"Protector..." Nan Yunshuang’s lips trembled slightly. She had never known the truth of her birth—not even a single word or a fleeting whisper. She had spent her entire life wanting to know who she truly was. She spoke again, but the word was hollow, a pale repetition. "Protector."
The crippled woman stared at her intently. "You look so much like her."
*Swoosh!* The blood-red sword was at the woman’s throat. The Bai sisters didn't know how to react; after all, this had nothing to do with them. At this moment, they were merely spectators. Nan Yunshuang increased the pressure of her blade. "What is the truth of my birth? Why did you say you killed my mother? Which of you is telling the truth?"
The woman remained composed. "If you wish, you may kill me. I only spoke because I did not want you to be kept in the dark, used by Nan Menghua. I am already living a life worse than death; I only hope you will listen to our story."
After a few seconds of silence, the blood sword returned to its sheath. The crippled woman’s lips curled into a grimace of a smile. "Your mother... was indeed killed because of me."
Even Bai Shan was at a loss for words. "Didn't you say it had to do with Nan Menghua? Why are you admitting to it now?"
"Listen to me. It has been a very long time since I have spoken to anyone. This story... it began many years ago."
The cold wind howled outside, and no one was willing to step out into it. Nan Yunshuang didn't know what she was thinking. Given her usual temperament, she wouldn't have allowed anyone to eavesdrop, but in this moment, she suddenly didn't care. Or perhaps, she didn't know how to face it alone. She almost preferred having others nearby. She wished so dearly that Yan’er was here. Tonight, at this very moment, her origins were finally being revealed—so why did she feel so powerless?
The crippled woman began to speak in her raspy, labored voice. "Your mother and I were bought as infants from human traffickers by the previous Palace Master—Nan Menghua’s mother. We were bought to be Nan Menghua’s Protectors, to grow up alongside her, to be her left and right hands, and to risk our lives for her. Tragic, isn't it? The trafficker told the old Palace Master that our parents were remarkably alike—both couples had been disappointed to have daughters and had handed us over to him without a second thought. We didn't even have names. The old Palace Master gave us names after she bought us. Your mother was named Qingshuang, and I was named Yunji. That is why your name contains a character from each of ours: Yunshuang."
Bai Shan, who was resting nearby, couldn't help but interject. "She’s the child of you two? Can two women actually produce a child in this day and age?"
Bai Zhi’er timely silenced her sister. "Do not speak carelessly of others' affairs."
"In the beginning, everything was fine," Yunji continued. "Nan Menghua was gloomy and ruthless, a person who would use any means to achieve her goals. She had a twisted heart from childhood; it would be hard to associate her with anything resembling 'good.' But we followed her from a young age and did everything together. Moreover, the very purpose of Qingshuang’s and my existence was to serve her. She treated us as servants, but Qingshuang... that silly girl was so kind and innocent. She once said she hoped the three of us could stay together forever. Nan Menghua always sneered at the idea, but Qingshuang didn't care. She would even smile at me—a smile so beautiful that nothing in this world could compare to it." She let out a dry, self-deprecating chuckle. "I thought this would take a long time to tell. It seems it doesn't."
"Drink this." A cup of hot tea was placed before her. Yunji looked up at the frost-faced woman, and a trace of a smile appeared on her mangled, terrifying face. She swallowed the tea, her eyes growing moist. "If your mother were here, she would be so happy."
"Continue," Nan Yunshuang said.
Yunji shook her head slightly, whether sighing for herself or something else. "Later, as we grew up, the feelings between us began to undergo a subtle change."
Bai Shan couldn't resist chiming in again. "So you and that Qingshuang fell for each other, right? I said it before—this Baihua Palace is full of women. Looking at Nan Muxue and Chu Ruo..." She gave a disdainful snort. "Like master, like disciple. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
*Zing!* The blood sword was instantly pointed at Bai Shan. Nan Yunshuang spoke icily, "Baihua Palace is not for you to trample upon."
"You!"
Yunji paid them no mind, simply continuing her tale of the past. "No. I loved Shuang’er, but slowly, I discovered something. Shuang’er only felt sisterly affection for me. However, every time Nan Menghua appeared, Shuang’er’s eyes would be fixed on her, with no room for anyone else."
*Cough... cough cough...*
Nan Yunshuang had lowered her sword while Yunji was speaking. Bai Shan, who had been sipping tea, actually choked when she heard this. "I say... *cough*... I say, someone actually liked a person like Nan Menghua?"
"I always knew her love would never be returned," Yunji said. "Nan Menghua’s heart held nothing but Baihua Palace and the world. No matter how much Shuang’er did for her, no matter how many times she was gravely injured for her sake, Nan Menghua wouldn't even spare her a glance. This continued until the year Nan Menghua went away. Shuang’er and I were also traveling outside. When we returned, Shuang’er excitedly took my hand. I knew she wanted to confess her feelings to Nan Menghua. I didn't stop her; I only wanted to stay by her side in silence. Obviously, I never believed Nan Menghua could love anyone. But after she returned that time... I only know that Shuang’er must have been rejected that day. She was also beaten until she was severely injured. Her face was deathly pale, and even her smile had lost its color. She took my hand and asked, 'Yunji, will you stay with me?' Of course, I agreed. My entire life was nothing more than seeking to be by her side. After that, I stayed with her through a very long period. For me, it was a happy time. Until one day, Shuang’er took my hand and asked, 'Yunji, will you always be by my side?'"
