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

### Chapter 40: Delusional Thoughts After all, quite a few disciples had just heard those people outside the barrier screaming about turning them into something reminiscent of the Wàn Líng Valley a thousand years ago—a scene akin to a living hell. To remain unaffected was impossible, and the only option before them now was to fight to the end. However, in the midst of observing the battlefield, Cen Ran's expression subtly changed. When the Wàn Líng Valley incident occurred, not just these disciples, but the majority present now had either not yet been born or were still babbling infants. The sects had long agreed to restrict detailed discourse on that year. Other than records in some confidential documents, the rest only knew fragmented bits. How would these outsiders come to wield the annihilation of Wàn Líng Valley as a threat? Moreover, Wàn Líng Valley was situated proximate to Féng Líng Abyss and practiced a beast-taming technique. Indeed, they deliberately hunted the demonic tribes of Féng Líng Abyss, inciting decades of conflict between humans and demons, which eventually led to the siege and destruction of Wàn Líng Valley... No, something’s wrong. If it weren't for everyone repeatedly mentioning Wàn Líng Valley today, Cen Ran wouldn’t have connected it to the current situation, nor would she have suddenly realized how peculiar the events of that year were. No matter what, Wàn Líng Valley was an ancient sect that had thrived for thousands of years. For them to suddenly, overnight, become crazed and ruthless towards the demonic tribes, stealing and slaughtering, and then provocatively spouting insults during their siege—it didn’t make sense. Looking at it now, it’s likely that this immortal sect patriarch was involved even back then, just as they are now, only this time the dissolution started from outside Shàng Yún Sect instead of from within Wàn Líng Sect... Sweat slicked Cen Ran’s palm. Starting from outside the Shàng Yún Sect likely because they were lucky enough to occupy an entire great formation. That ancient immortal sect patriarch had suffered at the hands of another great formation a thousand years ago and now feared them greatly, refusing to show themselves. It's a clear testament to their apprehension. This patriarch seeks to exhaust Shàng Yún Sect, much like the story Ran Fan Yin told her about mutual devastation between demons and humans, so they can reap the benefits without lifting a finger. Yet, what meaning does a lifeless continent hold? What does Feng Húa (the demonic lord) seek to achieve as a demon god, and what does Wú Niǎn Lord want? As Cen Ran pondered this, another sword strike cleaved down, repelling an opponent still attempting to attack the barrier. She carefully observed the entire battlefield. Even a tribulation-crossing cultivator can’t possibly command and control everyone from within Tiān Chéng Immortal Sect. The Taoist Elder must be nearby; she needed to scrutinize carefully, guarding against hidden arrows and surprise attacks. Suddenly, a cold arrow shattered the silence with a “whoosh” sound. Cen Ran quickly located the archer, but before her sword could be swung, she heard a painful cry behind her. Turning her head, she saw that the cat had been struck in the forehead by an arrow, and all four paws along with its tail were engaged in a fight, forcing it to grit its teeth against the agony and continue leading their counterattack. Genuine anger surged within Cen Ran. She located the archer and struck out with a single sword swipe, only ceasing when blood spattered. She then looked at the others and demanded, “Are you all determined to oppose Shàng Yún Sect to this extent? Even without a legitimate reason, you must wade through this murky water to the end? Fine!” She shouted, but seeing the indifferent looks on those outside the barrier, all she felt was contempt. A pitiful lot only worthy of disdain. “Cen Ran! Quickly reinforce the eastern defense!” Qin Si Yue nearly shouted behind her. The east? Isn’t that where... He Lan was responsible?! Cen Ran turned to see that the formerly majestic eight-tailed cat demon had inexplicably reverted to its true form of a three-striped tabby, its small body pitifully curled into Qin Si Yue’s embrace. Qin Si Yue hurried to the ground, sensing that gaze following her movement, she loudly urged, “Cen Ran, don’t be distracted! Everything will be fine, focus on the enemy!” Cen Ran reluctantly withdrew her gaze, looking back around, wishing she could just cut all these people down. The golden dragon, an embodiment of her anger, roared silently, eyes wide and synced with her emotions, ready to strike at any moment. “You lot…” Cen Ran clenched her teeth, “can't distinguish right from wrong, good from evil. Truly, what a grand siege this is!” Yet many, influenced by the substance, were gradually regaining clarity, even voluntarily lowering their weapons, leaving Cen Ran’s anger nowhere to go, eclipsed only by the intensifying presence of the golden dragon’s shadow