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

### Chapter 98: Temporary Farewell "Is this the reason you sought me out, junior brother?" Cen Ran carefully observed his senior sister's expression. Seeing her usual calm demeanor, he dared to continue, "Yes, if you’re uneasy about it, senior sister, I will refuse them." Ran Fan Yin remained silent. The previous incident in Wan Family Village had backfired when her injuries forced her to accompany Ning Song Wu with a puppet. This time, she believed there would be no danger if she personally attended. After contemplating, Ran Fan Yin added another question, "This talk of devouring souls sounds rather sinister. Are there any side effects?" "Uh, um, I'm not entirely sure..." Cen Ran stumbled, realizing his focus was entirely on the large formation at the time and he had neglected the safety of this disciple. But seeing how meticulously his senior sister approached the situation, it seemed she genuinely cared for Ning Song Wu. Ran Fan Yin found herself in a predicament. On one hand, the situation was gravely urgent, yet on the other, she didn’t want to risk Ning Song Wu. She furrowed her brows, feeling torn for the first time in her life. Seeing her like this, Cen Ran felt somewhat helpless and dared not pressure her. "Don't worry, senior sister. Let me inquire further. If there's no harm, you can then make your decision." Ran Fan Yin relaxed a bit, "Alright, let's do that." Cen Ran bowed and took his leave. During their conversation, Ning Song Wu was in the courtyard nearby. With the heightened senses of a cultivator, she had heard everything. Since Ran Fan Yin and Cen Ran didn’t intentionally keep their voices down, Ning Song Wu caught every word. She had been idling, but upon sensing the protective intent in Ran Fan Yin's words, her focus drifted even more, unable to sit still during meditation. Ning Song Wu found it puzzling. Despite her half-hearted approach to cultivation, every time she dozed off, her skills seemed to improve slightly upon waking. This had been ongoing for some time, leading her master to think she had finally turned over a new leaf. Seeing her master's evident joy, Ning Song Wu decided to keep this anomaly to herself. While lost in thought, Ran Fan Yin approached her. Observing her disciple lost in another world, Ran Fan Yin felt helpless. "Daydreaming again?" Ning Song Wu quickly recovered her senses, "Master, I..." She was about to make an excuse when Ran Fan Yin interrupted, "You heard, didn't you? What do you think?" It seemed her master wasn’t planning to dwell on her mistakes, which emboldened Ning Song Wu. She cheekily replied, "I was thinking about how kind my master is to me." "...less of that nonsense. You know what I mean." A little teasing was enough; upsetting her master would ruin the day. Seriously, she answered, "Whatever Master thinks is best, I'll follow." Ning Song Wu fixed her gaze on Ran Fan Yin, awaiting her answer. After a moment of silence, Ran Fan Yin spoke, "If it's harmless, I hope you would go. If there's any harm... we'll find another way." Her demeanor changed, her gaze filled with pride. "The world is vast; a solution is always out there. At sixteen, you shouldn't bear what you can't. Besides, I didn't accept disciples to send them to their deaths." Observing her master's prideful stance, Ning Song Wu felt that Ran Fan Yin was different from the other powerful individuals she knew. She cared deeply even for someone as insignificant as her. Such a person wasn't suited to lead, being too gentle. Ning Song Wu was touched yet afraid, always feeling that this personality might eventually lead to disaster. But then she thought: it’s been five hundred years. If something were to happen, it would have happened by now. She's so strong; there are few threats to her life. There's no need for undue worry. Though her mind was a whirlwind, Ning Song Wu simply said, "I trust Master." Soon, Cen Ran returned with news, informing his senior sister that the soul-devouring posed no threat to Ning Song Wu's life. Thus, Ning Song Wu prepared to leave the sect for Zhen Qi Sect. Besides Ran Fan Yin, Luo Sheng and Lin Yu Xue would accompany them. These two seemed perpetually busy, always having to run errands for major events, even more so than the Nascent Soul elders in the sect. Ning Song Wu still hadn't mastered riding a flying sword, so she traveled with Ran Fan Yin. Meeting familiar faces, she greeted them first, "Senior Sister Luo, Senior Sister Lin." Lin Yu Xue waved enthusiastically from afar, "Junior Sister Ning!" Luo Sheng merely nodded, her expression turning displeased upon seeing Ning Song Wu ride with Ran Fan Yin. Approaching Ning Song Wu, she commented, "You’re already at the Golden Core stage. You should learn to ride your sword soon." With Ran Fan Yin present, she dared not speak too harshly. Actually, she thought Ning Song Wu riding this way was a slight disgrace to Chang Jun Mountain. Ning Song Wu wasn't incapable; learning to ride a sword was within her ability. However, she had her own little schemes, like wanting to continue riding with her master. Hearing Luo Sheng's comment, Ran Fan Yin wasn't pleased and curtly replied, "It's fine as she is." Sensing Ran Fan Yin's slight displeasure, Luo Sheng quickly apologized, "Disciple was out of line." Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Lin Yu Xue quickly intervened, "Indeed, who'd dare laugh at the disciple of our master? Senior Sister Luo and I would be the first to fight them off, right, Senior Sister?" Luo Sheng, a bit uncomfortable being embraced by Lin Yu Xue, reluctantly went along, "Yes, of course." Ran Fan Yin watched their interactions but, being somewhat obtuse, couldn’t discern much, "Let's go." They responded in unison, "Yes, Master." Ran Fan Yin led the way on her sword, with Lin Yu Xue and Luo Sheng following. Ning Song Wu glanced back and saw Luo Sheng's serious expression, seemingly unaffected by the earlier events. Turning her focus ahead, Ning Song Wu found Luo Sheng intriguing, noting how her gaze held a hint of unspoken irritation. Remembering past interactions, Ning Song Wu felt she hadn’t offended Luo Sheng. Could it be that Luo Sheng wished to be her master’s disciple too? Filled with a sense of crisis, Ning Song Wu thought that wouldn't do. She, Ning Song Wu, was the sole disciple for her master. Impelled, she moved up to hug her master’s waist. Before Ran Fan Yin could voice any complaints, Ning Song Wu said pitifully, "Master, I’m afraid of heights." Ran Fan Yin, somewhat unused to this kind of behavior, recalled that the books advised giving disciples reassurance when they’re afraid. Resigning herself, she let go of her resistance. "If you’re scared, hold on tight." Could there be such a good thing? Overjoyed, Ning Song Wu tightened her hold and gratefully said, "Thank you, Master." "...You’re holding too tight, relax a bit." "Okay, Master~" Behind them, Luo Sheng observed, surprised at how indulgent the aloof master was with Ning Song Wu, wondering if such leniency was only for a prodigy. "They seem very close, don't they, Senior Sister?" Lin Yu Xue commented. Luo Sheng glanced at Lin Yu Xue, "Closeness between a master and disciple is natural." Lin Yu Xue, watching the pair ahead, murmured, "Master and disciple, naturally. But isn’t it the same for senior and junior sisters? Don’t you think, Senior Sister..." Luo Sheng interrupted her, "Let's move on and stay focused." With that, she accelerated her sword, putting distance between herself and Lin Yu Xue. Watching her senior sister’s departing figure, Lin Yu Xue uttered helplessly, "That's tough."