After My Thoughts Were Read, My Master Led Me to Change My Fate - Chapter 42.1

No one could dislike such a pair of eyes.

Ah Xin chose a small path. The three walked and chatted along the way. Mostly, it was Ran Fanyin who engaged him in conversation, subtly extracting quite a bit of information, such as the fact that his village was located at the foot of the mountain, named Huarong Village, which borrowed the name of Moonflower Mountain to pray for safety for the village.

Ran Fanyin: “Is Huarong Village close to Yueping Town? I wonder if you know about the Immortal Master’s conversion in Yueping Town these past few days?”

Ah Xin chuckled and replied, “To be honest, Miss, that Immortal Master came to our village a long time ago. Don’t underestimate him; he truly has some capability.”

“Really? What exactly did he do?”

“Since you’ve come all the way to Moonflower Mountain, you won’t be able to avoid Yueping Town on your way back. Why don’t you go take a look yourself? I, an old man, can’t explain it clearly.”

Ran Fanyin coughed quietly a few times, her white veil trembling slightly. Only then did she respond softly with an affirmation.

Ning Songwu, walking beside her, tightened her grip on the sleeve she was holding. She silently mobilized her spiritual energy, controlling the temperature around the two of them.

Ran Fanyin curved her lips into a smile. Little dummy, can’t you tell I’m acting?

Sure enough, Ah Xin was silent for a long time, then asked, “Miss, are you unwell? Why travel so far if you’re not feeling well?”

This time, she didn’t need to reply. Ning Songwu responded, “I was too clumsy. We originally planned to admire the rumored sea of flowers, but I led us astray. We ended up taking so many unnecessary detours.”

“That makes sense. Judging by your attire, you must be young women from a wealthy family? Next time you go out, it’s better to bring some guards or servants. It would be bad if you encountered those monsters from the deep mountains this time.”

Ran Fanyin was surprised, “There are monsters here? Not just wolves, tigers, and leopards?”

“Alas, no. To be honest, our village lost many people to those monsters before. Later, the Immortal Master appeared, invited the spirits to protect us, and also…” Ah Xin shook his head, his voice abruptly stopping, as if he had hit some kind of restriction, and suddenly cut off.

After a moment of silence, he spoke again, “We’ve reached the outside of the mountain. I, an old man, still have herbs to gather. The two young women should leave on your own. Be sure not to get lost again. The sky is getting dark, and the monsters will become more active.”

Ning Songwu nodded, said “Alright,” and did not intend to press further.

The surrounding spiritual energy fluctuations had indeed changed. Quietly, they had been led out of the barrier by a cultivator who seemed unable to utilize the spiritual energy within his body.

No spell was used.

Ah Xin looked at the two—especially the mature woman with the veil—hesitated for a long time, and finally turned and left, his steps somewhat slow.

As if he wanted to warn the two of something.

Not until his figure disappeared into the distance did Ning Songwu ask in a low voice, “Is Master still uncomfortable? Was it affected by the cold and gloominess just now?”

Ran Fanyin smiled. Though helpless, strands of warmth born from this feeling tightly clung to her. The temperature of her palm rose slightly. She reached out and held the hand that had only been gripping her sleeve, saying warmly, “See, it’s very warm. No need to worry.”

“That’s good.” Ning Songwu breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did she bring the conversation back on track: “According to Ah Xin, Huarong Village seems to have undergone the so-called Immortal Master’s conversion, but I don’t know why he was unwilling to say more. Master, is there such a thing as a verbal restriction?”

“Yes, but he shouldn’t have been subjected to it. He simply didn’t want to say, rather than being unable to say.” Ran Fanyin said, raising her hand to tap the girl’s forehead a few times, and said with a smile, “Try shouting my name now?”

The girl tried to open her mouth but couldn’t make a sound.

“That’s what being placed under a restriction is like. He shouldn’t have one.” Ran Fanyin smiled, lifted the restriction, and rubbed the girl’s head.

Elder Ran continued, “However, we can’t yet say whether this Immortal Master’s conversion is a good or bad thing. According to Ah Xin, there seems to be a problem with the barrier here. Demonic beasts affected Huarong Village’s normal life. The Immortal Master must have done something, helped Huarong Village, and also taken something in return.”

Ning Songwu pondered for a moment and asked, “Master, is Yueping Town where Lin Yuxue registered her hometown?”

Ran Fanyin nodded, her white veil swaying slightly.

Thinking of this, Ning Songwu looked up and said in a deep voice, “Master, let’s go to Huarong Village and take a look.”

“I had the same intention.” Ran Fanyin controlled the urge to stroke her disciple’s head, replying warmly, and squeezed Ning Songwu’s hand, “Still as sisters?”

Ning Songwu blushed and said softly, “Apologies, Master, I was presumptuous.”

