After My Thoughts Were Read, My Master Led Me to Change My Fate - Chapter 65.1

Ning Songwu followed Helan Mianmian’s hurried steps down the stairs. As they ran, her mind finally cleared up a bit, and she realized, “Was someone there just now?”

“I don’t know, I just heard movement. Let’s hurry back. We can go see again another time.”

“Another time… you can go by yourself. I’m certainly not going…” As she spoke, Ning Songwu’s face flushed again.

Helan Mianmian looked at Ning Songwu’s embarrassed expression, thought about it carefully, and suddenly understood something. She laughed, “Oh… what exactly did you see just now?”

Ning Songwu glared at Helan Mianmian. “Seeing you laugh like that, shouldn’t you have figured it out yourself?”

As the two talked, they walked back to the resting area on the first floor.

It looked like something had happened.

A group of people was gathered in a corner, chattering away, as if watching something. Ning Songwu suddenly realized they were gathered around the seat she had originally occupied. And her drawing… she had left it spread out on the table when she left…

Ning Songwu’s face darkened. She pushed the crowd aside, squeezed in, and upon seeing the scene before her, she was so angry she almost vomited blood.

Lan Ze was sitting there, holding a brush, and raising an eyebrow as she painted something on the scroll. Looking closely, the large portion of the drawing, which Ning Songwu had spent so many days meticulously creating, was entirely ruined. It was scribbled with a few random turtles and messy, simple strokes, clearly intended only to utterly destroy the painting.

Lan Ze saw Ning Songwu approach and a smile curved at the corner of her mouth. “Oh, the little cripple is back? Your older sister added a few strokes to your drawing. What do you think? Tsk, tsk. If you ask me, that hand of yours is truly useless. What is this supposed to be that you drew? A latrine? And you dared to title it with the name of Beifa Palace. My additions are much better. Look, does this little thing resemble you? Hey, everyone, tell me, does it look like her?”

The surrounding disciples burst into laughter, all offering malicious ridicule. Helan Mianmian was blocked by the crowd and couldn’t get through, pacing back and forth anxiously.

Ning Songwu’s eyes were red, her fists tightly clenched, her gaze fixed intently on the destroyed scroll, not blinking once. Her expression was terrifying.

Lan Ze put her brush down again and continued to draw simple turtles. “Look at you, so angry you don’t even dare to fart. What? What are you so arrogant about? Even the Honored Lord doesn’t want you, yet you remain impossibly high-spirited. A motherless, fatherless thing, hmph…”

As fast as a blink of an eye, Ning Songwu lunged forward, grabbed Lan Ze’s collar, yanked her up, her eyes terrifyingly red, and then a solid fist slammed into Lan Ze’s face.

“Ah—! You little bastard!” Lan Ze cried out in pain. Her nose immediately started bleeding and dripped down toward her mouth. She looked at Ning Songwu in disbelief and simply stood up straight. She was already a few years older than Ning Songwu and slightly taller. She effortlessly grabbed Ning Songwu’s collar, lifted her feet off the ground, and then fiercely slammed her onto the floor.

Ning Songwu felt severe pain all over her body but only gave a muffled groan. She immediately stood up again, pounced on Lan Ze, and hammered down with her fists like a rainstorm, aiming only for Lan Ze’s face, beating her until her face was bruised and bloody.

Lan Ze held Ning Songwu down and kicked her in the stomach, sending Ning Songwu flying nearly two meters away. Ning Songwu’s small body tumbled several times and crashed into the corner of a table. The violent impact made her spit out a mouthful of blood.

Ning Songwu fiercely wiped the corner of her mouth, endured the intense pain, scrambled back up, and charged at Lan Ze again.

But this time, she was intercepted halfway.

As Ning Songwu carefully carried the black jar of medicine down the road, a large carriage rumbled past her, swaying and shaking towards the direction of the Huaxu Realm. She stopped and thoughtfully watched the gradually departing carriage, feeling that something was strange.

