The morning wind blew wild and piercing, swirling withered yellow leaves from some unknown source. Amidst the clearing, a figure in white stood motionless, her eyes covered by a silk cloth as pale as snow. Suddenly, her ears twitched. The sword in her left hand flew out like a bolt of lightning, piercing the very center of a falling leaf! The blade buried itself deep into a wooden post, the sound of splintering wood ringing crisp in the silence.
"Yunshuang," a woman approached from behind, draping a cloak over her shoulders.
A touch of tenderness entered Nan Yunshuang’s eyes. "It is cold. Why come out? There is little to do in the Palace lately; you should rest more."
Nan Gongyan smiled. "You are up just as early. Your skills have improved significantly."
"I have lost an arm, after all. I am at a disadvantage; I can only make up for my lack of natural talent with diligence."
Looking at the empty sleeve of her right arm, Nan Gongyan felt a sharp pang in her heart. She knew better than anyone that even if this woman had wronged the entire world, she had lost that hand for her sake. "Your left hand is just as formidable now, no different from your right. I..." She suddenly realized her blunder. To emphasize the right hand when the arm was already gone—she lowered her head in self-reproach. "I truly have a knack for touching a sore spot."
The other woman laughed, resting a hand on her shoulder. "It is a fact. There is no reason not to mention it. Besides, I see it every day." She gestured with her eyes toward her right sleeve. "Whether you mention it or not, does it change anything?"
"But..."
"It is fine."
"Ahem, ahem..."
It was Duan Ning’s voice. She had arrived alongside Yin Liuli. Since Nan Yunshuang had lost her arm, Duan Ning’s attitude had softened somewhat, but the lingering resentment over the internal factions of the Palace still made her act awkward and sarcastic. "Oh, my~"
"Liuli, Ning’er, why have you come so early?"
Yin Liuli teased, "Did we come too early and disturb you two?"
Nan Gongyan’s face flushed. "You..."
Nan Yunshuang remained much calmer. "Has there been any word from Xue’er lately?"
Yin Liuli shook her head. "It has been over a month since their last message. I was just coming to discuss this with you. I am getting worried."
Nan Gongyan’s expression also clouded with worry. "The worst thing is losing contact. The Miao Frontier is a desolate and remote place; I hope nothing has happened..."
Duan Ning waved a hand dismissively. "With Xue’er and Chu Ruo’s martial arts, plus that woman surnamed Bai, they should be fine. I just don't know why the connection was severed."
Nan Yunshuang picked up the thread. "It likely means they have reached their destination. Think about it—the Miao Frontier is said to be a place where many enter but none return. Based on the timeline, they should have found it by now, but they simply have no way to send word back to us."
"You mean they are trapped in the Miao Frontier?"
"Perhaps. Moreover, they are there to ask for a favor; they must endure much. No news is good news. We needn't worry about their martial prowess. Though the Miao people are skilled in Gu poisons, their physical combat skills are ordinary. Even if they use Gu, the medicinal herbs of our Hundred Flowers Palace are not lacking. Furthermore, Bai Zhi’er is a descendant of the Divine Physician’s house. With her there, they are safe."
The other three nodded in agreement. Nan Gongyan slumped her shoulders slightly. "Now we can only wait and see if they can obtain the antidote for the Pregnancy Gu."
"Yan’er," Nan Yunshuang called out. "Go to the Heavenly Demon Palace Master for me. Tell him I shall visit him later to spar and play a game of Go."
Duan Ning and Yin Liuli both looked at her with instinctive wariness. "What are you planning?"
"To ask about his relationship with the Palace Master." Facing their suspicion, Nan Yunshuang was candid. "Xue’er is away. I must do what I can to ease her burdens. Before she left, she entrusted the Hundred Flowers Palace to the four of us. With you three here, it is enough. I must uncover the truth about the Palace Master. It isn't just Xue’er; I also suspect she might not be dead."
"You're just dying for her to be alive, aren't you, Great Protector?"
"Ning’er," Yin Liuli pulled at the mocking Duan Ning. "It’s fine. There’s no harm in clearing this up. We never heard of the Palace Master having any connection to the demonic cults before. If... if we are truly so unlucky that she is alive and comes back for revenge..."
