"Chu Ruo, Chu Ruo!" Xiao Guo’er chirped as she dashed into Chu Ruo’s room. "Look, I brought you the snacks!"
She expected Chu Ruo to be thrilled, considering how much the girl had been whining for these treats. Instead, she found Chu Ruo leaning over the table, head buried in her hands, lost in a daze. She looked almost... cute? Upon seeing Xiao Guo’er, Chu Ruo merely offered a flat "Oh."
Xiao Guo’er set the food down, eyeing her suspiciously. This oddball had been acting out of character more and more lately. "What’s wrong with you today? Having another fit?"
"Hey, you’re getting bolder by the day, aren’t you?" Chu Ruo replied with mock solemnity. "Can’t I just sit here quietly and contemplate the meaning of life?"
"Are you psycho?" Xiao Guo’er shot back. She had picked up the phrase from Chu Ruo, and now it was practically the catchphrase for all the junior disciples. "What has been up with you lately? You keep doing things that aren't like you at all."
"Shoo, shoo. If you could guess what I’m thinking, I wouldn't be me."
Xiao Guo’er pulled up a chair. "Seriously, what are you doing? It’s such a nice day, yet you aren't out playing or gambling. You won't even look at the snacks. Did the Young Palace Mistress bully you again?"
"Her? No," Chu Ruo shook her head. In truth, she was preoccupied with the "Little Scorpion’s" injury. Why was she dwelling on it? It wasn't like the woman was dying or bedridden. Yet, she couldn't stop worrying—so much so that she hadn't even realized Yan’er hadn't come to see her for the past two nights.
"Then why the long face? She finally gave you a day off," Xiao Guo’er said, puzzled, as she unwrapped a parcel. "Try this water chestnut cake. And these dried fruits—they’re delicious."
Chu Ruo took a bite, but it tasted like ash. "Why would she suddenly give me a day off?"
The news of the injury was a secret; if Chu Ruo hadn't stumbled upon her that night, she wouldn't have known either. For the past two days, even though the Little Scorpion could barely move, she had still forced Chu Ruo to the Glacial Cave to practice, sitting there to supervise and flicking ice pebbles at her whenever she messed up. It stung like hell. Just thinking about that wicked woman made Chu Ruo grumpy.
Xiao Guo’er popped a few melon seeds. "Why else? Because Young Fortress Lord Liu Shaopeng is here."
"What!?"
"I heard the other sisters say that Liu—hey! Where are you going? I’m not finished!" Before Xiao Guo’er could even spit out a seed shell, a gust of wind swept past her. The room was empty.
Chu Ruo sprinted toward the main hall, her heart racing and her temper flaring. *No wonder she was so 'kind' as to give me a day off. I thought the sun had risen in the west, but it turns out that Great Roc bird is here! So she just tossed me aside to play? She bullies me when we're alone, but pushes me away the moment a handsome guy shows up? Does she not realize she’s injured? What good could that bird be up to? He’s definitely here to test her, and she’s actually seeing him! Little Scorpion, is your brain filled with water from Still Lake? One shake and I bet it sloshes.*
And that Liu guy—she’d seen him once before and knew he was bad news. So what if he was good-looking? He looked at the Little Scorpion with such lecherous eyes. *Fine, just you wait.* She suddenly skidded to a halt and doubled back to her room.
By the time Chu Ruo arrived at the main hall clutching a glass jar filled with an unknown liquid, Liu Shaopeng hadn't been there long. He had dismissed all the disciples to wait outside. A-Yue tried to stop her, but Chu Ruo was like a slippery eel, darting and weaving past her until she burst into the hall.
"Master!"
Liu Shaopeng, who had been wearing a charming smile, frowned at the intrusion. He forced his expression back into a polite mask. "Muxue, this is..."
Nan Muxue turned her head. "Why are you here?" Her voice was surprisingly soft, lacking its usual icy edge.
"To see my Master, of course," Chu Ruo said, shamelessly taking a seat right next to her. She set the glass jar down and acted as if she had only just noticed Liu Shaopeng. "Oh, you’re here too?"
Liu Shaopeng was deeply displeased. The Hundred Flowers Palace was known for its strict hierarchy. For a mere disciple to sit with them and speak so flippantly was an affront. Even in sects with laxer rules, he was a Young Fortress Lord—an equal to a sect leader in status—and deserved the utmost respect.
"Chu Ruo," Liu said, addressing her by name since she was technically a generation below him as Muxue’s disciple. "Your Master and I have matters to discuss."
Chu Ruo looked at Nan Muxue. The woman was leaning back slightly, fingers tracing the rim of her teacup, staring expressionlessly at the tea leaves. She looked every bit the cold, noble goddess.
