When Fenghuang, Xiao Guo’er, and the others saw the woman who had suddenly appeared—a face not entirely unfamiliar to them—they instantly understood why Chu Ruo’s wails today were more pathetic and louder than ever before.
"Get over here!"
The woman standing opposite Nan Muxue held her head high, shielding Chu Ruo behind her. "Try laying another finger on Ruo’er and see what happens."
Nan Muxue, whose face was usually a mask of indifference, was now visibly livid. Even though Chu Ruo was currently blind, she could feel the sheer weight of those words. With Nan Muxue’s gaze burning like fire, Chu Ruo took advantage of her protector’s presence, poking half her head out from behind the woman’s side.
"I’m not agreeing to the eye transplant no matter what!" she chirped.
"Chu Ruo!"
"What of it?" The woman before them was none other than Bai Zhi’er. Surprisingly, she was dressed in men’s robes today, looking spirited and dashing. She let out a contemptuous laugh. "You are no longer a match for me. As long as I am here today, don't even think of hurting her again."
Another person had arrived with her—Lin Jianghong—but given the current atmosphere, everyone remained silent, and for the moment, no one paid her any mind.
"Move, or I’ll kill you!"
Bai Zhi’er already had silver needles gripped in her hand. "Try it."
Chu Ruo, relying on her hearing, recognized the sound of the needles being drawn. She hurriedly lunged forward. "Zhi’er, no! You can’t hurt—"
Nan Muxue was in no mood for her concern. She rushed forward, pulling Chu Ruo aside as she launched a concealed weapon at her opponent. Bai Zhi’er dodged it by a hair’s breadth. Eventually, under the frantic persuasion of Fenghuang and the others, the two were pried apart.
To be more accurate, they weren't so much "persuaded" as they were separated by Nan Muxue’s sheer fury. Before storming off, she threw down a final, icy sentence: "Since you’re so intent on finding her, then from this day forth, we go our separate ways!"
Chu Ruo tried to give chase, but Fenghuang and Old Lady Hua held her back. "Going now would only be adding fuel to the fire. Who told you to pull a stunt like this? You made your bed, now you have to lie in it. Forget it, forget it—we’ll follow her. You just wait for her to cool down."
As the others followed Nan Muxue outside, Bai Zhi’er pulled Chu Ruo down to sit. "Pay her no mind," she said. "She’s always been petty; she’ll never change."
Chu Ruo let out a heavy sigh. "She must be absolutely furious. Sigh."
"If it weren't for this eye transplant business..." Suddenly, the voice beside her shifted, turning resentful and sorrowful. "Were you planning on never telling me you were alive for the rest of your life? If you didn't have a favor to ask of me, how much longer were you going to let me mourn?"
"Ruo’er, are you crying?"
Bai Zhi’er’s eyes grew red, but she tilted her head back slightly, struggling to keep the tears from falling. "Ruo’er, you are so heartless. How could you? Do I really mean nothing to you? Even if you don't love me, you wouldn't even send word whether you were dead or alive. Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
"Zhi’er, don't cry. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry," Chu Ruo stammered, filled with self-reproach and guilt. "I know, I’ve always let you down. You’ve been so good to me, Zhi’er..."
Suddenly, she was pulled into an embrace. Her first instinct was to flinch away. "You..."
"Ruo’er, is it only when something is wrong that you think of me?"
"No, it’s not..." Chu Ruo sighed silently. "I did think about telling you. But first, things were so messy between Muxue and me that I didn't want to drag anyone else into it. And second, she and I... we planned to live here in seclusion, away from the world."
"Ruo’er." In that moment, Bai Zhi’er held the person she had yearned for in her heart. She knew clearly that the person she loved would never love her back, but at the very least, for this one moment, she could truly hold her. "Promise me, no matter what happens in the future, you must tell me."
Chu Ruo sensed that this hug carried no other hidden meaning; it was simply the joy of a long-awaited reunion. She didn't want to be cruel, especially since she had already hurt the woman so much. She raised her hand and gently patted Bai Zhi’er’s back. "Zhi’er, I’m sorry for making you worry."
As luck would have it, Nan Muxue had been talked into returning by the others. Her primary motivation was a lingering jealousy that refused to let that brat stay alone with the woman surnamed Bai for too long. Thus, the moment she stepped back inside, she happened to witness this very scene...
Then came the free-for-all. By the end, even those trying to break up the fight had been sucked into the fray.
The ensuing scene was nothing short of spectacular.
