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

### Chapter 36: Sword Intent Noticing that Lin appeared somewhat distracted, the young girl across from her nervously called out, "Teacher Lin, are you listening?" "Sorry, I've been a bit tired lately. Could you repeat that?" Taking a deep breath as if mustering her courage, the girl said, "I said, I want to apply to the same school you did." Ran Fanyin asked in surprise, "Is that so?" "...I, I want to be your junior. I also want to be your colleague." Ran Fanyin let out a slow breath. She didn't fully understand, but she could guess the intent. The term "colleague" likely referred to being a peer, and "junior" meant a younger schoolmate. It seemed that the young girl wanted to grow closer to Lin but didn't dare say it outright, choosing instead to tentatively probe. Whatever Lin's usual response might be, given that she had brought the girl here today and listened to her words... Ran Fanyin smiled gently, then looked out the window and said, "Your future is yours to decide. Follow your heart, and you won’t regret it later on." Outside, a little girl was kicking a small ball across the street. Worried about it accidentally rolling into the middle of the road, she cautiously turned and played against the wall. Not far away, another little girl wearing the same outfit as Ning Songwu hurried along. Then, they met. The ball hit the hurried girl's leg, leaving a mark. The little girl crouched down to clean it, incessantly apologizing. The older girl didn't mind much and continued on her way with a casual smile. Ran Fanyin wanted to convey just that to Ning Songwu: these troubling matters are like the ball. They may dirty your clothes, but you can simply dust them off or wash them. Then, you continue on your path. Whether to keep moving forward or stay put is entirely up to you. Understand, and it’s good enough. Follow your heart, and it’s good enough. Everything else is not that important. But at her age, how could Ning Songwu comprehend all this? Even for a long time afterward, she would remain trapped in this quagmire, unable to move forward but also changed in many ways. In fact, she made her choice. She didn’t walk away quickly, nor did she merely dust off her leg. Instead, she picked up the little girl and her ball, taking her further from the roadside and urging her repeatedly not to play there again. She noticed the dirt on her clothes only after parting. But so what? She wasn’t sad; she was happy. However, the current Ning Songwu hadn’t been through all that. She assumed Teacher Lin was gently rejecting her again this time. Sighing inwardly, she maintained her composure and smiled, "Alright, I'll think it over carefully. Thank you, Teacher~" "A teacher’s role is to impart knowledge and resolve doubts; no thanks necessary." Though it was a formal response, it still made Ning Songwu slightly sad. That’s good enough. That’s good enough. Ning Songwu consoled herself inwardly. The phone ringing broke the awkward silence. Ran Fanyin watched the young girl fumble clumsily with her bag, opening a small box with an embarrassed smile, "Teacher, I promise I don’t play with it at school. Could you pretend you didn't see it?" "Sure." The girl visibly sighed in relief and swiped the screen, and soon, a voice emerged from the small box. This device was quite intriguing—it enabled remote conversation without the need for spiritual power. It seemed to be called a "phone," powered by electricity? What about lightning? Why hadn't their world developed this? Ran Fanyin observed intently, pondering: I'll ask Mian Mian to research it later and see if she can develop something similar. However, the voice coming from the box wasn't friendly. As Ning Songwu responded, her tone was equally unkind, on the verge of an argument. "I said I'd be home by nine! Can you stop nagging?" "I'm with my teacher, asking her questions. I'll be back." "I didn't sneak out with any boys! I didn't!" "I'm not falling in love early. I don't plan to betray your hard work!" “My grades haven’t dropped. Enough already, she has helped me a lot. Don't talk like that.” “Can you stop using keeping me home as a weapon? I’ve had enough!” "Enough, enough, enough. Goodbye." The girl slammed the phone face-down on the table, her expression bitter. A long while later, she remembered there was someone across from her and apologized, "I’m sorry, Teacher, for showing you this. Thank you for today. I..." She was abruptly cut off as someone grabbed her wrist. Ran Fanyin hesitated for a moment before speaking. It wasn’t that she didn't know what to say, but this time she felt the scar hidden beneath the strap of the small disk. Based on her experience, it appeared to be an old scar, several years old. How old is this child now? Her heart ached, prompting her to speak gently, "This isn't something to laugh about. Don't apologize." "Teacher..." Ran Fanyin had so many questions and things to say, but they weren’t for the child before her. She needed to speak to the real Ning Songwu, to address the true child. However, she couldn't come here for nothing. Ran Fanyin tilted her head slightly and asked, "Do you want to see fireworks?" Ning Songwu was startled by the sudden topic, hesitating, "It’s not a festival, and it’s daytime…" But Ran Fanyin merely smiled and snapped her fingers lightly. As the fireworks burst