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

**Chapter 112: Encirclement (1)** *【The protective formation of the sect has already shown energy fluctuations, those people have already taken action, what is Master planning to do?】* *【So, Master knew all along...】* Ran Fanyin suddenly shook off the hand tightly grasping hers, looking at the girl who always reacted swiftly, she took a few steps back, letting out a cold chuckle, "You can't help it, you will save them." *【Master...】* *【Just saving people...】* She instinctively pressed her left wrist, but this time there was no familiar phantom pain, and everything from the past left together with the ink drying on the paper. She was always slow in making decisions, but once decided, she acted swiftly. He Lan gave her a light glance and asked in a gentle voice, "Has the Spirit Gathering Formation almost been drawn?" Ning Song Wu nodded, "In the next few days, I need to go to the core of the formation, I can go by myself." Watching the girl leave, He Lan supported his chin with an expression full of helplessness. Clearly, little Ning Ning was wholeheartedly concerned about her senior sister, so why did it seem like the two of them were at odds these days? What a petty conflict, it was delaying his enjoyment of candy...no, collecting material for story creation. Passing by, Su Ye flicked her tongue like a serpent, "Master, the work you accepted needs to be delivered before the Mid-Autumn Festival." He Lan clapped his hands, "Ah, almost forgot." Luo Sheng helped Ye Wu Chen to lie down, while Ning Song Wu went out to handle some aftermath of street occurrences, leaving only the two of them in the small inn room. Luo Sheng noticed she was comfortably leaning at the head of the bed, feeling a sense of relief, he turned to pour some warm water, but as his hand touched the handle, Ye Wu Chen spoke with a calm voice, "You don't look like her." With a soft crack, the handle shattered. This soft sound was drowned by the following words, "Where's your human mother? Is she still alive? I didn't expect Ye Wu Xin would find a human..." The teapot handle turned to dust, coating Luo Sheng's hand. Ye Wu Chen was taken aback, "Whose fault is the broken teapot?" Luo Sheng lowered his head and mumbled, "I don't know what you are talking about. The teapot was broken by me, no need to worry." "If you've chosen to play dumb, do it convincingly. Fortunately, today it's just me." "You don't seem too tired. I'll go to cancel this room." Luo Sheng said, taking a step out. Being tall with long legs, in the tiny room, one step took him to the door. Just as he was about to push it open, he heard the woman's cool voice behind him, "I am Ye Wu Chen. By seniority, perhaps you should call me aunt." The girl did not slow her step nor look back, she pushed the door open and left straight away. Leaving only Ye Wu Chen, who had the same expression from beginning to end, watching the empty doorway, the serene expression cracked slightly. On the day Ye Wu Xin launched the coup, it was her coronation day, having brought her human wife, intending to announce her identity post-coronation, but the azure long spear was cold and piercing, thrusting through her chest, while her wife... She had sent someone to escort her wife away, yet with a chance of death looming, together with the barely formed child. Footsteps echoed from the door. Ye Wu Chen exhaled slowly, mending the gap in her expression, leaning back on the headboard, her eyes slightly lowered. Seven tails, gray fur. What a pity, probably not her child. If that child were still alive, he should also be tall by now. The sea of blood as vengeance unfulfilled, she languished in void, surviving a lonely life. The door opened, a demure girl with pursed lips, clutching a piece of paper, walked in, standing by the bed with a plain voice, "This is an IOU, sign it." Ye Wu Chen: ...? Are this master and disciple cut from the same mold? And what a troublesome Ran Fanyin, with too much dexterity, she did not dare complain that her injuries were courtesy of her, considering a certain woman's warning to conceal her existence, otherwise even the Yunzong area couldn't protect her. Ye Wu Chen took the paper, glancing at the clause on the IOU, her expression cracked ever so slightly. Why does an IOU inquire about coming and going? Her gaze shifted down, noting the arbitrary fill of a three and two, aimed at extracting the information above. She lifted her gaze, looking at the aloof person, "If you've got something to say, say it plainly." "The other girl?" "Just left." "I don't know your name, how can I speak plainly?" Indifferent, with shadow-laden humor. Someone unknown to her was protecting her, naturally, allowing for snide remarks. "I am Ye Wu Chen, a demon, a vagabond." Let the petty