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

Chapter 58: Attempt "I understand, I just..." Cen Ran paused, burying her face in her hands. "I get it, Senior Sister. Have a good rest. I'll come to see you off in the morning." "No need. I’ll be leaving very early. You should go back now—it's already time to sleep," Cen Ran glanced at the sky, speaking softly. Ning Song Wu nodded and bid farewell to Cen Ran. Cen Ran sat alone on the high rooftop, her lips pressed tightly together, forming a serious expression. Her hands, resting on her knees, slowly clenched into a fist. She turned her gaze towards the direction of the Huaxu Realm and sighed deeply. Ran Fan Yin recalled Ning Song Wu’s words—don’t sleep, wait for her return. So, she and Lin Yu Xue sat under a tree, brewing tea. The medicine pot in her hand slowly warmed. She lifted the lid, and a cold, minty aroma wafted to her nose, as if mixed with some other pleasant scent. Ran Fan Yin took a small sip. Inside, there was a sweet, cloying taste, probably due to the generous amount of honey, masking the bitterness of the other herbs. She smiled imperceptibly and sipped the medicine slowly. Across from her, Lin Yu Xue sat with her head propped on her hand, her eyelids drooping. She watched the tea on the stove intently, even as it began to bubble. Yet, Ran Fan Yin continued unhurriedly, with no intention of ladling out the tea. "If you're tired, just go rest," Ran Fan Yin said blandly. Lin Yu Xue thought for a moment before responding, "Very well. You should sleep early too." Lin Yu Xue covered her mouth with her hand as she yawned, standing up and strolling back to the Huaxu Realm. Not long after she had left, Ning Song Wu returned. Ran Fan Yin stood up, walked over to Ning Song Wu, and grabbed her hand. "You’ve been out for so long, it’s cold outside. Be careful not to catch a chill." "Master, you really didn't sleep at all," Ning Song Wu pulled Ran Fan Yin, heading inside. "It’s late now. In the future, if it gets this late, don’t wait for me." Ran Fan Yin remained silent, simply staring at Ning Song Wu. After entering the house, the bed was still in disarray. Ning Song Wu let go of Ran Fan Yin and started straightening the bed. Her long hair hung behind her, accentuating her well-proportioned, graceful figure. Bent slightly at the waist, her hair spilled down her back, looking exceptionally smooth. Ran Fan Yin stood silently watching for a moment, then softly spoke, "Having someone you care about nearby is surprisingly joyful. No wonder people are so willing to indulge in romantic love." "Living alone sometimes feels incredibly dull—during those times, one doesn’t know what to do," Ning Song Wu replied with a gentle smile. "But if you have someone in your heart, you'll think of her when you’re bored, and time passes more quickly." As she made the bed, she suddenly stopped, eyes widening slightly at a spot of vivid red on the bedding. That was from last night... Ran Fan Yin and Ning Song Wu had sneaked behind the small hill, effortlessly using their qinggong skills to leap over and land at the back of Taihu Pavilion. From the front, Taihu Pavilion appeared embedded in the mountain, practically built alongside it. The narrow crevices between the pavilion and the mountain were conveniently unguarded by any Fentian members. The night was deep, and there wasn’t a soul around, though distant sounds could be faintly heard from the front of Taihu Pavilion. Lin Yu Xue, leading Wu Ji and her three companions, was conversing with the gatekeepers, her voice coming through intermittently. Fumbling along a row of windows, Ning Song Wu struggled to locate the secret window Lin Yu Xue had mentioned—darkness made the task nearly impossible. This area seemed long forgotten, cramped and grimy. After touching only a few windows, her hands were already covered in dust. "Don’t bother," Ran Fan Yin whispered. "It’s too dark to find anything, and these old windows would certainly creak." "So what do we do?" Ning Song Wu rubbed the dust off her hands, frowning deeply. Ran Fan Yin drew her ever-present sword, Luoshuang, and with a few skilled movements, detached one of the windows with ease. Ning Song Wu quickly caught the window panel and set it aside. Ran Fan Yin slipped through the window first, Ning Song Wu following closely. Taihu Pavilion had five floors, and per Lin Yu Xue’s information, the group they were