Ning Songwu shook her head, touched the still-warm medicine jar, smiled slightly, and continued walking.

When she reached the entrance of the Huaxu Realm cave, she did not see the scene of Master and Cang Min playing Go as she had imagined. Instead, and quite unexpectedly, she saw the carriage she had just passed parked there. A few people seemed to be gathered around the cave entrance.

Ning Songwu approached with some confusion. She walked around the carriage, and before she could clearly see the people in front of her, someone rushed over and hugged her tightly, nearly knocking over the jar of medicine in her hand.

“Ning Songwu!! You’re alive!” Helan Mianmian’s familiar, delicate voice rang out beside her ear, filled with joy and affection. Ning Songwu slightly pushed her away with one hand, while carefully protecting the medicine with the other.

“Why did you and Sister Cen Ran abandon me in Beifa and sneak off to Kunlun by yourselves?! I had such a hard time finding you!” Helan Mianmian angrily pushed Ning Songwu’s shoulder, nearly knocking over the medicine jar again. “I knew you wouldn’t be back for a while, so I came to find you! Look, you left your sword behind, so I brought it for you.”

With that, Helan Mianmian handed the Phoenix Feather Sword, carefully wrapped in silk cloth, to Ning Songwu.

Ning Songwu accepted it and glanced at Helan Mianmian. “You were just bored staying in Beifa, so you used this as an excuse to go down the mountain.”

“No…” Helan Mianmian smiled with a raised eyebrow.

Cen Ran walked up from behind and placed her hand on Helan Mianmian’s shoulder. “Ning Songwu, are you all better now?”

“Senior Sister… you didn’t go back? Why didn’t I see you when I woke up?”

“I had originally gone back a few days ago, but I ran into Helan Mianmian bringing Lin Yuxue to Kunlun on the way, so I had to follow them again…”

“Yes, I originally said I wanted to come to Kunlun, but the gate-keeping disciples wouldn’t let me go down the mountain. Fortunately, I ran into the Young Valley Master of the Luanhua Valley. She helped me and even brought me all the way here.” Helan Mianmian smiled with a look of admiration. “…Sister Lin Yuxue is truly gentle, and she knows so many things. She has tons of fun mechanical gadgets…”

“She’s quite good, she’s completely charmed you. You’ve been glued to her side for days,” Cen Ran said with a slight, narrowed smile.

Ning Songwu glanced behind Helan Mianmian and Cen Ran. She only saw Bo Xue and Cang Min talking about something nearby. She didn’t see Lin Yuxue or Ran Fanyin.

They must be inside the house, she thought.

Ning Songwu was about to enter the Huaxu Realm when Cen Ran stopped her. “Master isn’t inside. She and the Young Valley Master went to the North Luo Cliff.”

Ning Songwu nodded and walked toward the North Luo Cliff with the medicine jar.

“Ning Songwu…” Helan Mianmian wanted to follow but was grabbed by the back of her collar by Cen Ran and pulled back.

“What else do you want to do? Can’t you be separated from your Sister Lin Yuxue for a moment?” Cen Ran coldly snorted, harshly released Helan Mianmian’s collar, and turned away, flicking her sleeve.

Helan Mianmian quickly grabbed Cen Ran. “Sister Cen Ran, I didn’t mean to…”

“Let go,” Cen Ran slightly turned her head, her tone indifferent.

“You… what are you so angry about!” Helan Mianmian was at a loss, scratching her head anxiously over Cen Ran’s sudden change of mood.

“How many words have you spoken to me in the last two days? And how many have you spoken to the Young Valley Master? …Since you like her so much, why are you still clinging to me now?”

“This… do you have to be angry about this, too? I was just being playful. I wanted to drag Sister Lin Yuxue along to play with her fun mechanical gadgets. That’s a completely normal thing! You’re being too unreasonable…”

Cen Ran pulled her sleeve out of Helan Mianmian’s grasp and gave a cold laugh. “Yes, I am being unreasonable. Then, don’t talk to me again.”

