Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 136 | A Brutal Reunion | Novela.app

"Nan Menghua!" Chu Ruo cried out in shock, instinctively moving to shield Nan Muxue. It was true—that psychopath Nan Menghua was actually alive! One problem wasn't even solved before another appeared. This was bad luck—rotten, absolute bottom-of-the-barrel luck! This damn transmigration world was a total trap; not a single person who jumped off a cliff actually died. Was there a bug in the system or what?! Nan Menghua gave a sinister laugh. It had to be said, she looked even more terrifying than before. Her clothes were tattered, her expression was distorted, and a long, hideous scar slashed across her face from left to right. It was a gruesome sight. When she smiled, it sent shivers down everyone's spines. "What is this? A wedding? And no one thought to inform me, the Palace Master?" Nan Muxue remained remarkably calm. Perhaps, as she had mentioned before, she had a premonition that her mother hadn't died. She spoke softly, "Mother." "Nan Menghua!" Bai Shan, ever the firebrand, didn't waste words. She immediately hurled the Thunder-Fire Puppet Gu at her. The crowd scattered as the medicinal pellets exploded upon impact with Nan Menghua’s body. A pungent stench filled the air, and white smoke billowed everywhere. Yet, Nan Menghua emerged from the haze completely unscathed. With a casual flick of her wrist, the Gu insects clinging to her were sent flying, dissolving into puddles of pus before they even hit the ground. "Did you really think such trivial tricks could harm me?" Seeing things take a turn for the worse, Bai Shan tried to seize the chance to flee. However, Nan Menghua simply struck out with a palm from a distance. The invisible force slammed Bai Shan into the ground, causing her to vomit a large spray of dark blood. Wincing in pain, Bai Shan shot a look at the group before forcing herself up and scrambling away. Nan Muxue spoke up, "I see you have finally mastered the Passion Flower Intoxication." The Four Protectors exchanged uneasy glances. Nan Yunshuang spoke quickly, "We are no match for the Palace Master. As things stand... Ning’er, Yan’er, take Xiao Guo’er and A’Yue and escape during the chaos. The rest of us will stay and fight together—" "No!" Nan Muxue drew Ice Soul. "Say no more. I will hold Mother back. All of you, leave." Chu Ruo grew frantic. "Xue’er! The others can go, but I won't leave you!" Nan Menghua had already fixed her gaze on them. "Today, not a single soul leaves this place!" Truly, one should never see the bride before the ceremony, and the bride should never remove her own veil. This was a lesson learned in blood. Chu Ruo had never imagined that even with the combined strength of herself, the Little Scorpion, and the Four Protectors—with Xiao Guo’er being little more than a placeholder—they would suffer such a crushing defeat. One move. Nan Menghua used only a single move to send everyone crashing to the floor. *Pfft!* Not a single person escaped without spitting blood. Chu Ruo wiped her mouth and looked at the woman beside her. "Xue’er..." Nan Muxue looked back at her, and in the next heartbeat, she charged forward alone with Ice Soul in hand. "Xue’er!" Chu Ruo tried to rush after her, but she was knocked back a great distance by a gentle burst of internal energy from Nan Muxue. As she prepared to lung forward again, the two women in the center of the hall began a direct clash of internal power. The resulting shockwaves were so powerful they sent everyone reeling. Chu Ruo knew she couldn't get close. If she tried to interfere now, she wouldn't just fail to help; she would disrupt Nan Muxue’s internal flow, and her own internal organs would be shattered by the pressure. She could only watch from the sidelines, consumed by helpless anxiety. "This is bad," Yin Luli’s voice rang out. "Xue’er looks wrong. The Palace Master... she’s draining Xue’er’s internal energy!" Chu Ruo couldn't hold back any longer. She brandished her own blade, Ice Fiend, and swung at Nan Menghua. But Nan Menghua only smirked, freeing one hand to effortlessly strike her down while taunting her. "Every blow I land on you now is powered by the internal energy of your most beloved woman. Does it hurt? Come then! See if you can save her!" "You old hag!" Seeing Nan Muxue growing weaker by the second, Chu Ruo was both enraged and desperate. She threw every ounce of her strength into her charges, but Nan Menghua took pleasure in tormenting her. Every strike drew blood but wasn't fatal; she even endured several humiliating slaps to the face. Finally, battered and bruised, she tried to rush forward once more, but the others held her back. "You’ll die if you go again!" "I... I have to save Xue’er! You all... go! Quickly! She won't let anyone go! Leave! If you leave, there’s still hope for the future! Go!" The Four Protectors were not afraid of death, but for the sake of the Hundred Flowers Palace, its countless disciples, and the two women before them, they took Xiao Guo’er and A’Yue. Using their light-body techniques, they closed their eyes and fled. As Chu Ruo made one last desperate lung, Nan Menghua pinned her down by the crown of her head. "Fine. I shall grant your wish!" "Ruo’er!" The cry was forced out with the last of Nan Muxue’s strength. She was no longer in control of her own body and couldn't struggle. She watched as her internal energy was swallowed bit by bit; every effort was futile. Slowly, she felt a hollow emptiness within her. Not a single trace of energy remained. Only then did Nan Menghua release her, and she collapsed limply to her knees. "Xue’er!" Chu Ruo’er’s face was a mask of agony. She felt a surge of energy rush to her dantian, her entire body feeling as though it were about to burst. "Ah!