After My Thoughts Were Read, My Master Led Me to Change My Fate - Chapter 50.2

All the questions since entering the illusion were answered in this instant. The woman, hidden within the body of her past self, let out a sigh of relief.

So that’s how it is.

No wonder she could hear her foolish disciple’s inner voice.

It must be said that the way Xiao Wanchen chose to inform them of the truth was indeed good. If she had relied on Xiao Wanchen to relay the reasons, she would have involuntarily harbored a sliver of doubt in her heart.

Now, her heart was pure and clear, completely steady, which meant… there was not a hint of doubt or distrust left.

Ran Fanyin smiled and nodded. “I understand.”

Xiao Wanchen continued, “I am not sure if it will work, but you can try. That is, you separate a part of your own heart that represents your origin and collect her dissipated soul fragments. It is highly likely to succeed.”

Ran Fanyin: “Good. Then we shall do that.”

She said it so casually. Xiao Wanchen’s breathing paused, and she countered, “Are you not going to deliberate a little more?”

“She returned her Heavenly Spirit and origin entirely to the grand array for me. Then I naturally must bring her out, mustn’t I?”

“…” Xiao Wanchen pouted and let out a hum. “Alright, you have a point. But I must remind you, if you do this, she will become one of the multitude of beings and will no longer be a spirit.”

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?” Xiao Wanchen saw her suddenly frown and asked.

Ran Fanyin shook her head slightly. “Nothing. I understand.”

What did that ‘false spirit’ state mean? If she completely became human, why would she resonate with the grand array in this life and possess that white-haired appearance?

But seeing Xiao Wanchen’s natural demeanor, Ran Fanyin thought for a moment and understood the reason. The things related to this were likely not decided in this conversation, but to know more would depend on the mood of that array spirit.

After all, a person’s memory can only be stored up to the point of consciousness, and matters after that, only that senior array spirit would know.

Oh well, it’s not a big deal.

Ran Fanyin sighed softly.

Xiao Wanchen then rattled on about many other things, finally smiling and asking, “This is the first point. Did you remember it?”

Ran Fanyin was just about to say she remembered when a familiar voice suddenly appeared in her mind, causing her heart to tremble for a moment. In an instant, she locked onto her target, raised her hand to press the Pixiu tea pet on Xiao Wanchen’s table, and replied softly, “I remember.”

This was the part of the conversation that Ning Songwu missed, and it was also what Xiao Wanchen and she both wanted to keep hidden. Yet, she never expected it to be exposed in this manner just a few hours later.

But she hadn’t locked the door, nor had she completely sealed the barrier.

[I didn’t expect the enemy to be internal, but I remember we’ve already wiped out many branches of this evil cult. At least we can stop them from wantonly expanding.]

[So, why were we completely unaware of this in the previous life?]

[It’s not that I’m too clever; it’s that you commit too many evil deeds, and even Heaven itself can’t bear to watch.]

[Since the responsibility has fallen to me, I will do it. It will be a fulfillment of the wish of the original owner whose body I occupy.]

[That’s a bit too deliberate, dear.]

[Wow, the dignified Demon Venerable is afraid of water snakes.]

She casually beckoned, and a woman dressed as a matron walked up from the back hall. She bowed and said softly, “This old servant is here to tell the rules of this residence to the esteemed guests on behalf of the head of the house.”

The group’s areas of activity within the mansion were confined to the side wing. After the three were led here, they realized that this small side wing contained pavilions and waterside retreats, a rock garden stood in the courtyard, and a simple practice field was beside the courtyard. Each person’s room had a Spirit Gathering Formation (聚靈陣法). They recognized the craftsmanship of the formation; the arrays here should also have been designed by Helan Mianmian.

“The three meals a day will be delivered outside the courtyard. You may leave the mansion through the side gate on weekdays, provided you return before sunset. There is a curfew at night, so it is best not to wander around freely.”

Ning Songwu ran her hand over the water tank in the courtyard. The water within was clear, and even in the dim sunlight, it easily reflected her image. Looking at her reflection in the water, a faint scar was visible on her neck.

This was the scar Ning Yuanyue  had left on her throat just after the matron finished explaining the various precautions in the main hall—

“You are Ning Songwu? How fated. You also share the surname Ning.” Ning Yuanyue swung her two legs onto the ground and walked over slowly.

Only then did Ning Songwu realize that this person was walking barefoot on the cold floor. The next moment, a finger pressed against her throat.

The moment her throat was squeezed, the distressing urge to vomit instantly surged up, but Ning Songwu merely lowered her eyes without a trace, meeting the person’s gaze with extreme calm, as if she were not afraid at all.

Ning Yuanyue gently twisted her finger. “Ice Spirit Root. Your cultivation is pretty good.”

A temporary red mark appeared on Ning Songwu’s neck. She blinked and remained silent.

The two remained in this standoff, close enough to hear each other’s breathing, close enough for Ning Songwu to clearly feel the sharp fingernail pressing inch by inch into her flesh.

But she didn’t retreat a single step, nor did she show an ounce of fear. She simply lowered her eyes slightly, gazing quietly at Ning Yuanyue.

Ning Yuanyue seemed to find it a bit boring, so she stopped teasing her, casually clapped her hands, swayed her waist, and walked back to her original seat. She said boredly, “What the slave just said was incomplete. There is one more rule.”

Her intuition told her that Ning Yuanyue was truly a madwoman, and she would genuinely kill people.

