After My Thoughts Were Read, My Master Led Me to Change My Fate - Chapter 75.1

In the main hall of the Northern Vengeance Mountain Sect Master.

With his snowy white hair and an aura of immortal righteousness, Hon-shen Cen (鴻升岑), the Sect Master, sat upon the master’s throne, his eyes slightly closed. His calm and composed demeanor, like the morning dew nourishing all life, exuded a powerful presence that alone was enough to awe and command the entire Northern Vengeance Palace.

His two disciples, Cheng Yun-huan and Jiang Yue, sat cross-legged below him, in a state of cultivation. Circles of powerful energy radiated from their bodies.

After a long time, the three finished their cultivation and let out a light sigh.

Jiang Yue frowned, looking at the empty seat next to her. Ran Fan-yin should have been there. Every so often, the four of them—Master and three disciples—would gather here to circulate and smooth out their different cultivation energies, helping each other to reach a higher plane. For centuries, no one had ever been absent, so why was Ran Fan-yin missing today?

“I thought, perhaps, that Junior Sister was just late. Now it seems she doesn’t intend to come this time,” Cheng Yun-huan said quietly.

Hon-shen Cen opened his eyes. Those incomparably bright eyes had seen through all the vicissitudes of the mortal world. The long years had left behind a seasoned, profound wisdom in his gaze. Compared to his three disciples, he had truly experienced the ugliness of the world, having both taken up and let go, possessing a breadth and serenity of mind unlike ordinary mortals.

“I heard that Ran Fan-yin has taken in a new young disciple,” Hon-shen Cen said, looking at Jiang Yue.

Jiang Yue nodded: “Yes, Master. Junior Sister may be temporarily tied up with miscellaneous affairs.” Ning Song-wu’s (寧淞霧) mind went blank. She subconsciously wanted to flee, but she stopped just a few steps after leaving Ran Fan-yin behind.

“Because you are my disciple.”

Ran Fan-yin’s last words before fainting echoed in Ning Song-wu’s mind. Her fists, clenched at her sides, loosened and tightened. After a struggle, Ning Song-wu impatiently clicked her tongue, turned back, and carried her on her back.

Ning Song-wu didn’t know medicine. Carrying the severely injured Ran Fan-yin, she threatened, “Don’t think I’ll be grateful to you! I can’t find the way back, and if you don’t wake up soon, both of us are going to die.”

Ning Song-wu’s voice echoed in the dark cave, but there was no response.

To relieve her mental stress, Ning Song-wu began to ramble: “I’m telling you, is the strongest human too weak? You should at least show me some of your power as a Master. If you always take a beating, I won’t ever look up to you.”

“You passed over so many talented people and insisted on taking me, a waste, as your disciple. Now look, you’re injured like this!”

“You’re not trying to use a pity ploy to force me to improve, are you? I’m warning you, that trick won’t work. My heart is very tough.”

“Wake up quickly… I don’t want to owe you a favor.”

Ning Song-wu’s voice gradually faded, moving from curses to a hint of pleading.

A faint light appeared ahead. Ning Song-wu’s eyes brightened. Though she didn’t know if it was the exit, light was certainly better than fumbling blindly in the dark cave.

However, the path ahead was unknown and perilous. Ning Song-wu lightened her steps and hugged the cave wall, moving toward the blue-glowing hole. She cautiously peeked in and saw a spring inside. The water was azure blue, and a pile of clothes was set by the edge.

Looking closer, the clothes were the style Ran Fan-yin usually wore.

Was Master bathing here before?

Ning Song-wu had already noticed that Ran Fan-yin was only wearing her underclothes, her hair was loose, and her body was completely soaked.

This cave was a labyrinth of passages. Clearly, Ning Song-wu had taken a wrong turn, but this spot seemed safe.

Once she understood this, Ning Song-wu first put Ran Fan-yin down, letting her sit leaning against the cave wall.

It was cold in this place. Ning Song-wu picked up Ran Fan-yin’s clothes and draped them over her, then checked her breathing with her hand.

“Tough life. Not dead yet.”

Ning Song-wu let out a sigh of relief. Then, she suddenly remembered that Ran Fan-yin’s wounds had not been bandaged. At the time, her mind had been in chaos, and she hadn’t thought about it.

Annoyed, she thumped her head. Ning Song-wu then supported Ran Fan-yin’s back, cradling her in her arms. The unconscious Ran Fan-yin was very obedient, like a delicate, fragile porcelain doll. Ning Song-wu undid her clothes to check the injuries on her back.

“Hiss!”

Ning Song-wu sucked in a cold breath. What she saw was a mass of bloody, mangled flesh, which made her already complicated mood even worse.

I should bandage her first, Ning Song-wu temporarily set aside the turmoil in her heart.

Tear! Ning Song-wu decisively ripped off the bottom of her own skirt and carefully began to wrap Ran Fan-yin.

The injured area was too large, and Ning Song-wu’s bandaging skills were unprofessional, so she wasted a lot of material.

In the end, half of Ning Song-wu’s skirt was torn away, making her look quite odd with her remaining undergarments.

