224 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

Ran Fan Yin struggled to open her eyes, barely making out the image of a crimson pool within the sword’s range. It seemed like... all she could see was red. "Senior Brother..." Jiang Yue hastily responded, "Yes, yes, I didn’t deceive you." "Senior Brother... help me up..." The surrounding qi felt like it had suddenly been drained away. Her body couldn’t handle the severe loss of blood and qi, and she collapsed, barely conscious. Jiang Yue immediately caught Ran Fan Yin, and without a second thought, carried her and dashed towards the alchemy house. "Senior Brother... you’d better be at the alchemy house..." Jiang Yue glanced down at Ran Fan Yin's pallid complexion, mumbling softly under his breath. Chapter 86 - The Move Though it was also winter, the hustle and bustle of the Jianghu was markedly different from the serene silence atop the Northern Punishment Mountain. The lively bustling of human activity was palpable. In an unassuming teahouse frequented by Jianghu adventurers, martial artists from various sects came in to drink a warm cup of tea or a bowl of hot wine. Each sect's disciples, armed with swords or blades, sat in groups of twos and threes. Among the crowd were both seasoned masters hiding their skills and young novices eager to prove themselves, adding to the chaotic vibrancy of the scene. In the teahouse's corner sat a man dressed in black with a face entirely shrouded by a black veil. He exuded an air of quiet unobtrusiveness. Beside him sat a stern-looking man with a sword strapped to his back. The two silently sipped their tea, awaiting their orders. At the neighboring table were four disciples from the Huashan Sect, all appearing to be from the younger generation. Their attire, the distinct white robes of Huashan disciples, was striking. From another corner, a few female disciples from Mingxiu Palace frequently cast admiring glances their way. The eldest of the Huashan disciples advised, "You three, it’s your first time down the mountain, remember to be cautious and mind your words. Don’t provoke anyone strange." "Yes, Uncle Master. But what kind of people should we avoid?" the youngest disciple inquired. Another disciple with a lazy, frivolous demeanor interjected, "Hey, have all the meals you’ve had over the years gone to waste? Didn’t Master say that the current overlords of the Jianghu—the Burning Heaven Gate of the East Sea, the Chaotic Flower Valley in the Central Plains, the Mingxiu Palace in the South, the Tang Family Fortress in Bashu, and the Northern Punishment Palace—are not to be trifled with?" "That’s not entirely correct. Each faction has its own alignment of right and wrong. Like the Northern Punishment Palace, they are people who cultivate the Way and should be befriended; whereas the Chaotic Flower Valley and the Tang Family Fortress have a dubious reputation and cannot be judged definitively." "If you ask me, the Mingxiu Palace, which is entirely composed of female disciples, is overflowing with yin energy. Though they have remained peaceful over the years, each of those women is a bringer of misfortune. Outwardly holy, but within their palace, there’s debauchery all night long, disregarding the righteous path..." The frivolous disciple scoffed again, "Righteous? Wicked? It’s all rubbish! There’s no absolute right or wrong. Those conceited priests from the Northern Punishment Palace pretend to be noble, but who knows what sordid deeds they’re hiding!" "We shouldn’t judge them too harshly. But in any case, if you see someone from the Burning Heaven Gate, especially Jiang Wan, steer clear!" "That’s true. The Burning Heaven Gate is evil to the core, committing every imaginable crime. I heard they have grudges against the Northern Punishment Palace and Chaotic Flower Valley as well..." The sword-bearing man at the neighboring table twitched, slamming his cup on the table in mounting rage. The black-veiled man beside him calmly pressed down on his companion's hand, shaking his head slightly. "Master!" The sword-bearing man growled softly in anger. "Let them be. It’s nothing but the idle chatter of uninformed youths," the black-veiled man replied, his voice steady and composed as he took a leisurely sip of tea. On his right index finger was a striking ring with a large green gemstone, a symbol of his extraordinary status. The chattering Huashan disciples continued their conversation. Before the black-veiled man could finish his cup of tea, an unexpected commotion erupted. A group entered the small teahouse, led by a girl in a green dress, who appeared no older than fifteen or sixteen. Her features were delicately painted, radiant and captivating. Her long, loose black hair cascaded to her thighs, tied with a single hairband, exuding a simple elegance. The girl’s gaze was sharp, with a latent fury in her eyes, her countenance like rippling spring water in April, blending gentleness with a hint of lethal intent. Such beauty instantly hushed the teahouse, drawing all eyes to the girl and her retinue of green-clad guards, each person wondering about her presence. "The Young Valley Master of Chaotic Flower Valley! Why is she here?" whispered one of the Huashan disciples, their voices filled with curiosity and caution. "It’s her, Lin Yu Xue, the Young Valley Master... Is there some movement in Chaotic Flower Valley? Why hasn't there been any news..." "That little girl, isn’t the Valley Master of Chaotic Flower Valley very protective of her? Why is she out here suddenly..." News of an esteemed figure from the Blue Jade Mountain accepting a formal disciple had caused quite a stir in the cultivation world, leading many to attend the discipleship ceremony out of curiosity. Ning Song Wu, however, felt indifferent. She still disliked snow cultivation but no longer rejected it outright and had even learned a few spells, mostly healing and prank magic. During her time with Ran Fan Yin, Ning Song Wu realized that her master was a rather dull individual, focused solely on cultivation and pushing her disciple to the same. She could meditate for what seemed like an eternity, a lifestyle Ning Song Wu wanted to keep her distance from. As humanity gradually developed, some matters no longer required Ran Fan Yin's personal intervention. Ning Song Wu planned to attend the ceremony with minimal effort, dressed in her usual attire. However, Lin Yu Xue would not allow it; she arrived at Ning Song Wu's peak early in the morning to help her with her appearance. Ning Song Wu still wore the standard disciples’ robes issued by the sect, white with silver edges, overlaid with a matching sheer garment. At her waist hung a piece of green jade, signifying her identity as a disciple of Blue Jade Mountain. The sect had strict rules against wearing other attire within its boundaries, forcing Lin Yu Xue to abandon her ideas of dressing Ning Song Wu differently. Lin Yu Xue styled Ning Song Wu’s hair into a loose bun with side adornments and placed silver patterned leaf earrings on her ears. She then applied a floral design on Ning Song Wu's forehead and helped shape her eyebrows. Ning Song Wu found the process exasperating. As she felt the urge to blink, Lin Yu Xue warned, "Don’t move." Feeling her neck stiffen, Ning Song Wu looked at Lin Yu Xue, who was meticulously shaping her eyebrows, "Senior Sister, why do I feel like you’re more excited than I am? Don’t you need to cultivate?"