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

**Chapter 50: Dearest Friends** Wen Xu Jian swayed slightly, acknowledging the situation. As they exited the cave, the discomfort that arose deep within his heart began to gradually fade. The girl nestled against Ran Fan Yin, previously drawn unconsciously to the warmth, finally settled down, with only a small hand tightly grasping the fabric at Ran Fan Yin's chest. Pausing at the cave's entrance, the frost on the girl's hands slowly receded, her almost frozen body gradually becoming soft again. Ran Fan Yin lifted the little hand clutching her chest, only for the girl to hold tighter, mumbling softly, "Beautiful master, so soft…" A smile tugged at the corners of Ran Fan Yin's heart. Trust her to still tell people apart at a time like this. Ning Song Wu's delicate face was still adorned with frost. Ran Fan Yin warmed her palms and gently pressed them against Ning Song Wu's face, attempting to melt the frost. After a moment of kneading, she realized that the frost wasn't merely on the surface. She took the girl's free hand and channeled her spiritual energy inward, revealing the root cause: frost clung to the surface of Ning Song Wu's thumping heart. How did it reach here? Frowning slightly, Ran Fan Yin tentatively probed the frost with her spiritual energy, carefully melting the icy layer. The girl's breath gradually became warmer, the gentle heat landing on Ran Fan Yin's ears. She breathed easier as the girl began to recover. After the situation in the cave stabilized, Wen Xu Jian emerged, transforming back into a folded fan and automatically storing itself in Ran Fan Yin's ring, behaving exceptionally well. Ran Fan Yin cast a final glance back into the cave, sighing softly. Until she figured out the connection between everything, she had to keep a close watch on her little unfortunate one. "I really wish I could tie you to my waist with a string so I wouldn't lose you wherever I go," Ran Fan Yin said, lightly pinching the girl's serene face. Ning Song Wu continued wiping her sword, thoughts turning dark. Fortunately, the core only trembled that day without triggering the entire formation. Apart from a few elders who were always vigilant, it didn't attract much attention. When Cen Ran learned about this, she too fell into deep contemplation. Now that she thought back, it was indeed curious how Ning Song Wu, an orphan without any family heritage, possessed a rare ice spiritual root and an exceptional cultivation aptitude. Not to mention, she had countless other anomalies, especially her ability to foresee the future... Cen Ran rubbed a black piece, staring intently at the chessboard, searching for the best move. Across from her, Ran Fan Yin, holding a white piece with two fingers, covered her mouth and coughed lightly. She shook her head at the concerned gaze directed at her. "It's nothing. I overused Wen Xu the other day, and the spiritual energy fluctuations strained my heart and internal organs." Cen Ran sighed softly, "In the future, if you can avoid using it during non-critical times, do so. Don't risk your hard-won stability." "I understand. Nowadays, the lot of you seem to care more about my well-being than I do." Cen Ran: "..." As if we didn't care before? As for what they experienced at the mountain's base, Elder Ran had already reported it during the elders' meeting before Ning Song Wu woke up. While they informed other sects, Cen Ran also tasked Nascent Soul disciples needing experience to take down demonic cultivators as part of their training. According to the second elder, the inner sect had become vastly spacious as a result. He even suggested performing more such tasks to reap multiple benefits. Ning Song Wu stumbled back several steps, attempting to retreat from the shrouding mist, but it clung to her like a shadow, quickly covering the entire beast arena. A few steps and she was drenched. The Chao Shuang sword in her hand seemed like useless scrap metal. If she tried to lower the temperature now, she wouldn't just freeze the mist; she'd risk turning herself into an ice sculpture. In the distance, a pool of water rippled, laughing lightly. Ning Song Wu pursed her lips, supporting herself with one hand, and slowly spread a thin layer of ice. However, the difference in cultivation levels was vast. The ice mist hadn't even spread before a serpent shadow slid under the ice, jutting suddenly—a spray of water and ice sent the girl tumbling into the serpent's tail. The slick, cold snake skin against her exposed skin made her shiver. Much bolder now, the girl reached out with her free left hand. In an instant, an ice dagger formed, thrusting straight into the serpent’s tail, splashing water everywhere. With the support gone, Ning Song Wu almost fell headfirst. She quickly channeled her spiritual