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

### Chapter 44: Don't Move The scene fell into immediate silence; even the sound of breathing vanished amidst the vines. Countless white flowers bloomed among the greenery, spreading their fragrance far and wide, causing both the audience and participants to feel a fleeting sense of disorientation. Helan's expression turned stern as he remarked, "This child has actually integrated poison into the vines she controls!" Although not an unworthy trick, integrating poison into one's spirit roots without causing harm is a skill that demonstrates the supreme capability of a disciple from the foremost sect in the Nine Provinces. The world has countless plants, and likewise, myriad manifestations among wood spirit root cultivators, but mastering poison to this level is truly exceptional. Helan Mian Mian couldn't help but clench her fists, unsure of the poison's effects and whether Luo Sheng could handle it with ease. In the next instant, the vines in the field snapped in their midsection. With a flick of her judge’s pen onto a parchment, Luo Sheng split the air open. She launched forward like an arrow, her fox tail barely visible behind her, adding to her speed. Zhang Xue's eyes widened in shock. She didn’t expect Luo Sheng to break free so quickly, and her spellcasting slowed significantly. However, as a well-trained disciple of a major sect, Zhang Xue managed to instinctively intercept Luo Sheng's downward spin kick with a swift movement of her hand, forming a glowing whip of wood vines to counter the force. She applied a bit more strength, flinging Luo Sheng out, leg and all. In midair, Luo Sheng barely regained her balance. She gestured swiftly, conjuring a massive wave that surged toward the figure on the ground. Without hesitation, Zhang Xue sat and began to absorb the tidal wave with her light green spirit energy, causing the surrounding trees to grow more wildly. Luo Sheng clicked her tongue in annoyance. She flicked her two fingers upward, causing the trees to wither instantly, creating a longsword from the gathered water droplets and thrusting it directly toward where Zhang Xue stood. Almost simultaneously, vines coiled around the water sword, and a voice whispered in Luo Sheng's ear, "Little girl, some trees release their toxins only after dying." Before the sentence finished, numbness spread through her limbs, leaving only her fingers capable of movement. She gritted her teeth and drove the water sword forward, cutting through numerous vines. Just as she was captured by a tree cluster, the water sword struck Zhang Xue. With a loud bang, Luo Sheng was thrown off the stage, and her opponent was also knocked off by the longsword. Luo Sheng struggled to get up, but her entire body was numb except for her face and fingers. She resigned to lying down until members from Qingye Peak came to carry her away. Fortunately, it wasn’t a serious injury; the plant-based toxin merely paralyzed her limbs without causing further harm. Her opponent was in a similar condition, exhaling a sigh of relief while lying on the ground. With both fighters knocked from the stage in the first match, it ended in a draw. Cen Ran relaxed a bit; her disciples on average were one major or minor realm lower in cultivation. Observing Luo Sheng's tactics, it was clear that unless they had a particularly aggressive disciple, they could otherwise aim for a draw to ensure both parties advance past the first round, without any side being entirely defeated, risking disqualification. On a distant viewing stand, several people closely watched the match between the Shangyun Sect and Tiancheng Xianmen. A Longdao Sect elder sighed in resignation, "The disciples from Shangyun Sect this year may not be extremely powerful, but their talents are terrifying!" Another person responded, "Indeed. I heard the oldest among them is only in her eighties and has already reached the Nascent Soul stage. What a frightening talent!" Someone else added, "Given time, they could potentially rise to greatness. The Sword Immortal certainly had sharp foresight. However, as for the Xianmen...” “What about the Xianmen?” A bright-voiced woman chimed in. They turned to see a beautiful woman holding an adorable girl, curiously asking, “Surely Xianmen wouldn’t be so petty, right?” Dressed in luxurious garments and exuding deep, unfathomable strength, it was apparent she was