Nan Muxue was truly enraged this time. After the chaotic brawl, she left alone and forbade anyone from following her.
The one left grimacing in pain was, of course, Chu Ruo. She had two "panda eyes," and her face and hands were covered in scratches. In the confusion, she had even been kicked a couple of times by God-knows-who. However, the collective response from the group was a single word: *Deserved.*
"Gentle, be gentle!" she cried out while sighing. "How long has she been gone? Why isn't she back yet?"
"The others have gone out to look for her. Don't worry, nothing can happen to her in this village."
"She doesn't have her martial arts right now. I’m just afraid she’ll do something reckless in her anger..."
"Could she be any more reckless than you?" Bai Zhi’er said, her voice trembling slightly as she massaged Chu Ruo’s injuries. "How could she have the heart to beat you into this state?"
If one were to name the person who truly cared for and worried about Chu Ruo the most—aside from Nan Muxue—it would be the woman before her. Bai Zhi’er trembled because her heart ached for Chu Ruo, for the injuries she bore, and for the suffering she had endured when she jumped off the cliff at Bai Hua Palace.
"Hehe, I suppose I was just asking for it," Chu Ruo joked.
"You can still laugh?"
"Muxue is doing it for my own good."
"Even if it’s for your own good, she shouldn't have hit you like this. You were already injured."
"She’s just..."
"I know. You told me in your letter. She wants to give you her eyes. But these injuries on your body... Ruo’er, why must you be so foolish?"
"The foolish one is her, actually thinking of giving her eyes to me." Her Muxue... she really gave her the best of everything in the world. Chu Ruo smiled. "That silly little viper."
"And you are no different. If it were anyone else, they would be begging for such a thing."
"If I did that, I would only despise myself."
Bai Zhi’er watched her. Having finally received news of Chu Ruo, she had barely slept, traveling non-stop to find her. She admitted she was a fool. Clearly, the current Nan Muxue, stripped of her martial arts, was no longer a threat. She could have taken Ruo’er away. But she simply couldn't bring herself to do it. "Ruo’er..."
Chu Ruo smiled back, then cast a wary "glance" around the room. "By the way, your sister didn't come, did she?"
"No. I didn't tell her. She’s busy helping our foster father."
"Then why did you bring Lin Jianghong?"
"Not just her. Wotou is here too."
"Oh right, Wotou! Come here, boy!" Even after several months, Wotou was overjoyed to see his master, bouncing around energetically. Chu Ruo scooped him up. "Long time no see, you’ve grown into a big Wotou. And your little head feels quite meaty too."
"Doesn't it? When the room was in chaos just now, this little thing was yapping and jumping around right along with everyone else. He really takes after you."
"With everyone here, it really feels like old times."
"Only you could find joy in a situation like this."
"Finding sweetness in the bitter, that’s all. You still haven't told me why you brought Lin Jianghong."
Bai Zhi’er rubbed her forehead at the mention of it. "That girl... sometimes you’d call her dim-witted, yet she has her moments of cleverness. Now that Nan Menghua has begun her slaughter, the people of Green Willow Villa are hiding with her in the Great Fortress. She found it boring and stifling, and more importantly, she doesn't get along with Shanshan. They fight all day long. I don't know how she found out I was leaving, but she followed me secretly. She claimed that for me to be acting so suspiciously during such a critical time, it had to be related to your whereabouts. Fine, I let her come. With Shanshan’s temper, I was truly afraid she might accidentally go too far one day."
"That day, she pushed Muxue off the cliff. Zhi’er, that’s why I didn't want you to tell anyone else. In the entire martial arts world, everyone wants our heads right now."
"I know. But Ruo’er, you must also know that everything I do is only for you."
"Right, why are you dressed as a man this time?"
Bai Zhi’er gave a mischievous smile. "Guess."
"Oh, are you and Lin Jianghong pretending to be a married couple?"
Bai Zhi’er had always been thin-skinned. Hearing this joke, her face flushed red. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"It’s a pity I can't see right now. Otherwise, I’d love to get a look at our 'Young Master Bai'."
"Ruo’er, don't worry. I will definitely heal your eyes."
"Whether they heal or not is one thing, but I absolutely won't accept a transplant. By the way, the Tendon-Relaxing Powder in my system..."
Bai Zhi’er turned playful. "Your little viper won't neutralize it for you? Then I won't either."
"Zhi’er, you..."
"Who told you to keep me in the dark for so long? I’m annoyed now, too."