energy, but the water, faster than ice, pushed back her energy, partially freezing her and sending her crashing to the ground. Panting, Ning Song Wu lay there in reluctant surrender. The water condensed into a serpent shadow before reverting to a human form. Su Ye casually brushed back a lock of hair, chuckling, "Little ice block, make a few ice cubes for your sister; it's so hot on the fifth of May." Ning Song Wu shut her eyes, ignoring her. A weight pressed on her shoulders—something heavy—and Su Ye's cool breath brushed against the girl's neck. In a suppressed voice, she said, "Little ice block, make me a few, and big sister will spare you next time." "No need, senior sister. Lowering the temperature is part of my training." Su Ye admonished her, "You cheeky little girl." He Lan Elder’s perpetually lilting tone cut into their conversation, "Su Ye~ bring Ning Ning up here~" Su Ye snorted lightly, coiling her long tail around the ice sculpture and dragging it away. When He Lan Elder saw the scene, she laughed heartily, dispelling the thick ice with a gentle tap and freeing Ning Song Wu. Struggling to suppress her laughter, He Lan Elder said, "It's the fifth of May, and senior sister asked me to take you youngsters to get some good food. Let's go?" Ning Song Wu: "… Where’s the master?" He Lan sighed, "Arguing with Yan Tian Sect. The head of Yan Tian is stubborn, and Master insists on knocking out three thousand top-grade herbs before they'll release her." Ning Song Wu was speechless. "… Are they even worth it?" Elder Cat's laughter was mischievous, "Of course not. But you should know how protective your master is by now." Ning Song Wu fell silent. In Luo Yun Hall, a woman who had just sipped her warm tea suddenly started coughing. The previously eloquent elder from Yan Tian Sect froze, facing several scrutinizing glares. His voice shook, "I didn't touch this tea!" Ran Fan Yin, with a stern face, cleared her throat and said calmly, "It's fine, continue." "I... continue?" How?! Cen Ran added, "Yes, continue." [Divine Soul!] [Previously, they only used divine sense, dividing a strand of spiritual power. But now, it's a strand of the soul…] [Shouldn't be any burden, right?] [The subconscious reaction wasn't fear, no hesitation, the instinct was to draw energy?] [Terrible acting, Lord Demon.] Following the scent, Ning Song Wu headed toward the city’s south. The closer she got, the stronger the smell became. Upon reaching a courtyard, the girl collapsed, almost vomiting out her dinner from the previous day. Ran Fan Yin placed a hand on her back, her warm spiritual energy offering comfort. She created a barrier to isolate the demonic qi, asking, "Feeling better?" Rubbing her nose, Ning Song Wu stood up with difficulty, "Much better, master." "Although it's normal for human cultivators to react to demonic qi, your extreme reaction is quite rare." Ran Fan Yin lifted her up, lightly resting a hand on her wrist, "There's nothing peculiar inside you." Ning Song Wu chuckled, "Maybe I'm destined to be at odds with demons." Ran Fan Yin knocked on her head. Randomly, Ran Fan Yin remembered a dream from a few days ago. In it, her mother stroked the formation core, speaking words filled with rare warmth. She wondered whether the core had truly understood. All these years guarding the formation, she hadn't noticed any change, so perhaps it hadn't. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. For instance, when taking over the formation, she never expected its core to be so compatible with her fire spiritual root. She had braced herself for possible rejection or even injury. But nothing of that sort happened. The process was smooth and harmonious, the ice-blue core radiating warmth, as if they mutually accepted each other. That was odd. Even Mian Mian, upon trying, had been frozen almost senseless before even touching the core. They joked back then it was the core repaying Elder Ran. She had laughed it off, but now it seemed it might be true. Why, then, did the dream lead so quickly to an unfamiliar disciple? Still mired in her memories, Ran Fan Yin followed the girl, who had stuffed cloth into her nostrils and was breathing through her mouth, pushing open the door. And then, she vomited. [Why is the demonic qi so thick in here? Doesn't it dissipate?] Almost purging her dinner, Ning Song Wu leaned against the doorframe, retching. Even Ran Fan Yin could only manage a sympathetic smile while hastily using her spiritual energy to shield her from the demonic qi. It was a struggle. Once the girl could barely stand, Ran Fan Yin said with a smile, "Stay close to me. I can shield you from some of the demonic qi." "Sure, master." They pushed open the main door, revealing a scene of twisted, unidentifiable entities sprawled on the ground, surrounded by dense demonic qi. Despite Ran