Helan Mianmian sighed heavily. She had a touch of imperial arrogance in her bones. There were some things she would not humble herself too much to say. Therefore, sometimes, the conflict between her and Cen Ran was left to time to dissolve.

Bo Xue came over and pulled Helan Mianmian away to play elsewhere. Their personalities did allow them to get along, and they chatted animatedly, leaving Cang Min and Cen Ran alone in the Huaxu Realm.

Ning Songwu carried the black jar of medicine and walked toward the North Luo Cliff for a long time. Only as she neared the cliff did she see the two cold and beautiful figures.

Ran Fanyin, dressed in white, veiled robes, stood elegantly, looking out over the cliff. Lin Yuxue stood very close beside her, turning her head to say something to Ran Fanyin.

Ning Songwu stopped behind the pine tree in front of her, quietly watching the two people in the distance. She couldn’t hear what they were discussing. She only wanted to wait for them to finish so she could lead Ran Fanyin back and have her drink the medicine.

The medicine jar, which had been scalding hot, had already turned warm during her walk, and slowly grew cold as she waited. The icy cold ceramic jar was like a block of ice in her hand, stinging her skin slightly.

In the distance, Lin Yuxue seemed to tire of standing. She cleared a spot on a massive rock nearby and sat down, then beckoned to Ran Fanyin. Ran Fanyin hesitated for a moment, then walked over and sat down next to Lin Yuxue.

The two were indeed sitting very close to each other.

“Honored Lord Ran Fanyin, why did you leave Beifa without telling me? I’m still staying in your Rongku Pavilion. You and Senior Cang Min left, weren’t you worried I’d empty your Rongku Pavilion?” Lin Yuxue’s lips curved into a shallow smile. The hand hidden in her sleeve was still toying with the white jade mask.

“Young Valley Master is joking,” Ran Fanyin replied faintly.

“Do you remember the first time I visited you before the Sword Trials? I saw you and Senior Cang Min boiling tea and playing Go, looking quite pleased, so I didn’t want to interrupt your leisurely mood. There are some matters I said I would postpone telling you.”

Ran Fanyin slightly turned her head to look at Lin Yuxue. “Is the Young Valley Master here in Kunlun for this matter?”

“Half and half. I was originally supposed to leave Beifa Mountain and return to the Central Plains. On the way, I happened to meet that little girl, Helan Mianmian, who wanted to come to Kunlun. I heard you were in Kunlun too, so I brought her along.”

“…Then what is the matter?”

Ran Fanyin nodded, signaling she understood. The Luanhua Valley held a dominant position in the Central Plains. Many martial artists coveted this position. The Old Valley Master was likely nearing the end of his life, and the position of Valley Master would change hands. Lin Yuxue needed an alliance with Beifa to solidify her position.

“I will discuss this matter with the Sect Master. Young Valley Master can rest assured.”

Since Beifa was involved in that incident back then, they were tied to Luanhua Valley. Facing the Fentian Sect, they needed to form an alliance again. As for Lin Yuxue’s personal intention, it was met along the way, and it would put Lin Yuxue under an obligation to Beifa once she succeeded the Valley Master, owing them a favor in the future.

Mutual cooperation and benefit were fine. Furthermore, all martial arts sects operated this way.

After Ran Fanyin and Lin Yuxue finished discussing related matters, the sky gradually darkened.

Ning Songwu had been standing there quietly waiting for a long time, not moving an inch, and the medicine jar in her hand was completely cold. She saw the two people sitting side-by-side in the distance finally stand up. When she tried to take a step, her stiff body emitted a cracking sound from her bones.

Ran Fanyin recognized Ning Songwu from afar, her brow furrowed slightly, and she walked toward Ning Songwu.

