After My Thoughts Were Read, My Master Led Me to Change My Fate - Chapter 85

Ning Songwu felt her head spinning and heavy. All her emotions and anxieties were intensified by the wine’s effects. She had an impulse to smash tables and chairs, but her rationality forcefully suppressed it.

She knelt on the ground, her eyes burning from the alcohol, her mind so confused that she didn’t know what she was doing.

After some unknown amount of time, the door was opened again.

It was Jing Xu, who had returned, holding a bowl of sobering-up soup.

Jing Xu saw Ning Songwu sitting on the floor with her eyes closed and rushed forward to embrace her shoulders: “Ning Songwu, Ning Songwu, wake up.”

Ning Songwu was so dizzy that she couldn’t distinguish who was by her side. She simply wrapped her arms around Jing Xu’s waist and buried her face in his shoulder, sobbing softly.

“Why… why don’t you want me… why…” Her voice was as delicate as a willow in the wind, carrying a heart-wrenching sob.

Jing Xu’s face flushed completely. He gently placed his hand on Ning Songwu’s shoulder: “Ning Songwu, what are you saying? Who doesn’t want you?”

Ning Songwu didn’t answer, just hugged Jing Xu and wept with increasing sorrow.

Everyone abandoned her. Her parents abandoned her, leaving her in the wilderness; the person who fed her the candied hawthorns abandoned her, not even giving her a cold glance; and Master… Master also said not to come near her again…

Jing Xu gently pushed Ning Songwu back a little, spoon-fed the sobering-up soup to her, and coaxed softly, “Here, drink some sobering-up soup first. You’ll be fine after a little sleep.”

Ning Songwu drank nearly half a bowl from the rim, murmuring, “I don’t want to sleep… I want to… carry the lantern…”

A doting smile appeared at the corner of Jing Xu’s lips; he found this girl in his arms incredibly charming: “Alright, I’ll take you to carry the lantern.”

Ning Songwu vaguely drank a little more soup, then fell into a drowsy sleep. Jing Xu lifted her up securely in his arms and walked towards the main hall.

Everyone from the main hall had already gathered in the Rongku Pavilion courtyard. The courtyard was filled with firecrackers and fireworks, and everyone held a red lantern. Jiang Yue was holding Jiang Mang high on his shoulders, while Cheng Yunhuan and Ran Fanyin stood nearby, their expressions subdued. Luo Sheng and the younger disciples were gathered around the fireworks, making the whole courtyard lively and bustling.

Cheng Yunhuan glanced at Ran Fanyin and said, “Ran Fanyin, you don’t look so good? If you’re tired, go back and rest.”

“No, I’m not tired.” Ran Fanyin pursed her slightly red and swollen lips, avoiding Cheng Yunhuan’s gaze.

“…Disciples grow up, they truly change,” Cheng Yunhuan suddenly remarked.

“Hmm?”

“…” Cheng Yunhuan just looked towards the courtyard entrance without speaking.

Ran Fanyin followed his gaze and saw a tall, handsome man intimately holding a delicate, beautiful woman in his arms. From a distance, they looked perfectly matched. Throughout the entire North Punishment Sect, it would be difficult to find such a beautiful pair of Dao Companions.

Ran Fanyin quickly withdrew her gaze.

The hand hidden in her wide sleeve, however, unconsciously clenched tighter and tighter.

Why did she feel as though something that belonged to her had been violated?

Cheng Yunhuan chuckled softly: “This child, Jing Xu, has always liked Ning Songwu. They are very suitable, regardless of age, status, appearance, or knowledge.”

Ran Fanyin struggled to force a smile: “…Yes.”

“Jing Xu has told me many times that he wants to marry Ning Songwu. We are originally fellow disciples; if our respective apprentices can now be together, isn’t that adding a relative to a relative? …Heh, I don’t know if that phrase is appropriate here. But, Ran Fanyin, if Ning Songwu also has that intention, would you be willing to let her marry into my school?”

Ran Fanyin looked wistfully at Ning Songwu nestled in Jing Xu’s arms. After a long moment, she cast a faint gaze at the group of children making a fuss, her voice hollow and slow: “What if I said I am not willing?”

Cheng Yunhuan chuckled again, saying, “When a disciple grows up, even you, as her Master, cannot control her.”

Helan Mianmian, pulling Cen Ran and Luo Sheng along, scurried back to the crowd, covering her ears and happily shouting something.