master-apprentice figure it out; she's off to earn money. Ning Song Wu pulled Luo Sheng by the ear after searching several pastry shops, dragging him out, "I knew you’d be here." "Sister, gently, have some mercy." Once out of sight, Ning Song Wu raised her hand to conjure a barrier, squatting in the corner, whispering, "Ah Sheng, I’ve got a secret to tell you." She pondered for a long while before deciding to lay some cards on the table, otherwise, many conversations couldn't proceed. Luo Sheng squatted beside her, leaning their heads together, responding in a low voice, "What’s up?" Ning Song Wu spoke mysteriously, "I can predict the future!" Luo Sheng was momentarily stunned, but then quickly wrapped his arm around her shoulder, "Did Elder Ran teach you divination and fortune-telling spells? Teach me quickly!" Ning Song Wu: ...? Oh, she almost forgot, spiritual power could seemingly do everything, divination included, albeit at the cost of lifespan. Ning Song Wu replied with slight irritation, "No, that thing consumes lifespan, I won’t learn it." Luo Sheng scratched his head, "Then...what are you talking about? Have you been drawing beginner talismans and worn yourself out recently?" After completing the Spirit Gathering Talisman, Ning Song Wu did not stop there; hence He Lan Mian Mian dragged her back to the basics of talisman arrays, rigorously reinforcing fundamentals, to the extent of requiring her to break through at the Nascent Soul stage before slowly handling more complicated talisman arrays. Ning Song Wu accepted it. But she wasn’t becoming foolish. The girl lightly knocked on Luo Sheng’s head, "Anyway, listen, the Third Elder picked up a new disciple named Qi Xiaoye, and it's best to stay away from her. Even if you need to go out together, call Yi Lin Ruo Ying and me, got it?" "Oh...why?" Luo Sheng tilted his head, puzzled. Ning Song Wu suppressed the ruckus in her brow, "There's no why, regardless, I won't lead you astray." Luo Sheng chuckled, hugging the snacks and subtly moved a few steps away from her, speaking coldly, "Nonsense, who set me up for a month’s worth of snacks over reciting poetry last time?" Not long ago, the two had a disagreement about how to execute a spell more efficiently. The argument evolved under the watchful eyes of Su Ye and Liu Ruo Ying into a poetry contest, which Ning Song Wu used to study in modern times, occasionally reading local poetry after traveling here, some similar, some different. Over time, she memorized quite a few, winning with a narrow advantage. The reward was Luo Sheng buying her snacks for a month. It was pure torment. Remembering for so long. "...How can you be such a gluttonous fox!" Ning Song Wu exclaimed in exasperation. *When the follow-up call came, Ning Song Wu was driving. Though flying directly back on a cloud was a viable option, it would inevitably cause unnecessary trouble, especially since the destination was a welfare home managed by Lin Xinran. Frightening the children would not do.* This was an ordinary orphanage where most of the children were inherently disadvantaged. For them, cultivation was a burden, and there was no need to introduce them to concepts far beyond their reality. They just needed to live, learn, and grow well. The care of this large family was left to adults like them. As the children grew, the burden was somewhat eased, yet... Having spent the early years of her life in cultivation and seclusion, Ms. Ning walked this mundane world for decades, ultimately understanding a fundamental truth—money wasn't everything, but without it, nothing was possible. Therefore, she, along with her now-agent Su Yue, found synergy and began a ten-year-long mutually beneficial collaboration. She became the top-shelf star people spoke of, and Su Yue became a renowned agent. The cooperation was decidedly pleasant. Su Yue was sharp and had an exceptional PR team, which meant there was no worry about judgment errors. Consequently, when the call came in, she activated the speakerphone without pulling over. On the other end, the familiar gentle voice, laced with a smile, spoke steadily: "Song Wu, after some discussion, we've opted for maximum profitability." The "we" naturally referred to those from Ran Fanyin's side. "Okay, go ahead, I'm driving." "This upcoming show has a strong lineup, both of you have already signed; let’s strive to make it a hit. There’ll be some CP (couple pair) publicity pieces, can you accept that?" "Yes." Ning Song Wu tapped on the steering wheel, inquiring after a moment, "Isn't this against your style?" Su Yue casually smiled, "Of course, which is why I suggested one of the supporting roles in the show go to Liao Xin. It's not a significant part, but it will give her some exposure." Ning Song Wu was surprised, "Is this a decision they can