*Knock, knock, knock.*
It was the dead of night, the hour when sleep is heaviest and one’s guard is at its lowest. Chu Ruo was fast asleep. By all rights, after everything she had been through, her vigilance shouldn't have been this poor, but she was utterly exhausted. For days, she hadn't dared to truly rest, sleeping in the wilderness while worrying about Nan Muxue’s comfort and keeping a constant ear out for movement outside the carriage. Every rustle of wind or grass had her on edge, wondering if it was a person or a beast. Now that she finally had a roof over her head, she had naturally relaxed. Hearing the moderate thumping on the door, she merely pouted and muttered irritably with her eyes closed, "So annoying..."
The person outside seemed patient. After one more tap on the door, the sound ceased. The other person lying in the bed spoke softly to soothe her. "Sleep. I’ll go."
Chu Ruo reached out dizzily to grab her. "Don't go... ignore them... *zzzz*..."
Nan Muxue couldn't help but smile. she reached out and lightly stroked Chu Ruo’s face. "It’s fine. Go back to sleep. I’ll be right back."
"Mmh... okay... *zzzz*..." It was unclear if Chu Ruo had actually processed the words.
Chu Ruo drifted into a dream. One moment she dreamt someone was knocking, the next that the sun had risen, and then that it was very noisy. She frowned and grinned in her sleep by turns. After an indeterminate amount of time, her eyes snapped open, and she jolted awake. "Xue'er!"
She turned her head; the pillow beside her was empty. Panicked, she scrambled out of bed and rushed toward the door. The night was still thick, and the other side of the bed was cold, meaning Nan Muxue had been gone for at least half an hour. Chu Ruo was filled with self-loathing. *How could I be such a pig-headed idiot?* Xue'er had told her countless times never to sleep too deeply, no matter where they were. She recalled the hazy sound of knocking. Who could it have been? The corridor outside was as dark as the night sky; that stingy old crone hadn't even bothered to leave a single candle burning. Chu Ruo stormed out in a fit of pique but didn't run into anyone. *Dammit, this cursed place!*
Fortunately, the man with the pipe was still in the main hall, sitting in his usual spot, though he was currently nodding off. He stayed that way until Chu Ruo seized him by the collar and hoisted him up, scaring the local dialect right out of him.
"Wh-whatcha doin'..."
"Speak! Where is she? If you don't tell me, I'll burn this place to the ground!"
"The person? Which—oh, oh, I get it!" He struggled frantically before blting out, "You mean that lady you were with? She came out and told us to guard your room, said not to let anyone wake ya, and then she left." That woman was terrifyingly powerful; he’d been dozing off when she walked up, crushed a teacup into fine powder with a casual grip, and tossed a lump of silver at him. She’d ordered him to look after the person inside and warned him not to let anyone get close. With how strong that woman was, why did she even need them to look after her friend? It was more likely they’d lose their lives just trying.
"Left? Where did she go?"
"How'm I s'posed to know? You're the one with her and you don't even know..."
*She’s gone? How could she be gone?* Chu Ruo let go of him dejectedly, beginning to mutter to herself. "Where did she go? Where am I supposed to find you..."
"What's all the racket in the middle of the night..." The old woman emerged from some dark corner. Seeing it was Chu Ruo, she let out a few more of those eerie, cackling laughs. "Is something the matter?"
The man with the pipe rubbed his arms to get his circulation going. "Ma, why'd you only just come out? This one grabbed me by the neck askin' where that lady went. Nearly choked the life outta me. Even said she'd burn the place down..."
"Shut your trap, you numbskull. Talk too much, you do." The old woman shot her son a look before turning to Chu Ruo. "That girl you're with didn't go far..."
Chu Ruo perked up instantly. "You know where she is?"
The old woman looked at her with an expression of utter exasperation. "I say my boy here is a bit dim, but you're young and your martial arts are so good, how can you be so dense? Why didn't ya think to check the back courtyard 'stead of chargin' out the front? Hey, you—" She threw up her hands as Chu Ruo bolted. "Not even a 'thank you.' Truly, can't afford to provoke 'em."
"Ma, how'd you know that lady was in the backyard?"
"I swear I'm gonna beat the life outta you! Your head's gotta be full of weeds; I wanna crack it open just to see. Are you touched in the head? We're in the middle of the wilderness, their carriage is still here, where else could she go? Didn't you hear someone come lookin' for her? She told you to guard the room 'cause she was afraid this little one would get woken up. And you, you're real 'clever,' aren't ya? Don't even know if there's someone in your own backyard. Told you to keep watch and you're here catchin' flies. I swear, when I die, you'll probably follow me right into the grave. Sigh, just lookin' at you makes me tired. Go to sleep, go to sleep. You're useless here anyway."
The back courtyard. Right. This inn was built into the terrain, so its layout wasn't as square as a typical inn. The backyard was actually quite far from the main hall and the guest rooms. When Chu Ruo had gone to fetch water earlier, it had taken her a moment to find it. In the pitch black, it was easy to lose the path or twist an ankle if one wasn't careful. But what was the Little Scorpion doing back there? Chu Ruo’s mind was filled with that one silhouette; she had no room for calm reflection or logic. She was beginning to understand more and more how Nan Muxue must have felt during the time they were apart—how she must have suffered from the fear of loss, and how she had endured those dark days alone.