*Drip... drip...* Tears fell from Yunji’s face, staining everything. "We spent a beautiful time together, the happiest of our lives. Shuang’er and I watched the sunset, and she leaned into my arms, saying that when we returned this time, we would tell Menghua that we were together. A faint sense of unease rose in my heart, but Shuang’er said we grew up together and that she would give us her blessing. I nodded. I think... that was the most regrettable decision of my life."
"When we returned this time, Nan Menghua was actually pregnant. However, that seemed to have nothing to do with us; after all, every Palace Master of Baihua Palace must produce an heir. But she seemed to have become even more cruel and violent than before. When Shuang’er and I knelt before her, begging her to let us be together... it was the most painful moment of my life." Yunji’s face began to contort, and her entire body trembled with extreme rage. She gritted her teeth, forcing out the following words as if they were mixed with blood. "She looked at us coldly, with a smile that made one's skin crawl, as if she wanted to crush our very bones. I will never forget what she said that day. She said that 'low-born wretches' like us didn't deserve to speak of love. She forcibly destroyed our martial arts, severed the tendons in our wrists and ankles, and cut off my limbs. She slashed my face into this monstrous state. Doing those things to me would have been enough, but she... she forced Shuang’er to ingest Five-Stone Powder and then sent us both to a brothel. She made me watch with my own eyes as Shuang’er... as those disgusting men defiled her..."
*CRASH!* A powerful burst of sword energy shattered the only table in the room. Nan Yunshuang’s origin was now clear; the rest did not need to be said aloud. Even Bai Shan, who dealt in poisons, couldn't help but remark, "That Nan Menghua really is a piece of work. You grew up together..."
Seeing Nan Yunshuang bolt for the door, Yunji fell from her chair in agitation. "Yunshuang, no! You mustn't! *Poof!*" She coughed up a spray of blood.
Nan Yunshuang turned back to support her. Bai Zhi’er stepped forward to check her pulse and sighed. "Her body was already in a terrible state, and this sudden surge of emotion... she has been holding on all these years, but she is at the end of her tether."
"I... I know my own body. I am in your debt." Blood seeped from Yunji’s mouth as she gazed at Nan Yunshuang. "All these years, I... I clung to life, crawling out from a pile of corpses, just to... to see you one more time. Shuang’er was tortured in that brothel until she wished for death, but she still gave birth to you. I... I had no way to care for you. I could only watch as Nan Menghua took you away. Fortunately... fortunately, she finally granted Shuang’er’s wish regarding your name and called you Yunshuang. Yunshuang..."
For the first time, there was a flicker of emotion in Nan Yunshuang’s eyes, though her voice remained flat. "I am here."
"Live well. I thought... I thought I could kill her, but in the end, I was no match."
"You will be fine," Nan Yunshuang said, preparing to channel her internal energy to save her. But she found that her energy vanished like a stone dropped into the ocean. Yunji smiled. "To have people by my side before I die... especially after telling you the truth... I can close my eyes in peace. Your mother’s grave is... in the potter's field south of the city, twenty li to the west. There is a farming family there... good people. They have looked after it all these years. Yunshuang, I ask for nothing else. After I die, bury me with your mother."
Bai Zhi’er heard Nan Yunshuang’s breathing become unstable. No matter how cold a person was, they eventually found their weakness. "Fine. I promise you."
"No regrets... no regrets now..." Yunji began to gasp painfully, yet her smile was beautiful. "Shuang’er... I... I can come to see you now."
The night was fittingly somber as a torrential rain poured down. Nan Yunshuang, dressed in white, was covered in countless stains of mud. Her remaining hand was caked in filth. She kowtowed heavily before the grave, striking the ground until her forehead bled. Finally, as lightning flashed, the alternating darkness and light revealed her figure and a streak of blood-red as she vented her agony. The rain had long since soaked her through. Eventually, her strength failed, and she sank to her knees. "Ahhh!" It was the most painful howl she had ever uttered. Why? Why was the world so cruel to her and her mother? *Yan’er, where are you?*
The raindrops seemed to stop hitting her. She looked up to see Bai Zhi’er holding an umbrella. "Why torture yourself? It only pains those who care for you and gladdens your enemies. I know there is hatred in your heart. Since the people we love most have been harmed, shall we join forces? Let us kill Nan Menghua and avenge your mother and Senior Yunji."
Nan Yunshuang stared at the stone tablet on the grave, her left hand clenched so tightly it bled. "I must find Yan’er first."
***
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Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 171 | A Tragic Origin | Novela.app | Novela.app
