The wind and snow outside were fierce, cold enough to make anyone shiver, yet the room remained as warm as spring.
Nan Muxue had only just quietly sat up when the person who had been snoring with her mouth wide open a second ago suddenly bolted upright. With unerring precision, she wrapped her arms around Nan Muxue from behind, her lips incessantly grazing that exquisite face. "Xue'er... Xue'er..."
Nan Muxue took the other woman's hand, gently patting her head with a smile. She didn't speak, allowing the kisses to wander along her neck. Chu Ruo’s lips hardly left her skin, trailing a dense, fine path of affection. Eventually, unable to bear the tickling sensation, Nan Muxue tilted her head to stop the restless girl.
"Are you a dog? Always licking?"
...A dog? Licking? A 'licking dog'? Chu Ruo burst into laughter despite the early hour. "Then why do you let a dog sleep in your bed?"
"Because your Master is kind-hearted... Mm~" Nan Muxue let out a soft cry and immediately looked down, yanking a very disobedient hand out from inside her inner robes. "Take it away."
"You don't like it?" Chu Ruo leaned in seductively. "Your mouth says no, but your body—"
"Be quiet!"
"Wife, don't hold back." Chu Ruo nipped at her lips, intending to pin her back down onto the bed. "Come, let’s continue."
Nan Muxue stopped her again. "Have you no end?"
"I like you. I want to kiss you. I want you."
Nan Muxue reached up and lightly pinched that thick-skinned cheek. "I need to go out now."
"Where are you going? It’s so cold outside. Let’s just stay tucked in the blankets."
"Your head is filled with nothing but those thoughts."
"If the day comes when I’m not interested in you, then you should worry... Ow! Little Scorpion, you pinched me!"
"Xue'er..."
Facing this person, Nan Muxue’s heart inevitably softened. She coaxed her gently, "It’s cold out. Go back to sleep. I’ll be back by the time you wake up."
"If it's cold, why are you going? It’s still snowing heavily."
The other woman chuckled softly. "How would you know?"
Chu Ruo grinned proudly. "Naturally. Though I can't see right now, my hearing is excellent. If you don't believe me, open the window; it must be snowing like goose feathers."
Nan Muxue quickly held her back. "Careful not to catch a cold."
"You’re even afraid of me opening a window, yet you’re going out to brave the wind and snow for what?"
Nan Muxue stroked her hair tenderly, her eyes filled with an inseparable tenderness. "There’s a market in the neighboring town today. I need to get some supplies and buy your medicine."
Chu Ruo had been nuzzling against her, but upon hearing this, her face immediately fell, her lips pouting. "Ah, there’s no need for that, is there? I... I’ve been drinking medicine for so many days already..."
"Stop complaining," Nan Muxue said, leaving no room for argument. "Is falling off a cliff something that heals so easily? You need quiet recuperation." She didn't mention her eyes; even if the herbs might not work, she would never give up, no matter how slim the hope.
"My mouth tastes bitter every single day. I’m already fine."
"If you don't listen, I’ll—"
"Alright, alright, alright! I’ll drink it. I’ll drink it, okay? I’ll listen to you."
"What? So obedient this time?" Nan Muxue was curious about her reaction. "I haven't even said what I’d do, and you’re already behaving?"
"You’d definitely say something I don't want to hear anyway."
"Smart-aleck."
Chu Ruo began to kiss those jade-like hands again. "Then, stay with me under the covers for a bit longer. It’s still early and the storm is heavy. Let’s lie down for a while, and you can go later."
"Silly girl." Nan Muxue leaned down and kissed her in response, then, with her usual indulgence, she yielded to her request. Lying back in bed, she pulled Chu Ruo into her arms, coaxing her. "It’s not like I’m not coming back. Why the long face?"
"You say that, but I’m still traumatized," Chu Ruo clung to her tightly. "Last time you left without a word to go do something foolish on your own. If I hadn't made it in time, would you have married someone else?"
"No..."
"Nan Muxue, you’re really too much."
The resentful, aggrieved tone successfully prompted Nan Muxue to lean in and initiate another kiss. "It was my fault. My fault."
It would have been fine if she hadn't mentioned it, but now Chu Ruo seemed genuinely upset. "Setting aside the marriage thing, you’re always demanding this and that of me, then you turn around and abandon me. Little Scorpion, you have no conscience."
