Chapter 640: Chapter 253: Brave An An (Part 2)
Fan Wubing muttered in a low voice, "I always feel like you’re trying to train me."
Jiang Sha laughed, "Are you willing to?"
Fan Wubing rolled his eyes, "Who would be willing to?" He stood up, "No more talking, I still have to take An An to the Illusion Immortal Tower."
"Take care of yourself."
"Oh, come on, I’ve said I’m not going there for pleasure! Don’t you know what kind of person I am?"
The evening wind stirred Jiang Sha’s long hair, and she said softly, "I don’t know."
Fan Wubing paused and, after a moment of silence, said, "I think we’re already good partners supporting each other. Maybe I’m a bit shameless, considering you my confidant."
He waved goodbye and turned to leave.
The lanterns swayed gently, casting flickering shadows.
Jiang Sha’s face was shrouded in shadows, with faint light flickering in her dark pupils.
"Confidant..."
She looked up at Fan Wubing’s departing silhouette and suddenly felt a bit tired, her eyelids becoming exceptionally heavy as fatigue washed over her like a tide. Her hand slipped off the table and drooped straight down.
The next moment, she felt a warmth flow into her left hand, spreading throughout her body, dispelling the fatigue and that oppressive sense of consciousness detachment.
She opened her eyes and turned her head to see Fan Wubing massaging her left hand.
Fan Wubing frowned, "Did you use your abilities again?"
Jiang Sha rarely remained silent.
"Your hand is as cold as iron." Fan Wubing complained, "Sister Liu didn’t notice this?"
"It’s not related to her. It’s my own problem."
Fan Wubing stayed silent.
This massage lasted longer than any before.
Jiang Sha’s numb left hand did not regain feeling for a long time. Fan Wubing was somewhat panicked, fearing that her left hand would become like her legs, completely losing sensation.
After feeling returned, Fan Wubing let out a long breath, "I think I should stay by your side and take care of you for a while."
Jiang Sha shook her head, "Just do your own thing, don’t worry about me."
"The way you are, it’s hard not to worry."
Jiang Sha frowned, "I told you not to worry."
Fan Wubing was taken aback, "Are you angry?"
It was the first time he saw Jiang Sha angry.
"Why are you angry?" Fan Wubing asked.
Jiang Sha closed her eyes, choosing to avoid the question.
After a long silence, Fan Wubing said, "Go back to your room and rest."
He pushed Jiang Sha back to her dwelling, helping her bathe and change clothes as usual.
After placing her in bed and tucking her in, he left.
During that time, neither of them spoke a word.
...
After leaving Jiang Sha’s courtyard, Fan Wubing went to An An’s courtyard.
He adjusted his mood, knocked on the door, and said, "An An, are you ready? It’s time to go."
"Right away!" An An’s cheerful voice came from the room.
Not long after, An An came out.
Fan Wubing looked her up and down, "Hey, got new clothes, huh."
An An said proudly, "New look, new atmosphere, new life."
"Let’s go."
"Wait!" An An quickly ran in front of Fan Wubing, raising her eyebrows, "You’re... not happy?"
"No." Fan Wubing put on a smile, "I’m very happy."
"Liar!" An An scrunched her nose, "I can smell the scent of emotions. You’re not happy."
Fan Wubing still didn’t admit, "You must be mistaken. I just helped Jiang Sha with her washing, and got some fragrance on me."
"Stop lying to me." An An pouted, then her eyes widened, nervously asking, "Did I offend you somehow?" She said apologetically, "If I upset you, believe me, it wasn’t on purpose. And if I did anything wrong, just let me know. I’m not very savvy with social cues, maybe a bit slow-witted, not quick to catch on. Please don’t hold back and not say anything!"
She stated earnestly, "Sister Jiang says silence is the blade that destroys relationships, there must be more communication."
Fan Wubing muttered under his breath, "She sure leads by example."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Seeing Fan Wubing still unwilling to speak, An An felt a bit frustrated.
At this moment, a voice rang in her heart, "An An, can’t you tell? He doesn’t really want to go to the Illusion Immortal Tower, he’s just accommodating you."
An An was startled and quickly responded internally, "Why did you suddenly come out? You’ll be discovered!"
"Don’t worry, no one can discover the me in your heart. An An... poor An An, you should understand that a person’s patience has its limits. He has always tolerated your willfulness and rudeness. Look at him, he’s obviously distracted. Last time too, after he went to the Illusion Immortal Tower, he started sleeping. Don’t you understand? He doesn’t want to go with you."
