right. Get a translation talisman."
...
A tense silence fell over them as Pan Heng flipped through each page. Very slowly.
Pan Heng's expressions ranged from calm to surprise to...anger?...then back to calm. His eyes hardened. His grip on the book tightened, his hand shaking violently. Once finished, he shut the notebook and sighed deeply. "This...is a lot to take in."
"You don't think this is all an elaborate joke I've pulled on you?" Pan Wukun asked hesitantly.
"I believe you. You're not the type to lie or play pranks. And your nervousness says it all. You're telling me the truth. And this notebook is undeniable proof that you know things you shouldn't."
Pan Heng pinched the area between his eyebrows. "How is it that you know any of this, A-Kun? Don't tell me you're gifted with precognition."
"Um - no, not exactly." Pan Wukun laughed nervously. "How do I explain? - This entire world is actually that of a fictional novel where I come from."
Pan Heng stared at Pan Wukun blankly. "Ah. So that's it."
"A-ge. Are you ok? Why aren't you having an outburst? Shouldn't you have some kind of reaction to being told that the world you live in is considered fictional in another? Shit, did I fuck up?"
Did she just give Pan Heng an existential crisis? - Fuck! This was probably not a good idea in the first place!
"A-Kun, I am a cultivator. I've witnessed all kinds of strange shit. Years ago, I took you in, a woman from another world transformed back into a child. Nothing surprises me anymore."
That got Pan Wukun to calm down.
Pan Heng scowled at the notebook he held. A notebook with knowledge of the future. Knowledge that could be abused if it fell into the wrong hands. He directed a hardened gaze at Pan Wukun. "This is all too dangerous to involve yourself in. Whatever happens, don't interfere."
"Please, A-ge. I'm not foolish enough to willingly put myself in such danger. I want to stay out of that business as much as you do."
Pan Heng nodded. "Good. You have sense."
Pan Heng rubbed his chin in thought. "This Wei Wuxian...he discovers demonic cultivation?"
"Yes. He's the grandmaster of demonic cultivation and the novel's protagonist. Every major event is going to revolve around him." What with his protagonist halo and all.
Pan Heng's eyebrows furrowed. "But demonic cultivation already exists."
Pan Wukun blinked. "Wha-? Wait. What?! What do you mean?"
"Demonic cultivation requires the draining of other people's qi.
Demonic cultivators. I've dealt with their sort before. Sometimes, there are cases of them kidnapping civilians or cultivators to experiment on them or drain them of their qi.
You said that Wei Wuxian calls upon malevolent spirits, ghosts, and reanimated corpses to do his bidding. That sounds more like ghostly cultivation, not demonic. That makes Wei Wuxian the founder of ghostly cultivation.
But I suppose that his impressive feats will shake the foundation of the world so hard that people shall dub his methods as 'demonic'. That gives the proper menace and evil to his legend, perfect for gossip," Pan Heng explained.
"O-oh. I see," Pan Wukun said. - This is what happens when you don't really read xianxia novels. You have a knowledge gap on many elements of cultivation! - Damn it, she needed to study more!
Pan Heng frowned. "Hmm. So all the major events will center around Wei Wuxian, huh. Best to stay away from him at all costs. To be involved with a legend in the making is asking for death."
"I couldn't agree more." That was Pan Wukun's plan from the beginning.
"Good." Pan Heng passed the notebook back to her.
Pan Heng chuckled. "Who knew that you are so familiar with worldly affairs to this extent. You're just full of surprises, aren't you, A-Kun?"
He placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "I'm happy that you were able to trust and confide in me."
Pan Wukun released a long breath. A weight was lifted off her shoulders. But still… "QishanWen sect, it's growing bolder by the year. Just - please be ready should the worst happen."
Pan Heng trusted her. "I will." He squeezed her shoulder again. "You be careful too, A-Kun." Then he wrapped his arms around her in a hug.
Pan Wukun froze, stunned. - Pan Heng wasn't exactly a huggy person. - Wow-uh-he must be feeling pretty sentimental.
She slowly wrapped her arms around Pan Heng, hugging him back. "Thank you for everything. I - I love you, A-ge."
Pan Heng hugged her tighter. "Know that you will always have a home here. I love you too, A-Chun."
Pan Heng stood back and placed his hands on Pan Wukun's shoulders. Pride swelled up in him. "I'm proud of you, little sister-"
"I'm mentally older than you."
"Don't ruin the moment."
Pan Heng continued. "Don't forget to write, all right? Now go out there and kick some ass."
"Don't worry, I will. I have a good teacher and brother, after all."
Pan Heng laughed, ruffling Pan Wukun's hair.
She smiled. "Goodbye, A-ge."
"Goodbye, A-Kun."
She started walking away.
A few steps in, Pan Wukun turned back around, facing Pan Heng and their hut. Their home.
Pan Heng smiled, sending her a firm nod.
Pan Wukun nodded back and set off.
As Pan Wukun disappeared beyond his sight, Pan Heng leaped atop tree branches and hills, following her from a distance without notice.
Pan Heng finally stopped and stood silently atop a mountain ledge, watching Pan Wukun as she traveled further and further away until she disappeared beyond the mountains.
"Good luck to you, Wukun."
Pan Wukun walked up the mountainside, her gait steady.
Standing atop a mountain ledge, she turned, taking one last look at Xuhou.
Ten years she'd spent living here. A peaceful little village tucked away in the mountains, untroubled by the strife of the outside world.
Pan Wukun turned away from Xuhou, looking forward and gazing off into the distance.
Mountains upon mountains, valleys upon valleys, rivers upon rivers.
Somewhere out there was the answer to the mystery as to who was responsible for her transmigration here. The key back to her world. A long journey lay ahead of her.
The wind blew upon her back, as if urging her to get going already.
Pan Wukun leaped down from the mountain ledge, landing on her feet.
The wind rushed by her as she dashed through the forest.
Speed picking up with each footstep, planting one foot in front of the other, running forward.
No turning back now.