169 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

Ning Songwu nodded, saying nothing, entirely lost in thought. "Listen to me, when you meet Master, don't get too excited; your heart can't take it. And don't make any sudden movements either, your chest injury might tear open. Be good and don't hurt yourself, we don't want to worry about you, understand?" Ning Songwu remained inattentive as if Cen Ran's words had completely passed him by. After a long while, he murmured, "Senior Sister... what time is it?" Cen Ran hugged him tightly, tears streaming from her eyes. "It's You Hour, just one more day and we'll reach Kunlun." "Why did Master... go so far..." Ning Songwu suddenly chuckled, his voice as thin as a willow in the wind. "She usually doesn't even step out of the Rongku Pavilion's gate, this time... why so far..." Cen Ran watched in horror as blood trickled from Ning Songwu's lips, hastily wiping it away with trembling hands. "Stop talking, remember what I said? Your heart is fragile, you mustn't get emotional... Your condition is worsening; we should find an inn to rest for the night..." "Senior Sister, do you think I will die?" Ning Songwu's voice was choked with sobs, his eyes still empty and hollow. "Don't talk nonsense! You won't die, absolutely not..." "But if I am to die... if I can't die by her side, even dying closer to her... I'd be very happy..." Ning Songwu sobbed with a trembling smile, his face contorting. "So don't stop; just keep heading towards Kunlun... But I'm scared, I can feel my body draining... I feel like I'm dying, I'm really scared..." Cen Ran continually soothed him, "Don't talk... Don't cry... You won't die, you're just muddled by the fever, sleep and you'll be fine, just sleep..." "Master... Master..." Ning Songwu mumbled these words, slipping back into a hazy sleep. Cen Ran panicked as the blood continued to seep from Ning Songwu's lips even in sleep, wiping it in vain; the blood even began to flow from his nose, as though his body wanted to drain itself dry. Remembering Ning Songwu's previous words, Cen Ran panicked even more; could he really be... Desperately, Cen Ran poured life-saving rare pills into Ning Songwu's mouth and sealed several key acupoints around his body, barely managing to stabilize him. But Ning Songwu's hand was cold as ice in hers, spiking her anxiety to new heights. Cen Ran and Jinghu had basically gone without sleep for two days and nights. By the time they reached Kunlun, it was the afternoon two days later. Kunlun's architecture was vastly different from the Northern Style but equally grand, with large snow-covered mountains. The sky was now softly sprinkling snowflakes, and the temperature was not warm. Jinghu captured several Kunlun disciples for information, learning that Cang Min and Ran Fanyin had returned five days ago and hadn't left the hidden cave in the Kunlun back mountain since. Cen Ran held the increasingly cold Ning Songwu tighter, thinking, no matter what, the Master must meet Ning Songwu. At the Huaxu boundary, Cen Ran gently woke the slumbering Ning Songwu. "Ning Songwu, wake up, we're here." Ning Songwu struggled to open his eyes, weakly lifting his body. "Here…” "Yes, Master is just beyond that door; I'll help you out." Cen Ran painstakingly helped Ning Songwu up, his frail body nearly collapsing into her arms with every step. Jinghu remained silent at the carriage head. With difficulty, Cen Ran helped Ning Songwu out of the carriage, coincidentally meeting a girl around twenty, holding a basin of water, intending to pour it out. Cen Ran hurriedly called out, "Miss!" The girl turned at the sound, curiously eyeing Cen Ran and the weak Ning Songwu, intrigued by the unlikely duo. "You're... not Kunlun disciples. My name is Bo Xue, how can I help?" "Miss Bo Xue, is Senior Cang Min and our... and Venerable Ran Fanyin inside?" "Yes, they returned a few days ago. My Master and Venerable Ran Fanyin are inside, playing chess like always. Why?" "Venerable Ran Fanyin is our Master, and we need to see her urgently. Could you pass a message and tell Master that Ning Songwu is here to see her?" Cen Ran implored. "Of course... But your companion here is severely injured. A kind word of advice, get her settled and treated quickly, or her life is in danger." Bo Xue glanced worriedly at Ning Songwu's sickly face, shook her head, and went back inside to pour out the water. Just as Bo Xue said, Cang Min and Ran Fanyin were enjoying tea and chess. Ran Fanyin's face was paler, her gaze seemingly falling on the chessboard yet also piercing through to some void. Cang Min didn't mind Ran Fanyin's occasional distraction, peacefully engaged in their slow-paced game. Bo Xue entered, breaking the silence. "Venerable Ran Fanyin, someone is here to see you at the gate, says she's your disciple... oh right, she's called Ning Songwu." Ning Songwu. Ran Fanyin's hand trembled, dropping a black piece onto the board, disrupting the game, her eyes widening. Her voice, when she spoke, was hoarse, "What did you say?" Cang Min tossed his white pieces into the bamboo basket, beginning to clear the disturbed board. "Ah Yin, she's here to see you." Ran Fanyin's throat moved, her eyes fluttering rapidly as if trying to conceal something, joining in clearing the board. Bo Xue tilted her head, "Venerable, will you see her?" "...No. Send her back." Ran Fanyin's voice wavered slightly. "Alright." Bo Xue noticed that Venerable Ran Fanyin had been acting oddly since they arrived at Huaxu; she couldn't put her finger on why. Bo Xue left the room again. Cang Min smoothed the board, gesturing, "Ah Yin, black goes first."