"What?" was all Pan Wukun could utter.

Meng Yao wasn't supposed to make his journey to Golden Carp Tower until Meng Shi-

Until Meng Shi died…

"I've been training in cultivation for six months." Meng Yao shot Pan Wukun a grateful smile. "I'm certain my headstart will impress Father enough that he'll accept me into the Jin clan."

Pan Wukun crossed her arms. "And just who is your father? Who is in a high enough position of power to be able to take you into the Jin clan just like that? You haven't even formed a golden core yet."

"Sect Leader Jin," Meng Yao answered. "He gave a pearl to Mother as a memento many years ago. Mother told me that if I showed the pearl to him, he would gladly adopt me into the Jin clan. Once I'm inducted into the Jin clan, the sect's training regime will speed up the process of forming my golden core. Then I shall have more than enough power and prestige to generously reward you, Pan-shifu. So I would be incredibly grateful if we could-"

Pan Wukun let out a bitter laugh. "You really think that Jin Guangshan would accept you with open arms? Look at how he treats his illegitimate children."

Meng Yao's fists clenched.

"He wouldn't accept you into his sect, much less his clan. He's never going to accept you because-"

"You don't need to finish!" Meng Yao shouted. "I know what you're going to say! I shouldn't try to aim above my station because of who I am! Because I'm-...I'm-..."

Meng Yao glared at Pan Wukun.

"-the son of a whore…right?"

Meng Yao panted, expending so much energy after his angry outburst.

Pan Wukun gave a troubled sigh. "No. I'm saying that you shouldn't bother with someone like Jin Guangshan. He has no honor, no sense of responsibility and accountability. He's power-hungry and unfaithful to his wife. He constantly abuses his power as a sect leader. To put it plainly, he's a shitty person, and Madam Jin deserves better."

Meng Yao silently stared at Pan Wukun, his eyes wide and his jaw slack. He was shocked that Pan Wukun would speak of a highly esteemed sect leader in such a scathing manner.

"But-but…" Meng Yao struggled to find words.

"Forget about it, Meng Yao. Gaining your father's favor is a fruitless endeavor."

"But I have to get medicine for my mother! I don't want her to die trapped in this brothel!" Meng Yao's breathing became erratic. "I've got to ask Father for medicine or a cultivator's special cure! It would hardly be a dent in his riches! No trouble for him at all! Surely, Father wouldn't just leave Mother to die!" His voice turned panicked.

Meng Yao fell to his knees, bowing on the ground. "Please. Please help me, Pan-ge."

"Don't call me that," Pan Wukun growled.

Meng Yao flinched. "I-I'm sorry." His teardrops splattered on the ground. "If you help me, I'll fulfill any favor you ask of me. I'll do anything."

Pan Wukun paused in thought. "Anything?"

Meng Yao nodded fervently. "Yes!"

"Promise me this then. Should you ever gain favor with the cultivation sects, leave me be. I don't want to get involved in any sect affairs whatsoever. Cut contact with me. Forget about me." - Just leave me alone. Don't make attempts to kill me in the future.

Meng Yao bowed his head to the ground again. "Yes. I promise. You have my word."

"Good."

Meng Yao stood back up, wiping his face with his sleeve.

Pan Wukun stared out the window. The moon shone brightly in the night sky.

"Tomorrow, we depart at the break of dawn."

"A-Yao. A gentleman's hat must not be crooked."

Meng Shi gently and carefully adjusted Meng Yao's tall cap to sit properly atop his head.

Meng Yao smiled and nodded, adjusting his pack. "Of course, Mother. I know to present myself at my very best to Father!"

Meng Shi smiled, pinching Meng Yao's cheek. "Good boy."

Meng Shi's hand moved to her robe pocket.

"Don't forget this as well." Meng Shi placed the pearl into Meng Yao's palms, carefully folding his fingers over it. "With this, you can finally take your rightful place in the Jin clan."

She squeezed his hands. "Travel safely, A-Yao."

Meng Yao wrapped his arms around Meng Shi in a hug. "I will, Mother. I promise I'll make you proud."