After finishing, she clapped her hands and stood with her hands on her hips, looking down at Ran Fan-yin, who was wrapped like a dumpling on the ground. She nodded, satisfied: “My handiwork looks pretty good.”

Ning Song-wu even mischievously tied a bow knot on Ran Fan-yin’s right shoulder.

The sleeping Ran Fan-yin could not feel any of this. She just frowned slightly, as if having a nightmare.

Carefully helping Ran Fan-yin put her clothes back on, Ning Song-wu felt her face flush. She closed her eyes and thought enviously and resentfully, “Darn it! I couldn’t tell when she was wearing clothes, but I didn’t expect her figure to be so good.”

But why am I blushing? This is wrong. I have everything she has.

Could it be that I really am the way Lin Yu-xue said, that I like girls?

Be calm! Ning Song-wu, be calm! The person in front of you is an old woman five hundred years older than you. She doesn’t have the right to rob the cradle!

Wait, why must it be her robbing me? That’s not fair! Ning Song-wu was awakened by hunger. She clutched her stomach and got out of bed, her steps a little weak.

The thought of having to deal with Ran Fan-yin’s instruction later made Ning Song-wu’s head ache. Ran Fan-yin had long since achieved Bigu (sustained only by spiritual energy), so there wouldn’t be any food on Morning Farewell Peak.

Ning Song-wu pushed open the window and, without surprise, saw Ran Fan-yin standing next to the clump of dark yin plants in the courtyard. Like the other yin plants on the mountain, these were a little shorter.

Ning Song-wu didn’t know what Ran Fan-yin did standing there every day, but this person really liked the yin plants. Not only was the character yin (殷) in her name, but the whole mountain was also planted with them.

As if sensing Ning Song-wu’s gaze, Ran Fan-yin turned her head and saw Ning Song-wu, whose complexion was poor. She calmly said, “You’re awake.”

Ning Song-wu’s tone was cautious: “Yes, Master. What will we learn today?”

Ran Fan-yin frowned slightly, almost imperceptibly. Ran Fan-yin already knew about what happened at Morning Dew Peak yesterday, though she didn’t know much—only that Ning Song-wu had been bullied and had used the Sect Master’s disciple’s name to solve the problem.

Ran Fan-yin was not skilled in managing sect affairs, usually leaving them to her Junior Brother, Cen Ran. To Azure Peak Mountain, she was more of a symbol and a deterrent.

The prolonged silence was torturous. Ning Song-wu, seeing Ran Fan-yin staring at her without speaking, thought she had done something wrong again to annoy her.

An irritable feeling rose in Ning Song-wu’s heart, becoming more and more intense.

“Why didn’t you tell me about yesterday’s matter?”

Ran Fan-yin’s question stunned Ning Song-wu. She hadn’t expected Ran Fan-yin to investigate such a trivial matter. But why? Ning Song-wu didn’t understand.

Just then, it began to rain. Drip, drop, and then more and more. The yin leaves rattled loudly as they were hit. Ran Fan-yin stood in front of the dark yin plants, the rainwater deflected by her magical power. For a moment, her blue robe seemed a little hazy.

Ning Song-wu was standing inside the house, while Ran Fan-yin was standing in the rain. If Ning Song-wu didn’t show any concern at this point, it wouldn’t look right. So, Ning Song-wu got an umbrella, went out, and held it over Ran Fan-yin’s head.

“Master, let’s go inside first.”

Ran Fan-yin looked at Ning Song-wu, a little dazed. She seemed to be looking at Ning Song-wu, and yet, at the same time, looking through Ning Song-wu at someone else.

Ning Song-wu felt a chill under her gaze. She thought, What’s wrong with this person? Could she be too old and confused?

Ning Song-wu was slightly shorter than Ran Fan-yin. She pulled on Ran Fan-yin’s sleeve and asked in a questioning tone, “Master?”

Ran Fan-yin suddenly snapped back to the present. She withdrew her gaze and walked forward. Ning Song-wu followed her, holding the umbrella, but the rainwater splashed onto the hem of Ning Song-wu’s clothes.

Ran Fan-yin glanced down and then subtly used a spell to dry it.

Ning Song-wu felt no more rain on her side. She guessed that Ran Fan-yin had used a spell. Ning Song-wu could not understand Ran Fan-yin. People she couldn’t understand made Ning Song-wu feel very insecure.

Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, Ran Fan-yin was particularly concerned about her. She couldn’t escape, and she couldn’t leave.

Once inside, Ran Fan-yin sat by the table. Ning Song-wu shook the umbrella twice, then entered the room and closed the door.

After putting the umbrella away, Ning Song-wu walked up to Ran Fan-yin. Regarding the question Ran Fan-yin had asked, Ning Song-wu had already prepared an answer: “Master works hard every day. I didn’t want to add to your burden.”

This reason was plausible. It was rare for Ning Song-wu to be so considerate. “You’ve changed.”

Ran Fan-yin meant that her current appearance was completely different from the cold indifference she showed before becoming a disciple.

