“Master Shen, I have arrived. Where are the people?”
Shen Ruoxuan bowed respectfully to Nan Menghua. “Greetings, Palace Master Nan. I am merely managing the villa on my father’s behalf; I hardly deserve the title of Master.”
“Is that so? I find you quite the clever one. Now, where are those wretches who betrayed me?”
“They are in my custody. However, regarding what I mentioned in my letter…”
“Since I have come, I have already agreed to your terms. Though, there are few left in this world who dare to bargain with me.”
“This junior is well aware that the Palace Master’s martial arts are peerless. How could I dare to bargain? I only seek your protection,” Shen Ruoxuan replied.
As Nan Menghua walked toward him, Shen Ruoxuan instinctively retreated, his expression flickering with fear. It was only when she stood directly before him, savoring his terrified state, that she turned away with a satisfied laugh. “Are you so afraid of me?”
“Naturally, everyone in the martial world regards the Palace Master with both reverence and fear.”
“Fear? A man with your mettle, afraid of me?”
“This junior…”
“Enough nonsense. I will not ask a second time. Where are they?”
Shen Ruoxuan waved his hand, and two disciples went to fetch them. “Please wait a moment, Palace Master.”
“Why did you choose to betray them instead of cooperating?”
He spread his hands. “Cooperating with them would be like striking a stone with an egg. A wise man submits to circumstances. I have no ties to them.”
“And yet, some people enjoy being the mayfly that tries to shake a giant tree. How can I be sure you won’t do something foolish?”
“The Palace Master’s martial arts have reached a transcendent realm; taking my head would be the work of a moment. Whether I am true or false will be known soon enough. Let us speak plainly: even my father might not be your match, let alone me. Even without my help, you would have found them eventually. I am merely offering a favor to ensure my Sword Casting Villa is not caught in the crossfire.”
Nan Menghua glanced at her horsetail whisk. “Then how do you know I won’t go back on my word? You must realize that I am already within your villa. I alone could overturn this entire place.”
“Sooner or later, you would have dealt with us anyway. Not just my villa—there is hardly anyone left in the martial world who can contend with you. Rather than waiting for death, I chose to offer my allegiance as a gamble. It is up to you whether to accept it.”
“Hahaha!” she laughed loudly. “How interesting. I thought that old fox Shen Wanxiong had sired nothing but fools.” She pressed a hand onto his shoulder. Shen Ruoxuan visibly trembled, but his expression remained unchanged. “Whether you are sincere or not, knowing how to take the initiative makes you better than those idiots. I hope you are being truthful. I could use a helper.”
As she spoke, the disciples brought forward Nan Yunshuang, Nan Gongyan, and the Bai sisters, all bound. Nan Menghua immediately grabbed Shen Ruoxuan by the throat, her voice turning feral. “Where are the others!”
“When they arrived… there were only these four!”
“Do not think you can hide them from me!”
Shen Ruoxuan struggled to breathe as he replied, “Why would I… lie to you? Even if there are others, they must be… hiding in the shadows by design. They won’t show themselves easily. Use these four to lure them out. I invited you here; what good would deceiving you do me?”
Perhaps finding his logic sound, or perhaps out of sheer self-confidence, Nan Menghua abruptly released him. She shot him a sharp look. “It had better be so!”
She then approached Nan Yunshuang and the others. Cautious by nature, she struck out with her internal force from a distance. The energy from her whisk hit the four bound women, sealing their acupoints and rendering them immobile. She laughed triumphantly. “In the end, you still fell into my hands. Where are those sluts Yin Liuli and Duan Ning? Do you think I haven’t realized by now that you only pretended to kill Duan Ning? I gave you chance after chance, and yet you dared to deceive me time and again!”
She delivered a heavy palm strike. Nan Yunshuang took the hit full-on. Nan Menghua wouldn’t kill her instantly, but the blow was far from light. Sure enough, Nan Yunshuang collapsed in agony, a large amount of blood seeping from the corners of her mouth. Nan Gongyan watched in desperation, but she could only stand there rigidly. This reaction did not escape Nan Menghua’s eyes. She crouched down mockingly and looked at Nan Gongyan. “Does it hurt your heart?”