Meng Shi tightened her embrace of Meng Yao. "I know you will."

"Hold on tight, Meng Yao."

Meng Yao clung onto Pan Wukun as they soared through the air on Yuyun.

He kept a tight hold on his cap to keep it from falling off.

Never had he felt such a rush of wind through his body. The adrenaline. The excitement. Was this how cultivators felt when they rode atop their swords?

Meng Yao looked down at Yunping.

The city. - Small distant buildings.

The people. - Small as ants.

The brothel. - Nothing but a speck on the ground.

He was so high up in the sky, away from it all…

After several hours of traveling, making stops here and there, Pan Wukun and Meng Yao made preparations to set up camp.

As they landed from the sky, Meng Yao gasped as his cap fell off his head.

Pan Wukun caught it before it touched the ground.

Meng Yao gingerly took the cap back. No one except his mother and Sisi had ever bothered to treat his belongings this kindly. "Thank you," He straightened the cap back on his head.

Pan Wukun stared at the cap warily.

It symbolized Meng Shi's desperate need for Jin Guangyao to integrate into high-class society. That desperation drove Jin Guangyao to corruption, deception, murder, and death.

Meng Yao noticed Pan Wukun's intent gaze. "Some nobleman discarded this cap on the streets. My mother found it, giving it to me as a gift. It helps keep my head warm in cold weather. And-and it makes me feel taller!" It was like bringing a piece of his mother with him.

"I see," was all Pan Wukun said.

Pan Wukun and Meng Yao set about gathering firewood.

It was cute (Wait no! Not cute! Not cute at all!) how Meng Yao kept adjusting his cap as he followed her around.

He helped her set up the tents as night fell.

They sat idly in front of the campfire, absentmindedly chewing on some food they packed from Yunping.

"Pan-shifu, we should stop by Lotus Pier before continuing our way to Golden Carp Tower."

Some food got caught in Pan Wukun's throat, making her cough.

"Pan-shifu?!"

Pan Wukun pounded her chest and gulped down some water. She took in some breaths and cleared her throat. "No! Absolutely not!"

"Wait! Please hear me out, Pan-shifu! I must purchase an extravagant gift for my father. We are meeting with a sect leader, after all. It would be rude of us to show up empty-handed. A gift is especially important for the first meeting between father and son."

Meng Yao leaned closer to Pan Wukun. "Pan-shifu. Lotus Pier is where YunmengJiang sect is located. There should be plenty of nifty cultivation gear for you to peruse. I've also heard that Lotus Pier's cuisine is one of a kind."

Pan Wukun continued chewing on her food, saying nothing. But she was chewing just a little slower than before.

Meng Yao smiled. "We're going to pass by Lotus Pier on our route anyway. So why not head in, buy a gift for my father, and resupply while we're at it?"

Pan Wukun sighed, staring up at the stars that dotted the night sky.

"We'll make it to Lotus Pier by tomorrow noon."

True to its name, Lotus Pier was surrounded by a rich variety of lotus flowers planted in its waters.

Pan Wukun disembarked from the boat with Meng Yao, taking in the sights.

Visuals of Lotus Pier in the donghua, manhua, and live-action drama were nothing compared to the real thing.

Elegant architecture and beautiful lotus flowers everywhere. In-person, Lotus Pier was a marvel to behold.

A pair of sword sheaths blocked Pan Wukun's way.

"Halt!"

Two purple-robed swordsmen addressed Pan Wukun sternly.

"State your name and business."

Purple robes with lotus emblems. These must be YunmengJiang cultivators.

Best if she cooperated.

"Pan Wukun and Meng Yao. We are here to enjoy the sights of Lotus Pier and resupply for our travels."

The cultivators didn't move.

One of the cultivators gestured to Yuyun. "Every cultivator who passes in and out of Lotus Pier must register their name and sword."

Ah. Of course, a notable sect like YunmengJiang would have top-notch security.

Pan Wukun had no choice but to write her real name and sword name into the booklet. No point in lying if cultivators' swords and their energies were distinct from each other.

