After My Thoughts Were Read, My Master Led Me to Change My Fate - Chapter 78

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

The Northern Vengeance Mountain, just entering winter, was still covered in a heavy blanket of snow. Everything in sight was white, without a single spot of color. No matter how much time passed, no matter how many disciples came and went, the structure of Northern Vengeance Palace remained the same. Time seemed unable to leave its mark here.

Thinking of this, Ning Song-wu couldn’t help but smile. It was a good thing Northern Vengeance Palace looked this way all year round. The painting she was making, which would hang in the Withering-Prospering Pavilion, would always be timely.

The ten-year-old girl had grown much taller, and her features were beginning to open up, showing a beauty that hinted at a devastating charm. Her previous distress and timidity were long gone. Dressed in a goose-yellow, flowing-sleeved tunic, the blood-red Flowing Jade around her neck complemented the cinnabar spot between her eyebrows, radiating spiritual energy. She was so lovely that one wanted to pinch her cheeks.

Ning Song-wu lay sprawled lazily on the desk, holding a wolf-hair brush dipped in ink with her left hand, contemplating the composition of the painting.

“Ning Song-wu, it’s time to eat.” Cen Ran (岑染) walked into the room and affectionately stroked Ning Song-wu’s head. Cen Ran was sixteen years old this year, in the prime of youth, and her every movement was increasingly gentle and kind.

“Senior Sister, I’m not hungry yet,” Ning Song-wu whined softly, her dark eyes darting about playfully. “Isn’t Master returning from Mount Hua soon? She’s been gone for half a month. I need to hurry and finish this painting to give to Master.”

Cen Ran chuckled: “Alright, if Master sees that you’ve made such progress, she, the elder, will definitely be happy.”

Hearing this, Ning Song-wu suddenly flared up like an agitated cat: “Master is not old at all!”

Cen Ran lightly patted Ning Song-wu’s small head: “Fine, I was just teasing. I’ll have Senior Brother Zi-sheng bring your food in a little while. Be sure to eat.”

As the youngest girl in the sect, Ning Song-wu’s early life was fraught with misfortune, making her particularly endearing. Ran Fan-yin spoiled her, and Zi-sheng and Cen Ran were even more intent on spoiling her rotten. In the past three years, Ning Song-wu’s temper had become increasingly willful and fearless. Ning Song-wu rarely listened to anyone, and only Ran Fan-yin could control her. If Master said one, she would never dare to say two.

Cen Ran sometimes felt that everyone in the sect protected Ning Song-wu too well, causing the child to lack much needed tempering, which led to her overly flamboyant personality. Thankfully, Master was here. This little brat dared to disobey anyone but Ran Fan-yin.

“Senior Sister…” Ning Song-wu suddenly flopped down like a deflated balloon, her tone dejected. “Master has been gone for sixteen days. Tomorrow will be the seventeenth. Why didn’t she agree to take me to Mount Hua with her… She clearly promised me she would return as soon as possible, and it’s been so long… so long…” As she spoke, a hint of a sob even crept into Ning Song-wu’s voice.

“That’s right, Master also said that when she returns this time, she will teach you sword techniques.”

Ning Song-wu wiped her snot and tears onto a handkerchief with a sniffle, her voice muffled: “Learning the sword isn’t important. It’s enough as long as Master comes back…”

Cen Ran smiled bitterly and shook her head. She is still just a child, after all.

It was about time. “You’ll reach the Golden Core stage after a single night’s sleep. Aren’t you satisfied?”

Lin Yu-xue (林玉雪) really wanted to punch this sorrowful-faced fellow. She suspected Ning Song-wu was showing off.

Ning Song-wu was genuinely unhappy. She didn’t want to become strong; she just wanted to coast through this life. An existence that should have lasted only a few decades had now turned into several centuries.

Knowing that her thoughts differed from most people’s and that voicing them would make people think she was crazy, Ning Song-wu knew she was, in fact, crazy.

To Lin Yu-xue’s astonished gaze, Ning Song-wu sat up from the grass and stretched: “Cultivation is for seeking the Dao. What is Senior Sister’s Dao?”

Lin Yu-xue paused: “Why do you ask, Junior Sister?”

“I’m just curious. When I first met Senior Sister, I thought you were a bit shy, but after we got closer, I realized you were just a crazy woman. I can’t find anything you care about.”

Lin Yu-xue was a little dissatisfied with the “crazy woman” evaluation. Her expression twitched, but she didn’t flare up: “I started cultivating to run away from a marriage. After escaping, I was ‘abducted’ to Azure Peak Mountain by Master, who passed by. But too much time has passed, and the parents who forced me to marry are no longer with us.”

