"Get up!"
*Hiss...* Chu Ruo was fast asleep when her door was suddenly thrown open and her thin quilt was yanked away. Even on a midsummer night, the influx of cold air made her shiver. She opened her eyes irritably. "Which son of a—"
Upon seeing who it was, her temper flared even higher, but she forced herself to swallow it. "What are you doing?" This woman... it was still the middle of the night, wasn't it? Doesn't she sleep? She’s a lunatic.
"Get dressed. We’re going down the mountain."
"Huh?" Chu Ruo rubbed her eyes. "Now?"
Nan Muxue narrowed her eyes. "Rise. Immediately."
"Why do we have to go now?" *Cough, cough.* Well, a wise woman knows when to fold. If I could beat her in a fight, I wouldn't be putting up with this. Chu Ruo suppressed her grogginess with great reluctance and began to pull on her clothes.
"We have business to attend to down the mountain. What did you think we were doing? Going on a pleasure trip?" After the retort, Nan Muxue actually bothered to explain. "Leaving now is the only way to avoid unwanted eyes."
Chu Ruo packed with practiced speed, making sure to tuck away her silver banknotes. As she followed Nan Muxue out, she whispered, "You just don't want people to know you've left the mountain, right?"
Nan Muxue gave a playful, mocking smile. "You’re surprisingly sharp at a time like this."
"I was never stupid, okay? But if both of us leave, won't the Palace notice we're gone?"
At that, a faint flush actually crept onto Nan Muxue’s face. "I’ve made arrangements. For the next few days, Yan’er will temporarily pose as me. To the outside world, it will be said that the Fourth Protector has taken you down the mountain."
*Sigh, I didn't even get to say goodbye to Yan’er.* Well, Chu Ruo had already made up her mind: if possible, she’d get her hands on a six-month supply of the antidote and make a run for it. If she failed, she’d just come back for now. She felt conflicted; the Hundred Flowers Palace wasn't actually that bad, and most importantly, Yan’er was here. She couldn't bear to leave her. But she truly hated the feeling of being controlled. *Forgive me, for I am wild and unbridled, a lover of freedom.*
While Chu Ruo was lost in her own world, Nan Muxue noticed her sudden silence. Curious, she turned to look, only to see the girl’s expression shifting through a kaleidoscope of emotions for no apparent reason. In that moment, Nan Muxue was struck by the sudden realization that she didn't understand this person at all. An indescribable feeling welled up in her heart—they were standing so close, yet they felt so far apart.
Nan Muxue also dithered for a moment, only to be snapped back to reality when her hand was suddenly grasped. Naturally, it was that person. When she looked over again, she was met with the back of Chu Ruo’s head and a voice trembling with extreme guilt. "The path is too dark. I can't see."
Nan Muxue didn't get angry, nor did she pull away. Chu Ruo carefully turned her head, still too cowardly to look with more than one eye. She didn't know what she had been thinking just now; she had simply seen the Little Scorpion looking suddenly forlorn, her silhouette so thin and fragile. Moreover, from a certain angle, she looked exactly like Yan’er. Her heart had given a little tug, and somehow, that had evolved into grabbing the woman's hand. Slowly, she even transitioned into interlacing their fingers. She peeked at the Little Scorpion again; she was still silent. Honestly, when she wasn't bullying people, she was quite beautiful.
They eventually reached the edge of a cliff that seemed bottomless. "How do you people usually get down? Do you just fly?"
Nan Muxue gave another playful smile. "With your current lightness skills, Ruo’er, you’re welcome to try."
Chu Ruo immediately jumped nine meters back. "You go ahead! My skills are... uh... unrefined, so I'll pass..."
"Get over here!"