But she could not leave Ning Xiujie  unsaved. This trip could not be a simple exchange and learning experience.

Liu Ruoying  saw her sitting there motionless and called out softly, “Senior Sister?”

Ning Songwu returned to her senses.

Liu Ruoying took out a medicine bottle, took a small piece, and carefully applied it to the terrifying red mark on Ning Songwu’s neck. She asked softly, “Senior Sister, you’ve been spacing out a lot since arriving on the island. What are you thinking about?”

Ning Songwu pondered for a moment and transmitted a message: “Junior Sister Liu, if I said this trip has an ulterior motive, and I won’t stop until I’ve turned this Ning Family upside down, would you still be willing to join me in causing chaos?”

The girl’s hand paused. A moment later, she smiled slightly. “I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Ning Songwu sighed softly. The hand that had been resting on her throat paused. Liu Ruoying asked again, “Is the problem troubling Senior Sister so severe?”

“Let’s not talk about this. Where is A-Sheng?”

“She was hungry and went to get food.”

“…” Wait a minute. Hadn’t they just eaten before entering the mansion? What on earth is that fox’s stomach made of!

Therefore, when Luo Sheng returned, she faced the two of them sitting together, staring intently at her, which made her feel uneasy and reach for her stomach.

I didn’t eat that much.

“Senior Sister? Ning Songwu? What’s wrong?”

Liu Ruoying waved her hand, signaling her to come over, and then asked, “Did Elder Helan give you a new set of talisman arrays to bring over and swap for the Ning Family?”

“Yes, why?”

Ning Songwu transmitted the news of her plan to turn the Ning Clan upside down to Luo Sheng. The fox blinked, and as the words reached her lips, she suddenly understood: “You want to start with the prison grid?”

“Prison grid?”

Luo Sheng nodded. “Yes, Master told me. The Spirit-Binding Locks (縛靈鎖) are used in the prison grid, and they are replaced every two years. It just so happens that it’s time for the replacement this year.”

Ning Songwu’s expression turned slightly cold. She clenched her fingers, slowly exhaling, meticulously controlling her expression, masking herself. But a wave of uncontrollable sadness still swept through her heart.

Luo Sheng didn’t notice the change, or rather, she didn’t let the other two notice that she had noticed the change. She simply patted her chest and said, “Leave it to me. I’ll go and memorize the path to the prison grid.”

She had planned everything perfectly, but when she was actually on the way, Ning Yuanyue had people blindfold her and cover her ears. She was only released outside the prison grid and wasn’t allowed to enter. She could only stand outside the door and direct a few people to arrange the talisman papers and construct the array.

“I told her: ‘This talisman array is very delicate. This set is also a brand-new design. It would be better if you let me go inside.’ Guess what she said?” Luo Sheng was so angry when she returned that her eyes were red. She hugged Liu Ruoying’s arm and began to whine. “Guess!”

Liu Ruoying looked at her helplessly and reached out to pinch the person’s thin face. “She said, ‘If it’s broken, it’s broken. We can just make a new one?'”

Luo Sheng shook her head. Before speaking, she took a big gulp of tea and then calmed her voice. “She said: ‘Aren’t talisman arrays famous for being convenient and easy to use? If it’s installed incorrectly, it only proves that the Water Law Immortal Master (水律仙士) has run out of ideas and can’t design a good array anymore.’ Ah, ah, ah, I’m so angry!”

“How can she talk about my Master like that!” Luo Sheng took another gulp of tea.

Liu Ruoying glanced at Ning Songwu and asked in a low voice, “Then did you vaguely see anyone?”

Luo Sheng shook her head and sighed deeply. “Later, Ning Yuanyue went into the prison grid for a while. I only vaguely heard a woman’s voice fiercely spitting at Ning Yuanyue, as if cursing her for being a lunatic. The context of the words sounded like a plea for death. Who is that person!”

Liu Ruoying patted her shoulder to comfort her, but then looked worriedly at Ning Songwu, who had been supporting her forehead and lost in silence since just now.

She didn’t know what relationship the person inside the prison grid had with Ning Songwu, but it must be an extremely close and important person for her to worry so much. The last time she saw her show a more severe expression of worry than this was a long time ago when she didn’t know how to treat Immortal Ran.

Liu Ruoying quickly made a judgment: the person’s status in Ning Songwu’s heart was not as high as Ran Fanyin’s, but was equally important. Ning Songwu was probably struggling severely at this moment.

She was not wrong. Ning Songwu was indeed repeatedly contemplating her countermeasures.

If only my cultivation level were a layer higher, or if I had a more powerful person to assist me at this moment.

A more powerful person?

When the group returned to their respective rooms, Ning Songwu twisted the spatial ring on her hand. After a flash of light, she entered a small spatial realm. When she saw the scene inside, her breath hitched for a moment.

In just a few days, this small space had completely changed its appearance.

“I can’t read your mind, but I can read your expression.”

Ning Songwu silently found a stone table to sit at and straightened her face, not allowing her to read her anymore.

Cheng Yunhuan  laughed even more heartily. She sat next to her, propping her chin on her hand, and pointed at the side of Ning Songwu’s mouth with her other hand. “You have a very shallow dimple here. When you see something you like, you unconsciously reveal it for an instant, and then you quickly restrain yourself.”

She then pointed to the corner of her eye. “When you’re surprised, the corner of your eye slightly turns up for a moment, and then you quickly lower it, but that momentary change is easy to catch.”