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

### Chapter 117: Oh My, Someone Got Mad... 【!!!】 【Master!! Why are you leaving again!!】 【Master, you came all this way, why not wait for me?】 【Fine, I guess I'll have to try this.】 【After knowing those things, after realizing how much Master has sacrificed.】 【I can't remain so selfless anymore.】 【Is Master really not angry anymore?】 【What should I do... What can I do.】 The filming went smoothly the next day. Perhaps to make up for the sudden downpour yesterday, the light today was especially good, casting a gentle warmth on everyone, making people feel lazy and relaxed. After shooting all morning, they finally got a break. Ran Fan Yin moved her stiff wrist, gently swaying the silver sword in her hand, but before she could do much else, a warm hand pressed down on her wrist. "That's not how you do it. Follow me." Ning Song Wu took the sword from her hand, holding both swords in her left hand while using her right hand to guide Ran Fan Yin through a series of gentle, relaxing movements. After watching her perform several times, she handed the sword back. "Have you studied swordsmanship, Ning Teacher?" Ran Fan Yin had been amazed by her fluid and precise sword moves yesterday, and the curiosity lingered in her heart. Especially today, as Ning Song Wu helped her stretch her wrist, which felt particularly effective, her curiosity deepened. "Studied for a couple of days." Ning Song Wu smiled gently, casually spinning the sword with finesse. "Then why didn't you continue?" Ning Song Wu paused, a melancholy hint emerging as she softly uttered, "…Money." Ran Fan Yin assumed that Ning Song Wu's childhood was marked by financial struggles, preventing her from taking part in many extracurricular activities, and silently felt a pang of sympathy for her, though she didn't show it. Little did she know, Ning Song Wu had indeed learned swordsmanship for a few years as a child. But upon hearing that sword cultivators usually remain poor, she threw her iron sword into a lake overnight and switched to body cultivation, utilizing fans to aid her practice. Surely body cultivators couldn't be poorer than sword cultivators? Years of practice have refined her technique so that she now primarily uses fans to harness thunder techniques, seldom using her own hands. Nowadays, she exhibits such grace and allure, lacking the typical ferocity associated with body cultivators. This was Lin Xin Ran's evaluation. Anyway, if someone were to ask her now what the poorest cultivation path is, she would undoubtedly answer that pure-hearted sound cultivators such as Lin Xin Ran are the poorest, picking up people everywhere, and even her disciples are mostly musicians, with Qian Duoduo as an erhu player. Art students are really expensive, aren't they? Their instruments cost a fortune. Oh, right, just the other day, didn’t Lin Xin Ran mention a young disciple nearing a breakthrough? I wonder if she's prepared the necessary pills. She should spare some time to head southeast and procure some pills for this disciple and herself. Just thinking about it gives her a headache. And an aching wallet. After lunch, they were to shoot the last scene of the day, an action sequence. The senior sister ultimately betrays the sect, shedding her former white robes for gray, standing quietly on the mountaintop, resembling the elegant bamboo she once was, but with a changed core. It always stirs a sense of nostalgia. "Senior sister, why?" The junior sister climbed the hill with her long sword, standing not far behind her, filled with confusion but could only repeat one question: "Why?" "Not being from the immortal sect, how could one live here?" The senior sister turned around, the sunlight reflecting on her forehead, blindingly bright. "In that case, junior sister will have to offend you." "Come on." The senior sister raised her sword, darting forward. The junior sister closed her eyes, tears trailing down her cheeks, but her hands didn’t stop, raising her sword to meet her opponent, her voice trembling: "Can I still call you senior sister?" "…" "I think it's best if I don't." As dust rose, the camera finally froze on this scene. ... "Cut!" Fang Qing and the backstage crew all applauded, congratulating the finished scene. Amidst the scenic mountain setup, the person in