7 - Crazy! Criticizing the Prime Minister for Being a Servant

She stood in the farthest position, gazing at the six elders seated in the high places. At the center sat the Sect Leader, clad in a jet-black robe, with hair gracefully tied behind; he exuded a commanding presence without needing to raise a voice. On the left were two male elders, in whom she had no interest. On the right were the Third Elder Qin Siyue, who oversaw the Medicine Peak, her own master the Fourth Elder Ran Fan Yin, and the adorable Sixth Elder He Lan Mian Mian, who appeared sparingly in the book. As a reader at that time, she clearly felt that the author had poured effort into writing Ran Fan Yin. Merely reading those scant lines made her almost fall in love with this character, and seeing her now, she was indeed beautiful. Silver hair draped in a half-up, half-down style, a light purple garment that balanced maturity with a bit of lively spirit, and her enchanting phoenix eyes that did not often smile—her slightly drooping eye corners adding a touch of aloofness instead of passion. Even the two female protagonists were not accorded such treatment. But it was understandable. No matter how wonderful and beautiful, in the end, she was just a villain who died under the Demon Lord's sword. The more beautifully written, the more heroic the protagonist would seem upon her death. 【Ran Fan Yin is truly beautiful... If I could go back, I’d pledge my all to her, I’d write for her, I’d establish a Ran Fan cult... Oh heavens, stop playing with me, let me go back.】 The Sect Leader was currently droning on. While listening to the voices, Ran Fan Yin smiled faintly and imperceptibly, lifted her folded fan to cover her face. She understood half of it; it seemed to be praising her. 【Always fanning herself all year, doesn’t she feel cold in winter?】 Ran Fan Yin's hand, lightly shaking the fan, momentarily stiffened. The corners of her mouth fell, she put the folded fan down on her lap. 【Is she tired of fanning? It’s a pity, such a wonderful character killed off by the author... I wonder if she regretted accepting Lin Yu Xue as her disciple later on. Let’s see, the Third Elder was killed by the Demon Lord, the Sect Leader and Sixth Elder died from exhaustion in the final battle... Alas, heroes of this sect! Such a pity. I must leave, if I don’t, I’ll die sooner or later.】 Forced to learn of her own death and that of those around her, Elder Ran sat upright. It seemed the little one had quieted down, perhaps from chanting too much. She began to ponder over this information. Believing it seemed unwarranted, naturally, she wouldn't entirely trust it. This child often muttered mystically, and she could understand only half of the ramblings. But not believing also didn’t sit right, as Heaven made her able to hear the child's voice, it wasn't entirely trustworthy either. In any case, she became more cautious. Lin Yu Xue, it seemed, was that high-quality fire spirit root just now? Not accepting her would be a pity. Ran Fan Yin lowered her eyes, thought for a moment, just as the Sect Leader finished the drivel and began allowing them to select disciples, she lifted her gaze, surveyed the crowd, and said plainly, "Where is the high-quality fire spirit root from earlier?" Lin Yu Xue stepped out from the crowd, standing at the front of the ranks. 【Indeed, as expected, she's chosen Lin Yu Xue first. My dear master, how am I to save you?】 Cheap? How was she cheap, cultivation burned through money. Ran Fan Yin lightly furrowed her brows and asked, "What is your name?" "The junior's surname is Lin, given name Yu Xue." Lin Yu Xue saluted respectfully. 【Heh, you're respectful now, wonder if you were the same when betraying the Shangyun Sect to the Demon Lord.】 "Noted, step back." Ran Fan Yin slightly lifted her chin, picked up her fan from her lap, and lightly tapped with the tip, "Sect Leader, I want her." A red thread shot out, weaving and burrowing through the crowd. Chapter 4: Anomaly A commotion arose within the crowd, several even tried to subtly trip the red thread, all in vain. The thread seemed sentient, weaving past everyone, running straight backward. Among everyone was Lin Yu Xue as well. She quietly clenched her fists, somewhat uneasy, her movements subtle but still caught by Ran Fan Yin on the stage. Reacting just because someone else was chosen first? What for? Hiding behind a pillar, Ning Song Wu heard "I want her," thinking Ran Fan Yin ultimately chose Lin Yu Xue first, hid more thoroughly, unwilling to be seen. If only one disciple were accepted, Lin Yu Xue might not bear immediate resentment or even harm her later on, right? She checked her own ending, still death. She planned to escape down the mountain, yet still death?! Was there no chance to change? Not only that, Liu Ruo Ying, previously uncertain, now turned to death too, why? What part of the plot did she alter, so peculiar, changing back and forth. Ah. Alright, fine. Consider it punishment for her nightly reading habit. She fiddled with her fingers, carefully pondering, not advancing her schemes for descending the mountain when a red thread appeared in front of her, paused, then wrapped around her wrist, transforming into a simple red cord. What was this? Still dazed, Ning Song Wu was pulled forward by the red cord, instantly drawing all eyes upon her, more specifically, the hand raised by the red cord. Gazes burning, as if ready to devour her whole. Some sharp-eyed ones whispered, "Isn't she the girl Elder Ran saved earlier?" "Are you sure it's her?" "Look at her ragged clothes, who else could it be?" Ning Song Wu felt her face heat up, lips tight, showing no emotion, continually pulled by the cord amid hushed murmurs. "Looks like another cold one, still composed under such circumstances, not easy." "Elder Ran is said to be cold and unspeaking, now another one, perhaps the whole ChaoMu Peak will be cold year-round, like winter." "Should I appeal to Elder Ran later, get a job at ChaoMu Peak?" "......" Only Ran Fan Yin knew, this seemingly solemn youth was actually a chatterbox in the heart, muttering all the way.