219 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

The night had deepened, and at this moment, Ran Fanyin was buried in handling sect affairs at her desk. The dim candlelight cast flickering shadows, making the words on the paper blur into double. She paused her writing and sipped her tea from a cup nearby. A commotion erupted outside, and suddenly, the door was pushed open. A familiar small figure stumbled in, almost tripping over the high threshold. Ran Fanyin hastily discarded her tea, the liquid splattering and moistening her hand. She didn't care, taking a quick stride forward to catch Ning Songwu, steadying her in her embrace. Ning Songwu's eyes were red like a rabbit's, her hands gripping tightly onto Ran Fanyin's side, panting heavily—clearly not yet recovered from her frantic run. Ran Fanyin naturally began to stroke her back gently, her tone softened, “Why are you here? Are your wounds healed? Are you still mad at me?” Ning Songwu kept panting, too exhausted to respond to Ran Fanyin's questions, but she rubbed her damp head against Ran Fanyin's shoulder incessantly. Ran Fanyin felt that Ning Songwu's back was somewhat sticky. She lifted her hand and saw blood seeping through, frowning, “The wound has reopened. Why didn't you tell me? Come, let me tend to it.” Ran Fanyin tried to pull away to fetch medicine and bandages, but Ning Songwu felt her intention to leave and immediately tightened her grip around Ran Fanyin's neck, pulling her face closer. She didn't want to say anything, didn't want to explain anything. That divine, icy visage of Ran Fanyin was right before her eyes, merely two inches from her nose. She wanted to kiss her. She adored her, adored her immensely, so she wanted to kiss her. If she wanted to, why not do it? Ning Songwu stood on tiptoe, her lips quivering slightly as she kissed Ran Fanyin's forehead. Ran Fanyin, bending slightly to match Ning Songwu's height, stood stunned, momentarily unresponsive. Ning Songwu grew more fervent, clasping Ran Fanyin's flawless face, showering kisses like scattered rain. Her eyebrows, eyes, bridge of her nose, cheeks. In the end, she didn't even know where she was kissing anymore, lost in infinitely drawing closer to Ran Fanyin, her beloved master, whom she adored deeply. Then she felt her lips touch a spot particularly soft. The sensation in that instant was perfect, like a piece of early winter snow, cool and sweet. Ran Fanyin snapped out of her daze, pulling the frantic Ning Songwu away in shock, fingers brushing over her lips, now tinged with an unfamiliar feeling. Ning Songwu continued to pant, staring intently at her. **Chapter 84: The Demon Palace** After Ran Fanyin left, everything in the process of making dumplings went smoothly. Ning Songwu had been occasionally frequenting the kitchen for a few years, learning to cook some dishes, persistently imploring the chef to teach her, and had picked up quite a bit. Cen Ran had the fortune of tasting Ning Songwu's dishes a few times. Ning Songwu's culinary skills were excellent, but for some reason, her creations always leaned toward being sweet. Cen Ran assumed it was because Ning Songwu hadn't grown up yet and still preferred sweet, sugary things. Luo Sheng suddenly ran in, sniffing around, grinning mischievously, “Apprentice sisters, are the dumplings in the pot yet?” Cen Ran, who was wrapping dumplings, lightly tapped Luo Sheng's head with her flour-dusted hand, “Out! You'll only make a mess in here.” “Oh dear, you've gotten bold! How dare you hit your senior brother?” Luo Sheng exclaimed, laughing loudly. Ning Songwu, still annoyed by her flour-covered self, saw the target in front of her and smirked coldly. Senior brother, don't blame me for being unkind. She picked up a bowl of flour from the side and poured it over Luo Sheng's head. “Ning Songwu!!!” Luo Sheng roared. Cen Ran laughed so hard she bent over, almost laughing her intestines out at the sight of Luo Sheng's flour-covered face. Suddenly, He Lanmianmian popped her head out from behind Luo Sheng, “Phew, luckily I let big brother go in first. Ning Songwu, I told you to wait for me, couldn't you hold on for a moment?” He Lanmianmian was sixteen this year, her features had matured. Her rounded eyes with long lashes were adorably captivating, her features delicate and noble, much like Ning Songwu—both seemed out of place in the serene, austere realm of cultivation. Just looking at her face, you’d think she was about to playfully wink at you. As soon as Cen Ran saw He Lanmianmian, she immediately stifled her laughter and continued with her work. Ning Songwu smiled, “I promised Master to come back for dinner, waiting for you? If I waited, we’d miss dinner. Weren't you busy flirting with Senior Brother Jinghu at Hongfei Pavilion...” “Shut up! I was not!” He Lanmianmian hurriedly stopped Ning Songwu, glancing at Cen Ran, whose expression darkened further. “Luo He Lanmianmian! It's all your fault! If you hadn't asked me to bring you to Cen Ran...” Luo Sheng shouted. He Lanmianmian scoffed, “Brother, can you be any more accurate in finding someone to blame? If you can’t bear to blame your dear little apprentice sister Ning Songwu, just say so, but I didn't expect you could…” “What’s all this noise? If you want to argue, get out!” Cen Ran glared at He Lanmianmian. He Lanmianmian immediately scurried over to Cen Ran’s side, “Cen Ran Sister, are you really willing to be mad at me? You haven’t come to see me at Hongfei Pavilion for half a month…” “Don’t touch me, stay away.” Cen Ran shrugged off He Lanmianmian’s hand, her expression cold. “Cen Ran Sister… believe me, I never did anything with Senior Brother Jinghu…” He Lanmianmian looked pleadingly at Cen Ran. Ning Songwu, quick to read the room, stopped wrapping dumplings and grabbed Luo Sheng, pulling him out while saying, “Let's go and let them talk in peace,” and swiftly closed the door behind them as they left. He Lanmianmian was pleased to see her roommate understanding and pulling her brother away, but the ordeal ahead still troubled her. “Cen Ran Sister.” He Lanmianmian shamelessly sidled closer again. Cen Ran focused on her dumpling-making, showing no intention of responding to He Lanmianmian. “Cen Ran Sister, I really didn’t do anything with Senior Brother Jinghu. Don't listen to Ning Songwu’s nonsense.” He Lanmianmian continued to plead.