gray stood quietly, frowning, while beside her, the person in mischievous red dared not move, afraid there had been a mistake during the scene, waiting silently for Ning Song Wu to speak. "Master, no one came, I'm afraid we've alerted the snake in the grass..." In her conscious sea, Xu Yue Ping's voice echoed softly. "What do you think?" "We've alerted the snake." This was a statement, as Ning Song Wu glanced at the still-silent girl, a sinking feeling in her chest. But she couldn’t let the girl know about this; after all, it's just speculation, and knowing it would only add unnecessary worry. She sighed inwardly, changed her expression to a gentle smile, returning to her usual demeanor as Ning Song Wu. "Why haven't you left yet?" "Seeing that Ning Teacher is still here, I was worried there was a problem with my performance, so I decided to wait." Ning Song Wu took her arm, helping each other down the fake mountain, meeting Fang Qing who was heading their way. "Oh wow, you two were really something! Especially you, little Ran; ever since you stopped fearing Ning Song Wu, you became so lively!" Fang Qing seemed to have a habit of enthusiastically patting people on the shoulder when excited, always hitting the same spot. Ran Fan Yin inhaled sharply, resisting the urge to clench her jaw. What’s wrong with this person? Thankfully, Fang Qing was so straightforward, she didn't bother with the small details. She patted Ning Song Wu’s shoulder, saying to both: "Want to grab a meal? Though it's a small production, we should still celebrate." "No, not today." Ning Song Wu smiled apologetically, "I have some urgent matters at home." "Oh, come on, you don't come around often. But for the Double Dreams wrap party, you must come!" "My treat." "Ha, I don't believe you." Fang Qing rolled her eyes at Ning Song Wu, hooking her arm around Ran Fan Yin, "Come on, little Ran, let’s go get some good food." "Sure, Director Fang." "Don’t call me Director Fang, call me sister." "…Sister Fang?" Those who hadn’t yet left could clearly hear this conversation, for it was impossible not to. Upon hearing the crisp "sister," Ning Song Wu’s already weary heart grew heavier. It felt like something was stuck in her chest, persisting even when she returned to the orphanage and sat down next to Lin Xin Ran, her face holding a blank expression. "What’s wrong with her?" Lin Xin Ran nudged Xu Yue Ping, who was resting beside her. "Not sure." "Weren’t you with her at the set?" Xu Yue Ping pondered a moment, "It seems like Ran Teacher called—" A silence charm sealed her lips. Putting away her phone, Ning Song Wu thought for a bit, then stood up to head to another room. "With Ran Fan Yin." Xu Yue Ping hesitated, "Go." "You little rascal." "Master..." Xu Yue Ping interrupted, glancing skyward at the clear day. But it could change quickly. To preserve this beautiful and cloudless view, she said, "Watch your words." She added, "I’m just saying, better safe than sorry." "…" Can she dig Jin Chen out of the ground? Although he’s no saint, at least his words weren’t so infuriating. "Compensation?" Xu Yue Ping tilted her head slightly, puzzled. Ning Song Wu gave her a price. Xu Yue Ping was stunned for a moment, murmuring, "Are people in the mainland really this foolish?" Ning Song Wu shot her a glare, feeling that if she stayed there any longer, she would faint from anger. Picking up her bag, she set off, leaving behind: "Only I'm foolish, okay?" Ning Song Wu didn’t really bring her over to be an assistant. Although Xu Yue Ping was actually thirty years old, she looked like a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, with a face so youthful it hardly seemed she had grown up in the desert; she didn’t want to be charged with hiring child labor or abusing someone with disabilities. She wanted to borrow Xu Yue Ping's "eyes." When they were at the supermarket, she was sure hardly anyone was around. Reviewing the surveillance later confirmed that there was no one. So how did they get photographed? Even though the picture didn’t spark too much controversy—since the parties involved openly stated it was simply a lesson from Ran Fan Yin—running into each other at a supermarket seemed plausible. Many even criticized the photographer for invading Ning and Ran's private lives, advising discretion lest karma bites