An An suddenly panicked, "But..."
"An An, you actually understand. No matter how nice he is to you, he is ultimately a person with a temper. He can’t tolerate your unreasonable behavior any longer."
An An felt wronged, "I wasn’t unreasonable."
"Then why is he distracted? An An... this is all your fault, An An. Between friends, we should help and support each other. But you, you only caused him trouble, you’ve never been able to help him."
An An said, "I also want to help him, but he’s so capable... What can I help with?"
"That’s right. The gap between you is too great. Can you really be friends who understand each other with such a large gap?"
An An felt a little lost, "What should I do? I don’t want to lose him..."
"You need to become stronger, you need to become a reliable person. You need to make him look at you differently, make him think you’re amazing, that you’re valuable. Right now, you have no value to him."
"No value..." This statement deeply pierced An An’s heart, "I..."
"But, don’t worry An An, I will help you become stronger, and by then you’ll definitely make him look at you differently!"
An An timidly asked, "Really?"
"Of course, I’ve been through life’s hardships with you, I’m the one who loves you the most."
A trace of warmth flowed through An An’s heart.
"An An, An An? An An!"
A shake on the shoulder brought An An back to her senses, "Ah, what’s wrong, what’s wrong!"
"What about you? Suddenly zoning out without moving." Fan Wubing asked.
An An trembled suddenly and hurriedly said, "I plan to go to the Illusion Immortal Tower alone!"
"Huh?" Fan Wubing was stunned, "Why?"
An An straightened her chest and said with a smile, "Of course, to conquer myself!"
"Conquer yourself?"
"Yes! I’m an adult now! How can I always rely on others? I can’t always let you take me every time."
Fan Wubing smiled and said, "So brave?"
"Yes, so this time you just stay at home and rest well, I can definitely do it myself!" An An said, clenching her fist.
"Then, good luck, An An! I will be waiting for your good news at home."
"Hmm!"
After saying that, An An stepped out of the door with a cheerful stride.
Fan Wubing glanced at Jiang Sha’s courtyard, patted his neck, and didn’t bother to think more.
He returned to his room, lightly released his spirit, then closed his eyes to continue studying the Supreme Dharma Orbiting Device and the knowledge of destiny.
...
On the rooftop terrace of the Illusion Immortal Tower.
Wu Qianqiu awoke from a meditative state, a strange light flashing in his eyes, "Here we go again."
From the windowsill, Tang Tang asked, "Wu Wangxinger and his friend?"
Wu Qianqiu furrowed his brows, "Strange, this time there’s only that girl named An An alone."
"Oh?"
After observing for a while Wu Qianqiu said, "Looks like she’s trying to temper her own character. Young Master, what do you say?"
Tang Tang thought for a moment, "Wu Wangxinger clearly values his friend An An. Our basic principle is not to turn him into an enemy. So, don’t target her, just respond normally."
"That’s what we say, but it seems like someone else is eyeing her."
"Who?" Tang Tang’s brows furrowed.
Wu Qianqiu was also a bit puzzled, "People from the Demon Extermination Bureau. Strange, why would the people from the Demon Extermination Bureau be targeting An An?"
"Recently, the Demon Extermination Bureau has been investigating the incident where Celestial Travel County, outside of Changning City, was attacked by Demon Cultivators." Tang Tang said, "Suddenly targeting An An, could it be that she’s involved in this matter?"
"What should we do? Demon Cultivators are a taboo in the Immortal Continent."
Tang Tang also had some difficulty making a decision, she pondered for a long while before saying,
"No matter what, since An An has come to the Illusion Immortal Tower, the tower has the responsibility to protect her. The Demon Extermination Bureau is backed by Wenxin Heaven, it’s an official institution under the Confucian system. Unless there is decisive evidence, they can’t act recklessly. If there is decisive evidence, then there’s nothing much we can say."
After saying this, she fell into contemplation again, and then asked,
"Has Left Minister Pei Weiyi returned to Changning?"
"She has."
There was a glint in Tang Tang’s eyes, "Find a way to call her over."
"No problem."
"Remember, the Illusion Immortal Tower only provides a venue, and only acts within its responsibilities. Beyond that, everything has nothing to do with us." Tang Tang said seriously, "Before the major events arrive, the Illusion Immortal Tower is just a place for people’s amusement."
Wu Qianqiu nodded, "Okay."
With that, she left.
