194 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

Yuaner's heart eased a little. "Is this monster really that powerful, even you can't handle her, Master?" Ran Fan Yin closed her eyes; they were tied together, and every time Yuaner moved, it caused an itch on her back, making her blush slightly. Still, she responded in a calm voice, “No, there's a formation here.” If not for falling into a trap, how could Ran Fan Yin have been defeated? Yuaner, facing away from Ran Fan Yin, couldn't see her expression. Accepting that struggling was futile, she relaxed. “Master, can't you break this rope?” “No.” Ran Fan Yin studied the rope binding them, feeling a bit puzzled. She didn't know Chen Siting, yet this Chen Siting seemed to know her weaknesses very well. Golden light flowed through the rope binding them, and as Ran Fan Yin moved slightly, runes appeared on the rope. Sensing Ran Fan Yin's movement, Yuaner asked, “Master, have you discovered anything?” “Not yet.” Resigned to their fate, Yuaner found Ran Fan Yin more agreeable. She teased, “It's a pity, stopping in life at the tender age of sixteen, still so radiant.” Despite her distaste for her nominal master, she had to admit Ran Fan Yin's looks were to her liking. She continued, “Dying with Master isn't too bad.” Ran Fan Yin seemed moved, pausing before softly replying, “It won't happen. Your life is still long.” “Yeah, Master, you've lived for five hundred years. I'm the one who is more pitiful.” “...That’s not what I meant.” “Not what you meant? Does Master have a way to escape?” “I…” Caught off guard by Yuaner's words, Ran Fan Yin suddenly didn't know how to respond. She intended to comfort Yuaner, but it seemed Yuaner was more accepting of their situation. Unexpectedly, this seemingly clumsy master made Yuaner laugh. Ran Fan Yin's face reddened further, but she maintained her composure and the authoritative tone of a master. “The situation is dire, why are you laughing?” Yuaner laughed so hard her stomach hurt. She wanted to wipe the tears from her eyes but couldn't in their current predicament. She continued to jest, “Master, that monster captured you but didn’t kill you, maybe she's enamored by your beauty.” For centuries, no one dared jest with Ran Fan Yin due to her formidable power and cold demeanor, which led others to revere and not provoke her. Thus, Yuaner was quite honored to be the first to tease her. Ran Fan Yin felt embarrassed and angry. She thought her disciple was boldly reckless and remembered a lesson from her master. Returning the favor in kind. She quickly replied, “You were caught too, isn't she enamored with you?” Yuaner was immediately choked by the words. Although the monster could transform into a beautiful woman, its true form was a skeleton, making Yuaner entirely reject the idea. As revenge, Yuaner was about to retort but heard her master's voice first: “She’s coming.” Sure enough, there was a creaking sound at the cave entrance. Yuaner turned to look and saw Chen Siting. This time, Chen Siting hadn't taken human form. Two red ghost fires flickered in her hollow eye sockets. Still, with an old voice, she said, “Didn't expect a young girl like you to break my illusion.” “You flatter me, elder.” Ignoring Yuaner, Chen Siting stared directly into Ran Fan Yin's eyes. Seeing the Qing Shuang Zun Zhe (Respected Azure Frost) without a trace of fear, she couldn't help but suspect whether this person still had a hidden move. Feeling a bit more at ease, she took another step back with a smile, “Qing Shuang Zun Zhe, aren't you resentful for falling into the hands of a little demon like me?” “You are no demon.” Ran Fan Yin initially thought she was a skeleton spirit, but seeing her now, she detected a mix of human, ghost, and demon aura—a very peculiar combination. Startled, Chen Siting took another step back. Yuaner noticed Chen Siting's small movements and devised a plan to scare the monster. But falsehoods remain false. Yuaner didn't respond to her words but instead pushed her away, then attempted to cast a healing spell on herself, finding it ineffective. Realizing it was pointless, Yuaner stopped wasting energy. She staggered forward, determined to leave. She had finally found meaning in her life, and her master was waiting for her. “Don't go!” Yuaner was taken aback when she felt her ankle grabbed. She looked down at Yuaner with an emotionless voice, “Let go of me.” Yuaner's white hair was soiled with grime as she pleaded tearfully, “You can't leave. If you go, I'll be all alone!” “Are you even human?” “Do you really care that I'm a demon?” “You are an illusion. The real Yuaner died right in front of me.” Yuaner cried, “You hate me that much? I did nothing wrong!” Her clingy and tearful demeanor matched the Yuaner in Yuaner’s memories, leaving Yuaner puzzled. Why was this rabbit demon so obsessed with her? Even knowing everything here was illusory, Yuaner couldn't help but ask, "Why are you so fixated on me?" Yuaner trembled not because of the illusion but because of the haunting memories. An illusion responds to the heart. It can sense the emotions and memories of those who enter but cannot comprehend the motives behind those memories. And this question was Yuaner's confusion. She never expected an answer, so the illusionary Yuaner froze. She stopped crying, evading the question weakly, “Stay, and I'll tell you.”