back. But Ning Song Wu's instincts told her that something wasn't right. If a human didn’t take the picture, it could only be something unclean. Was the dinner incident the same? It felt like a warning to avoid seeing Ran Fan Yin. Was it a threat to her? But she's not afraid of this stuff. Yet, if it's aimed at Ran Fan Yin, what does she possess to incite such fear? Xu Yue Ping’s twin “eyes” could reveal the answers. So, she needed Xu Yue Ping's help. Although, if she could silence her as well, that'd be perfect. "Ning Master, don’t forget to pick me up." Behind her, Xu Yue Ping resumed sweeping, her tone calm. * Ran Fan Yin arrived early, sitting in the makeup room feeling a bit bored, so she opened Weibo for the first time in days. She posted a selfie, and this time the comments started piling up much faster, with some people even asking her to urge Ning Song Wu to update. Indeed, compared to her sporadic updates every few days, Ning Song Wu truly disliked posting on Weibo. It was rare for her to be online even once a fortnight. But what did that have to do with her? They were just collaborating. How was she supposed to urge Ning Song Wu? Though she also wanted to see Ning Song Wu's updates, she had been one of those waiting eagerly for her posts in the past. But now it wasn't necessary; she was going to see Ning Song Wu in person soon. There was no rush. After glancing at the comments, Miss Ran efficiently switched to her alternate account. Refreshing the homepage, she was shocked — an acquaintance from the fandom had taken the bait for "Ren Zhong Qiao Ran"! "Ren Zhong Ning Ran," the CP name for her and Ning Song Wu, as told by Li Ke Er. She felt somewhat... hopeless. What kind of taste is this? Who came up with that name? There weren’t many fans yet, but they had already created a slogan, quietly lying on her homepage at this moment — → "Stand tall, like Ning Ran.” What on earth is this! What kind of taste do you all have! With trembling hands, she commented: "Is this CP really worth shipping?" Within two seconds, her acquaintance from the fandom, replied very excitedly — It's worth it!!! What's worth it!? Ran Fan Yin closed her eyes in despair. "Miss Ran?" Ning Song Wu saw her from a distance, quickened her pace, and sat down beside her. “You’re early.” “Haha, couldn’t sleep well, so here I am.” Ran Fan Yin smiled genuinely. She glanced behind Ning Song Wu, seeing two girls following her — one older, seemingly her assistant, and the other looked fifteen or sixteen, dressed in sportswear with a high ponytail and bangs covering half of her forehead, giving off a heroic vibe thanks to the black eye mask embroidered with silver threads on her face. "Who might these be?" Ran Fan Yin asked. "This is my assistant, Yuan Qiao." Ning Song Wu introduced. The girl holding the bag nodded at Ran Fan Yin. "And this is Xu Yue Ping, a child of a friend of your sister Lin." Ning Song Wu emphasized “sister” heavily, her tone unfriendly. Miss Ran secretly laughed in her heart but maintained her composed expression, greeting, “Hello, Student Xu.” Xu Yue Ping tilted her head, pretending to have just turned her attention over, and warmly said, “Hello, Teacher Ran.” “Are you unable to see?” Ran Fan Yin asked cautiously. Xu Yue Ping slowly nodded. Pretending not to see anything is really tiring. Although she couldn’t see Ran Fan Yin’s specific facial features, she could make out the general outline — slightly taller than her, not as tall as Ning Song Wu, her face a tad rounder, and she had a nice figure. She had a general idea of her appearance. But Ning Song Wu had repeatedly instructed her on the way to act like a 15- or 16-year-old, not to slip up, because she wanted to maintain this ordinary persona for a little longer. She’s over six hundred years old, really childish. “Oh, so diligent... Are you here to have fun?” “Mm, Aunt Lin said Aunt Ning has work today, which is interesting, so I came to see...” Xu Yue Ping made an effort to slow down her speech, and Ran Fan Yin attributed this to the child’s lack of social experience, feeling even more sympathetic for her. Ning Song Wu almost couldn’t hold back, waved a hand, “Xu Yue Ping, go have some fun.” The young girl tilted her head, “Okay,” and turned, leaving with the help of a cane. As she brushed past the makeup artist and