*Creak—*
The door was pushed open, allowing a sliver of light to pierce the gloom of the room. This was where Nan Meng Hua had imprisoned Chu Ruo. On Chu Ruo’s hands, bright, angry blisters from the scalding oil remained. The days spent in darkness made the sudden light unbearable; she squinted, seeing only a dark silhouette against the blinding glare.
"It is time," the visitor said.
Every second of the day seemed to fly by. In the blink of an eye, it was already afternoon—the auspicious hour for the ceremony. Dressed in a phoenix crown and ceremonial robes, Nan Mu Xue remained the most dazzling presence. Yet, when she stepped into the Great Hall, it was eerily silent and devoid of people.
"Are you not curious where everyone went?"
Nan Meng Hua’s voice drifted from behind. She approached her daughter with icy steps, raising her fly-whisk to gently brush Nan Mu Xue’s shoulder. "Such fine wedding robes. It would be a pity if they were ruined by dust."
Nan Mu Xue did not turn around. She stood tall and straight, her voice calm and unhurried. "How does Mother intend to dispose of the corpses of the sect leaders?"
"Sometimes I regret that the Hundred Flowers Palace doesn't keep dogs. I shall consider it for the future; it would save so much trouble in disposal," Nan Meng Hua replied nonchalantly. To a stranger, her lovely face would never betray the venomous heart beneath. "Throwing them off the mountain is too common. There is a place much better suited for them. In truth, the Hundred Flowers Palace has never lacked a place to hide bodies. It has always been right before your eyes, yet you failed to see it."
"And Fortress Master Liu and Villa Master Shen...?"
"Does my precious daughter not know everything already?" Nan Meng Hua walked to her front, reaching out to straighten the red wedding veil. "Is this not the outcome you hoped for? Guess where those two old foxes are? No need to rush; they will appear when the hour strikes. As for you, I believe you know which choice to make."
With a flick of her finger, several disciples stepped forward, their swords pressed against a weakened figure.
The captive opened her mouth, trembling. "Mas... Master..."
She was covered in wounds and bloodstains. The composure on Nan Mu Xue’s face finally shattered. She took a step forward, only to be blocked by Nan Meng Hua. She could only watch helplessly as the disciples dragged the person back.
"Mother," Nan Mu Xue gritted out.
"My, that title sounds so... foreign coming from your lips." Nan Meng Hua caressed her daughter’s face. With a single movement, she could ruin the beauty that had enchanted countless men in the martial world. "If even the slightest thing deviates from my arrangements today, Chu Ruo—oh, I forgot you dislike me saying her name—your lover, will pay the price. You know the consequences. Xue’er, I told you long ago: one must never be shackled by emotions. This is your weakness."
"Does Mother not care for the Martial Alliance Leader of Green Willow Villa or the Divine Physician’s Bai family?"
"Rest assured. After tonight—specifically, after you and Xiong Feng have consummated your marriage—" She let out a revolting, lewd laugh, speaking of her own daughter with an expression that turned one's stomach. "I will release her. I’ll even arrange a fine marriage for her. Whether it’s the Lin family or the Bai family, she is infested with the Love Flower Gu. If I were to burn all the Leaf-Shaded Violets by the Silent Lake, I wonder if that descendant of the Divine Physician could still save her."
Suddenly, her face twisted into a snarl, and she violently gripped Nan Mu Xue’s throat. "You think I know nothing? You’ve known each other for a long time. You wanted that Bai girl to protect her, but I won't let you have your way. I want the whole world to know she is but a woman. Do you want to know who I’ll marry her off to? I think Liu Shao Peng would be very interested."
Nan Mu Xue clenched her fists. "I beg Mother to..."
"Beg me? So this is what it takes to make you plead. However, I despise the weak. Do not dare kneel to me, or I will only look down on you more. I said from the start: the Hundred Flowers Palace belongs to me! Those who follow me prosper. After today, you will be of no further use. If you are obedient, I might let her linger on in misery. Now, put on your veil. We must wait for the heads of the Shen and Liu families. They will be here in half an hour."
