"Huh? An apology note?"
The farmer scratched his head in confusion as he held said apology note.
"What's it say?" A fellow farmer leaned in close to him.
"Apologies. I used one of the poles to defend myself from an ambush. Please accept this replacement I crafted to compensate."
A newly carved carrying pole lay against the wall.
"An ambush?" his fellow farmer asked. "They were so ill-equipped that they had to use one of our carrying poles?" He gasped. "Or perhaps they were forcibly disarmed?"
The farmer shrugged. "Well, whatever happened, they left us with a replacement. And free paper too! So no complaints here." He carefully put the apology note away, saving the paper for whatever other uses it might have. "C'mon, we gotta go tend to the crops. I wanna get home in time for a special dinner with my wife and daughter."
"So what's the special occasion?" his fellow farmer asked.
"It's my little girl's birthday! After work is done, I wanna spend as much time with her as possible today!"
With a hearty laugh, the other farmer patted a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Let's get a move on, then! You can't keep your daughter waiting at home for eternity now, can you!"
And so, the farmers carried on with their day.
"What do you mean you can only pay me less than what we agreed to?"
Pan Wukun kept her expression neutral and her voice even as she addressed the nobleman in front of her.
The nobleman shook his head, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "It can't be helped, Pan-xiushi. I can only spare so much money when I have to save a large amount for important business affairs. My sincerest apologies."
Right. By "important business affairs", this nobleman meant whatever money he set aside for his fancy parties and carriage rides.
This absolute asswipe was trying to cheat Pan Wukun out of her hard-earned money and labor!
Pan Wukun sighed and shrugged. "Oh well. I guess that evil spirit will return to torment you."
The nobleman blinked, the smugness wiped off of him. "What? What do you mean?"
Pan Wukun clasped her hands behind her back, casually pacing around the room. "Evil spirits can be persistent beings. That particular nasty one feeds off of the negative energy in broken promises. I'm a cultivator with spiritual power and you're a nobleman with money. Upon its return, who do you think that evil spirit is actually going to listen to?"
Pan Wukun was totally bullshitting, but the nobleman didn't need to know that.
The nobleman shivered. He got the hint. "Very well. I shall give you the promised payment."
Pan Wukun smiled sweetly. "Glad we've come to a mutual agreement. Pleasure doing business with you."
Pan Wukun stepped out of the nobleman's house, patting the big bag of money she carried.
Yes. Noble families had .money.
This amount was going to keep Pan Wukun and Meng Yao afloat for months!
"That was devious, Wukun-ge." Meng Yao smirked. He'd been sitting back, watching the show.
Pan Wukun chuckled. "Remember, Meng Yao, when someone wants to screw you over, deviousness always helps."
Fishing was always so peaceful.
Pan Wukun and Meng Yao sat by a stream, holding onto fishing rods. They breathed in the fresh forest air, enjoying the calm of nature.
Ah yes. An in-person "Relaxing Stream Sounds ASMR" session. Pan Wukun felt very relaxed indeed.
Meng Yao turned his head to face Pan Wukun. "Wukun-ge…How long did it take you to form your golden core?"
Meng Yao's question surprised Pan Wukun. What brought this on? For him to ask about her past cultivation training? "Why do you ask?"
"It's been two years and I still haven't formed mine." Meng Yao's fists clenched on his knees. "Is it just a hopeless endeavor at this point?"
Pan Wukun sighed. "Meng Yao, most cultivators start their training as young children. You started your cultivation training at fourteen."
"Yes! But-" Meng Yao turned away, scowling as his fists remained clenched.
A silence fell over the two.
As each day passed without a golden core, Meng Yao only felt more discouraged, no matter how much Pan Wukun tried to uplift him with her words.
Meng Yao grit his teeth. "What's the point? Even if I did form a golden core, many other cultivators will be stronger than me anyway. They'll never see me as their equal. Maybe I should stop trying."
"Seven years."
Meng Yao turned back to Pan Wukun. "What?"
Pan Wukun faced Meng Yao with an earnest expression. "It took me seven years," she repeated.
"I was a mere peasant without a drop of cultivators' blood.
It was tough. There were times when I almost gave up."
Pan Wukun clutched the fish lucky charm Pan Heng gave her.
"My older brother even told me that it was highly possible that I would fail.
But no matter how many times I nearly gave up on myself, he never gave up on me.
