202 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

So Lin Yuxue rambled on while she just softly responded with a few murmurs of affirmation. After ensuring she had conveyed everything necessary, Lin Yuxue departed from Chaolu Peak. Watching Lin Yuxue walk away, Ning Songwu turned and entered her room. She placed the items in her hands onto the table. Having been on the run for so long, she was feeling a bit tired. In the room, there was a small bed, and Ning Songwu lay down on it, resting her hands behind her head, facing the ceiling with her eyes closed. A gentle breeze blew, and Ning Songwu hadn't closed the window, not that closing it would have stopped Ran Fanyin. Ran Fanyin entered Ning Songwu's room, observing the girl who had already fallen into a restless sleep, her brows slightly furrowed. Ran Fanyin waved her hand to cast a detection spell, although she wasn’t particularly skilled in this area of magic, being more adept at combat. One spell later, the girl’s brows furrowed even tighter but showed no other changes. It seemed she was just an ordinary girl plagued by nightmares. Discouraged, Ran Fanyin ceased her spell, feeling she had messed things up. Cultivators come in many varieties; some can move mountains and fill seas, while others can calculate heavenly secrets, though these are often unpredictable, and those who receive divine insights typically have short lifespans. Ran Fanyin's master, Cen Ran, was a powerful diviner. Four hundred years ago, on his deathbed, he predicted the return of the Demon Emperor to the world, leading to the decline of the human race. Following his prophecy, Ran Fanyin found Bailu Village, but there she only discovered a lowly demon fish. The only other possible clue was this girl lying on the bed, but this child was clearly not of demon lineage. To avoid causing panic in the cultivation world, Ran Fanyin kept this information hidden for four hundred years. While Ran Fanyin was deep in thought, Ning Songwu woke up. Upon opening her eyes, she saw a woman in green standing by the bed. Puzzled, Ning Songwu got up and mimicked the gatekeeper disciples to salute, saying, "Headmaster." Snapping out of her reverie, Ran Fanyin looked at Ning Songwu and asked in a somewhat indifferent tone, "Have you acclimated?" Ning Songwu was even more puzzled, wondering why this esteemed figure would have time to care about someone as insignificant as herself. Her curiosity contorted into her tone, "Disciple has adapted well, but what brings the Headmaster here?" Of course, Ran Fanyin couldn't reveal the real reason. After pondering the situation, she still found Ning Songwu highly suspicious but didn’t want to kill an innocent without certainty. "Would you be willing to become my disciple?" The cold voice reached Ning Songwu's ears. She was wide-eyed with surprise, but not wanting to become some hero, she immediately refused without a second thought, "This disciple’s aptitude is too poor; Headmaster should find someone better." Ran Fanyin disliked being close to others and had never taken an apprentice. As one of the strongest warriors of humanity, practically a legend, countless individuals sought to become Ran Fanyin's disciple. If it got out that Ning Songwu had refused Ran Fanyin, she’d likely be drowned in the scorn of the world. Ran Fanyin hadn't expected to be rebuffed. Surprised, she said, "You need not consider anything else. I simply ask if you are willing." "Not willing. I ask the Headmaster to seek a more suitable disciple." Ning Songwu's firm response was even more resolute. She didn't want to be anything other than someone who just drifts through life. From Ran Fanyin herself, she felt disgust because she detested the strong and the cold-hearted, traits Ran Fanyin embodied. Sensing the girl’s resentment, Ran Fanyin was angered, her voice turning even colder, her expression more severe, "This is not up to you." Ning Songwu suddenly found herself unable to move as Ran Fanyin picked her up like a chick and took her onto a flying sword, angrily heading towards Chaoci Peak, where Ran Fanyin resided. This time, Ran Fanyin didn't cast a spell to block the wind, and Ning Songwu felt cold. To avoid falling off, she grabbed onto Ran Fanyin's waist tightly. Ning Songwu could feel Ran Fanyin's body stiffen, and the sword's speed decreased. The cold wind also disappeared, indicating Ran Fanyin had cast a spell. Ran Fanyin's voice sounded somewhat awkward, "Let go of me." Feeling Ran Fanyin's resistance, Ning Songwu held on tighter, feigning fear, "I'm scared." Seeing Ning Songwu's tear-filled eyes and overawed expression, Ran Fanyin felt a pang of guilt, thinking, "It's just a child. Why be angry with her?" He lifted a hand to pat Ning Songwu's head, "Don't be scared, we're almost there." Ning Songwu felt a surge of discomfort, swearing internally that she would make Ran Fanyin pay if given the chance. She imagined such a cold and powerful person crying must be quite a sight. Ran Fanyin couldn’t see Ning Songwu's hidden smirk. Awkwardly, she continued to pat Ning Songwu's head, trying to offer some comfort, unaware that this child was actually a little wolf cub. Before she could sort out her thoughts, the main hall doors were opened by two disciples, "You may enter." Pingzilai appeared to be a young man of around twenty-six or twenty-seven, his demeanor dignified and gentle, resembling Jiang Yue, though his features were a bit more rugged. His gaze swept over the new disciples, pausing momentarily on Ning Songwu. It seemed very timely that Ran Fanyin had brought her just as a new batch had arrived. Hopefully, this child wouldn't be too unruly. "Find a seat for yourselves. Today there will be no lessons; I'll explain the basics of our sect to you..." Ning Songwu had just picked a seat at a corner when Hehlan Mianmian, the girl who had spoken to her earlier, sat down beside her with a bright smile. Seeing Hehlan Mianmian's adorable face, Ning Songwu felt her mood improve significantly. Pingzilai picked up a teacup in front of him to moisten his throat and continued, "You are now at the Hongfei Pavilion, located on the southeastern peak. The eastern section is the Pill Refinery, the southern section is the Sword Training Ground, adjacent to the Sword Training Ground is the Sword Competition Platform. To the west, there's the Library of the Northern Punishment Palace, and in the southwest corner is the Sword Forging Pool. Except for the Sword Competition Platform and the Sword Forging Pool, you may visit these places at any time..." Hehlan Mianmian, thoroughly engrossed, whispered to Ning Songwu, "The Northern Punishment Palace is so big. I got lost while looking for the Hongfei Pavilion with a map just a couple of days ago."