Ning Song-wu smiled indifferently: “That’s all thanks to Master’s guidance.”

“How so?”

Ning Song-wu looked at the hem of her skirt, her voice gentle: “Although Master seems strict, you always silently care for me. You shield me from the wind, and you earnestly teach me cultivation. I am very grateful to you.”

Ning Song-wu’s eyes were too sincere. Ran Fan-yin saw no hint of resentment in them. However, her words stirred a sense of guilt in Ran Fan-yin.

She spoke calmly, though her voice was slightly softer than usual: “I am not that good.”

This was Ran Fan-yin’s true feeling, and Ning Song-wu coincidentally felt the same way. However, she couldn’t speak her true thoughts. What if Ran Fan-yin got upset and made her manage Morning Farewell Peak?

Therefore, Ning Song-wu immediately said again, “Master really is that good.”

Ran Fan-yin looked at Ning Song-wu’s faint smile and sighed inwardly. She then thought about how Ning Song-wu hadn’t eaten yesterday and had climbed the mountain for so long. A mortal body certainly couldn’t endure it.

“Let’s go.”

Ran Fan-yin said this and then turned to leave the door. Although Ning Song-wu didn’t know what she was going to do, she followed.

Ran Fan-yin summoned her flying sword and then brought Ning Song-wu up onto it.

The flying sword headed down the mountain. Along the way, Ran Fan-yin spoke to Ning Song-wu: “If you don’t want to trouble me, you can cultivate well. When you become strong, they will fear you.”

Ning Song-wu didn’t answer, only giving a vague “Mmm.”

It was daytime, and the restaurants hadn’t closed yet. Ran Fan-yin led Ning Song-wu to the most grandly decorated one. Ran Fan-yin deliberately changed her appearance with a spell.

Ran Fan-yin was not skilled in this kind of disguise, but for this town, where most people only had a superficial understanding of immortal arts, it was enough.

Ning Song-wu sat down with Ran Fan-yin. She didn’t understand what kind of scene was being played out now, but as long as there was food, that was enough.

Ning Song-wu casually ordered a few dishes and then waited. Ran Fan-yin closed her eyes as soon as she sat down. Ning Song-wu was a little unhappy with her detached, transcendent appearance.

Ning Song-wu turned her head towards the window, deciding that out of sight was out of mind.

Glancing out the window, she saw a commotion downstairs—a group of people were wrestling, and it looked like a rich young master was trying to forcibly take a peasant girl. Ning Song-wu’s face instantly soured, but she silently withdrew her gaze from the window.

Ran Fan-yin opened her eyes. She looked at Ning Song-wu: “Don’t you have any thoughts about it?”

Ning Song-wu looked at the calm-faced Ran Fan-yin. For some reason, she felt that Ran Fan-yin was testing her. Ning Song-wu thought for a moment and replied, “This disciple’s power is weak, and I don’t want to trouble Master.”

Ran Fan-yin didn’t speak. She just looked at Ning Song-wu, trying to discern something from her face.

Ning Song-wu’s heart jumped. She hid her true indifference, feigning a look of distress.

Finally, Ran Fan-yin stopped looking at her. She just stood up and said to Ning Song-wu, “Let’s go,” and then headed downstairs, apparently intending to interfere.

Ning Song-wu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly followed Ran Fan-yin. By the time Ning Song-wu caught up, Ran Fan-yin was already confronting the rich young master.

Ning Song-wu watched from the side as Ran Fan-yin used violent means to knock down the young master and his lackeys, and then took the poor girl home.

The matter seemed to go smoothly, but Ning Song-wu noticed that the poor girl seemed hesitant, as if she had some reservations.

Ning Song-wu didn’t say anything. She decided to wait and see what was happening.

After walking for a while, they finally reached the poor girl’s home. Ran Fan-yin said to the girl, “All right, go back.”

The girl’s eyes were full of tears. She seemed not to know what to do and stood still, trembling as if in fear of something.

Before long, a drunken middle-aged man staggered out of the dilapidated house. The man rubbed his eyes. After confirming it was his daughter, he became enraged.

He slammed the wine jar in his hand to the ground, and it instantly shattered. The poor girl shivered and hid behind Ran Fan-yin.

The drunken man roared, “Why are you back! Didn’t I tell you to go with Young Master Chen? You snuck back? I’m going to beat you to death!”

Hearing this, the girl trembled even more violently: “Father, I didn’t run.”

The girl’s voice held a hint of a sob, but this did not awaken the drunken man’s conscience. Hearing his daughter’s defense only made him angrier. His eyes widened: “You still dare to lie! I’ll beat you to death right now!”

Saying this, the drunken man picked up a wooden stick from the ground and prepared to strike.

Ran Fan-yin couldn’t stand it. She cast a spell to freeze the man’s actions.

Ning Song-wu witnessed the entire farce. She found that her cheap Master seemed a little naive, and her way of thinking was a bit too straightforward.

Ning Song-wu looked at the girl, who was trembling like a sieve, and asked, “Why didn’t you ask for help on the road?”