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

**Chapter 96: A Trial** Ran Fan Yin gazed at the girl lying on the bed, lost in thought. Her mind couldn't shake off the memory of those blood-red eyes and the girl's comforting smile upon seeing her. But her master had said that the reborn Demon Emperor was a calamity to the world and must be eliminated. Ran Fan Yin's hand moved up slowly, gently encircling the girl’s neck without tightening her grip. She hesitated. In her sleep, the girl seemed to sense something. She furrowed her brows and murmured pitifully, "Master, it hurts..." Ran Fan Yin recoiled as if shocked, withdrawing her hand instantly. With a sigh, she pulled the blanket up to cover the girl more. "What should I do now?" Ning Song Wu was restless in his sleep, extending his right hand out from beneath the blanket as if searching for something. Ran Fan Yin held his wandering hand, but he clutched hers in return, his furrowed brow smoothing out as a content smile appeared on his face. The girl's right hand bore a scar, which she claimed was from a wolf demon. Recalling the sorrow in her eyes when she spoke of her mother, it was genuine, not a fabrication. After all, she was just a girl who had suffered half her life. Perhaps it was worth observing further; it wasn’t yet time for a decisive choice. Keeping her close, or was it possible she was mistaken—the red eyes might be a side-effect of absorbing resentment rather than an omen of disaster. Ran Fan Yin found a reason to spare Ning Song Wu's life. "Master..." Ning Song Wu's voice, though faint, was filled with affection, as if he clung to her hand like a lifeline. Ran Fan Yin tried to pull away but couldn't free her hand. This feeling of being cherished was peculiar. Before she realized it, Ran Fan Yin's gaze softened. Her hand still held by Ning Song Wu, she sat beside her disciple's bed, soothingly stroking Ning Song Wu's head with her other hand. Ning Song Wu snuggled closer, showing a satisfied smile. She resembled the tabby cat Ran Fan Yin once kept, which would squint joyfully when petted. Seeing its endearing expression, Ran Fan Yin couldn't help but smile, but that cat eventually disappeared, and she never kept another pet. From outside came the sound of something slicing through the air, followed by hurried footsteps. It seemed someone coming by sword flight was in a rush. Ran Fan Yin tucked away her smile, returning to her usual cold demeanor. The visitor was an elder from Zhen Qi Sect. His steps were swift, and after a brief salutation, he spoke directly, "Zun Zhe, we have found traces of Lin Xian Zi and Luo Xian Zi. The two are unharmed." Ran Fan Yin breathed a sigh of relief. After saving Ning Song Wu, her mind had been in turmoil due to those red eyes, leaving her with no space to worry about the others. After a moment's thought, Ran Fan Yin asked, "In the formation, did you see a man wearing blue with a mandarin duck embroidered sachet on his waist, a sword at his side with a yellow tassel?" The elder from Zhen Qi Sect recalled carefully before responding, "No, I did not." A flicker of disappointment crossed Ran Fan Yin's gaze. It seemed it really was an illusion; how could someone already dead come back to life? Moreover, her master wouldn't hide upon seeing her. "I understand. You may leave." Cold sweat trickled down the elder's forehead. He respectfully agreed and then retreated. This was within Zhen Qi Sect's domain, but even so, the elder dared not oppose Ran Fan Yin's dominant presence. Additionally, Zhen Qi Sect felt guilty, having assured that absorbing resentment would have no adverse effects, yet Ning Song Wu became so lifeless after doing so. When Qing Shuang Zun Zhe had stormed into the Zhen Qi Sect's council hall with Ning Song Wu covered in blood, no one dared to make a sound. They had never seen Qing Shuang Zun Zhe so furious; typically, she might show slight displeasure but never to the extent of breaking someone's door down. This terrified the elder and his peers. Panicking, they disregarded protocols to save his life. After exhausting countless precious resources and elixirs, Ning Song Wu's life was finally saved, though he still needed to recuperate quietly. However, what the high echelon of Zhen Qi Sect didn't know was that Ran Fan Yin's anger was not only due to her disciple's injury but also stemmed from her inability to make a choice. Things seemed to be spiraling out of control. Ran Fan Yin longed to be an aloof overseer, yet her position bound her to certain responsibilities. The eyelashes of the girl on the bed fluttered before she awoke with a soft whimper. She tried to sit up but was gently pushed back by Ran Fan Yin. Having just awakened, she was still disoriented, but the sight of Ran Fan Yin by her bedside soothed her, her eyes never leaving her master. Ran Fan Yin placed her hand back under the blanket and, noticing the girl’s fixed gaze, asked, “Why are you staring at me like that?” Ning Song Wu’s smile was gentler than usual, devoid of mischief. “I’m just glad to see you again, Master. It’s nice to be alive after all.” Ran Fan Yin paused in tucking the blanket. An indescribable feeling arose within her. "You don't want to die yet you act so recklessly." But on second thought, Ran Fan Yin realized that without such recklessness, Ning Song Wu might not have survived. Ultimately, it was she who failed to protect him, rendering her role as master utterly inadequate. So she apologized, "It was my failure to protect you." Listening to her master's remorseful words, Ning Song Wu felt as if his injuries no longer ached. "It wasn't Master's fault. It was my laziness. If I were stronger, I wouldn’t have made Master worry. But Master, I’m so happy. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this happy." When Ran Fan Yin found Ning Song Wu, his hand was nearly crippled. How could such pain bring happiness? "Happy about what? You barely survived." Ning Song Wu chuckled, though his weakened state made laughter painful, triggering a coughing fit. Ran Fan Yin quickly moved to support him, patting his back soothingly. Leaning against his master, Ning Song Wu relaxed. "Because someone genuinely cares for me again. I never thought someone like me would find such a fate. Perhaps the heavens are kind." In that moment, Ran Fan Yin wished to stop Ning Song Wu from speaking. Each word stabbed at her conscience. The one full of deceit and unworthiness wasn't Ning Song Wu; it was herself. Ran Fan Yin remained silent. For the first time, she found her own existence repulsive. Ning Song Wu looked up at her downcast face, sensing her unhappiness. He thought she might feel guilty for his injuries and tried to shift the mood. "Master, your eyes are beautiful. Are they emerald like your mother's or father's?" Ran Fan Yin couldn't answer. Instead, she looked into Ning Song Wu's scarlet eyes and responded, "Your eyes are beautiful too." In his eyes, she saw her own face, expressionless as usual. With a wave of her hand, she masked his eye color back to their usual black. Ning Song Wu felt a cool sensation and blinked to ease the newfound dryness. "Don't move," Ran Fan Yin instructed, halting his attempt to rub his eyes. "What did you encounter in the illusion?" Ning Song Wu's mood dimmed at the memory of Yuan'er, "Nothing much, just an old acquaintance in a dream." "An old acquaintance like your parents?" He shook his head, "Not this time. It was my only friend." Watching his master's expression warily, Ning Song Wu inquired, "Master, if I seriously pursue cultivation, will it mean I must slay demons?" Ran Fan Yin's heart grew wary, "Why do you ask this?" Sensing her displeasure, Ning Song Wu quickly reassured her. "I'm not sympathizing with demons, Master. I worry to say this might anger you. My only friend was a rabbit demon. After my parents passed, she took care of me devotedly. But when I discovered her nature, driven by hatred towards demons, I... led hunters to her. I didn't mean for it; I just wanted to escape..." Pausing momentarily, he continued, "I felt terrible, so I shied away from cultivation, fearing I might become an indiscriminate executioner." "Then strengthen yourself to protect, not to destroy," Ran Fan Yin advised, considering if Ning Song Wu's red eyes were linked to the rabbit demon he spoke of. Placing him back into the blankets, she busied herself but her mind wandered. Ning Song Wu watched her, a weight lifting from him. His lifelong dilemma didn't seem significant to her, lightening his heart. "I’ll not only protect myself but also you, Master, no matter the cost." Ran Fan Yin felt distressed, a sentiment last experienced at her master's death—then it was grief, now the guilt of deceit. Feeling unable to stay in the room, she rose to leave. "There's no need for that. I am strong and need no protection." Ning Song Wu observed her hasty departure, amused, thinking she was merely embarrassed as before. “Master has been in this world for so long, yet remains so shy.” Back on his neck was the pendant, its transparent orb silent unless he was in peril. Ning Song Wu closed his eyes, holding the pendant with both hands, silently thinking to himself: let this be a token of affection. Ran Fan Yin hurriedly left the room, her pace slowing only after she had put some distance between herself and it. She watched the disciples of Zhen Qi Sect, bustling with tasks; their lively chatter and laughter suggested they hadn't noticed her presence. Standing there, she felt out of place, as if the world around her wasn't quite meant for her. Her master's words echoed in her mind: maintaining too close a bond with others only leads to sorrow. "What is Zun Zhe doing standing here?" The voice belonged to He Lan Mian Mian. He, too, had been separated amid the chaos of the formation and had the misfortune of running into several high-level wandering corpses. His face and hands were still wrapped in bandages, making him resemble a mummy. Ran Fan Yin regarded him with a silent bemusement, but she wasn't accustomed to engaging in conversation, so she walked away without responding. He Lan Mian Mian felt a bit awkward but, being good-natured, he wasn't offended. After Ran Fan Yin left, he headed towards the room where Ning Song Wu was recovering, intending to discuss the matter of the formation spirits with him.