looking for should be on the fifth floor. This meant the first to fourth floors were largely unlit except for the staircases. As soon as they entered, they heard a commotion at the entrance as if someone was leading Lin Yu Xue inside. "We need to get ahead of them, quickly," Ran Fan Yin whispered, then used her refined qinggong to dart up the stairs without a sound. Ning Song Wu followed swiftly, trying to avoid an encounter with Lin Yu Xue’s group. The first four floors were eerily quiet and empty. Reaching the fifth floor, a long corridor awaited them, elegantly decorated yet simple. At the end of this corridor should be the group's destination. The lack of complexity meant there were no hiding spots—not even a single dark corner. They moved quickly down the corridor, but just as they were rounding a corner, they heard voices from the opposite end, along with approaching footsteps. Caught between two groups, and without an option to kill or evade them, the only solution was to hide swiftly. Ran Fan Yin decisively pulled Ning Song Wu backwards, intending to retreat to the narrower part of the corridor. However, they barely had time to move before hearing another group from the staircase—likely Lin Yu Xue’s party. Panic surged as they found themselves trapped between two converging groups. Ning Song Wu, anxious, glanced around desperately. But with only this single corridor, there was nowhere to hide. Suddenly, Ran Fan Yin grabbed Ning Song Wu's clothes, lightly tapped her toe, and effortlessly leaped onto a beam above, crouching silently. Ning Song Wu exhaled in relief. But relief quickly transformed into tension as she sucked in a sharp breath, her skin prickling. On the opposite beam, crouched another figure. Dressed in black with a mask covering all but his eyes, he exuded a murderous aura. He held a small object in his hand, though the dim light obscured its details. He reacted swiftly, raising the object towards them. Ran Fan Yin moved with lightning speed, flipping across the beams to the black-clad figure. She drew Luoshuang, striking swiftly but was met with the enemy’s agile dodge. The black-clad man, reeling, pointed the small object again—now clearer as a bamboo whistle. Ran Fan Yin pressed the assault, but in the confined space, her swordplay was restricted. Engaging in a dance of fists and feet, neither could gain an upper hand. From below, three Fentian disciples brought Lin Yu Xue and the others up. Masking her face with a white jade half-mask, Lin Yu Xue surveyed their surroundings. Ning Song Wu’s heart pounded as she observed their approach while Ran Fan Yin continued battling above. In a swift motion, Ran Fan Yin rolled across the beam, clamping a hand over the black-clad man’s mouth. With a decisive swing, she slit his throat with Luoshuang, blood gushing as the man dropped lifeless. Taking the bamboo whistle, Ran Fan Yin held it tightly, pressing a hand against the wound to stem the blood flow. Below, Lin Yu Xue’s group was nearly below them. A stray drop of blood dangled precariously, ready to fall. Ning Song Wu's eyes widened in horror, silently willing it to stop. Too late. The drop of blood fell but was intercepted by Lin Yu Xue’s snapping fan. The blood splattered onto the white surface. Ran Fan Yin watched intently as Lin Yu Xue momentarily froze, then glanced upwards, locking eyes with Ran Fan Yin holding the bloodied body. Recognizing the black-clad figure, Lin Yu Xue lowered her fan and continued, saying nothing. Two Fentian disciples guiding her were unaware, their discussion fading as they led Lin Yu Xue down the corridor. The pending danger finally averted, Ning Song Wu’s tense muscles relaxed. Ran Fan Yin secured the black-clad man’s body on the beam, binding his neck to stop the blood flow, then rejoined Ning Song Wu, her expression somber. ### Chapter 58: Attempt "Master, who do you think...this person is?" Ning Song Wu whispered, lowering her voice. "Most likely, they are members of the Fentian Sect." "Why? Why would Fentian Sect members be hiding here?" Ran Fan Yin picked up the small bamboo tube and showed it to Ning Song Wu. "Take a look. What do you think this is?" Ning Song Wu squinted, examining it closely. It was a small bamboo mechanism, somewhat resembling a blowgun. The rear part, where the piston should be, was a smooth mouthpiece. The mechanism seemed simple—the idea was to blow into the mouthpiece, causing