“I hear you refuse to eat?”
The door was pushed open, but to Chu Ruo, it made no difference. In her world, whether it was day or night, whether she was awake or asleep, everything was pitch black. The only thing she could feel was the faint warmth of the sunlight on her skin, yet her heart remained frozen.
“Silent? You certainly have backbone,” the Palace Master’s voice said. It was a voice that always inspired dread, for even when she laughed, the sound carried a chill that seeped into one’s very marrow. “If you wish to die, it would be easy enough. But you aren’t that foolish, are you?”
Faced with Chu Ruo’s silence, Nan Menghua did not grow angry. She surveyed the room, which was in a state of utter disarray, and sat down with a look of disdainful disapproval. “The Holy Envoy must have had a difficult few days. Pass down my orders: see to it that the Holy Envoy is provided with three proper meals a day. As for these living quarters, they must also be...”
Seeing the person opposite her sitting motionless on the floor like a statue, she actually let out a laugh. “You should know why I haven’t killed you. This was your old room, after all. One should learn to be grateful.”
“You didn’t kill me, but surely not because the Palace Master of the Hundred Flowers Palace is some great saint. Nan Menghua, I want to see Xue’er.”
“Presumptuous! How dare you address the Palace Master by her given name!”
*Thud!*
The disciple who had spoken up to berate Chu Ruo ceased breathing in an instant. She likely died without ever knowing what she had done wrong. Nan Menghua remained smiling. “Noisy. Those without manners deserve only death.”
Chu Ruo lunged toward the source of the voice, her other senses allowing her to face her captor with unerring accuracy. “Then just kill me!”
“Kill? In the Hundred Flowers Palace, dying is far easier than living.”
“Heh... you’re a lunatic. A lunatic! A monster!”
“Chu Ruo, when I first met you, I thought you were a clever person. A pity. Truly a pity.”
“Save your breath. Let me see Xue’er. I want to see her!”
“Tsk, tsk. How touching. I’m almost moved by the two of you,” Nan Menghua mocked. “Do you know where she is right now? In a dungeon filled with filth and rot. Beside her is nothing but a foul stench...”
“Stop it!” Chu Ruo covered her ears in agony. “I told you to stop!”
“Betraying me comes with a price.” Nan Menghua suddenly seized Chu Ruo’s jaw, forcing a pill into her mouth and making her swallow. “You are truly fortunate; every day, I grant you the antidote to the Hundred Flowers Gu.”
“There is no need for this hypocrisy. We both know exactly what you’re after. You want to use me as a vessel to help you refine your evil arts!”
“Correct.” The other woman studied her with a look of triumph. “You truly are an exquisite shell. But do you know why I haven’t touched you yet?”
Chu Ruo let out a cold laugh. “Isn’t it because you want me to submit willingly?”
“If you weren’t so stubborn, I would truly admire you. You are a natural prodigy, one in ten thousand. The last time you managed to break free from my palm, it showed your body possesses immense potential. If you cooperate, my progress will be doubled—no, a hundredfold. Forcing you would bring me no benefit.”
“Hah. Not to mention I still have your palace’s Hundred Flowers Gu inside me, don’t I?”
Nan Menghua shook her head. “Tsk. You’ve grown quite thin.”
“I can agree to your terms, but I have a condition.”
“Those who try to bargain with me are usually already ghosts. However,” she changed her tone, “today, you are lucky.”
*Creak—*
The dungeon was bone-chillingly cold and unnervingly silent, save for the stench of decay and the maddening sound of dripping water. The rare sound of the heavy door opening felt exceptionally ominous.
*Rustle...*
Nan Muxue had spent so long in this world of perpetual darkness that she had grown even thinner than before. The only thing that remained unchanged was the unwavering resolve in her eyes.
“Xue’er! Xue’er!”
Before she could turn her head, she was pulled into a tight embrace. She didn't need to look, nor did she need to ask. It was her most beloved Ruo’er. Only before this person would she cast aside all her defenses, revealing her original gentleness. “Ruo’er...”
“Did she hit you? Did she bully you? What did she do to you? Where does it hurt? Tell me...”
“I am fine.” In this moment, Nan Muxue wanted only to lose herself greedily in this embrace. She had never missed this warmth so much. “I am fine...”
The sound of sobbing reached her ears. “Xue’er...”
“Don't cry,” Nan Muxue whispered, reaching up to gently wipe away the tears. “I am truly fine.”
“Xue’er, I was so worried about you. I was so...”
“Don’t be afraid. I am here. Nothing is wrong.”
“You’re locked in here! What kind of place is this? Your body was already prone to the cold!”
“I have you.”
“I...”
Nan Muxue only allowed herself this moment of indulgence. she looked seriously at the other woman. “What did you promise Mother?”
“Nothing...”
“Ruo’er, do you really think I’m that stupid?”
“Of course not...”
“Every time, you try to hide things from me and do something foolish. How could Mother possibly be merciful enough to let you see me? You don’t have a single wound on you; she hasn't touched you. She needs your body to host that soul-sucking evil art of hers, doesn't she?”
“I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”
Chu Ruo had expected Nan Muxue to be furious, but she found she always misjudged the other woman’s reactions. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly; she truly was an unpredictable little scorpion.
Nan Muxue said calmly, “Ruo’er, you promised me you wouldn't let anything happen to yourself.”
“Xue’er, I promise you, I’m fine.”
“But what can I even do? Before, I could protect you. Now, I have to let you pay the price just so I can linger on here in disgrace.”
“No, Xue’er, don’t think like that. Nan Menghua won’t do anything to me, and you’ll be fine too. I’ll find a way. Leave it all to me. When the time comes, I’ll take you away and we’ll never come back. Xue’er...”
Heh. A faint smile touched the corners of Nan Muxue’s lips as she pulled the person before her closer. “What can I do? I can only stay here, unable to do anything but stand here like a fool. I’m useless.”
“No, that’s not true. My Xue’er is the best, the most capable. It’s always been Xue’er protecting me...”
“I really want to hit you. You always make such foolish decisions. But what right do I have to blame you?”
“Xue’er, don’t be like this. Please don’t be like this,” Chu Ruo said, her eyes full of uncontrollable heartache. “I will definitely get you out of here. Your Ruo’er will never leave you.”
“There are tear stains on your face. My Ruo’er used to always be smiling.” *I worked so hard to protect that smile.*
“I’m smiling now too. See? I can come to see you every day from now on. I brought you some peanuts. Try some, they’re delicious.”
“Ruo’er,” Nan Muxue whispered, touching the other’s ear. “Promise me. I want nothing else; I only want you to be safe.”
Chu Ruo held her in a death grip. “We will both be fine. Neither of us will come to harm.”
“Bai Zhier will definitely come to save you. Don’t worry about me.”
“I won’t!”
“Be good. Only if you leave will there be a chance to save me.”
“Xue’er, you told me not to lie to you, so why are you treating me like a fool? If I can’t save you while I’m here, how could I possibly do it after I leave?”
Nan Muxue only smiled. “Because my Ruo’er is the most capable. The best.”
Chu Ruo finally let her tears fall, unable to hold them back. “Nan Muxue, you little scorpion.”
“Mm. The most selfish one.”
Chu Ruo stroked her lover’s cheek. “You promised to kiss me every morning when you wake up. You’ve missed so many times already; you have to make it up to me.”
Nan Muxue stood on her tiptoes, her cool lips pressing softly against Chu Ruo’s, before placing a light kiss upon those clear, sightless eyes.
“Alright.”
