Chapter 17 Heavenly Wounded Star

Chapter 17 Heavenly Wounded Star

Chapter Summary: "Because he was not a mortal being!"

Watching Liang Hong and her daughter disappear around the corner of the back alley, Pan Yue's eyes suddenly sharpened. Lifting her skirt, she headed straight for the front door.

Less than half an hour after I left, when I lifted the curtain again, the room below was completely different.

The area in front of the shop was still packed with people, three layers deep, but the difference was that the people no longer rushed forward. Even if they had steamed buns in their hands, they would look down at the hall and then at the mess around them, their expressions hesitant, as if they didn't know whether to throw them away or keep them.

Amidst the mess on the ground, three ragged beggars lay in the middle, clutching their stomachs, frowning, and groaning as if in great pain.

Wu Da, the master of the house, was already flustered by this sudden change. He huddled in a corner, hiding behind the bewildered Wu Song, peeking out from time to time, but dared not utter a sound.

Wu Song tilted his head, looked at the boy below the hall, then turned to look at the curtain separating the inside and outside. He looked up and saw Pan Yue striding over. His eyes lit up, and he shook off Wu Da's hand, which was holding his hand, and strode forward.

"Yunyun!"

"What happened?"

Pan Yue nodded slightly, glanced around, and then turned to Wu Da, who was cowering to the side, with a furrowed brow.

"Who are they? Why are they blocking the way in the hall!"

"They...they..." Wu Da rubbed his hands, sweating profusely with fear, and stammered, "They said...they ate steamed buns..."

Pan Yue frowned.

Fortunately, the people in the county were very talkative, and with everyone chiming in, she quickly understood the whole story.

The three beggar children below were orphans without parents, who had been wandering around the county since childhood, and were known to all the neighbors.

Because she had given instructions early on that today was the opening day, everyone who entered, regardless of their social status, would receive two steamed buns. Naturally, the beggars crowded into the crowd early on.

He grabbed the steamed bun and, without even waiting to go out, hurriedly stuffed it into his mouth.

Before they could even leave Daming, the three beggar children, after tasting just a few steamed buns, suddenly suffered excruciating abdominal pain, clutching their stomachs and rolling on the ground, wailing in agony…

Upon hearing this, Pan Yue's tightly furrowed brows immediately relaxed.

Looking at the steamed buns in the hands of the villagers under the eaves, it's clear that he and a few others were eating them right there. So why did the problem only occur among a few beggars who were used to eating dirty food and drinking filth?

Furthermore, regardless of poisoning or filth, there were highly toxic substances that could not withstand even a few steps... Where did these beggars get their strength? They tumbled and crawled, crying and howling, as if afraid that someone might not hear them clearly that someone had eaten something bad in the pancake shop and almost lost their life!

And so on...

Pan Yue's eyes flashed, and she bypassed the beggars rolling on the ground, heading straight for the corridor.

The sun blazed fiercely in front of the county.

Across the long street, the once bustling Swallow Hall is now deserted and quiet, a far cry from its former glory.

Pan Yue narrowed her eyes, lost in thought.

The business battles of the ancients were so simple and honest!

"Tch! Something bad happened on the very first day. Their steamed buns are really unlucky!"

"In my opinion, when it comes to tea, snacks, and desserts, Yanzitang is still the place to go. We're neighbors, we know each other inside and out, don't you think?"

"yes!"

"How can I refuse money without a reason? I'm afraid I'll harm my neighbors!"

"..."

Whispers and whispers filled the air.

Two increasingly unrestrained whispers, accompanied by a sliver of sunshine, swept past her eyes. Pan Yue suddenly frowned and looked down at the corridor in the direction of the voices.

In the most crowded southeast corner, two men, one fat and one thin, dressed as shop assistants, hid behind two burly men, looking around and singing in unison, wishing they could incite the neighbors!

Their intention to cause trouble was too obvious. Although the crowd remained silent, some nodded blankly, which made Pan Yue furious. Recognizing that the two men were actually employees of Yanzitang, Pan Yue stepped forward, glared at them, and shouted, "Shut up!"

The corridor suddenly fell silent.

The neighbors on either side looked at each other, then turned to look at Pan Yue, whose cheeks were flushed red under the eaves.

Pan Yue suddenly snapped out of her daze, glared at the two men with a warning look in her eyes, and then turned to look at the three beggars below who were looking dazed.

