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

### Chapter 66: Epiphany Cen Ran deceived everyone, found a carriage, and helped the severely injured Ning Song Wu onto it. Without bothering to look for a driver, she personally took the reins. But trouble awaited at the foot of the mountain. At the snowy mountain gate, a dozen Northern Order disciples of varying ranks stood in neat rows, all dressed in white, gripping long swords, guarding the entrance strictly. One of the gate disciples stopped the carriage, saying, "Senior Sister Cen Ran, are you going down the mountain on official business? Do you have the sealed document or badge?" Cen Ran clenched the reins tightly, her eyes evasive. "This matter is urgent; I haven't obtained the necessary credentials yet. There's no time to delay. Please let us through." "That won't do, Senior Sister Cen Ran. You know the old rules of the Northern Order, and this carriage needs to be searched. Disciples under a certain age are strictly forbidden to leave the mountain..." Cen Ran, her eyes reddening with anxiety, considered charging through. But the person inside the carriage couldn't withstand the jolts, and there were too many gatekeepers to force her way through. Suddenly hoofbeats sounded in the distance, growing louder. A tall, handsome figure in blue robes approached, with a bundle strapped to the back of the horse. It was Jing Hu. Cen Ran suddenly remembered that Jing Hu had gone down the mountain a while ago to gather rare medicinal herbs for the severely injured Ning Song Wu. He was due to return by now. Cen Ran jumped down from the carriage and hurried to stop Jing Hu. "Senior Brother Jing Hu, please stop!" Jing Hu reined in his horse and, seeing Cen Ran, urgently asked, "Why are you here? How is Ning Song Wu? Is her condition worsening..." "Senior Brother Jing Hu..." Cen Ran lowered her voice. "Ning Song Wu is in the carriage behind me. We must leave the mountain immediately. I'll explain later, but please, we need your help this time." Jing Hu was taken aback and quickly glanced at the carriage. After a moment's thought, he said, "Cen Ran, you’ve always been reliable; I'll believe you this time. But I must go with you to be reassured. Just the two of you isn't safe, and you're at the front driving. Who will care for her? What if something happens on the way..." "Senior Brother, you’re right! Thank you, Senior Brother." Cen Ran returned to the carriage and entered the compartment. Jing Hu got off his horse and took the reins at the carriage's head, advancing to the mountain gate. "We have urgent business. Let us through, or not?" The gate disciples exchanged troubled looks and, after hesitating, reluctantly let them pass. After all, Jing Hu frequently left the mountain on orders and was the senior disciple of the headmaster's senior disciple. He might even be the future headmaster. If there was truly an urgent matter, they couldn't bear the responsibility of stopping him. It would take two non-stop days to reach Kunlun from the Northern Order. Jing Hu personally drove the carriage while Cen Ran took care of Ning Song Wu inside. Ning Song Wu's physical condition was not optimistic: a persistent low fever, severe internal injuries, and an extremely fragile heart. Cen Ran held Ning Song Wu, feeding her medicine with a water flask. Her fingers occasionally brushed Ning Song Wu's lips, which were hot and dry. Jing Hu's voice came from outside: "Cen Ran, with her injuries so severe, where are we going?" "Master is at Kunlun; she needs to see Master." There was a moment of silence outside before Jing Hu spoke again. "Why?" "Senior Brother Jing Hu, you care so much about Ning Song Wu, shouldn’t you have noticed by now?" Cen Ran smiled bitterly. Jing Hu remained silent, driving the carriage. He was neither blind nor foolish. Countless times, when he looked at Ning Song Wu, she would gaze back with a burning, admiring look, but directed at Ran Fan Yin. He never wanted to believe this infatuation would lead anywhere. In the entire Northern Order, no one was more suitable for Ning Song Wu than he was. Ning Song Wu's reckless behavior would surely be curbed by Uncle Master Ran Fan Yin, which was likely why they were heading to Kunlun, to quash this ridiculous notion for good. Cen Ran fed Ning Song Wu some water, looking at her unusually silent and empty eyes, feeling heartbroken. "Ning Song Wu, how do you feel? Can you hold on?" Ning Song Wu nodded, saying nothing, lost in thought. "Listen to me. When you see Master, don't get too emotional. Your heart can't handle it. Don't make any sudden movements, or the wounds on your chest will reopen. Be good, don’t hurt yourself and make those who care about you worry, understand?" Ning Song Wu remained lost in thought, seemingly ignoring Cen Ran's words. After a long while, she muttered, "Senior Sister... what time is it?" Cen Ran held her tightly, tears streaming down her face. "It's