After My Thoughts Were Read, My Master Led Me to Change My Fate - Chapter 71.1

The several disciples of the Incinerating Heaven Sect who had passed earlier slowly emerged again, conversing amongst themselves. Ran Fanyin and Ning Songwu held their breath and waited for them to move on. Only when the sound of their footsteps trailed down the stairs did the two resume normal breathing, proceeding along the roof beam towards the end of the corridor.

The corridor’s end did indeed have a door to a room, guarded by two men with sabers slung at their sides. Ran Fanyin pulled Ning Songwu to squat on the beam just outside the door, precisely above the two guards’ heads. From their vantage point, they could peer through a few cracks and observe the situation inside the room.

The room was exceedingly spacious. A row of beaded curtains hung in front of the seat of honor, obscuring the person behind them, though it was discernible that a tall man wearing a black bamboo hat was seated there. In front of the curtain, the robust, saber-wielding man mentioned by Duanxi, and a woman dressed in Miao clothing, stood on opposing sides.

Lin Yuxue, wearing a white jade mask, sat facing them. Behind her stood Wuji, Wugong, and Wuming.

The sound of a teacup lid scraping against the rim of the cup came from behind the beaded curtain. Accompanying this friction of ceramics was a steady, middle-aged man’s voice: “How is this young gentleman called?”

Lin Yuxue laughed, “A mere wanderer, possessing no name.”

“Miaoshan,” the middle-aged man suddenly called out, “Go pour a cup of tea for the guest.”

“Yes, Master.” The woman in Miao clothing stepped forward. Her face was charmingly delicate, her movements alluring, and a pair of phoenix eyes held a full measure of bone-deep seduction. She swayed her hips as she carried the teapot to pour tea for Lin Yuxue.

Seeing the steaming hot tea poured from the teapot, Ran Fanyin narrowed her eyes. She reached for Ning Songwu’s hand and wrote on her palm: “The tea is unusual.”

Ning Songwu tightly furrowed her brows, staring unblinkingly at the scene inside.

Lin Yuxue took the teacup and lowered her head, taking a sip, but covertly spat it back into the cup, setting the tea cup down on one side. She said, “I heard that this senior likes to listen to interesting tales from other members of the martial world, so I came here. May I ask what the senior wishes to hear?”

“Some strange tales and oddities of the martial world, nothing more,” the middle-aged man chuckled softly. “Do you know of the Bingshan School?”

“I do. It is an elusive sect in the martial world whose members are not clean-handed. They are rumored to specialize in tomb raiding,” Lin Yuxue replied dutifully, though she sounded somewhat perplexed.

“Then have you heard that, years ago, members of the Bingshan School robbed a tomb on Mount Lingqiu?” The middle-aged man took a sip of tea and paused. “It was the tomb of a concubine of the current Emperor, Luo Changyou, a tomb known as the Concubine Si Tomb.”

“My apologies, I have never heard of this matter,” Lin Yuxue knit her brow, increasingly unable to understand what the man was asking.

“Then surely you know of the Incinerating Heaven Gate?” the middle-aged man laughed again, his voice somewhat chilling. “And the Gate Master of the Incinerating Heaven Gate, Wen Jinglei?”

Lin Yuxue’s fingers suddenly clenched. She looked up and shot Wuji a significant glance.

“Then do you know that Wen Jinglei has a daughter named Wen Mianluo?” The middle-aged man’s voice grew increasingly serious, each word spoken with an intimidating aura that brooked no refusal to his questions.

Wen Mianluo.

Wen Mianluo…!

Ning Songwu’s body trembled violently upon hearing the name. Something flashed quickly in her mind, but she could not grasp it. She closed her eyes, a voice constantly ringing in her head:

“After Jinglei, there must be Mianluo. Let her be called Wen Mianluo, then…”

“A-luo… Do you like this name?”

“When Mianluo grows up, she will surely be the most beautiful person in the world…”

“A-luo, do you remember where your home is? Who did you follow out with?”

“A-luo…” It had been a period of time since returning to Mount Cangjun. Ning Songwu had not suffered severe injuries, but the repeated induction into and forced breaking of illusionary techniques had left her with a persistent headache.

This, however, was not important; careful recuperation for a time would resolve it. Ran Fanyin began closed-door cultivation immediately upon returning to the sect, and before doing so, she instructed Lin Yuxue to care for Ning Songwu.

Ning Songwu was also happy with the peace and quiet. Lin Yuxue would come to fetch her for every meal, and the days passed quite pleasantly.

The two often ate at the peak of the Chao Ci Peak, although Lin Yuxue, having long achieved bigu (abstention from grain), was only keeping Ning Songwu company. Today was slightly different; Lin Yuxue mysteriously produced a jar of wine from her spatial ring.

She promoted it to Ning Songwu: “Little Junior Sister, would you like to try this?”

The aroma of wine escaped impatiently even before the jar was opened. It certainly looked like good wine, but Ning Songwu had never drunk alcohol. Having seen too many people make fools of themselves after drinking, she was quite resistant in her heart.