The command was fierce, accompanied by a gaze that could launch several icy daggers and a tone that suggested she might be eaten alive. Consequently, Chu Ruo lost her nerve again and shuffled back with tiny steps. Nan Muxue shot her an annoyed look and yanked her closer to the cliff's edge. Chu Ruo was about to scream when she realized her line of sight had been blocked before; there was something resembling a hanging basket right there. The positioning was ingenious; you couldn't see it clearly until you were right on top of it. *So it’s basically an elevator? Why make it so mysterious? How boring.*
Standing in the hanging basket, Chu Ruo couldn't help but marvel at the wisdom of the ancients. The design was exquisite. They had been descending for a long time and still hadn't hit the bottom, which showed just how high Cloud-Piercing Peak truly was. Yet, these ancients could build a lift that supported such a height—she had to admire that. Furthermore, the location was incredibly well-hidden, tucked firmly inside a rocky crevice. From the outside, the crevice was invisible, but the interior was vast and extraordinary. Light could filter in perfectly, so it wasn't dark or damp at all. It was a masterpiece of nature and artifice; unless guided, no one would ever find the secret to entering the Hundred Flowers Palace. Truly brilliant.
"Master,"
Nan Muxue looked back in confusion. Why would this girl suddenly call out to her? "What is it?"
"Does Liu Shaopeng come to the Palace often?"
"Occasionally."
"Does he know how to get up the mountain?"
The other woman shook her head. "Of course not. Even newly initiated disciples must be blindfolded when they ascend, let alone an outsider—especially him. Besides, did you think the Hundred Flowers Palace only had one way in?"
"There are others?"
"Does your cleverness only last for a second? It’s always just a flash in the pan." Nan Muxue actually started poking fun at her. If anyone else had heard this, even the Four Protectors, their eyes would have popped out in shock. "Of course there are. They are all guarded by disciples. This one is a secret path. Aside from my mother and me, no one knows of it."
A secret path? No, that wasn't the point. The point was the phrase "no one knows." A place that even Yan’er and the others didn't know about... Chu Ruo felt something shift in her heart, which gave a violent thud. She began to laugh, though it was tinged with self-deprecation. "I see. I’m just one of the thousands of ordinary disciples in your Palace that you’ve controlled with the Hundred Flowers Gu."
Hearing the change in her tone, Nan Muxue turned around abruptly. Chu Ruo’s words were thick with bitterness. She raised a hand, wanting to brush the girl's forehead. "You..."
Chu Ruo suddenly jerked away, dodging the touch. *Clang!* The hanging basket gave a violent lurch. Caught off guard, she stumbled, lost her balance, and fell forward. She ended up throwing her arms around the other woman. Feeling resentful, she was about to push away immediately when her waist was suddenly pulled tight. Nan Muxue held her firmly and said softly, "It’s alright. It always jolts a bit here. We’re almost there."
Chu Ruo wanted to push her away, but she ultimately surrendered to the warmth and softness in her arms. Her hands hovered, hesitating twice before she simply hugged the woman back tightly. *Fine, you hugged me first. This young master will hug you back, so what? Besides, you're the one who poisoned me with the Gu and said those things just now. What's wrong with me taking a little advantage?*
To her surprise, the Little Scorpion didn't react at all. In fact, did she seem to be pressing even closer?
"Ruo’er,"
This was unexpected. The atmosphere was a tiny bit awkward and suffocating. Why are you calling me now? And why hasn't this damn basket reached the bottom yet? She gave a muffled reply, "Yeah."
"You are my, Nan Muxue’s, disciple." Nan Muxue’s head rested completely against Chu Ruo’s left shoulder. "You are not like any other 'ordinary disciple'."
*So what? You still poisoned me.* Chu Ruo’s voice remained muffled. "So what? I’m not your only disciple."
"I... will not take any more disciples. You are my last." *Aside from you, whether in the past or the future, I will not teach anyone else. You will be the only one to receive my full legacy.* Nan Muxue did not say this aloud, nor would she. One had to know how many people in the Hundred Flowers Palace coveted her name and wished to be her student, yet she had made her decision. She didn't know why the thought had occurred to her, but once it took root, it could not be pulled out.
"Really?" For no reason at all, Chu Ruo’s heart leaped with joy. *What is wrong with me? What’s so great about being the Little Scorpion’s final disciple? Is my brain fried or something? But why can't I suppress this surge of excitement and happiness?*
"Mm." Nan Muxue thought to herself: *I will treat you better than anyone else in this Palace. But you must not betray me. Otherwise, I will grind your bones to ash—I will not break that promise.*
With a sensation of touching down, the hanging basket finally reached the bottom. The two of them remained in that embrace. *Cough.* Chu Ruo cleared her throat. "We’re here, right?"
