191 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

"Why... why are you crying?" Ran Fanyin's voice was ethereal, like a wisp of lonely smoke. "Because I care about you, Master. I love you, Master!" Ning Song Wu could no longer suppress her emotions. She had never felt such an urgent need to speak her feelings. Seeing Ran Fanyin's fragile state deeply pained her heart. She was terrified that if her master closed her eyes in that moment, she would never get the chance to confess. "Ning Song Wu... I love you too..." A tear slid down Ran Fanyin’s cheek, soaking the pillow beneath her head. "You are my disciple... my junior... my beloved apprentice..." "No, it’s not like that. My feelings for you aren’t those of a junior towards an elder. I love you, Master, it's..." "No... don't say it... You are just my junior, just my disciple. I am your master, your teacher..." Ran Fanyin covered her eyes with the back of her right hand, fighting back tears she couldn’t understand. "Impossible, Master, impossible. How can you deceive me and yourself?" "Ning Song Wu..." Ran Fanyin extended her right hand with difficulty and touched Ning Song Wu's head. "In my eyes... you will always be a child, always my junior..." With sudden intensity, Ning Song Wu grabbed Ran Fanyin’s hand, pinning it by her side. She flipped over and straddled Ran Fanyin, clutching her chin, and kissed her forcefully. If last time she had the excuse of being drunk, what about this time? Ran Fanyin could no longer bear it. She struggled weakly but to no avail. Ning Song Wu kissed her desperately, crying as she spoke, "Master... I love you... I love you..." Summoning all her strength, Ran Fanyin pushed Ning Song Wu away harshly, turning her face outward and coughing up a mouthful of blood. The bright red blood stained the white sheets, painfully stark. Ran Fanyin clutched the edge of the bed, coughing violently. Her chin was stained with blood, her inner energy swirling chaotically, disrupting her meridians, which caused her to continuously cough up blood. "Master... Master!" Ning Song Wu was terrified. She quickly held onto Ran Fanyin, struggling to find a way to help. "Cough... cough... Ning Song Wu, do you remember what I said when I first took you as my disciple..." Ran Fanyin stared at Ning Song Wu with her bloodshot eyes. "Master! Please don't speak, you've lost so much blood..." Ning Song Wu grabbed a nearby towel, frantically wiping away the alarming amount of blood. "I said... respect your elders, follow the rules, do not defy or act out... If you do not turn back now, I will expel you from the sect, you rebellious disciple..." "Master, I was wrong, I was wrong, it’s my fault! Please don’t speak anymore. I will never defy you again, please don’t expel me, don’t be angry... don’t get so mad that you spit blood..." Ning Song Wu cried, her face drenched in tears. Seeing the frightening bloodstains on Ran Fanyin’s previously immaculate white clothes, she suddenly hated herself. Why? Why did everything she do turn out to be wrong? Ran Fanyin bit her lip hard, her hand gripping the edge of the bed trembling uncontrollably. She closed her eyes, tears silently streaming down her pale cheeks. Why do people cry? Because they are heartbroken. Because they can’t get what they seek, because they can’t let go, because they have hopes that end in disappointment, so they cry. Ran Fanyin, who once ignored her own life and death, who endured excruciating pain without shedding a tear, was now crying. --- Chapter 74: Stifled Anger The next day at noon. When Ran Fanyin woke up, she felt disoriented. She hadn’t slept so soundly in a long time. She shook her head slightly, gradually waking up, and realized something heavy was pressing on her body. Looking down, she saw Qier clinging to her, sleeping soundly. Ran Fanyin's gaze softened unusually, and she gently patted Qier's head. The child's hair was unbelievably soft, melting her heart. "Master, you're awake. Do you want to get up now?" A maid asked from nearby. Ran Fanyin nodded, gently waking Qier. The child woke up bleary-eyed, looking around in confusion. When her eyes met Ran Fanyin's, her face instantly lit up with a bright smile. Ran Fanyin got up and straightened her clothes, realizing that her sleeping posture last night had caused her body to ache all over. She frowned slightly, and the maid asked cautiously, "Master, hot water is ready in your bath chamber. Do you wish to bathe now?" Ran Fanyin nodded, feeling grime-covered and eager to wash up. But... she glanced at Qier, wide-eyed and watching her. She feared the child couldn’t be left alone. "Look after her, dress her and do her hair. I’ll come back soon." "Master, today is the third day of the twelfth month. You had an appointment with Jiang Yue at the Forging Sword Pool." Ran Fanyin paused, remembering the commitment she made to her senior brother Jiang Yue. But then, what about the child? The room had many fragile antiques that could be broken... Never mind, it was more urgent to find Jiang Yue. Ran Fanyin sighed, "Call Cen Ran to take care of her. I'll be back later." After freshening up, she donned a simple, elegant white robe and headed to the Forging Sword Pool. Ran Fanyin always felt a sense of ease whenever she sought a sword from Jiang Yue. Jiang Yue's crafted famous swords were fewer than ten, and the Glory and Decay Pavilion owned three: belonging to Ran Fanyin and her two apprentices. This bond between them was evident to anyone, clearly showing how much Jiang Yue cherished his little junior sister. When Ran Fanyin arrived at the Forging Sword Pool, Jiang Yue was facing away, intently studying the pool. At this moment, Ran Fanyin appeared as her twenty-year-old self, having achieved immortality at the same age as Jiang Yue. The twenty-year-old youth had a tall and graceful back, his hair tied with a white jade lotus crown, and the common white robes of the Northern Punishment Sect radiated a unique charm when he wore them. Noticing Ran Fanyin's arrival, Jiang Yue turned and smiled slightly, "Ran Fanyin." Jiang Yue's gentle and tranquil demeanor mirrored Ran Fanyin’s, and his distinguished features were unmatched—no wonder the female disciples of Northern Punishment Sect all regarded Jiang Yue as their dream lover.