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

**Chapter 113: Encirclement (2)** *[The master didn't lock the door or seal the barrier, presumably allowing me to step out.]* *[I certainly won't court danger.]* *[…?]* *[What nonsense are you spewing? This thing drives anyone using it insane, yet you plan to use it for the betterment of the Nine Provinces?]* *[Who's lost their mind, you or me?] Ning Song Wu didn't leave immediately. After a moment's thought, she approached the backstage crew, who still appeared a bit dispirited. The director, who had previously invited her for a meal, looked dejected and merely lifted his eyelids as she approached, without uttering a word.* "You..." Ning Song Wu started to speak, but the director's deep sigh cut her off. "Don't worry, Ms. Ning. The fact that you know this esteemed figure won't leave this room, trust me. Right now, we just need some peace." "Who is Peace?" "Ms. Ning, this isn't the time for jokes," he replied with a sigh, directing his gaze elsewhere. Ning Song Wu found a seat and sat quietly with them for a while. This wasn't a natural disaster; these small demonic entities, except those accidentally falling into the demonic path, generally don't attack humans, let alone affect such a wide area. There's an ill-hearted instigator, but likely not among these backstage staff. "The show must go on, and life too. The esteemed figure probably mentioned that experiencing such an event even once in a lifetime is rare. Don't dwell on it." "How many times has it been for you, Ms. Ning?" Ning Song Wu's eyes darted mischievously. "First time." "...Oh, thank you for the comfort, Ms. Ning. With this mess, we can't continue filming. Once things settle, I'll handle the accounts and move on, taking it as a lesson learned." The director waved his hands dismissively. Ning Song Wu paused, considering her words before falling silent. Her decision made, she found nothing else to say, so she stayed with them a while before leaving. Some people might never experience such events in their lifetime, but facing them creates a significant hurdle. Thankfully, Ning Song Wu had been cautious around Ran Fan Yin, recognizing the abnormality here. Otherwise… Upon exiting the venue, she turned back for one last gaze. Lucky for them. May your future be free of troubles. She didn't worry about anyone publicizing the event online. People generally hold a certain reverence for these occurrences and will learn to stay silent. There was still cleanup work to be done. Upon opening the door, she found Ran Fan Yin shaking a glass jar containing a shadowy entity. Having gathered the fragments, the shadow inside appeared more solid and sat cross-legged in frustration. "Ning's back! Come on in, I'm ordering takeout," said Lin Xin Ran, glancing at her before turning back to the menu. Ning Song Wu transmitted a thought, *"Let's focus on the task first."* The exposed person sighed, setting aside her phone, and moved to Ran Fan Yin’s side to take the jar. "Lin sister?" "Elder sister's going to show you something interesting." Lin Xin Ran ruffled Ran Fan Yin's hair, a gesture that had become habitual. Her small round face with sleek black hair looked more adorable with every glance. Turning to Ning Song Wu, with emotions twisted by six centuries’ worth of life experiences, Lin Xin Ran found the contrast amusing. Truly a day for maternal instincts to flare! Once satisfied with her mischief, Lin Xin Ran levitated the jar into the air, forming hand signs and softly chanting incantations. "Out!" At her light command, the small figure emerged as wisps of black smoke, coalescing into a humanoid shape within the surrounding red glow. Once the light faded, the form hovered in mid-air, causing both knowledgeable women to gasp. Inside was an infant. After arranging matters within, Li Ke Er, upon hearing a succession of jumbled words, sensed something amiss. Never mind why she was suddenly concerned about the welfare home's children; after asking if they'd celebrate Children's Day, she immediately suggested the same for Ning Song Wu. Wait a minute, I think I’ve hit a key point here? Li Ke Er pondered over the statement, feeling she had discovered something significant but ultimately chose to ignore it. She had no desire to get involved. If Ning Song Wu's information leaked due to her, it would spell disaster. With a sigh, Li Ke Er tapped the forehead of the still-groggy person beside her, whispering, "Fan Fan, perhaps