"There must be a connection between her and Tu Ao’zhi. Perhaps that will be the key to defeating her."
"Fine~ then we shall leave it to the Great Protector," Duan Ning curled her lip disdainfully. "I have palace affairs to attend to. I won't stay to keep you company."
"Ning’er," Yin Liuli chased after her. "Why must you be like this? Yunshuang is no longer the person she was before."
"But my heart still feels stifled. Anyway, Yan’er is with her now; she won't be that miserable."
"You girl, you just love wearing your heart on your sleeve."
"Tell me, do you think she and Yan’er will actually make it?"
"You should worry about the pile of palace affairs on your desk first. How many days has it been piling up?"
Duan Ning wailed in misery. "Liuli, won't you help me~?"
"Who told you to be lazy? We all split the work evenly, yet you're the only one dawdling every day."
"Sigh, it’s so boring and depressing. Without Chu Ruo around, this mountain is truly too quiet."
Back at the clearing, Nan Gongyan was comforting Nan Yunshuang. "Yunshuang, don't take it to heart. Ning’er is just..."
"I am not angry with her. These are the consequences of my own actions, which is why I must make amends. The matter of Tu Ao’zhi and the Palace Master must be settled." Nan Yunshuang looked at her. "Yan’er, I have made one mistake already. I do not wish to make another." *The only thing I care about is you.*
***
Meanwhile, after enduring countless hardships, Chu Ruo and her two companions finally emerged from the forest that had made her suffer so. *Waaaah, finally! We’re finally out!*
Poisonous mists, labyrinths, ferocious beasts, miasma, toxic insects, carnivorous plants, scorpions, centipedes, and giant pythons—it had been a total jungle nightmare. Not to mention the various traps set by the Miao people; one wrong step and you’d lose your life. Heaven only knew how these people managed to set traps all over such a vast forest. Chu Ruo felt like she must have lost twenty pounds and aged years; it was truly terrifying. In a place like that, no matter how high your martial arts were, you were useless against the power of nature. She finally understood why they said people entered the Miao Frontier but never returned; the skeletons they had seen in the forest were enough to form a mountain. The Miao people clearly had some real skill to move freely in such a place. She remembered the old woman saying that Miao people occasionally went out to buy supplies, usually just one or two people. They were absolute badasses—how did they do it?
"There is a river here. If we follow it down, we should find their settlement without any surprises."
"Likely so," Bai Zhi’er agreed. "Look at the bamboo here; the cuts are so clean. They were definitely cut with a sharp tool. I suspect they might have water wheels nearby."
"Finally, some relief. I’m going to wash my face first," Chu Ruo said as she crouched down. "We all went in and out together, so how are you two still so clean? Look at my clothes; the white has turned completely black."
"You simply don't pay attention," Bai Zhi’er noted.
Nan Muxue cut into the conversation coldly. "Are you two finished chatting? It is nearly dark. How much longer do you intend to dawdle?"
"Oh my, the vinegar jar has tipped over. Ruo’er, quick, take a sniff—the air is thick with the scent of sour jealousy."
"I'm done washing! Let's go, let's go!" Chu Ruo hurriedly urged the two women forward, not forgetting to reach out and flatteringly hook her fingers with the woman beside her. Nan Muxue tried to push her away, but Chu Ruo held on tight, winking and grinning. "Hehe, I just love the smell of my Xue’er’s jealousy. Don't be mad, okay? You're the one who has me wrapped around your finger anyway. You're the only one I'm afraid of."
"Sappy," Nan Muxue said, but she didn't let go of her hand. Her anger had mostly dissipated.
"Say, we've been walking for so long, why haven't we bumped into a Miao person in trouble like the protagonists in stories? Ideally, the child of their leader, so they could take us back, and then they'd give us the antidote as a reward out of gratitude. Sigh."
"You have read too many stories," Nan Muxue remarked.