He could've left me to rot. But he chose to take me in and look after me. For ten whole years…"
"...Your older brother sounds like a great man," Meng Yao said.
Pan Wukun nodded. "Yes, he is."
What were the chances she would run into a rogue cultivator who actually gave a shit about her?
Pan Wukun had gotten extremely lucky in that regard.
As for what would've happened if Pan Heng wasn't in Xuhou or if she'd taken one wrong step on a mountain ledge -
She didn't want to think about it.
Meng Yao mulled over Pan Wukun's words.
It took Pan Wukun, his cultivation master, seven years to even form a golden core. Then…this meant that he still had a chance.
If Pan Wukun had given up and never became a cultivator, then she would never have shown up at the brothel in Yunping.
And where would that have left him and his mother?
Mother…
Meng Yao placed a hand over the hairpin tucked in his coat's inner pocket. He took the hairpin out, gently holding it in the palm of his hand. Its jewels glittered in the sunlight.
Pan Wukun watched as Meng Yao gently brushed a thumb over the hairpin. "I know. I miss her too," she said softly.
A sudden swishing came from the stream, alerting Pan Wukun and Meng Yao.
Meng Yao's fishing line rattled rapidly.
"Quick! Pull it up!" Pan Wukun shouted as Meng Yao gripped his fishing rod.
Meng Yao gritted his teeth as his feet dragged on the ground. "It's a big one, Wukun-ge!"
Pan Wukun grabbed Meng Yao, pulling him back to add some weight.
They heaved.
Sweat dripped down Pan Wukun's brow. "Come on! We've almost got it!"
"There!" Meng Yao yelled as he pulled on the fishing rod with all his might.
A humongous fish flopped out of the water!
Meng Yao and Pan Wukun quickly intercepted the fish.
Pan Wukun whistled. "Whoa! Meng-guniang wants you to cheer up and not starve!"
Pan Wukun's fishing rod shook. "Now to see if Meng-guniang was able to be generous with me!" She ran over to her fishing rod and pulled. Her line surfaced, completely empty…
"Oh. It got away. Must've been a fast one." Pan Wukun shook her head with a sigh. "I suppose Meng-guniang can only bestow good luck upon her son…What a shame. But such is the way of the Heavens that good fortune cannot be bestowed with too much lenience."
Meng Yao patted a hand on his fish. "I can share my fish with you, Wukun-ge! There's more than enough for both of us!"
Pan Wukun smiled, patting Meng Yao's head. "Many thanks for not leaving me to starve, Meng Yao!"
Pan Wukun and Meng Yao looked down at the fish, pressing their palms together. - Big fish. Thank you for providing us with a meal.
The local wildlife provided them with the means to survive. So they had to show respect.
Life, human or not, was precious.
"So have I formed my golden core yet?"
"Patience, Meng Yao. I'm checking." Pan Wukun placed two fingers on Meng Yao's wrist.
Searching…
Searching…
Waiting…
Something? Anything?
Gah. Still nothing.
Looks like Pan Wukun was going to have to give Meng Yao the bad news again-
Wait. What was that?
There! A bolt of spiritual energy!
But was it really?
Warmth grew underneath Pan Wukun's wrists as spiritual energy surged within Meng Yao.
Yes! Yes, it was!
Spiritual energy flowed through Meng Yao's meridians!
It had been only two years since Meng Yao started cultivation training under Pan Wukun's tutelage. Of course, he was able to form a Golden Core much faster than she did! He was descended from the Jin clan!
Pan Wukun opened her eyes and removed her fingers from Meng Yao's wrist. "Meng Yao, you…"
"Yes?" Wariness shone in Meng Yao's eyes.
"A golden core! You have a golden core!"
Meng Yao's eyes widened. "I-I do?"
"Yes!" Pan Wukun said.
"I've…I've finally done it! I have a golden core!" Meng Yao exclaimed with joy.
Now with Meng Yao's golden core formed, next comes…
"Long time no see, Pan Wukun!"
Pan Wukun waved her hand in greeting. "Hello, Xun-jianjiang."
"Don't tell me you figured out how to get to this sword smithery on your own!" Xun Min wiped his swordsmith's apron and took off his work gloves.
"Actually, I sent a letter to A-ge asking where it was," Pan Wukun explained.
"Oh. Pan Heng told you? That explains it!" Xun Min noticed Pan Wukun's companion. "And who is this?"
Meng Yao saluted in greeting. "I am Meng Yao. A pleasure to meet you, Xun-jianjiang."