She refused Lin Yuxue without a second thought: “No need, Senior Sister.”

Lin Yuxue’s enthusiasm waned, but she remained persistent: “This is wine I brewed myself. Please try it. It’s just fruit wine; it won’t make you drunk.”

“I won’t drink it.”

Ning Songwu continued eating her meal, ignoring Lin Yuxue’s pleading eyes.

Lin Yuxue withdrew her resentful gaze and placed the wine jar beside Ning Songwu. “I’m giving you one jar. It doesn’t matter if you try it or not, but if you do, remember to tell me your thoughts.”

Ning Songwu was quite confused by her persistence. She put down her bowl and chopsticks, asking with curiosity, “Is Senior Sister very interested in brewing wine?”

Lin Yuxue’s expression grew a little unnatural. She scratched her face, stammering, “N-not very interested, either.”

“Then why does Senior Sister waste time on this meaningless endeavor?”

Ning Songwu looked directly into Lin Yuxue’s eyes, which were full of scrutiny. In her impression, this Senior Sister Lin only appeared gentle and warm-tempered; in reality, she was extremely rational and pragmatic.

She would not do anything without meaning.

Lin Yuxue broke out in a cold sweat. She felt as though she had been completely seen through. She couldn’t help but swallow, mumbling, “I just wanted to get a certain ox drunk, that’s all.”

If she did not want to speak, Ning Songwu would not force her. Some cultivators did raise spirit beasts. Perhaps her Senior Sister was interested in brewing wine because she had taken a fancy to an ox that loved drinking.

Ning Songwu was not pretentious. After accepting the wine, she politely added, “Then I shall accept it, but I have nothing I can give you in return, Senior Sister.”

Lin Yuxue quickly waved her hands: “There is no need. I just want to know how the wine tastes.”

“If that is the case, Senior Sister could very well ask other disciples to try it. I have never drunk alcohol, so my reference value is not great.”

Speaking of this, Lin Yuxue became a little annoyed. She sat on the grass, propping up her head. “Don’t mention it. Among the people of Mount Cangjun, we are considered to have a relatively high status. If I give it to other disciples, they will only try to curry favor with me. And as for my peer, Senior Sister Luo…”

Lin Yuxue paused, then added with a touch of worry, “Senior Sister Luo intensely dislikes me.”

Ning Songwu had also noticed this. Although Lin Yuxue and Luo Sheng were martial sisters, Luo Sheng’s face was always foul whenever they stood together. While her face was usually hard to look at, it was even worse when Lin Yuxue was present.

Lin Yuxue had a gentle and easygoing personality, high talent, and was an apprentice of Cen Ran. Combined, these factors ensured Lin Yuxue was quite popular on Mount Cangjun. Luo Sheng, conversely, was rigid, serious, and somewhat cold.

Ning Songwu was quite happy to see Lin Yuxue frustrated. Not because she disliked Lin Yuxue, but purely because she enjoyed seeing the fun.

She smiled and teased, “I didn’t think there was anyone Senior Sister couldn’t manage. That’s a rare thing.”

Lin Yuxue hugged her knees, looking a little dejected. Even her voice was less cheerful than usual: “Yes, she’s too difficult to handle.”

Lin Yuxue and Ning Songwu were quite familiar with each other, and she knew Ning Songwu would not care, which was why she dared to speak this way.

However, this was not just Lin Yuxue’s question. Ning Songwu, the person involved, also couldn’t understand what excellent qualities she possessed that Ran Fanyin could be so fond of. If she absolutely had to name something, it was probably just this life of hers.

After Chen Siting was subdued, Ran Fanyin revealed her identity and went to the Lishui Sect to investigate the matter of Chen’s mother, but the result was that no such person as Chen’s mother existed, and no ghostly disturbance had occurred in Wanjia Village.

Given the suddenness of the event, the probability of the Lishui Sect colluding to lie was very small, yet one side, the Lishui Sect or Chen Siting, had to be false. However, Chen Siting’s heart-rending appearance at the time did not seem fake.

“Chen Siting was caught in an illusionary technique.”

Ran Fanyin’s voice startled Ning Songwu from her thoughts. “Illusionary technique? But…”

“Someone set up a formation at Wanjia Village. The formation confuses the mind and drains spiritual energy. Chen Siting was merely trapped within the formation.”

“Can the formation be broken?”

“It has not been. Wanjia Village is only one corner of a grand formation. I struck it with my full power, but it did not budge an inch.”

Ning Songwu was somewhat surprised, but she also felt that this trip had truly been in vain.

After concluding her thoughts, Ning Songwu felt a headache coming on. She rubbed her temples, her brow showing some pain: “Then, Master, what shall we do next?”

Seeing her in such distress, Ran Fanyin hesitated before placing her hand on Ning Songwu’s forehead.

The cool touch brought relief from the pain. Ning Songwu’s brows smoothed out, and she softly said, “Thank you, Master.”