"If the Young Fortress Lord has something to say, say it," Nan Muxue said calmly. "Ruo’er is my disciple. In the future, I will be entrusting her with many affairs. Perhaps soon, all dealings with your fortress will be handled by her."
Liu Shaopeng’s eyes widened. Muxue wanted this brat of unknown origin to handle their relations? "Muxue, you..."
*Aha! The Little Scorpion is doing great today!* Chu Ruo felt a surge of inexplicable joy. She hadn't expected Nan Muxue to defend her like this. She had assumed the woman would scold her for her lack of manners, kick her out, and then make her do horse stances or copy the sect rules. To see her being so protective was actually... kind of cute.
"Men and women should keep a respectful distance, 'Young Fortress Lord,'" Chu Ruo said, her ego inflating instantly. Since she wasn't being kicked out, she decided to turn up the heat. "You should watch how you address her. My Master is a maiden and the Young Palace Mistress. Her private name isn't for just any 'common person' to toss around."
*Common person?* No one had ever dared speak to Liu Shaopeng that way. But one had to look at the master before beating the dog. Seeing how much Muxue favored the boy, he couldn't lose his temper openly. As a top talent of the younger generation and the heir to Flying Roc Fortress, he had to maintain his poise.
"Your Master and I—"
"Ruo’er’s meaning is my meaning," Nan Muxue interrupted.
Even with his practiced composure, Liu Shaopeng found this hard to swallow. Being slighted by the woman he admired in favor of another was a humiliation. *Since you want to be heartless, I won't bother with pleasantries.*
"The Young Palace Mistress certainly dotes on her disciple," he said with a skin-deep smile.
"My disciple is mine to bully," Nan Muxue said—the second time she had uttered those words. "Besides, what master isn't protective? When Hu Nuo and his men harassed my disciple last time, didn't the Young Fortress Lord protect them as well?"
*Damn, Little Scorpion is on fire today!* Chu Ruo’s heart swelled with satisfaction. This conversation was incredibly cathartic. Wait... she paused. *The sentiment is nice, but what do you mean 'mine to bully'? So you're just planning to bully me forever? What kind of person are you?*
At the mention of the previous incident, Liu Shaopeng’s face stiffened. Hu Nuo and the others had been his trusted men for years, yet they had been wiped out at the Hundred Flowers Palace because of Chu Ruo. Since they had provoked the fight and shown murderous intent, he had no grounds to complain under the rules of the Jianghu. He’d had to swallow that bitter pill for the sake of their alliance.
"Let us not speak of the past," Liu said. "Has the Young Palace Mistress heard? Many Jianghu figures have gone missing recently."
Nan Muxue’s expression turned serious. "And they were skilled martial artists, some even sect leaders. The culprit must be formidable."
"Exactly. The key is that they have vanished without a trace—no bodies, no survivors. Only the Heavenly Demon Palace is capable of such a feat."
"Any leads?"
"That is what worries everyone. The Heavenly Demon Palace has always been secretive; no one knows where their main headquarters is. The Martial Arts Assembly is drawing near. If we don't find them soon, I fear they will deliver the 'grand gift' they promised. I came today to warn you to be careful. They surely have their eyes on us as well."
"I see. Is there anything else, Young Fortress Lord?" Nan Muxue asked. If she hadn't already known this from her own scouts, she wouldn't have bothered listening. Coming all this way just to tell her to "be careful" was a joke.
Liu Shaopeng ignored the dismissal, his smile remaining fixed. He picked up a supple, faintly blue whip that radiated a chilling aura. "I recently acquired this divine weapon: the Frost-Underworld Whip. It is of the utmost Yin and suppleness. My fortress is full of men whose martial arts don't suit this style, so I brought it as a gift for you. I recall your whip techniques are exquisite, though you lacked a fitting weapon. Why not try it out?"
The latest intelligence from Flying Roc Fortress suggested Nan Muxue was injured. With Nan Menghua in secluded cultivation at the Broken Cliff, this was a golden opportunity. If Nan Muxue was seriously hurt, it would be the perfect time to take over the Hundred Flowers Palace.
Chu Ruo saw right through him. On the surface, it was a gift; in reality, it was a test. She knew enough about weapons to realize that a whip required far more arm strength than a sword. A sword could be flicked with the wrist, but a whip required the full force of the arm to be effective. Moreover, this whip looked heavy and emitted a freezing chill. The Little Scorpion’s shoulder wound hadn't healed yet; the poison was slowing her recovery, and it still bled occasionally. If she tried to swing that thing, she’d rip the wound open and expose her weakness.