Xun Min saluted back. "Likewise, Meng Yao."
As Pan Wukun and Meng Yao sat down at a table, Xun Min prepared some tea. "So Pan Wukun, what brings you and Meng Yao here today?"
Pan Wukun gestured to Meng Yao. "Meng Yao here just formed his golden core."
Xun Min laughed jovially. "Congratulations, Meng Yao!"
Meng Yao slightly bowed his head. "Thank you, Xun-jianjiang."
Xun Min massaged his hands. "I assume you're here to request that I forge a sword for Meng Yao?"
"Yes," Pan Wukun confirmed. "With your expertise, Xun-jianjiang, I was hoping you could do so, old friend?"
Xun Min held a hand up. "Not so fast. We are dear friends, yes. But I'm not going to forge you a sword just like that. Back when I forged Yuyun without asking for payment, I owed Pan Heng a life debt. You, Pan Wukun, have to earn it."
Seeing the serious expression on Xun Min's face, Pan Wukun nodded and made no disagreements. "Understood." Then she sighed. "But Meng Yao and I don't have enough to afford to purchase a sword. So how exactly do we go about raising the funds?"
Xun Min waved his hands. "Oh no no no, you don't have to pay for the sword." He spread out a map on the table. "All I need you to do is gather the materials." He circled some spots on the map with a brush. "Here, here, and here."
Pan Wukun and Meng Yao surveyed the locations on the map carefully.
"A forest, a waterfall, and a cave," Pan Wukun noted. "They're not too far from each other. So the travel time won't be much trouble, at least."
"Traveling is easy. But extracting and retrieving the materials is an entirely different matter…" Xun Min's tone was serious. "But there is no doubt cultivators of your caliber can deftly handle such a task!" He laughed, giving Pan Wukun and Meng Yao friendly smacks on their backs.
"Oomph!" Meng Yao steadied himself with a hand on the edge of the table.
Pan Wukun put on a shaky smile as she did the same as Meng Yao. - Xun-jianjiang is still as strong as ever, I see.
"Make sure you get these items. Silk to make special cloth for the spiritual tassel from the silkworms in the forest, iron ores in the earth's crust near the waterfall for the blade's steel, and a special metal for the hilt in the cave," Xun Min said. "Good luck to you both."
Pan Wukun stood up from her seat. "Right. Let's head off, Meng Yao."
Fetch quest, here we come.
The cave was dark and musty.
Pan Wukun and Meng Yao held up light talismans to illuminate their surroundings.
The special metal they needed was embedded somewhere in the cave walls.
"Any signs of the metal, Meng Yao?"
"No, Wukun-ge."
Pan Wukun and Meng Yao ventured deeper and deeper.
The exit was far behind them now, to which neither of them could see the daylight outside any longer.
Enclosed by rock walls and darkness outside of the light talismans' reach, uneasiness crept upon Pan Wukun. She really didn't want to get trapped and lost in this place.
Meng Yao continued searching attentively for the metals, a look of concentration on his face.
Well, at least Pan Wukun had Meng Yao with her. Better than being alone.
Pan Wukun let her hand feel around the cave walls. Damn. No metal around here either.
A tingling started on the back of Pan Wukun's neck. She rubbed her neck.
Meng Yao noticed that Pan Wukun stopped walking. "Wukun-ge?"
"Do you hear anything, Meng Yao?"
Meng Yao paused and listened. "No."
Pan Wukun frowned. "I see. It was probably nothing. I don't like staying this deep in caves for too long. Let's keep going." Had she just been imagining things? This cave was getting to her. She should stop feeling so nervous. She was a cultivator, damn it!
As Pan Wukun and Meng Yao continued, however, Pan Wukun still couldn't shake off that bothersome sensation on the back of her neck.
Pan Wukun didn't stop walking, focusing on her surroundings with her enhanced hearing.
Wait…Yes. There was definitely a faint sound in the background.
Skittering.
Where was it coming from?
In the front?...No.
Pan Wukun picked up a rock from the ground.
From the sides?...No.
From below?...No.
Then that left…
Pan Wukun twisted her body around and threw the rock into the air behind her and Meng Yao.
A pained screech echoed through the cave.
Meng Yao let out a startled yelp as Pan Wukun pulled him away to move off to the side.
"Shit! It was following us from the ceiling!" Pan Wukun said.