Fan Yin's protective barrier, the visual impact was enough to make one's stomach churn. Gripping Ran Fan Yin's robe tightly, Ning Song Wu froze. Her face, already pale, turned icy white, and she knelt, trembling violently. "Master… Was this Yinxie’s doing?" "This is a late-stage Nascent Soul demon; she couldn't have done it. But she surely benefitted from it." Ran Fan Yin frowned as she walked over. She had anticipated a brutal scene but was still taken aback by its sheer savagery. She removed the cloth covering the demonic creature, sending debris scattering around the already trembling girl’s feet. Her disciple’s thoughts were practically screaming to the heavens. Exasperated, Ran Fan Yin patted her ears, trying to block it out momentarily before continuing to inspect the demon. Eventually, she found a piece of paper under the overlapping limbs, containing writings in the demonic language. "Alright, I found it. We'll take this back to Qin Si Yue." [If I'm not the real Ning Song Wu, then what is all this?] [Heaven granted two people a second chance, yet "Ning Song Wu's" body was taken over by someone with the same name as me. The common point is we both deeply love the person in front of us and wish for her well-being.] [But ultimately, all that has been achieved is through my efforts. Does it matter if I'm the real Ning Song Wu or not?] [At least to her, I am me, right?] The person who had already left naturally heard these quivering thoughts, closing her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks. Not long ago, in the Imprisonment Illusion Realm— After Xiao Wan Cheng agreed to send her into the illusion, Ran Fan Yin waited a moment before the scene before her became clear again, revealing the busy Xiao Wan Cheng. This illusionary version of Xiao Wan Cheng was here to answer her questions. Xiao Wan Cheng poured two cups of warm tea, handing one to the stern-faced little cutie sitting across from her. She found it adorable, so why not? She then hugged her cup, staring at Ran Fan Yin, waiting for her to speak. Ran Fan Yin pondered for a moment, trying to imitate her tone from then, and asked, "If I want to resurrect someone during the world's reset, how should I go about it?" Xiao Wan Cheng responded in confusion, "Once the world resets, that person will naturally be alive." Realizing something, she put down her tea cup. "Are you talking about Ning Song Wu?" Ran Fan Yin nodded in confirmation. To be honest, her purpose in seeking out these methods was simply twofold: the world and Ning Er. "If you can't, would you still do it?" Xiao Wan Cheng asked solemnly. Ran Fan Yin smiled nonchalantly, "Of course." Xiao Wan Cheng sighed lightly, "Didn't I tell you? Xiao Tian is the spirit of the Absolute Heaven Formation. Essentially, the spirit is formed around the core of the formation. When we were humans, her heart was the key to activating the formation. She has already returned her source spirit to the formation. Her soul is dispersed within it. How could she be saved?" "What if I retrieve the core again?" "She returned her source spirit to the formation for a moment of freedom, meaning she has already dispersed. The core will give birth to a new formation spirit. This process cannot be stopped." Ran Fan Yin's already weary body curled up a bit. "Is there truly no other chance?" Seeing her current state, Xiao Wan Cheng felt a pang of sadness, tightly clenching her fists. She couldn't bear revealing the method. After a long while, she sighed. “Well, there is another way.” "And since you'd already have to give your all for a chance at a reset, a bit more sacrifice shouldn't matter, right?" The initially exhausted person perked up, her eyes brightening. "Please, tell me." Xiao Wan Cheng internally sighed over and over again. She wished she could just destroy that remaining soul of the bastard causing these troubles, allowing Ran Fan Yin to abandon this idea forever. A reset was unavoidable, and only she could accomplish it. But at least, they could bargain more with Heaven's Way, sacrificing slightly less. After all, purely altruistic acts were viewed by Heaven's Way as supreme goodness, but mixed with personal emotions, they were less acceptable. Heaven's Way was a joke but incredibly fair. But she couldn't act on her spite, as she couldn’t bear seeing Ran Fan Yin suffer any more. After pondering a bit, Xiao Wan Cheng explained, "The core functions as the heart of the formation's spirit. Not the beating heart, but the spiritual condensation, the source heart. Ning Song Wu's was called the Ice Snow Exquisite Heart by your people. Understand?" Everything since they entered the illusion was suddenly clarified. The woman inhabiting her past body finally exhaled in relief. So that’s how it is. No wonder she could hear her foolish disciple's thoughts. Xiao Wan