you should stop drinking." Drunkenness tends to result in mishaps. * The next morning, wrapped in the scent of alcohol, Ran Fan Yin awoke and rushed to the bathroom without even opening her eyes. Thankfully, the hot water was running, and after showering and changing into fresh loungewear, she finally regained her composure. Though she had sworn off alcohol, it ended up with her drinking two bottles of beer with Fang Qing in celebratory toasts. The last time she got drunk was during the high school graduation party, after which she was branded as a 'three-drink knockout'. Wait, did she do anything outlandish while drunk last night? Trembling, Ran Fan Yin reached for her phone, now powered down. She struggled to plug in the charger properly, heart filled with panic and worry. She vaguely recalled talking nonstop about Ning Song Wu. Please, she hoped, don't let her have made a fool of herself in front of Ms. Ning. After inspecting her phone thoroughly and finding only a few call logs with Li Ke Er, she sighed in relief. It seemed possible that powering off early prevented any embarrassment. Heart fluttering, Ran Fan Yin called Li Ke Er. As soon as the call connected, Li Ke Er's laughter echoed through the line, making Ran Fan Yin wish to hide away. Oh no. Stop laughing. What did she do last night that was so amusing? Suppressing her laughter, Li Ke Er teased, "Fan Fan, with Children's Day approaching, you better get ready." "Why should I?" Children's Day, Ning Song Wu, getting gifts... Her drunken memories flooded back, replaying vividly in her mind, her face turning crimson. "Ke Er, did I say I wanted to celebrate Children's Day with Ms. Ning?" "You did, and I'm quite looking forward to it. Don’t back out, I think it's a great idea." What great idea! Ran Fan Yin agonized all morning before finally deciding to follow through with her plan. During her time as Ning Song Wu's fan, she never missed out on holiday wishes. Children's Day was no exception. Now acquainted offline, sending just an online message wouldn't suffice, especially when… She cared deeply for her. * Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. She ordered a small craft project online and spent two days meticulously assembling it. On the day it was completed, she caught a high fever. "Ke Er, could you deliver this to Ms. Ning for me… Achoo." Ran Fan Yin lay weakly on her bed. On her bedside table stood a mechanical music box she had painstakingly assembled. Just a gentle nudge would set it spinning delightfully. Plain as it was, it should suffice as a token of her sentiment, right? "I won't do it. She doesn't know me." "Ke Er~" With a voice already soft, burdened by nasal congestion and enunciated with deliberate slowness, Ran Fan Yin likely didn't realize how her words penetrated like tendrils, tingling through the senses of those who heard. Driving the car, Li Ke Er shivered, her voice tinged with fear, "Don't do this, I'll go, I'll go. Just give me the address." "Address?" Oh right, she didn’t ask Ms. Ning for her exact address. All she knew was that she lived in Yun Tian Shui Xie... However, it’s possible that today of all days, she might be at the welfare institution? Li Ke Er chuckled, "Fan Fan, should I just stand outside Yun Tian Shui Xie and shout: Ms. Ning Song Wu, your gift has arrived?" Ran Fan Yin envisioned the scenario... The image was too vivid to imagine. "Alright, I'm on my way to your place. You can just ask her yourself." Ask her? Since completing the MV shoot, Ms. Ning hadn’t initiated any conversations with her. Her social media was devoid of activity, as if she'd retreated into her world, isolated from reality. How enviable Ms. Ning was. If she had such leisure, her company would be calling incessantly for updates. A throbbing headache ensued. Ran Fan Yin stared at the last exchange on WeChat, where they wished each other good night, hesitating before she started typing. "Happy Children's Day, Ms. Ning~ (confetti emoji)" "I've prepared a small token of appreciation for you. Where should I send it?" Sent it is! No turning back now! Hesitant of improving or even damaging their relationship further. Ning Song Wu's reply came quickly: "Thank you. (heart emoji)" "Send it here, please. You've gone to a lot of trouble. (location)" At the welfare institution, as she thought. Indeed, Children’s Day! Likely organizing some fun for the kids, and she wouldn’t miss such a vibrant event. What would Ning Song Wu be like amidst a