make?" "Certainly, as the show is financially backed by Ran Fanyin’s people." Ah, so it’s the patron! Respect blossomed in Ning Song Wu’s heart for Ran Fanyin. "Su Yue." Her rare full name call carried with it an unusual respect, "Given the circumstances, you can push more limits, as long as it doesn't contravene your principles." On the other end of the line, Su Yue was perusing the documents when she heard her name being addressed in full. She paused for a moment, then let out a soft, amused chuckle, her fox-like perpetual smile breaking momentarily. She knew Ning Song Wu all too well; despite not being overly materialistic, Ning's financial prudence occasionally manifested when the situation called for it. With business matters settled, Su Yue dropped her foxy façade, leaning against her desk and teasingly said, "Song Wu, your income isn’t exactly meager these days, why are you still so money-minded?" "My income may be high, but my expenses are even higher." After all, when seven people devour a whole cow in three days, it’s bound to make anyone wince. Not to mention the expensive pills and spiritual herbs suitable for children just embarking on the path of cultivation that she had to purchase. Plus, she needed to save money for her own impending breakthroughs... In summary— Broke, very broke, incredibly broke. So broke that she sometimes thought her account had been hacked, prompting her to hastily verify her accounts. "You're kind-hearted. Why not let us report on this? It could ease some of your pressure." "No need, I can manage. Besides, those higher-ups have already been quite accommodating." She was on the human cultivation path, needing to weather the mundane world to temper her heart and increase her cultivation. However, her young apprentices' Dao hearts were not yet fully formed, so it was best for them to have minimal worldly exposure. After all, once you step on this path, you must endure some hardships. "Alright, before filming starts, there’s a cover shoot scheduled. Someone will coordinate with your assistant, and the rest of the time is your holiday, plan as you see fit." "Alright, thank you, Yue Yue." Su Yue chuckled lightly, "No need to thank me. Just a friendly suggestion, since you’re planning on stirring up some CP buzz, it might be a good idea to meet Ran Fanyin in person. At least get acquainted. Well, if there’s nothing else, feel free to contact me anytime." "Okay." Su Yue was quite busy, so they exchanged no more pleasantries. As Ning Song Wu drove, her fingers tapping on the steering wheel, she contemplated the proposal. Meeting in private? It wasn’t out of the question. The call ended just as Ning Song Wu was nearing her destination. From afar, she spotted Qian Duo Duo crouching by the roadside, waiting for her—the very person who had startled her awake with a telepathic message early that morning. Mischief sparked within her, and she sent a telepathic message. "Little Shishu is about to bump into your backside." The ethereal voice startled Qian Duo Duo, who jumped up immediately, clutching his behind and looking around frantically. It took him a while to realize Ning Song Wu’s car was still waiting at the traffic light. Darn it, Little Shishu scared him again! *The delicate sensation brought by this melding of divine consciousness could only be captured by those two words. "Indeed, but it’s rather special. I haven't encountered anything similar..." Qin Si Yue firmly held back the latter half of her sentence. If only she could experiment with the two of them. Ran Fanyin, whose combat skills greatly surpassed hers as a sword cultivator, now had protection from barriers and was a whole minor realm above her. Impossible to win in a fight. She considered explaining further, but seeing the bewildered expression on Fanyin’s face, she opted to be silent and allow Ran Fanyin some time. Truthfully, Qin Si Yue believed there was nothing wrong with this sort of issue. If dual cultivation could cure the ailment, she would even encourage it outright. Gender wasn’t a problem, nor was age; the only issue might be identity... Expelling her from the school wasn’t complicated; a peaceful separation was possible, or the matter could be transferred to Ceng Ran or He Lan Mian Mian. She prioritized healing above all, emotions never clouding her judgment. Ran Fanyin needed no explanation, seeing the contemplative gleam in Qin Si Yue's eyes. She knew exactly what she was scheming. Every time, the tremor rising from her soul, now didn't seem like such a good thing. Ran Fanyin exhaled slowly, "Is there an alternative method? The Heart Nourishing Lotus, about to mature, should be usable." Qin Si Yue looked at her as if she were a fool. Ran Fanyin knew she’d asked a ridiculous question. Her congenital flaw hadn’t improved much with medication, only