Firecrackers and fireworks ignited simultaneously, the deafening crackle and the vibrant fireworks blooming at the same time. Instantly, the atmosphere was thick with the festive spirit of the New Year, full of life.

Ning Songwu remained in a deep sleep. In this most joyous time, she was not held in the arms of the person she loved.

And Ran Fanyin stood just five steps away from Ning Songwu, yet she dared not even look at her.

Helan Mianmian was overjoyed. She looked around and, seeing no one watching her, secretly pulled Cen Ran’s neck closer and gave her a loud kiss on the lips. Pressing her forehead against Cen Ran’s, she said coquettishly, “Sister Cen Ran, you can make a wish under the fireworks, you know.”

Cen Ran pinched Helan Mianmian’s cheek, smiling indulgently: “You’re quite bold. Still just a child, believing in such nonsense.”

“I’m not a child!” Helan Mianmian’s face was distorted by Cen Ran’s pull. “Anyway, I’m going to make a wish. My wish is that you can marry me later. Or, you can wear men’s clothes, return to the Imperial City with me, and become my Princess Consort.”

“Starting to talk nonsense again,” Cen Ran gently pushed Helan Mianmian’s forehead.

“Sister Cen Ran, you must make a wish too, and your wish must be to grow old together with me!”

“I won’t,” Cen Ran refused with a smile.

Helan Mianmian’s face instantly crumpled in distress, and she feigned a tearful voice: “Say it, just say it.”

“I just won’t.”

Helan Mianmian frowned tightly, turning her face away in annoyance.

Cen Ran smiled softly. She quietly took Helan Mianmian’s hand, and with her index finger, slowly and gently wrote a few words on it:

Holding your hand, we shall grow old together.

Helan Mianmian’s dimples deepened with a smile. Meeting Cen Ran’s gentle gaze, she raised their interlocked hands to her lips and covered it with quick, gentle kisses.

The fireworks continued to soar. Time passed moment by moment, yet people still didn’t feel tired, preoccupied only with appreciating the rare beauty of the display.

It was then that Ning Songwu gradually began to wake up. In her confusion, she realized she was lying in Jing Xu’s arms, and her body jolted in surprise.

Jing Xu lowered his head slightly and smiled: “Ning Songwu? You’re awake. Just in time, look up at the sky.”

Ning Songwu immediately got up from Jing Xu’s arms, tidying her clothes while searching with her eyes for Ran Fanyin’s figure.

Ran Fanyin was standing not far from her, gazing up at the sky with a detached expression. The curve of her profile down to her slender neck was elegant and clean, tinged with a coldness. The hand gripping the lantern’s handle was clenched very tightly, evidenced by the protruding white knuckles.

Ning Songwu bit her lip. Ignoring Jing Xu’s gaze behind her, she slowly walked towards Ran Fanyin.

“Master… Master…” Ning Songwu silently mouthed the words over and over, yet she dared not call out a single syllable.

Ran Fanyin sensed Ning Songwu looking at her, but she dared not turn her head to look back.

She was so close.

But she couldn’t.

Ning Songwu looked at Ran Fanyin, and Ran Fanyin looked at the sky. They maintained this standoff until all the fireworks had finished.

Ran Fanyin lowered her head and silently walked away with her lantern.

As she passed Ning Songwu, Ning Songwu raised her hand and grabbed her. Ran Fanyin frowned.

Ning Songwu forced a bitter smile; something must have been irrevocably lost. She took out a pre-prepared paper bag from her sleeve, placed it into Ran Fanyin’s hand, said nothing, and glumly turned and walked away first. She felt a tearing pain in her chest, as if being slowly sliced apart.

Ran Fanyin held the inexplicable bag. She did not open it in front of the crowd, but kept it in her hand, bringing it all the way back to her chambers.

Only when she was alone did Ran Fanyin tremblingly open the paper bag.

Inside was a full bag of dried fruits and preserves.

Next to it, there was also a stick of candied hawthorns.

How many people in the world knew about her preference for sweets? And how many could be so considerate and worried about her?

Ran Fanyin suddenly felt a soreness in her eyes. She had lived for over a hundred years, and it was rare for her to have such an urge to weep.

After the New Year, everything seemed to return to peace.

Ning Songwu and Helan Mianmian returned to Hongfei Pavilion. Cheng Yunhuan and Jiang Yue also returned to their respective palace buildings with their disciples. Luo Sheng was soon sent down the mountain to perform a mission, leaving Rongku Pavilion cold and quiet again. All traces left by the New Year were cleanly swept away by the attendants, leaving not a single mark.