“Why are you here? Have you been here long?” Ran Fanyin glanced at the black ceramic jar in Ning Songwu’s hand and asked softly.

“No… I just arrived. Dinner is ready, and I saw that you two weren’t coming back,” Ning Songwu casually lied.

“Your injury hasn’t fully healed. Don’t spend so much time outside. …What is this?”

Ning Songwu raised the medicine jar in her hand and said gently, “It’s your medicine. I meant for you to drink it hot, but it got cold on the way here. I’ll go reheat it for you.”

Ran Fanyin nodded. The medicine jar looked quite heavy. She reached out to take it from Ning Songwu. The icy temperature of the ceramic surface stung her palm, causing her to frown.

Lin Yuxue walked over, still playing with the white jade mask in her hand. “A pleasure. We’ve met before, last time at the Rongku Pavilion.”

Ning Songwu politely nodded to Lin Yuxue. “A pleasure, Young Valley Master.”

Lin Yuxue blinked and walked ahead of Ran Fanyin and Ning Songwu.

Ning Songwu bit her lip and followed Lin Yuxue back. Ran Fanyin was behind her. As they walked, Ran Fanyin suddenly and secretly took her hand.

Ran Fanyin spoke in an extremely low voice, “Your hand is so cold. You’ve definitely been out here freezing for more than ‘just a moment.’ Why won’t you tell the truth?”

Ning Songwu squeezed Ran Fanyin’s hand back, then quickly let go, refusing to let Ran Fanyin hold her. “My hand is cold. Don’t hold it; be careful not to freeze yourself. …I truly haven’t been here long. I only waited for a short while.”

Ran Fanyin softly hummed through her nose, then tightly grasped Ning Songwu’s hand again. “Your hand is cold, but is it as cold as this jar? …My hand is cold, and you are warm. Let me warm up.”

Ning Songwu smiled, secretly squeezed Ran Fanyin’s hand, raised it to her lips, gently kissed it, and then breathed some warm air onto it.

“I told you, your injury hasn’t healed yet. You are not allowed to wait outside for so long next time… And you lied to me saying you just arrived. You’re so young, yet how easily lies come to you…”

“Master, you suddenly have so much to say. I’m not used to it,” Ning Songwu said, interrupting Ran Fanyin with a laugh.

Ran Fanyin’s earlobes turned red, and she closed her mouth, not saying another word.

Ping Zilai, who had arrived at some point, grabbed Ning Songwu’s collar, his face dark, his anger about to spill from his eyes. The disciples had never seen Ping Zilai look so cold and instantly recoiled in fear.

Lan Ze was stunned for a moment, then cried out again, “Master! Look at Ning Songwu! Look what she did to me!”

Ping Zilai glanced at Lan Ze’s badly injured face, then at the still red-eyed Ning Songwu, and shouted sternly, “What kind of behavior is this in public! Return to Hongfei Pavilion! I will settle the score with all of you!”

Inside the main hall of Hongfei Pavilion.

Ping Zilai sat on the main seat, his face grim. Below him, a group of disciples stood respectfully with their heads bowed in two rows. Lan Ze and Ning Songwu knelt in the middle, also daring not to speak.

Lan Ze’s injuries were only on her face. They looked severe but were merely superficial. Ning Songwu, conversely, looked relatively unscathed on her face, but she had taken a heavy kick from Lan Ze. Her abdomen felt like it was being twisted by a knife, and her mouth was filled with the thick taste of blood, but she would rather swallow it than spit it out.

“Who struck first?” Ping Zilai asked in a dark tone.

Lan Ze quickly cut in. “Of course it was her! I don’t know what deep-seated hatred she has for me, but she charged up and started hitting me without saying anything! Master, look at the blood on my face!”

Ping Zilai glanced indifferently at the two of them, then asked, “Why would she hit you for no reason?”

“Ning Songwu has long held a grudge against me. Does she need a reason to hit someone?”