After My Thoughts Were Read, My Master Led Me to Change My Fate - Chapter 72.1

The weather in Kunlun, which lies west of Beifa, was far colder than Beifa. The towering mountain range intercepted a large amount of frigid air currents. The snow fell harder each day, accumulating outside the entrance of the Huaxu Realm Cave to a depth that exceeded a person’s shin, making it somewhat difficult to push open the cave door when entering or exiting.

On the bed inside the cave, the exposed arm of Ran Fanyin was startled by the cold, causing her to shiver. She frowned, slowly rubbed the center of her brow, and opened her eyes.

The moment she moved, a tearing pain shot through her thighs, making her violently flinch and forcing her to recover for a long while.

A hand, not her own, was resting on her waist, like a warm stove, gently pressed against her slightly cool skin. Ran Fanyin subtly turned her face and saw Ning Songwu leaning against her shoulder, fast asleep.

The young girl’s skin, youthful and healthy, was exceedingly tender and delicate. Just looking at it made one want to reach out and touch it, to feel the delightful sensation of that moist skin, smooth as water, under one’s hand. The bright red cinnabar mark on the center of her brow was the most perfect embellishment on that face of peerless beauty, possessing a kind of allure that made one yearn for her.

Ran Fanyin quietly watched Ning Songwu, who was still embracing her even in her sleep. She reached out to pull the blanket up, covering Ning Songwu’s shoulder to keep out the cold air.

Ning Songwu’s clothes were dishevelled, half-open. As Ran Fanyin tucked the corner of the blanket around her, a small brocade pouch, which must have been placed close to her body, fell out of her clothes and landed right next to Ran Fanyin’s hand.

Ran Fanyin was not a naturally curious person, but the person before her was none other than the one she loved. Naturally, she felt a desire to understand her. Ran Fanyin picked up the brocade pouch, gently pulled the cord to open it, and slipped her slender finger inside, pulling out a small, neatly folded piece of paper.

The paper was folded perfectly square, the corners meticulously aligned without the slightest displacement. However, the edges of the paper were clearly slightly frayed and the color was somewhat yellowed, indicating that she frequently took it out to handle and look at.

What could this item be that she hid so tightly and held in such high regard?

Ran Fanyin opened the paper layer by layer. The thin sheet slowly unfolded before her eyes. When this three-palm-length piece of paper was fully revealed, Ran Fanyin’s fingers gripping the paper became stiff.

One Lifetime of Ning Songwu.

It was the piece of calligraphy she had given Ning Songwu on the Eve of the Lunar New Year.

Had she not seen this item again, she would have completely forgotten about the matter. Ning Songwu looked at their joined hands and pondered inwardly.

Although Master was usually cool and detached, she rarely had moments of such impatience. It seemed she greatly disliked the people at the grand ceremony.

Sensing that Master’s footsteps were more hurried than usual, indicating an unhappy mood, Ning Songwu tentatively inquired, “Does Master have something troubling her?”

Only then did Ran Fanyin notice her lapse in composure. She stopped and looked back, seeing the worry filling Ning Songwu’s eyes, and her heart suddenly warmed.

She had not seen such eyes for a long time. Because of her great strength, most people were accustomed to relying on her. In fact, she was very clear that if she were to disappear one day, the masses would be worried and fearful. Their worry would be for the future of the Human Race, and their fear would be of the power of the Demon Race.

Ran Fanyin thought: “This current state does indeed fulfill Master’s expectations, yet my heart still screams with a sense of resentment. No one is here for me alone.”

“Is Master bothered that those people were too noisy?”

Ning Songwu’s words drew Ran Fanyin’s attention back. She answered faintly, “Yes.”

Ran Fanyin’s fleeting look of dejection did not escape Ning Songwu’s eyes. The outside world rumored that the Frost-Mist Venerable’s strength was formidable and that she despised the Demon Race the most, but Ning Songwu did not think so. She seemed more to be completing a task with a sense of indifference.

“Master is a gentle and strange person.”

Ran Fanyin looked at her charmingly smiling apprentice, not understanding the meaning of her words. She could only ask in confusion, “How am I strange?”

“Strange that Master can lie so earnestly.”

Looking at her grinning apprentice, Ran Fanyin broke out in a cold sweat. She meticulously recalled her every action, wanting to know what had made her arrive at this conclusion.

But after much thought, she still could not find the answer. “Why do you think that way?”

Ning Songwu looked directly into her eyes: “Because Master clearly loves a bustling atmosphere.”

For some reason, Ran Fanyin had a feeling of being completely seen through by her apprentice. She continued to mask it: “That is not true. I prefer quiet.”

“Master, you cannot fool me with that, much less fool yourself. However, if Master does not say it, your apprentice will not ask.”