crowd? Would the perpetual smile she bears on her face convey any change? Oh, how she longed to see Ms. Ning in her current element. Perhaps due to her illness, Ran Fan Yin's thoughts were muddled yet remarkably active, with her mind wandering endlessly. Despite her confusion, she couldn't shake off the three words that firmly rooted themselves in her heart: Ning Song Wu. She kept reining in her thoughts, retreating step by step, constantly reminding herself that her feelings were merely those of a fan. But no matter how much she tried, she couldn't deny that these three words had deeply taken root, making Ning Song Wu someone she habitually thought of. Meanwhile, the one she thought of was being tormented by the musical cacophony. Lin Xin Ran, with perhaps a faulty wire igniting her enthusiasm, had organized a Children’s Day talent show with the kids performing for the adults, and of course, Ning Song Wu found herself in the audience. This talent show resembled a torture assembly more than anything. For those uninitiated into the path of cultivation, the music was merely classified as pleasant or unpleasant, and most leaned toward the latter, being barely tolerable. However, for those with a bit of cultivation and not specializing in musical arts, the music was unbearable. Lin Xin Ran avoided teaching bizarre tunes to the younger disciples, sticking to pieces that merely roused the audience’s inner spiritual energy. The older disciples, with their own judgment, played more resonant pieces that jolted spiritual energy. To put it bluntly, each piece made Ning Song Wu feel like her chest was boiling over with blood, ready to burst out at any given second. She discreetly glanced towards Xu Yue Ping, who, despite seeming upright and composed, had blood-stained sleeves. Such mistreatment for this young girl. Tonight, either she camps on the backside of the mountain, or Lin Xin Ran must ascend to the heavens with that tree! The only solace was the performances by the ordinary and non-musical arts children. While not particularly engaging, they were mercifully safe. The message from Ran Fan Yin came at the perfect moment, like a lifesaver. Clutching her phone, she slinked away, and when passing by Lin Xin Ran, brazenly stated, "Your daughter needs me, I'm leaving." Lin Xin Ran watched the relieved silhouette depart, snorting, "Such a fine cabbage spoiled by a pig." "Lin Xin Ran, I'll see you at the mountain tonight." "I refuse." "Don't come, and I won't authorize next season's funding." Annoyed, Lin Xin Ran blew a breath and proceeded inside, only to encounter Xu Yue Ping sneaking out. Her eyebrows shot up, "And where are you slinking off to?" "Today's unsettling, Ning Shishu needs me," Xu Yue Ping maintained a stern face, lending weight to her excuse. "Off you go, all of you." A physical practitioner and a sorcerer, utterly tasteless, lacking class! After sending the message, Ning Song Wu waited by the door, feeling giddy. Who isn't moved by holiday gifts? As a child, receiving a red envelope during festivals delighted her immensely. Growing up, there were fewer people to celebrate holidays with. During her wanderings through the mortal world, though many sought to gift her, their intentions were mostly selfish. Repeated rejections diminished the number of presents. Now, someone prepared a gift and personally delivered it on Children's Day—how could she not be thrilled? You might call her a double standard? Indeed, Ning Song Wu is a double standard. She trusted her instincts, and she believed Ran Fan Yin wasn’t one to play tricks behind her back. After all, given Ran Fan Yin's family background, she had no need to curry favor with Ning Song Wu. Awaiting anxiously, instead of Ran Fan Yin’s arrival, she met the girl from the supermarket, the one who accompanied Ran Fan Yin that day. Li Ke Er stepped through the wide open door, a familiar silhouette flashing by so quickly she doubted her eyes. Before she could ponder it further, she turned her head to find Ning Song Wu sitting serenely, lost in thought. Hurrying over with a greeting, she softly spoke, "Hello, Ms. Ning. This is a small token from Fan Fan, expressing her regards." Ning Song Wu received the simply wrapped gift. It wasn’t heavy, nor did it appear to be anything expensive. Warmly, she asked, "Where is Ran Fan Yin?" "She's sick, but didn't want to miss Children's Day, so I came on her behalf." Ning Song Wu chuckled gently, leaving Li Ke Er somewhat entranced. The