Chapter Thirteen: Warmth

  Pan Yuyao shook her head and said: "Han Wen brother is indeed brave and fierce, clever beyond ordinary people, Mingyu admires him but can't catch up yet?"

  Xu Xian lowered his head, suppressing his anger and said: "I think I'm like a fool, with your martial arts skills, where do I fit in? You're willing to hide and test me, aren't you? Pan Yu, it seems we're not on the same path, let's change our seats when we get back!" He had risked his life to save someone who was playing tricks on him, how could he not be angry. He also saw that Pan Yu's cunning and mind were too deep, and they were completely different people.

  Pan Yu took a few steps forward, walking shoulder to shoulder with Xu Xian. He took a deep breath and said: "In the tavern, I was about to make my move when you preempted me. In the woods, I wanted to talk to you, but you ran away. I do know martial arts, it's just that my timing is off, and if I were to strike, it would be a killing blow. I didn't want to kill anyone, so I've been holding back, not intentionally hiding from you to mock you. If I have offended you in any way, please forgive me."

  Xu Xianming knew that there were many loopholes in these words, and he wanted to refute them. However, looking at those bright eyes full of apology, he thought about the fact that this matter was caused by himself, and in the end, it was others who saved him. He sighed and said, "Forget it, forget it."

  Just as he was about to leave, a figure flashed before his eyes. Pan Yu blocked him and said, "I've already apologized, now it's up to you, Han Wen."

  "He pointed at his own nose in surprise and said: 'Me? What did I say was owed?' He felt that even though his actions today were not perfect, he had no regrets."

  Pan Yuxiao smiled and stretched out two jade-carved fingers, counting: "You scolded me twice, once as a fool and once as an idiot. You scolded wrongly, so you should apologize."

  Xu Xian sighed and said, "You remember clearly, I was wrong." After finishing speaking, he walked towards the academy, but Pan Yu stood there shaking his head and said, "No sincerity at all, doesn't count." He didn't show any intention of giving in.

  Xu Xian couldn't help but smile wryly, seeing Pan Yu's serious expression. He straightened his clothes and hat, made a bow and said: "Today Xu Xian has been too presumptuous, I hope Mr. Pan will forgive me."

  Pan Yu nodded slightly and said, "To know what is wrong and to correct it is the greatest virtue. The child can be taught, the child can be taught." However, there was a hint of playful mockery at the corner of his mouth.

  Xu Xian looked at that smiling, absolutely beautiful face and couldn't help but feel stifled.

  At this time, a man walked out of the door and said: "How did you two gentlemen come back so late?" Walking under the lamp, it was the old gatekeeper, with a slightly dissatisfied expression on his face.

  Pan Yuhui turned back and apologized, "Wu Bo, I'm sorry for being late today... How's your rheumatism? I brought some medicinal wine from Jiangbei this time..." As he spoke, he secretly pulled Xu Xian along, and the two walked into the academy.

  Xu Xian chatted with Pan Yu for a while, chatting about everything under the sun, and fooled this illiterate old man into being happy and content. When they left, they were reluctant to part ways and wanted to chat more about this year's harvest, not leaving any dissatisfaction behind.

  Xu Xian sighed in his heart: No matter when and where, such people are the most suitable for the secular world! He believed that even if Pan Yu crossed into modern times, he would definitely have a great career, unlike himself who crossed over to become Xu Xian and thought about eating Bai Niangzi's soft rice, what a difference.

  Is it really possible for me and such a perfect man to get along well?

  Back in the room, they simply washed up and went to bed separately. The two beds were placed opposite each other in the inner room, with only a round table in between.

  Since parting with the old gatekeeper, Pan Yu became silent again, as if the one who had spoken earlier was someone else. Xu Xian didn't know what to say either, so they lay silently in bed, each lost in their own thoughts.

  Before he knew it, the sound of a night watchman's rattle came from outside the door, "Clang! — Clang! Clang!", slow and then fast, it was already the third watch.