In three months, the Sword Trial Assembly would take place.

The North Punishment Sect’s Sword Trial Assembly is held once every ten years, and all disciples must participate. All disciples are divided into different small groups for the preliminary matches, the winners then form a new group for another round of matches, and so on. The ultimate victor has the possibility of being taken as a disciple by one of the Three Venerables.

Luo Sheng was the final winner of the last assembly and was accepted as a disciple by Ran Fanyin.

For the entire Sword Trial Assembly, the Sect Leader and the Three Venerables must be present, seated on the high platform to observe the entire event. The North Punishment Sect typically has about one thousand participants each time, and the entire competition lasts for a month, making it a famous grand event for the Sect. Hua Shan, Kunlun Mountain, and Mount Shu, all on good terms with the North Punishment Sect, send disciples to observe each time. Therefore, the North Punishment Sect’s Sword Trial Assembly is well-known in the martial world and is a very important and magnificent competition.

However, the sword meant for Ning Songwu had not been forged, even after seven years.

Ran Fanyin hoped to give the sword to Ning Songwu before the Sword Trial Assembly. Even though Ning Songwu was already her disciple, the significance of this competition was not only about the possibility of the winner joining the Three Venerables’ disciples but more about competing with fellow disciples and demonstrating one’s own capabilities.

Yet, the sword remained incomplete.

This was the first time Ran Fanyin had visited the Sword Forging Pool since the New Year.

Effortlessly pushing open the heavy stone door of the Forging Pool, Jiang Yue’s figure, standing with his hands behind his back, was exactly where she expected him to be in front of the Forging Pool. Hearing the sound, Jiang Yue turned, offering a gentle smile: “Ran Fanyin, you’ve arrived.”

“Senior Brother, that sword…”

“You are truly direct, asking about your sword right away.” Jiang Yue shook his head helplessly. “But I have two pieces of news. Do you want to hear the good or the bad?”

“Senior Brother, please choose,” Ran Fanyin said lightly.

“You are truly tiresome. Very well. The good news is that the smelting of the sword is complete. All impurities have fully settled, and we can proceed to the third step: pouring the liquid metal.”

“It’s finally finished smelting,” Ran Fanyin felt a great weight lift from her mind.

“The remaining steps in sword forging are not important, things like refinement and ornamentation. But now, we’ve encountered a problem with the pouring.”

“What is it?”

“See, I have injected the melted liquid into the mold you prepared earlier. Everything would be complete once it solidifies, but right now, it won’t solidify.” Jiang Yue frowned, looking at the mold already filled with molten liquid.

Ran Fanyin walked to the mold and also tightened her brows: “Why is this?”

“This sword is different from an ordinary sword. Its material is sentient; it’s not just dead iron,” Jiang Yue also walked over, his left hand with the missing little finger gently touching the clay mold around the sword’s form. “It requires a sacrifice.”

“A sacrifice?”

“…Ran Fanyin, have you ever heard of ‘sacrificial sword-forging’?”

Ran Fanyin was silent for a while before slowly saying, “I know. Some swords in the world require a blood sacrifice to be successfully forged. Such a blood-infused sword gains great spirituality, unlike ordinary iron, and possesses immense power. Therefore, ancient texts record that in primordial times, forgers, to create an awe-inspiring sword, would capture male and female children, putting living people into the Forging Pool, using the pure blood of a virgin child as the sacrifice… Senior Brother, surely not…”

Jiang Yue shook his head: “No, this sword is not so sinister. It doesn’t require the live sacrifice of male and female children. But… it truly requires a human blood sacrifice to genuinely solidify into a divine weapon.”

Ran Fanyin quietly looked at the yet-to-solidify sword in the mold. After a long time, as if she had made a decision, she looked up at Jiang Yue: “Can my blood suffice?”

Jiang Yue raised an eyebrow in astonishment: “Ran Fanyin… you… Alas, yes, it can. But if your blood melts into it, the sword will recognize the aura of your blood. Only a person who carries your blood can maximize its power. What good is it if you are the one who performs the blood sacrifice?”

Ran Fanyin gave a faint smile: “It’s fine. Ning Songwu wears the ‘Flowing Jade’ that contains my blood around her neck.”