preventing deterioration. Now, for once, a method emerged that nobody understood, which, although only a temporary relief, was genuinely easing her a lot. She could summon the Warmth Sword more freely now compared to before when she could only rely on her fan. How could such a change come about, how to find another way, nobody knew, much like nobody knew why the core of the extremely cold Absolute Heaven Formation could somehow support a celestial fire spirit root cultivator like her. But, ignorance was bliss. Now knowing... "Ran Fanyin..." "Hold on, let me think this through." Qin Si Yue sighed softly, offering a light hum, "You think it over, I'll go back and check some books, see if there's another possibility." No need to search, those shivers, those intolerable touches and ticklishness, she should have realized it; if she had realized, she would have rejected Ning Song Wu from the start. Would she refuse? This entire matter was, ultimately… without permission. If she didn’t know—no, she couldn’t presume this way, it wouldn’t be fair to Ning Song Wu. Now that she knew, until she could clarify her feelings, nothing further should happen. Qin Si Yue wanted to say more but paused as she heard the woman’s deeper voice, "Don’t tell little Ning Er about this matter, let’s look for other solutions." "She would agree." Ran Fanyin lifted her eyelids, the coldness lacking gentleness in her eyes, her voice slightly chilly, "Why would she agree? Because I am her master, or because... Some things mustn’t be confused with each other." Qin Si Yue shrugged slightly, oh well. After all, it wasn’t like she would die; the ailment wouldn't be cured, save for a less effective method treating symptoms rather than the root. Time to find another way, she would try harder. As Qin Si Yue flew her cloudship away from the peak, Ran Fanyin, with fatigue in her heart, stepped slowly into her room, her fingers tracing over a mechanism, making a small storage cabinet emerge at the head of the bed. If Qin Si Yue were here, she would recognize the book on top as the one she often saw at the base of the mountain recommending to others—pseudonym Shuíshí. “High is the frost and snow, beneath the water is a stone.” The Shuíshí here also symbolized winter. She stroked the cover's ink smudges, letting out another sigh. She knew the answer, yet she dared not ask. If she guessed correctly, the "other world" Ning Song Wu wrote about in her book was "that era" she had spoken of, with self-driving vehicles, communication stones allowing one to do numerous things, and many objects that were similar yet different. This book was more of a girl’s growth story than a love tale, aligning largely with the fragmented past she was intermittently aware of, yet containing much she didn’t know. For instance, the girl's left wrist bearing a horrific scar that hadn't healed over many years, causing her to unconsciously rub her left hand. For instance, hearing negative comments about her appearance, making her dislike mirrors. So Ning Song Wu’s current stern and cautious demeanor stemmed from past experiences of divorce, isolation, and even self-destructive paths—is this true? Being able to write it down meant...at least mentally, it shouldn’t hurt as much anymore. Those few pages were crumpled by Ran Fanyin into deep creases, with deep-seated empathy spilling from every line. But the book also recorded a romance—the girl met someone beautiful at an inappropriate age. Ning Song Wu described it like this— "During those times, even if she only smiled once a day, it brought a bit of comfort to someone overwhelmed by an ocean of homework, driving them to keep going, just to achieve a first for her." ^_^ The plot was so familiar that it left Ran Fanyin slightly dazed. Luckily, the subsequent story deviated—the woman fell in love, married, and later had a child, while the girl who once followed her everywhere grew into an ordinary person. Finally, the author concluded— That night— Ran Fanyin, drying her damp hair, had her phone resting beside her with a video playing, adding a bit of spice to the quiet room. She felt a little excited, her heart beating rapidly. Ning Song Wu was going to stir CP with her. Beyond the benefits, the notion itself was exhilarating enough. Because, Ning Song Wu was the reason for everything she did. That morning, after Su Yue calmly laid forth the plan and requirements, she could feel Zhao Si Ping nearly grinding her back teeth to dust—even though it was evident that their side stood to gain more, the discernible glee laced with threat from her voice was palpable even through the phone, oh how... Zhao Si Ping glanced at Ran Fanyin, let out a cold huff, and conceded. The two sides exchanged other specifics before preparing to end the call, only for Su Yue to drop another