Ran Fanyin’s expression did not change. She simply continued giving instructions: “I will leave this place for your Martial Uncle to handle. We will return to Mount Cangjun first.”

Ning Songwu naturally had no objection; she, too, wanted to go back and get a good sleep.

On the way back to Mount Cangjun, Ning Songwu suddenly became curious. Looking at the slender figure of the person in front of her, it was difficult for Ning Songwu to imagine that these shoulders, not broad, bore the burden of this human realm.

The stronger a person is, the more indifferent they become to life. They are always accustomed to deciding the life and death of others. This was the reason Ning Songwu disliked the powerful.

Concealing the turbulent emotions within her heart, Ning Songwu softly inquired, “Master, if what Chen Siting said is true, how would you handle it?”

Ran Fanyin remained silent for a moment. “If what she said is true, it is a fact that she committed murder, and it is also a fact that she herself was harmed. All I can do is eliminate her resentment and send her into the cycle of reincarnation.”

“…Master is a gentle person, but this still allows for some room for choice.”

In life, one will always encounter situations where a compromise cannot be reached. How will you make the sacrifice then?

Thinking too much, Ning Songwu’s head began to hurt again. Her slight frown was noticed by Ran Fanyin. Recalling the contents of the book, after an internal struggle, Ran Fanyin gently spoke, “If you are tired, lean on my shoulder.”

Ning Songwu was absolutely certain that the sun had risen in the east today. Could she still be trapped in an illusionary realm?

But she was too tired. If it was an illusionary realm, so be it. She would take comfort wherever she could find it.

Leaning her head on Ran Fanyin’s shoulder, Ning Songwu could look up and see her completely flushed earlobe. It looked just like the fruit produced by the cherry tree in Bailu Village. At that time, Ning Songwu would always look up under the tree, wishing that the cherries would fall down.

But the owner of the cherry tree would not have pity on this dirty little beggar. He would take up a broom and drive Ning Songwu away, just as if he were chasing a stray dog.

The past was too painful to recall. Ning Songwu held no resentment in her heart, but now that she was experiencing hallucinations, she genuinely mistook the flushed object before her eyes for a cherry. So, she leaned closer and closer.

Ning Songwu’s breath sprayed onto Ran Fanyin’s neck. Ran Fanyin suddenly broke out in goosebumps. She shrugged her shoulder backward, somewhat alarmed: “What are you doing!”

Recalling the startled look on Ran Fanyin’s face at that time, Ning Songwu couldn’t help but chuckle.

Lin Yuxue saw her alternating between spacing out and smiling. This felt just like a young girl in the throes of first love. The fire of gossip burned brightly in her heart. Lin Yuxue leaned in close to Ning Songwu and whispered, “Junior Sister, do you have a sweetheart? Which peak’s junior brother is it?”

Ning Songwu’s smile froze at the corner of her mouth. “It’s not a junior brother. I…”

“Then it must be a junior sister! Don’t worry, Senior Sister supports you!”

Lin Yuxue patted Ning Songwu’s shoulder, her eyes full of genuine warmth.

Ning Songwu couldn’t bear it anymore. She slapped Lin Yuxue’s hand away: “I told you it’s not! There’s no way I would have a secret crush!”

What was wrong with this person? If it wasn’t a junior brother, it could be someone outside Mount Cangjun. Why would she jump to a junior sister? It was truly inexplicable.

Lin Yuxue listened, then rubbed her chin and thought for a moment. She then backed away from Ning Songwu with a look of horror: “You couldn’t possibly like me, could you! Junior Sister, you can’t. Senior Sister already has someone she likes!”

A vein throbbed on Ning Songwu’s forehead. She grabbed a handful of grass from the ground and threw it at Lin Yuxue: “Go to hell! Stop being so narcissistic! I wouldn’t like you!”

Lin Yuxue turned to the side to dodge, perfectly avoiding Ning Songwu’s attack. She then asked with a hint of nervousness: “Then who exactly do you like?”

Ning Songwu clenched her fists, wanting to leave two black eyes on Lin Yuxue’s beautiful face, but Ning Songwu knew she could not do it. If she tried, she might end up being soundly beaten by Lin Yuxue instead.

Weighing the pros and cons, Ning Songwu rolled her eyes at Lin Yuxue: “I was just thinking about Master, that’s all.”

Lin Yuxue’s expression gradually shifted from nervousness to horror. She was so shocked her voice cracked: “You actually like Martial Uncle!”

She couldn’t take it. She truly couldn’t take this. Ning Songwu rolled up her sleeves, determined to fight Lin Yuxue to the death.

But the girl suddenly took off on her sword and flew away. Her teasing voice drifted down from mid-air: “Don’t worry, my good Junior Sister! I absolutely won’t tell anyone!”

“Go away!”

Ning Songwu was furious. At the same time, she wondered if she truly had fallen in love with Ran Fanyin.

After much thought, Ning Songwu concluded that she only wanted to see Ran Fanyin flustered and frantic.

Hmm, it must be this. Ning Songwu told herself this.