the contents to shoot out from the tube. Tinkering with it, Ran Fan Yin disassembled the device along a seam, revealing a cluster of strange black seeds inside. "What are these? And why would that person be guarding this place with it?" After pondering for a moment, Ran Fan Yin replied, "These are gu insects." "Gu insects?!" Ning Song Wu exclaimed in astonishment. "Yes. Do you recall when Miss Duan Xi mentioned a woman in their group wearing Miao attire?... The Miao region is known for its witchcraft and gu techniques. The most famous in Fentian Sect is a poison called Huangquan Gu. It’s likely that the Fentian Sect has Miao experts proficient in gu." Reflecting on it, Ning Song Wu understood. "No wonder they said those who leave this place seem confused and can't remember what they’ve said..." "They were probably affected by gu poison. The process likely involves the black-clad infiltrators on the beams using these bamboo tubes to blow the gu into their bodies as they pass through the corridor," Ran Fan Yin explained gravely. "We also passed through here..." Ning Song Wu panicked, gripping Ran Fan Yin's shoulder. "Are you feeling unwell at all?" "Don’t worry. We should be fine," Ran Fan Yin reassured, reassembling the bamboo tube and slipping it into her sleeve. "If anything foreign approached us, I would have sensed it. Let's proceed to the room at the end of the corridor and wait for an opportune moment." "Alright...But be careful," Ning Song Wu frowned with worry, moving closer to Ran Fan Yin. "Just take care of yourself," Ran Fan Yin said gently, patting Ning Song Wu's head soothingly. "Master...does it hurt?" Ning Song Wu turned back, her gaze soft and anxious, afraid to apply too much pressure as if it might crack her master's gentle demeanor. Ran Fan Yin realized what she meant, blushing slightly and half-closing her eyes, "It's alright." "...Come, lie down. I'll apply some ointment for the external wounds." Biting her lip, Ran Fan Yin slowly lay down on the bed, reclining against the headboard. "Didn't I just take some medicine?" "That was for internal regulation. The wound might still be...swollen..." Ning Song Wu's voice grew softer until it was barely audible, her face also flushing deeply. She fidgeted with the ointment she had retrieved from the medicine cabinet earlier in the day. "Alright," Ran Fan Yin responded softly, gradually loosening her clothing and removing her outer garments, leaving only her undergarments. Suddenly hesitant, Ran Fan Yin quickly glanced at Ning Song Wu and whispered, "Give me the medicine, I’ll do it myself." Ning Song Wu smiled softly, "Master, do you know where to apply it?" "You... insolent girl." Ran Fan Yin frowned, giving Ning Song Wu a glare. Yet, a blush remained on her face, making her gaze seem more like a playful reprimand. Abruptly, Ning Song Wu leaped off the bed, stumbled out of the room, and ran into the snowy ground outside the Huaxu Realm, collapsing onto her back. Grabbing a handful of snow, Ning Song Wu clutched it tightly, feeling it form into an ice lump and slowly melt in her grasp. The icy sensation began to soothe her. She felt like she might spit blood from holding back. But she couldn't bear for her master to be in pain, even a little. She'd rather bear it all herself. Ignoring the mess inside, Ran Fan Yin hastily threw on her outer robe and followed Ning Song Wu outside. Seeing Ning Song Wu lying in the snow, Ran Fan Yin walked up, knelt beside her, and tenderly brushed the snow off her face. "You didn't have to endure this much..." "Master," Ning Song Wu quickly interrupted, clasping Ran Fan Yin's hand, "I’m not, don’t worry." "...The ground is cold. Don’t lie on it." "Master, I love you." Ning Song Wu held Ran Fan Yin's hand to her lips, gently kissing it. With eyes closed, she felt a twinge in the corners, overwhelmed by her love for this woman—a love so intense it hurt. Ran Fan Yin softly curled her lips, staying silent as she gazed deeply at Ning Song Wu. Ning Song Wu opened her eyes, taking in the ethereal beauty of her master's face in the moonlight. Her voice was gentle yet resolute, "If danger ever comes, I am willing to die for you." Ran Fan Yin looked seriously into Ning Song Wu's eyes and responded with a faint, tender smile. --- No pop-up ads, permanent domain (xbanxia.com) Report Errors Previous Chapter: Chapter 57: Red String Next Chapter: Chapter 59: You...