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, violently breaking free from Nan Menghua’s grip. "Xue’er," Chu Ruo coughed up blood as she crawled to Nan Muxue’s side. Her face was filled with unprecedented panic and urgency. "How are you? How are you? Don't scare me, Xue’er..." "Well, well, Chu Ruo," Nan Menghua said, sounding surprised. "I underestimated you. To think you could break my hold." She then began to laugh. "You truly are a martial arts prodigy. A body like yours is the perfect vessel for internal energy. I shall keep your shell and turn it into my container." But Chu Ruo seemed to have lost her mind, simply cradling Nan Muxue and weeping. "Ruo’er..." Hearing her name, Chu Ruo quickly grabbed Nan Muxue’s hand and pressed it against her own face, which was stained with a mixture of blood and tears. She even managed to squeeze out a smile. "Xue’er, Xue’er..." Nan Muxue pulled her lips into a faint, weak smile. "I’m fine." "You Little Scorpion, always acting tough..." Chu Ruo knew. Nan Muxue’s martial arts were gone—completely gone. That vicious woman, Nan Menghua, had destroyed her dantian. It meant she could never practice martial arts again. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have looked at you early today. I wish this were all just a dream." "How touching your love is," Nan Menghua sneered, approaching with her sword raised. Chu Ruo spun around instantly, catching the blade with her bare hands. Blood flowed like a river. "This all started because of me. If you want to kill someone, kill me!" "What backbone," Nan Menghua said, pulling the sword back slowly to let the blood spread across Chu Ruo’s palms. "But who said I was going to kill you?" She looked toward her own daughter, using words so foul they were hard to imagine directed at one's own flesh and blood. "This slut dared to rebel against me for your sake. Do you think I would let you go to the yellow springs together so easily? I will sever the tendons in her wrists and ankles. I will make you both wish for death but find it out of reach!" "She is your daughter! If you want to maim someone, do it to me!" Nan Menghua finally raised her sword high. Ignoring the agonizing pain in her hands, Chu Ruo tried desperately to block her. Just as the blade was about to fall, a burst of internal energy struck from a distance, forcing Nan Menghua back several steps. Chu Ruo looked up, her heart leaping with joy. "Zhi’er!" Bai Zhi’er and Tu Ao’zhi had arrived. She hurriedly helped Nan Muxue retreat. "Xue’er, hold on. We’re going to be okay." Tu Ao’zhi stood in a standoff with Nan Menghua, while Bai Zhi’er rushed to Chu Ruo’s side. "Ruo’er, your hands..." "I’m fine, don't worry about me, Zhi’er," Chu Ruo grabbed her urgently. "Quickly, look at Xue’er. Please, look at her..." "I will," Bai Zhi’er soothed her, her eyes full of heartache. "I’ll look. Ruo’er, stay calm." "It’s gone," Chu Ruo murmured. "Xue’er’s martial arts are gone. She destroyed her dantian. She can never practice again." After checking Nan Muxue’s pulse, Bai Zhi’er’s expression darkened. "Ruo’er..." "Is there any way, Zhi’er? Tell me, is there any way?" "It is a miracle she is even alive. Her breath is very weak." "What do we do, Zhi’er? Tell me, what do we do now? How can I save Xue’er? Tell me!" On the other side, Tu Ao’zhi and Nan Menghua were locked in a fierce battle. Shockwaves of internal energy exploded everywhere they touched. "Go!" Tu Ao’zhi shouted, clearly struggling. "Get out of here!" "No one is leaving today!" "Third Sister!" "Tu Ao’zhi, if you insist on opposing me, then don't blame me for what happens next!" Bai Zhi’er and Chu Ruo helped Nan Muxue up together. "We have to go, now." Just as the three were about to leave, Wotou came running out, barking furiously at Nan Menghua as if he understood the situation. Nan Menghua, already irritated by the battle, was pushed over the edge by the noise. She struck Tu Ao’zhi aside and prepared to kill the poor little creature. Chu Ruo turned back and scooped Wotou up, but she was a step too late. Although Tu Ao’zhi struck out from a distance to deflect the blow, Nan Menghua’s palm still connected with the back of Chu Ruo’s head. Bai Zhi’er tried to intervene and took a hit as well, her internal organs churning. Blood had become the most common sight in the hall. "Zhi’er!" Chu Ruo heard the sound and called out in panic, only to realize that her vision had turned pitch black. Clutching Wotou, Chu Ruo fought against the looming unconsciousness, fumbling in the dark. It was Bai Zhi’er, suppressing her own internal injuries, who supported her. Together with the weakened Nan Muxue, they moved to escape. Tu Ao’zhi was clearly no longer a match for Nan Menghua. He wiped the blood from his mouth. "Third Sister, the way you are practicing... these are all signs of qi deviation." "I don't need your fake kindness. Today, I’ll finish you too!" "Adoptive Father! Sister!" A green poisonous mist suddenly surged from all sides at an incredible speed. Nan Menghua was instantly enveloped. She immediately held her breath, but by the time she emerged from the fog, the group was gone! Hmph. She flicked her sleeve. The first order issued by the Hundred Flowers Palace after the old Palace Master reclaimed her throne was the immediate arrest of the Four Protectors, the former Young Palace Master, and the Holy Envoy, Chu Ruo. Inside the main hall, Nan Menghua stared at the Fifth Protector, Mo Fei. "You look very much like Chu Ruo." "This disciple..." "Obey me, and no harm shall come to you. Tell me, do you wish to learn the Frozen Palm?" "This disciple pledges eternal loyalty to the Palace Master!" "Hahaha! I love a clever person. Good!" *** "Xue’er!" "Ruo’er," Bai Zhi’er’s voice reached her. Chu Ruo reached up to touch the white cloth covering her eyes. This time, she was truly blind. ***