Just as Nan Meng Hua predicted, Shen Wanxiong and Liu Songhe, who had been missing all day, appeared together. As the sun began to set, the palace was decorated with lanterns and streamers. The wedding was not held in the hall but in an open outdoor area. After exchanging false pleasantries, they moved outside as if nothing had happened.
Nan Meng Hua patted her daughter’s shoulder from behind. "You thought that by ordering sneak attacks on their sects and framing me, you could force us to turn on each other? It was a decent plan. I indeed want to eliminate them, and they feel the same. But do you know why they came back?"
Nan Mu Xue followed her gaze. Liu Shao Peng and Shen Ruoxuan were being escorted forward, surrounded by disciples. It looked like an entourage, but in reality, they were being held captive, their internal power likely sealed.
"The Liu family has only this one son. Even if he is a cripple, Liu Songhe would never abandon him. As for Shen Wanxiong, one son might not be enough to restrain him, but several—especially his precious eldest—is a different story. These fools were lured in so easily. They are far inferior to their fathers, and just as useless as you. Now, prepare for the ceremony. Your groom is waiting."
At the martial arena, the heads of the four great powers sat in state, waiting for the three couples to perform their bows. The three brides—Nan Mu Xue, Nan Gong Yan, and Nan Yun Shuang—wore thin crimson veils. Beside them stood Xiong Feng, Liu Shao Peng, and Shen Ruoxuan. Every face held a different expression: indifference, coldness, worry, or rage. It looked less like a wedding and more like a funeral. The spectators below watched with even more complex emotions.
The climax did not wait for the bows to be completed. Bai Zhi'er and Lin Jianghong appeared, their voices ringing out, "Nan Meng Hua, hand over Ruo'er!"
"Miss Bai," Nan Meng Hua sneered from her seat. "I have respected you as the descendant of the Divine Physician, but do not overstep. Even if I haven't settled Chu Ruo’s marriage, she belongs to the Hundred Flowers Palace until the day she dies. Since when is it your place to demand her?"
"She is a disciple, not a slave who signed her life away! I am taking her today!"
"You cannot take her. If you stay for a drink, you are welcome. But if you delay this auspicious hour, do not blame me for being merciless."
Bai Zhi'er laughed coldly. "Is that so? I’d like to see you try."
As Nan Meng Hua rose, Bai Zhi'er pulled out a medallion. "Everyone, look at what this is!"
The crowd stared. Lin Jianghong, standing nearby, reached out in a rage to snatch it. "The Martial Alliance Leader’s Token! So you were the one who took it! Give it back!"
Dodging her, Bai Zhi'er looked at Liu Songhe and Shen Wanxiong, who had also stood up. "Fortress Master Liu, Villa Master Shen, do you not want this token? Nan Meng Hua has already slaughtered the other sects. If you don't act now, are you just waiting to die? Whoever takes her down, I will give this token to them!"
Lin Jianghong tried to grab it again but was easily subdued and had her acupoints struck. However, Shen and Liu remained cautious. "How do we know it's real? Do not try to sow discord between us..."
"The token is made of profound iron; it will not melt in fire. Why not test it?" With that, she hurled it toward a thirty-foot-high platform in the center of the arena. At the top, a brazier of charcoal burned fiercely, adorned with a silk flower for the wedding festivities. The token landed squarely in the burning coals. Bai Zhi'er smirked. "You don't have to believe me, but..."
Before she could finish, not just the people on the stage but the spectators from other sects surged forward. Everyone scrambled to seize the ultimate treasure of the martial world. Rumor had it that the token hid a great secret that could allow one to rule the world. Of course, this was a rumor spread by Nan Mu Xue and Bai Zhi'er—though whether it was entirely a lie remained to be seen.
Nan Meng Hua would not be left behind. She flew toward the platform, but Liu Songhe and Shen Wanxiong attacked her simultaneously from both sides.
"Forgive us, Palace Master Nan!"
Most of the other sect leaders had already been drained of their cultivation by Nan Meng Hua, and the rest were of little concern. Though many were climbing the rickety platform, they were quickly pulled down by those below. It was a waste of energy to join the fray now. As long as the most difficult obstacles were removed, the rest would fall into place.