*You sneaky bastard,* Chu Ruo thought. *You look like a gentleman but you're a total dog. You claim to like her, yet you're just a scumbag. I knew what kind of crap you were going to take before you even lifted your tail.*
She slammed her hand on the table. The sudden noise startled Liu Shaopeng, making him jump. He looked at her, bewildered.
She grinned. "I’ve never seen such a treasure! Master, this thing is too cold, and your body runs cold anyway. It’s not good for you. Let your disciple take a look."
Without waiting for an answer, Chu Ruo snatched the whip and headed for the door. "The room is too cramped. I’ll test it outside so I don't break anything."
Liu Shaopeng stood up to stop her. "This—"
"Let her go," Nan Muxue said. She was ninety percent sure what Chu Ruo was up to and decided to let it happen. It was better than letting Liu Shaopeng test her. With her protectors away from the mountain, she was in a vulnerable position. She didn't fear the Heavenly Demon Palace as much as she feared "allies" like Flying Roc Fortress.
A moment later, Chu Ruo returned. "Master," she said, tossing the whip onto the table. She lit a lamp. "Let me warm my hands. That thing is freezing; my fingers are numb." After warming her hands for a moment, she looked at Liu Shaopeng with disdain. "I tried it. It’s heavy, icy, and honestly, not that great. You have the nerve to bring this junk to the Hundred Flowers Palace? Take it back and stop embarrassing yourself."
"You go too far!" Liu Shaopeng slammed the table and stood up, his face darkening. "That is because you don't recognize—"
Before he could finish, the whip on the table suddenly caught fire. When he had slammed the table, the lamp had "accidentally" tipped over right onto the weapon. Flames erupted instantly.
Liu Shaopeng’s heart ached at the sight, and he lunged to put it out.
"I say, was it really necessary to hit the table that hard?" Chu Ruo remarked. "Look, it’s burning! Good thing I have this water..."
Hearing the word "water," Liu Shaopeng snatched the glass jar from her hand and poured the contents over the whip.
*BOOM!*
The flames roared even higher. The smell of alcohol filled the air. Chu Ruo stood there, looking utterly helpless as she threw up her hands. "I wasn't finished! Why are you in such a hurry? That was wine! I heard you were coming and wanted to offer you a drink. Now the wine is gone too! Quick, someone bring water! Something’s on fire!"
The disciples outside rushed in with water to douse the flames. Liu Shaopeng’s eyes were murderous. He reached for the specialized soft sword hidden at his waist. "You!"
Nan Muxue stepped in front of him. "The Young Fortress Lord burned his own treasure through his own carelessness. Are you intending to blame my disciple for it?"
She struck the table with her Glacial Palm. The charred, flaming mess of the whip was instantly encased in terrifying ice. But the damage was done; the weapon was ruined.
Liu Shaopeng was stunned. He hadn't expected her Glacial Palm to have reached such a horrifying level of mastery. This didn't look like the work of someone seriously injured. Even if that one strike had cost her effort, he couldn't afford to be rash. He let go of his sword.
The Frost-Underworld Whip was made from rare ice-silkworm silk; it was cold but not fire-resistant. His fortress had spent a fortune to acquire it. Even if he couldn't use it, seeing it destroyed cut him to the quick. How had it caught fire so fast? And that lamp—it must have been coated in oil or alcohol before she brought it back in. And Nan Muxue... she could have saved it sooner but chose to let it burn while indulging her disciple.
"Young Palace Mistress, you shield your disciple well. Do you expect me to just let the destruction of my treasure go?"
"What are you talking about?" Chu Ruo chimed in. "The whip was fine when I gave it back. You’re the one who hit the table and lit it on fire. And you’re the one who snatched my wine to pour on it. How is that my fault? Don't bully me just because my martial arts are weak! Master, you have to stand up for me~"
Chu Ruo felt she deserved an Oscar. She was only missing a few tears, but that would ruin her cool image. Besides, she had specially "prepared" that wine for him to make a fool of himself; this outcome was just as good.
"Sophistry! You—"
"What Ruo’er said is exactly what I saw," Nan Muxue said. "It is understandable that the Young Fortress Lord is upset over losing a treasure, but do not push the blame onto others. The people of my Hundred Flowers Palace are not to be falsely accused."
"Fine. I have nothing more to say." Liu Shaopeng flicked his sleeve. "No wonder the Jianghu has been whispering about the Young Palace Mistress and her 'precious' disciple. I’ve certainly seen it for myself today. You two look more like a pair of lovers. Farewell! Hmph!"