warmth of her smile was at odds with the aloofness often depicted online. Where was the usual towering barrier? Not minding Li Ke Er's presence, she unwrapped the gift. Inside was a dainty mechanical music box, crafted in the likeness of a small wooden cottage with a yard, a tiny figure poised mid-dance. Little, adorable, and simple but brimming with sincerity. Warmth flushed through her otherwise cold heart. Aware of Li Ke Er's watchful eyes, she didn’t immediately stow the gift in her dimensional storage but instead cradled it tenderly, smiling softly, "Thank you for me, to little Ran. How is she now?" "Still feverish, it started yesterday and hasn't broken." "Did it come on suddenly? Have you taken her to the hospital?" "…" "Ning Song Wu furrowed her elegant brows, worry etched across her face..." Li Ke Er dramatically recounted, before being interrupted by the frail figure’s coughing. Who knew if it were real or fake coughs. Li Ke Er paused, observing the watery eyes of the listener, whose impending questions hung in the air. "Ms. Ning asked for the address, she’s coming." Ran Fan Yin buried herself beneath her blanket, sighing deeply with a series of additional coughs. Her room, still a catastrophic mess, was far from presentable. In other words, it was a demon-born child. Such a young one couldn’t possibly harbor malice! Ning Song Wu's expression chilled, her hand clenched behind her back. Even after living for centuries and witnessing many bizarre occurrences, demon-born entities remained rare, especially those that posed a threat. "Tell me your story," she whispered, her eyes flashing with white light. Ran Fan Yin's full attention was on Lin Xin Ran, oblivious to another individual performing a ritual behind them, carefully investigating the child’s past. Since a baby couldn’t articulate, spirits had to delve into its memories. Thankfully, an infant’s life story was brief. Moments later, both practitioners sighed longingly as they concluded their inquiries. Lin Xin Ran glanced at the curious little one, gently patting her as a sign to wait, before casting another spell, dispersing the child into the air. "It’s gone." "This child must have suffered greatly," Ran Fan Yin murmured, touching the glass jar with a sigh. "It was an unintended existence, abandoned by its mother. Yet, someone believed in dark magic and trapped its soul in a porcelain jar, lingering there for three years, becoming a vengeful spirit. Recently, a fragment of its soul escaped, curious about the world. Refusing to return, the rest splintered in attempts to follow." Lin Xin Ran’s soothing voice differed from Ning Song Wu's cool tone, drawing listeners into empathetic contemplation. But... Ning Song Wu: "Why the shivering?" Ran Fan Yin tried to steady her trembling, though it was futile. She realized the cold rising from her bones was not mere chilliness but a result of dread, her lips numbing with fright. "So, it's not cold. It's resentment and fear?" Just like now, her fear sent an icy chill through her extremities. "Are you scared?" Ning Song Wu approached, clasping her hands. Though a bit fleshy, her fingers were long and fair. At this moment, they were cold and trembling. "Ms. Ning, I’d like to return to my room and calm down." Ning Song Wu gently squeezed her hand, "Go ahead. This project ends here. Rest well for a few days." "Thank you, Ms. Ning." The girl hastily exited, leaving only the two seasoned practitioners, they exchanged glances and shared a wry smile. "Understandable, not fearing gods or demons but fearing human nature." Ning Song Wu’s tone shifted, "Why are you still here?" "Ah, I’m heading back tomorrow, trying to save some money." "Didn't you just extort ten thousand dollars? After donating nine thousand, you still have one thousand left. Isn’t that enough for a room?" Lin Xin Ran sprawled onto the bed, unconcerned about losing face. "…It’s really a shame Ran Fan Yin can’t see you like this." Picturing Ran Fan Yin, sweetly calling her "Lin sister" while obediently addressing her as "Ms. Ning," Ning Song Wu felt a headache coming. * The person who fled didn’t return to her room immediately but knocked on a door she had recently visited. The room’s owner, weakly answered the door, letting her in. "Fan Fan? What brings you here? The director said filming's canceled. I'm packing to head back, not even sure how to explain everything to my agent," He Xi lamented, head drooping. Ran Fan Yin dragged a chair beside the