After My Thoughts Were Read, My Master Led Me to Change My Fate - Chapter 53.1

Great snow fell across the Northern Frontier, with vast, endless white stretching as far as the eye could see. The small town on the edge of the Northern Frontier was sparsely populated, with barely a hundred residents. However, unlike its usual poverty and dullness, many townspeople were now gathered at the entrance of a small inn to watch the spectacle. Perhaps the town’s life was usually too boring, for such a small incident drew an extremely eager crowd.

“That little beggar is stealing again. Such a small child, what a wicked life…” one person pointed and commented, only to be interrupted by another: “Is that even a beggar? A beggar is at least a person. This creature was raised by beasts in the mountains; it doesn’t speak like a person or act like one. When it can’t find food in the mountains in winter, it runs to our town to steal.”

“Looking at it, it’s just a little kid, no more than six or seven years old. Tsk, tsk, look how dirty it is; you can’t even tell if it’s a boy or a girl. Look! Old Zhu is hitting her!” There was even a hint of excitement in the voices of the common townsfolk.

Boss Zhu, who had two steamed buns stolen, spared no effort in insulting and beating the beggar child, who was curled up on the ground and trembling. Once his anger flared, he started kicking and punching, regardless of the fact that the small, thin body belonged to a child of six or seven. The surrounding crowd’s commotion grew louder, mostly cheering him on.

The beggar child was covered in black mud, her hair a matted mess, and her face buried tightly between her knees. She wore only a thin layer of tattered cloth, barely covering her body, offering no warmth whatsoever in the ice and snow. Her exposed, filthy skin was covered in scars, and her right wrist was swollen and festering into a deformity; she had clearly sustained a severe injury. In the noisy environment, her throat emitted small, whimpering sounds like a puppy, but no one paid any attention.

The sky gradually darkened, the night curtain too thick to see the stars or moon, though the accumulated snow across the streets reflected a faint light. After getting their fill of entertainment from the beggar child, the people slowly dispersed. Boss Zhu picked the child up and threw her into the corner, spat viciously, turned around, and slammed his shop door shut.

It slowly began to snow in the darkness. The huge snowflakes characteristic of the Northern Frontier drifted down softly. Occasionally, a northern wind swept through. The beggar child huddled in the corner, looking from afar like a pitch-black piece of garbage buried in the snow. The snowflakes landing on her lost the beauty of a poem-worthy scene; they only brought an infinite chill.

The night grew darker and darker. The beggar child, who had been trembling violently, stopped shaking. Even the fine rising and falling of her breath disappeared. Everything fell silent, as if all things had died.

On the snow-covered streets of the small town, only the wind and the snow were moving.

Lin Yuxue followed closely. She also used a light, thin longsword. Although it couldn’t compare to the Falling Frost Sword in Ran Fanyin’s hand, it was a rare treasure in the world, capable of slicing hair just by blowing on it. Ran Fanyin managed to entangle Mo Shi’s right hand, and Lin Yuxue, with great tacit understanding, raised her sword to strike toward Mo Shi’s back.

Mo Shi was extremely quick. He twisted his body to dodge, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow, but the sharp blade still sliced a large opening in the soft armor on his back, revealing faint, thin lines of blood. Mo Shi roared and looked at Ran Fanyin. He grabbed the blade of the Falling Frost Sword with his bare hand, pinning Ran Fanyin in place. Ignoring the blood streaming from his right hand, he swung the mace in his left hand fiercely toward Lin Yuxue’s flank.

Lin Yuxue had just finished her previous move and was only turning her head when the mace instantly appeared before her eyes. She tried to raise her sword to block, but she was a beat too slow.

Lin Yuxue hardened her resolve and closed her eyes fiercely. So be it. At worst, my face is ruined. How can I, the esteemed Young Valley Master of the Valley of Scattered Flowers, be afraid of you!

Just as the tip of the mace touched her delicate cheek, it was blocked by a domineering force.

Lin Yuxue did not feel the expected pain and opened her eyes to look.

It was Ran Fanyin. Ran Fanyin’s left hand was grasping the spike-covered body of the mace with her bare hands.

Her pair of light, tea-colored eyes were filled with frost. Just one look sent a shiver down one’s spine. Ran Fanyin’s right hand held Falling Frost, which was clamped in Mo Shi’s grip. She could not abandon her sword, so in a moment of crisis, she used her left hand to intercept the mace swinging toward Lin Yuxue.

The sharp mace spikes pierced Ran Fanyin’s left hand, causing blood to flow freely. Ran Fanyin’s left wrist was already wrapped in gauze. With this exertion and forceful twisting, the old wound beneath the gauze split open again, staining the white bandage red. Blood from both the new and old wounds streamed down her fair wrist, staining her white robe with an eerie, dark red.

“Your reaction is a bit too slow,” Ran Fanyin said lightly, glancing at Lin Yuxue.

Lin Yuxue immediately snapped back to attention. Mo Shi’s hands were now both pinned by Ran Fanyin; this was an excellent opportunity.