behind her. In the next instant, someone long-awaited appeared above the battlefield. With her usual calm and aloof demeanor, she leisurely said, “Everyone, have you noticed how strange you have been today?” Ran Fan Yin stepped into the sky, carrying a person like a chick in her hand. Sharp-eyed individuals promptly recognized the person in her grasp was the official reason for attacking Tiān Chéng Immortal Sect and screamed, “The traitor is indeed in your sect!” The realization dawned upon the crowd, and the clamor nearly pierced the heavens. This was precisely the effect Ran Fan Yin wanted. She was about to force the crowd into silence when a jade tassel on her waist sword inexplicably began to glow. That jade tassel? Ran Fan Yin’s hand paused for a moment, the prepared spell also halting, as she heard a familiar voice emanating from the sword tassel— “Listen up, all of you!” It was Xiao Wan Cheng’s voice, followed by a surge of spiritual energy from the tassel, spreading and thickening the air, stifling the idle chatter. The powerful spiritual energy even snapped a giant tree in half. It must be said, Xiao Wan Cheng’s move was indeed effective. Not only did the crowd fall silent, but an unusual fluctuation emerged amongst them, which did not escape Ran Fan Yin’s keen eyes. That was the reason she brazenly stood there with Jiang Mang. Do you like to manipulate the world from behind the scenes? Do you enjoy stirring up trouble and sitting back to reap the benefits? I haven’t even shown what we have to dominate you, and just a sentence from Xiao Wan Cheng makes you this excited? Wú Niǎn Lord, your composure leaves much to be desired. But this isn’t enough. Unless we force you out completely, any temporary retreat would simply be your strategy to buy time. Ran Fan Yin smiled softly, with a casual wave, causing Jiang Mang to float quietly in the air. “Everyone, you’ve come all this way presumably for an explanation from Tiān Chéng Immortal Sect. It must have been arduous for you. However, even before the siege of Wàn Líng Valley, there were still a few months allowed for defense. Why are you so quick to bully Shàng Yún Sect today and injure my junior sister?” Ran Fan Yin's shallow, unfathomable smile, paired with the slight pressure of her single hand, sent chills through everyone's hearts. It was said Elder Ran rarely smiled, but when a seldom-smiling person did, it was even more terrifying! Not to mention the terrifying energy just exuded by the jade tassel on the warm, white sword at her waist. Who knows what kind of power this person held? So, even though she scolded them harshly, those regaining their senses fell into silence. After all, her initial words upon entering were evidently not baseless, as several had indeed fallen into a deranged state of disowning their kin. Ran Fan Yin smiled faintly, unsurprised by the developments, and though her gaze seemed to casually scan the crowd, it was in fact locked onto a spiritual point that had just flickered not far away. She said softly, “I only recently learned that a kind of poison is moving about the dark corners of this continent.” Seeing everyone’s expressions change, she feigned surprise and continued, “Though calling it poison isn’t quite right. It’s something that amplifies greed and delusion, even affecting one's mind.” Outside the barrier, a discontented sect, long irked by Shàng Yún Sect, seized the moment to shout, “Just because you say so? Who knows if this isn’t just an excuse for your sect’s crimes?” “Oh?” Ran Fan Yin looked at the speaker, “What crime would I need an excuse for?” The person instantly fell silent. 【Since you swore not to drink, you shouldn't drink again. Lest you end up like Wàng Qiū, doing something irreparable...】 【Since you’ve already cut it off, you can bear this pain.】 【But those questions, I have no ground to ask... I...】 【Why love someone you shouldn’t want to love?】 【So, you're lamenting Wàng Qiū's fate, not someone else?】 【Haha, this is great, haha.】 Jiang Mang straightened her back, with a demeanor cold and proud like the early winter frost, her voice clear and light. She said, “I, Jiang Mang, came today to seek a duel with the sword immortal’s successor. Yet, after fighting everyone, I haven’t seen her. It seems my skills are not enough to draw her out. Therefore, continuing this fight seems meaningless.” The elders' expressions varied, He Lan burying his smile in Ran Fan Yin’s embrace, while Elder Ran, her brows raised with a faint smirk, looked amused. This little genius was not only a bit dull but also a bit naive. Maybe she could be friends with that equally simple-minded Ning Song Wu. In stark contrast to the vibrant reactions from Shàng Yún Sect, Ming De Dao Ren was furious but had to restrain himself, pressing one hand heavily on the other, breathing deeply to suppress his rising anger. However, Jiang Mang wasn’t his disciple; she was the direct disciple of the deputy sect master. Since childhood, she had embodied this attitude of prioritizing swordsmanship above all else. He could