"Mm." Nan Muxue released her. "Let’s go."
The warmth and softness vanished instantly. Chu Ruo felt a bit out of sorts; if she’d known, she wouldn't have reminded her. This Little Scorpion really was unlovable—leaving just like that.
"Where are we going now?"
"An inn."
"Aren't we going to do the mission?"
"Tomorrow night."
Chu Ruo was instantly dissatisfied. "Then why did you make me come down today?"
"What?" Nan Muxue turned around with a half-smile. "Does Ruo’er have an objection to her Master’s decision?"
"No, no." Chu Ruo’s eyes darted around, and then she rubbed her hands excitedly. "Since there’s nothing to do tonight, then I—"
"No."
"I haven't even asked yet! Are you a worm in my stomach?"
Nan Muxue arched an eyebrow. "Were you going to say that since there's nothing to do tonight, why not take a stroll on the streets?"
...With this girl's personality, anyone who had known her for three days would probably know what she was thinking. Nan Muxue, however, found this look quite adorable, which significantly improved her mood. She walked with her hands behind her back. "We have a mission; you must not be playful."
"I just want to take one look. Just one. I haven't been down the mountain since I arrived."
"No."
It was another flat refusal. Chu Ruo was utterly dejected, but she thought to herself: *Once we get to the inn and I’m in my own room, can't I just sneak out? Hmph, as if I can't handle you, Little Scorpion. You're just a little girl. I’m a transmigrator; if I can't manage an ancient person like you, I’d be a disgrace to my five thousand years of knowledge.*
The person in front of her continued, "Don't think that once we reach the inn, you can find a way to sneak out. I only booked one room. You can put away those little schemes."
*Say what??!! I’m pretty sure I only thought that in my head and definitely didn't say it out loud!* Chu Ruo hurried over. "Spit it out. Is the ultimate technique of your Hundred Flowers Palace mind-reading?"
"Beyond saving."
Mockery attempt number N. Chu Ruo scratched her head in frustration and then chased after her. "Why did you only book one room?"
Nan Muxue arched her eyebrow again, the corner of her mouth curling. "What do you think?" Aside from preventing this restless girl from escaping, what other reason could there be? She knew Chu Ruo too well; if left to her own devices, she’d try to poke a hole in the sky. How could she not keep a close eye on her? But... was that really the only reason? That warm and comfortable embrace at night, the way she slept so deeply in those arms... had she already become so unable to leave it?
This... was this a teasing tone? Chu Ruo immediately clutched her chest. "You, you, you! Men and women shouldn't be so close—wait, we're both women, but still! We’re Master and disciple! You’re supposed to be a role model! I never expected... I never expected that with your elegant... no, your world-toppling, enchanting face, you’d do something like lusting after my body! If anyone’s going to lust, it should be me lusting after yours!"
... "Shut up." Nan Muxue pressed a hand to her throbbing forehead. "One more word and you’ll copy the Palace rules a hundred times."
Indeed, this threat was effective. The whole world finally fell silent. Nan Muxue nodded in satisfaction and continued walking, occasionally glancing at the person whose face was full of indignation and grievance. Feeling playful, she asked, "Does Ruo’er really want to go?"
Chu Ruo’s eyes lit up. Just as she was about to answer, she realized it might be a trap from the Little Scorpion, so she clamped her mouth shut and simply nodded, refusing to make a sound.
Suppressing a smile, Nan Muxue said, "Speak. I permit you to speak."
"I want to go!" Chu Ruo went over and grabbed the woman's arm, deciding to use the "little girl" tactic. Even though it gave her goosebumps, she’d do anything to get the Little Scorpion to agree. "Master, please let me go!"
Then, Chu Ruo felt as if she had seen the light of dawn. The Little Scorpion—bah, what was she saying?—her Master, who was as warm as a spring breeze, actually nodded in agreement!
Well, it turned out that reality hits like a thunderstorm. In the next second, Nan Muxue spoke.
"Then I shall accompany you for a stroll."
...
*Lalala, going down the mountain to play!*
***
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Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 19 | Midnight Descent | Novela.app | Novela.app
