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

### Chapter 28: The Sword Spirit **"Forgive me, but Elder Ran's eyes are much larger than that."** **"No, I mustn't lose my sword."** **"Take the initiative; a delayed move is futile."** Ning Songwu was oblivious to the conversation occurring at home, and Qian Duoduo dared not disturb the rare respite of her master's junior disciple. She was engrossed in a music video script. The story was simple: a senior sister teaches her junior sister the ways of cultivation, accompanies her growth, and ultimately, they part ways. It wasn't lengthy, and Fang Qing's storyboard was equally concise—sword dancing, sharing drinks, traveling together, and then clashing swords. It seemed that Fang Qing had a song perfectly suited for this concept, so she called them over to see if they had good chemistry as a pair. As she swiped through the script on her screen, Ning Songwu began mentally choreographing the movements for the two characters. Ran Fanyin's delicate face once again occupied her thoughts. Some people, once they appear, completely dominate your vision. Ning was not one to frequently share her life on social media, but this time, she posted several dishes from the day they ate at an unassuming little eatery along with the caption: "B-city's food ranking list, genuinely reliable, will definitely come again." Holding back the urge to tag Ran Fanyin, she exited the app and turned off the screen. Next time we come, will I be able to make Ran Fanyin call me 'senior sister'? --- The next stop on her journey was not a random choice. After a sleepless night, Ning Songwu bought a plane ticket to a new city. This time, she didn't bring her assistant either. There was a trace of melancholy in Yuan Qiao's voice on the other end of the phone, "Boss, am I going to be unemployed?" "How could that be? Haven't you had a two-month vacation before? I'll be back next week." Ning Songwu's voice was gentle, losing some of its usual familiarity. Cool and detached was her typical demeanor towards others, earning her the title of a fallen celestial being from netizens. Ning dared not accept such a title; if her cultivation were known, she might attract heavenly retribution. However, on this trip to the new city, she genuinely needed to find a true immortal, one whose cultivation level surpassed hers by two realms and age by three centuries. She would have to address him as 'Senior Immortal.' Before contemplating whether Ran Fanyin was indeed her destined companion, she needed to trace the familiar, otherworldly aura surrounding the girl. Regardless of what it was, she needed to be cautious. The plane flew westward, landing in a small city on the desert's edge. The scorching sun burned the already arid air. It was only mid-May, but the air was already uncomfortably hot. Even Ning Songwu, who was accustomed to thunderstorms, disliked the dryness that could spark electricity at the slightest friction. It was too dry, it made her face hurt. Following the crowd for a while, Ning Songwu then turned into an alley, weaving through it until she reached a secluded shop. It was still the same, with a signboard awkwardly inscribed, "Jin Chen's Copying and Printing." Having a printing shop in such a remote area seemed almost ghostly. She dared to mock the owner because, even though he was three hundred years her senior, they were of the same generation. Her higher status was because her master, an elder with high rank and age, had taken her as a disciple just before his passing. Ning Songwu knocked according to the agreed pattern. Hearing no response, she stood quietly for a while longer until a reply came from inside. "Shizun is not seeing anyone today. Please leave." "Ning Songwu from Qingyun's sect is here to visit. Please relay the message again." There was an audible gasp from within, followed by the same response, "Shizun is not seeing anyone today. Ning Shishu, please leave." The tone carried a trace of regret. "Alright, tell Jin Chen that I'll be in the new city for three days and must have one day allocated for me. Inform me when available." "Ning Shishu, please wait." The door of the copy shop opened, revealing a girl of about fourteen or fifteen, looking at her expectantly. "Ning Shishu, can I get your autograph?" Ning Songwu looked down to see the girl holding a stack of photos and a gilded brush. "Does your master know you've taken this brush for autographs?" With a smile that differed greatly from her online cold facade yet remained largely unchanged, Ning Songwu meticulously examined the brush and then accepted the stack of photos, preparing to sign them. "Hold on." Another girl emerged, blindfolded but walking unimpeded. She approached Ning Songwu, handed her a commonplace black pen, and retrieved the gilded brush. "Ning Shishu, please use this one." "Tianque? Are you a direct disciple of this generation?" "I am Xu Yueping. Greetings, Ning Shishu." The girl bowed properly. Ning Songwu smiled, about to speak, but was cut off by the girl, "You held me when I was a child, which was twenty years ago. No need to bring it up again." Raising her head slightly, Ning Songwu understood. "A true direct disciple indeed. Where is Jin Chen?" "Master is busy, and I, as a foolish disciple, may not serve you well. Please forgive me, Shishu." "No problem, I'll be in the new city for three days, Yueping. Do you think I can get the answers I seek?" Xu Yueping stiffened slightly, "Disciple does not know." Ning Songwu didn't press further. She signed her name smoothly