“I was the one who suggested it, not you. So it’s settled.”

“…Yes, Master.”

In order not to attract attention, and because the village was not far from here, the two simply walked over. By the time they reached Huarong Village, the sky was already half dark. A few children were playing kickstones at the village entrance.

A stone rolled over and finally stopped at Ning Songwu’s feet. She paused, then gently kicked it back.

The little girl who had accidentally kicked the stone over ran up, stopped her stone, and said loudly to her friends behind her, “I didn’t kick it away. You can’t punish me.”

She then turned around and said in a soft voice, “Thank you, beautiful… Big Sister…”

She blinked, then blinked again, and sighed softly, “Wow, you’re so beautiful.”

Ning Songwu smiled, crouched down, and patted the little girl’s head, “Are you praising me?”

Ran Fanyin looked down at her back, watched for a while, and then looked away.

“I can’t see the other Big Sister because she’s covering her face…” The little girl tugged at the corner of her clothes.

Not far away, the friends playing together urged, “Xiao Tao, what are you doing? Hurry up and come over, or kick the stone over here.”

“Coming soon. There’s a beautiful Big Sister here. I’m coming right away.” Xiao Tao twisted her body in response, her head half-turned, seemingly reluctant to look away from the person in front of her.

“What beautiful Big Sister?” The few children ran over and sighed in unison.

Ning Songwu was embarrassed and touched her face.

I’m not that beautiful, am I…

She was almost embarrassed by all the staring.

Ning Songwu gently coughed twice, trying to soften her voice as she asked, “Is your name Xiao Tao? Where are your mother and father?”

“You, do you need something?”

Ran Fanyin took a step forward and asked warmly, “Little friend, can you take us to visit your mother and father?”

If the voice of the green-robed sister sounded pleasant, this purple-robed sister spoke even more gently, like… like the most beautiful sister in town!

Xiao Tao licked her lower lip and tried hard to nod, “Okay, I’ll take you.”

“You guys keep playing. I’ll be right back!”

Xiao Tao’s house was not far from the village entrance. From a distance, they could see two people sitting at the doorway to cool off.

【Two years from Qi Induction to Late Golden Core. Even a peerless genius wouldn’t be as fast as you. Moreover, the evil cultivator has already been discovered. Isn’t this a bit too blatant?】

【She’s too anxious. What is she trying to do?】

【I understand love at first sight, but Luo Sheng, aren’t you a bit too attached to Liu Ruoying? Why exactly? How did the emotions in this pair even begin?!!】

【How did this stinky, arrogant fox become the Demon King?! Does she deserve it!!】

【Elder He Lan is too amazing. Two years ago, she was a block of wood. Now she’s skilled enough at acting cheap to be begging for a beating. She really knows how to raise disciples.】

【Ah, Master’s voice is so moving every time I hear it.】

【Killing intent, how do I bring out killing intent…】

【Master, everything we’re doing is useful. Some things have truly been changed.】

【I’ll try harder. I can definitely change your ending, right?】

【Oh, absolutely!】 “Have you ever thought that now she can’t even introduce you to others? If you go to the inner sect, your relationship will be even more…”

A cold glare abruptly interrupted Qin Siyue’s words. Those eyes, originally devoid of much emotion, were already frightening when they cooled slightly. Now, they carried an extremely deep chill, the chill of resentment towards that previous sentence.

Well, fine, I won’t advise anymore.

Qin Siyue rubbed her forehead slightly, “It’s been so long. Don’t you understand her yet? Is she truly angry about this? If you ask me, why don’t you go to the inner sect for a few days and let her calm down too…”

“I won’t go.” The girl’s attitude this time was exceptionally decisive, her voice so firm that Qin Siyue couldn’t help but question herself.

Was she really wrong?

Although she didn’t know what had happened, she understood Ran Fanyin. If that person were truly angry, how could she still leave Ning Songwu with the option to go to the inner sect? She probably wouldn’t let this person see the light of day again on the spot.

Usually, when such a fallback is left, what she wants is to separate and calm down, primarily to calm down her own emotions.

…How should I put it?

Two women with steel bars locking their mouths.

Qin Siyue sighed again, but when she recalled how Lan Yue had repeatedly told her before she left the gate how pitiful this child was for being drenched in heavy rain for two days, her not-so-kind healer’s heart couldn’t just ignore it.

It was as if Lan Yue was saying that if Qin Siyue didn’t handle it, she would personally go to Zhaomu Peak and meddle in this business.

Forget it, just rest well.

But no matter what she said, why was this child so unmoved, so stubbornly defiant?

The Master and disciple were truly cut from the same cloth.

For a moment, she even wanted to tell this child some of the truth. Maybe… she would leave.

It was clearly difficult. This child’s dependence and trust in Ran Fanyin had reached an extreme level.

