After My Thoughts Were Read, My Master Led Me to Change My Fate - Chapter 52.2

“Not just that, they all possess considerable skill.”

“Let’s not draw conclusions yet. Regardless, I will definitely return to the Valley of Scattered Flowers with you. We will discuss it when we get there.”

Lin Yuxue nodded, giving a bitter smile. “My father’s health is deteriorating every day, and there are many miscellaneous matters in the Valley. I…”

“It is truly hard on you to have to bear so many responsibilities at such a young age. Ordinary women your age would already be married, have children, and live a peaceful life. You, however, have to worry about much more than many men,” Ran Fanyin raised a hand and pressed Lin Yuxue’s shoulder.

Lin Yuxue looked at Ran Fanyin’s hand for a moment, then suddenly turned and smiled. “Are we considered friends now? If we don’t see each other for a long time, will you forget me again?”

Ran Fanyin curved her lips into a smile. “You and I are naturally friends. I do not have many friends, so I will not easily forget.”

“I saw you once in my childhood and again many years ago, but you didn’t remember me either time. Now, I only wish that the next time we meet, you will still recognize me. I will be satisfied with that,” Lin Yuxue looked away, her voice soft.

“In the future, you will be the Valley Master of the Valley of Scattered Flowers, the greatest sect in the Central Plains. Everyone in the world will know you.”

As they spoke, Ning Songwu had already changed her clothes and climbed out of the carriage. She wore a moon-white crepe silk robe with subtle patterns. Her long, flowing hair was as exquisitely beautiful as black obsidian, and the gradually maturing features of her face had been refined into a quiet elegance and gentleness. Her demeanor subtly exhibited a kind of majestic nobility she had never shown before, like the sun veiled by layers of clouds and mist in the sky—dazzling, yet not at all harsh.

She held her long hair in one hand and a wooden comb in the other, smiling from a distance toward Ran Fanyin.

“Master, help me comb my hair.”

Ran Fanyin’s gaze softened as soon as it met Ning Songwu’s. She walked over and stood in front of her.

Ning Songwu glanced at Lin Yuxue, who was not far away, and said, “I think I vaguely saw a small stream over there. I’d like to go wash my face. It will only take a moment. Young Valley Master, could you wait?”

Lin Yuxue nodded, silently agreeing.

Ning Songwu smiled at Ran Fanyin, and the two walked one after the other into the woods next to the carriage, heading toward the nearby stream.

Upon reaching the stream, Ning Songwu found a clean spot to sit down, patted some water on her face, and without drying it, she straightened up, removed her shoes and socks, and dipped her slender feet into the water.

Ran Fanyin stood behind her, gently combing Ning Songwu’s long hair with the wooden comb. Her hair was extremely long; when let loose, the ends rested on the clean stones behind her. She tilted her head slightly. The sunlight fell, refracting tiny sparks of light on her damp eyelashes, and even the tiny downy hairs on her temples were clearly visible.

“Master, what did the Young Valley Master tell you?”

Ran Fanyin kept her gaze focused on Ning Songwu’s slightly turned cheek, unwavering. She slowly replied, “Her Valley has had some recent incidents, which they suspect are related to the Heaven-Burning Sect, and she wants me to help her at the Valley of Scattered Flowers.”

“We were already planning to go to the Valley of Scattered Flowers anyway,” Ning Songwu leaned her body back, resting in Ran Fanyin’s embrace. She looked up, smiling playfully at Ran Fanyin’s face. Ran Fanyin’s head was already lowered, and her long strands of hair fell onto Ning Songwu’s brow.

“Sit up properly. I haven’t finished combing your hair,” Ran Fanyin raised her hand and tapped Ning Songwu’s forehead.

“Master, when was the last time you helped me comb my hair?” Ning Songwu rubbed her head against Ran Fanyin’s chest repeatedly, comfortably narrowing her eyes. “I love you helping me comb my hair, even though… you are clumsy at it. When I was little, it used to take you a very long time to tie even a simple style.”

“Impudent,” Ran Fanyin’s face broke into a slight smile, and she pinched and pulled Ning Songwu’s cheeks.

Ning Songwu untied a hair ribbon from her wrist and handed it to Ran Fanyin. “Here, this is the very first one you used to tie my hair.”

