After My Thoughts Were Read, My Master Led Me to Change My Fate - Chapter 47.1

They had agreed not to leave the house, but after only a few days, Ning Songwu sneaked out.

A gentle gaze followed her, watching her leave without even taking Vermilion, and the watcher gave a wry smile.

This little girl promised not to leave the house for these few days, yet she went out anyway.

Ning Songwu didn’t go anywhere else on her journey. She peeked her head out stealthily at the Washing Stream Peak, looked around, and, not seeing the person she was looking for, concealed her aura and was about to run off when a cold body pressed against her from behind.

The softness resting on her shoulder announced the identity of the newcomer.

“What is Junior Sister Ning doing on our peak again? That little fox is in secluded cultivation, you know.” Su Ye’s voice was as cool as her body temperature.

Ning Songwu quietly shifted her body, escaping the side of the mountain and the woman’s embrace, shrugging her shoulders.

She is a respectable young woman; she can’t always be teased.

Su Ye playfully chastised, “In the height of summer, my little ice block won’t even let her big sister hug her?”

Ning Songwu shook her head faster than a rattle drum, and as she shook her head, she didn’t forget to ask, “I’m looking for Elder He Lan. Is she not here today?”

“My Master? My Master is hiding out in the back mountain pavilion, enjoying the coolness. Shall big sister take you there?”

Su Ye strolled out from behind the mountain. Only then did Ning Songwu see her trailing a long grey-striped tail, comfortably coiled around the rock where she had just been standing.

With just that glance, cold sweat spread across her palms. Summer felt several degrees colder than winter.

Ning Songwu suppressed a shiver, her voice trembling, “Thank you, Senior Sister, I’ll go by myself.”

He Lan Mianmian was reading in the back mountain pavilion. Seeing Ning Songwu approach, she was about to wave but, with a sharp glance, saw the little one’s pale face and asked in surprise, “What happened?”

“Nothing.” Ning Songwu shook her head and took out a few storybooks from her embrace. “Aunt-Master, I’ve finished editing them all. Would you take a look?”

She had taken out the storybooks He Lan had written in her spare time. It was through these books, which shared her very similar hobbies, that she confirmed that the CP she shipped must be real. If Elder He Lan didn’t have feelings for the Sect Master, she would write her name backward!

The two had connected during the late spring cold. Ning Songwu racked her brain, wondering what else she could do to mitigate the torment that cold weather and sickness inflicted on Ran Fanyin. When she was at a loss, she suddenly thought of the talisman arrays drawn on the robes.

If she learned these, she could draw them on time for each season and solar term, and she could also design more patterns—both aesthetically pleasing and practical.

And the person most skilled at drawing talisman arrays in the sect was the Peak Master of Washing Stream Peak.

Ning Songwu went to find Elder He Lan with a heavy heart, only to happen upon the Elder shaking her head and telling stories to her senior disciple. Listening closely…

…It was a lesbian story?!

No wonder Senior Sister Su Ye… doesn’t look straight…

She couldn’t leave, but staying felt somewhat awkward. Out of necessity, she steeled herself and broke the peaceful silence.

And so, by a strange twist of fate, she was roped in to be He Lan Mianmian’s editor. Fortunately, Elder He Lan’s writing was quite good, and the plot logic was reasonable. Her job as editor was a leisurely one—an opportunity to read ahead and correct typos—which, in turn, allowed her to study talisman arrays with the Elder.

It was truly a bargain.

He Lan smiled as she took the two books, patted them lovingly, and asked, “Wasn’t my Senior Sister aware, was she?”

Ning Songwu obediently shook her head.

“That’s good, that’s good. If Senior Sister saw, she would definitely say I’m neglecting my duties. Just right, how is your calligraphy practice coming along?”

Studying talisman arrays first requires extremely strong brush control, and practicing good calligraphy is the best way to train that.

Ning Songwu took out the scriptures she had copied in recent days. He Lan Mianmian bit her lip as she looked at them, shaking her head. “No good, you need to practice more. The brushstroke lacks strength, and the application is too dull. Why are you still so obedient and hesitant even when writing?”

“You go back and practice. I don’t have any more books for you to edit here. The one you wanted to read, New Rain on Empty Mountain, was borrowed by Sect Master Senior Sister and hasn’t been returned yet. Wait a little longer.”

Ning Songwu regretted, “Alright. How long do I need to practice this time before submitting my homework?”

He Lan looked at her with deep meaning and said, “Until you stop hesitating and being overly cautious.”

This practice lasted through summer, autumn, winter, and spring. Even when her cultivation was close to the Golden Core stage, her calligraphy still had not received a passing grade.

[So annoying. Doesn’t she understand etiquette? Why interrupt.]

