After the searing pain, she finally resigned herself to the reality of her situation. Perhaps her earlier shouting had been too loud, for a young girl who looked like a servant hurried into the room. *I should be polite since I’m on someone else’s turf,* Chu Ruo thought. She propped her head up with one hand while reclining on her side, raising the other hand in an attempt at a dashing smile.
“Hello there, miss. What kind of pla—ce is—hey, I wasn’t finished! Why are you running? Am I really that terrifying despite being so handsome and debonair?”
The girl sprinted out, screaming at the top of her lungs, “Someone come quickly! The freak is finally awake! Help!”
Chu Ruo: “...”
She hadn’t expected such a frail-looking little girl to have such a powerful voice. Was this the legendary Lion’s Roar technique?
While she was still lost in thought, the door was thrown open. Four women stood respectfully at the entrance, followed by another four who entered and flanked the bed. Then came another woman who appeared to be a personal maid. *The main attraction must be coming now,* Chu Ruo figured. Sure enough, a woman followed closely behind, walking with an aura of absolute authority. Though she also wore white, the quality and style of her robes were clearly superior to the others; her skirts flowed like shimmering silk. *This has to be a stunning, fair-skinned, long-legged beauty,* Chu Ruo thought, looking up with great anticipation.
The result was disappointing—not because of her looks, but because the woman wore a mask that covered the upper half of her face. Only the area from her nose down was visible. While it was certain she was a great beauty, one couldn’t see her true face. From the glimpse of her neck, her skin was as white as snow and appeared incredibly delicate. *She must be young, right? Under twenty? Twenty-five?*
“You’re awake?”
Chu Ruo was staring like a total lecher, which naturally drew the ire of the attendants. Usually, if anyone dared to stare at the Young Palace Master like that, their eyes would have been gouged out long ago. This freakish person, who looked neither like a man nor a woman, was being incredibly insolent. Just as they were about to teach her a lesson, the Young Palace Master walked to the bedside and looked down at the scoundrel.
Caught off guard by the question, Chu Ruo instinctively nodded. “Mm-hmm.”
In the next second, her neck was seized in a death grip. The hold tightened instantly, and a violent sensation of suffocation washed over her. Chu Ruo flailed her hands, struggling. “Let... let go...”
“Speak. Who sent you?”
*Is your brain short-circuited?* Chu Ruo cursed inwardly. Of course, her throat was being crushed so she couldn't speak, otherwise she would have unleashed a torrent of abuse. She hadn't expected such a beautiful woman to be so cold-blooded. Her grip was brutal. Chu Ruo couldn't help but wonder if all the women in this place were monsters—either they had massive lungs or superhuman strength. They were all built for manual labor, clearly.
“I... can’t... breathe...” Chu Ruo’s hands slapped at the hand gripping her, but it was useless. That hand was like solid lead, unmoving. She finally understood why people being strangled in TV dramas flailed about so much; when you’re in that position, there’s literally nothing else you can do. It was the definition of a death struggle.
Hearing her plea, the grip loosened slightly, though not by much—just enough for her to speak clearly. “Who are you, and what is your purpose in approaching the Hundred Flowers Palace?”
Chu Ruo broke into a coughing fit. “I don’t know you, and I don’t know any Hundred Flowers Palace... *cough, cough, cough*...”
“Then why did you appear at the foot of Cloud-Reaching Peak?”
Faced with that icy tone, Chu Ruo struggled to breathe while trying to answer quickly, terrified that this viper-hearted woman would snap her neck if she delayed. “I don’t know! I just woke up and I was here. I have no memory of how I arrived. You’re choking me to death, let go!”
The woman finally released her. Chu Ruo shot her a resentful glare. “Crazy woman!”
*Hiss—* Everyone in the room gasped. Was this fair-faced brat tired of living?
“Say that again.”
Having caught her breath, Chu Ruo heard the tone that was colder than ice and saw the frigid expression that even the mask couldn't hide. She swallowed hard. *Oh crap, I’m done for.* She had forgotten for a moment that she had transmigrated. This wasn't the beautiful, harmonious modern world anymore; she was in the hands of others. This viper-beauty looked like one of those high-level martial arts masters from the legends. Given her strength and her tendency to strike without warning, she was overqualified for a circus act. A wise person knows when to retreat, so Chu Ruo lost her nerve. “I didn't say anything.”
“What is your name?”
*Hadn't someone already asked this?* Chu Ruo thought about it but couldn't remember. Whatever, it wasn't important. “Chu Ruo.”
Seeing her expression, the woman knew she wasn't lying. That day at the foot of the mountain, the girl had been unconscious; the answer she gave then must have been the truth. The Young Palace Master had asked again now just to test her, and since the answer came without hesitation, it was likely genuine.
“Where are you from?”