into vibrant colors against the wind, and the girl leaned by the window in surprise to watch, the illusion abruptly ended, dissolving into fragments that scattered within a pure white space. Finally, Ran Fanyin saw the orchestrator behind it all. --- After arriving at the sect, Cen Ran summoned all the core disciples, quickly assigning them their roles and responsibilities. This was the initial line of defense. Then came the arrangements for the elders. "Elder Helan will still oversee the overall coordination and control of the comprehensive formations." She exchanged a look with Helan Elder, understanding passing between them, and he nodded, affirming her statement. The Second Elder, proficient in heavy weapons and wielding a fine blade, would form a defense line alongside Cen Ran and Ran Fanyin. As for the Fifth Elder… "Old Five, don't hide your secret realms. Use everything useful. The sect may perish without it. Do you understand?" This signified the most critical emergency arrangement, with even the retreat strategies pre-planned. The Fifth Elder dared not hesitate, accepting his task and leaving to prepare the secret realms for Yunxia Sect. With the essential arrangements in place, they could only adapt to whatever came next, depending on how determined the sect's adversary was and whether there was any room for negotiation. Unlikely so. Cen Ran sighed softly. Qin Siyue interrupted her sorrowful thoughts, asking, "When will Ran Fanyin return?" "She just reported that she has finished the northern arrangements and is rushing back. She’ll need about an hour." "That's good. Tianshan Sect shouldn’t arrive too soon. Keep an eye on her route back, though. Also, how should we handle Jiang Mang? I can remove the poison on the spot, but... it might cost her life." Cen Ran was startled, immediately responding, "We must consider this carefully. The child came to seek help, and her cooperation should be prioritized." Qin Siyue pondered for a moment and agreed, "Indeed, we need to ask the child’s opinion." Lan Yue interjected, "But the child is indeed quite endearing. Who knows what the No Nightmare Sovereign wants? A grand array?" "Maybe he can't stand to see Yunxia Sect rise." Cen Ran spoke with a smile, stretching her shoulders and displaying a calm bearing, seemingly ready to accept whatever the future held. What else could they do? The group exchanged glances, and a moment later, shared a relieved smile. All seasoned individuals, they were ready to fight to the end, honoring the vow made when the sect was founded and protecting the people who lived depending on Yunxia Sect. The vast population dependent on Yunxia Sect encountered resistance when trying to make external arrangements. Many northern sects, upon hearing they were from Yunxia, rejected them outright with a gesture as if afraid of offending them. It wasn’t surprising. After all, news had spread that Yunxia Sect was harboring traitors from the celestial sect, openly challenging the celestial authority. They were warned to surrender the traitors Jiang Mang and Jiang Yue within the stipulated time, or face the consequences. Cen Ran stopped anyone from informing the two juniors about the news, simply saying, "Telling them would only increase their burden and worry. Moreover, it's not their fault but their sect's to call them traitors… It must be extremely hard for them." "Master, I don't understand," a disciple said, furrowing his brows. "Why are we protecting these two?" The disciple's head was suddenly tapped by a fan. Ran Fanyin came out from behind him, floating gracefully, "Because they are merely an excuse. Even without them, the celestial sect would still find a way to invade us. Yet, these two have given us significant leverage. Understand?" Seeing the disciple still confused, Ran Fanyin sighed, "If it weren't for the information they provided, we'd still be sitting ducks at the sect competition. Does that make sense?" Once the disciple left, Ran Fanyin sighed slowly, asking gently, "Is Jiang Mang awake?" Cen Ran shook her head in sorrow, "Elder Qin said that according to the treatment method that Ning brought earlier, Jiang Mang's spiritual power is tightly fused with the source poison. The poison has penetrated her core, and if removed rashly, she might become... a cripple." The last words were spoken in great anxiety. In the current situation, she didn't know what outcome would be best for Jiang Mang. Such a talented swordmaster, Cen Ran was truly reluctant to see her suffer any harm. How cold-hearted must the Sovereign be to use such a genius for experiments, even betting her life? Hearing that, Ran Fanyin pondered for a moment, "No problem. She should wake up before the battle. Though the poison has seeped into her core, as long as there's a chance of awakening, there’s still hope." "I hope so. Human greed knows no bounds." Isn't the source poison just that? Amplifying one's greed to the point of reckless plunder and consumption. It seemed the No Nightmare Sovereign himself was deeply poisoned, beyond redemption. Meanwhile, on Qingye Peak— Qin Siyue glanced at the knocker and saw it was Ning Songwu. "What's the matter? Ask quickly." She continued packing the pills, with each green-glowing bead being placed into a bottle. Behind her, Qin Mo and other disciples were mixing and preparing sachets, crushing medicinal herbs into