"Zhier?!" *Thud!*
That was, of course, the sound of Chu Ruo free-falling from the bed to the floor. Her first instinct was to check the inner side of the bed; as expected, Nan Muxue was gone again.
"My, that was a solid sound your backside made against the floor, Ruo'er," Bai Zhier teased incessantly. "Have you put on weight lately?"
...What was with these two women? With the Little Scorpion’s explosive temper, how could she tolerate someone else watching her sleep? Especially a romantic rival, and especially while she wasn't even present. "Where did Xue'er go now?"
Bai Zhier spread her hands. "How should I know?"
Chu Ruo grew tense instantly. "You don't know?"
Bai Zhier rolled her eyes, looking exasperated by Chu Ruo's lack of composure. "Can you have a bit of backbone? Do you lose all your senses the moment something involves her?"
*Whew.* Chu Ruo relaxed immediately. Judging by that tone, Zhier definitely knew. "How can I not be nervous when you scare me like that?"
"I seem to recall our Ruo'er used to be fearless. You weren't even afraid of the poisonous creatures Shanshan raised. Yet a single 'I don't know' from me scares you this much?"
Chu Ruo didn't return to her usual playful self. Instead, she remained sitting on the floor and waved a hand dismissively. "You don't understand. Ever since her mother came out of seclusion, my heart hasn't known a moment's peace. On this journey, I've been like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring; the slightest rustle in the wind scares me half to death. I've gradually come to realize what Xue'er went through when I fell off the cliff—how she managed to endure, step by step, until today. I cannot lose her. I have to protect her. I..."
As she spoke, she forgot who she was talking to and let too much slip. Catching the lonely expression on Bai Zhier's face, she suddenly realized she shouldn't have said all that. "Zhier, actually, you're a very good person too. We're good friends..."
"Fine, there's no need to placate me with such words."
"No, to me, you are also very important..."
Interrupting her again, Bai Zhier lowered her eyes and smiled faintly. "I believe you. I've never doubted that." *But I am not the only one in your heart.* "Ruo'er, I believe you."
"Zhier, why were you in such a hurry for us to leave last night? Did something happen?"
"Guess."
... "You..."
Bai Zhier suddenly stood up and made a move toward Chu Ruo. Chu Ruo’s first reaction was to cowardly grab the quilt she had landed on and clutch it to her chest, looking very much like a "demure maiden" protecting her virtue.
"Are you not wearing clothes?"
"What... what are you coming over here for?"
Chu Ruo felt deeply that this girl had definitely learned some bad habits—very bad ones. Hearing Chu Ruo's question, Bai Zhier actually put on a wicked grin and crossed her arms. "Oh my, in broad daylight, and since I've coveted you for so long, and your posture is so fitting... what do you think this lady is going to do?"
Acting like a rogue? A blatant rogue at that? *A rogue who doesn't respect the victim's will is just a paper tiger,* Chu Ruo thought, muttering under her breath, "Paper tiger."
"What?" Bai Zhier slowly crouched down. Chu Ruo felt more and more like a delicate young bride—*wait, what kind of analogy is that?* She gripped the quilt tighter. "Who did you call a paper tiger?"
How did she hear that too? "I... I am."
Then, her chin was tilted up. *Tsk.* What was with this reversal of roles? Why did everyone love doing this to her? She was supposed to be the *gong*, the active one!
"You've grown increasingly dull following her. I wonder if those doses of the Hundred Flowers Poison antidote she gave you were actually toxic. Sigh."
"Zhier, why do you... why do you seem different than before?"
"Do I?"
Her hand was still pinching Chu Ruo's chin. Chu Ruo nodded with difficulty. "A... little."
"Do you not like me this way? I don't know what goes on in that dull head of yours, favoring such a willful and crude person."
Crude? The Little Scorpion, crude? *Ahaha.* Fortunately, she wasn't here, otherwise... the scene would be too "beautiful" to imagine. "Zhier, what exactly is going on? Where is Xue'er? Stop speaking in riddles."
"Well, I killed her, and now I'm going to take you away to live happily ever after."
Chu Ruo wanted to make a "confused dog" face. *Sister, can we not be so ridiculous?* "Can't you just give me a straight answer?"
"Fine, fine." Bai Zhier's eyes were full of doting affection, but her words remained sharp. "She abandoned you and left on her own."
"How are Wotou and your little Wowo doing? Are they well?"
Bai Zhier clicked her tongue. "Your speed of acceptance is truly startling. That was a quick shift."