Ning Song-wu suddenly became curious: “May I ask Senior Sister’s age?”

Lin Yu-xue looked up and pondered: “Hmm, I think I’m almost two hundred years old now.”

Good heavens, one more elder added to the list.

Ning Song-wu felt that Lin Yu-xue had become much more benevolent, but it was normal. To mortals, the people on Azure Peak Mountain were like deities, but Ning Song-wu could never integrate. She would rather be a mortal.

“Then what is Senior Sister cultivating the Dao for? Is it for eternal life? But why do you want eternal life?”

“Oh, why are you making it so complicated? I cultivate the Dao… because I want to watch over someone.”

When she said this, Lin Yu-xue’s tone was very gentle, just like when Ning Song-wu first met her.

Seeing her like this, Ning Song-wu couldn’t help but remind her: “Is Senior Sister cultivating the Dao for someone else? What if that person can’t reciprocate? Won’t constant giving be drowned out by suffering? Will it all be worth it in the end?”

A flash of pain crossed Lin Yu-xue’s face. Then, she reverted to her usual carefree demeanor. She slapped Ning Song-wu on the back and lectured her in the manner of an elder: “Why do children ask so many questions! You haven’t been in love! Oh wait, what exactly happened between you and Martial Uncle? It seemed very intense.”

Ning Song-wu’s expression changed. All thoughts about the Dao and sacrifice were thrown to the wind. She clenched her right hand into a fist and aimed it at Lin Yu-xue’s face: “Die!”

How could Lin Yu-xue let her hit her face? She whooshed up into the air again: “Oh! Good Junior Sister, don’t be shy! I think your path to ‘counterattack’ will be long and arduous, but Senior Sister is rooting for you!”

What in the world is she talking about! Ning Song-wu was mortified and enraged. She had cultivation but no magic spells, so she could only roar, “Scram!”

“Ning Song-wu.”

A cool voice extinguished Ning Song-wu’s anger. She stiffly turned her head and, sure enough, saw a glimpse of a blue robe.

It’s over. She had forgotten that Master had finished her retreat. How much of the conversation did she hear?

Ning Song-wu slowly shuffled over to Ran Fan-yin and stammered: “M-Master, when did you arrive?”

“Not long ago.”

Ning Song-wu quietly peeked at Ran Fan-yin’s expression. Seeing that her expression was as calm as usual and she didn’t seem angry, Ning Song-wu inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Wait, even if she did hear it, Lin Yu-xue should be the one getting punished. Why am I worried too?

Ning Song-wu was increasingly unable to understand herself.

While Ning Song-wu was still struggling with her thoughts, Ran Fan-yin suddenly spoke again: “What does ‘counterattack’ mean? Were you quarreling with Junior Niece Lin?”

Ran Fan-yin looked utterly bewildered. She looked at her obedient disciple, and her eyes sparkled with intense curiosity.

Don’t be curious about strange things!!!

Ning Song-wu screamed madly in her heart, cold sweat dripping down her face. Suddenly, she came up with a marvelous explanation: “‘Counterattack’ means that I can’t beat Senior Sister Lin now, but when my strength grows, I will be able to defeat her. Senior Sister was encouraging me to improve. Ah yes! That’s exactly it!”

“So that’s it,” Ran Fan-yin was enlightened. “Then come with me to learn spells. I asked my Junior Brother about your constitution. If you don’t have powerful strength to protect yourself, it will be very dangerous.”

Ning Song-wu recovered and caught the key point in her words: “Why is it very dangerous?”

“The Spirit Devouring Constitution is the most suitable constitution for storing spiritual energy, but it is also the constitution most likely to attract demons. In other words, in the eyes of a demon, you are the freshest and most delicious food.”

So that’s how it is. Ning Song-wu followed behind Ran Fan-yin, her expression somewhat downcast.

Ran Fan-yin saw this and promised softly: “There’s no need to be afraid. I will protect you.”

Ning Song-wu was startled. A surge of warmth uncontrollably rose in her heart, and her eyes stung with the urge to cry. But the emotion was too real, and Ning Song-wu didn’t want to show it. She smiled brightly: “Mhm! After all, Master is the most powerful person in the world!”

Master, oh Master, do you know that someone once made that promise to me? In the end, she kept her promise, but she left me forever, leaving me to exist in the world like a wandering soul.

Cultivate and seek the Dao? What Dao am I seeking, then? I was originally just living for the sake of living.