Cheng’s method of revealing this truth was notably effective. Without witnessing and hearing it firsthand, had she relied solely on Xiao Wan Cheng’s recount, a tinge of doubt would’ve lingered in her heart. Now, her heart was clear and tranquil, devoid of any suspicion or mistrust. Ran Fan Yin smiled and nodded, "I understand." Xiao Wan Cheng continued, "I can't guarantee it will work, but we can try. Separte a part of your heart representing your source, and collect her dispersed spirit. It likely can succeed." Ran Fan Yin nodded easily, “Alright, let’s do that.” Her casual tone startled Xiao Wan Cheng, who countered, "Won't you reconsider?" "She returned her source spirit to the formation for me. Naturally, I must retrieve her. Isn't that right?" "… Fine." Xiao Wan Cheng sighed, "But remember, doing this will make her just another ordinary person." "Is there a problem?" Xiao Wan Cheng noticed her frown. Ran Fan Yin shook her head slightly. "It's nothing. I understand." Yet the state of a pseudo-spirit baffled her. If she truly became human, why would this era’s self resonate with the formation and bear white hair? Noticing Xiao Wan Cheng appeared nonchalant further clarified this wasn’t decided in today's discussion. Unraveling more probably depended on the formation spirit's willingness. After all, human memories only endure until consciousness fades; beyond that, only the senior formation spirit would know. Never mind, it’s no major issue. Ran Fan Yin gently sighed. Xiao Wan Cheng rambled on, then smilingly asked, "Remember the first step?" Ran Fan Yin was about to affirm when a familiar voice resonated within her mind, making her heart quiver momentarily. She immediately identified the source, calmly responded by pressing the Pixiu teapet on Xiao Wan Cheng's desk, "I remember." - The segment Ning Song Wu missed, was what both Xiao Wan Cheng and her had tried to conceal, unexpectedly revealed within mere hours in such a manner. Though her doors weren’t locked, nor were the boundaries sealed completely. [Didn’t expect the enemy within, but I recall subjugating multiple sects of this demonic cult, at least hindering their rampant expansion.] [Then why did we remain oblivious in the previous life?] [It’s not because I’m too smart, but you’ve committed so many sins, even Heaven couldn’t stand by.] [The burden lies with me, so I must fulfill the original host’s lingering wish.] [A bit obvious, huh, dear.] [Wow, the mighty lord fears water snakes.] She casually waved, summoning a lady in servant attire who performed a curtsey, warmly announcing, "The old servant is here to explain the house rules to everyone." The group was confined to a separate residence. Upon reaching, they realized the side residence boasted features like pavilions and simple practice grounds, with each room equipped with spiritual gathering formations. They recognized He Lan Elder’s craftsmanship in the designs. "Meals will be delivered daily. Feel free to leave during the day but return before sunset. There’s a night curfew, so avoid wandering." Ning Song Wu stroked the water jar in the courtyard. The clear water easily reflected her dimly lit surroundings and her faint reflection, revealing a subtle scar on her neck. This was from earlier in the main hall, after the head maid outlined the rules, left by Ning Yuan Yue— "So you are Ning Song Wu? What a coincidence, you also bear the surname Ning." Ning Yuan Yue planted her feet firmly, approaching slowly. Ning Song Wu noticed that Ning Yuan Yue walked barefoot on the cold ground before she felt a finger pressed against her throat. As soon as her throat was pressured, a nauseous feeling surged up, but Ning Song Wu merely lowered her gaze ever so slightly, meeting the other's eyes with remarkable calmness, as if she harbored no fear. Ning Yuan Yue twisted her finger, "An ice spirit root, with decent cultivation." A red mark appeared on Ning Song Wu's neck, yet she remained silent, blinking. The two were locked in a standoff, close enough to hear each other's breathing. Ning Song Wu could feel the sharp fingernails pressing inch by inch into her flesh. Still, she didn’t retreat an inch or show any fear, merely looking down slightly, silently staring at Ning Yuan Yue. Ning Yuan Yue seemed to quickly lose interest. She ceased taunting Ning Song Wu, clapped her hands indifferently, swayed her hips, and walked back to her original seat, sitting down with a bored expression. "There's one more thing the servant forgot to mention." Instinctively, Ning Song Wu felt that Ning Yuan Yue was truly a madwoman capable of murder. However, she had to rescue Ning Xiujie and could not afford this trip to be merely an intellectual exchange. Seeing Ning Song Wu merely standing there, Liu Ruoying walked over and gently called, "Senior sister?" Ning Song Wu returned