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

Chapter 97: The Toast Ran Fanyin, known far and wide for her power, was now subdued, which made Chen Siting deeply uneasy, compelling her to be even more cautious. With a flick of her sleeve, she covered her face, and as she lowered it, her appearance shifted back, "If I'm not a demon, then what am I? Exalted one, are you perhaps mistaken?" She maintained a distance from Ran Fanyin, showing no inclination for confrontation. Ran Fanyin merely observed her in silence. Under the weight of her gaze, Chen Siting felt her non-existent heart beat faster, her hand clenching tighter in a bid to quell her inner panic. Unlike any eyes she'd seen before—full of fear, greed, or joy—these eyes were devoid of any emotion, as if lifeless, empty voids. Ning Songwu watched closely, sensing Chen Siting's fear, and loudly tried to distract her, "Pretty senior! Do you actually think you can defeat my master? She, who slew the demon king five hundred years ago!" Chen Siting's attention shifted to Ning Songwu, almost forgetting this peculiar girl, who had twice withstood the erosion of illusions. Chen Siting laughed, teasing, "Such pride in your master, yet not long ago, you told me she has quite the appetite, warning me not to eat you." Upon hearing this, Ran Fanyin couldn't help but turn away slightly; meanwhile, Ning Songwu felt a pang of anxiety. How dare this demon sow discord between master and disciple, Ning Songwu thought with irritation. However, she was no stranger to such tactics from her worldly experiences and found this to be a minor issue. Embracing Chen Siting's words, she assumed a proud demeanor, brimming with disdain, "Of course! I lured you to my master so she could handle you. A demon of your meager abilities is nothing; my master could deal with you with a single finger!" Her arrogance was almost palpable. Ran Fanyin frowned slightly, unexpectedly interjecting, "That's wrong; that's too much credit." Ning Songwu didn't grasp her meaning right away and asked, puzzled, "Master, what do you mean?" Ran Fanyin earnestly replied, "You've overestimated her strength." Ning Songwu realized she meant that Chen Siting's power didn't even match up to a single finger of Ran Fanyin's. She had underestimated how sharp her master could be. Unable to resist, Ning Songwu tilted her head to glance back, only to find Ran Fanyin doing the same, bringing their faces close. Ning Songwu could see her emerald pupils, clear and untainted. Her earnest expression made it evident she was not jesting but truly meant it. Ran Fanyin's intense gaze urged Ning Songwu to correct the mistake, leaving Ning Songwu feeling slightly abashed. She awkwardly chuckled and turned her head back, conceding, "Master is right." Their interaction carried an unusual ambiance, while Chen Siting felt a growing agitation, though she dared not act rashly. She resorted to verbal jabs instead, "Oh my, you two do seem to share a deep bond as master and disciple, even when captured by me. Isn't that quite the irony?" Chen Siting emphasized "deep bond" in a way that grated on Ning Songwu's ears. Despite the taunts, Chen Siting refrained from any drastic actions, suggesting her confidence was shaky. Ning Songwu softened her tone slightly, coaxing gently, "Senior, you don't seem like one to commit heinous acts without reason. There must be a justification for slaughtering the villagers here. Explain to my master, and she may let you go." Ran Fanyin remained still, giving no response. Ning Songwu's hand was bound to Ran Fanyin's, and she quietly nudged her master's hand, only to receive a questioning look from Ran Fanyin. Time was of the essence for Ning Songwu; she couldn't afford to die now that there was hope to live. So she continued rubbing Ran Fanyin's hand. She knew her master disliked excessive physical contact, and just as she anticipated, Ran Fanyin couldn't help but utter a light "hmm," sounding as if she agreed with Ning Songwu's earlier suggestion. "See, my master agrees!" Hearing their exchange, Chen Siting's face darkened. Given past experiences, she couldn't trust Ran Fanyin to spare her, yet a part of her yearned for some understanding. She remained motionless, breaking into a hysterical laugh, as gusty winds whipped through the stone chamber, setting her fiery attire aflame. From the laughter, Ning Songwu perceived sorrow; perhaps her guess was correct, and the demon did have her grievances. As the wind and laughter died down within the stone chamber, Chen Siting seemed to deflate. With a touch of self-mockery, she said, "Then hear my story, and perhaps afterward, the exalted one can give me an answer." Chen Siting began her tale in a soft voice. Chen Siting's parents had fled disaster to settle in Wan Family Village. Outsiders were unwelcome there, especially after the death of Chen's father, leaving just her and her mother. To survive in the village, Chen's mother remarried, becoming the wife of an older bachelor, thus securing their place there. However, the bachelor treated them poorly, often resulting in beatings and insults, leaving Chen's mother urging her to endure, believing that the bachelor's old age and ill health would eventually lead