The path down the mountain was shaded by a dense forest. Sunlight filtered through the intertwined branches and leaves, casting dappled, fragmented shadows on the blue robe. A few birdsongs drifted from afar, making Morning Farewell Peak seem even more secluded.

Ning Song-wu recalled her conversation with Lin Yu-xue just now. She asked softly again, “Master, what is the Dao you seek?”

She had expected Ran Fan-yin to speak of grand ambitions like the common people of the world or the peace and happiness of the human race.

But Ran Fan-yin simply stopped walking, a flash of confusion in her eyes: “I don’t know.”

She doesn’t know? How could that be the answer.

“Let’s go. It’s getting late. Your cultivation for today has not been completed.”

Ran Fan-yin clearly didn’t want to discuss this topic further. Ning Song-wu was sensible and didn’t ask again. She just pretended to be her usual self: “Haha! Master, I’m just a registered disciple! I don’t need to be so diligent.”

“…I have discussed it with my Junior Brother. You will become my true disciple.”

Ran Fan-yin originally had no intention of taking a disciple. She was accustomed to solitude and was uncomfortable with close relationships. Moreover, someone had told her that too many attachments would lead to more worries, which would cause her to become indecisive in her actions, and the sword in her hand would become dull.

But since she had taken this step, she had to bear the responsibility.

If it were before, Ning Song-wu would definitely have refused this news, but now, Ning Song-wu felt no rejection. Instead, there was a faint sense of joy. The corners of her mouth curved up: “Master, aren’t you afraid I’ll annoy you?”

“I’m not afraid, so you don’t need to annoy me.”

Ning Song-wu walked behind her with her hands clasped behind her back, her voice light: “Your foolish disciple asks for much guidance, Master.”

At this moment, on the main peak of Azure Peak Mountain, Cen Ran sat in the palace hall. A formation diagram floated in front of him. He looked at the diagram, his brow deeply furrowed.

The formation depicted in the diagram was the same one found in Ten Thousand Families Village. Unfortunately, even after checking all the ancient texts of Azure Peak Mountain, he couldn’t find out what the formation was about. There was some clue regarding Chen Si-ting’s (陳思婷) identity: she was a hybrid of a Bone Demon and a living person’s soul, and her so-called painful memories were likely an illusion created by the formation itself.

In short, everything was terrible. Someone must be behind this, and the practice of synthesizing other life forms with living souls was contrary to the laws of heaven and had long been banned by the cultivation world.

In addition to these matters, he also had to handle the ceremony for Senior Sister’s acceptance of a disciple. At that time, all the great human cultivators would be invited to attend. This was another troublesome matter. Cen Ran felt that his hair loss situation was about to worsen.

He couldn’t help but let out a long sigh: “Senior Sister, you should at least handle some of the affairs.”

“Master, may I come in?”

Zi-sheng’s voice came from outside the door. Cen Ran collected his complaints. He still needed to maintain his image in front of his disciple.

“Come in.”

Zi-sheng pushed the door open and entered. Her posture was proper, and her disciple uniform was worn impeccably, leaving no room for fault.

“Master, this disciple has already sent messages to all sects regarding the Sect Master’s acceptance of a disciple.”

Cen Ran felt some comfort looking at his eldest disciple. He thought, Finally, I have someone who can help me.

He sincerely praised her: “My disciple, you have done very well. By the way, how is your cultivation progressing?”

A trace of unwillingness flashed across Zi-sheng’s face: “I’m stuck at the peak of the Golden Core stage.”

Cen Ran knew this disciple was very serious. He tried to comfort her: “Don’t be too discouraged. Spend more time communicating with your Junior Sister Lin. You are at the same realm, and you might gain insight from each other.”

In truth, Cen Ran was afraid that Zi-sheng would fall into a dead end, and Lin Yu-xue had a lively personality. If the two stayed together, they should be able to encourage each other. Unfortunately, the ideal was beautiful, but the reality was different.

For many reasons, Zi-sheng strongly disliked this Junior Sister and often wished she would disappear.

But in front of her Master, Zi-sheng still couldn’t show these emotions.

“Yes, Master.”

“You don’t need to be so reserved.”

“Yes, Master.”

Cen Ran: “…”

Then, Cen Ran noticed that Zi-sheng looked hesitant, as if she had something she wanted to say.

“Do you have anything you want to ask? Don’t be afraid. Ask.”

With her Master’s permission, Zi-sheng dared to speak: “Did Junior Sister Ning truly reach the early Golden Core stage?”

“Yes, she has a special constitution, but it’s already her good fortune to have lived until sixteen with such a constitution.”