"You're clearly not going to tell me anyway. Xue'er must be busy with something else in the inn. She probably asked you to watch over me in case something happened. It shouldn't be a big deal if she's handling it herself. I'll just accept her arrangements and stay here with you; she'll be back before long."
"That's why I say my Ruo'er is exceptionally clever sometimes."
...*Since when did I become 'yours'? And why are you rubbing my head like I'm a dog?* "Zhier..."
Wait, something was wrong. Usually, in a scene prone to misunderstanding like this, the Little Scorpion would burst through the door. Why hadn't she appeared yet? Blame it on the fact that such coincidences happened too often; now that she hadn't appeared, Chu Ruo actually felt out of sorts.
"Stingy thing, it was just a pat on the head. Fine, fine, I'll stop teasing you. Go back to sleep; it's rare to find an inn."
***
Meanwhile, in the inn's lobby, Nan Muxue was... eating porridge.
The old woman, hunched over with her hands behind her back, walked tremulously into the lobby, only to hear a panicked cry. "Mother..."
She looked up. It was still early, and there weren't many people in the lobby—just a few scattered tables. Without exception, everyone was slumped over their tables, whether dead or unconscious. Only at the innermost table sat a girl who radiated a heavy murderous aura, focused intently on her breakfast. However...
The man smoking the pipe was ecstatic to see his mother, but he didn't dare move an inch. His life and death were held in the hands of this woman who looked exquisite but was, in truth, ruthless.
The old woman froze, the smile on her face hardening. She quickly scanned the four corners of the room before forcing a fake smile. "Young lady, what is the meaning of this? This is an inn."
Nan Muxue continued to eat her porridge, as if she hadn't heard a word. Nothing around her seemed to affect her. In contrast, the old woman's son was shaking so hard his legs were like jelly. "Mother, hurry and find a way to save me, I..."
*Hiss... hiss...*
His face had turned deathly pale. The thing on his body had slowly moved up to his neck. The foul stench and the icy sensation were suffocating him. He didn't dare move or even turn his head slightly; he was even afraid of a drop of sweat falling. One wrong move, and it wouldn't be a flickering tongue touching him, but sharp, venomous fangs.
"Don't move!" The old woman grew tense, looking at Nan Muxue with resentment. "Girl, my son has no grudge against you. Why set a venomous snake on him?"
"No." Having finally finished her small bowl of plain porridge in an unhurried manner, Nan Muxue simply raised a hand. On the man's other shoulder, as if appearing out of thin air, something began to writhe. She said calmly, "There are two."
"You!"
"Mother, save me, my legs are giving out..."
Glaring at this girl with a heart like a scorpion, the old woman clenched her fists. "What do you want!"
"You know."
The old woman's heart sank, her expression shifting minutely. "I don't understand what you're talking about."
"Seven-step snakes," Nan Muxue said, as if talking to herself. "An ordinary person can't survive seven steps. With two of them together, how long do you think he'll last? This is the wilderness; you likely have some antivenom prepared. But are you certain you can save him in such a short time?"
"You go too far! Since you arrived last night, we haven't made things difficult for you, nor have we offended or neglected you..."
"Ruo'er is easy to talk to; that doesn't mean I am. As for those two men last night—since you chose to take their money, you must bear the consequences. They dirtied Ruo'er's hands; a debt must be repaid."
"How ridiculous. What does it have to do with us if they had designs on you? Don't think you can be so arrogant just because we can't beat you. This is my territory. There's gunpowder under this inn. If I give the word, no one gets out! Maozi!"
There was no response. She knew in her heart that something had happened, but she was still unwilling to give in. "Maozi! Yao-ba! Meitou! Er—"
"Stop shouting," Nan Muxue interrupted. "No one will answer you."
"You killed them!"
"Mere ants." She shook her head. "I simply didn't want them to be noisy. They should wake up in three days."
"Mother, hurry, I can't stand much longer... she's a lunatic..."
"Shut your mouth!"
Nan Muxue had already stood up. "Have you decided?"
"Do I have a choice? You're the ones who want to go; don't blame me if something happens."
With another wave of her hand, the two highly venomous snakes were sent flying out of the inn. "Clean up. You likely need time to settle things at this inn. We depart the day after tomorrow."
"These people," the old woman called out to her, asking, "Why did you kill them?"
"It was convenient."
"Mother, these people..." *Slap!* "Mother, why did you hit me?"
"To teach you some sense! I'll be away for a while. You heard her; Maozi and the others have been drugged. Clean up these 'carcasses' yourself."
