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

Chapter 34: Destruction As they stepped through the spacious, pristine corridors into the inner sanctum of the royal palace, the scene shifted dramatically from the serene exterior. Bloodstains starkly marred the flooring, remnants of the final, desperate struggles of the fallen. Ran Fanyin scanned the hall, quickly identifying their greatest foe amongst the many detained within. The reputation of these so-called reclusive families of the Four Islands was sustained only by strict message control. Following the ascension and retirement of former prodigy cultivators, the four families had not produced a peerless genius for a long time. Ning Yuan Yue, who barely reached the Nascent Soul stage after three to four centuries and many more years to reach the Integration stage, was deemed capable of leading her family. The Ning family was indeed the weakest, but the other three were not much better. The inhabitants of the Four Islands had long gone to extremes, strictly controlling information and intermarrying within the clans. Relationships became a convoluted mess, arranged merely to combine slight talents in the hope of producing a genius. Her own proposed union with a member of the Yue clan was just such a desperate gamble. No one cared about her constitution, nor the widely praised but childless physique she possessed. She was destined to die on the night of her child’s birth, forced to choose one or the other. Neither she nor the Yue clan’s young lord wanted this marriage or an unwanted presence in their bed. They had devised a plan, and her choice was someone equally gifted—a spiritual slave named Cheng Yun Huan, who was also her beloved sister. Had the Yue clan’s young lord not changed his mind at the last moment, demanding the child back and unraveling their plan, perhaps... Perhaps they wouldn't have ended in such a dire situation. How could a divine maiden engage in clandestine affairs with a casually picked spiritual slave raised in a medicinal pool? She was destined to be locked away, bearing the brunt of everyone’s fury. Fortunately, she managed to free Cheng Yun Huan, and she remained outside, free. Moreover, she brought news of the child. She refused to ponder deeply on these intricacies. If the child was willing to come, she was willing to face her with the appropriate emotions. But Ning Xiu Jie shook her head, gently pressing Ning Le Yan’s hand, and softly said, “It’s not hatred; it’s jealousy.” “Jealousy of the bond between my beloved and me, jealousy that my brother would even challenge Mu Island for his lover and cousin, disregarding his own life.” “And the person she loved was nothing but a hypocrite, someone everyone would laugh at, even if only softly.” Ning Le Yan asked, “Then, Aunt, do you think she’s wrong?” Ning Xiu Jie paused, then said, “Love is love; there’s no right or wrong. Besides, between the two, it’s always been that hypocrite who was wrong. If anything, I admire her a bit... Remember, Le Yan, those who mock others are the real hypocrites.” Ning Le Yan nodded, and the woman finally relaxed a bit. The tension and pain in her heart eased, her mind cooling down, ready to strategize. She asked in a serious tone, “What round is it now?” “The ninth one. We should leave,” a different voice interjected, causing Ning Xiu Jie’s eyes to widen. A memory long buried surfaced, and before she could retrieve a ring from her hidden space, a slender figure appeared inside the cell in a flash of thunder. In the next moment, lightning blades cut down, severing the chains binding hands and feet. Ning Le Yan watched as the slender figure knelt before Ning Xiu Jie without hesitation, gently cupping her face. Tears welled in Cheng Yun Huan’s eyes as she trembled, “I’m sorry, Miss, for keeping you waiting. I came too late.” She hesitated, then said, “I absolutely can’t condone what Ning Yuan Yue did; it wasn’t necessary at all...” The long-awaited reunion was abruptly disrupted by her words, breaking the atmosphere. Ning Xiu Jie, still crying, was now laughing through her tears in exasperation, raising her hand to strike. How ridiculous. Her admiration was for Ning Yuan Yue not giving up in dire circumstances, clawing her way to the