Whether they can turn misfortune into good fortune today, and whether the pancake shop's business will go smoothly, all depends on these three people.

After a moment's hesitation, Pan Yue stepped inside, circled the three cautious-looking beggars twice, and then suddenly stopped in front of them, looking down at them and saying, "Did you eat my steamed buns, which is why you are suffering from stomach pains and can't stand up?"

The two younger children exchanged glances, shrinking back and not daring to answer. The oldest beggar, his eyes wide and clear, spread his arms to shield the two behind him. When he met Pan Yue's scrutinizing gaze, he quickly looked away, gritted his teeth, and said stiffly, "Yes! It's because of your pancakes that the three of us are suffering from such severe stomach pain!"

"Do you dare swear to heaven?" Pan Yue asked coldly, glancing at the group without changing her expression.

A flicker of panic crossed the beggar's eyes. He glanced instinctively at the corridor below, and his raised hand trembled.

Seeing something, the boy clenched his teeth, met Pan Yue's gaze again, and said in a gruff voice, "Swear it then!"

Before Pan Yue could respond, the young man knelt down with a thud, kowtowed twice towards the east, and sat up, saying, "The Emperor is here..."

"Wait!"

Pan Yue waved her hand to interrupt his oath, and following his occasional furtive glances, she looked at the two waiters hiding outside. After thinking for a moment, she turned and pointed at Wu Song, looking at the three people below and said, "Captain Wu, do you three recognize him?"

The beggar directly in front of him paused, glanced at his two companions who were still stunned behind him, frowned slightly, and nodded tremblingly, saying, "A great hero who rid the people of harm, everyone in Yanggu County knows him!"

"It's good that you recognize it!"

Pan Yue's eyes flashed with a ray of sunshine, and her lips held a calm confidence. She paced around the hall twice before standing in front of the young man again and said slowly, "I've heard that you and your friends grew up in the county town. You must know that in the past few months, the white-browed tiger with piercing eyes on Jingyang Ridge has injured countless passersby, and even the hunters in the mountains have been unable to deal with it."

A look of confusion crossed the beggar's eyes, and he nodded, saying, "Yes!"

"They are all clear."

Pan Yue turned to Wu Song, her eyes gleaming with cunning, and smiled sweetly at him. Before he could react, she turned to the beggars and said, "Have you ever considered that, as mortals, what is the difference between Captain Wu and those hunters who grew up in the mountains? Why is it that the hunters were helpless against the tiger with its glaring eyes and white forehead, while Captain Wu could take it down with his bare hands?"

The little beggar trembled, his eyes filled with both reverence and horror as he looked at Wu Song.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a group of villagers craning their necks and vying for a spot on the front porch. Pan Yue's smile widened. She strolled forward two steps, leaned forward, and stared into the boy's bewildered eyes, speaking each word with an air of seriousness.

"Simply because he was not a mortal being!"

The hall and corridors fell silent in an instant.

The piercing chirping of cicadas startled everyone, and someone suddenly gasped in shock.

"What did I tell you?! Majestic and awe-inspiring like a god, how could he be a mortal?"

"It's not like a storyteller in a teahouse..."

"..."

Surprise, envy, excitement, and horror... The people of the county pushed and shoved each other, and the murmurs of discussion suddenly rose again.

"...You mean he is?!"

The beggar below the hall suddenly narrowed his eyes, stared at Pan Yue, and unconsciously clenched his fists.

"Please enlighten me, madam. Who is Commander Wu..."

"Yunyun!"

Pan Yue's eyes seemed to be swirling with unspoken thoughts. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly heard a low shout coming from the wall.

However, Songsong, who had remained silent the whole time, suddenly changed her expression upon hearing the words "not of mortal flesh and blood".

It wasn't for his own safety, but because he constantly thought about his mother-in-law's old admonitions: that people are cold-hearted and the world is complicated; that the human realm cannot tolerate spirits and demons.

If people discover that Yunyun is actually a fox in disguise, the consequences will be unimaginable!

Pan Yue suddenly turned around, seemingly oblivious to his concerns. A mischievous glint flashed in her clear eyes as she winked at him. She quickly turned back to the three bright-eyed youths and said in a pretentious tone, "Have you not heard that there are thirty-six Divine Stars and seventy-two Earthly Fiends in the Upper Realm?"