A large creature landed on the ground, growling and snarling. It bled from where Pan Wukun's rock struck it.
"Just great! A cave beast!" Pan Wukun said as she unsheathed Yuyun and Meng Yao gripped his dagger.
The cave beast hopped back up onto the cave ceiling. It scuttled around quickly, too fast for the cultivators to catch it in the range of their light talismans as they waved their arms around.
Smart beast. Taking advantage of its own territory and the limited visibility of its prey.
Pan Wukun stayed close to Meng Yao's side. "Keep your ears open, Meng Yao."
Pan Wukun and Meng Yao stood in place, tense. They listened to the cave beast scuttling about, trying to pinpoint where it was. They braced themselves.
One with a long sharp blade and the other with a short sharp blade. One experienced and one inexperienced.
Familiar with the body language of prey, it was obvious who the cave beast would aim to attack first.
As the cave beast sprung from the ceiling, Pan Wukun pushed Meng Yao out of the way.
The cave beast latched onto Pan Wukun, biting down on her right arm.
"Wukun-ge!" Meng Yao cried.
Yuyun fell out of Pan Wukun's grasp, embedding into the ground far from her reach.
Pan Wukun screamed in pain. Infusing her leg with a burst of qi, she kicked the cave beast off of her.
Before it hit the wall, the cave beast quickly righted itself, crawling back up on the cave wall into the darkness.
Pan Wukun panted, clutching the wound on her arm. - Shit. Of all the places the cave beast had to bite her, it was her sword arm. "Meng Yao, do you remember what I told you to do, should something happen to me?"
"Yes! Beacon talismans will signal for any nearby cultivators. If there are no cultivators around to help me, I have evil-repelling talismans to keep malicious beings away from me while I make my way to the nearest human settlement." Then Meng Yao shook his head. "But I am not leaving you here!"
"Right! Good to know!" Pan Wukun said as she tried to think of a plan. Could she retrieve Yuyun while she was still protecting Meng Yao? Without a sword though, she and Meng Yao couldn't do much against the cave beast. She had to take the risk, but she had to be quick.
She ran to retrieve Yuyun.
But before Pan Wukun could grab Yuyun, the cave beast lunged at her again.
Pan Wukun and the cave beast rolled around on the ground, wrestling each other.
"Fucking damn it!" Pan Wukun cursed as the cave beast kept its jaws locked on her arm.
Meng Yao's heartbeat pulsed in his ears. What could he do with a measly dagger against a cave beast? His explosive talismans would only cause a cave-in.
Then that only left…
Meng Yao hurried over to Yuyun and tugged on the sword. It did not come loose.
In the background, Pan Wukun struggled to fend the cave beast off, her screams and shouts mixed with pain and anger.
Meng Yao's hands tightened around Yuyun's hilt. "Please, Yuyun, please!" He pulled with all his might. "I can't lose Wukun-ge too!"
Yuyun was released from the ground, its blade gleaming in the glow of the light talismans.
Meng Yao gripped Yuyun and charged at the cave beast.
The cave beast, noticing Meng Yao approaching, moved to dodge.
"Not so fast!" Pan Wukun's left hand grabbed the dagger hanging from her sash belt. She stabbed the cave beast in its side.
The cave beast howled and thrashed around, trying to throw Pan Wukun off.
Pan Wukun gritted her teeth, using her dagger and body to slow down the cave beast and hold it in place.
Meng Yao struck true, impaling the cave beast's side with Yuyun.
The cave beast let out one last howl of pain and collapsed to the ground.
Pan Wukun and Meng Yao regarded the cave beast's still form with relief.
Pan Wukun sat down and took a look at the state of her right arm. "Well, shit. A bloodied, torn-up arm and we still haven't found the special metal."
"Wait," Meng Yao said. He shined a light talisman on the cave beast. Underneath its corpse, the ground shimmered.
"The special metal!" Pan Wukun cried with joy. She was glad they wouldn't have to go back into the cave again after treating her arm. She had enough of dark, winding caves for one day.
Meng Yao took the pickaxe out of Pan Wukun's qiankun pouch and retrieved the metal. He grabbed Pan Wukun's hand, pulling her up to support him on his shoulder.
"Meng Yao…" Pan Wukun said.
Meng Yao turned his head to face Pan Wukun. "Yes, Wukun-ge?"
"Thank you…" Pan Wukun took a breath. "-for saving me."
