Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 197 | An Unexpected Admirer | Novela.app

The horses trotted along the road as the signs of human habitation grew increasingly sparse. Finding the journey tedious, Duan Ning glanced at the two figures sharing a single horse not far away. She nudged her own mount closer. "My, my. Is it that we’ve run out of silver? That can’t be right. These horses were provided by the Sword Casting Villa, one for every person. So why is it that you two just *have* to ride together?" Chu Ruo turned back with a pout. "Because we like it. If you’re so jealous, you can go ride with your own someone-special." "Pah! As if I’d be jealous of you. I’m just worried for the poor horse." "Have a heart, would you? The horse Xue’er and I are riding was specially chosen. It’s tall and sturdy, specifically meant for two people. It’s even faster than yours..." "Oh, how impressive," Duan Ning said, glancing at the expressionless Nan Muxue. "Her eyes are healed now, and it’s not like she doesn’t know how to ride. Does she really need you to lead her?" "Whether her eyes are well or not, she is only permitted to ride with me," Nan Muxue stated calmly. "Tsk." Chu Ruo took over the banter. "I think you’re just too bored, staring at us all day. You must have eaten too much salt—worrying about things that don't concern you." "You—" *Smack!* Startled, the horse suddenly bolted forward. Duan Ning barely had time to grab the reins, complaining loudly as she surged ahead, "Chu Ruo, you just wait..." Chu Ruo had taken advantage of her distraction to slap the horse's rump. Watching her fly off, Chu Ruo laughed. "Fine, fine! I’ll be waiting!" The dullness of the journey was broken by this little interlude, bringing a bit of mirth to the group. Chu Ruo tightened her arms around the woman in front of her. "Are you tired?" Nan Muxue shook her head. "You are the one handling the reins. Why ask me if I am weary?" "It’s a bumpy road, and there’s no one around for miles. I don’t know if we’ll find a place to stay before dark." She paused, then added, "Maybe at the next stop, we should ride separately. We have extra horses anyway." "This doesn't sound like you. Did a few jests from Ning’er actually make you feel ashamed?" "I..." "You were the one who insisted on riding with me in the first place." "I just didn't want everyone to make fun of you. I feel like they're all watching us." "When have I ever cared about that? You know I only care about you." Chu Ruo smiled and pulled her closer. "Mm, Xue’er is the best." Nan Muxue tilted her head to look at her. "You let me sit in front because you thought that if anything happened, you could shield me from behind?" *Cough...* This Little Scorpion was always so sharp. "Well, I do have my soft armor, after all." "And now you want to separate. Are you no longer worried for my safety?" "Right. So, we should definitely stay together..." Nan Muxue didn't care if the others were watching. Her lips brushed against Chu Ruo’s cheek. "Remember this: from now on, you may only ride with me. I do not care if your eyes are whole or blind, nor do I care if you can ride a horse or not. Your saddle must have me on it, and only me." Chu Ruo grinned. "You’re speaking to me so bossily. You seem to have forgotten that I’m still supposed to be angry with you, hmm?" Nan Muxue gave a beautiful smile. "And will you listen to my words?" "I’ll listen," Chu Ruo whispered into her ear. "I’ll listen for a lifetime." *** Before the sky turned completely dark, the group finally found a dilapidated inn. The innkeeper was polite enough, greeting them with a smile and informing them that this was the last inn on the road ahead. Further on, there wouldn't even be a private house, let alone an inn. Though the place was shabby, at least they had a roof over their heads for the night. Chu Ruo could tell this was likely a "crooked inn," much like the Fortune Inn run by Old Lady Hua when they went to Miaojiang. However, people in this trade had keen eyes. The owner knew this group consisted of powerful martial artists they couldn't afford to provoke, so he didn't dare use any of his usual tricks. The prices, however... well, everyone was a money-grubber these days. Then again, they were currently hunting for treasure, so they weren't much different in principle. "What are