A gust of wind swept past, making Chu Ruo shiver. "It’s freezing at the bottom of this lake."
"Ruyun Peak was already a place of extreme cold. When the Hundred Flowers Palace was founded, this site was chosen specifically for its glacial environment. Not to mention we are at the bottom of a lake, and it is currently the cold season," Nan Muxue said, drawing her beloved closer. "Wait for me here, I’ll—"
"No," Chu Ruo interrupted firmly. "What if there’s danger? At the very least, I still have some internal energy to ward off the cold. But you..." She took the opportunity to pull the other woman into her arms, shielding her. "Without me as your heater, you’ll catch a chill."
"It doesn't matter."
"I’ll transfer some internal energy to you..."
"Don't waste your strength. My martial arts are completely gone; even if you give it to me, it won't do any good."
"Then you definitely can't leave me behind to wander off on your own!"
Nan Muxue prepared a torch and a fire-starter. "I’m just going to look around nearby. You wait by the fire."
"Nan Muxue," Chu Ruo said, her tone brook no argument. "I won't allow us to be separated. Since you insisted that I must be the first thing you see when you wake up, I won't allow you to leave me alone now."
"Ruo’er, be good."
"Why won't *you* be good? We have no idea what’s down here. I don't want to be apart from you. Besides... besides, if something happens to me while you're away, what if you can't get back in time to save me? Xue’er, I’m blind right now. Without you, I can’t move a single step. Didn't you say we wouldn't be apart anymore? Please?"
A soft hand reached up to caress her cheek. Nan Muxue spoke gently, "Aren't you afraid of the cold?"
Chu Ruo naturally held her tighter. "With my Xue’er here, how could it be cold?"
Nan Muxue let out a soft laugh. The two of them gripped each other's hands tightly. "Let’s go, then."
"The bottom of this valley seems to be perpetually shrouded in mist. The surroundings are very unclear. Be careful."
"I know, I know. We’re holding each other so tightly, nothing will happen... Ow! Why did you pinch me?"
"Stop being so flippant." Nan Muxue remained cautious. "Down here, I’m no different from you. Aside from the mist, I can’t see a thing."
"We’ll just be careful. Let’s head toward the direction where I felt those fruits the other day. It should be very close to here."
Nan Muxue arched an eyebrow. "So now I have to rely on a blind person to lead the way?"
"Ha! In a place like this, even if you could see, it wouldn't help much. Now do you realize how important I am?"
"You can't see, yet you can discern the direction. It seems your hearing has become exceptionally sharp."
"It’s alright, I guess. The sound of the water is louder in other directions, but it’s much quieter over here. That’s why I felt my way over here to check it out."
Nan Muxue hummed in agreement. "The mist is starting to thin." After a few more steps, their surroundings became clearer, and the world around them became visible. "The area ahead should be where you were before."
"I can hear the sound of fruit falling. What’s it like here?"
"A grove. There are some fruit trees ahead." Nan Muxue walked over, picked a few fruits, wiped them carefully with her sleeve, and handed them over. "Let’s keep going. We’ll see if there’s a way out, or perhaps some clean water."
"Can't we just follow the flow of the water down? We should be able to find a path."
"While you were sleeping soundly last night, I took a walk along the edge. The water eventually flows into a crevice in the cliffside; it likely leads to an underground river. That cliff is incredibly smooth—climbing it is impossible. Even with your lightness skills intact, that height is likely insurmountable. We must find another way."
Chu Ruo munched on a few fruits, sighing as she spoke. "They say 'when the mountains and rivers end, a path appears,' so why isn't it working for us?"
"It’s not surprising. The terrain of Ruyun Peak has always been complex and ever-changing. It is precisely because of this that we survived."
"What’s wrong? Why did you stop talking? What’s ahead?"
"There seems to be a cave. Come, let’s take a look. The valley floor is surrounded by cliff walls; perhaps the cave leads elsewhere."
The two cautiously entered the cave. To their surprise, it wasn't deep. They didn't even need the torch; as soon as they entered, they could see light from the opening on the other side. However, the cave was damp and chilly. Chu Ruo covered Nan Muxue’s hands and blew warm air onto them. "Hold me a little tighter, I’ll warm your hands."
"I’m fine."
"Your body is naturally prone to cold. Since it’s not deep, let’s hurry to the other side and see what the situation is. Huh?" Chu Ruo’s ears twitched. She pulled Nan Muxue toward a corner of the cave. "I think I hear the sound of water here."
They turned a corner and, sure enough, found a source of water in the nook. Nan Muxue said, "You really have a knack for this. There’s a spring here."
"Really? I’m dying of thirst. Let me have a few gulps." With that, she cupped the spring water and brought it to her lips. "It’s delicious! I finally got some water. Xue’er? Why aren't you saying anything?"
"This spring..." Nan Muxue’s voice held a rare trace of excitement. "This might be the Ten-Thousand-Year Spring mentioned in the Hundred Flowers Secret Manual."
"Ten-Thousand-Year Spring? Isn't it still just spring water?"