bed, sitting in the space, her gaze fixated on the beautiful eyes she admired. Different from hers, they were slender, accentuated further by makeup. "He Xi," her voice carried a chill, barely concealing its slight tremor, "is there something you wish to tell me?" "Fan Fan, what are you talking about? Do you have a secret to ward off my agent's incessant calls? Please share." "He Xi, regarding the events of the past few days, is there anything you'd like to disclose?" The normally smiling face turned serious, sending a chill down the spine of those who beheld it. "Fan Fan, what on earth are you talking about?" "The porcelain jar and why it always happens to find you." "..." He Xi, after a pause, moved slightly away before speaking again, "So, you've figured it out, Ran Fan Yin. Why even bother asking me then?" "I want to understand your reasons. Is it really for that elusive belief, the so-called borrowing of fortune? That was your child..." "That child was mine and my boyfriend's. But back then, we were still in college, entirely unprepared to raise a child. We had no choice but to let it go. It came back to haunt me with pain, so shouldn't I gain something from it?" The girl lowered her eyes, unwilling to look into the pair she once admired so much. Perhaps provoked by her action, He Xi rose swiftly, discarding her facade, her tone biting, "Ran Fan Yin, the heiress of Guang Yun, you could never comprehend the struggles we endure just to climb upward. With a mere gesture, your parents could establish a new entertainment company for you, ensuring a suitable role even if your skills fall short. But I have to parade my looks around, abase myself to fit into the market. Why do you have the right to question me?" Ran Fan Yin looked up, startled, at the girl whose eyes were now red with emotion. After a pause, she slowly responded, "So, that’s how you see me..." "Isn't it true? Am I wrong?" "You are, in many ways." Standing tall to meet He Xi’s gaze evenly, she spoke in a tempered voice, "I entered this industry anonymously, much like you, experiencing my own share of hardships. I, too, pondered altering my appearance. We are the same, which gives me the right to question you." The air became still for a moment before He Xi let out a cold laugh, slumped against the bedhead. "Then on what grounds are you questioning me? What do you hope to learn from this?" "I thought we were friends. I want to help you." "Fine, then provide me with money. It's wealth that allows one to live freely, Ran Fan Yin. We're different because when you fail, there's someone to catch you. I have no such safety net, nor will I ever." "So you turned to deceit?" "It was my one chance." Without further argument, Ran Fan Yin quietly repositioned the chair before leaving, severing all ties with He Xi. Not long after she departed, another tall figure knocked at He Xi's door. "Ms. Ning? This truly is a lively day for me. Are you here to stand up for Ran Fan Yin?" "Won't you invite me in?" Ning Song Wu slightly tilted her head, her long hair fluttering without wind, exuding an overwhelming presence. "No, thank you. It's too messy, I fear ridicule." "I insist on entering today." At some point, the iron fan she wielded found its point on He Xi's neck, forcing her back into the room's center. "Ms. Ning, your demeanor truly is... remarkable." "I'm not interested in you. However..." Ning Song Wu's eyes glimmered as she spotted what she came for—a porcelain jar, now shattered into pieces. "I'll be taking this jar." "You dare!" "I neither care to know nor pursue how you obtained that child, but if I catch wind of you dabbling in such dark arts again…" Within seconds, the broken ceramic disintegrated into dust, resting silently in Ning Song Wu's palm. "The consequence will be the same as its own. Do you understand?" She didn't even bother looking at He Xi while speaking, her gaze instead directed towards the window, where no presence could be discerned, though it might have been teeming with onlookers. The wind swept away leaves resting on the windowsill. *[No, you've truly lost it.]* *[Is this the strength of one who has reached the peak of the tribulation stage? With a mere flick, it feels as if I've been battered by a horde...]* *[No, I can do it too, I can't let you face it alone.]* *[But the modern memories, so few remain. Must I forget all those people completely?]* *[No matter, since there's no going back, holding onto the memories we share is enough.]*