no ordinary cultivator and likely had ties to the Xianmen sect. The elder hastily motioned for quiet, replying, “Oh, it’s nothing serious. We were just chatting casually. Please, don’t take it to heart.” Xiao Wan Cheng blinked her eyes and asked again, “So what’s happened? Could you tell me what you were discussing?” One person sighed and softly said, "You're not from Xianmen?" "No, I’m just a wandering cultivator who paid a high price for tickets. I wanted to bring my family to watch," Xiao Wan Cheng replied with a smile. Her round eyes curved in such a cute manner that the other's guard dropped a notch. Lowering his voice, he continued, “Frankly, we were lamenting about Shangyun Sect.” “Oh? What about the sect that the Sword Immortal publicly declared he would join a thousand years ago?” Another individual added, "That sect has been developing rapidly, catching Tiancheng Xianmen’s attention. This first match is a clear warning." “And more than that, I heard that their external trade relations were abruptly cut off a few years back, probably due to Xianmen interference.” The Longdao Sect elder rubbed his hands and shook his head, "The Nine Provinces are vast; how can it not accommodate a thriving sect? I wanted to face Shangyun Sect myself, but it seems that chance is slipping away." After all, who wouldn’t want to test the legacy of the renowned Sword Immortal? “However, it seems the direct disciple of the Sword Immortal isn’t here today.” Surprised, the elder looked back at the training platform, "Really? But they registered her for the competition." The other person replied, “Ran Fan Yin, with her silver hair, would be noticeable if present. I heard her disciple reached the Nascent Soul stage a year ago. If she were here, the sect wouldn't be in this predicament.” On the training platform, the last disciple from Shangyun Sect had just been defeated. Across from her stood Jiang Mang, the obsessive swordswoman familiar to many, who had visited Shangyun Sect years ago. The Longdao Sect elder observed this and shook his head in resignation. Alas, it seemed luck was not on their side for a fight today either. Someone nearby asked, “Wasn’t there just a female cultivator here?” Another responded, “Dreaming? No female cultivators came. No male ones either, aside from us three.” The elder rubbed his arm, feeling a distinct chill, “Didn't any of you feel really cold?” Meanwhile, on the training platform, an enforcement elder also felt a sudden chill and urged, “If no one steps up soon, you’ll lose by default.” A white-robed cultivator holding a sword stood by, seemingly sensing something, he looked up into the vast sky absentmindedly, lost in thought. Cen Ran sighed lightly and asked the second elder overseeing the arena, “If we concede this last round, will we be eliminated in this first round?” The second elder hesitated, “Hard to say. Both sides have one win, one loss, and two ties. If we forfeit, bad luck might place us at the bottom…” “At least a draw?” “At least a draw.” Cen Ran sighed heavily. Who could have expected that the once silent Jiang Mang would reappear and reach the Nascent Soul stage? Not to mention, her swordsmanship was unparalleled, easily outmatching any Nascent Soul disciple. She had brought her disciples here more to broaden their horizons, and hadn’t brought many of her core disciples. What now? It seemed conceding and preserving their strength might be best, as the real challenge lay ahead. Cen Ran fingered the surrender plaque, thinking hard. Watching this, Helan felt a pang of worry and gently patted her arm, “If it’s not possible, you can always find another reason to stay a few more days…” A slender jade hand reached out, pressing the plaque down decisively, a serene voice said, “How will you know unless you try?” 【Didn’t Master instruct this? Argh!!】 【Who will be her first target? Whom should I strike first...】 【Unyielding Elder Qin...】 【How did such a gluttonous fox become a demon king, and so reliable, so mature...】 【If she gets wayward and is abducted while buying things one day, what will I do? Silly girl.】 【Still, she smells really nice.】 ^o^ 【Yes, a fox with good taste.】 