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

### Chapter 21: Truly a Riveting Bet "Sister Ning, I want to place a bet with you." The young girl lifted her chin slightly, her expression both arrogant and cold. "Do you dare?" Ning Songwu replied with disinterest, "No bet. Please leave." "It's simple. Let's see who gets the higher evaluation score between you and me. How about it?" The girl was aggressive, pushing Ning Songwu into a corner with a cold, gleaming sword, forcing her to accept. It was obvious without even thinking—the name tied to this so-called objective was undoubtedly Ran Fanyin. How could she use such a name for a leisure bet? No objective would make that acceptable. [I don't shy away from competing with you, Lin Yuxue. I just don't want to compete with you right now.] [Take your nonsense objectives elsewhere.] With these thoughts, Ning Songwu took half a step forward, the sudden pressure forcing the young girl to retreat. In a cold voice, she said, "No bet means no bet. Sister, even if you provoke me, I won't bet. You should find someone else to share this fun with, or set up a non-monetary, fun-only stand. Rest assured, you'll get plenty of attention and won't violate sect rules. What do you think?" She was, after all, still young, holding too many thoughts to withstand such a fakeout. Lin Yuxue looked at Ning Songwu, who had suddenly become much tougher, momentarily stunned. The girl had already walked away with her companions, paying her no further attention. Lin Yuxue, naturally knowing the source of this newfound confidence, felt a burning pain in her Dantian, reminding her it was time to take her medicine. Or... it would be better to get closer to Ran Fanyin sooner to ask for her exquisitely controlled celestial fire. Why, being both celestials, was she the only one so unfortunate, enduring the erosion by her spiritual roots, relying on medication for suppression? Pain spurred jealousy, jealousy scorched reason. Yet, she was not allowed to lose her reason. There were still things she needed to obtain. However, if she could get that so-called Ice Crystal Heart... perhaps it would also suppress the abnormal fire inside her. Clenching her fists tightly, Lin Yuxue's face showed a malicious intent, quickly concealed, but not unnoticed by those who constantly watched her. A silver-haired woman smiled faintly, slightly moving her fingers, and a hidden spiritual sense silently climbed onto the slim, fair neck in front of her, flashed twice, and then disappeared. Once inside the secret realm, with the barrier up, she wouldn't hear her disciple's thoughts or help timely. A spiritual sense was her way of safeguarding a little. A gust of wind pierced through the thin veil, causing the woman to shiver and cough lightly, the corners of her eyes tinged red. Thankfully her disciple wasn't around, or she'd be forced to wear a heavy cloak again. Suddenly, a hand holding a pill was thrust in front of her, Qin Siyue's calm voice said, "Form the Wind-Avoiding Seal and take the pill." "Sister, don't be so harsh." Ran Fanyin blinked, her long lashes still wet from the recent coughing, appearing pitiful... what a joke. Qin Siyue rolled her eyes and forced the pill into the hand of the one mysteriously ill today. "I'm not here to cure foolishness." Finished, she pat her hand disdainfully, as if she had touched something dirty, brushed her sleeve and was about to leave, only to be stopped by this person calling her again. "For what?" Ran Fanyin curved her lips, "Could you prepare some healing ointment and send it to my peak?" "Resurrection?" "Not quite." Qin Siyue stared at her for a while, "I hope you catch the big fish you want this time." Elder Ran felt very innocent; she wasn’t fishing. She feared the big fish turning into piranhas, taking half the life of her pure, naïve disciple. Alas, why didn't anyone believe her? Even when asking Mianmian to draw a defense array on her clothes, Mianmian drew one worth at least two hundred thousand taels if sold, showing how little trust people had in her. Indeed, she wasn't planning on reeling it in this time. Within her control, the net should be... The larger, the better. * After a dizzying sense of disorientation, Ning Songwu and her companions finally stood back on solid ground. Looking up, they found themselves on a small island in the middle of a lake, shrouded in mist, with only a small boat barely enough for three. [What a spawn point. If this were a game, I'd be cursing.] Ning Songwu's thoughts echoed again in Ran Fanyin's mind, making her eyes widen slightly— How could this be? Wasn't there supposed to be a barrier? Was it a flaw in the barrier, or was there another principle at play? Gazing at the water mirror on the table displaying the three girls scratching their heads, Ran Fanyin feigned boredom, "These three will be stuck here for a while. Want to check out others?" "This is rare—you’re willing to look at others?" Sect Leader Chang Nian teased, her always stern face showing hints of amusement. Ran Fanyin just looked at her, eyes conveying unspoken messages only the two of them understood. Cen Ran understood her intent, and under Helan Mianmian's puzzled gaze, switched to another group. "Hey!" Helan pouted, "I want to watch my disciple too, Sister, you're biased!" As the screen switched, the ongoing thoughts