you smiling about?" Because the inn was small and crowded, and everyone had their own hidden agendas, it was impossible for everyone to sit at one table. They sat in small groups. Nan Muxue and Chu Ruo had picked a small corner that barely fit the two of them. "Nothing." Chu Ruo placed a piece of food in the other's bowl. "I just think the saying 'humans die for wealth as birds die for food' is quite accurate." Nan Muxue chuckled softly. "You’re being eccentric again." "Not at all. Don't you think it's funny? Everywhere we go, we run into crooked inns. And yet, every one of them is afraid of us, even while they're trying to fleece us." Nan Muxue arched an eyebrow. "Are you feeling sorry for the money—" "I don't feel sorry for anyone." "I hadn't finished my sentence." "Well, if you say it, you'll just keep teasing me. Hey, look." Nan Muxue’s gaze remained fixed on her. "Look at what? Trying to change the subject again..." "No, really. Look, someone keeps stealing glances at us." Nan Muxue turned her head and happened to lock eyes with Bai Zhier. She took a sip of tea. "Your Miss Zhier has been looking at you quite a bit on this journey." "What? I don't need to tell you if Zhier is looking at us. You haven't noticed? I'm talking about over there—that young girl." Following Chu Ruo's gaze, she saw Lin Jianghong, who was sitting with Shen Ruoxuan and the others. "Her?" "Yeah. I noticed it a while ago. She keeps peeking over at us every now and then." Nan Muxue arched her eyebrow again. "Your talent for charming people is quite significant, isn't it?" Chu Ruo didn't catch the drift. "What?" "Do you think that because I’ve been pampering you these past few days, you can become reckless?" "What kind of nonsense are you talking about?" "What did you do this time? Otherwise, why would she be staring at you so intently?" "Please, don't slander me. She's looking at *us*, not just me." "She’s been looking at you longingly the whole way. Do you think I am blind?" As the two bickered, the Bai sisters started an argument at another table. Finally, Bai Shan slammed her chopsticks down, stood up, and pointed toward them in a rage. "How could that vixen Nan Muxue be our sister? I ask you, and you won't even say!" Chu Ruo was no longer as patient or polite with her as before. She slapped the table and stood up. "Try calling her that one more time!" Bai Zhier held her sister back. "Enough! Go back to your room!" "I'm going! Regardless, I only have one sister—you!" Fuming, Bai Shan stormed off. Worried about her sister, Bai Zhier followed. "Ruo’er," Nan Muxue said, pulling Chu Ruo back down. "Previously, weren't you quite... toward those sisters?" Chu Ruo interrupted, "Setting Zhier aside for a moment, I tolerated Bai Shan before because of Zhier, and because she technically saved me once. But I’ve tolerated her time and again, and she only gets worse. I haven't forgotten that she was the one who knocked you off the cliff. Even though I jumped down to save you, what if? What if I hadn't caught you? That day when you and Nan Yunshuang disappeared, I thought something had happened to you. I went to Zhier to question her about the Love Flower Drunk, but Bai Shan was still being insolent. In my haste, I injured her. At that moment, I realized what you told me before was right. I was too merciful. I cannot allow anyone to separate us again, nor can I allow her the chance to hurt you. Nothing is more important than you—not even Zhier’s sister." "Ruo’er," Nan Muxue murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "Doesn't that thought make people say you've learned too much from this 'Little Scorpion'?" "Of course they do. Bai Shan cursed me right then, saying I’d inherited all the 'fine traits' of my master." "My person should naturally be like me." Nan Muxue had poured all her effort into teaching her; if she was similar, so be it. "That phrasing of yours..." "Is it wrong?" Chu Ruo leaned over and whispered into her ear, "It's right. But I should correct you—I'm your *lover*." Perhaps it was the cold outside, but the warmth of the room brought a faint flush to Nan Muxue’s face. Chu Ruo smiled. "Alright, finish your meal and go back to rest early. As for me, I’m going to see what she’s been staring at all night." "Aren't you going to see your Zhier?" "That can wait for another day. Right now, I’m more curious about Lin Jianghong." *** Lin Jianghong was a bit surprised by Chu Ruo’s sudden approach. "You..." Shen Ruoxuan and the others took the hint, smiling as they walked away. Chu Ruo sat down. "I say, haven't you looked at us enough on this trip?" "Nonsense, I haven't..." "Wow. Do you think I'm still blind?" "You..." Chu Ruo grinned mischievously. "Alright, alright. Just tell me. Why do you keep looking at us? Do Xue’er and I have words written on our faces?" "No." Lin Jianghong lowered her head, looking quite... strange. She almost looked shy. "Are you... are you curious about me and my master?" "No... I'm not." *As if.