top. This person before her surely knew that yet used Ning Yuan Yue imprisoning her beloved to jest. Too hateful. Cheng Yun Huan quickly blocked her, apologizing repeatedly, then couldn’t help but smile, “Shall we go out? We need to help Xiao Wu.” They would discuss the long separation later; escaping the Ning family was urgent. Ning Song Wu was already at her limit, and they couldn’t afford any delays. Ning Xiu Jie hesitated, “Your injuries?” “Xiao Wu gave me many medicines. She’s doing well at Shangyun Sect and even found someone she loves. We’ll talk more later, about why she survived; let’s leave first.” As she spoke, lightning surged in her hand. Dark purple bolts rose, gradually destroying the entire cell. Ning Xiu Jie was dazed hearing about the beloved person and only regained composure when Cheng Yun Huan picked her up. Unable to break free, she hurriedly said, “Le Yan and I can stay in the small space.” Cheng Yun Huan glanced at her, smiling wryly, “You can hear everything inside. Better to see it with your own eyes.” “Besides, most of the clan elders were killed by Ning Yuan Yue. Dealing with Ning Yuan Yue alone is something I can manage.” She wasn’t boasting. She had nearly escaped before, if not blocked by the clan elders. Dealing with just Ning Yuan Yue was within her capabilities. Ning Xiu Jie frowned, “There’s still Ning Yuan Lie; only those two remain among the Yuan generation, both formidable.” “Leave that to you, Miss.” Cheng Yun Huan cut her off, summoning Ning Le Yan into the small space. Before entering, the girl peeked and grinned, “Do I still call her Miss?” “Le Yan!” Giggling, the girl quickly hid inside. Cheng Yun Huan chuckled, “The little one is right. The rest is up to Madam.” Ning Xiu Jie looked up in surprise, meeting Cheng Yun Huan’s smiling eyes directly. The woman then invoked a final bolt of lightning, shattering the entire cell. As the dust settled and visibility cleared, the battle scene below came into view. No need to look down. Because a figure in white hovered mid-air, holding a cold sword with a frosty lotus blooming behind her. In this pure white scene, the only red was the person at the center. Cheng Yun Huan’s heart skipped, instinctively covering Ning Xiu Jie’s ears and pulling her closer to block her view. Don’t look, don’t listen. [How disgusting, violating ordinary people. Aren’t they afraid of divine retribution?] [Just six months, so unstable. What’s there to boast about?] [If they don’t leave, I’ll vomit.] [What are these people? Such peculiar tastes.] [Lin Yu Xue’s improvement speed is amazing. Is she part of this cult?] [This cult is thriving, yet it’s not mentioned in the book. Or does the author not know?] [Subtitles are moving? What do you mean the author doesn’t know?] [Will I die? Ah, silly question.] [No.] [What a crap answer.] [Some techniques can indeed speed up cultivation, but most of the power goes to the spirit gathering array?] [Huarong Village aged rapidly because their cultivation and lifespan were siphoned. Yin Xi only looks fine because of spirit energy?] [What about Lin Yu Xue? Her rapid progress must be related to such techniques, and now she’s facing backlash...] [I can’t solve the magic, or the pharmacology, but the array must have a blueprint; after enduring so much, I must get something.] [How embarrassing, thinking I acted well. They saw right through me.] [So, Lin Yu Xue is part of this group? How else would they know me?] [But Yin Xi is back; what now...] Ning Song Wu clung to a branch, a look of distress on her face. Her plan to steal the array blueprint failed before she even started. What now... [With any writing here, I’ll find the array blueprint, no doubt.] [What can I do? Master is much more resourceful than I am, but I’m a clumsy idiot...] [A naturally clumsy idiot.] [What’s wrong with this guy? I gave him the cold shoulder, yet he still likes me?!] [Yuck, I’m going to puke.] [Got someone I like, no males, please.] [Master might think I’m hiding my love for someone…] [Why do elders always think this way.] [How should I hint that Luo Sheng fell for Liu Ruo Ying at first sight?] [Forget it, Master can’t see the mutual crush between the Sect Leader and Elder He Lan, better not burden her.] This site has no pop-up ads.