After much deliberation, she decided to probe again, to let this young girl understand Ran Fanyin’s “good intentions,” and stop kneeling here like a fool.

Sure enough, Ning Songwu fell into contemplation after hearing her. After a long time: “Elder, I have one more thing I want to ask.”

“Ask away.” Being able to ask questions was a good sign.

“Master has internal injuries, and she won’t let me help. The Nurturing Heart Lotus is almost used up. Are there any other medicinal herbs available?” The girl’s eyes suddenly lit up, burning like fire, as if she had finally found a reason to stand up.

“Come, open your mouth.”

Finding a moment of leisure, Ran Fanyin devoted herself to nurturing her own little dog pup, who had just been led to take human form by the troublemaking cat. She even cultivated a sense of warmth, as evidenced at this very moment.

He Lan Mianmian was sitting on the side, eating. Just as she put a piece of vegetable in her bowl with the tip of her chopstick, she looked up and saw her Senior Sister in loose white robes today, her hair also casually draped. She was wearing a gentle smile and feeding the little dog pup.

The little three-headed figure was so happy that the fluffy tips of its ears on the top of its head were trembling. The fluffy tail behind it swayed back and forth, extremely pleased with itself. It was also obviously meticulously dressed. Its two legs, clad in little floral clothing, dangled from the chair, swinging back and forth.

“Truly an embarrassment to our Fiend Clan,” He Lan Mianmian muttered softly, poking the food in front of her bowl with dissatisfaction.

After much thought, she couldn’t tolerate it anymore. She straightened up and said with discontent, “Senior Sister, you’re practically spoiling Little Five rotten! How can she learn to be a human and integrate into society like this?”

Ran Fanyin slowly turned to look at her, scoffing lightly, “Who was it who insisted on lying in my arms before she would eat?”

He Lan lowered her head, expressing her dissatisfaction with muffled grumbles.

Ran Fanyin smiled helplessly, patted the little fellow’s back, and said warmly, “You eat by yourself first. Master will talk to Elder He Lan for a while.”

With that, she looked at the soft, whimpering little cat, reached out and tugged on her cat ears, “I’m talking about you, the troublemaking cat who only allows the officials to commit arson but forbids the common people from lighting lamps.”

“Besides, our Little Five now has a new name. You’re not allowed to call her Little Five anymore.”

“Tch.” He Lan expressed her disdain very quietly.

Isn’t it just because a certain Little Wu made her angry and won’t be easily coaxed? Now she won’t let us call her Little Five. Why didn’t she do that a few days ago?

However, the new name, Ran Rujin, was indeed pleasant to hear. Her Senior Sister now had one more person with whom she shared a close relationship. Logically, she should be happy.

But it just felt like watching two childish people sulking.

Qin Siyue walked in gracefully at this moment. He Lan saw who it was and greeted her with a smile, inviting her to eat.

Qin Siyue sat down, glanced at the dishes on the table, and said warmly, “Someone is missing from this table.”

Ran Fanyin lowered her gaze slightly, replying casually, “If she enjoys kneeling, then let her kneel.”

“You wouldn’t let her in even if she weren’t kneeling, would you?”

Qin Siyue smiled, teasing, “However, it doesn’t matter. She’s not kneeling anymore.”

He Lan’s hand, holding the chopsticks, stiffened, “Did you persuade Ning’er to go to the inner sect?”

“You’re not allowed to call her…”

“Senior Sister! Is that the main point? If she really goes to the inner sect, she’ll have to go through a long application process to come to the Elder Peak in the future. You…”

Qin Siyue said calmly, “She didn’t go to the inner sect. She went west to Cangcheng to pick the Cangshan Snow Lotus.”

The half-breath He Lan Mianmian had just released and inhaled was fiercely sucked back in, “She went to pick what?”

“Cangshan Snow Lotus,” Qin Siyue repeated.

“The Cangcheng that is guarded by the divine beast Bai Ze? No, Senior Sister Qin, you…”

Ran Fanyin spoke faintly at this moment, saying warmly, “If she is willing to go, then let her go.” She paused and said, “Rujin, eat by yourself.”

With that, she stood up and left the table—although to the onlookers, it seemed more like an escape. She just tried her best to steady her steps.

She gently closed the door, blocking the intense discussion outside about whether the Snow Lotus should be picked. She lowered her gaze slightly, her lower eyelashes already a little damp.

She likes courting death, does she? She likes taking risks, does she?

【Why is the plot speeding up so much?】

【How can it speed up like this!】

【There are so many scenes in this part of the plot, but after much thought, it can be summarized in one sentence…】

【…So annoying. What’s so funny about this?】

【If I do better, can I make her look at me more?】

【She’s smiling at me, humph.】

【Let everyone be envious.】

Ran Fanyin’s smile grew wider.