"Bullshit!" Chu Ruo spat at his retreating back. Once the others had been dismissed, she turned to Nan Muxue. "Is what he said true?"
"What?"
"The rumors about you and me."
"Why? Do you find your Master beneath you?" Nan Muxue asked with a half-smile.
Chu Ruo shook her head. "I’m afraid of ruining your reputation. You’re a young woman of pure standing. How can you let people spread such things?" Even as a bit of a goofball, she knew how much reputation meant to women in this era. Rumors like that were poisonous.
"Idle gossip. Let them talk. It will fade in time." Liu Shaopeng wasn't entirely making things up; there were indeed some unsavory rumors, mostly because the Hundred Flowers Palace never accepted men, yet they had taken in "Chu Ruo." Nan Muxue didn't care, but seeing Chu Ruo worry about her reputation brought a flicker of warmth to her heart.
"Did you face a lot of pressure taking me as a disciple? From the Old Palace Mistress, or the Jianghu? Is it very hard for you?"
"Ruo’er knows how to care for her Master now?" Nan Muxue chuckled softly, looking down at the ruined mess on the table. "Such a powerful weapon, destroyed by you. You little troublemaker."
"I did it to protect you, okay? That bastard was just trying to see if you were hurt. I had to destroy it."
"Perhaps it can be salvaged. The whip is a fine item; I’ll see if there’s any way to restore it."
Chu Ruo leaned in curiously. "You... aren't going to scold me?"
"Why would I scold you?"
"I acted on my own and offended Liu Shaopeng. It could affect the relationship between our sects. You aren't going to punish me?"
Nan Muxue’s tone turned teasing. "Is that what you want?"
"No, just asking." Chu Ruo suddenly realized she was being too submissive. She puffed out her chest. "But seriously, what’s wrong with you? Is there water in your brain? You knew he was a 'weasel visiting a chicken' with bad intentions, yet you still saw him and chatted so happily. Are you stupid? If I hadn't been here, you would've been exposed! I’m telling you, you—"
"Chu Ruo," the icy voice returned. "Do you have a death wish?"
"Uh, I’m leaving now!"
That day, the disciples saw Chu Ruo practically fly out the door. "Help! The Young Palace Mistress is going on a killing spree!"
***
Night fell.
Nan Muxue was about to head out when she heard sharp footsteps. She immediately donned her half-face mask. "Who is it!"
"It’s me."
Recognizing the voice, she opened the door. "What are you doing here?"
"Checking on you," Chu Ruo blurted out. "Is your wound better?"
Nan Muxue was taken aback. What was wrong with this girl? She had come to her room two nights in a row. Nan Muxue had intended to visit her as "Yan’er" tonight, especially since Chu Ruo had been so worried about Yan’er’s safety after the injury.
"Aren't you going to see Yan’er?" she asked, testing her.
"Yan’er?" Chu Ruo snapped out of it. *What am I doing here? Oh no, how could I have ignored Yan’er for two days? But the Little Scorpion... she’s hurt.* "I’ll go another day. I’m here to see you."
Nan Muxue’s pinky finger twitched. Something felt strange in her heart. "Yan’er" and herself were the same person, yet Chu Ruo’s choice felt significant. "You..."
"Let me apply your medicine," Chu Ruo said. Her mind was a mess, so she decided to keep her hands busy. She had been the one tending the wound for the past two days, anyway.
Nan Muxue didn't argue. Her face flushed as she sat by the table and slowly loosened her upper garment. She was just as shy as the first time. Chu Ruo stared at the pale skin of her back, her mind drifting.
*Why is it that when I’m with the Little Scorpion, I think of Yan’er, but when I’m with Yan’er, I think of the Little Scorpion?*
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 柳少鹏 | Liu Shaopeng | Young Fortress Lord of Flying Roc Fortress. |
| 飞鹏堡 | Flying Roc Fortress | A martial arts sect/fortress allied with Baihua Palace. |
| 冰冥鞭 | Frost-Underworld Whip | A divine weapon made of ice-silkworm silk. |
| 天魔宫 | Heavenly Demon Palace | A mysterious and antagonistic martial arts sect. |
| 寒冰掌 | Glacial Palm | Nan Muxue's icy palm technique. |
| 郎君 | Lovers / Husband | Literally "husband" or "gentleman," used here to imply a romantic scandal. |
| 黄鼠狼给鸡拜年 | The weasel visiting the chicken | An idiom meaning "to have malicious intentions." |
| 断崖 | Broken Cliff | A location where Nan Menghua is in seclusion. |
| 南梦华 | Nan Menghua | Likely the Old Palace Mistress or a senior figure in Baihua Palace. |