[…This is certainly expected.]

[Why does Master explain everything in such detail? It feels… more like she’s trying to comfort me.]

[Is it just my imagination?]

[Yes, I’m scared, very scared.]

But even if she hasn’t grown up to be like Mother, a Senior Sister who grew up under such strict requirements is practically the most rigorous and upright person on this peak. I truly can’t imagine how Little Ning’er could have had an opportunity to strike.

She likes women, is provoked by a woman like this, and is provoked daily, yet she can’t flirt back.

She has already planned the character and content for the next volume of the storybook.

So heart-wrenching, so tragic, so pitiful.

Su Ye couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the sight of the person next to her, looking so utterly heartbroken.

So self-absorbed. Who wants to cross several hundred years of age to like you two.

Su Ye only likes ice blocks, always has.

The woman’s vertical pupils scanned around, her snake tongue flicked out, and she whispered, “Master, you analyze others with such relish, when will you analyze yourself? You and…”

“Alright, they’ve left. No need to watch, shut up, shut up.”

The cat put its paws behind its back, the cat sighed, the cat shook its head and left in the manner of an old man.

Ran Fanyin chasing Ning Songwu wasn’t entirely because the little girl was crying.

Who hasn’t been through something like that? When she was a little girl, didn’t she also hide in the back mountain with Mianmian every now and then to cry, only to be dragged out by her mother to continue cultivating and training afterward? It didn’t hold them back.

However, Ning Songwu’s cultivation had been slowly creeping up for the past six months and was now suppressed at the edge of the Golden Core stage for nearly a month. Ran Fanyin had originally planned, once spring wasn’t so cold, to take her disciple down the mountain to look for medicinal herbs needed for her breakthrough—some materials specifically required by her celestial-grade Spirit Root.

No time like the present. When she received Mianmian’s message, she thought it would be excellent to take the little bunny, whose eyes were still red, down the mountain to relax a little.

Seeing the little girl holding a veiled hat, which she must have bought at some point, looking adorable, wanting to say something yet hesitating and daring not to, Ran Fanyin could no longer suppress her smile, the corners of her eyes curving upwards.

“What is this for?” She reached out and took the veiled hat, measuring it roughly.

Hmm, it must be for her.

“I read in some books and storybooks that you should cover yourself when going out,” Ning Songwu said quietly, secretly glancing at her beautiful Master.

The hand holding the edge of the veiled hat stiffened.

Storybooks, more storybooks.

She’s not old, yet she reads so much.

A sudden surge of annoyance blocked her chest, and she looked at the veiled hat with a bit of displeasure.

[Especially since Feng Hua is here and this plot point has been brought forward. What about the others? For example, the campaign where Master was severely wounded—will that also be brought forward.]

[If it is brought forward, then it would be… nearly ten years earlier. How can I not be worried.]

[Master, right now… I only have you. I must change this. I must save you.]

And after traveling for some time, she truly and clearly heard a scream from the mind-voice. After that, she could not hear a single thought. Neither the jade pendant nor the bracelet could contact Ning Songwu at all. It was as if… as if…

Ran Fanyin fiercely cursed herself several times in her heart, scolding herself for being an ill-omened jinx who was thinking nonsense. She suppressed all negative thoughts and galloped furiously westward, only hoping to reach the location as soon as possible.

Ning Songwu is a Pseudo-Spirit. The descendants of these divine beasts in the mortal world would give her face, so how could they not give Ning Songwu face? How could they possibly harm her? It definitely won’t happen. It certainly won’t happen. It definitely won’t happen…

It absolutely, absolutely won’t happen.

Now, she utterly regretted it.

What if that child always puts her own life last? I can teach her. I can guide her. The two of us have many more years to live together. Why quibble over a moment’s disagreement? Why be unnecessarily angry, only to end up with this result.

No matter what happens, I will hate myself to death.

Ran Fanyin sighed heavily.

Both of them have already suffered from the consequences of not speaking up. Why haven’t they learned their lesson!

By the time she reached Cang City in the Western Territory, the sky was just faintly beginning to lighten. At the entrance to the mountain pass, there seemed to be a team of cultivators preparing to enter the mountains.

Ran Fanyin distinguished them for a moment, recognizing them as the Azure Spirit Sect from the foot of Cangxuan Mountain. She lowered her cloud, preparing to ask for the shortcut up the mountain to the White Marsh Cave. However, before she could land, she heard the fragments of conversation from the leader—

“That avalanche on the mountain in the evening was very strange. Why was it so close to the White Marsh Cave?”

“Who knows? Maybe that one has woken up. In any case, let’s go up the mountain to save people.”

“Sigh, we repeatedly warned these ordinary folks not to go near that place. Why won’t they just listen? Forget it, we have a responsibility to bear here.”