Chu Ruo’s habit was to become more talkative the more she spoke, capable of escalating a grievance from the day she entered the palace to last night. Right now, she was grimacing, complaining without end. "You Little Scorpion, you’re so ruthless. Every time I touch you, you scratch my back."
"Blame your own insatiable greed," Nan Muxue had been tolerating everything else in silence, but hearing this, her anger flared. "You demand without limit, and then you have the nerve to complain after getting what you wanted."
"It wasn't just me—"
"Say another word and I’m leaving right now."
"I won't say it, I won't say it," Chu Ruo placatingly brushed her lips against the woman beside her. "The snow is really heavy."
"Mm."
In the warmth, Chu Ruo felt drowsiness returning. It wasn't that she was lazy; ever since the fall, Nan Muxue watched her several times a day to ensure she drank every drop of those medicines. They were all for calming the nerves and recuperation; drinking so much naturally made her groggy. She let out a yawn. "Xue'er, later we can go build a snowman. The snow must be very thick by now..."
Nan Muxue looked down to see that the person in her arms had already fallen peacefully asleep. She curled her lips into a smile and gave her a light kiss. "Alright."
***
When Nan Muxue returned, she ran into Duan Ning, who was dragging Yin Liuli toward the market.
"So fragrant!" Duan Ning sniffed the air, her eyes instantly locking onto one of the oil-paper bundles in Nan Muxue’s hand. She reached out to take it. "My favorite stinky tofu..."
Nan Muxue swiftly moved her hand behind her back. Despite having lost her internal martial arts, her movements remained remarkably agile. She said indifferently, "This is for Ruo'er."
Although the others had been somewhat dissatisfied with Nan Muxue’s decision to live in seclusion and ignore the affairs of the world, they could now understand her perspective. Thus, their relationship had returned to its former state. Duan Ning curled her lip. "What’s the big deal? It’s just a few pieces of stinky tofu. So stingy. Honestly, you only have eyes for your precious Ruo'er. You couldn't even buy a little extra, knowing full well I crave it too."
"Liuli will go with you," Nan Muxue said as she walked past. "However, that was the last portion."
"You!" Behind her, only the sound of Duan Ning stomping her feet in frustration remained.
"Xue'er~"
As soon as she entered the house, Chu Ruo pounced toward the door, enveloping her in a full embrace. Nan Muxue felt a surge of unbidden joy. "Ruo'er."
"You were gone for so long. I’ve been waiting forever."
Nan Muxue reached up to pull her close. "Why didn't you sleep?"
"I did! I slept! But I only slept for a little bit, just a tiny bit. Knowing a certain someone wasn't here, how could I have the heart to sleep?" She sighed dramatically. "The bed turned hard, and it wasn't warm anymore. Sigh..."
"Always putting on an act."
"You—" Chu Ruo sniffed the air. "Did you buy me something delicious?"
Nan Muxue stuffed the large pile of food directly into her arms. "Dog nose."
"That’s my specialty! You... you even got me stinky tofu!"
"Don't you like it?"
"I do, but you’ve always hated it." In the past, when they went down the mountain to Xuetuo Pavilion, she would buy it for her even though she clearly detested it, even though she would frown and cover her nose every time. She would still indulge her, spoiling her so completely.
Nan Muxue brushed a stray hair from her forehead. "You’re the one who said the medicine made your mouth bitter lately. Seeing as you’re a patient, for now..."
"Alright, alright, I know you love me. Not just stinky tofu, but these are candied fruits, right? And pastries. To buy so much, you must have visited many places."
"It’s fine. The town isn't that large."
"Since we came here, you’ve been working so hard every day."
Nan Muxue shook her head. "Seeing you makes all the hardship vanish."
Chu Ruo’s eyes grew moist as she set the things down and hugged her beloved. "Sometimes when you say sweet things, you’re especially silly."
"You’re the one who—"
Chu Ruo blocked her unfinished words with a kiss. "But, I love it so much."
When Duan Ning returned from the market, she went to look for Chu Ruo, only to find neither of them there. It wasn't until dinner that she saw them. "What were you two doing?"
They had harbored a sliver of hope that the two might have gone to gather information on the state of the martial arts world, but the answer they received was: "Building snowmen."
"Until dark?"