stylist, perhaps the directness in her posture drew their eyes to the eyepatch over her eyes. A blind person who could carry themselves with such poise — quite impressive. Reaching a secluded area, Xu Yue Ping finally relaxed, taking a deep breath before casually leaping onto the rooftop. Pretending was truly tiring; she couldn’t fathom how Ning Song Wu managed so many years. She exhaled again, sitting cross-legged, awaiting her target’s appearance. She sensed that “being.” * The styling wasn't complicated. A gauzy outfit glimmering subtly and her hair pulled into two strands that hooked onto a headband. Ning Song Wu’s hair was both long and abundant, reaching her waist, whereas Ran Fan Yin needed several extensions to achieve the look. "Ning Teacher’s hair remains enviable,” the stylist praised without holding back, admiring the perfect texture she was running through her fingers. “Ran Teacher’s hair isn’t sparse either, just a bit short, not reaching the waist. A few extensions should do the trick.” Ran Fan Yin gave a shy smile, “I had it cut last year for a role needing shoulder-length hair. It’s taken a whole year to grow back to here, my hair grows so slowly.” She turned to see Ning Song Wu standing in the light, having her outfit adjusted. Sensing Ran Fan Yin’s gaze, she turned, gracing her with a gentle smile. Just like her character’s elder sister in the script. As the stylist declared she was ready, Ran Fan Yin bounced over, hands behind her back, fingers interlocked, eyes slightly squinted, “Elder Sister, do I look good?” Ning Song Wu, or rather, her character, placed a hand on her head, sliding it down to her cheek and pinched lightly, “Beautiful.” They were in character. Initially, the scenes involved the elder sister teaching the young apprentice. Ran Fan Yin moved a small stool next to Fang Qing, resting her chin in her hands as she watched the monitor. Fang Qing glanced at her, “Much better than online, less scared now?” “No longer afraid, Ning Teacher is human after all, nothing to fear.” “Ah! That’s correct!” The material was thin, and with Fang Qing’s vigorous pat, Ran Fan Yin felt her shoulders nearly bruising. “Ning Song Wu’s true brilliance lies in more than just her stellar acting. She elevates her co-actors without overshadowing them, ensuring scenes flow smoothly.” Fang Qing remarked, “I love collaborating with her; filming progresses without a hitch.” “Doesn’t that hinder her full potential?” “Young lady, remember, filming is a cooperative art.” Fang Qing pointed at the monitor showing two figures tall and short, “If Ning Song Wu only focused on showcasing her skills, the scene would fall apart.” Ran Fan Yin tugged her lips slightly, amused by his choice of words. Fang Qing ignored her discreet reactions and continued, “Say she doesn’t tone it down, that young co-star would surely come off stiff. Sure, she nailed it, but the opposite becomes a wooden plank. Does that make the scene appealing?” Ning Song Wu was willing to dull her brilliance for the sake of achieving the best visual effect? No wonder she didn’t recall many unleashing performances from Ning Song Wu. There was this one modern drama with a scene by the river where she went wild in a soliloquy — no partner actor, she could let loose her strengths, producing an astonishing outcome. That scene dominated the year’s opening to the close, but due to genre constraints, it wasn’t entered for awards. Indeed. Ning Song Wu seemed disinterested in award-chasing films. She favored wuxia and xianxia tales, preferred grounded modern dramas, never submitting award-worthy works, resulting in fewer accolades over the years. Her agent didn’t push her either. Truly intriguing. She was absorbed in her musings when the director announced, “Hold on, hold on.” Xu Yue Ping silently gestured, sending a thought simultaneously to their minds, “It happened after Ran Teacher called Director Fang ‘sister,’ and she became like this.” So many precautions, yet this route went unguarded! Ning Song Wu felt a pang in her chest, clutching it, leaning against the couch. She blocked out her hearing, only lifting the curse after Lin Xin Ran had laughed fully, murmuring, “What’s so funny?” “Nothing, just thinking the thousand-year iron tree might bloom, curious spectacle.” “Can you stop misusing phrases?” Before they