Ran Fanyin reached out to take it, but just as she took the ribbon, Ning Songwu grabbed her wrist.

Ning Songwu held Ran Fanyin’s slender wrist, frowning as she looked at the scar that was even more prominent in the sunlight.

Ran Fanyin noticed her expression and chuckled. “What is it? Do you despise it for being ugly?”

“Yes, I absolutely despise it,” Ning Songwu wrinkled her nose, pulled Ran Fanyin’s hand closer, and gently touched her lips to her wrist, nibbling lightly.

“Stop playing around. That tickles. Sit up properly, or I’ll get angry,” Ran Fanyin gently stroked Ning Songwu’s hair with her other hand, her voice soft and carrying a smile.

“Why are you angry? I should be the one who’s angry that you talk to other women…” Ning Songwu mumbled indistinctly.

Ran Fanyin walked toward her own sleeping chambers, and upon reaching the door, realized Ning Songwu was still following her. She turned back. “Why aren’t you going back to your own chamber to sleep?”

Ning Songwu stared straight at Ran Fanyin, not speaking, her eyes red like a rabbit’s.

Ran Fanyin sighed. “Come in.”

Ning Songwu obediently followed Ran Fanyin into the chambers. The maids in Ran Fanyin’s chambers were already accustomed to Ning Songwu’s frequent presence and knew what to say and what not to say. Before Ran Fanyin could give an order, they tactfully withdrew.

“Get into bed obediently. Be quiet, and don’t talk,” Ran Fanyin briefly instructed. She looked at Ning Songwu, hesitated, then slowly reached for her sash, and slowly began to remove her outer robe.

Ning Songwu thoughtfully looked away, then also removed her outer robe, carefully placing the Phoenix Feather Sword aside.

Ran Fanyin looked at Ning Songwu somewhat awkwardly, then climbed into bed with equal awkwardness. She had slept with Ning Songwu many times before, but that was when their relationship was purely innocent. Now that this little cub had made her impure intentions clear, the fact that they could still sleep in the same bed was…

Seeing Ning Songwu shed her outer robe and climb into bed, Ran Fanyin couldn’t help but say, “How about… I ask the maids to bring another quilt…”

“Does Master despise me that much? We always used to sleep under the same quilt, didn’t we?” Ning Songwu was unfazed, burying herself in the single quilt on the bed.

Ran Fanyin had nothing to say, so she quietly lay down, maintaining a hand-span’s distance from Ning Songwu.

The atmosphere became quiet for a while.

After a long time, Ning Songwu softly sneezed, her tone sounding quite aggrieved. “Master, you are lying so far away from me that the quilt is letting the wind in. The nights in the Northern Expedition are nothing like the Central Plains; it is very cold.”

Hearing this, Ran Fanyin had no choice but to move closer to Ning Songwu and silently reached out to pull the edge of the quilt higher for Ning Songwu.

Ning Songwu quickly grabbed Ran Fanyin’s hand and softly snorted, “Your hand is so cold, yet you are still worrying about me?”

Ran Fanyin felt her ears growing hot again and involuntarily tried to shrink back.

Ning Songwu pulled Ran Fanyin toward her, rolled over, and burrowed directly into Ran Fanyin’s embrace, holding her slender waist tightly. Beneath the thin fabric of her clothes, she could vaguely feel the distinct, well-defined abdominal muscles.

“Master… is my body warm…” Ning Songwu murmured softly.

Ran Fanyin raised a hand to touch her own burning cheek. She did not dare to answer, but she did not move away from Ning Songwu’s contact.

“If you are satisfied… then hold me and sleep obediently…” Ning Songwu finished her last sentence, found a comfortable position in Ran Fanyin’s arms, closed her eyes, and concentrated on falling asleep.

After a long time, Ran Fanyin still could not sleep, but the sound of Ning Songwu’s long, fine breathing had already reached her ears. Clearly, the little heater in her arms was sound asleep.

Ran Fanyin let out a long breath, slightly raised her head, and carefully tucked Ning Songwu’s exposed arm back under the quilt. She then meticulously tucked in the edges of the quilt, preventing the cold night wind of the Northern Expedition from blowing in.

Finally, Ran Fanyin gently placed her hand on Ning Songwu’s back and quietly closed her eyes.