"Mm," Chu Ruo nodded. "There’s a spot upstream along the village river that’s very quiet. No one’s there, and you can ice skate on the river. Xue'er and I built several snowmen, really big ones. I want to build two more in the courtyard."
"You can't even see, yet you can build snowmen?"
"Xue'er was with me, isn't that enough? Honestly. Did you need us for something?"
"We saw you hadn't returned for a long time and thought something happened."
Yin Liuli spoke up. "Xue'er, Chu Ruo, we’ve recuperated for a while now. You two don't intend to involve yourselves in outside affairs anymore, but the rest of us..."
Chu Ruo’s expression turned serious. "Are you... leaving?"
Duan Ning patted her shoulder. "Yan'er needs to go save Yun Shuang."
"But she went back to Nan Menghua’s side of her own accord for your sakes. Besides, with Nan Menghua’s abilities..."
"It’s no longer just an internal matter of Baihua Palace. She has incited the wrath of the entire martial arts world. Everyone is denouncing her now, demanding the destruction of Baihua Palace and the Old Palace Mistress. With so many disciples involved, we cannot just stand by and watch."
"I..."
Nan Muxue stood up, taking Chu Ruo’s hand to lead her back to their room. "Since you are leaving, rest early to gather your strength."
***
In the dead of night, the candlelight flickered.
Nan Muxue did something rare, embracing Chu Ruo from behind. "Not sleepy tonight?"
"It’s so cold. Even the village dogs are freezing too much to bark. I wonder how Wotou is doing."
The person behind her asked, "Thinking of your Lady Zhi'er?"
"You really love being a vinegar jar for no reason."
"Is it for no reason? That dog Wotou is with your Miss Zhi'er. How can you mention it without thinking of the fair lady? Am I right, 'Sister'?"
Chu Ruo laughed, catching those jade-like fingers to give them a light kiss. "In this sister's heart, there is only 'Elder Sister'."
"Are you referring to your Sister Zhi'er?"
..."You!"
"You aren't just thinking of her. You’re also thinking about what Ning'er and the others said, aren't you?"
Chu Ruo turned around. "I’m thinking of you more. You know that no matter what happens, in my heart, you will always be first."
"I want to be everything, not just 'first' while being influenced by those so-called second and third places." Nan Muxue cupped her face. "Ruo'er, don't think so much. We’ll stay here, be two ordinary people, and live a simple life, just like now. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you. I’ll follow your lead."
*You lost everything for me.* Chu Ruo knew, of course. Her Xue'er was never afraid of death, nor was she truly weak. The reason for everything was her. Nan Muxue was afraid something would happen to her. Nan Menghua, no matter what, would likely spare Nan Muxue’s life, but she would certainly torture Chu Ruo to death without mercy. So, her Little Scorpion became afraid; she retreated, no longer daring to take any risks.
Amidst her wandering thoughts, a sudden, storm-like kiss descended upon her. "Ruo'er, with me here, is it not enough?"
Chu Ruo naturally kissed her back. "I only want you here. That is enough."
The two under the covers still hadn't fallen asleep. "Tomorrow... should we see them off?"
Nan Muxue curled up obediently in her arms. "It will only bring heartache. Let’s not."
Seeing the other woman remain silent, Nan Muxue propped herself up, her fingertip tracing Chu Ruo’s ear. "Stop thinking about it. You’ve lost your martial arts; what could you even do?"
Chu Ruo also rubbed the back of her finger against the other’s skin. "You once said that Baihua Palace uses poisons and is also proficient in medicine. It’s just that I met Zhi'er, a descendant of the God of Medicine, so I never noticed that your medical skills are also exquisite. A mere Soft Bone Powder... I don't believe that after the battle at the Cloud Mist Mountain branch, my Xue'er would have no defense against such a drug. You have never been one to make the same mistake twice. The Soft Bone Powder caused such heavy casualties at the branch; with your personality, it’s impossible that you didn't develop a way to counter it. Xue'er, sometimes your lying is very clumsy. Though, it’s also quite cute."
A rare look of awkwardness appeared on Nan Muxue’s face—or perhaps, she simply never bothered to hide herself from her beloved. Before she could speak, Chu Ruo smiled and spoke again.
"So, you actually have a way to neutralize the Soft Bone Powder in my body and restore my martial arts. But you don't want me to step into danger again, do you?" She actually reached out and pinched Nan Muxue’s chin. "Little Scorpion, you really are quite devious."