After a while— Cen Ran looked at the long letter in her hand, gently waved the paper, and glanced at Helan Mian Mian playing buns-stealing games with Ru Jin. She sighed resignedly, "Can I pass down my position now?" “That roaming adventurer is too much! It’s bad enough to sneak away on an outing, but why... why write so many letters teasing me? So heartless, too heartless!” “Once your direct disciple breaks through to merging stages, you can pass down your position to her, right?” Helan suggested, nibbling on a bun, mindlessly nodding. Cen Ran calculated with her fingers and sighed again, "Still a hundred years to go!" “A century goes by sooner than you think. Ah Sheng, come here and carry your junior martial sister away.” Having solved a minor issue, Helan stretched his waist before standing up. He glanced at a certain sulking fool and nonchalantly sauntered over, perching sideways on Cen Ran's lap. Wrapping his arms around her neck, he spoke softly and teasingly, "Even if you have to stay here for a thousand years, won't I still be here with you, accompanying you?" For a moment, the depth of understanding deepened in both pairs of eyes. Helan leaned closer, whispering into her ear with a breathy voice, "Since today's administrative tasks are finished, why don't you join me for a ‘daytime declaration’..." The last word was said so softly, his tongue just barely touching her earlobe. He added, "Right here, in the side hall of Luoyun Palace, how about that?" Let's leave aside what was about to happen for now. At this very moment, amidst the misty rain in Jiangnan— After parting with Baize, Ning and Ran headed towards Jiangnan. Since they were traveling leisurely, they didn't bother debating whether going north or south would bring them closer to their goal. They found a small boat and a river leading directly to Jiangnan, deciding to let it drift freely, following the general direction more than specific routes. Ran Fan Yin wasn't writing letters back to the sect to provoke Cen Ran intentionally; part of their trip's purpose was to survey for any remaining source toxins across the Nine Provinces. Thus, every location had to be reported. Initially, Cen Ran would respond meticulously, but over time her replies dwindled to just a sentence or two, eventually becoming— Through the soothing sounds of flowing water, Ning Song Wu asked in a muffled voice, "What did the Sect Leader say this time?" Ran Fan Yin, gazing blankly at the canopy overhead, let her hair scatter across the boat. Her eyes blurred with mist, her face marked by the pressure of restrained biting on her lips, barely reacted to the question. Irritated by her unresponsiveness, Ning Song Wu decided to use another approach to regain her attention. 【Master, what did the Sect Leader say this time?】 The airy voice exploded in her mind, snapping Ran Fan Yin back to reality. Her tormentor stopped what she was doing and straightened up, staring at her with a half-smile. Ning Song Wu had gotten especially audacious since learning that Ran Fan Yin could hear her thoughts, indulging in more and more mischievous and outrageous musings. These nearly intrusive thoughts frequently echoed in Ran Fan Yin’s head, unavoidable and persistent. At this moment, Ran Fan Yin’s blurry vision focused enough to catch the glistening sheen around the girl’s lips, the mischievous smile soothingly at odds with the taunting fingertips tracing the water by the creek. However, the girl’s roguish thoughts drove Ran Fan Yin to grab the creased letter. Despite only a single word on it, Ning Song Wu kept urging her to read it aloud, wanting to see tears welling in her eyes over a trivial message. Ran Fan Yin took a steady breath, saying faintly, “...too much.” With fingers toying with the water, Ning Song Wu raised an eyebrow, “Master, what did you say?” Ran Fan Yin clenched the soft bedding beneath her, articulating more clearly, “I said you’re too much.” "Oh, then I’ll stop being too much." With a look of mock regret, Ning Song Wu even retreated from the stream. As if. Ran Fan Yin closed her eyes to recover, then opened them to find Ning Song Wu calmly wiping her lips with a cloth, moving excruciatingly slowly. The long cloth barely concealed her fingers that had just been in the water, twitching teasingly. Too much. Way too much. “Help me up.” Being startled by the huskiness and soft allure in her own voice, Ran Fan Yin wondered when she had lost all the dignity of a master. However, Ning Song Wu became obedient, wrapping an arm around her waist to help her sit up against her own body. Nibbling lightly on Ran Fan Yin’s ear, she murmured, “I only wanted two words from you, Master.” Ning