on each photo, her handwriting adding a special allure to the already captivating images. After finishing and handing the items back to the young girl, she straightened up, her voice gentle yet pressuring— "To cultivate the Dao of fate, one either knows or doesn't conceal." "Disciple does not know." Xu Yueping repeated. Ning Songwu didn't push further but cast a protective barrier around the girl. "This can withstand several strikes from heaven's punishment." "Thank you, Shishu." "No thanks needed. I'll stay in the new city for a week; consider it carefully." "Understood." --- That evening. Ning Songwu booked a hotel room with a view over the copying shop. She held a tablet, the script of "Twin Dreams" set to autoplay, scrolling slowly across the screen. As the thunder roared, the script reached the part where Hu Xiner, trying to retrieve a healing herb for Bai Qixin, was chased by lightning, her tail fur singed black. --- "You lousy heavens! What's the big deal about taking a herb? Strike me again if you dare!" Hu Xiner stood with one hand on her hip, the herb tucked into her waistband, the other hand shaking a fist at the sky. The heavens obliged, a bolt of lightning striking right beside her. --- Ning Songwu chuckled, imagining Ran Fanyin's face, which made her laugh even more. Counting the thunderclaps outside the window, she snapped a photo as the ninth bolt lit up the sky like daylight, posting her second daily update of the month on social media: "The weather forecast said no rain in the new city recently, yet I encountered thunder on my first day here. Looks like I have good luck [flowers]." After the thunder, rain fell, bringing a night of moisture to the parched land. However, the person lying exhausted in her courtyard wasn't fond of the post-punishment rain. She struggled to sit up, using her hands and feet to crawl under the eaves. "Still no clue?" Xu Yueping smirked faintly, feeling weak. "Is Ning Shishu trying to get me struck dead by lightning tonight?" A soft laugh echoed in her mind, then silence. What a peculiar person, with such a cold face yet a penchant for teasing just like her old granny. After resting a while longer, Xu Yueping removed the scorched black cloth from her face, her dull grey eyes glistening with moisture as she closed them. --- Ran Fanyin, wearing a mask and a baseball cap, hunched her body as she held up a sign Li Keren had insisted she make at the airport. It was mortifying. The sign had a big picture of Li Keren's face, with the words "I will always love Li Keren" below it. Anyone passing by would likely mistake her for a die-hard fan of some idol. Passersby cast curious glances, some staring longer than necessary, making Ran Fanyin hunch even further, trying to minimize her presence. If this landed her on a trending topic, it would be utterly hilarious. Li Keren spotted the sign from afar, running towards her with a suitcase in tow, calling Ran Fanyin's name gleefully. She was met with a pointed glare. Ran Fanyin shoved the sign at her, taking the suitcase from her hands, "Anyone to pick you up?" "No, and my parents aren't home today. I didn't bring my keys." "…" Ran Fanyin sighed, "Alright, come to my place." "Love you to bits, my dear Fanfan." Dinner was prepared by Ran Fanyin, who fancied herself a good cook. She laid out several dishes on the table and called out to Li Keren, who had just finished bathing, to come eat. "Oh, I am so blessed! A star chef cooking just for me~" "Stop misusing words." Ran Fanyin gave her an eye roll, hanging her apron aside. "Fanfan, aren't you filming these days? Did you take time off just for me?" "No, the director ran into some issues. No gossip to share, stop looking at me like that." Li Keren sulkily withdrew her gaze, picking up a piece of braised pork, savoring it with rice before letting out a satisfied sigh, "So delicious! Fanfan, if you tire of acting, opening a restaurant would suit you well!" "Say no more," Ran Fanyin's cheeks tinged with a hint of red as she maintained her usual tone. "Oh, oh, I saw that you and Ning Songwu followed each other! And she was in B-city last week! Spill the beans!" "Yes, I did meet her." A smug smile curved on the girl's lips as she beckoned with her finger, "Want to know more? It's V50 for the gossip tomorrow, Thursday." "Ah! Come on, tell me! Is she as celestial as they say?" After thinking for a moment, Ran Fanyin gently nodded, "Yes, like a celestial being." Li Keren's excitement calmed down as she sighed and patted Ran Fanyin on the shoulder, "You've got it tough." "Pardon?" "Well, you see, people online say that Teacher Ning is very hard to approach, like a human refrigerator, always keeping others at a thousand miles' distance. Having to work with someone like that sounds really tough!" Ran Fanyin tried hard to suppress a smile, recalling the gentle and peaceful moments with Ning Songwu, and that playful grin—she pressed her lips together even more firmly before nodding heavily. "Yes, you're right. It's really tough." **"Shizun is still unwell, and now he's out in the cold wind again…"** ◎ **"Even if he suppresses his power, Shizun's muscle memory is definitely better than mine. Boo-hoo-hoo…"** **"Does 'learn first, create later' mean to innovate based on what we've learned, constantly improving?"** **"But, Shizun, can't you use different words? What do you mean by 'beat me up'…"** **"Weren't we supposed to be punished for being too compliant during rescues? Is it the same for fights too? Ah?!"** This site is ad-free and has a permanent domain.