bomb. "Ms. Zhao, your crisis management is lacking; it took over half an hour from when I called you to work out a suitable PR plan, and I’m still saying..." "You Su, get lost!" followed by the clatter of the phone being slammed onto the desk, making Ran Fanyin’s heart skip a beat. She contemplated checking the pitiable phone’s screen, only to stop awkwardly under Zhao Si Ping's frosty stare. "Sis, this..." "You sure are a coveted asset." Zhao Si Ping let out a long sigh, "That Su Yue is trying to recruit you again." "I'm not going anywhere, I'm sticking with you, Sis!" "And if Ning Song Wu comes to poach you?" "Uh... I still wouldn't go!" The person with a stern expression stared at her momentarily before breaking into a laugh, "Sure you wouldn't. Seeing how much effort you put into Nash Song Wu, I don't quite believe you." It felt a bit like a parent lamenting over their child... is it improper to describe Ning Song Wu this way? --- The drama "Twin Dreams" was funded by Ran Fanyin's loving parents, who came out of retirement for the project. They convinced Ning Song Wu to join by pointing out that she is currently a trending star, and having a hit drama would solidify her rising fame and enhance her visibility. This drama, featuring dual female leads, a stylish historical fantasy set in an ancient martial world, with a well-crafted script, was undoubtedly the perfect choice to boost popularity. As for the more discrete reasoning... Ran Fanyin's fingers lightly scrolled through her screen, attempting to glean some sense of livelihood from Ning Song Wu's usually business-like social media posts. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much; not even a response to today's events. No matter, they are already mutual followers, and becoming friends on other platforms was just a matter of time; she was sure of it. She didn't believe Ning Song Wu maintained such a detached demeanor across all her platforms. Ran Fanyin turned off the screen and began to tidy up for the night when a notification chime echoed softly. It wasn’t from her usual social networks but rather a simple text message. Who even uses text messages to contact people nowadays? Ran Fanyin raised an eyebrow, tapping the screen to reveal a message from an unknown number— "Hello Miss Ran, this is Ning Song Wu. The hour is late, and I hesitated to call for fear of disturbing your rest, thus this message. I hope you will find time to add me to your social platform contacts so we might discuss further details at a later time. Thank you." Why does this person speak so formally? Ran Fanyin studied the message, eyebrows slightly furrowed. Why hadn't she noticed that Ning Song Wu spoke so... peculiarly, with almost an old-fashioned tone? Some of her earlier enthusiasm waned for inexplicable reasons. Gazing at the message, she inexplicably felt a trace of chill, as if she could sense Ning Song Wu's typically indifferent expression as she typed it, still silently annoyed about the events of the day... Even from such a brief communication, Ran Fanyin could already imagine paparazzi claims about their supposed discord, provoking an involuntary shiver as she set her phone down to dry her hair. She must have caught a chill, coming up with such absurd scenarios. Soon after— Ran Fanyin, sitting cross-legged on her bed, copied the unfamiliar number into the WeChat search bar, and in an instant, a very plain profile picture appeared—a bright sun over a snowy expanse, quite matching her understated Weibo profile image. Staring at Ning Song Wu’s simplistic WeChat name, just "Ning," Ran Fanyin swallowed, finding her impression of Ning’s rigidity deepening, yet she steadied herself to send a friend request. The response came swiftly; as soon as the request was sent, it was accepted. Gazing at the white notification on-screen, Ran Fanyin sent a greeting emoji, watching as the "typing..." indicator appeared, disappeared, and then, after a while, a voice message was sent. There was a cacophony of children in the background, but Ning Song Wu’s voice, clear as the first thaw of spring, cut through, distinctive and sharp. "Miss Ran, please hold on; I'll contact you shortly." Her manner of speaking, like her voice, was cool and temperate, yet faintly tinged with warmth. Ran Fanyin ran her fingers over the phone's casing, replying with a simple "Sure," and then, holding steady, she saved the voice message. It was, indeed, lovely. She browsed through Ning Song Wu's WeChat Moments where there were no privacy settings for the last three days, yet the content was sparse, limited to holiday greetings and occasional landscape photos. This person exuded an air of aloofness inside and out, mirroring the online commentary—tranquil yet distant, a stunning face cherished by the audience, but as a partner seeking to