* With that reaction, how could she not be curious? But it was normal. Forget people in ancient times; even modern people didn't always have great acceptance. Seeing that Lin Jianghong meant no ill will and didn't look at them with disgust, Chu Ruo teased her. "Really? Then I’m leaving." "Wait," Lin Jianghong called out. She hesitated, then whispered in a small voice, "Can a woman... also like another woman?" "Why not? As long as it's what the heart desires and there is true love, what does it matter if it's a man or a woman, tall or short, fat or thin?" "Is it really okay?!" "Mm. As long as you stay true to your heart, of course it is." Lin Jianghong seemed somewhat excited, muttering to herself, "I thought I was abnormal. So a woman and a woman can actually be together..." Her voice was tiny, but Chu Ruo’s hearing was exceptional. "Wait a second. You mean... you... you like women! Quick, tell me, who is it?" "None of your business!" That look—it was exactly it. No wonder she kept staring at them. Brilliant! But who was it? Chu Ruo went through the names of every woman in their party, but the girl refused to admit it. Suddenly, Chu Ruo remembered how the girl had been staring toward them all night, and recalled how she had once promised Nan Muxue to help propose to her on behalf of the Hundred Flowers Palace. Her heart sank. "It couldn't be... me, could it?" *Heaven help me.* If the Little Scorpion found out, it would be another beating... She had finally managed to hold the upper hand for a few days; her good days were over. However, her guess was met with a light scoff. "In your dreams! I really don't see what's so great about you, even if you are decent-looking." ??? Still not right. That tone... it sounded a bit sour. "You... you... you like my master!" *Pfft!* "How did you know?" *** *Creak—* Despite the long day of travel, Nan Muxue had no desire to sleep. She sat by the table drinking hot tea, waiting for her beloved to return. At the sound of the door opening, she didn't even need to look to know who it was. "You're back." "Mm-hmm." Nan Muxue looked up to see the girl struggling to suppress a laugh. She couldn't help but be curious. "What makes you so happy?" "Nothing, nothing." Chu Ruo sat down, pouring herself a cup of tea while giggling uncontrollably. "It's nothing." "What is it, exactly?" Somewhere along the way, Nan Muxue’s own moods had become tethered to this person’s joys and sorrows. If she was happy, Nan Muxue was happy too. "It's just..." She laughed as she drank, spilling quite a bit of tea. Finally catching her breath, she leaned in close. "Don't you think your charm as the Young Palace Mistress is a bit too great?" Nan Muxue was usually solemn. She had smiled earlier, but now her face was neutral, mostly filled with curiosity. Chu Ruo’s silly expression left her slightly speechless. She took another sip of tea and asked, "What do you mean?" "It's just... it's such a shame. Someone is deeply in love with you, yet you don't know a thing. It’s truly breaking a... well, a young girl's heart. My dear Xue’er, it turns out the ones who like you aren't just me, but also our famous Alliance Leader Lin's daughter!" *Pfft!* This time, the one doing the spit-take was Nan Muxue. *** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation ---|---|--- 铸剑山庄 | Sword Casting Villa | A martial arts sect known for smithing. 林绛红 | Lin Jianghong | Daughter of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader. 沈若轩 | Shen Ruoxuan | A character traveling with the group. 少宫主 | Young Palace Mistress | Nan Muxue's title within the Hundred Flowers Palace. 林盟主 | Alliance Leader Lin | Lin Jianghong's father, leader of the martial arts alliance.