Nan Meng Hua dodged the attacks. Liu Songhe’s Solar Sword was in hand, while Shen Wanxiong struck with a powerful palm. She laughed mockingly. "Today, I shall show you how terrifying the tenth level of the Love Flower Trance truly is. You two shall be my final stepping stones!"
Watching the three in combat, Bai Zhi'er appeared beside Nan Mu Xue. "Where is your foster father?"
Nan Mu Xue didn't answer the question. Instead, she asked, "Do you think those two can defeat your mother?"
"No," Bai Zhi'er replied succinctly.
"Then if we add my foster father..."
"You are his foster daughter and the beloved of his son. I heard the two of you even have a marriage contract." Nan Mu Xue gave a half-smile, finding the other woman’s awkward and displeased expression quite satisfying. "If I took you hostage, could I force him to submit?"
"You want to use me?" Bai Zhi'er stood with her hands behind her back. Two beauties, one in red and one in white—the "Twin Pearls of the Martial World" indeed. "Or are you looking for an excuse to get rid of me?"
"Don't you also want to kill me for revenge?" Nan Mu Xue turned her head, her beauty peerless. "Can you tell me now? The connection between the Divine Physician’s family and the Hundred Flowers Palace..."
*Spurt!!!*
The two turned to see Liu Songhe and Shen Wanxiong being blown back, injured. Liu Songhe gasped in disbelief. "How... how is this possible? In such a short time, you..."
In contrast, Nan Meng Hua had only sustained minor scratches. She dusted off her sleeve where a sword had nicked it, her laughter haunting. "I have you to thank. Without this wedding, how could I have lured so many masters to my door for me to drain? This is the power of the Love Flower Trance. I can absorb and fuse all internal power in an instant. Now, it’s your turn!"
"Are you just going to watch her keep absorbing power? If this continues, she really will achieve perfection," Bai Zhi'er noted.
"Do you want to guess if your foster father will come out now?"
As soon as she spoke, a figure charged from the crowd. His movement was eerie and his footwork profound. It was the leader of the Sea Dragon Gang, Xiong Feng’s father. In the blink of an eye, he reached the three. Nan Meng Hua lashed out with her fly-whisk, leaving Shen and Liu with no room to counter, but the man caught the whisk with his bare hand. One must know that at this level, the whisk was sharper than any divine weapon.
Nan Meng Hua seized the chance to strike him with her palm. He reacted instantly, meeting her palm with his own. The collision sent a shockwave that cracked the ground, sending debris flying into the crowd of people fighting for the token. Several fell. She gloated, expecting to drain this master’s power, but the Sea Dragon Gang leader was a hidden expert. Just as she thought she had him, she realized her own internal power was draining away. Her face paled. "You..."
The man looked at her and then did the unthinkable: he withdrew his hand. It was a perfect opportunity to crush her, yet he stopped.
Shen and Liu struggled to understand how the Sea Dragon Gang leader had become so powerful. The man kept his back to them and shouted, "Third Sister!"
"It’s you!" Nan Meng Hua’s voice was a mix of confusion, shock, and unbridled rage. She trembled, raising her whisk, and hissed the name through gritted teeth. "Tu! Ao! Zhi!"
The man’s face was plain and ordinary, but in the next moment, he reached up and tore off a mask, revealing his true features.
"The Master of the Heavenly Demon Palace?!"
"Third Sister," Tu Ao Zhi said.
Nan Meng Hua swung her whisk. "Shut up! Tu Ao Zhi, either get out of my way or fight me. There was always going to be a day of reckoning between us."
Tu Ao Zhi sighed. "Why must it be this way? Back then..."
"If you dare mention it again, I will kill you now!"
"You cannot kill these two. They might know the secret of the token."
"So you’re after the token too," Nan Meng Hua spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm. "Despicable!"
"You are showing signs of Qi deviation. Sit and heal your injuries," he advised.
Nan Mu Xue flew to Nan Meng Hua’s side. "Mother, hand over Ruo'er."