"Where are you going?"
The old woman took a deep breath and sighed. "Miaojiang."
"What?!"
"This girl is too formidable. Not just her martial arts, but her mind."
"That's not right, Mother. Why did she tell you to go with them? Do you know Miaojiang?"
"You stupid boy, use your brain. Would they look for someone who doesn't know the way to lead them?"
"But that's not right. In all these years, I've never heard you say you knew how to get to Miaojiang. Those Miao lands are remote and terrifying; anyone who goes there never comes back. How do you know where the Miao people are?"
"I'll tell you about that when I return. You're grown now; it's time you knew. I didn't tell you before because I didn't want you knowing too much, but I can't hide it this time. Be careful while I'm gone. Tonight I'll go find that girl and see if she can wake Maozi and the others. You need a helper if you're alone. If she refuses, don't open the doors for the next few days. You can't win against her, do you understand?"
"I understand, Mother. She killed so many people... Look, her sword is so fast there isn't a drop of blood, and it gives off a cold chill. These people didn't even provoke her."
The old woman shook her head again. "None of them were good people. The ones at these tables she killed were either lusting after her or were heinous criminals. Didn't you see? These two match the government's wanted posters. Boy, how can you have no discernment at all? You never pay attention to what's happening around you. How will you manage when I'm gone?"
"I..."
"Alright, alright, enough. My head hurts. Finish cleaning up here, then pack me some clothes and dry rations. I'm going to sleep for a bit."
"Understood."
***
Back in the guest room...
"You threatened her with her son. Aren't you afraid she'll fight to the death?"
"She cares for that son of hers too much. she won't."
"Can your Baihua Palace even control snakes?"
Only for Chu Ruo would Nan Muxue answer any question with such patience. "One simply uses herbs and flowers to lure them. How do you think the name 'Hundred Flowers Palace' came to be? If used correctly, one can control not just venomous snakes, but many things."
"How did you know this old woman knew the way to Miaojiang?" Although Miaojiang was in the southwest, the Miao people's settlements were incredibly mysterious and almost never revealed to outsiders. No one knew the way; they had planned to use the clumsy method of searching according to maps. How did the Little Scorpion know the innkeeper was familiar with Miaojiang?
"Her hand."
"What about her hand?"
Nan Muxue pulled Chu Ruo toward her. "The silver bracelet on her hand. That engraving is a Miao pattern. Furthermore, it's usually worn by men. If I'm not mistaken, she must know someone from the Miao people."
"Wait, from just those few moments last night, you noticed the pattern on her bracelet? And how do you know what a Miao pattern looks like?"
"A few years ago, I happened upon someone who had come out of Miaojiang. I didn't interact with him, but I happened to overhear him speaking to someone else."
"You can remember even that? And why would he come out of Miaojiang? I thought they didn't like contact with the outside world."
Nan Muxue looked somewhat speechless. "How should I know? Go find the man and ask him yourself."
"No wonder you're so composed and refused to leave," Chu Ruo said, currently lying across Nan Muxue's lap with a blissful expression. "What did Zhier actually say to you last night? Why was she rushing us to leave?"
"She is your 'intimate friend.' If you have questions, why not ask her yourself instead of asking your master?"
"Didn't she refuse to tell me? Ow... you're pinching me..."
"So you only think of your master when she won't tell you?" Nan Muxue sneered. "Chu Ruo, you're courting death!"
"Mercy—!"
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
七步蛇 | Seven-step Snake | A common name for the Deinagkistrodon (Sharp-nosed Pit Viper), legendary for being so toxic that a victim can only walk seven steps before dying.
苗人 | Miao people | An ethnic group in Southern China, often associated with mystery, poison, and sorcery in wuxia/xianxia fiction.
为师 | Your master / This master | A self-referential term used by a teacher/master when speaking to their disciple. Nan Muxue uses this to assert her status over Chu Ruo.
小家碧玉 | Demure maiden | Literally "a beauty from a small family," referring to a girl who is pretty but lacks the grand air of high nobility; often used to describe a shy or modest appearance.
鱼死网破 | Fight to the death | Literally "the fish dies and the net breaks," meaning a desperate struggle where both sides suffer or perish.
眼水 | Discernment / Insight | A dialect term (likely Sichuanese/Southwestern) for having a keen eye or being observant.
二天 | In the future / Later on | A dialect term for "later" or "someday."
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Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 115 | A Path to Miaojiang | Novela.app | Novela.app