Song Wu was extremely patient, waiting by the creek for those two words. What was so hard about that? Ran Fan Yin was about to answer when the girl nudged the matter again, "Look at the paper and read it out." “Yang-er...” Frustration and helplessness softened the resolve in Ran Fan Yin, and the girl with a blush-tinged complexion tilted her head, whispering, “I’m here, Master.” She seemed determined to keep the disturbance going. Resigned, Ran Fan Yin unfolded the letter again. The boat rocked violently in the wind and waves, instantly igniting her stressed mind. Instinctively, she bit into Ning Song Wu's shoulder, tears welling and dripping onto Ning Song Wu, sending warm droplets splashing. Another wave crashed, almost tossing her overboard, but Ning Song Wu grabbed her tightly, pressing their bodies together until the tempest passed. Nestled closely, her ragged breath managed to form a statement, "Master, we’ll need another boat soon." "We're soaked." Weakly reacting, Ran Fan Yin instinctively bit into her shoulder again, a gesture less aggressive and more tender, unlocking a new spiral of chaos. Throughout, Ning Song Wu's persistent murmurs echoed like a ceaseless mantra in her head, eventually forcing her to relent. Fine, I’ll buy it. Thus, Ning Song Wu offered her long-awaited osmanthus cake, freshly steamed and still piping hot. She picked a piece, but the heat made her instinctively retract her hand, touching her own ear, then foolishly reaching again. Laughing softly, Ran Fan Yin remarked, "Silly, it’s hot. Wait a bit to eat." But the next moment, the steaming piece was offered to her. “…?” She turned her head to see the girl’s mischievous smile swiftly turning pitiful, blinking, "Master, the first bite should always go to you, right?" Suppressing a laugh, Ran Fan Yin mused. Would a fire root spirit be afraid of heat? But for those who didn’t adjust the temperature, maybe. Ran Fan Yin took a bite, but before Ning Song Wu could react, she turned, pressing her lips onto hers, making her share the warm delicacy. 【What’s happening, how did this escalate so quickly?】 【Is she really this weak? How could it be…】 【My heartbeat…so fast…】 【My head, so heavy…】 【Next time, no drinking before this…】 【Seems like it's not my heartbeat, but Master's…】 【Master’s too tense…relax a bit…can’t breathe…】 【Master just finished the barrier, better rest while she can, I'll stay put.】 Luo Sheng gritted her teeth, her seven tails behind her almost visible, yearning to unleash her full power. If she unleashed her strength completely, could anything survive? Could she not at least wear him down to death?! Shameless family, shameless! Lan Ruo Ying held her hand, gently pulling her back, soothing her turbulent emotions, and asked warmly, "What exactly is it that you want?" “I only wish to take my sister away. You can surely leave my territory unharmed.” “Are you truthful in this?” Ning Yuan Lie nodded with a smile. Considering that attacking wasn’t the best choice now, especially since their strongest member was in an uncontrollable state of rage, fighting wasn’t ideal. If Ning Yuan Lie insisted on conflict, they couldn’t escape. Moreover, the distant figure atop the pavilion might not aid them… Grim, but pragmatic about accepting his terms, Lan Ruo Ying hesitated. A wild laugh disrupted the silence. Lan and Luo looked up, recognizing the radiant figure descending with a white-clad fairy—none other than the expert Ning Song Wu had introduced them to at the inn. Relieved, Lan Ruo Ying discreetly pulled Luo Sheng back a step, making room for the formidable new arrivals. The two of them were beyond help now; rescuing Ning Song Wu took precedence. Cheng Yun Huan entered with a resounding laugh, holding the fragile figure protectively, sneering, "Your old master needs an incense stick’s time to arrive. Do you think you alone can defeat the two of us and protect these youngsters, Ning Yuan Lie? You’re still the same hypocrite." “Cheng Yun Huan, you're still alive?” Ning Yuan Lie’s surprise was momentary, his gaze landed on the fragile woman Cheng doted on, then he smiled again, "Impressive. How about we make a deal? You two leave, and stay out of my family's affairs?" “If you killed Ning Yuan Yue and blamed us, we'd have no redress,” Cheng Yun Huan mocked, lightning flashing in her hands, “Better to finish you now.” “Ning Yuan Lie, I may not be able to kill you, but can you