165 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

The two of them chatted as they walked back to the rest area on the first floor. It seemed like something had happened. A group of people were crowding around a corner, chattering as though they were watching something. Ning Songwu suddenly realized that the crowd was gathered around where she had been sitting earlier, and her drawing… she had left it spread out on the table when she walked away… With a dark expression, Ning Songwu pushed through the crowd, squeezed inside, and upon seeing the scene before her, she was nearly infuriated to the point of vomiting blood. Bai Bo was sitting there, holding a pen, and drawing on the picture with a raised brow. Upon closer inspection, it was evident that the effort Ning Songwu had spent days on had been entirely ruined. Several absurd turtles and chaotic, simplistic strokes were now scrawled across the entire drawing, clearly meant to destroy it completely. Seeing Ning Songwu approach, Bai Bo's lips curled into a smile. “Oh, the little cripple is back? How do you like the few strokes I added to your drawing? Tsk, tsk, what a mess your hand created. What is this supposed to be, an outhouse? And you had the audacity to inscribe it with the name of North Punishment Palace. Mine are much better—look at these little things, don’t they resemble you? Hey everyone, don’t they?” The surrounding disciples erupted into mocking laughter. He Lan Mianmian, blocked from entering the throng, paced anxiously back and forth. With reddened eyes, Ning Songwu clenched her fists and fixed her gaze unblinkingly on the destroyed painting. Her expression was terrifying. Bai Bo continued to draw simplistic turtles, saying, “Look at you, so angry but not daring to fart. What are you so proud of? Even the Revered One doesn’t want you. With no parents at all, humph…” In the blink of an eye, Ning Songwu took a swift step forward, grabbed Bai Bo by the collar, and pulled her up, her eyes blazing red. She then landed a solid punch on Bai Bo’s face. “Ah—! You little bastard!” Bai Bo cried out in pain, blood streaming from her nose, staring incredulously at Ning Songwu. Bai Bo then stood up, being a few years older and taller than Ning Songwu, and effortlessly lifted Ning Songwu off the ground, slamming her hard onto the floor. Ning Songwu’s whole body ached, but she merely grunted and immediately stood up again, lunging at Bai Bo and pounding her fists into Bai Bo’s face, bruising it and causing her nose to bleed. Bai Bo pressed Ning Songwu down and kicked her in the stomach, sending Ning Songwu flying two meters away. Ning Songwu’s small body tumbled before hitting the corner of a table, the impact making her spit out a mouthful of blood. Ning Songwu wiped her mouth harshly and, despite the severe pain, dragged herself up to charge at Bai Bo again. But this time, she was intercepted halfway. Ning Songwu, carefully cradling a black jar of medicine, walked along a path when a large carriage bumped past her, swaying as it headed towards the Hua Xu Realm. She paused, thoughtfully watching the carriage recede, feeling something off. Shaking her head and gently touching the warm medicine jar, Ning Songwu laughed lightly and continued walking. Upon reaching the Hua Xu Realm cave entrance, she didn’t find the anticipated scene of her master and Shen Yue playing chess. Instead, at the cave entrance, the very carriage she had just seen was parked, surrounded by some people. With mild curiosity, Ning Songwu approached. As she rounded the carriage, she was suddenly hugged tightly by someone, nearly toppling her medicine jar. “Ning Songwu!! You’re alive!” He Lan Mianmian's familiar, playful voice sounded in her ear, filled with joy and petulance. Ning Songwu gently deflected her with one hand while steadying the medicine jar with the other. “Why did you and Cen Ran leave me alone in Northern Punishment and sneak off to Kunlun?! I had such a hard time finding you!” He Lan Mianmian huffed and pushed Ning Songwu’s shoulder, almost spilling the medicine jar again. “I knew you wouldn’t be back for a while, so I came looking for you. Look, I brought your sword; you left it behind.” As she spoke, He Lan Mianmian handed over a carefully wrapped Feng Feather Sword to Ning Songwu. Ning Songwu took it and cast a glance at He Lan Mianmian. “You just got bored in Northern Punishment and used this as an excuse to go down the mountain.” “No…” He Lan Mianmian raised her brows with a smile. Cen Ran walked over and placed a hand on He Lan Mianmian’s shoulder. “Ning Songwu, are you through with everything?” “Senior sister… you didn’t go back? Why didn’t I see you when I woke up?” “I had returned a few days ago, but on the way back, I happened to meet He Lan Mianmian and Shen Xue heading to Kunlun, so I had to come along again…” “Yeah, I was going to Kunlun, but the disciples guarding the gate wouldn’t let me down the mountain. Luckily, I met the young master of Chaos Valley, who helped me out and brought me here.” He Lan Mianmian smiled adoringly, “Shen Xue is so gentle and knowledgeable, with a bunch of little mechanical gadgets…” “Indeed, she must have charmed you, making you stick to her all this time,” Cen Ran squinted with a smile. Ning Songwu looked past He Lan Mianmian and Cen Ran, only seeing Bo Xue and Shen Yue chatting. Shen Xue and Ran Fan Yin were nowhere to be seen. They must be inside. Just as Ning Songwu was about to enter the Hua Xu Realm, Cen Ran stopped her. “Master isn’t inside. She and the young mistress have gone to Bei Luo Cliff.” Ning Songwu nodded and walked towards Bei Luo Cliff with the jar of medicine. “Ning Songwu…” He Lan Mianmian tried to follow but was pulled back by Cen Ran, who grabbed her collar and yanked her. “What do you want to do now? Can’t you stay away from your precious Shen Xue for even a moment?” Cen Ran coldly snorted before letting go of He Lan Mianmian’s collar and turning around with a flick of her sleeve. He Lan Mianmian quickly grabbed Cen Ran. “Cen Ran, it’s not…” “Let go.” Cen Ran slightly turned her head, her tone indifferent. “Why are you so angry!” He Lan Mianmian desperately scratched her head, anxious over Cen Ran’s change in behavior. “These past days, how many words have you spoken to me? And how many to the young mistress? If you like Shen Xue that much, why are you pulling at me now?”