Naturally, things did not develop with the coincidence and luck Chu Ruo had imagined. The three of them walked on normally and indeed spotted bamboo water wheels where the current was swift. After that, it was simple: they followed the sections of bamboo piping. About half an hour later, a row upon row of houses appeared before their eyes. They were nestled on the uneven terrain, arranged in neat rows that extended halfway up the mountain. The sheer number of them was startling.
"Excuse me..."
*Mooo-woo~ Mooo-woo~*
Chu Ruo had just opened her mouth to ask a person washing clothes. In truth, from the moment they stepped foot here, the locals had noticed them. However, no one approached; they simply went about their business. There was no welcome, but no malice in their eyes either—it was as if the three outsiders were transparent.
Yet, when Chu Ruo addressed the person, they immediately stood up and said something in a language they couldn't understand. Then, an instrument similar to an ox horn was blown. The *mooo-woo* sound echoed loudly through the settlement.
Following that, the people who had been busy with their own tasks seemed to wake up. They put down their work and either watched from afar or began to gather. Chu Ruo wordlessly moved to the front, watching the surroundings warily. "Should we retreat?"
"Where are you all from?"
The accent was the same as the old woman’s; they could understand it. The three of them turned to see a young girl leading the group. She had phoenix eyes full of life and long eyebrows that reached her temples. Her waist-length hair was simply bound with silver rings, and her skin was exceptionally fair. She wore clothing they had never seen before—likely unique to the Miao—mostly in blue and white, yet far from plain. It made her look even more spirited. She was barefoot, with silver bells hanging from her ankles that chimed melodiously with every step. This woman was remarkably beautiful.
Nan Muxue’s hand somehow "crawled" onto Chu Ruo’s lower back and gave it a sharp pinch. "Have you forgotten my words? If you dare to let your eyes wander, I will gouge them out."
*Here we go again.* Looking at Bai Zhi’er earned a threat, and now just glancing at someone else earned another. *Please, I just met her! At this rate, even a wholesale supplier wouldn't have enough eyeballs for you to gouge out.* Chu Ruo quietly put her hands behind her back, not caring if the others saw, and grabbed Nan Muxue’s hand.
The Miao girl laughed at the sight of them. She spoke again, her voice soft, beautiful, and full of charm. "Why aren't you answering me? Didn't you come looking for us?"
"We... we have business with the Miao... no, that's not it. We have come here seeking help."
"With her belly like that," the girl gestured toward Nan Muxue’s midsection, "did you come for the Pregnancy Gu?"
Impressive. The Little Scorpion’s figure was hardly showing, yet this woman recognized it at a glance. They were in the right place. "Indeed."
"Then answer me one question first. What is the relationship between you two? And this woman beside you—she seems to like you quite a bit as well."
*What?* Chu Ruo was baffled. She hadn't even spoken to Bai Zhi’er since the girl arrived, and in this situation, Bai Zhi’er wouldn't be looking at her like that. How did she see it? This was too uncanny. "Well..."
"We have come only for the antidote. Other matters are irrelevant," Nan Muxue spoke coldly.
The girl glanced at her sideways and laughed. "To come begging for an antidote and still act like this—you have courage and backbone. I admire you." She raised a hand, and three women walked away, though it was unclear what they were going to do.
She continued, "You aren't the first to break in here. That is your own skill. Since you have come, you are guests. As the Shaman Chief, I welcome you on behalf of the Miao."
Chu Ruo felt something was off. She had scanned the area; grain was left out in the open in thatched huts, and many bamboo houses were filled with countless gold and silver treasures. This was a bad sign. Where did all that money come from? Since ancient times, one didn't flaunt wealth unless they were certain of one thing: just as the rumors said, once you entered, you weren't leaving. Moreover, the other Miao people didn't seem particularly welcoming; why did this girl change her tune so quickly? No, there was definitely a problem.
"Follow me. We can talk as we walk. Oh, by the way, my name is Fenghuang. You can just call me Fenghuang."
Chu Ruo’s brain short-circuited as a coincidence struck her. Miao Frontier, Gu poisons... she blurted out, "Lan Fenghuang?"
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Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 119 | Arrival in the Frontier | Novela.app | Novela.app