"Then... what will it take for you to stop being annoyed?"
"Hmm, let me think. In any case, it won't be anytime soon."
...What a mess.
After nightfall, to everyone's surprise, Nan Muxue returned. Furthermore, she brought that Qian Tong with her.
"She’s doing it on purpose. Absolutely on purpose! She even went over there to drink tea and told everyone else not to disturb them. She’s trying to kill me with anger! I’m fuming!"
Watching the blind Chu Ruo pace back and forth in the room with unerring accuracy, Fenghuang cracked melon seeds and laughed. "What can you do? You brought this on yourself."
"Pah!"
"Pah to you too!" Fenghuang shot back. "Honestly, what a waste of my special itching powder. I was kind enough to sprinkle it on you yesterday, thinking you two would make up by morning. Instead, you went and did..."
"Wait, itching powder?" Chu Ruo finally realized. "So it was you! I was wondering why my back suddenly got so itchy. You..."
"What?" Fenghuang’s smile turned suggestive. "Aren't you going to thank me? Last night, you two must have..."
"Don't say it! Just don't!"
"Tch, as if I care about your messy business. Hey, you, surnamed Bai—how are your medical studies coming along lately?"
Bai Zhi’er countered, "Is the Shaman Chief of the Miaojiang so idle?"
"Tsk, tsk. Look at you all, protecting her like she’s some precious treasure."
Bai Zhi’er ignored her and turned to look at Chu Ruo, who was still seething. Suddenly, she grabbed Chu Ruo’s hand. "Let’s go."
"Go where?"
"To vent your frustrations."
"Don't..."
"Don't worry, I won't use my hands."
"Using your mouth won't work either! Even though I’m intentionally provoking her, if this keeps up, I’m going to end up in a funeral pyre... slow down..."
Over in the other room, Qian Tong was still eagerly chatting with Nan Muxue. As for what he was saying, she hadn't listened to a single word. *Bang!* The door was rudely pushed open. Nan Muxue looked at the two people in the doorway, her gaze finally settling on the hand holding Chu Ruo’s.
"Is something the matter, Sister?"
Chu Ruo was so choked up she didn't have time to respond. Instead, Bai Zhi’er pulled her along and sat down unceremoniously. She even cupped her hands toward Qian Tong in a polite greeting. "I heard that while I was away, Ruo’er stayed at Young Master Qian’s residence. I have come specifically to thank you for looking after her."
"It was nothing, nothing at all. No need for thanks." Qian Tong was utterly bewildered. What was going on? If someone were to offer thanks, shouldn't it be the elder sister? Who was this handsome young gentleman? He asked politely, "May I ask who this gentleman is?"
Nan Muxue spoke up coldly, "A nobody. No need to pay him any mind."
"What does Sister mean by that?"
*Cough...* Bai Zhi’er’s use of "Sister" nearly made Chu Ruo spray her tea everywhere. "Zhi—" She started to speak but was silenced by a sharp pinch from Bai Zhi’er.
Qian Tong’s confusion deepened, while Nan Muxue remained silent, watching the two of them sitting close together, her expression unreadable.
"It seems Young Master Qian and Sister... perhaps we shall be family in the future. Allow me to introduce myself." Bai Zhi’er looked at Nan Muxue and arched an eyebrow. "I am Bai Zhi, Ruo’er’s betrothed. Young Master Qian, perhaps we shall be brothers-in-law one day."
*Pfft!* This time, Chu Ruo really couldn't hold it back. A mouthful of tea erupted in a literal rainbow spray.
It was over. She was in despair. She felt like even kneeling on a nail board wouldn't be enough to solve this problem.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
:--- | :--- | :---
南梦华 | Nan Menghua | A character mentioned as causing chaos in the martial arts world.
林绛红 | Lin Jianghong | A character from Green Willow Villa who followed Bai Zhi'er.
大堡垒 | Great Fortress | A defensive location where Green Willow Villa members are hiding.
窝头 | Wotou | Chu Ruo's pet (likely a dog), named after a type of steamed bun.
痒粉 | Itching Powder | A medicinal powder used by Fenghuang to cause irritation.
白公子 | Young Master Bai | The masculine honorific used for Bai Zhi'er in her male disguise.
连襟 | Brothers-in-law | Specifically, the husbands of two sisters.
火葬场 | Funeral pyre / Crematorium | Web novel slang (追妻火葬场) referring to the disastrous consequences of a lover's quarrel.
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