Mo Shi let out a loud roar, releasing the blade of Falling Frost from his right hand, intending to turn and attack Lin Yuxue. But Ran Fanyin clearly did not give him the time. Falling Frost swung viciously, severing Mo Shi’s entire right arm, which was sent flying!

“Ah!!!” Mo Shi roared frantically, his eyes red.

Lin Yuxue plunged her sword into Mo Shi’s chest. Blood spurted out, splashing onto her, and she followed up with a flying kick that sent Mo Shi flying five or six meters away. She then rushed forward and stabbed him dozens more times until Mo Shi lay still, like a dead pig, before she finally stopped.

Lin Yuxue turned back, anxiously saying, “Ran Fanyin! Your hand…”

Ran Fanyin cleanly retrieved her sword, flicked her sleeve as if nothing had happened, and concealed her bloodied left hand beneath the wide sleeve. The long robe thoroughly covered the injury. She said calmly, “It’s a superficial injury. There is no need to worry.”

Cheng Yunhuan and the other disciples also finished dealing with the remaining members of the Burning Heaven-Fiery Flag and hurried over.

“You finished quite quickly. Did anyone get hurt?” Cheng Yunhuan looked toward Ran Fanyin.

Lin Yuxue was feeling guilty and about to answer, but Ran Fanyin beat her to it. “Mere riff-raff cannot harm us.”

Cheng Yunhuan nodded. “That’s good. I will continue searching other areas. You and the Young Valley Master should return first.”

“Mm.” Ran Fanyin acknowledged, sheathed her sword, and turned to leave with her usual calm and measured steps. Lin Yuxue tightly pursed her lips and followed her back to their lodging.

Looking at the composed woman walking ahead—her slender figure swaying in her ethereal white robe, her black hair flowing like water—and thinking of her cold, tea-colored eyes, Lin Yuxue felt a great unease in her heart.

Ran Fanyin returned to her room, closing the door without another word to Lin Yuxue.

Ran Fanyin lit a dim yellow candle on the table and sat silently. On the table were clean gauze, golden sore medicine, and other medical supplies.

She looked at her bloodied left hand and sighed softly, then unwound the completely stained gauze, circle by circle.

The wound originally caused by the molten metal from sword-casting had been healing extremely slowly due to the mineral poison. Now that it had finally scabbed over with great difficulty, it had split open again during the fight.

Ran Fanyin let her injured hand hang at her side. She picked up a jar of alcohol with her right hand, squinted her eyes, and poured it directly onto the wound.

“Hiss…” Ran Fanyin stifled a groan of pain. Her left hand trembled continuously, and a vein stood out on her neck.

Lin Yuxue returned to her room to change into clean clothes. Without resting, she went to Ran Fanyin’s door and hesitated before knocking.

“Venerable Master Ran Fanyin, are you there?”

Ran Fanyin’s left hand was still dripping with the strong alcohol. She kept her eyes narrowed in pain, looked up at the door, lightly coughed twice to remove the tremor from her voice, and said, “Please come in.”

Lin Yuxue pushed the door open, saw Ran Fanyin’s state, and slightly lowered her brows. “Is the injury serious? …It was my poor martial arts that implicated you earlier.”

“Your swordsmanship is good; you are just a little lacking in reaction time.” Ran Fanyin lowered her head and wiped her wrist dry.

“Your hand is injured. How can you apply the medicine yourself? Let me help you.”

“Thank you for your concern. I can manage it myself,” Ran Fanyin’s tone remained flat.

Lin Yuxue stopped being polite. She took the medicine directly and grasped Ran Fanyin’s left hand with her other hand.

The icy touch spread across her own warm palm. How can a person’s hand be so cold? She truly did come from the extreme north; it can’t compare to the eternal spring of the Valley of Scattered Flowers. Even her body temperature is so much lower than a normal person’s.

Ran Fanyin was extremely uncomfortable with the sudden warmth enveloping her hand; the temperature felt as if it would scald her. She had never been accustomed to physical contact with others, so she struggled slightly.

Lin Yuxue held Ran Fanyin’s disobedient hand. “Why are you hiding? We have been together for so many days. Do you still dislike me? You even blocked that mace for me just now.”

Hearing this, Ran Fanyin had no choice but to stop resisting and let Lin Yuxue tend to her.

Lin Yuxue first took the detoxifying solution and sprinkled it evenly on the wounds on her wrist and palm. As soon as the detoxifying solution hit the flesh, it immediately made a sizzling sound, as if it were corroding the tissue.

A searing pain came from her wrist. Ran Fanyin knew the medicine was potent, yet she still couldn’t quite bear it. Her brows furrowed tightly, and her eyes narrowed in pain.

Seeing Ran Fanyin’s expression, Lin Yuxue let out a small chuckle. “Even the great Venerable Master of the Northern Expedition is afraid of pain.” As she spoke, Lin Yuxue pulled something else from her sleeve, flashing it before Ran Fanyin’s eyes.

It was a small, exquisitely made wooden mechanism of a mouse. Its head was carved with fine detail, appearing utterly lifelike. Lin Yuxue placed the mouse on the table and said, “Try touching it with your hand.”