to better days. Covering her bruised arms, Chen Siting nodded obediently, tears in her eyes. Sadly, her mother never saw that day. One snowy morning, the bachelor returned after a night away, and unleashed a brutal attack. It was the New Year, and the villagers of Wan Family Village were joyfully setting off firecrackers, their mirth drowning out the mother's plaintive cries. Chen Siting quivered in a corner, too afraid to intervene, witnessing her mother beaten to death. The incident, resulting in a death, inevitably drew the authorities' attention. Chen Siting watched her mother's body taken away, the dried blood staining the ground, the room reeking of blood. The bachelor was also taken by the authorities, leaving only the mute Chen Siting behind in the aftermath, drawing the curious gaze of villagers who pointed and whispered. "Do you think this mute girl doesn’t bring bad luck? First her father, and now her mother." "Indeed, poor woman died so horribly. I took a peek; her eyes were gouged out, couldn’t even rest in peace." "Hiss! Could there be a lingering resentment? Should we get that little immortal lord from Li Shui Sect for a ritual?" "Good thing my husband doesn’t beat me." The last remark was delivered with relief and pride, prompting Chen Siting to glance at the woman. Feeling unnerved by her gaze, the woman snapped, a sense of dread curling in her chest, "What are you looking at? It's New Year, and you're bringing us this." Someone next to her pulled her away, advising her not to speak further. The woman spat in Chen Siting's direction before departing with her basket. Chen Siting remained passive, ever timid, taught to endure everything. Yet in her mind, she replayed her mother's sightless eyes beneath the white shroud and her harrowing screams. The bachelor received no just punishment; after a few days in jail, he was released due to influential connections. Chen's mother's family was absent, leaving them vulnerable to mistreatment. Returning, the bachelor spewed profanities at Chen's mother, called Chen a bastard, all while Chen Siting silently endured, even the faintest whimper lost. Later, two immortal lords from Li Shui Sect visited, starkly different from the villagers. Chen Siting, recalling her mother's words, believed them to be gods. Her mother had said gods would protect the suffering. After her mother’s death, villagers claimed to have seen a ghostly silhouette haunting the village, suspecting it was Chen's mother's spirit, thus summoning the immortal lords. Li Shui Sect disciples inspected the place of Chen's mother's death, confirming her restless spirit as the culprit. As they prepared to capture the specter, one disciple felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. Looking down, he withdrew from the filthy child, continuing his exorcism. Chen Siting stood dazed, retracting her hand, amidst a hazy voice that echoed in her mind — her mother's. "Ting’er, save me!" With the disciple's movements, a shape gradually formed, revealing her fearful mother, screaming desperately at her stunned daughter. Clutching the disciple's hem, Chen Siting pleaded with muffled cries, but it changed nothing. The pristine immortal lord disdainfully kicked her away, sneering, "What misfortune." Another disciple, disapproving of his superior’s behavior, approached to help her up, checking her injuries. Feeling that this immortal lord might be sympathetic, Chen Siting began to plead. "Your mother has turned into a wrathful spirit. Rest assured, we will cleanse her resentment before sending her to reincarnation." Yet Chen Siting was unable to understand, only hearing her mother's heart-wrenching cries. The other disciple scorned his junior's kindness, commenting, "You know well, junior, the best way to handle such a vengeful spirit is to obliterate it entirely." The junior made no attempt to argue. At that moment, the old bachelor returned, grabbing Chen Siting by the hair and dragging her backward while offering the Li Shui disciple a sycophantic smile, one Chen Siting had never seen on his face before: “Immortal lord, thank you for your efforts. This child is ignorant; please take away that evil spirit.” And just like that, Chen's mother was taken away. Desperate to reunite with her mother, Chen Siting tried repeatedly to escape in search of Li Shui Sect, but each attempt only resulted in more brutal beatings. Eventually, Chen Siting left the mortal realm, herself becoming a vengeful spirit, harboring deep resentment against Wan Family Village, turning it into a place of misery. Li Shui Sect noticed the abnormality there and sent the same two disciples. Seeing familiar faces, Chen Siting felt a surge of excitement, as she had developed a fondness for the junior disciple. Now able to speak, she tortured the old bachelor to death, then stole his voice, so she could finally call out to the immortal lord. Yet the immortal lord's face was stern, lacking any previous kindness, as he shouted, “Demon, surrender at once!” Chen Siting struggled to comprehend, hurriedly trying to explain, “Immortal lord, I am the mute girl from that day; please listen to me…” “There’s nothing to say. You have harmed so many lives, and today, you will be annihilated!”