Pan Yue's willow-like eyes suddenly curved downwards. She stood up and slowly paced around the hall, saying leisurely, "The Pilgrim Wu Song is the Heavenly Wounded Star among the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits of the Upper Realm. He descended to the mortal world because he could not bear to see the chaos and suffering of the people. He subdued that glaring white-browed tiger and rid the people of this scourge!"

The hall fell silent instantly.

"Yunyun, I didn't mean it..."

Songsong, standing by the wall, paused for a moment, then subconsciously took half a step forward. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Yunyun with her back to him, her right hand behind her back, and her index finger gently waving at him.

Don't be impatient!

Song Song paused, looking utterly bewildered, and retreated to the wall.

Pan Yue seemed confident, and before anyone could speak, she turned and glanced down at the beggars below, saying, "Whether you're lying or not, the Heavenly Star Lord will know at a glance!"

"..."

"Nonsense!"

"Spreading rumors and misleading the public!"

The three beggars were still lost in thought when the people in the corridor came to their senses.

Led by the two instigators from Yanzitang, they looked around for a moment, then suddenly stretched their necks, gesticulated wildly, and shouted, "You foolish woman! What gods or monsters! The people of the county have watched Xiao Si grow up since he was a child. He has always been honest and law-abiding. Why would he want to harm you?"

"That makes sense!"

The neighbors gradually came to their senses and nodded in agreement: "Xiao Si and his friends have always been honest..."

Seeing that the wind had shifted again under the eaves, Pan Yue frowned slightly, and as she glanced around, another plan came to mind.

"If I truly have a clear conscience!"

She turned to the three beggars who were looking around anxiously and asked calmly, "Do you dare to ask the Star Lord to cast a spell?"

Xiao Si, the most honest and upright person in the county, suddenly looked away, his fingers fiddling with the tattered hem of his clothes, not daring to look up.

Pan Yue's eyes held a knowing glint as she leaned closer to him and said in a low voice, "If you lied just now, the lie you told will come true, causing unbearable abdominal pain and a feeling worse than death. Little Si, would you like to experience what that feels like?"

The boy shuddered, glanced down at the corridor, bit his dry, chapped lower lip, and turned deathly pale.

Pan Yue smiled slightly, turned to Wu Song who looked bewildered, gave him a wink, and nodded to him, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Captain!"

Anyone with eyes could see that since she lifted the curtain and stepped out, a whole incense stick's time had passed, and the three beggars hadn't uttered a single sound. Their earlier rolling on the ground and wailing were clearly a charade.

Therefore, Pan Yue's original intention in bringing Wu Song closer was simply to use the "fierce reputation" of the tiger-slaying hero to scare the beggars into telling the truth.

Little did Wu Song know what he had read in her eyes. He frowned, hesitated for a moment, then slowly stepped forward, extended his right hand, and gently waved it above the heads of the three beggars.

"Ah! Ah!!!"

The three beggars immediately screamed in agony, clutching their stomachs and rolling to the ground, their faces ashen.

This was completely different from the feigned severe stomach pain he had just been experiencing.

Pan Yuexin's heart sank. Before she could understand the reason, she subconsciously grabbed Wu Song's hand, which was suspended in mid-air, and blurted out, "Songsong!"

His five fingers, which were being held, curled slightly, allowing her to lead him loosely, and he pulled back to his side.

The scene below was as if a hurricane had swept through. The boy, rolling on the ground like a fish pulled from a pond, had bloodshot eyes, was covered in sweat, and was panting heavily, his face filled with the horror of surviving a disaster.

The area inside and outside the door suddenly became completely silent.

Before anyone could speak, the three youths rose in unison, knelt before Pan Yue and her companion, and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Your Excellency, we were blind and offended you! We beg Your Excellency to be magnanimous and forgive our youth, ignorance, and first offense, and not to hold our lies against us..."

Lies?

Pan Yue was staring at Wu Song, secretly wondering if what had just happened was a coincidence or for some other reason, when the word "lie" reached her ears. Pan Yue suddenly came to her senses, quickly released Wu Song, and turned to the people below the hall, saying, "Don't kneel! Stand up and speak!"

The three boys looked at each other for a moment, then shrank back and stood up shakily.

"Thank you very much, Madam Pan!"

"Don't be afraid!"

Pan Yue turned to look at the crowded corridor, pondered for a moment, went back to the inner room and brought out a few handkerchiefs for them to wipe their faces; after they had calmed down, she said gently, "To know one's mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue; since you have admitted your mistakes, Commander Wu will not hold it against you!"