delved deeply into whether pursuing Miss Ran Fan Yin was feasible or worthwhile, Xu Yue Ping broke free from the silence spell, interrupting them. “My dear masters, today you are supposed to figure out who's behind the mess.” “Oh, right.” Lin, the mother of Ran Fan Yin's biggest fan, Xin Ran, settled back into her seat, arms crossed, casting a dissatisfied glare at Ning Song Wu, “So, what’s been happening?” “First, there were the two snapping incidents. The first time we chose a restaurant corner, quite unlikely to be photographed, but not impossible. The second at the supermarket, where I’m certain no cameras were around, and Xu Yue Ping’s subsequent findings confirmed covert scheming.” Xu Yue Ping opened her hand, revealing a broken camera resting silently within. “Second, there was the He Xi incident, experienced jointly with my senior sister. My biggest question is, how did the ceramic bottle break, releasing the little demon? We overlooked this entirely then.” “Indeed…” Lin Xin Ran mumbled, “At that time, I assumed it was just a foundation or golden core little demon, insignificant, so I didn’t dwell on it. Now it does seem suspicious.” “But there’s no connection here,” Ning Song Wu laid out the encountered incidents, only noting that they all involved minor low-level demons without discernible connections. Given that these were all low-level monsters, it suggested a series of targeted assaults directed specifically at Ran Fan Yin. Unfortunately, she had allowed important clues to slip away. Feeling a headache coming on, Ning Song Wu sensed that she was overlooking something crucial, yet it eluded her. If her momentary delay led to any harm befalling that lovely young girl... an inexplicable anger flared within her, simmering into a restless agitation. "Could it be related to that familiar aura that we both recall but can't place exactly?" "I searched my memories for that aura, but I can't pin it down." Both of them instinctively turned their attention to the usually silent Xu Yue Ping, who simply curved her lips and said, "This time, I genuinely don’t know." Due to their intervention, Ran Fan Yin’s paths had gotten very chaotic. She was just a novice in the path of fate cultivation, unable to comprehend such complex trajectories—she could only see the ends. Frankly, it was all just a headache to look at. Moreover, there were certain things that couldn’t be voiced, for to voice them would risk making them real... She didn’t want certain things to be realized in the life of that chubby, adorable little girl. "You’ve come this far, keep trying a bit harder," Xu Yue Ping said, leaving the room under their watchful stares, not looking back. Staying would risk another bout of lightning striking her tonight. "This is truly baffling," Ning Song Wu sighed, feeling restless. Lin Xin Ran kicked her lightly, "Aren't you supposed to film with her for several months now? Pay attention and protect my dear daughter, got it?" Ning Song Wu shot her a glare, feeling that Lin Xin Ran's heart was not only black but now worse, tilting heavily. Who was truly supposed to be closer to her here? Regardless, The clandestine photographs, the posting, the sabotage... And... She suddenly realized a crucial point—Ning Song Wu, your heart is indeed unsettled. But she couldn't drag an ordinary person into her perilous fate. She possessed an innately dangerous destiny, so perilous that heaven once commanded her to practice the Path of Detachment to safeguard herself and those around her. Though reluctant, she has always kept a certain distance from others. Now, allowing Ran Fan Yin to step into this was unpredictable. She rubbed her temples, quite troubled by the situation. At that moment, timely notification sounds rang twice: she hesitated, then decided to set the device aside, intentionally maintaining some distance. 【Faced with dragons, there's no point in hiding anything, otherwise if they get mad, the one who can't handle it would only be me.】 【Impossible...】 【But sometimes, the tacit understanding does indeed transcend common perception.】 【So... is it real? No way...】 【Not like this, not like this aaaaah.】 "Ah, are you panicking? Don’t panic! It might not be true, could just be my guess. Don’t panic." The site promises no pop-up ads, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)