develop friendship and collaboration... On the morning of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Ran Fanyin deliberately left her house late. She wanted to tell Ning Song Wu that with the Medicine Sect's relocation concluding today, if she craved anything, she could bring it along to celebrate the festival together. Pushing open the door, the girl's room was already empty. It wasn’t as though she took the Spirit Gathering Talisman to the formation core to collect energy, since the talisman array lay untouched on the table. Did she really go to Huancian Peak to celebrate Mid-Autumn? Or had she ventured out for a trip with her fellow disciples? Leaving this early? Was she that eager? Showing no sign of her inner turmoil, she quietly closed the door, moving toward Chenshui Town with a particularly heavy and sour heart, and cast an unfriendly look towards Lan Xi as she passed, treating him like air. Lan Xi: ??? Thoughts may be unconscious, but listeners keen. Feeling a surge of shame, the person pinched the girl's cheek. What nonsense was she imagining! But also... her thoughts were impure... Following instructions, she eased her embrace, and the spiritual power flared rapidly, then gathered like an expanse of stars dispersing and gathering once more. The indescribable sensation gradually subsided, her body running cooler, as the two began to regain consciousness. The no-longer-active talisman floated softly to the ground, her long-held tension slowly settling along with it. Ning Song Wu's shoulders relaxed, as if setting down a burden, her whole body became slack, resting softly against the woman’s embrace. "Little Ning." Ran Fanyin supported her, "If you’re sleepy, better lie down. It’s not good for your neck." "I don’t want to go back to my room." whispered the little puppy, looking up with eyes misted over with a hint of water, utterly sincere, "I don’t want to leave." The compulsion she had to finish exhausted her, her drunken haze barely holding on to what remained of her strength, leaving her... a tad more endearing. Recognizing something, Ran Fanyin’s breath slowed, her hand lightly pinching the girl's face as she asked gently, "Who am I?" "...Master," the girl murmured, "I’m not drunk, I know who you are." Ran Fanyin let out a soft, bemused laugh, nodding after a long pause, "You’re not drunk, you recognize me." "So, I don’t want to leave. Master, can this be my reward?" She imagined a tail with invisible joy reaching into the heavens. Ran Fanyin's heart quivered. Such playfulness. If this continues, she might be tempted to bring Ning Song Wu to drink again and again, just to witness this vulnerable, pitiable moment. Ran Fanyin took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. She gently cupped the girl's face, shaking her head, "It doesn't count as a reward, no need to waste it." She leaned in, her silver hair casting a shadow across, lightly brushing against her face, then kissed her softly on the forehead. "Will this count as a reward?" The girl was dumbfounded, lips trembling lightly, "Master..." Even her innermost thoughts repeated just this phrase, over and over. Ran Fanyin sighed lightly, "Ning'er..." I'm not as great as you think, I have my desires where you're concerned. Then Lan Yue approached, ushering her into an inner chamber, opening a box with a wry smile, "Take your pick, consider it my meeting gift for the young disciple." The box was filled with flamboyantly colored accessories that made Ran Fanyin's eyes hurt. Ran Fanyin: "Little Ning doesn’t like those, there's no need." "Eh? Wasn’t the young disciple dressed in brilliant red the other day, why not like these?" Lan Yue said, putting the box away, and searched for another with softer tones. Recalling the reason her disciple wore red that day, Ran Fanyin smirked slightly, "Someone with many disciples like you wouldn’t understand, Little Ning wore it for me." With a loud thud, Lan Yue’s head hit the cabinet. Rubbing her forehead, she looked at Ran Fanyin as if seeing a lunatic. Lan Yue: She wasn’t like this before; how did taking in a disciple turn her into a braggart, wanting to show off every little thing? Lan Yue scoffed, "These accessories were treated with special calming and meditative herbal solutions, beneficial for cultivation. Take several sets; they’re my Mid-Autumn gift to the young disciple." She added, “They’re not for you, so hand them over to the young disciple.” "I don't trust you, should I just give them myself?" Ran Fanyin selected a few pieces, stowing them away, giving her a withering look, "Don’t even think about it." The location chosen for the Medicine Sect was near the largest inn in Chenshui Town, from whose entrance one could see the grand spectacle today—a bustling scene like a huge dragon. Lan Yue peeked out, sighing