halted. Apparently, in a certain range, with a spiritual connection or visible sight, she could hear Ning Songwu's thoughts. This truly placed the control in her hands, making the situation increasingly interesting. Ran Fanyin playfully said, "Mianmian, don't make things difficult for the Sect Leader." However, her gaze lingered between the two, watching Helan's pout and Cen Ran's slightly troubled, yet handsome face. Coupled with her disciple's year-long constant chatter, she now vaguely understood some of the so-called "good snacks" feeling. Indeed, quite a snack. While they switched viewing, the trio had already reached the shore, enveloped tightly by rich spiritual energy. For the first time, Ning Songwu realized that, besides oxygen intoxication, one could also be intoxicated by spiritual energy. It was too rich, her meridians felt swollen, each step tingling. Luo Sheng seemed to react more strongly, pale skin showing faint blue veins, momentarily fierce. Ning Songwu gritted her teeth, "Overflowing is detrimental. Something's wrong. We need to get out of here quickly." "Move, I can't, Ning Songwu," Luo Sheng said, collapsing after a few steps, appearing in pain, veins bulging on exposed skin, a fox tail barely visible behind her. Demon tribes had different meridian distributions, being closer to natural spiritual energy, they reacted more intensely. But the makers of the secret realm undoubtedly knew this batch of disciples included those with demon blood, so this wasn't meant to harm anyone. Then what was it for? Ning Songwu quickly sorted her thoughts and got close to the fallen Luo Sheng, struggling to support her. Looking up, she saw a distant flower seeming to wave. "Sister Liu, look, that flower." At her words, Liu Ruying, bearing the pain and itch, also approached and looked at the indicated flower. After a moment's contemplation, she raised her hand, summoning a vine towards it. As she moved spiritual energy, causing a vacuum, the surrounding energy surged towards them. But before it reached, the vine, seizing the flower, was lifted, instantly reducing the dense spiritual energy, allowing the burdened three to breathe easier. Liu Ruying: "This seems to be a celestial herb that attracts surrounding spiritual energy, forming a protection area. Uprooting it did the trick." Ning Songwu: "Can it be used in medicine?" Liu Ruying hesitated, "Probably, but it's within the secret realm..." "Who cares, bag it up, quick, quick. No one's watching." Why waste the opportunity? While Liu Ruying hesitated, Ning Songwu had already stuffed the celestial herb into her pouch and, patting it earnestly, said, "Keep it safe, it's all personal stash." "Alright, Sister." Ning Songwu hurriedly signaled her next target in the subtitles, knowing their mission was to find a token, and that the token along with the Snow Sword was to the east. She now wanted to know if there were more such treasures on the way. The subtitles, seemingly exasperated, delayed but eventually sent: Many treasures lie to the east. Receiving the clarification, Ning Songwu patted their shoulders, whispering, "We should head east. Collect good finds along the way. Got it?" Luo Sheng, nervous, asked, "Won't we be punished by Elder Wu?" Elder Wu, Yue Changsong, designed this realm, and many celestial herbs and treasures were his doing. Taking them might incur consequences, wouldn’t it...? Liu Ruying thought, glancing at Ning Songwu. The girl smiled mischievously, whispering, "Which is why we sneak in quietly and don't shoot." "Sneak in where, what not to shoot?" And what was up with her weird accent! Ning Songwu chuckled, forming some hand signs, then a small ice figure appeared, holding her pouch. Raising an eyebrow, Liu Ruying mimicked her, summoning a small wooden figure. Luo Sheng: They’ve gone bad, truly bad! The two eyed her; the youngest, blushing, summoned a small water figure. Soon, stumbling little figures, palm-sized, trailed them, blending with grass and leaves. Ning Songwu: This makes us accomplices. No one rat out anyone when we get out. --- When the water mirror's view flicked back, Ran Fanyin froze for a moment, hearing Ning Songwu's inner voice— [Three celestial herbs, all medicinal. Elder Wu's generosity knows no bounds.] [Also, to place the Double Snow Sword in the secret realm... Elder Wu really is extravagant!] She subtly glanced at her Fifth Martial Brother, who was still spacing out, not paying much attention to the water mirror. His thick eyebrows and large eyes gave him a particularly unrestrained look, just staring blankly... quite amusing. Thinking of his precious treasures being completely swept up in the secret realm, Ran Fanyin struggled to suppress a grin, using her folded fan to cover the corners of her lips, barely pulling it down. Helan Hudie suddenly exclaimed, "Sister, did you dress your disciple to match your fan?" "You really love that color scheme, don't you, ha ha ha." Ran Fanyin shot her a glare, "Just noticed, huh?" Despite the remark, that little kitten definitely had no pure intentions. Helan Mianmian winked at her, letting out a mischievous laugh. Sure enough, as everyone's attention returned to the water mirror, Elder Wu scrutinized it for a while, then turned his head in confusion, "Where are the celestial herbs I buried? Wasn't it in this area?" No pop-up ads, permanent domain.