Two more palm strikes followed. This time, the blood Nan Yunshuang spat out was black. The scent of blood seemed to excite Nan Menghua further. “Betraying me… I truly taught you all too well. Especially you.” She gripped Nan Yunshuang’s jaw until the bone creaked. “It seems you’ve discovered the truth of your heritage. However, if you kneel and kowtow to me three times, then kill her—” she pointed at Nan Gongyan “—I might consider sparing your wretched life.”
Nan Yunshuang’s lips moved, but she was too heavily injured for her voice to be heard. Nan Menghua grabbed her by the collar and hauled her up. *Pfft!* A spray of black blood hit Nan Menghua directly in the face, making her look even more monstrous.
“In your… dreams!”
“Fine.” Nan Menghua’s smile was more terrifying than her rage. “How could I forget? The blood of that wench Qingshuang flows in your veins. Tell me, this time, should I send you to serve those men, or should I send your beloved woman? Which would cause you more pain?”
“Nan Menghua!”
*Slap!* A backhand strike landed, and Nan Gongyan’s cheek immediately swelled. “Who do you think you’re talking to!” Nan Menghua swept her gaze over the other three. “As for you lot—”
“Hahaha…”
It was Nan Yunshuang, laughing hysterically. Nan Menghua stood up and ground her foot into Nan Yunshuang’s face. “What are you laughing at?”
“Aren’t you curious… why my blood is black? I swallowed a wax-coated pill earlier. Your palm strikes broke the coating, releasing the poison into my blood and organs. Why don’t you try circulating your inner energy now?”
Nan Menghua’s expression didn’t change; she actually began to laugh as well. “Do you think I would come here without any precautions? Not only can my martial arts easily expel poison, but I have already consumed a Hundred Flowers Pill. What can a measly poison do to me?”
“Is that so?” In a flash, Nan Yunshuang bit down on something in her mouth and exhaled a cloud of mist. A white fog instantly obscured Nan Menghua’s vision. Knowing it was the mist, she relied on her keen hearing and instinctively lunged toward a sound. Simultaneously, the four bound women broke their restraints and dodged. They had sealed their own major acupoints before entering, so the previous strikes had been ineffective. Shen Ruoxuan quickly twisted a golden ornament on the table, and a heavy steel cage dropped from above, trapping Nan Menghua inside.
Without waiting for the others, Nan Yunshuang raised her Blood Sword and lunged. The person inside the cage didn't dodge; the blade pierced straight through their heart, killing them instantly.
Bai Shan sighed with regret. “What a waste of effort. We planned for so long, and she turned out to be so fragile.”
“No.” Bai Zhier and Shen Ruoxuan shook their heads simultaneously, a faint sense of dread rising in their hearts. “This was too easy.”
Nan Yunshuang frowned as well. “She couldn't have died this easily.” They moved to trigger the mechanism to open the cage, but Nan Gongyan warned, “Careful, it might be a trick.”
The corpse on the ground was indeed dead, but Nan Yunshuang inspected it closely. Suddenly, she noticed something and pulled at the skin near the ear. With a *rip*, a mask came away in her hand. Even more bizarrely, a small insect crawled out of the corpse’s mouth, and the body dissolved into bloody water moments later. “Oh no, this isn't Nan Menghua!”
Bai Shan’s face paled. “I recognize this. It’s similar to my Puppet Gu. When used on a person, they can be controlled to act and speak exactly like the master. Nan Menghua must be nearby!”
*Clang!* Before they could react, the steel cage dropped again, trapping them this time. They turned in shock toward the culprit. “Shen Ruoxuan, you!”
“My apologies, Miss Bai.” They were met with a despicable smirk. “As you said, there was no chance of winning. Every man for himself, or the heavens will destroy him. Did you really think such a childish trick could fool Palace Master Nan?”
*Clap! Clap!*
The sound of applause came from outside the door. The real Nan Menghua finally appeared, followed by Mo Fei. Behind them were the captured Phoenix, Lin Jianghong, Yin Liuli, and Duan Ning. “Young Master Shen is indeed a clever man. Why would he risk the lives of everyone in his villa for a few wretches he barely knows?”