She couldn't hold up the entrance any longer either. The people behind her were looking pretty irritated.

The guards checked Yuyun's name engraving and the booklet to see if they matched, verifying that Pan Wukun didn't lie. They nodded, satisfied.

"Thank you for your cooperation. Welcome to Lotus Pier."

Truly, Lotus Pier was the center of spicy cuisine.

The odor of spices was prevalent in every corner of the market.

Pan Wukun bought some roujiamo[1], which quickly became one of her favorites. Every food she ordered, she requested to be mildly spicy. Her spice tolerance was limited to Bún bò Huế, Louisiana Cajun food, the spicy mayo drizzled on top of sushi, and Hot Cheetos. And those all had to be accompanied by a tall glass of water.

Some of the cultivation items she found really were quite well-made. Nice.

Meng Yao bought a fancy gift box for his father, lured in by the lofty promises of a local vendor.

As Pan Wukun enjoyed some of the local delicacies with Meng Yao, she absentmindedly caught onto some of the locals' chatter. She couldn't help that cultivators had enhanced hearing.

Gossip about who was dating who? - Not important.

Nearby, a food vendor was having a cheery conversation with a customer…

Wait.

"Of course, Wei-gongzi!"

Pan Wukun's heart nearly stopped.

Bright hearty laughter burst from somewhere in the crowd of people.

Pan Wukun's eyes darted around rapidly, searching frantically through the crowded marketplace.

There!

A red ribbon waved in the wind.

Red alert! Red alert! Literal red alert!

"Meng Yao, it's time to go."

"What already?" Meng Yao was confused. Just seconds ago, Pan-shifu seemed so relaxed. Why the sudden change in mood?

"Now."

Meng Yao, hearing the urgency in Pan Wukun's voice, questioned her no further and rushed with her to exit Lotus Pier.

As they neared the exit, they slowed their gaits, acting as naturally as possible in front of the YunmengJiang cultivator guards.

"Oh? Leaving so soon?" one guard asked with a hint of suspicion.

Pan Wukun gave the guards her best smile, gesturing to Meng Yao. "Yes. This little one-"

Meng Yao frowned.

"-wanted to leave for home as soon as possible. Had to leave before he threw a tantrum, haha!" Pan Wukun rubbed the back of her head nervously.

Her sense of impending doom was getting closer. - Please let us leave! Please let us leave already!

The YunmengJiang cultivators laughed along. "That's a shame! Must be tough having to babysit!"

The guards moved aside. - Pan Wukun nearly cried right then and there.

"Hope you enjoyed your visit to Lotus Pier!"

Pan Wukun and Meng Yao got to a safe distance away from Lotus Pier. No sign of a red hair ribbon anywhere.

Good! Safe and Sound!

Pan Wukun wasn't even running, yet that felt like she'd had an entire workout!

Two canon characters at once? Especially the main antagonist and protagonist in the same space? Fuck no! That is way too many plot flags for me to handle!

"Pan-shifu. Are you all right?" Meng Yao asked in concern.

Pan Wukun panted, knees shaking. "Yes, Meng Yao. I'm fine. We need to hurry to the nearest village on the way to Golden Carp Tower before night comes."

Meng Yao blinked. "But Pan-shifu, it's only the afternoon. The village isn't that far away either."

Pan Wukun briskly walked forward. "The earlier we leave, the better!"

Meng Yao found Pan Wukun's behavior strange.

Was Pan-shifu avoiding someone? A debt collector? A past lover perhaps?

Traveling around, Pan-shifu probably offended someone or caught the attention of a nuisance.

Whatever the case, Pan-shifu must have had a good reason to depart from Lotus Pier so quickly.

Not thinking more about it, Meng Yao hurried along after Pan Wukun.

"Pan-shifu. You're not even that much taller than me."

"I'm sorry! I had to come up with something on the spur of the moment, ok!"

Glossary

[1] Roujiamo: Chinese street food. Meat sandwiched in bread.

A/N: Pan Wukun has managed to avoid Wei Wuxian - for now. But not for long~.