at the lively atmosphere, "The area near Yunzong is bustling; there are only small villages around us. Do you need to buy some things for the festival?” Cultivators generally had excellent vision, and Ran Fanyin squinted slightly to spot a white figure near the front of the line, accompanied by her fellow sisters, chatting happily in line, creating a lively scene. Even the usually serene girl seemed swathed in a layer of worldly dust, having mingled briefly with the mundane realm. Ran Fanyin returned to herself, speaking softly, "No need, with so many people, who knows how long we would wait." Lan Yue agreed, and the two returned inside. Misty clouds gathered at the midsection of Huancian Peak. Ran Fanyin walked through the mist, finding a section of array formations dominated by a small cat trying new talismans. Seeing her, the cat smiled, "I've developed a large-scale fire array that can adjust the temperature anytime; this mist was created by my water evaporation, you know." "That's impressive." Ran Fanyin genuinely praised, shaking her hands to clear some of the sticky moisture, and added warmly, "But I've come to tell you, there’s company." "Senior sister, hold on, the fog's too thick; I can't hear you." "...What a magical reason." As the mist settled into a stream flowing at their feet, He Lan Mian Mian leapt over and immediately noticed the gray smudges and traces of blood on Ran Fanyin's sleeves, exclaiming in surprise, "What's going on here?" "I sensed something was amiss, so I took a stroll down the mountain and caught a..." Ran Fanyin paused slightly, her gaze dropping, "person." He Lan's expression turned serious. If it were just an ordinary person, Ran Fanyin wouldn’t have taken the trouble to inform her. Coming to specifically tell her meant... "Which member of the royal family? Which of Ye Wu Xin's daughters?" If it indeed involved the royal family, it would likely be targeting Luo Sheng. Since the time she took Luo Sheng in, it was anticipated that such a day would come, just not this soon. Ran Fanyin squeezed the little cat’s paw, signaling her to relax, her voice soft, "It was Ye Wu Chen, the former demon king." He Lan was taken aback, "The former demon king, not dead?" Ran Fanyin nodded, "It appears so." The little cat's gaze slowly moved to the sleeve and the slightly concealed wounds. "What's all this then? I’ll go fetch some medicine." "No need, it'll heal soon. I just gave that woman a beating." He Lan Mian Mian: ...? Although beating Ye Wu Chen whenever seen was an unspoken agreement between them, taking action now... Isn’t that somewhat bullying the fox? Ran Fanyin chuckled, giving the cat a gentle squeeze, "Though it is Ye Wu Chen, she is still royalty from your side. If there are concerns, perhaps Luo Sheng should lay low and venture out less in the coming days." He Lan sighed softly, shaking her head, "Senior sister, you don’t know how it is—Ah Sheng spends day and night cultivating, and the little enjoyment she gets from food, I can't bear to deprive her of." "Ye Wu Chen, I thought she perished during the coup. Since she didn’t, she probably won't trouble Luo Sheng, who's barely scraping by herself. I just wish she'd keep her distance from the vicinity of Yunzong." He Lan remarked, flopping lazily against Ran Fanyin with a sigh, "Lately, things have been rather hectic." Ning Song Wu turned around, gazing towards the Medicine Sect. A sign hung at the entrance for medical consultations, although the place was still quiet due to the festive season. *Master is probably there, but I wonder if she’ll return tonight?* Luo Sheng tugged at the sleeve of the young girl, pulling her out of her thoughts, "Senior sister, we’re almost there. What goodies will you take back?" Ning Song Wu gave her a playful look, "Certainly not elbows or trotters." Too greasy, Ran Fanyin wouldn’t like it. Su Ye pinched the soft flesh at her waist, lamenting, "Ever since Ah Sheng came, it seems everyone except her has put on weight." Luo Sheng huffed, "Better watch out, or Master will give you a beating." Liu Ruo Ying laughed, "You should worry about Shishu discovering her extra pounds and taking it out on you first." Ning Song Wu stood with her arms crossed, watching them bicker with warmth spreading in her heart. "Master, cultivation for the sake of aiding the populace and upholding heavenly virtue is Yunzong's teaching, as you always taught me..." *Why then, this time, am I confined here.* *And this isn’t something within my ability to resolve.* *Indeed, I can eliminate minor sources of the toxin, but to purify such poison sources requires the merging of two formations. A single formation can only cleanse broadly, incapable of eradicating the source...* *No, that’s not right. Master wouldn’t let such an obvious flaw go unchecked.* *Master...*