  "Are you asleep?" came Pan Yu's sudden question in the darkness, his voice clear and devoid of any hint of sleepiness.

  "Huh?" Xuxian was also awake.

  "It was quite fun today, let's go play again next time!" The voice coming from the darkness was full of interest. Xu Xian turned his head and looked towards Pan Yu's bed, borrowing the moonlight that passed through the window paper, he vaguely saw a figure, but couldn't see his face clearly.

  "Hmm? En, okay!" Xu Xian agreed.

  Killing with ease, without mercy, although Xu Xian wouldn't pity those thieves, but Pan Yu's nonchalant attitude still made him feel uneasy. It was just that he felt Pan Yu's attitude towards himself was different from others, initially having a gentle and refined appearance, but later not being so perfect, yet more natural and sincere.

  It was this natural and sincere attitude that made him unable to refuse, only Xian sighed, perhaps this is the highest state of treating people and things, making everyone feel special in his eyes, then wholeheartedly unite with them, and establish a large network of relationships.

  In a state of half-sleep and half-wakefulness, Pan Yuli stood in front of a magnificent mansion, with forty-nine door nails on the crimson gate, and a blue plaque bearing the two large characters "Pan Mansion". Passing over the high threshold, she skirted around the large screen wall. The noise inside the gate was like another world, various servants rushing back and forth, their faces unclear, but all seemed restless. Pan Yuli walked all the way without being stopped until she reached the inner courtyard. She passed through the garden of the inner courtyard and a strange artificial hill.

  A elegant courtyard, yet the house door was tightly closed at all times. A woman's painful moans and groans could be heard from inside, while a middle-aged man paced anxiously outside, ignoring Pan Yu's arrival. Pan Yu felt that this scene was somehow familiar, yet he was certain he had never seen it before.

  A loud wail.

  The man's anxiety dissipated with joyful hope, but again a layer of gloom covered it. One after another asked: "Is it a boy or a girl?"

  Someone's voice came from somewhere: "Congratulations, old master, congratulations, it's a young lady."

  The man's face was filled with despair, gazing at the child in his arms looking up at the sky, his eyes full of desperation: "Heaven, heaven, do you really want Pan Zhuang to be without an heir?" Pan Yu stood by, staring blankly, feeling that the man's despair had reached her heart.

  The scene shifts, and the baby in her arms has grown up to be able to run around everywhere, but they are all dressed as boys, so handsome that it's hard to tell whether they are golden boys or jade girls. On the steps, the man's face begins to age, looking at the children below, his face filled with worry and joy.

  Suddenly an old nun walked in and said to Ji Shou: "This donor, I have a predestined relationship with this child, can I accept her as my apprentice."

  The man was amazed at how Lao Ni had gotten in, but the playful child said in a childish voice: "I want to be with Daddy."

  The old nun's withered mouth smiled slightly: "Buddha is merciful, no small emotions will not have great love." Looking at the man's face, his eyes seemed to have a surge of smoke and clouds, as if he had already seen through past events. "I already know your heart, sir. If you are willing to make a promise, I can ensure that your wishes come true."

  The man originally wanted to let people drive this crazy nun away, but in a daze, he didn't want to give up any hope.

  The old nun took out a small piece of crystal-like thing and said to the confused child: "This is actually a fragment from the Yin Yang Mirror, as long as she carries it with her, others won't be able to see through her true form, and she will forever be a man."

  The man was overjoyed, his hands trembling as he held the crystal chip, and respectfully said: "Thank you, Master, thank you, Master. But after all, she's just a woman, no matter how real the illusion is, it can't pass on the incense of my Pan family."

  The old nun said: "As long as the master does not forget today's appointment, when the child grows up, I will have a way."

  The man hastily agreed, overjoyed.

  After Lao Ni left, Pan Zhuang picked up the child on the ground and exclaimed loudly: "I, Pan Zhuang, finally have an heir!" The child was confused and didn't understand what was happening, but seeing his father so happy for the first time, he also burst out laughing.