guarantee you can always protect that fragile person in your arms? Think well.” Ning Yuan Lie smiled menacingly as he made his threat, causing Cheng Yun Huan’s expression to change. But it was Ning Song Wu, bound by the golden rope and on the brink of berserk rage, who reacted even faster. Breaking free from her bonds, she decisively swung her sword at the smiling man. Behind her, the icy cold light of the Frost Lotus Sword intensified. Waves of sword energy surged towards Ning Yuan Lie with her low growl. However, it seemed to be only the most ordinary sword energy and should have been easily blocked by Ning Yuan Lie given his cultivation. It should have been easy to block. A quiet sound of the long sword piercing flesh, so subtle against the roaring sword energy, thoroughly shattered Ning Yuan Lie's protective spiritual energy. He looked down in disbelief at his dantian to find a short dagger thrust into it, one that had destroyed his dantian entirely. It was a birthday gift he had given to Ning Yuan Yue when they were children. Before he could make a sound, the sword energy reached him, severing his body into pieces, leaving only a mist of blood in the air. Behind him, the “grateful” Ning Yuan Yue, whom he had protected, struggled to her feet, barely able to drag her body. She gripped the short dagger, laughing maniacally, "For my sake? To save me?" “Lord Lie, have you played the good man for too long that you’ve forgotten you’re infamous as the scoundrel of the four families, Ning Yuan Lie?!” Her accusations seemed more a lament of the past, narrating a blood-soaked history, a girl’s descent into an abyss. There was no need to share this past anymore. With that, she raised the short dagger and aimed it at her dantian, "I vowed to drag Ning Yuan Lie to hell with me before I die, as a burial for our child. As for the rest of you, all of you…” “Bury me!” With a sudden burst of strength, she plunged the dagger into her dantian. Only she knew what lay within. If it was breached, the limitless power that Wuyan had told her about would be unleashed utterly. Death, death, all must die! But a warm white light halted her hand, breaking through her dantian first, and extracted the dark golden spiritual energy within it, wrapping around it to purify the toxins. ▼ The source poison, which had magnified their greed and caused so many tragedies over the years, was eradicated in a flash by the effortlessly moving spirit as she lightly waved her fingers. Without its last source of support, Ning Yuan Yue’s body collapsed, lifeless on the ground. Dead without peace. Everything happened so quickly that no one had a chance to react, leaving everyone rooted in place, including Cheng Yun Huan who had been about to intervene. The spirit slowly lifted her eyelids, revealing her dim eyes, and looked at the frail person by Cheng Yun Huan’s side. Ning Xiu Jie was filled with sorrow, attempting to walk over despite her weakened state, even trying to support herself to help the spirit. Cheng Yun Huan and Luo Sheng both sensed something amiss. Cheng Yun Huan quickly grabbed Ning Xiu Jie, hiding her behind, while Luo Sheng lunged to wrap her arms around Ning Song Wu’s waist. It was cold. That was Luo Sheng’s first impression, as if she was hugging a block of eternal ice. But she didn’t let go and couldn’t let go, unsure of what had happened, but knowing that releasing her would surely result in more deaths. "Sister, wake up. You came to save everyone, didn’t you?" "Sister! What happened? Please respond to me!" Her words didn’t reach Ning Song Wu’s ears at all. It was as if she had sunk into the deepest ocean, surrounded by nothing but red and the muffled sounds of the abyss, her mind consumed by the instinct to purify toxins. Step by step, she pressed forward, sword in hand, mumbling ceaselessly. The spiritual energy inside her surged, threatening to burst her meridians, with a pain so intense in her heart it made breathing difficult. Yet, she walked on, unwaveringly. Killing, thoroughly, to end— Any future harm. Until the jade pendant at her waist glowed softly. A frail voice called her name, just a simple utterance, like a stabilizing force piercing through the endless blackness of the deep sea, pressing down her turbulent ocean of spiritual energy, forcing it to calm. "Ning-er." She stopped her steps and instinctively answered, "I’m here, Master." (No pop-up ads, permanent domain)