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

### Chapter 91: Madness As He Lan Mian Mian traversed the winding corridors, he finally reached the room where Ning Song Wu resided. He knocked gently on the tightly closed door and announced, "Is Ning Fairy there? I am He Lan Mian Mian and have something to ask. If it's convenient, may I come in?" Inside, Ning Song Wu was resting. Her expression darkened upon hearing his voice, and she replied coldly, "I have a terrible headache. Sir Qin, please leave." He could detect the perfunctory nature of her refusal and, despite feeling a bit awkward, he attempted once more. "I'm here regarding the matter of the formation spirit. The sooner it's resolved, the sooner you and the Esteemed Qing Shuang can return to Cang Jun Mountain." This piqued Ning Song Wu's interest. If the problem remained unresolved, she would be stuck at Zhen Qi Sect, potentially allowing more interactions between her master and He, which was absolutely unacceptable. The sooner they could return to their mountain where only she and her master resided, the better. Feigning weakness, she coughed lightly, "Cough, cough. Come in." Upon entering, He saw Ning Song Wu rising weakly from her bed, her complexion pale and fragile. A wave of guilt washed over him, making him responsible for their severe injuries. Seeing He hesitate at the door, Ning Song Wu's patience thinned. "Sir Qin, speak your mind." Noticing her impatience, He straightforwardly asked, "When the Esteemed One rescued you, the formation spirit escaped. May I ask if your Devouring Spirit Physique has any effect on it?" "At that time, the formation spirit did appear quite frightened, so it seems to be effective." He's face lit up with relief, but remembering her grave injuries caused by him brought back his dejection. "Would Ning Fairy allow me to check your pulse?" Ning Song Wu instantly disapproved, "My master and esteemed healers from your sect have already examined me. There's no need to trouble yourself." Realizing persistence was futile, He abandoned the idea of checking her injuries. He also sensed an unexplained irritability towards himself from both the master and disciple. "It appears I've been too forward. We must find another way to deal with this formation." "Your sect is renowned for formations and artifacts. Is there really no solution? And why were you the only one accompanying us into the formation? Shouldn't a higher-ranking member have been assigned?" Her eyes flashed with inquiry; one must always remain vigilant in this world of betrayal and deceit, particularly when material wealth flourishes. Unfazed, He replied calmly, "It might sound arrogant, but I am the most adept in formations at Zhen Qi Sect, though my cultivation hasn't matched my formation skills yet." Ning Song Wu eyed the calm young man before her, his demeanor seemed to say, "Keep boasting." She chuckled skeptically, "Oh, Sir Qin, don't frighten me. You're so young; don't tell me you learn in your sleep as well." He's expression turned a bit perplexed. "How did Ning Fairy know? Actually, I've been having peculiar dreams since I was six, dreaming of researching formations. When I started practicing the immortal path, I found those formations quite familiar and easy to grasp." Ning Song Wu found his explanation difficult to believe, suspecting he was merely jesting with her. Yet, she recalled her own peculiar experiences of waking to suddenly advanced cultivation levels and hesitated to dismiss him completely. Caught in a web of thoughts, she finally commented, "You're truly a genius, Sir Qin. Zhen Qi Sect is fortunate to have you." He chuckled, "And Ning Fairy as well. Anyone who catches the eye of the Esteemed Qing Shuang is extraordinary and should become a pillar of the human race, instilling fear in those vile demons." Another human who dislikes demons, she thought. Though lacking firsthand experience, she wouldn't share her views on demons with anyone, considering it foolish to speak on their behalf as a human. Ning Song Wu accepted the compliment nonchalantly, "You're too kind. I'm merely a coward." "There's no need for modesty, Ning Fairy. If anyone's timid, it's me. I'm rather averse to conflict, whether with humans or demons. Thankfully, my master understands and allows me to focus solely on formations without interference." Whenever He spoke of his master, his face radiated warmth like the gentle sun of spring. His affection for his master seemed genuine, not like someone competing for her master’s attention. This realization softened her impression of him. Beyond prejudices, He revealed himself as a sincere young man, dedicated to his craft, unfailingly polite even when ignored. Ning Song Wu felt such amiable individuals were out of place in these murky surroundings. Yet it wasn’t her concern. Ning Song Wu was not one to meddle in others' affairs; destiny would take its course. "Ah yes, Ning Fairy, it's my fault for your grievous injuries. I've brought you a gift as an apology." "There's no need to be so formal, Sir Qin." Though she said otherwise, her eyes betrayed eagerness. He chuckled at her transparency, thinking Qing Shuang Zun Zhe’s disciple diverged significantly from the typical fairy. "No need to be polite." With that, He began rummaging through his storage ring. It seemed quite full, so he placed several items on the table to search more thoroughly. Ning Song Wu noticed the objects: formation diagrams, spirit stones, small flags, a sword, and an intriguing scented sachet. Curious, she leaned closer, noting that the sword wasn't his usual riding instrument, as its tassel was yellow, and the sachet... She inspected the sachet embroidered with lifelike mandarin ducks playing in water, likely a gift from some secret admirer. Clicking her tongue, she mused that he was more popular with female cultivators than he appeared. "Found it!" He's voice drew her attention back, revealing a circular formation disk in his hand, engraved with intricate black patterns. Without further explanation, he embedded a spirit stone in its center. Instantly, the patterns shimmered golden, and a sudden gust swept the room as ambient energy flowed into the confined space. "This is something I made, inscribed with a spiritual gathering formation. It's a medium-grade celestial artifact. While it might not meet the standards of someone like Ning Fairy, a disciple of the Esteemed Qing Shuang, please accept it as a token of my goodwill." Ning Song Wu’s sensitivity to qi surpassed others', and the influx made her slightly dizzy. Still, she could tell it was a valuable item and accepted it with a smile. Having made his intentions clear, He retrieved the rest of his belongings from the table and bade farewell once the discussion concluded. Ning Song Wu paid him no mind, tracing the patterns on the formation disk which seemed oddly familiar as if she’d seen them elsewhere. Golden formations... Where had she seen them? The memory surfaced of her master's secluded cave, where a lethal formation had nearly claimed her life, its golden designs etched in her mind. She shelved the thought, her mood souring as she recalled her master, bloodied and injured. --- The website remains ad-free, permanent domain: (xbanxia.com)