Ning Songwu was very understanding and did not force Ran Fanyin to admit it. She thought that one day, Master would take the initiative to mention it to her, no longer hiding anything.

However, she still felt a bit disadvantaged. She had already told Master about her past, yet Ning Songwu knew very little about Master’s past.

Looking at Ning Songwu’s warm smile, Ran Fanyin suddenly felt an impulse to confess everything about her past, but the words caught in her throat as she remembered her own Master’s admonition, and she had to swallow her true feelings.

“Let us go. It is time to return to cultivation.”

As soon as these words were uttered, the smile on Ning Songwu’s lips froze. Her small face dropped, covered with reluctance. Seeing her like this, Ran Fanyin’s expression also stiffened, and her voice became slightly cold: “Are you unwilling?”

How could Ning Songwu dare to be unwilling? She immediately nodded vigorously: “Willing, willing.”

This appearance of clinging to life successfully improved Ran Fanyin’s mood. The corner of her mouth quietly lifted into a faint curve, and her voice softened somewhat: “Let us go. Although your progress is fast, your foundation is unstable. If this continues, it will make me lose face.”

The sycophantic Ning Songwu immediately flattered her: “How could that be? How could Master’s beautiful face be ruined?”

Ran Fanyin’s face flushed slightly. This girl was always like this, saying inexplicable things.

She turned and left Ning Songwu behind, her hurried appearance looking exactly like she was running away: “Hurry up and come along.”

Ning Songwu secretly chuckled and answered loudly: “Aye! Coming! Master, wait for me!”

After the grand ceremony concluded, Cen Ran kept Gongsun Yin and Helan Mianmian behind to discuss the matter of the formation in Wanjia Village.

After the group looked at the formation diagram, Gongsun Yin provided news that made Cen Ran’s head ache even more.

“There is also a formation like this in the territory governed by my Zhenqi Sect. I had intended to discuss this matter with you, Deputy Gate Master, but I didn’t expect such a coincidence.”

Gongsun Yin said with a look of surprise, looking at the formation diagram Cen Ran had taken out.

Cen Ran’s brow was tightly furrowed. He anxiously asked, “Does your esteemed sect have a method to break it?”

Gongsun Yin shook his head and sighed, “This formation is complex and difficult to break. That is why we intended to come and consult you.”

Cen Ran only felt his head ache more intensely. His Master had stated before her death that a great calamity would occur four hundred years later. As expected, once the four-hundred-year mark arrived, all sorts of wicked things began to emerge, including the highly irregular matter of his Senior Sister suddenly taking an apprentice.

Although he greatly wanted to wash his hands of the whole affair, Mount Cangjun was the leader of all sects. He could not show any fear at this time, firstly to stabilize the morale of the people, and secondly because over the past five hundred years, the Human Race was no longer as united as before. More and more sects wished to replace Mount Cangjun’s position.

Fortunately, the Demon Race was not yet defeated; humans still had an external enemy. If the Demon Race were to be eliminated, it would likely be the beginning of internal strife within the Human Race.

Cen Ran was inwardly troubled, but he still smoothed out his furrowed brow and pondered for a moment: “Your esteemed sect is proficient in formations. You shouldn’t be completely without findings. Do you have any other discoveries?”

Gongsun Yin smiled: “This kind of formation seems to be based on resentment. Once the formation is generated, it continuously drains the surrounding spiritual energy, and we also discovered that the formation has an accompanying illusionary effect.”

This was all intelligence that Mount Cangjun already possessed. Cen Ran nodded and said, “We are already aware of this.”

“Deputy Sect Master, don’t rush. We also discovered that this formation seems to be a corner of another, larger formation. That is to say, this formation is only a small part. Currently, we know of Wanjia Village’s and ours. One is in the north, and one is in the east. Based on my speculation, there are three more such formations, located in the west, southeast, and southwest.”

Cen Ran was shocked. Traveling in those three directions would mostly lead to the territory of the Demon Race. Spiritual energy was paramount to both the Demon Race and human cultivators.

If this formation was intentional, was the perpetrator a demon or a human? What exactly was their goal?

Cen Ran was worried inside but appeared outwardly calm: “Then, as you say, what would be the consequence if this grand formation were to be completed?”

Gongsun Yin: “For that, Gui’er, you tell him.”

It was only then that Helan Mianmian gained a sense of presence. He was gentle, with a face like polished jade, easily inspiring goodwill in others. After a shy smile, Helan Mianmian began to explain: “Forgive my presumptuousness, but if this grand formation is completed, it will cover the entire Human and Demon Realms. The effect of the formation will remain the same: based on resentment, it will drain all spiritual energy and create an illusionary realm.”

Cen Ran then truly noticed the young man. He had not spoken until now, so Cen Ran had overlooked him.