"Legend says the Ten-Thousand-Year Spring can neutralize a hundred poisons and even bring the dead back to life."
"That powerful? Then let’s make a container or something and take some with us. Don't let it go to waste! You—hurry up and drink some too. It’ll be good for your health."
Nan Muxue looked at her. "Perhaps... it can allow my Dantian to reform."
"Oh, it’s just a Dan—" Chu Ruo’s voice began to tremble. She couldn't restrain herself; her joy was impossible to hide. "You... what did you say?"
In the next second, she was pulled into a hug by the woman she loved. "Everything will be fine, Ruo’er."
"I’m here, I’m right here. Xue’er, I’m so happy, truly so happy. I’ve been so miserable thinking I caused you to lose your martial arts. I... I..." She was almost moved to tears. "Surviving a great disaster brings great fortune—it’s all true, Xue’er!"
Nan Muxue turned her head to kiss her. "The only thing I want is to protect you."
*So in the end, your desire to recover your martial arts is only to protect me. What have I done to deserve this from you?* "Xue’er, Xue’er..."
Nan Muxue released her and gently raised a hand to wipe the moisture from the corner of Chu Ruo’s eyes. "What is there to cry about?"
"I’m not crying! Ugh, stop nagging and hurry up and drink the spring water. You’ll be better once you drink it."
"How could it be so instantaneous? Even a divine elixir needs time to take effect."
"How long?"
"Three to five days at the earliest. Even if my Dantian reforms, my previous cultivation is gone. I will have to start from the beginning."
"Then finding this place must be the will of Heaven. Let’s not rush to find a way out. You stay here and recover slowly, and then we’ll leave."
Nan Muxue drank the spring water and felt a surge of heat rising toward her Dantian. Clearly, three to five days was an underestimate of this ancient spring; perhaps she would recover in just a day or two. She took Chu Ruo’s hand. "No rush. Since we’re here, let’s go see the other side."
The two walked outside again. Before them was another forest, but it was much better than the place they had come from. There was no thick mist, nor was it as damp and cold. They could even hear the chirping of birds. Chu Ruo took a deep breath. "Mmm, this side feels pretty good. Do you think there are wild rabbits or something in this forest?"
"All you think about is eating," Nan Muxue teased with a smile. Suddenly, she saw a golden glint on the ground. She walked over, and Chu Ruo followed, sniffing the air. "What is that? It has a strange fragrance."
"Mandala."
"What?"
"Golden Mandalas. However, the fruit is highly toxic."
"Aha?" Chu Ruo wondered to herself—didn't these things exist in the modern world too? "Then we just won't eat them."
Nan Muxue shook her head. "Though it is toxic, if the fruit of this Mandala is combined with that spring water, one’s internal power can be greatly increased in a short period of time."
*So this is... a 'Golden Finger' power-up? Why does it feel like whatever we need just appears?*
Her ear was given a little tug, and Nan Muxue’s voice drifted over. "What are you dazing off about?"
"Thinking about happy things, of course!" Chu Ruo almost jumped for joy. "Is this a case of our wishes coming true?"
"However, don't be happy too soon."
"Why?"
"This should be the place where Mother fell last time."
"...How do you know?"
"There are signs of someone having stayed nearby, and..." Nan Muxue did not miss the scraps of clothing on the nearby withered branches, nor the several spots where Mandala fruits had been harvested while the stems remained intact. "When she returned last time, her cultivation had increased tremendously. She must have relied on these Mandala fruits and the spring in that cave. Not only did she survive, but her Lovesick Blossom Trance progressed by leaps and bounds."
"I don't care about her." At that moment, a stray beam of sunlight suddenly illuminated the area, as if signaling that their recent tragedies were finally coming to an end. Chu Ruo hugged her lover. "I only want you to be well. If your mother could get out, then we certainly can too."
"If she really was here, then she must know we didn't die. The fact that she hasn't come to kill us means that this place—whether the way out or the way in—cannot be retraced. Or perhaps, there is no way out at all. Are you... afraid?"
"With you by my side, what is there to fear? It’s better if we can't get out; then no one else can come here either. We’ll just spend our whole lives here, okay?"
"Okay," Nan Muxue smiled. "But I won't let my Ruo’er stay trapped here. Once my martial arts are restored, I will take you away."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
入云峰 | Ruyun Peak | The mountain where the Hundred Flowers Palace is located.
百花宫 | Hundred Flowers Palace | The sect Nan Muxue belongs to.
内力 | Internal energy / Internal power | The spiritual/physical energy used in martial arts.
丹田 | Dantian | The energy center in the body where internal power is stored.
万年泉水 | Ten-Thousand-Year Spring | A legendary healing spring found in the valley.
百花秘笈 | Hundred Flowers Secret Manual | The sacred martial arts text of the Hundred Flowers Palace.
曼陀罗 | Mandala | Refers to the Datura/Mandala flower/fruit; here, a golden variety with special properties.
情花醉 | Lovesick Blossom Trance | The core martial arts technique of the Hundred Flowers Palace.
主角光环 | Protagonist Halo | A meta-term referring to "plot armor" or the luck of a main character.
