Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 139 | A Daughter's Sacrifice | Novela.app

High atop the clouds on Ru’yun Peak, everything seemed unchanged. Or perhaps that wasn't quite right—at the very least, the scenery at the summit remained the same. The disciples rose early, showing no signs of maladjustment. They carried on just as they had before, though perhaps with a newfound sense of terror. The Palace Master had returned, and she trained them with the most cruel and heartless methods, even forcing them to slaughter one another. Those who performed the worst were taken away by her, never to be seen again. Curiosity was a universal trait, but here, they had to remember one thing above all else: never ask about what does not concern you. The disciples standing guard at the foot of the mountain felt a sense of relief; it was better here than at the summit. The period when the Young Palace Master held power had been their easiest time. Unfortunately, it hadn't lasted. Now that the Palace Master had returned from the dead, the palace had become a place of nightmares. They could only look back on the past with longing. A white figure flickered in the distance. The disciples couldn't see clearly at first, yet the silhouette felt familiar. As the white shadow drew closer and finally stood before them, her aura and presence remained unmistakable. She was neither humble nor arrogant; even without her martial arts, she remained as lofty as ever. The disciples were stunned, even forgetting to speak. Up on the mountain, Nan Meng-hua was at the martial arts field, watching the disciples spar. A disciple hurried forward to whisper into the ear of Mo Fei, the Fifth Protector, who was currently in high favor. After listening, Mo Fei dismissed the messenger with a wave of her hand. she glanced at Nan Meng-hua, who had her eyes closed, and seemed to want to step forward but lacked the courage. "What is it?" Mo Fei spoke cautiously. "Reporting to the Palace Master, it is the Young Palace Master... she..." As she spoke, the crowd instinctively went still. Everyone turned their gaze toward a single point. Within their sight was that familiar figure, still clad in pure white. As she slowly approached, everyone stood frozen, their faces a mask of unreadable emotions. Surprisingly, the Palace Master, Nan Meng-hua, did not scold them. Instead, a smile played on her lips as the newcomer stepped onto the martial arts field. The disciples parted as one, leaving a wide path for her. With a wave of Nan Meng-hua’s hand, they all retreated. In an instant, only one person remained in the center of the vast field. She knelt. "Greetings, Mother." *** "Xue'er!" "Ruo'er," Bai Zhi-er said, remaining by Chu Ruo’s side as she always did—gentle and quiet. "It’s alright, it’s alright." Chu Ruo struggled to get up, that name constantly on her lips. "Xue'er, Xue'er... let me go! I have to find Xue'er!" "Ruo'er, calm down." "I can't be calm!" Chu Ruo was extremely agitated. "Xue'er has been gone for days. She must have gone back to the Hundred Flowers Palace to find Nan Meng-hua. Zhi-er, I have to find her!" Bai Zhi-er turned her head away. "Going there now is just seeking death." "I don't care! If it weren't for me, for everyone else, why would she have gone back? Zhi-er, I beg you, take me back. No—just let me go, I'll find her myself." "What would be the point! Ruo'er," Bai Zhi-er snapped, her own temper rising. "If you go back, what was the point of her sacrifice? If you love her, you should know why she had to return." "How could Nan Meng-hua ever let her go? She suffered nothing but abuse and beatings at her hands back then. If I go back—didn't she want me as a vessel for internal energy? I'll go back and trade myself for Xue'er." "And you think she would agree to a trade? You know how despicable Nan Meng-hua is. Ruo'er, never mind the state of your eyes... even if they were fine, what chance would you have?" Tears escaped the corners of Chu Ruo’s eyes. She hated her own weakness, her own incompetence. She couldn't even break free from this room, let alone save the woman she loved. "I have to save Xue'er. I have to save her. How can I just watch her go to her death? If she falls into that woman's hands, she’ll suffer a fate worse than death!" Steeling her heart, Bai Zhi-er stood up. "Stop struggling. As long as the Soft-Bone Powder in your system isn't neutralized, you won't be able to use your martial arts. I won't let you do something so foolish." "Zhi-er," the person called out as the other walked further away. "Bai Zhi-er! Let me go!" *** Hundred Flowers Palace. Nan Meng-hua looked down from her high position at the kneeling