Xiao Si and the other two looked up in alarm, their eyes darting between the two men's faces.

Pan Yue lowered her eyes and nodded to Xiao Si, who was directly in front of her, and said, "Xiao Si, you are the older brother. Now that you know you were wrong, can you tell me frankly why you and your younger brothers came to my pancake shop to cause trouble today? Was someone instigating you?"

Xiao Si glanced at Wu Song, who stood silently to the side. After a moment, as if he had made up his mind, he nodded slightly to Pan Yue, rubbed his hands together, and turned to look at the sun-drenched corridor.

The once quiet corridor was now filled with chatter.

Before everyone could understand what was going on, the two Yanzi Hall employees panicked the moment he turned around. Their eyes met, they both covered their faces, and they ran away.

"There it is!"

The two men's movements were so eye-catching that Wu Da, who was cowering to the side, let out a low shout, and the neighbors all looked up.

"It's them!"

Xiao Si strode forward, pointed at the two men who looked terrified, and turned to Pan Yue, saying, "Madam, it's these two! They promised each of us ten coins, saying that if we came to the pancake shop and pretended to have an upset stomach, they would give us another ten coins after it was done!"

"This is outrageous!"

"Huh? I didn't see it clearly just now, isn't that Ah Li from Yanzi Hall?"

"That's Old Bai?!"

"What a terrible thing to do!"

"How could Yanzi Hall possibly..."

"..."

Before Pan Yue could respond, the villagers volunteered, and after recognizing the two, they pointed and whispered, filled with righteous indignation.

"My lady, don't worry, everyone here is a witness!"

"Don't worry, ma'am! Old Li will take the person to the county government for you! Old Fan, lend a hand!"

Old Li from the neighboring shop volunteered, and he and his old friend Old Fan each grabbed one of the two shop assistants, and strode away amidst the cheers of the neighbors.

"good!"

"Well done, Lao Li!"

"Xiao Si, come here!"

The three of them gathered under the eaves, clapping and cheering along with their neighbors, beaming with joy.

Before the smile in their eyes could fade, upon hearing Pan Yue's voice and recalling their earlier "aiding and abetting evil," Xiao Si and the others froze, shrank their necks, and awkwardly turned around.

"My wife..."

"Madam!" A neighbor, unable to bear the sight, assumed she was about to teach the children a lesson, shoved her forward a couple of steps, and shouted, "Madam, you are magnanimous! They didn't do it on purpose, and fortunately, nothing serious happened!"

Pan Yue didn't respond or explain. She just paced around the hall a few more times before standing in front of the responsible-looking Xiao Si and said seriously, "What's your full name? How old are you? Can you read? Answer one by one."

Xiao Si paused, then glanced instinctively at the two equally flustered people behind him. His eyes darkened, and he lowered his gaze, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect as he stepped forward. “My lady, please don’t be offended. We… have been without parents since we can remember. We usually live in a dilapidated temple outside the city, and come to the county town during the day to find something to eat… As for our names…” He lowered his head further and further, his expression growing increasingly embarrassed. “The uncles, aunts, and sisters-in-law in the village usually call us Xiao Si, Xiao Qi, and Xiao Ba.”

"Xiao Qi, Xiao Ba?"

Pan Yue looked to the left and right following his gesture, her brows furrowing unconsciously.

How come a boy who is only eight or nine years old doesn't even have a proper name when he should be lazing around and taking a nap at school?

"Fourth, Seventh, Eighth..." Pan Yue murmured, her expression enigmatic, "So, how many brothers do you have? Eldest, Second, Fifth, Sixth? Where are they?"

The three beggars were taken aback, clutching their tattered clothes and hanging their heads dejectedly.

"Where is anyone else?"

A neighbor, unable to bear the sight, clicked his tongue twice and said to Pan Yue with a sigh, "Madam, you're new here and don't know this. A few years ago, Yanggu County was plagued by locusts. Families were struggling to feed their own children, so who would care about the beggars wandering in front of the county?"

"Yeah yeah!"

"It's pitiful... Do you still remember that day, when it was raining heavily, Xiao Si went from house to house begging for rice, but he still didn't make it in time..."

Pan Yuexin's heart sank. She looked down at the three boys below her, who were bowing their heads and looking increasingly uneasy. It felt as if a wad of cotton had been stuffed into her heart, making it hard to breathe.