“Be cautious, think twice. You must seriously consider this. During the sacrificial process, this sword will not only consume your blood but also your spiritual power. You…”

“If it consumes my spiritual power, won’t it become even more formidable?” Ran Fanyin rolled up her left sleeve, exposing the dark red scar left by the splashing molten metal. “As long as this sword is forged well enough, that is sufficient.”

Jiang Yue stared at Ran Fanyin for a long time, then sighed heavily, and reluctantly handed her a dagger: “Be careful. I will tell you when you’ve lost enough.”

Ran Fanyin took the dagger and, without blinking, slashed another deep cut across the dark red scar.

Crimson blood instantly surged out, snaking down Ran Fanyin’s wrist like a small serpent, slowly dripping into the mold. Ran Fanyin bit her lip tightly.

Jiang Yue regretted it the moment he saw Ran Fanyin cut her wrist.

Ran Fanyin’s body suffered greatly seven years ago. The lingering poison was finally expelled with great difficulty, and because of non-stop exhaustion, her health had collapsed for a time. It had taken her these past few years to recover a little, and now she was making a move like a blood sacrifice. If things went badly, Ran Fanyin would not only lose spiritual power, but even her lifespan…

In primordial times, the forgers sacrificed so many innocent boys and girls to forge that one sword. Although this sword was not as sinister, how could the required amount of blood be small? Jiang Yue stared intently at the mold, watching the molten liquid inside become permeated by Ran Fanyin’s blood, exhibiting a strange red color. He was terrified that Ran Fanyin might lose one drop too much.

The wrist is inherently a very sensitive place, which is why people resort to slitting their wrists as a means of suicide. Now, she was doing the same as those suicidal people.

Ran Fanyin had anticipated needing to lose a lot of blood, so she had cut the wound quite deeply. It was very profound, permeated with a strong scent of blood, and the agonizing, bone-piercing pain shot directly from her wrist into her brain. Her arm trembled constantly from the blood loss, and her face was terrifyingly pale.

“Ah…” Ran Fanyin half-bent over as if she couldn’t bear it, supporting herself against the table corner with her right hand, yet her left hand stubbornly hung, trembling, above the mold.

“Ran Fanyin!” Jiang Yue looked anxious. He didn’t know whether to stop Ran Fanyin or to tell her to persist. If she gave up, all this blood loss would be for naught. But if she continued, Ran Fanyin’s body…

Ran Fanyin began to feel all the genuine qi in her body flowing towards her left wrist, leaking into the mold through the wound. It was like a bottomless pit, greedily sucking up the pure genuine qi from her body.

“Senior Brother…” Ran Fanyin called out with a trembling voice.

“Yes, yes, hold on a little longer. It’ll be finished soon, soon…” Jiang Yue hastily reassured her.

“Senior Brother…” Ran Fanyin closed her eyes, and dense beads of sweat formed on her forehead. “Support me.”

Jiang Yue supported Ran Fanyin’s arm. Seeing the fresh blood that was nearly staining her entire hand red, he felt immense pain: “Ran Fanyin, stop! Don’t continue, give up! You won’t be able to bear it!”

“I can…”

Jiang Yue began to pull Ran Fanyin away: “No, you’ll be seriously hurt if you keep this up. Give up, give up. It’s no big deal if we abandon this sword; I’ll forge another one for you.”

Ran Fanyin felt Jiang Yue pulling her away from the mold. She gathered the remaining small amount of genuine qi in her palm and suddenly pushed Jiang Yue back several feet, creating a layer of genuine qi protection around herself. Her face was ashen from excessive blood loss, and her frail body looked so weak that she might faint at any moment.

Jiang Yue couldn’t approach her and said anxiously: “Ran Fanyin, are you crazy? Is a sword worth it? Stop! Stop now! You’ll throw your life away! That’s enough! It’s already enough, it has solidified!”

Ran Fanyin struggled to open her eyes. She vaguely saw what looked like a pool of blood in the mold. She felt as though she could only see a field of red.

“Senior Brother…”

Jiang Yue quickly answered: “Yes, yes, I’m not lying to you.”

“Senior Brother… support me…” The genuine qi around Ran Fanyin seemed to be instantly drained completely. Her body could not bear the massive loss of blood and qi, and she softly collapsed.

Jiang Yue immediately supported Ran Fanyin. Without a word, he picked her up and rushed towards the Elixir Workshop.

“Senior Brother… you better be in the Elixir Workshop…” Jiang Yue looked at the snow-white skin of Ran Fanyin in his arms, muttering to himself repeatedly.