Those who attended the ceremony had a register of names, and Cen Ran had a photographic memory. He knew that this young man was the formation prodigy and future successor of the Zhenqi Sect.

Cen Ran showed a measure of appreciation and seriousness. He smiled: “Elder Gongsun’s apprentice is young and promising. It is something to be envied.”

Gongsun Yin naturally knew this was a courteous remark, but he also thought so himself. He smiled proudly: “My humble apprentice does indeed possess some talent, but he is no match for the two apprentices of the Deputy Sect Master, and certainly no match for the beloved apprentice of the Frost-Mist Venerable.”

Although the flattery was insincere, people still enjoyed hearing it. Among the Four Great Sects, the Zhenqi Sect should be the most detached from worldly affairs. Therefore, Cen Ran had a favorable impression of the people from the Zhenqi Sect.

However, the matter of the formation was even more complex as it involved the Demon Race. Of course, Cen Ran hoped that the Demon Race would be troubled by the formation, but if the grand formation were to be completed, the Human Race would also lose the opportunity for cultivation and seeking the Dao.

But the relationship between the Human and Demon Races was still tense. The Demon Race had no trust in the Human Race. If they were to investigate, they could only send people to infiltrate the Demon Realm’s territory, but who should be sent for such a dangerous mission?

“May I ask the Senior, is Fairy Ning a Spirit-Devouring Physique?”

Helan Mianmian asked Cen Ran, who was sitting at the head of the table.

Although he did not understand the meaning, Cen Ran still answered yes, then asked, “Why do you ask this suddenly?”

Helan Mianmian was not intimidated: “A Spirit-Devouring Physique can not only devour spiritual energy but also souls. The grand formation is based on resentment, and vengeful spirits thrive within the formation. Perhaps a Spirit-Devouring Physique can suppress the formation.”

It sounded reasonable, but Cen Ran did not dare to readily agree. He had sent people to purify the vengeful spirits within the formation, but those he sent were nearly consumed by the spirits and lost their minds.

Ning Songwu was, after all, only a sixteen-year-old girl. The probability of her succeeding was still very small.

After various considerations, Cen Ran merely gave an excuse: “I have not heard that a Spirit-Devouring Physique has this ability. Please allow me to discuss this matter with my Senior Sister before making a decision.”

Seeing that Cen Ran had not agreed, Helan Mianmian opened his mouth to speak further, but Gongsun Yin pulled him back. Gongsun Yin played mediator: “Then we trouble the Deputy Sect Master.”

Cen Ran nodded and saw the two out the door.

Watching the master and apprentice of Gongsun Yin disappear into the horizon, Cen Ran finally dared to sigh.

He rose and headed towards Chao Ci Peak, planning to discuss the matter with his Senior Sister, who rarely involved herself in affairs.

Ning Songwu suddenly stirred, lightly mumbling something, showing signs of waking up. Ran Fanyin momentarily did not know what to do. She quickly refolded the piece of calligraphy, shoved it back into the brocade pouch, and returned it to Ning Songwu. She then closed her eyes and began to feign sleep.

When Ning Songwu opened her eyes, she rubbed them. Her hand then habitually rested on Ran Fanyin’s waist. Ran Fanyin’s heart pounded wildly from this slight intimate contact.

Ning Songwu’s consciousness was blurred, and her vision was also hazy. She struggled to clearly see the objects before her. Her eyes widened so much they looked like they might pop out.

Was she still dreaming? How could Master… still be in her bed? And… with bare shoulders…

Last night was not a dream?!

Ning Songwu opened her mouth, holding the sleeping Ran Fanyin in a state of bewilderment, unable to calm her heart for a long time.

What exactly was going on…

Ning Songwu cautiously released Ran Fanyin. She put her hand on her own forehead; her fever seemed to have broken. She slowly got up, tidied her clothes, and looked at the person in the bed with disbelief, deciding she should go out and find someone to ask about the situation. Her last clear memory was kneeling in the snow, her head burning feverishly.

As Ning Songwu got up, the bed surface lifted slightly, losing one person’s weight. Sensing her departure, Ran Fanyin felt an inexplicable emptiness in her heart. Her fingers resting on the blanket tightened slightly, grasping a small wrinkle.

Ning Songwu’s steps were somewhat unsteady, slightly top-heavy. She walked out, supporting herself against the wall of the Huaxu Realm Cave, constantly looking around for any sign of people.

It was morning. Boxue was carrying a food container, preparing to head to the Kunlun kitchen to fetch some food for the venerables inside this secluded cave. Just as she stepped out, she nearly bumped into Ning Songwu.

“Oh dear… you startled me. Why are you out of bed? Are your injuries all healed that you are running around?”