"you……"

After a moment's thought, she stepped forward, looked into the children's clear eyes, and said seriously, "If you don't mind my lack of knowledge, I will give each of you a name today, shall I?"

"Name?" Xiao Si suddenly looked up, his clear eyes shining brighter than the rising sun.

Pan Yue lowered her eyes, glanced at the door, pondered for a moment, and slowly said, "Si... From today onwards, you will be called Shi Yang, is that alright?"

"Shi Yang?" Xiao Si blinked. "Please enlighten me, Madam, what is the meaning of this name?"

“Yang refers to the sun shining on mountains and rivers, and the area south of mountains and north of rivers.”

Pan Yue raised her hand to brush away the dust that had somehow gotten on his head, and said earnestly, "The three of you have relied on each other since childhood and grown up together; as the older brother, you should be like the morning sun, taking care of your brothers!"

"Yes!" Xiao Si nodded, his eyes shining. "Shi Yang will remember this!"

"Xiao Qi?"

Pan Yue turned to Xiao Qi, who was cowering to the side, pondered for a moment, and said, "From today onwards, your name will be Qi Gu, is that alright?"

Before anyone could speak, she continued, "Qi, pronounced like seven; grain, meaning food for the people! I only wish that from now on, you will have abundant harvests and never have to worry about food and clothing again!"

"Thank you for bestowing this name upon me, Madam!"

Xiao Qi cupped his hands in greeting, and the instant he stood up, his eyes suddenly turned red.

Pan Yue handed over her own silk handkerchief, then turned to the "carefree" and innocent-looking Xiao Ba and said, "Xiao Ba, you are the youngest, so from now on you will be called Ba Xian, okay? With Xian as your name, I only hope that you can stand out from the crowd and become a wealthy and leisurely person!"

Xiao Ba raised his head, looked at his two older brothers, and nodded with a face full of pure innocence, saying, "Thank you for bestowing this name upon me, Madam!"

Pan Yue smiled, took a half step back, and looked at the three teenagers standing side by side below the hall. With a look of satisfaction, she said, "The names of the three of you together, Yang, Gu, and Xian, all sound the same as Yanggu County, which is your hometown and place of origin. I hope that no matter what happens in the future, you will always remain as sincere as before and never forget where you came from!"

"good!"

"You boys, remember this!"

"My wife is truly talented!"

The villagers below were moved and applauded enthusiastically.

Some people couldn't contain themselves and looked around, craning their necks and shouting, "Madam is so talented! Today is the opening day of the pancake shop, why aren't you busy tidying up the shop? Why are you giving them names?"

As if she had anticipated this question, a glint flashed in Pan Yue's eyes. She looked down at the person who had spoken, then turned to Shi Yang and the others, and said softly, "Judging from what you all said, you have been homeless all this time, relying on the food from many families to grow up to be what you are today?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Shi Yang's eyes. He pursed his lips and remained silent.

"in this way……"

Pan Yue said seriously to the group, "The pancake shop is short-staffed. If you don't have anywhere else to go for the time being, would you be willing to stay and work here?"

Before a few could respond, he added, "If you're willing, you can stay here tonight and don't need to go back to the dilapidated temple. The pancake shop is simple, but at least you have a roof over your head and pancakes to fill your stomach, and you can earn five coins a day. What do you say?"

"My lady... is this really true?"

Is there really such a good thing in the world?

Shi Yangqing's eyes flickered, unable to believe what he was hearing.

"good!!"

Suddenly, someone shouted, and without the need for the three to respond, another round of applause and cheers erupted from below the steps, creating a deafening uproar.

"My lady is truly virtuous!"

"...A beautiful color reflects a kind heart!"

"Our Yanggu County is blessed..."

With a turnaround in public opinion and a crisis turned into an opportunity, this farce has finally come to a true end.

Pan Yue breathed a sigh of relief, her face calm and composed. She stepped onto the veranda and said, "Gentlemen! The shop assistants are unaware of the situation and have delayed you for half a day! Please forgive them, uncles and aunts, and allow them a moment to tidy up. The shop will reopen in half an hour, and all the steamed buns in the shop today will be free!"

"good!"

"My wife is so generous!"

"..."

"Madam Pan!"

The neighbors praised the pancake shop, which was bustling with activity. A clear and melodious call came from across the street, cutting through the crowd.

Pan Yue subconsciously looked up and saw Zhao Wan, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, leading another pretty woman. When she looked up, Zhao Wan waved vigorously and took three steps at a time, crossing the long street.