powder that had calming effects when inhaled. "What are you working on, Elder?" "Calming pills, tranquilizing sachets. These are part of our joint research with the medicine sect in recent years to combat this so-called poison." Lan Yue poked his head out from behind her, teasing, "Little girl, don’t say it’s useless." Ning Songwu chuckled and nodded, "It's useful, it's useful." --- Repeatedly, over and over again! Ran Fanyin clenched her fists tightly. How many times now! Even this time, the first thing she did was come to check on her, never considering her own safety. How could she think anything else? Well, she couldn't say pre-battle arguments were useless—they added a new constraint and increased danger for her. Ran Fanyin exhaled slowly, trying to calm the turbulent spiritual energy within her meridians. Please, at least let her wait for her foolish disciple. Please. Not long after, as the spiritual light gradually dispersed, amidst the embers in the sky, a woman in green stood tall, gazing at the clearing sky. Not bad; she finally waited long enough. Ran Fanyin sighed in relief as the spiritual energy she had suppressed for so long finally surged from her core. Ning Songwu took just one step toward the two standing figures before the woman suddenly slumped backward, startling both of them. She rushed over but paused just three steps away, hearing the woman’s weak voice— "Leave..." Ning Songwu looked at her in surprise, "Master, we..." Blood seeped from the corners of the woman’s lips. Struggling to stand, Ran Fanyin coldly said, "I told you, if you crossed that gate, our master-disciple relationship is over." Stunned, Helan didn't know what to say or even how to breathe, stammering, "Sister, what are you..." Ning Songwu, anxious, said, "But Master, your body, you..." "I managed those years without you," Ran Fanyin sneered, gripping Hulan Mianmian’s hand. "Mianmian, let's go. As for this... inner disciple." "Let her be." Helan didn’t dare defy her; he could only support her as they left, trying to signal the dazed Ning Songwu. Silly child, catch up and appease her. But the child was too silly, missing the cues, causing Ran Fanyin to look back with a cold stare, "Are your eyes broken?" "Ah, a bit itchy..." "Then have Qin Siyue check them later." "Uh, okay..." Helan helplessly looked at Ning Songwu. She didn’t know what had happened between the two, but it was clear it wouldn't be easy to resolve. Good luck, small fool. --- She hadn’t caused an incident. That was thanks to countless variables, like Xiao Wancheng’s surprising ability to find a way to run from Qiping City’s surrounding areas. So many variables. What if there hadn't been any? Without Xiao Wancheng, Ning Songwu might have already been severely wounded and beyond help at the No Nightmare Sovereign's place. When would she realize that what she wanted wasn’t Ning Songwu’s obedience or docility? She wanted her to value her own life, not always be on the front lines. Even more so, not to choose such dangerous odds, even at the risk of dying, in front of so many people who loved her. Ran Fanyin could understand, but she couldn't stop being angry. She understood the responsibilities of a cultivator, but she was angry at someone who didn't value themselves. --- Ning Songwu quickly realized, sighing quietly. Qin Siyue had been rushing between peaks lately, her few disciples not enough for the task. Even with the help from the medicine sect for the numerous injured, other sects also paid exorbitant fees to have their members treated at Yunxia. Like little fledglings clamoring to be fed. Yet, on Chaomu Peak, an elder with only minor injuries but a significantly disrupted spiritual energy remained unchanged. Qin Siyue had to come daily to check if she was improving or showing signs of nearing death. Sadly, neither. --- Like the unstable spiritual energy, Ning Songwu knelt steadfastly outside the courtyard, indifferent to rain or sunshine. Whether she truly realized her mistake was unknown, but her desire to return to her master's fold was evident and sincere. Even Qin Siyue, usually indifferent to such matters, hesitated briefly, then sighed and walked to Ning Songwu, saying helplessly, "Standing here hurts only yourself. What's the point?" Ning Songwu suppressed her tears, eyes foggy but said nothing, as if speaking volumes. Qin Siyue was equally helpless. She thought these matters of love were the hardest to understand! Look, these two were at odds, and both were punishing their own bodies—one kneeling until injured, the other too angry to regulate her internal energy. Not life-threatening, but unhealthy to leave heart unresolved. Qin Siyue conjured a cane chair, sat in front of Ning Songwu, and said sternly, "Stand up." "Ning Songwu, stand up." The girl stubbornly shook her head, refusing to rise. Her mouth seemed sealed with iron. Qin Siyue smirked, summoning vines to lift and drag her up. Finally, freed from the ground she had knelt into, the water stains and painful marks on her knees bore witness to her suffering, making even Qin Siyue, an outsider, ache inside. She sighed deeply, "You don't even understand what she's angry about, so what’s the point of kneeling here?" "Master..." After a long silence, Ning Songwu finally spoke, her voice hoarse, "She's mad because I didn't listen… didn't obey her..." --- No pop-up ads, permanent domain.