172 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

In the realm of Huaxu, tea and wine are indispensable. Bao Xue sighed and brought out a few jars of wine, pouring full cups for everyone present. Cang Min tossed aside some melon seeds, grasped the wine with both hands, a hint of unseriousness in his expression: "This time we part ways, I only wish you well." "Be well," Ran Fan Yin toasted Cang Min, then drank the wine in her hand. The world is unpredictable, with countless twists and turns, yet the simplest and most precious wish is to be well and carefree. "Ah Yin, in this life, I've had few to open my heart to. Our friendship needs no more words. From now on, no matter when, you'll always be my closest friend. Whatever the matter, I, Cang Min, am willing to go through fire and water for you!" "We've known each other for more than a few decades, why say these things?" Ran Fan Yin smiled and returned the wine cup. Cang Min, his eyes reddening, smiled: "When parting, it's hard not to feel sentimental. For the sake of our many years of friendship, I won't ask you to pay for that big red sandalwood bed. Take care of yourself, you quiet one, don't be too dull and bore the ones around you." "I understand," Ran Fan Yin replied softly. "With the vast landscapes, we idly miss the distance; fallen flowers sleep with the wind, hurting more for spring. I won't send you off, have a safe journey." Cang Min bowed, turned, and walked back to the entrance of the Huaxu realm, sitting by the door, drinking alone. Ran Fan Yin, Ning Song Wu, and Lin Yu Xue boarded the carriage together, casting one last nostalgic glance at the Huaxu realm. With the vast landscapes, we idly miss the distance; fallen flowers sleep with the wind, hurting more for spring. Better to cherish those before your eyes. That was Cang Min's final advice to her, to cherish those before her eyes. The three of them shared a carriage, with Wuji, Wugong, and Wuming following on horseback behind them. Ran Fan Yin gazed faintly out the carriage window as if lost in thought. Lin Yu Xue and Ning Song Wu engaged in idle chatter. "The first time I met Venerable Ran Fan Yin, I was just a tiny child," Lin Yu Xue said with a light laugh, "Years have flown by, and I feel like I'm aging. Look at her, she's still the same, it honestly doesn't feel fair." Ning Song Wu, reminiscing about his childhood, smiled too: "Indeed, the first time I saw my master, I was only seven. I could never have imagined that after ten or twenty years, I'd be growing gray hair while she'd remain unchanged." "You can't compare yourself to ordinary people; you're cultivators, after all, known for longevity." "I'm different from others," Ning Song Wu shook his head, his brows slightly furrowed, "I had poor aptitude from a young age, likely unsuited for cultivation. In the future, at most, my martial skills will surpass others, but as for longevity..." "Impossible. I see the structure of your bones is extraordinary; perhaps a master of martial arts in your lineage. If you're lacking in cultivation and martial arts, it's probably due to other reasons later in life." Lin Yu Xue nodded firmly. "What does the little valley master mean by that?" "I don't know much about it, but I can guess. You probably suffered some fatal injury in your childhood, which destroyed your natural foundation, causing your current shortcomings." "My childhood... It's blurry. Master never mentioned it," Ning Song Wu frowned, pondered, and glanced at the silent Ran Fan Yin, "Master?" Ran Fan Yin, as if coming out of a trance, looked dazedly at Ning Song Wu, "What is it?" "Nothing much. What were you thinking about?" Ning Song Wu smiled. Ran Fan Yin was silent for a moment, then pondered briefly, "Am I really that dull?" Ning Song Wu was taken aback, remembering Cang Min's parting words: "You're so quiet, don't bore those around you," and couldn't help but laugh. So, Master had been thinking about this. Lin Yu Xue suppressed a smile: "Yes, very dull." "Quite, incredibly dull," Ning Song Wu added with a smile. Ran Fan Yin paused, then solemnly lowered her head in deep thought. After a while, she looked up at Ning Song Wu: "What should I do to be more interesting?" "You're fine as you are. Your cool demeanor is your charm," Ning Song Wu laughed. Ran Fan Yin turned to look out the window, whispering, "I fear you finding me boring." "Not at all, if you suddenly spoke more, I'd find it unsettling." Ning Song Wu gently squeezed Ran Fan Yin's hand, held behind her back. "No matter what, you should lie down and rest," Ran Fan Yin gently advised. "I'm in pain," Ning Song Wu murmured. Ran Fan Yin sat up, holding Ning Song Wu's hand, "Does your wound hurt? Or..." "Everywhere hurts," Ning Song Wu nodded. "Then you..." "If you don’t take off your clothes, it'll hurt more." Ran Fan Yin immediately understood Ning Song Wu’s intentions, her face reddened further, and she fell silent. After a long while, Ran Fan Yin softly asked, "Do you really have to... do this..." "I want you. Otherwise, how can I believe this isn't a dream?" Ning Song Wu tenderly touched Ran Fan Yin's face. She loved Ning Song Wu so much it hurt, loved her to the point of fearing she wasn't real. Ran Fan Yin lowered her eyes in deep contemplation. Finally, she sighed, "It is inevitable, eventually..." She knew she loved her little disciple, Ning Song Wu, and would be spending a long time together. Such things, after all, were not unheard of. Though she never wished to try it herself, now, Ning Song Wu seemed to need her. For Ning Song Wu, she could accept it... She just wanted Ning Song Wu to be a bit happier. Ran Fan Yin dared not look at Ning Song Wu, lowered her head, and slowly undid her sash. They still had a lot of time, a lot. "Having someone to care for is rare enough, staying together is even rarer," Cang Min's eyes were like water, his grip on his clothes so tight his knuckles showed. Cang Min left some more elixirs, then donned his coat and left. When Ning Song Wu began to regain consciousness, he had no idea how long he had been asleep. He just felt as though his body was about to fall apart, so exhausted that he couldn't even lift his eyelids.