the hour of You. Another day, and we'll reach Kunlun." "Master... why did she go so far..." Ning Song Wu suddenly smiled, her voice thin like a wisp of wind through a willow. "Usually, she never leaves the Rongku Pavilion, but this time... why did she go so far..." Cen Ran watched in horror as blood trickled from Ning Song Wu's lips. She quickly, trembling, wiped it away with a cloth. "Stop talking. Didn’t I tell you? Your heart is weak. Don't get emotional. Your condition is worsening. We should find an inn to rest for the night..." "Senior Sister, do you think I might die?" Ning Song Wu’s voice was choked with sobs, her eyes still vacant. "Don't speak nonsense. You won't die, absolutely not…” "If I'm about to die... even if I can't die in her arms, if I could die somewhere close to her... I would still feel... very happy..." Ning Song Wu cried and smiled, her face trembling. "So, don't stop. Just keep going towards Kunlun... I’m afraid… I feel my body's being drained... I feel like I’m about to die, I'm so scared..." Cen Ran continuously comforted her in a low voice. "Don’t talk... don’t cry... you won't die. You’re just feverish. Sleep and you’ll be fine, sleep..." "Master... Master..." Ning Song Wu murmured as she drifted back into unconsciousness. Cen Ran watched in panic as blood continued to seep from Ning Song Wu's lips, wiping it with a cloth, but it wouldn’t stop. Blood began to flow from her nose, as if draining her body dry. Recalling Ning Song Wu’s earlier words, Cen Ran panicked, afraid they might be coming true. She quickly fed Ning Song Wu rare life-saving pills, sealing all her pressure points, barely stabilizing her condition. But Ning Song Wu's hands, held in Cen Ran's, remained chillingly cold. Cen Ran and Jing Hu virtually stayed awake for two days and nights straight. When they arrived at Kunlun, it was already the afternoon of the second day. Kunlun's architecture was vastly different from the Northern Order’s but equally grand and expansive, with the same snow-covered mountains. At that moment, light snowflakes were falling, and the temperature was far from warm. Jing Hu grabbed several Kunlun disciples for questioning and found out that five days ago, Cang Min and Ran Fan Yin had returned and retreated to Kunlun's hidden cave in the back mountains, where they had not emerged since. Cen Ran held Ning Song Wu’s increasingly cold body tighter, thinking, no matter what, she had to let Master see her. The carriage reached the Huaxu Cave entrance, and Cen Ran sighed in relief, gently waking Ning Song Wu. "Ning Song Wu, wake up, we've arrived." Ning Song Wu struggled to open her eyes, weakly lifting herself. "We’ve arrived..." "Yes, Master is behind that door. I'll help you out." Cen Ran laboriously helped Ning Song Wu, who was so weak that she nearly leaned her entire weight on Cen Ran, each step immensely difficult. Jing Hu sat at the front of the carriage, silent. Cen Ran painstakingly helped Ning Song Wu out of the carriage just as a girl of about twenty, carrying a basin of water, came out of the Huaxu Cave, seemingly to dump the water. Cen Ran hastily called out to her. "Miss!" The girl stopped, curious eyes looking at Cen Ran and the frail Ning Song Wu, seemingly intrigued by such an unusual pair. "You... aren't Kunlun disciples. My name is Bo Xue. How can I help you?" "Miss Bo Xue, is Elder Cang Min and Master Ran Fan Yin in there?" "Yes, they returned a few days ago. My master and Honorable Ran Fan Yin are inside playing chess. What’s up?” “Honorable Ran Fan Yin is our master. We need to see her. Could you relay a message, saying Ning Song Wu is here to see her?” Cen Ran pleaded earnestly. “Of course. But this young lady beside you is in serious condition. I kindly suggest you settle her down and seek medical attention soon, or else her life might be at risk.” Bo Xue glanced worriedly at Ning Song Wu’s pale, sickly face, shook her head, and went back inside Huaxu Cave with the emptied basin. Cang Min and Ran Fan Yin, as Bo Xue had said, were calmly playing chess as they had done for many years. Ran Fan Yin’s expression wasn’t good, her gaze seemingly on the chessboard but also looking through it at a void. Cang Min didn’t mind Ran Fan Yin’s occasional distraction, silently continuing the unusually slow game. Bo Xue returned with the empty basin, breaking the silence. “Honorable Ran Fan Yin, someone is at the door looking for you, saying she's your disciple. Oh, her name is Ning Song Wu.” Ning Song Wu. Ran Fan Yin’s hand involuntarily dropped a black chess piece onto the board, scattering the game. Her eyes widened. After a long pause, her voice was hoarse as she spoke: “What did you say?” Cang Min tossed a white piece into the bamboo basket, starting to tidy up the disrupted board. “Ah Yin, she’s come to see you.” Ran Fan Yin’s throat moved, her eyes blinked rapidly as she bowed her head, seemingly trying to conceal something, also helping to