only forcibly suppress his anger and speak as calmly as possible, “Jiang Mang, let’s keep things in perspective. I’ve heard Elder Ran’s apprentice is currently in secluded training, which is why they weren’t present. There’s no need to toy with the match like this, right?” On stage, Jiang Mang uttered a soft “Oh” and stared down at her toes, plunging into silence. After a moment, she raised her head to look towards the elder's seats, focusing on the conspicuous white hair, and boldly said, “Immortal Ran, I’ve heard you haven’t wielded a sword in quite some time. I wonder if you’d be willing to teach me here, and I would be eternally grateful.” Ming De Dao Ren nearly fainted with anger, pointing at the person on stage, his words reduced to a repetitive, “You!!” Ran Fan Yin propped her chin on her hand, slightly bowing forward, and said with a smile, “But you’ve already lost. There’s no established rule for teaching a loser.” Jiang Mang hastily responded, “No, that last match hasn’t been settled, it doesn’t count. I’ll just...” Ran Fan Yin slightly lowered her chin, her voice cold, “I agree.” At the side of the stage, a disciple sneaked in and hurried to Cen Ran’s side, whispering urgently, “Sect Master, a snowman just broke into the main hall. We couldn’t stop it; it seems to be heading towards the training ground.” Cen Ran was surprised, “A snowman? Since when did we have a snowman turned spirit within the sect?” The little disciple frowned, pondering deeply, unable to accurately describe the person’s state other than to say they truly appeared like a snowman, entirely white. Understanding, Cen Ran said, “You can leave for now, or stay and watch the show.” This small interlude did not draw the crowd’s attention, as the young girl on stage had already been rendered speechless by a few of Ran Fan Yin’s words, clutching her sword and stubbornly saying, “Then I won’t concede, I’ll keep fighting, I’ll keep on fighting.” “How can that be acceptable? Sword qi should be as unwavering as a sword’s pledge, never looking back once spoken,” Elder Ran’s lips curled in a grin. She hadn’t seen her disciple for months, and now found herself unable to resist teasing this exceptionally naive young girl. Jiang Mang stood completely stunned, staring at her sword, her mouth opening and closing, unsure of what to say. Ran Fan Yin propped her head to wait for her response. Despite having a small girl nearly driving her mad with chatter, her heart was filled with a sour, lingering amusement. In the corner of her eye, she noted Ming De Dao Ren summoning several people, preparing to drag Jiang Mang off the stage. The temperature unknowingly dropped significantly, and before anyone noticed, a familiar voice, filled with urgency and mirth reminiscent of Ran Fan Yin, rang out from the horizon— “I’m out of seclusion, just in time! Why did you all go so far? And this fellow Taoist…” “If you wish to learn from my master, shouldn’t you first defeat me?” Leaning against a side of the cloud, a slender bamboo pole stood tall, one hand behind her back, the other holding a cold silver sword. Most strikingly, her waist-length silver hair swayed gently in the wind. 【Wonderful, no longer affected by that heartbreaking musical cultivation. Wonderful.】 【Speaking of which, Master also reads girl love literature, perhaps I can share with her in the future.】 【Heh heh heh heh, no more need to stay up late hiding from Master to read, heh heh heh heh...】 【How delightful. Today is a good day~】 【This won’t do. I can't always be weakened several layers when encountering water elemental cultivators.】 【Ice is an extension of water, and water can extend from ice too. I need to change my method, perhaps targeting water vapor?】 This was normal; as a cultivator, one bore the hopes of the masses and fought for the world. Thus, one must possess the compassion for the world and the power to change it, not merely weep sorrowfully. So, let’s begin from this moment. Reflecting on this, the woman’s gaze softened a bit, watching the young girl bite her lip for a moment, then gently nod in assent. Little Peach turned to look at the two elder sisters who had suddenly stopped. Being petite, she could barely see over the shoulder of the stately sister, catching just a glimpse of the gentle sister’s face. To be precise, she could only see one eye. What a beautiful, gentle eye. Little Peach was momentarily lost in thought, then snapped back to reality, urging, “Elder sisters, hurry up!” Ning Song Wu exhaled deeply, raising her voice, “Coming, thank you, Little Peach.” “Oh, no need to call me that.” Little Peach scratched the back of her head. It’s a bit embarrassing. Even though she had been mentally prepared, seeing the two people sitting there still caused Ning Song Wu to slowly let out a breath. She and her sister had been wandering in the mountains today, accidentally getting lost, walking for a long time before coming upon this village. With the day ending and her sister’s health not being great, she wondered if there was a place for them to stay in the