figure. "Well? Do you know the punishment for a non-disciple who dares to intrude upon the Hundred Flowers Palace?" Despite the many people present, the area was unnervingly silent. Her sharp gaze swept over the crowd before landing on the Fifth Protector, Mo Fei, making the woman instinctively tremble. "You. Tell her." Mo Fei lowered her head, looking somewhat helpless. "First... a flogging..." "Bring Ice Nether." Mo Fei looked up in shock. "Palace Master..." Ice Nether was a divine weapon that Nan Mu-xue had personally repaired. A normal person couldn't survive more than a few strikes from it, let alone Nan Mu-xue, who had lost all her internal energy. But under Nan Meng-hua’s warning glare, no one dared to disobey. Ice Nether was quickly brought forth. Mo Fei handed it over, unable to bear the sight. "Palace Master, Ice Nether." But the other woman didn't take it. She uttered only one word: "Strike." Strike? Strike whom? Nan Mu-xue, who was kneeling, of course. Mo Fei knew that if she didn't deliver this blow, she would be the one in trouble. Closing her eyes, she swung Ice Nether, lashing it against Nan Mu-xue’s body. *Crack!* The power of Ice Nether was staggering, yet Nan Mu-xue didn't budge. Only a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth. Nan Meng-hua showed no intention of calling a halt. Mo Fei hoped for a command to stop, but none came. This meant she could not stop. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand and struck again. The woman above laughed maniacally. "She looks so much like your beloved. How does it feel to be beaten by the one you love? Hahahaha!" With every strike, skin split and flesh gaped. The beautiful white robes were soon stained a gory crimson. From beginning to end, Nan Mu-xue didn't even let out a muffled groan. She simply knelt there, her posture unchanged. Yet anyone could see she had reached her limit. By the final strike, Mo Fei’s hand was trembling too much to continue. She looked at Nan Meng-hua again. Finally, the seated woman mercifully raised a hand. Mo Fei felt a wave of relief and quickly stepped aside. In the blink of an eye, Nan Meng-hua flew down to stand before Nan Mu-xue. She looked at her daughter with contempt and disdain, reaching out to pinch the girl's chin. The bone creaked under the pressure. "Is this not my dear daughter? What is the meaning of this?" "Your daughter knows her past sins are heavy," Nan Mu-xue said, fresh blood spilling from her mouth as she spoke. "I have come... to beg Mother's forgiveness." "Forgiveness? Hahahaha!" That terrifying laughter echoed across the entire martial arts field. "Where was this humility when you forced me off the cliff? Who are you putting on this pathetic show for!" *Slap!* The slap was incredibly vicious. Nan Meng-hua shook her hand. "Slut. To think you dared betray me for the sake of a Chu Ruo!" "Drag her down and lock her in the ice cellar!" The ice cellar was freezing for an ordinary person, but for Nan Mu-xue, whose constitution was already naturally cold, it was a death sentence. The onlookers gasped inwardly; the Palace Master truly had no shred of maternal affection for her own daughter. But what could they say? Inside the ice cellar, Nan Mu-xue wore only her thin, tattered clothes. Despite the circumstances, a faint smile touched her lips. A jade pendant still hung at her waist. She caressed it with her hand, whispering that name once more. "Ruo'er." After an unknown amount of time, the door to the ice cellar opened. It could be no one else but Nan Meng-hua. She walked down step by step, sneering. "Why come back to seek your death?" Nan Mu-xue replied, "Because I know Mother will certainly not kill me." "Oh? You're that confident?" "I only ask that Mother spares the others. I am willing to accept any punishment." Nan Meng-hua’s expression turned fierce and distorted. "What right do you have to negotiate with me? The others? Chu Ruo? Or those Protectors of yours? They all conspired with you to rebel against me—they all deserve to die!" Nan Mu-xue countered, "If Mother refuses to let them go, then today, your daughter shall end her life right here." "You dare threaten me?" Nan Meng-hua’s face grew even more hideous. She grabbed her daughter’s throat again. "What do you think you are? Do you think I care about you?" Her throat was being squeezed with lethal force, making speech difficult, yet Nan Mu-xue remained calm. "I am indeed nothing. But... Mother needs the Nan family bloodline to continue." Nan Meng-hua laughed again, more crazily than ever before. "Hahahaha!" She threw her head back, her laughter ringing through the ice cellar. "Correct! That... is your only use."