"You slut!" Nan Meng Hua glared at her daughter. "I should have killed you with one strike long ago. All for a piece of trash, you... *cough!*" She violently vomited blood, her expression turning ghastly. She realized something: she had been poisoned.
"The antidote is in my hands. Mother, let her go."
"You... fine, fine... all of you..." Black blood gushed from her mouth. "All of you... teaming up against me... You... when did you poison me...?"
Her daughter, the Young Palace Master of the Hundred Flowers Palace, looked at her with cold, elegant indifference. "Mother has always been cautious and trusts no one. Ordinary methods would never work. So, we put the poison inside people. It was much easier to poison the food and wine of the others. The poison existed in everyone’s blood. As long as Mother absorbed their power and flesh, the poison would spread to you."
"Hahaha~" Nan Meng Hua wiped the black blood from her lips. "Yun Shuang!"
Nan Yun Shuang had long since disappeared from the crowd, unnoticed. Now she reappeared, her sword pressed firmly against Chu Ruo’s throat. Nan Gong Yan rushed down, lifting her skirts in a panic. "Nan Yun Shuang, have you lost your mind? It’s over! Let Chu Ruo go!"
Bai Zhi'er cried out in desperation, "Ruo'er!"
Nan Meng Hua seized the opportunity to dash over, taking the sword herself to hold it against the frail Chu Ruo. "You all..."
*Thud!* A sudden palm strike hit her from behind. Nan Meng Hua stumbled forward. When she regained her footing and looked back, she was consumed by fury. The one who had ambushed her was Nan Yun Shuang. "Even you dare to betray me? Fine! Since you all care for her so much, I’ll take her to the grave with me!"
In a flash, Nan Meng Hua dragged her captive backward. Nan Yun Shuang tried to stop her, but even an injured Nan Meng Hua was more than she could handle. After dodging a palm strike, Nan Meng Hua swung her sword. In an instant, Nan Yun Shuang’s right arm was severed! It fell through the air, trailing a spray of bright red blood.
"Yun Shuang!" While the others chased after Nan Meng Hua, Nan Gong Yan rushed to the fallen woman. Tears streaming down her face, she quickly struck several acupoints to stop the bleeding. "Yun Shuang, how are you? Don't scare me! Here, take a Jade Dew Pill."
"Yan'er..." Nan Yun Shuang only ever smiled for this person. She struggled to raise her remaining hand. "Take... take this... I just... just now..."
"Don't talk! Don't say anything! We need to treat your wound!"
But the woman insisted on handing it over. "Quickly, take it. I... I stole this from the Palace Master just now. It can cure the Gu poison in your body. You... you have the Gu... I’ve been secretly putting the antidote in your food... Take this, and you’ll be... fine."
"You... everything you did was for me?" Nan Gong Yan sobbed uncontrollably. "Yun Shuang! Yun Shuang!"
On the other side, Nan Meng Hua had been driven to a corner—a cliff edge overlooking a true abyss. It was a bottomless chasm shrouded in perpetual mist, unlike the cliffs of Cloud Mist Mountain. Nan Meng Hua held Chu Ruo, half of their bodies already suspended over the void. "You all care so much for this waste, don't you?"
"Ruo'er!" several voices cried out at once. Xiong Feng, his face flushed with rage, charged forward with his ringed blade. "Chu Ruo, I’ll kill you!"
Nan Meng Hua laughed triumphantly. "Yes! Come and kill her! Kill her, and Xue’er will be your wife!"
Xiong Feng lunged, his blade about to fall. But in the next second, Nan Meng Hua looked down. The poisoned needle hidden in the ring on Xiong Feng’s finger had pierced her body. The two poisons accelerated her collapse, and the conflicting internal energies within her began to tear her apart. Nan Mu Xue spoke without emotion, "Bring Mother back."
"Vile girl," Nan Meng Hua hissed, falling to her knees in agony. "Even as a ghost, I will never let any of you go!"
Amidst the howling wind, Nan Meng Hua threw herself off the cliff.
***
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Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 104 | A Crimson Reckoning | Novela.app | Novela.app