village? The man, fanning himself leisurely, paused, scrutinizing the “sisters” with a frown, “Not showing your true faces, how can I trust you?” Ran Fan Yin cleared her throat softly, her voice low and gentle, “Please forgive us, the family rules are strict; we cannot see men before marriage. Even coming out to play, my younger sister snuck me out. But, my surname is Chu, would you happen to know this surname?” Though it was a casual lie, upon hearing the word “marriage,” Ning Song Wu’s heart couldn’t help but beat heavily. A bit painful, a bit sour. She unconsciously touched her wrist and then, seemingly remembering something, released her grip without a trace. Ran Fan Yin’s lips curled slightly. Silly child. Before the man could respond, the woman clapped her thigh, “Ah, the rich man from Yue Ping Town, Chu? Oh, you…” “But I haven’t heard of a happy event in the Chu family recently,” the man frowned, looking at the two with more suspicion, “Don't pretend to be someone you’re not to deceive me.” Ning Song Wu sternly replied, “In terms of generations, we should call that person a distant uncle. We are merely seeking a place to stay as we pass through. So, does the village have any shelter to borrow?” By her side, Ran Fan Yin gently squeezed her hand as if to reassure her. Feeling verified, Ning Song Wu’s demeanor grew a bit more assertive. The man was about to say something when the woman forcefully patted her thigh, then smilingly said, “Young ladies, if you don’t mind, we have a small guest room that should suffice for the night. Please, come in.” With that, she glared fiercely at the man. “Little Peach, fetch some hot tea for the side room.” “Miss Chu, just call me Spring Flower and my husband Qian Tou, as in the Qian of silver coins. Please remember that if you can.” Spring Flower rubbed her hands together in front of her, smiling. Ning Song Wu nodded in acknowledgment, surveying the room. Though small, it was clean. The family seemed to have a decent living, a typical self-sufficient farming household. A little feudal in mentality, but she remembered, this is indeed a feudal society. After the people left, Ran Fan Yin caressed Ning Song Wu’s cheek, “What’s wrong? You seemed disinterested earlier.” “I felt the lady’s shoulder earlier. Her bone age is over twenty, and she is at late Qi training. The entire family is like this, except for Little Peach…” Little Ning-er silently walked to the bedside, smoothing the bedding. Compared to the spacious guest rooms at the inn from the previous day, this place appeared quite cramped. The girl measured, considering whether two people could fit. Ran Fan Yin sighed, lifting the curtain and sitting at the small table, her voice gentle. “Did you cry?” “No, I’m just uncertain whether to feel fortunate or unfortunate,” Ning Song Wu said in a muffled voice. “You should feel fortunate,” the woman’s finger moved slightly, causing the red string on the girl’s wrist to glow faintly, its warmth compelling the girl to turn around. Ran Fan Yin smiled, “Indeed, you didn’t cry this time.” Her little disciple’s mind was too delicate. Thankfully, she only had this one little disciple—delicate thoughts could be nurtured gradually. Time was something they had in abundance. “Little Ning-er, what about those forced to trade their lifespan for cultivation? Do you think they are pitiable?” Ning Song Wu blinked, hesitating. Ran Fan Yin patted the impatient child’s head, “All right, let me finish.” “Do you remember what Ah Xin said? The immortal master did two things here—first, helping them fend off troubling demonic beasts.” “Look at this village, it doesn’t make sense for it to remain a village against the backdrop of such a treasure land like Yue Hua Mountain. At least…” She tapped the somewhat worn table, “It wouldn’t appear this barely sufficient to support life.” Ning Song Wu continued, “The breach in the mountain’s barrier faced the village, causing considerable trouble, so the immortal master gained their trust by slaying some demonic beasts and then indoctrinated them with this life for spiritual power cultivation method?” After a moment of thought, she asked, “But what benefit does this bring the immortal master?” She conjectured shakily, “It cannot be that they practiced their spells on them… Wait, practiced spells?” Ning Song Wu alarmingly considered, “Master, do you think trading decades of lifespan for mid to late Qi training is worthwhile?” If it were, why was the acceleration evidently so minimal for Tian Ci, only advancing a dozen years? Elder Ran contentedly patted the young girl’s shoulder. Not easy at all, but she finally thought it through. “How about I teach you a spell?” Seeing Little Ning'er’s especially clear and eager eyes, Ran Fan Yin gently said, “It’s a spell for detecting spiritual energy fluctuations within a certain range. I originally intended to teach you when you reached the Golden Core stage.” Just as Ning Song Wu was about to speak, a youthful voice sounded from outside the door— “This site has no pop-up ads, permanent domain…”