244 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

At this moment, Ran Fanyin just wanted to shut Ning Songwu up. Every word she said, and every joyous expression, was piercing her conscience. The person full of lies was not Ning Songwu, but herself, Ran Fanyin. Ran Fanyin fell silent. For the first time, she found herself to be utterly disgusting. Ning Songwu looked up at her master, whose eyes were cast down. She seemed a bit displeased. Ning Songwu thought she might be blaming herself for her injury, so she tried to distract her: "Master, your eyes are so beautiful, they're dark green. Did you inherit them from your father or mother?" Ran Fanyin couldn't answer that question. Looking at her disciple's red eyes, she replied, "Your eyes are beautiful too." In her disciple's eyes, Ran Fanyin saw her own emotionless face as usual. She waved her hand, covering Ning Songwu's eye color, turning it back to its original black. Ning Songwu felt a refreshing sensation in her eyes and couldn't help but blink. The sensation was so dry she wanted to rub her eyes. Ran Fanyin stopped her, saying, "Don't move. What did you encounter in the illusion?" Thinking of Yuan'er, Ning Songwu felt a bit downcast. "Nothing much, just saw an old acquaintance in my dream." "Was this old acquaintance your parents?" Ning Songwu shook her head, "Not this time. It was my only friend." She glanced nervously at her master's expression. "Master, if I practice diligently and my strength increases, will I have to kill demons?" Ran Fanyin grew cautious. "Why would you ask that?" Noticing her master's displeasure, Ning Songwu quickly explained, "Master, it's not that I pity the demon race. I'm afraid you'd be angry, but my only friend was a rabbit demon. After my parents were gone, she took me in and cared for me with great attention. But when I found out she was a demon, driven by my hatred for demons, I... led cultivators to kill her. I didn't really mean it, I just wanted to escape, but I didn't expect..." Pausing for a moment, Ning Songwu continued, "I felt so guilty, so I've been avoiding cultivation, fearing I'd become an indiscriminate executioner. I..." "Then you must become strong to protect yourself. What is gone cannot be chased. I'm not asking you to do anything." However, Ran Fanyin thought about whether Ning Songwu's red eyes were because of that rabbit demon. She gently placed Ning Songwu back into the bed, her hands busy, but her mind elsewhere. Ning Songwu, watching her master, felt a great relief as she saw that the issue troubling her for so many years seemed unimportant to her master. "Not only will I protect myself, but I will also protect you, Master, even if it costs me my life." Ran Fanyin felt deep discomfort. The last time she felt this bad was when her master passed away. Then, she felt the sorrow of parting; now, it was the guilt of being a deceiver. Feeling she couldn't stay in the room any longer, Ran Fanyin stood up and walked out. "That's unnecessary. After all, I'm very strong and don't need your protection." Ning Songwu watched Ran Fanyin's hurried back and assumed her master was just shy again, finding it amusing. She thought, "Master has been in this world for so many years, yet she's always so shy." The bell hung around Ning Songwu's neck once again. She raised her hand and pulled it out from her collar. The bell was transparent, with a similarly transparent small ball inside. It usually made no sound, only ringing when Ning Songwu was in danger. Closing her eyes and holding it in her hands, Ning Songwu silently vowed, "I'll treat this as a token of our bond." Ran Fanyin fled from the room. Once she was a distance away, she slowed down, observing the bustling disciples of Zhenqi Sect. Everyone was chatting and laughing, not noticing her presence. Standing there, Ran Fanyin felt out of place in this world. She thought of her master's words, which were indeed true: keeping too close to others only brought sorrow. "Why does the esteemed one stand here?" It was Helan Mianmian who approached her. He had also gotten separated in the formation and had the bad luck to encounter several high-level wandering corpses. His face and hands were still wrapped in bandages, making him look like a mummy. Seeing him in this state, Ran Fanyin felt speechless, but as she wasn't used to conversation, she left directly. Helan Mianmian felt a bit awkward but didn't get angry due to his good temperament. After she left, he headed towards the room where Ning Songwu was being treated, wanting to ask about the formation spirit. Chapter 97: The Toast Ran Fanyin's formidable reputation was well-known. Even though she was controlled, Chen Siting was still deeply wary and had to be even more cautious. Covering her face with her sleeve, Chen Siting revealed her true appearance once she dropped the sleeve. "If I'm not a demon, what am I? Has the esteemed one become muddleheaded?" She always kept a certain distance from Ran Fanyin, not seeming eager to take action. Ran Fanyin merely looked at her without speaking. Under her gaze, Chen Siting felt her non-existent heart racing faster, her hand hanging at her side clenching tightly, doing her utmost to suppress her inner panic. Unlike those she'd met before, who showed fear, greed, or joy, Ran Fanyin's eyes were void of any emotion, like they belonged to something lifeless, hollow. Ning Songwu observed closely and sensed Chen Siting's fear. She loudly diverted her attention, "Pretty senior! Do you truly think you can subdue my master? My master is the strong one who slew the demon emperor five hundred years ago!" Chen Siting's attention shifted to Ning Songwu, nearly forgetting that this little girl named Ning Songwu was also very peculiar, having resisted the erosion of the illusion twice. Chen Siting laughed brightly, teasing, "Little one, you're quite proud of your master. But didn't you just tell me that your master is a bit delicious, and asked me not to eat you?" Upon hearing this, Ran Fanyin couldn't help but glance backward. Ning Songwu, unable to see her master's emotions in her eyes, just felt a pang of anxiety. How could this demon try to sabotage their bond? Ning Songwu thought angrily. However, having been through worldly struggles, she felt this was truly a minor situation.