Ran Fanyin raised her right hand and lightly poked the small head of the mechanical mouse. The wooden mouse immediately came to life, scurrying about like a real mouse—frantically running aimlessly across the table.

“Pat its head,” Lin Yuxue reminded her with a smile while applying the medicine.

Ran Fanyin did as she was told and touched the wooden mouse’s head. The mouse suddenly quieted down, stopping at Ran Fanyin’s fingertip. It arched its upper body into a half-stand, and its two tiny front paws immediately wrapped around Ran Fanyin’s fingertip, its exquisitely carved little mouth gently nibbling it.

It didn’t hurt at all, just felt a little ticklish.

Hearing the noise, Ning Songwu turned her head quickly and saw that Ran Fanyin’s left hand was indeed wrapped in layers of gauze. She immediately felt extreme heartache. Ignoring her own small concerns, she struggled anxiously to sit up and grabbed Ran Fanyin’s left hand.

Seeing that Ning Songwu had finally reacted, Ran Fanyin indulged her, watching what she would do.

Ning Songwu simply held Ran Fanyin’s hand, tears dropping one after another onto the snow-white gauze, looking like several delicate plum blossoms blooming. Ning Songwu gripped Ran Fanyin’s hand even tighter. How could Master be hurt? Master is so capable; how could she be hurt?

Ran Fanyin reached out her right hand and gently wiped the tears from Ning Songwu’s face, sighing, “Silly child.” Her movements were extremely gentle. After wiping Ning Songwu’s tears, she placed her hand on Ning Songwu’s soft hair, gently stroking her head.

“Creak——–”

Cen Ran suddenly pushed the door open and walked in. Ning Songwu heard the sound, abruptly pushed Ran Fanyin’s hand away, and quickly shrank back into the quilt. Since she harbored guilty feelings, she was much more sensitive, afraid of revealing any emotion toward Ran Fanyin that others might see.

Ran Fanyin’s hand, suspended in mid-air, froze awkwardly. After a moment, she slowly clenched it into a fist and pulled it back to her side.

Cen Ran raised an eyebrow, looking at Ning Songwu. “Junior Sister is awake? Your complexion looks better than before.”

Luo Sheng followed Cen Ran into the room. The frost from the cold outside still clung to his hair, which he hadn’t had time to brush off, and his expression was anxious. He walked straight up to Ran Fanyin and lowered his voice.

“Master… Venerable Master Jiang Yue asked you to go to the Sword-Casting Pond immediately. He has urgent matters to discuss with you.”

The first thing Ran Fanyin thought of was the sword, so she asked, “Is it about the item in the pond?”

“It is… not only that. Venerable Master Jiang Yue said that besides the item you requested, there is another very crucial matter.”

“Very crucial?”

“Yes, Venerable Master Jiang Yue repeatedly emphasized that Master must go immediately.”

“Alright, I will go now,” Ran Fanyin stood up.

Cen Ran couldn’t help but say, “Master, how many days has it been since you rested? After seeing Venerable Master Jiang Yue, please return to the Withered Glory Pavilion to rest.”

Cen Ran also noticed that Ran Fanyin’s lips were slightly darker, a sign of poisoning. Although it was a minor poison, it would become much more troublesome if not treated properly.

“It’s fine,” Ran Fanyin replied lightly, then turned back to look at Ning Songwu once more. “However, Ning Songwu is currently a bit… resistant to me, so I won’t come back for now. You must ensure she takes her medicine. If anything is wrong with her body, let me know immediately.”

Cen Ran looked at Ning Songwu with confusion. How dare this little fellow disobey even Master now?

Ran Fanyin silently turned, pushed the door open, and walked out. Her brow was like fallen snow, condensing a faint coldness. The weather, which had been sunny moments ago, had suddenly turned gloomy, and tiny snowflakes were floating in the air again.

A disciple waiting by the door handed Ran Fanyin a paper umbrella and draped a thick crane-feather cloak over her. Although the thickness of her clothing didn’t matter much to her, everyone else was dressed warmly, and the gown she wore from Luocheng was a bit too light.

Ran Fanyin gathered the collar of the crane-feather cloak, then stopped and silently looked back at the closed wooden door. With lowered eyes, she opened the umbrella and walked away.

Ran Fanyin focused intently on the wooden mouse, a slight smile involuntarily curving her lips. Her finger moved, and the wooden mouse followed suit. It was extremely interesting, and she gradually became engrossed in playing with it.

“All done. The medicine is applied,” Lin Yuxue suddenly said.

Ran Fanyin slightly raised an eyebrow and looked at her wrist. Several thick layers of ointment were neatly, carefully, and thoroughly applied. The order was correct, and not a single small wound was missed.

Lin Yuxue picked up the gauze and wrapped Ran Fanyin’s hand, circling it layer by layer, her movements extremely gentle and meticulous. The dim yellow candlelight shone on her profile, making her look even more beautiful, gentle, and radiant.

“What exactly is this thing? What is it used for?” Ran Fanyin asked, pointing at the wooden mouse.

Lin Yuxue looked up at Ran Fanyin, a playful smile on her lips. “Just an ordinary toy, used to amuse children. If you like it, it’s yours.”