Just as the old woman said, Nan Muxue was indeed in the backyard, talking to someone. By chance, the moonlight chose that moment to break through the layers of clouds, bathing the area in light without warning. The candlelight, which had seemed so bright a second ago, now appeared redundant and dim. Nan Muxue looked up, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile. She remembered every night back at the Hundred Flowers Palace. Back then, when she was still "Yan'er," she would use the cover of such moonlight to go to a certain person's room, watching as that girl hopped around with excitement and hugged her joyfully. It really was a fine night. Tomorrow would likely bring good weather.
"Xue'er!"
Nan Muxue didn't turn around before she was pulled into a tight embrace. There was no surprise, no shock, and no struggle. Almost instantly, she leaned back into the hold and hugged the other woman back, her touch as gentle as the white moonlight. "Why are you here?"
"You Little Scorpion," Chu Ruo said, her voice tinged with both grievance and complaint. "Running off by yourself without a word, staying away so long... don't you know I'd worry? After everything that's happened, I was so scared. Scared you'd disappeared..."
"I'm right here. Right here," Nan Muxue said, raising her hand to gently soothe the frantic girl. "There won't be a next time."
"You're too much. I wake up and you're gone, and you didn't even tell me where you were going. You said you'd be right back. Little Scorpion, Nan Muxue, you really are a little scorpion."
Normally, if she heard the name "Little Scorpion," Nan Muxue would have bristled. But now, she was all smiles, using a gentle tone to coax her. "I won't do it again. Never again. I was wrong, Ruo'er." She thought to herself how this girl had become so adorable—so adorable she was almost silly. While she laughed inwardly, she felt a wave of warmth. In the end, this was the only person in the world who cared for her this deeply.
"You actually admit you were wrong? Hah."
"Zhier?!" It was only then that Chu Ruo heard the other voice and turned her head. Her jaw dropped. "You... why are you here?"
She had meant to ask why Bai Zhier was at the Fortune Inn, but Bai Zhier replied teasingly, "A whole living person standing right here and you only just noticed? Ruo'er, you're far too heartless."
"I..."
Nan Muxue spoke coldly. "Her 'heart' isn't for you. To everyone else in this world but me, she is heartless."
"You're the one who decides that? Why don't you ask Ruo'er what place I hold in her heart?"
*Here we go again.* Whenever these two women got together, they were either bickering or fighting, or they were trying to drag her into the crossfire. In the end, she was always the unlucky one. "Um, Zhier, just tell me—why did you suddenly show up at this hour?"
Zhier gave a playful wink. "Guess for yourself. I'm too lazy to answer the same question twice. Are we going or not?"
"Now?"
"Yeah. Why else would I knock on your door in the middle of the night? It's not like I have any interest in your... bedroom affairs..."
Chu Ruo was speechless. This girl had really become bold lately. Was this still the gentle, easily embarrassed Sister Zhier from before? She was starting to sound like Duan Ning. Had she been corrupted by the Hundred Flowers Palace?
*Swish!*
Bai Zhier was incensed. "You think you're the only one who can use needles? Do that again if you've got the guts!"
"Stop, stop it, it's the middle of the night. Zhier, why do we have to leave now? Is it urgent? Is something wrong?"
Bai Zhier folded her arms. "Take a guess."
"Zhier..."
Nan Muxue spoke coldly again. "Whatever it is, we'll talk tomorrow."
Bai Zhier’s expression shifted. "You're not leaving? Are you crazy? If you want to die, don't take Ruo'er with you."
Nan Muxue simply took Chu Ruo’s hand and started walking back. "There are no more guest rooms, but the main hall is a fine alternative."
After that little scare, Chu Ruo couldn't fall back asleep. She tossed and turned on the bed. "Xue'er, what did Zhier actually say to you?"
"Are you concerned about what she said, or are you concerned about *her*?"
"What kind of question is that? The words, obviously. Why did she knock in the middle of the night? Something must be wrong, right? Is there danger? We—"
"It's fine. I'm here. You don't need to worry about anything else."
"How can I not worry when you won't tell me anything?"
Nan Muxue leaned over and kissed her eyes. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes."
"Then it's fine."
"I just want to say that no matter what it is, we can face it together."
"Good. I believe you. So, you must be good and get some rest."
"You tell me to trust you and be good, but then you run off on your own. Do you have any idea..."
A jade-like finger pressed against her lips. "There won't be a next time."
"You're so double-standard. You can do whatever you want, but I can't do anything. You're always threatening to break my legs..."
"Would Ruo'er like to try?"
Chu Ruo quickly tucked her legs behind her and grinned. "No, no. Let's sleep. Nothing else is going to happen tonight."
She reached out to hug Nan Muxue, but Nan Muxue forestalled her, pulling Chu Ruo into her own embrace. "You must be exhausted after all these days. Sleep well tonight. We'll handle the rest tomorrow."
Being held by such a fragrant, soft beauty made Chu Ruo’s heart flutter. She really was tired. Though she hadn't felt sleepy a moment ago, the drowsiness hit her hard now that she was in those arms. "Mmh... sleeping... *zzzz*... *zzzz*..."
Nan Muxue looked down at her, then leaned in to kiss that lovely brow, smoothing away all her worries.
***
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