“Even if I told you, you wouldn't know it. You can tell by my clothes that I’m from somewhere very far away. You definitely haven't heard of it.” Modern people all knew about transmigration, but explaining it to an ancient person would be like playing a lute to a cow—a total waste of breath.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty,” Chu Ruo answered, then immediately reacted. “Wait a minute, why is it always you asking and me answering? It’s my turn. How old are you? What’s your name? Where is this? What dynasty is it? You—”
The attendants were exasperated again. How could one person talk so much? She had rattled off questions for ages without repeating herself, and her courage was truly immense. Did she really not know what kind of place the Hundred Flowers Palace was?
Naturally, the Young Palace Master had no intention of answering. She simply threw out a command: “You may rest for today. Starting tomorrow, you will practice martial arts with me.”
“Hey, hey, hey!” Chu Ruo jumped off the bed and stood before her. “When did I ever agree to learn martial arts from you?” Actually, she didn't mind the idea of learning kung fu—in fact, she quite looked forward to it—she just hated this viper-woman’s arrogant, overbearing attitude.
The maid nearby couldn't stand it anymore and interjected, “How dare you be so rude! Countless people outside dream of entering our Hundred Flowers Palace to study under the Young Palace Master. This is an honor for you. Don't be so ungrateful.”
“That’s them. Whoever wants it can have it. Yours truly has never liked being forced into things since I was a kid. Since I’m awake now, I won’t trouble you any longer. Anyway, thanks to the Hundred Flowers Palace for saving me. Bye-bye!”
“You!”
The Young Palace Master’s lips suddenly curled into a smirk. It was the first time anyone had seen an expression on her face. “I also dislike forcing people. A-Yue, escort her down the mountain.”
A-Yue didn't react immediately. “Huh?”
Chu Ruo rolled her eyes at her. “You’re a maid, she’s a maid, why are your reactions so slow? Didn't you hear her? Escort me out!”
“Go then,” the Young Palace Master said. “You’ll be dead within a few days anyway. It saves the Hundred Flowers Palace from having to clean up your corpse.”
Chu Ruo, who had just stepped over the threshold, pulled her foot back and turned around. “What did you say?”
The woman instead sat down at the table, poured herself a cup of tea with slow, deliberate movements, and spoke leisurely. “There is a lethal poison in your body. Within three days, you will suffer a sudden and violent death.” She smoothed her snow-white sleeves. “Don't worry. Out of pity, I will be kind enough to prepare a coffin for you and have someone handle your funeral arrangements.”
“I’m not talking about that!” Chu Ruo ran back and slammed her hands on the table, staring intensely at the woman. She didn't notice the woman uncomfortably averting her gaze. “You just said I have a lethal poison in my body?”
“Indeed.”
*Transmigrating and getting poisoned? What kind of luck is this?* But now wasn't the time for sorrow; survival was the priority. At this thought, Chu Ruo’s attitude shifted instantly to a fawning smile. “Um, you can cure the poison in me, right?”
“Aren't you leaving?”
*You... I’ll endure this.* “I was being ungrateful just now. Miss... Young Palace Master, please, be a good person and finish what you started. Help me neutralize the poison.”
Chu Ruo stared at her intently, but the woman wouldn't look back. “Why should I save you?”
“Well, saving a life is better than building a seven-storied pagoda, right?”
“Take me as your master.”
“Huh?”
The woman stood up to leave, but Chu Ruo quickly called out, “I’ll do it! I’ll take you as my master!”
Only then did the woman stop and turn back to look at her. The hint was obvious. Chu Ruo reluctantly muttered, “Master.”
“Is that how they acknowledge a master in your hometown?” Just as Chu Ruo was about to say yes, the woman cut her off. “It doesn't matter if it is. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Show some sincerity.”
*Damn it, she’s forcing me to kneel and serve tea.* The others couldn't understand what had gotten into the Young Palace Master. When had she ever been so patient, waiting for someone to kneel and beg for apprenticeship? With so many famous people seeking her tutelage, why waste time on this freak?
After a few seconds of deliberation, Chu Ruo poured a cup of tea and knelt down. “Disciple pays respects to Master.”
The cup was taken from her. The woman looked down at her again. “Rise. Very good... my dear disciple.”
*Pah! You little brat, you’re about the same age as me and you want to be my master? Just wait until I’m cured, see if I give you the time of day then.*
As she thought this, an involuntary smile crept onto her face. The woman caught it with a glance and continued sipping her tea. “Ruo’er, you had best put away those little schemes. The poison in your body cannot be fully purged. You must take a pill every so often to suppress it. Your Master has a poor memory; if I happen to give you the wrong pill one day, you can’t blame anyone else.”