to her senses. Liu Ruoying took out a small bottle of ointment, carefully applying it to the horrifying red mark on Ning Song Wu's neck. Warmly, she asked, "Senior sister, ever since we landed on the island, you seem often distracted. What's on your mind?" After a brief moment of silence, Ning Song Wu replied in a whisper, "Junior sister Liu, if I told you this trip had an ulterior motive—to turn the Ning family upside down—would you still be willing to join me in this turmoil?" Liu Ruoying paused her hand momentarily. Then, she smiled slightly, "I would be delighted." Ning Song Wu sighed softly, pressing her hand on her throat. Liu Ruoying asked again, "Is the problem troubling you so severe?" "Let's not talk about it. Where's Ah Sheng?" "Hungry, she went to get food." "..." Wait. Didn't they just eat before entering the manor? What kind of stomach does this fox have? Thus, when Luo Sheng returned, she was met with two people sitting on chairs, staring at her intensely. She felt a bit guilty, rubbed her stomach. "I didn't eat that much!" "Senior sister? Ning Song Wu? What's up?" Liu Ruoying gestured for her to come over, then asked, "Did Elder He Lan give you a new set of formation talismans to bring to the Ning family?" "That's right, why?" Ning Song Wu then transmitted her plan to turn the Ning family upside down to Luo Sheng. The fox blinked, and midway to a sentence, she suddenly understood. "You plan to start with the dungeon?" "The dungeon?" Luo Sheng nodded, "Yes, Master mentioned it to me. There's a spirit-binding lock used in the dungeon, replaced every two years, and it just so happens this year is the replacement time." Ning Song Wu's face turned frosty. She clenched her fists, slowly breathed, and carefully masked her expression, but her heart continued to throb with sorrow. Luo Sheng did not seem to notice the change, or perhaps she pretended not to notice, simply patting her chest. "Leave it to me. I'll memorize the path to the dungeon." Though she planned well, in practice, Ning Yuan Yue had her eyes bound and ears sealed, only unbinding her once they reached the dungeon entrance. She wasn’t allowed inside and could only stand outside, directing others to place the talismans, forming the array. “I told her, ‘This array is intricate, and this design is new. It's better if I go in.’ Guess what she said?” Luo Sheng returned, her eyes reddened with frustration, clinging to Liu Ruoying’s arm and whining, “Guess!” Liu Ruoying, helpless, pinched the slender face, "She said, if it breaks, just make a new one, right?” Luo Sheng shook her head vigorously, gulping down tea before calming down. "She said, 'A formation is known for its convenience. If it fails upon installation, it only means Shui Lü Xianshi has reached his limit and cannot create useful formations anymore.' Ugh, it infuriated me!" “How could she speak ill of my master like that!” Luo Sheng gulped down more tea. Liu Ruoying glanced at Ning Song Wu and asked softly, "Did you see anyone?" Luo Sheng sighed deeply, "Later, Ning Yuan Yue entered the dungeon for a while. I vaguely heard a woman's voice, spitting vehemently at Ning Yuan Yue, calling her crazy and hinting at a desire for death. Such a person!" Liu Ruoying patted her shoulder to comfort her, while casting a worried glance at Ning Song Wu, who, since the start of the chat, had been holding her forehead in silence. Though she didn’t know who the person in the dungeon was to Ning Song Wu, she could tell it must be someone crucially important for her to be this concerned. The last time she saw her this worried was ages ago when they were unsure how to treat Ran Xianzi. Liu Ruoying assessed quickly that while this person wasn't as significant as Ran Fan Yin, they still held great importance to Ning Song Wu, who was likely grappling with her next steps. She guessed right: Ning Song Wu mulled over strategies intensely. If only her cultivation was higher, or if a stronger ally were here to assist her... A stronger ally? Returning to their rooms, Ning Song Wu adjusted her space ring and slipped into a small dimensional space. At the scene before her, her breath hitched slightly. In just a few days, the space had dramatically transformed. “I can’t read your mind, but I can read your expressions.” Ning Song Wu silently found a stone table and sat down, her face expressionless, concealing her thoughts. The delight on Cheng Yun’s face grew as she sat beside her, propping her chin on her hand and tapping Ning Song Wu's lips. "You have a tiny dimple here. When you see something you like, it shows for an instant before you suppress it." She then pointed at her eye corner, "When you're surprised, the corner of your eye lifts for a moment before dropping, but the fleeting change is easy to catch." This site has no pop-up ads and a permanent domain.