Ran Fanyin stumbled two steps upon landing. Under the surprised gazes of the crowd, she forced herself to appear calm and walked up to the leader. “I am Ran Fanyin of the Cloud Ascent Sect. May I ask where the quickest route to the White Marsh Cave is located?”

The leader could not fail to recognize her. Being approached so suddenly, his tongue completely tied itself in a knot. He stammered, “I am of the Azure Spirit Sect… Ah, you are asking about the White Marsh Cave? For cultivators, head northwest. It’s on the shaded side after you cross the highest mountain.”

Ran Fanyin cupped her hands to express her gratitude. She had already taken a large stride away when she retreated and asked, “Has your Excellency seen a woman in green robes, slightly taller than I am, ascend the mountain? Her cultivation is roughly at the Soul Transformation stage.”

The man shook his head. “No, I have not.”

Ran Fanyin sighed heavily in her heart. After expressing her thanks, she once again ascended the cloud and flew toward the location of the White Marsh Cave they had just discussed. All the while, she repeatedly channeled her spiritual energy into the jade pendant, hoping to establish even the slightest connection.

None.

It was as if she had vanished into thin air.

Although the Soul Transformation stage cultivation wasn’t very high, it shouldn’t be negligible in front of the White Marsh. Moreover, even Vermilion, with its fiery temper, hadn’t immediately said it would eliminate her. The White Marsh lives year-round with ice and snow. How could it directly attack such a pure Ice Spirit Root?

Ran Fanyin forced herself to calm down, quickly realizing another possibility. ④

Hadn’t that group just mentioned an avalanche near the White Marsh Cave? Perhaps she had passed out during a fight and was buried under the snow.

That would be relatively simple.

An avalanche would be quite obvious. Conveniently, the team rushing toward the mountain was also coming to rescue people. Ran Fanyin clenched her silver teeth and stopped steadily above the White Marsh Cave. With a flash of light in her hand, she summoned the Warm Sun Sword, and the Fire Phoenix behind her began to gradually take shape.

Digging people out was unrealistic, but she could raise all the snow, revealing those buried beneath. She would surely find the person she was looking for.

The night sky was clear, and the moon, reflecting off the snow of Cangxuan Mountain, was not as bright as the night sky itself. The dazzling light brought by the Fire Phoenix completely illuminated the entire northwest slope.

“Oh my goodness, what are you doing…” At the peak of Cangxuan Mountain, a colossal snow-white beast looked up at the old friend gradually outlined by sword intent in the sky, unable to stop swallowing. It lightly stepped on the ground and soared into the sky, confronting the Fire Phoenix.

When she reached the clouds, she transformed into a completely snow-white maiden, her long gauze falling to the ground, looking exceptionally dignified, though her speech was quite casual… very casual.

“Heavens, little Immortal, what are you trying to do?” The maiden’s eyes widened in shock. “I’ve never stopped your Azure Spirit Sect from coming to rescue people, even if it disturbs my sleep! What is this for? Heavens, you aren’t thinking of flattening Cangxuan Mountain, are you? Hey, there are tens of thousands of common folk in Cang City below. Calm down.”

The maiden waved her hands and feet, dragging her white gauze as she spoke. Ran Fanyin couldn’t help but furrow her brows, but a divine beast that appeared so casual probably wouldn’t make things too difficult for Ning Songwu…

She slowly sighed, trying to explain, “I am Ran Fanyin of the Cloud Ascent Sect. I have come to search for someone.”

The White Marsh raised an eyebrow. “Looking for a little Ice Spirit Root cultivator?”

After receiving an affirmative answer, even the divine beast herself felt somewhat helpless, lightly pressing her hand to her forehead. “Then why couldn’t you just come and ask me?”

If the divine beast had this attitude, then it was likely that nothing serious had happened.

Ran Fanyin breathed a sigh of relief and asked, “Excuse me, where is that little cultivator now?”

The maiden patted her stomach. “I ate her.”

She said it with exceptional frankness, as casually as if she had just eaten a midnight snack.

“…” The air fell silent for a moment. The Fire Bird behind Ran Fanyin instantly brightened significantly, and the flames that were awakening the spiritual consciousness of the sword intent were just about to drip into its eyes.

The White Marsh was startled by this incredible decisiveness, retreating two steps in horror, waving her hand quickly. “No, no, no! I was joking! Why are you little Immortals so unable to take a joke!”

This fluctuation of spiritual energy, combined with Ran Fanyin’s already chaotic spiritual energy, caused an unpleasant internal sensation, even a slight dizziness. But she forcefully endured it and asked again, “So, where is the little cultivator?”

The White Marsh resigned herself. “Follow me.”