“What did you call me?” *Ruo’er.* No one had ever called her that. The woman’s voice was actually quite nice, but wait—that wasn't the point. The point was what she said. *I was planning to burn the bridge after crossing it, but you’ve got me by the throat. You really are a viper-woman. But right now, I’m the fish on the chopping block. I have to endure.* “How did I get poisoned anyway?” she muttered to herself.
The woman was already walking out with her entourage. Hearing this, she replied over her shoulder as she walked, “I poisoned you.”
??? Chu Ruo rolled up her sleeves and charged toward the door. “You’d better explain yourself! You crazy woman! You viper! Don't you dare leave until you explain!” *Is this woman sick? She saves me just to poison me? Then makes me her disciple? Is she going through early menopause, or did some guy dump her? Is she a psychopath?*
*Swish, swish, swish...* A row of silver needles suddenly thudded into the pillar beside her. Chu Ruo instantly pulled her neck back and retreated into the room, defeated.
Lying on the bed in a daze, she wondered what she had done wrong. Other people transmigrated, she transmigrated, so why was she so unlucky? Thinking back, most people transmigrated after an accident or something. She had been perfectly fine, just sleeping at home. She remembered a powerful suction pulling her in while she slept; she had spun around as if in a black hole before plummeting downward. And that was it? That was the transmigration? This was toxic!
Just then, the loud-mouthed little girl from before came back in. Seeing Chu Ruo, she looked exasperated. “The Young Palace Master told me to look after you. If you need anything, just say it.”
Chu Ruo shook her head, then remembered something. She sat down and gestured for the girl to join her. “Let’s just chat. You don't need to do anything else.”
“Chat about what?”
“What dynasty is this? What kind of place is the Hundred Flowers Palace? And...”
The two of them chatted for most of the afternoon—or rather, Chu Ruo grilled the girl with questions for the entire afternoon. The girl’s name was Xiao Guo’er. From her, Chu Ruo learned that several days had passed since she arrived. This was a fictional era. The Hundred Flowers Palace was a sect in the martial world that only accepted female disciples. The Old Palace Master was in seclusion and rarely interfered in worldly affairs, leaving everything to her daughter, the Young Palace Master. The Young Palace Master was indeed twenty years old, the same age as Chu Ruo. She was said to be devastatingly beautiful (though no one had seen her face, as she rarely showed it, yet she had many admirers). The Hundred Flowers Palace was on good terms with Flying Eagle Fort because the Young Fort Master had feelings for that viper, the Young Palace Master. Chu Ruo wasn't very interested in that part, though.
She suddenly remembered something and asked, “If the Hundred Flowers Palace doesn't welcome outsiders, why did they save me?”
Xiao Guo’er shook her head while drinking tea. “I don't know. The sisters who were there that day said the Young Palace Master and the Fourth Protector were at the front of the group, and then they just brought you back. No one knows why. We were all shocked. Looking at you, you don't look like a woman at all. If you were a man, that face of yours would be passable.”
“The Fourth Protector?”
“Mm-hmm. Sister Yan’er. She’s kind-hearted and beautiful. She grew up with the Young Palace Master and even looks a bit like her. She has a sweet smile, unlike the other Protectors who are all so fierce. We all like her. She’s away for a few days, but she’ll be back soon. You’ll see her then.”
“So, she’s the one who saved me,” Chu Ruo thought. She remembered grabbing a woman’s hand while semi-conscious, and another woman wanting to cut her down with a sword. That must have been the viper-woman. She had tried to choke her to death the moment they met and then poisoned her; she was definitely the type to cut people down. *Yikes, I definitely need to stay away from her. This Fourth Protector is different, though. What kind of celestial lady is she? She sounds amazing. I have to thank her in person next time I see her.*
Xiao Guo’er waved a hand in front of her eyes. “Hey, why are you spacing out? Did you hear what I said?”
“What did you say?”
“Change out of those clothes. They look too weird.”
Since she had transmigrated, she might as well follow the viper-woman’s advice and do as the locals do. She nodded. “Then... do you have any men’s clothing? Women’s clothes don't... don't suit me.”
“You really are a freak. But you’re right, wearing women’s clothes would be a waste of good fabric.”
Chu Ruo almost rolled her eyes at the insult, but Xiao Guo’er’s next words were actually quite comforting. “They were prepared for you long ago. There are no men in the Hundred Flowers Palace, let alone men’s clothes. I don't know what kind of dumb luck you have, but the Young Palace Master personally ordered people to go down the mountain and custom-make several sets of men’s clothing for you. They’re right over there. Try them on later.”
Chu Ruo replied nonchalantly, “Yeah, right. Like she’d be that kind. It must be a miracle, or maybe it was the Fourth Protector’s idea. By the way, that viper—I mean, the Young Palace Master, my 'Master'—what’s her name?”
“Nan Muxue.”
“...”
***
Enjoying the story? Rate this novel:
Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 2 | A Forced Apprenticeship | Novela.app | Novela.app