Shen Ruoxuan smiled obsequiously. “They actually thought they could use me to deal with the Palace Master. Such overestimation of their own strength—it truly is the height of stupidity.”
Nan Menghua was immensely satisfied. “Do you see? I told you, you can never trust anyone. You thought you could arrange escape routes with Yin Liuli and Duan Ning, and keep this Shaman Head from Miaojiang in the shadows to plant a Gu on me, then strike from all sides to kill me? I am invincible!”
Nan Menghua walked forward triumphantly while Shen Ruoxuan stood aside with a respectful bow. “What other tricks do you have? I don’t mind telling you: my Love Flower Drunk technique is complete. Whether it be Gu, poison, or blades, nothing can harm me anymore. Crushing you is as easy as stepping on ants.”
Phoenix sneered. “I’ve always wondered why you are so familiar with Miaojiang. You seem to know our Gu very well.”
“All you need to know is that you cannot defeat me. If you promise to return to Miaojiang immediately, I might let you go.”
“Is that so? I don’t find you particularly merciful.”
“I have no grudge against Miaojiang and no wish to make an enemy of you.”
“Then should I thank you?”
Bai Zhier stared at Shen Ruoxuan, and the others spat in disgust. “Shen Ruoxuan, you despicable coward!”
“How is it despicable? The martial world is a place of deception. Why should I help you? Did you really think that after a few meals together, I’d be stupid enough to bet my entire villa on you?”
“A young man who knows how to submit to the times. Very good,” Nan Menghua praised.
“Yes. I wonder how the Palace Master intends to deal with them?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
Shen Ruoxuan dutifully offered her a cup of tea. “Killing them outright might be too merciful, don’t you think, Palace Master?”
Nan Menghua took the cup. “A quick death is indeed unsatisfying.” She glanced at him. “There isn't poison in this tea, is there?”
“The Palace Master jokes.”
She finally swallowed the tea. “Now that I am here, I am in no rush to leave. I wish to visit your father.”
“This…”
“Don’t worry. Since you know your place, I won’t make things difficult for you. The Sword Casting Villa will remain yours. We have known each other for many years; I merely wish to see an old friend.”
“Very well. Palace Master, please follow me.”
Shen Ruoxuan led Nan Menghua toward the exit. As they reached the door, he stood aside obsequiously to let her pass. Nan Menghua walked forward with her hands behind her back. In the next second, a palm strike slammed into her back!
Nan Menghua reacted quickly, but she still took a solid hit. The steel cage sprang open again as Shen Ruoxuan retreated. His palm was covered in fine, dense silver needles—hundreds of them embedded in his skin. “I heard Palace Master Nan is invulnerable. I wonder how the poison on my palm tastes?”
“How unfortunate. It turns out you were just seeking death after all. I thought you were smart.”
“Don’t say that. I’m just looking out for myself. Our families have held a grudge for years. You wouldn’t even spare your own daughter; why would you spare my villa? You want to see my father only to pry some secret from him.”
“Don’t waste words on her!” Nan Yunshuang shouted. “Her gate has been broken! She is no longer a threat!”
Everyone lunged at once. They thought victory was certain—Phoenix and the Bai sisters used Gu, poison mist, and golden needles. But the result was beyond anyone’s expectations. They were all defeated.
They couldn't believe it. With a single move, she had repelled them. Her gate was clearly broken—how could this be? Nan Menghua grew increasingly manic. “You truly didn't disappoint me, having stayed by my side for so many years. You actually identified my gate. Unfortunately—” She looked at the people lying on the ground, the weaker ones barely clinging to life. “That was in the past. Now, I am truly invincible.”
“Impossible,” Shen Ruoxuan gasped in disbelief. “No matter how powerful the martial art, there must… there must be a gate.”
“There is. But you won’t have the chance to find it.”
She raised her horsetail whisk high. But sometimes, the unexpected happens. *Clang!* The Ice Fiend flew through the air. Nan Menghua dodged it, and as she recognized the weapon, the malice on her face deepened. “My dear daughter, have you brought your lover here to die with you!”
***
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Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 178 | The Failed Ambush | Novela.app | Novela.app