  Pan Yu stood by with a smile, but her eyes had tears in them at some point.

  The news of the birth of a son at the Pan residence spread quickly, and people rushed to tell each other. "Wasn't it said that she was a young lady?" "Lord Pan was afraid of bad luck, so he intentionally said that." "This is really deceiving heaven and earth!"

  The wet nurse and midwife had already "died of illness" before this.

  The child grew up slowly, still looking androgynous, but the visible Adam's apple and audible voice were enough to dispel all suspicious glances. The treasure of the immortal family, how could it be seen through by ordinary people?

  In the ancestral hall of the Pan family, one big and one small, one kneeling and one standing.

  "You're a man, you should be bold and strong."

  "Yes, Father. I understand." The child, already eight or nine years old, wiped away the tears on his face. From then on, he never shed another tear.

  "You're a man, you can't have the compassion of a woman."

  "Yes, Father." The child was already twelve or thirteen years old. Yesterday, the little maid who had served him for several years had disappeared forever, just because she discovered that secret. From that day on, he never wanted any maids again.

  "As a man, you should have ambitions that reach far and wide."

  "Yes, Father." The child was already fourteen or fifteen years old, and had a thorough grasp of poetry and books, with a reputation as a talented young scholar.

  "You're a man... You're a man..."

  "Yes... yes... yes..."

  Pan Yu stood by, watching the familiar scene unfold before him, yet no one turned to look at him. Neither the aging man nor the growing child seemed to remember he was there; he had been abandoned in this forgotten corner, and a sense of overwhelming panic began to rise up from his once-peaceful heart. He shouted desperately, waving his arms wildly, but still, no one saw him.

  Suddenly a rough but warm hand grasped Pan Yu's hand, and Pan Yu turned back in surprise. An old face looked at her faintly and said, "Don't be emotional yet."

  Pan Yumeng suddenly sat up from the darkness, only to realize that it was an illusion. The scenes in the dream gradually dispersed, leaving only the old nun's words still lingering in his ears. He felt that his thin shirt had been soaked through with sweat, and his body was both cold and wet. His soul still unsettled, he touched his chest, and the crystal chip was still there, giving him a slight sense of relief. However, it was still as cold as water, as if no amount of warmth could warm it up.

  Turning back to look, Xu Xian was still lying on the bed, seemingly unaware. Pan Yu stared blankly for a while, feeling a slight warmth in her heart, and gradually calmed down. She got out of bed, pushed open the window, and the bright moonlight poured in. Does this bright moon also have feelings? But who can understand the heart of this bright moon?

  Just as Pan Yu was in a state of confusion and perplexity, a strong determination suddenly arose in his heart. He had been practicing martial arts and literature since childhood, no matter how difficult it was, he would never give up. With this great perseverance and extraordinary talent, everything he did was successful. This also made him accumulate a kind of self-confidence, as long as he was willing to work hard, there was nothing he couldn't do.

  Compared to the hardships I've experienced since childhood, what's a small setback like Xu Xian? Let's just make friends and lay the foundation for future success. As a man, one should have a few close friends, and this Xu Xian is probably just a test from heaven!

  Pan Yu cleared up Xu Xian's position in his heart, and couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, transforming back into the flawless and carefree Mingyu Gongzi. After adjusting his mood, he closed the window, returned to bed, and fell asleep. However, he unknowingly lay with his face turned outward. As drowsiness took over, various emotions became indistinguishable, and he slowly sank into a dream state.

  These things were naturally unknown to Xu Xian, and he continued to cultivate the method passed down by the Taoist. If one had a spiritual eye, they would probably be able to see a golden light in Xu Xian's chest, like the sun.

  This radiance illuminated the entire room, although in the eyes of ordinary people it was still pitch black. The crystal pendant hanging on Pan Yu's chest reflected a faint light in this radiance, and the fragment that should have been forever icy also had a slight temperature.