Meng Yao was quiet for a moment. Then he nodded. "Of course, Wukun-ge."
Now that they got the silk, the iron ores, and the metal, it was time to head back to the swordsmithery.
"Damn! That hurts!" Pan Wukun hissed.
"Ah! Sorry! Sorry!" Xun Min apologetically patted Pan Wukun's shoulder. He continued wrapping bandages around her arm. "Didn't think a beast that vicious was lurking around that cave. Usually whatever's in there is quite easy to deal with."
Pan Wukun grumbled. Maybe she was just plagued with bad luck.
After Xun Min and Meng Yao finished treating Pan Wukun's arm, Xun Min moved over to his workstation.
Xun Min set the materials Pan Wukun and Meng Yao had gathered on the table in front of him. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "Time to get to work."
Xun Min melted the iron and metal, blending them together and pouring the substance into a blade-shaped mold. He set the blade down on a bench, hammering at it to polish its shape. After he finished with the blade, he sewed the silk into a spiritual tassel. He moved as swiftly as Pan Wukun remembered. Meng Yao watched, mesmerized.
"There! All done!" Xun Min gestured to Meng Yao. "Come here, Meng Yao. Introduce yourself to your new sword."
Meng Yao walked forward and stood in front of the blade. He closed his eyes and placed his hand out to channel spiritual energy into it, just as Pan Wukun did with Yuyun years ago.
Meng Yao's sword shimmered. His eyes shot open as the sword took on its new and final form.
Xun Min whistled. "A soft sword!"
On the table lay a creamy white sword with hints of pink. Its hilt and scabbard were emblazoned with magnolia blossoms. There were characters carved into the scabbard.
"Fanhua," Meng Yao said. "That's what I named my sword."
繁花
Fánhuā
"Flourishing Blossom".
Pan Wukun observed this new event with surprise.
Wait. Not "Hensheng"? - "Hatred for life"?
With a golden core and sword, Meng Yao was now a full-fledged cultivator, earlier than he was during his time with the QingheNie sect.
With Meng Yao giving his sword a different name and appearance from canon, what else was going to change? And if more changes were coming, would they be for the better or for the worse? Would too much of the future be changed that whatever Pan Wukun remembered from the story be rendered useless?
At the glow of pride and joy in Meng Yao's eyes as he strapped Fanhua to his hip, Pan Wukun stamped down her feelings of trepidation.
If Meng Yao was happy and didn't hate life, then things were probably going to work out in the end. Probably.
Meng Yao smiled at Pan Wukun. "Now you won't get to be the only cultivator on our travels." He patted Fanhua fondly. "I'm afraid Fanhua just might outshine Yuyun."
Pan Wukun snorted. "Yuyun would beg to differ."
"Settle down, you two! Settle down!" Xun Min laughed.
Meng Yao's face turned thoughtful. "Now that I have named my sword. I believe it's time I received a courtesy name."
Back when Meng Yao turned fifteen, he requested to have more time to come up with his own courtesy name instead of having it given to him by Pan Wukun.
Meng Yao tapped a finger to his chin. "How about…Xingyao?"
Oh, now even his courtesy name is different, Pan Wukun noted.
Xun Min chuckled. "A fine name, Xingyao."
Pan Wukun and Meng Xingyao rested at Xun Min's house near the sword smithery. Once Pan Wukun's arm was fully recovered, they were ready to set off.
Pan Wukun and Meng Xingyao waved at Xun Min. "Goodbye, Xun-jianjiang!"
Xun Min waved back. "Until we meet again, Pan Wukun and Meng Xingyao!"
Pan Wukun and Meng Xingyao turned to face the road ahead of them.
"Let's go, Xingyao-di."
"Right, Wukun-ge!"
Glossary
[1] 繁 - fán: "complicated"
[2] 花 - huā: "flower" or "blossoms"
[3] 繁花 - Fánhuā: "flourishing blossom"
[4] 幸 - Xìng: "lucky"
[5] 瑶 - yáo: "precious jade" or "precious stone" or "mother-of-pearl"
[6] 幸瑶 - Xìngyáo: "lucky jade" or "lucky pearl"
[7] di: "younger brother"
A/N: So after I figured out what Meng Yao's courtesy name would be, I realized something.
Based on "yáo" in this chapter's glossary, did Meng Shi name Meng Yao after the pearl Jin Guangshan gave her because her son was so precious to her?
Oh. Oh ouch. I went and hurt my heart again.