clear the chessboard. Bo Xue tilted her head. “Honorable, will you see her?” "...I won't see her. Tell her to go back." Ran Fan Yin's voice trembled ever so slightly. "Alright." Bo Xue felt that the Honorable Ran's demeanor was strange—not just now, but ever since she had arrived at Huaxu Cave with her master. It was peculiar, but Bo Xue couldn't pinpoint why. Bo Xue turned and left. Cang Min smoothed the chessboard and raised her hand, gesturing, "Ah Yin, the black stones go first." Ran Fan Yin's mind was in turmoil. She was still injured, her heart meridian wounded, unable to even stand. How had she made it to Kunlun so quickly? How was her body holding up? She... was now just outside the Huaxu Cave. If she walked a few steps out, she could see her. Ran Fan Yin held onto the black stone for a long time, unable to place it. Cang Min merely observed the empty chessboard silently, knowing when to speak and when to let Ran Fan Yin think in peace. The cave door slowly opened, and Bo Xue walked out, frowning at the increasingly weak Ning Song Wu. "Honorable Ran Fan Yin said she won't see you. Miss, your injury is severe. Quickly find a doctor in Kunlun to treat you." Ning Song Wu struggled to open her eyes, her voice hollow. "She said... she won't see me?" Cen Ran was almost in tears, holding Ning Song Wu tightly. "Did you hear that? Have you given up? Let's quickly find a doctor..." To Cen Ran's astonishment, Ning Song Wu used all her strength to push her away, causing Cen Ran to stagger back. Ning Song Wu herself, having lost support, fell to her knees in the snow. Ning Song Wu lifted her head, her eyes red, either from holding back tears or from the fever. "I'm not leaving. I'll wait here for her." "You're crazy! You'll die here!" Cen Ran cried. The snow in the air seemed to be growing heavier, with snowflakes forming a fine, neat layer on everyone's clothing. "Then let me... die here..." Ning Song Wu smiled. "Look, it's so close to her here..." "Ning Song Wu! You promised me you wouldn’t be reckless..." "I'm not being reckless," Ning Song Wu's hand weakly buried into the snow for support, her breathing labored. "Wherever she is... I will always... be there..." At some point, Cen Ran's face had become covered in tears. "Master... Master!" Ning Song Wu called out with all her strength, knowing Ran Fan Yin's sharp hearing could catch it. "Master! Master!!..." ... She shouted nothing else, only those two words, but with a voice that was hoarse, heart-wrenching, and full of despair. Ran Fan Yin's hand, holding the black stone, trembled uncontrollably. She bit her lip tightly, the faint sound of the cries piercing her heart like the cruelest punishment, each lash striking deeply. Cang Min quietly observed Ran Fan Yin, then took the black stone from her hand and placed it into the container. "Perhaps, this game can end here." Cang Min moved to take Ran Fan Yin's stone container, but Ran Fan Yin suddenly pressed down on it firmly, not letting her take it away, her voice laced with dwindling determination. "No... let's continue." "Ah Yin, what are you thinking?" Cang Min suddenly asked. Ran Fan Yin drew a deep breath, holding back the tears in her eyes. "Cang Min..." "Yes?" "Have you ever... loved someone?" Cang Min was stunned, then slowly retracted her hand from the container, ripples of emotion appearing in her eyes. "Yes." "Have you ever... loved someone so much it hurt?" Ran Fan Yin's body quivered slightly, her voice tinged with an unfathomable emotion. "More than just heartache..." Cang Min smiled bitterly, gently stroking the red sandalwood chess table. "I wished I could die." Cang Min paused, then softly smiled. "But I couldn't die. Because I promised her I'd be here when she came home. Though sometimes, night would fall without her return. But imagine, if I were also dead, and her soul found its way here, only to find no one to welcome her home—how disappointed she'd be." Ran Fan Yin covered her mouth, sobbing quietly. "You love that disciple of yours, Ning Song Wu, don't you?" Cang Min's eyes were fixated on the smooth red sandalwood surface. "Ah Yin, you have too many constraints in your heart. What restricts you isn’t morality, nor the master-disciple relationship, nor the disruption of the natural order—it’s your own heart." "But this kind of feeling... is... wrong," Ran Fan Yin said with difficulty. "I remember asking you many years ago if there was an absolute right and wrong. There's no absolute right or wrong, no absolute good or evil in the world. But there's absolute happiness, the happiness of being with the one you love, and absolute despair, the despair of being unable to be with them ever again." Ran Fan Yin only bowed her head, covering her mouth. Cang Min shook out her robe and stood up. "Night is falling. I'll sit by the door for a while. If your little disciple dies at the entrance, I'll make sure to let you know." No pop-up ads and permanent domain.