Zi-sheng’s hands, resting at her sides, trembled slightly. She still couldn’t quite believe this fact. Golden Core at sixteen. Two hundred years of effort couldn’t compare to sixteen years of a genius.

Cen Ran noticed her abnormality. He called out softly, “Calm your mind.”

Zi-sheng was jolted awake, cold sweat running down her cheeks. Realizing her lapse, she quickly begged for punishment: “Please punish me, Master.”

Cen Ran looked at his kneeling disciple and felt his head ache even more. He sighed and warned: “It’s not that I want to punish you, but that you must forgive yourself, understand?”

“This disciple understands.”

Cen Ran knew she didn’t truly understand. He felt even more physically and mentally exhausted, and could only wave his hand: “You may leave now.”

“Yes, Master.”

Zi-sheng left the main hall and closed the door behind her.

Lin Yu-xue saw Zi-sheng emerge from the hall and shouted, “Senior Sister! You’re out! Let’s go back together.”

Zi-sheng glanced at her indifferently, her tone distant: “No need.”

Lin Yu-xue watched Zi-sheng’s retreating figure, and her smile gradually disappeared.

Zi-sheng leaned lazily against a stone pillar at the mountain gate, estimating the time by the sun overhead. Cen Ran and Ning Song-wu were chatting softly. Ning Song-wu listened to one side while anxiously looking outward on the other.

A figure emerged from the distant mist. Her familiar and steady pace, her graceful and beautiful silhouette—just a mere outline was enough to inspire infinite imagination. Her aura seemed to command the wind and snow to dance with her, like an exiled immortal stepping into the mortal world.

“Master!” Ning Song-wu shouted happily. She shot out and plunged into Ran Fan-yin’s arms.

“Half a month apart, and you seem to have grown a little taller.” Ran Fan-yin’s eyes were filled with a smile as she stroked Ning Song-wu’s hair.

Ning Song-wu buried her head in Ran Fan-yin’s chest. An infinitely soft sensation spread through her, mixed with the familiar scent of plum blossoms. Ning Song-wu’s arms, hugging Ran Fan-yin, trembled slightly. Her mind went blank for a moment, and she felt her face flush. Why am I still so easily shy when Master has held me so many times?

“Master, why did you come back so late? I missed you very much,” Ning Song-wu whined to Ran Fan-yin’s ear, a little aggrieved.

“Junior Sister, Master usually goes out for cultivation for at least two or three months. This time, she rushed back in just over ten days, all for you. Are you still not satisfied?” Zi-sheng teased.

Ran Fan-yin picked up Ning Song-wu, holding her with one arm. The little girl had grown quite a bit, making it a little strenuous to hold her: “Let’s go back to the Withering-Prospering Pavilion.”

“Hey, Junior Sister, why is your face so red?” Zi-sheng continued to tease Ning Song-wu as they walked, clearly enjoying the chaos.

Ning Song-wu’s face grew even redder. Feeling Ran Fan-yin’s hand supporting her bottom, she couldn’t help but wrap her arms around Ran Fan-yin’s pale, slender neck and bury her face into her shoulder. She loved it when Master held her so intimately, but she also felt a little wistful. She was growing bigger and bigger. Master probably wouldn’t hold her like this anymore in the future.

Ran Fan-yin slightly tilted her head and whispered very intimately into Ning Song-wu’s ear: “Come to my palace tonight. Don’t forget.”

Ning Song-wu quickly nodded. She lifted her face a little, looking at Ran Fan-yin’s tempting white skin and the contour of her neck. Her heart pounded wildly again. I want to kiss her… But, will Master be angry?… No, Master spoils me so much, she wouldn’t mind such a small thing… But Master is so cold…

After much hesitation, Ning Song-wu hardened her resolve. She turned her face and lightly kissed Ran Fan-yin’s earlobe, a quick peck, and then buried her face back into Ran Fan-yin’s shoulder like a child who had done something wrong.

Ran Fan-yin was walking properly when she suddenly felt a hint of warm, wet breath and a soft touch on her earlobe. Her sensitive ear immediately turned completely red, and the side of her face and neck were also flushed with color. This little brat… Only she in the whole world would dare to take such liberties with me. Ran Fan-yin frowned, about to scold Ning Song-wu, but Ning Song-wu spoke first, apologizing sweetly: “Master… Your disciple was wrong…”

Ran Fan-yin immediately found herself unable to scold her any further, but having been made to blush over half her face for nothing, she was a little unwilling to let it go.

A moment later, Ran Fan-yin’s cool voice sounded in her ear: “Tonight, bring the ruler and come to my palace.”