Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 209 | The Final Confrontation | Novela.app

The disappearance of Nan Menghua had brought a semblance of peace to the martial world, but a new rumor soon set the pot boiling once more. Inside the Hundred Flowers Palace, Chu Ruo was overwhelmed. She was not only cleaning up the mess Nan Menghua had left behind and managing the affairs of the various branches, but she also had to deal with the latest whispers—rumors claimed that the peerless martial arts manual of the legendary Mr. Moluo, once the greatest master under heaven, was now in the hands of the Young Palace Mistress and the Holy Envoy of the Hundred Flowers Palace. "Where on earth did this news come from?" Chu Ruo grumbled. The manual was indeed in their possession, but now that the word was out, how could the other sects not be tempted? In recent years, the Heavenly Demon Sect had captured masters from every major sect to refine into medicinal thralls, followed by Nan Menghua’s own persecutions. The martial world was currently in a state of ruinous exhaustion. While no one dared to rashly ascend Cloud-Piercing Peak for revenge, this news made them restless. In the martial world, strength was everything, and what the other sects lacked most right now was powerful martial arts. In contrast, Nan Muxue’s reaction was as calm and composed as ever. "I suspect it has everything to do with my mother and the person who rescued her." Chu Ruo smiled. "How are you always so calm? In front of you, it feels like the sky could fall and everything would still be fine. Do you really have no weaknesses?" Nan Muxue simply looked at her. "As long as it isn't you, I don't care about anything else." "Well then, I should probably give you a kiss." Chu Ruo did exactly that, her smile brightening. "If that’s the case, does that make me your weakness?" Nan Muxue did not deny it. "In truth, I told you long ago—you are my only Achilles' heel." Chu Ruo stepped forward and embraced her. "Then I must have quite a few weaknesses myself. I’m always being kidnapped, poisoned, or forced to jump off cliffs. Shen Shiyi even teased me about it, saying I’ve become an expert at jumping off cliffs by now. But I have the ultimate trump card: you. It feels a bit unfair, really. You were perfectly fine until you gained a weakness because of me, while I had nothing and yet was lucky enough to have you." "No," Nan Muxue replied. "For me, I have only one goal in this life: to be with you." "Then nothing should be able to pull us apart again." "Mhm." "Xue'er," Chu Ruo said, still a bit uneasy. "Your mother... really..." Even though Nan Menghua was currently a stray dog, Chu Ruo couldn't feel at ease as long as she hadn't been found. "Don't worry." Nan Muxue understood her concern perfectly. Before Chu Ruo could finish, she reached out to soothe her. "Her martial arts will never be what they once were." "But even if her current strength isn't a threat, she still has helpers. She’s always been so devious; not a single word she says can be trusted. She loves nothing more than torturing others and using lies to make people wish they were dead." "Don't worry, I am here," Nan Muxue said, her eyes full of tenderness. "As long as you are by my side, nothing she does can affect us." However, the news continued to spread. People from other sects were secretly lusting after this legendary manual they had never even seen. Some began to test the waters, harassing both Cloud-Piercing Peak and the various branch sects. With the New Year approaching, there was truly no peace to be found. "Bad news," Duan Ning said, holding the latest intelligence. "All the sects have gathered. They say they are coming to 'visit' the Hundred Flowers Palace." "All of them?" Chu Ruo frowned. "They're coming for the manual, aren't they?" They had thought only she and her Little Scorpion knew about the book, but now that the whole martial world knew, there was no point in hiding it from Duan Ning and the others. "On the surface, they're using the Old Palace Mistress as an excuse to demand an explanation. They also claim they want to discuss electing a new Martial Arts Alliance Leader, since it's no longer a secret that Green Willow Villa defected to the Heavenly Demon Sect." "If all the sects are joining forces, it means we can't refuse them." Yin Liuli nodded. "There's no way around it. The previous Palace Mistress was too ruthless—killing and exterminating whoever she pleased. She was the head of the Hundred Flowers Palace; even if she is missing now, the responsibility falls on the Palace. They have a 'righteous' cause to be here, though anyone with eyes knows their true motive." "How ridiculous," Chu Ruo said, her eyes turning cold. "Whether I give it to them or not, they'll use it as a pretext to cause trouble. They even have the gall to use the election as a front to climb our mountain. Aren't they afraid I'll kill them all?" Chu Ruo hated intrigue, and she hated these so-called "righteous" sects who came swarming like flies to a scent even more. Duan Ning patted her shoulder. "I don't think this is that simple. They're coming here on purpose. We are currently the target of public criticism. they're betting that we won't dare to act recklessly. At the slightest provocation, that crowd will attack in unison." "Even if we endure and retreat, they're clearly here to start trouble. We might as well..." Nan Muxue happened to walk in at that moment. "You must not." "Xue'er," Chu Ruo greeted her. "There's news..." "I already know." Nan Muxue asked, "When is the date set?" Duan Ning handed over the report. "It doesn't say, but likely before the New Year. Besides, we should receive a formal visiting petition soon." Nan Muxue read the note and burned it. "The sects currently lack significant power, but there are so many of them that we cannot kill them all. Slaughter has never solved anything. In time, they would only rise again, and when they eventually came for the Hundred Flowers Palace, we would be left without allies." "You mean... we should see them?" Nan Muxue’s smile was reserved only for Chu Ruo. "With all the sects joined together, do we have another choice? I expected this day would come." "But they're coming to force us to hand over the manual. Not that I would give it to them, but even if I did..." "I said we would see them; I didn't say we would give it to them." "You..." Nan Muxue only smiled without answering. Chu Ruo stopped asking; she knew she only needed to listen to this woman. Her Xue'er would always arrange everything perfectly. Soon, the visiting petition arrived, and the day for the other sects to ascend the mountain followed shortly after. The Hundred Flowers Palace was prepared for the occasion. Every sect arrived in full force. Of course, given the sheer number of sects, not everyone could climb the mountain, so each group selected a few representatives. Even so, it was a massive crowd that marched up Cloud-Piercing Peak. Among these sects was Soaring Eagle Fort. Liu Songhe brought his only son, Liu Shaopeng. No one noticed that among their followers was a man whose face was covered in scars. It was Nan Menghua, who had been hiding for a long time. She blended into the crowd, and in this place where she had grown up, it was easy for her to slip away unnoticed. The first place Nan Menghua went was Nan Muxue’s room. She was intimately familiar with every blade of grass and tree in the Hundred Flowers Palace. She pushed the door open and walked straight toward a certain corner. This room had once been hers, and she naturally knew where the hidden mechanisms were. *Cough...* A cough sounded from behind her. Nan Menghua spun around to see Chu Ruo standing in the doorway. She snarled, "You!" Chu Ruo intentionally cleared her throat. "I've been waiting in this room for so long, and you only just noticed me? After taking one of my palms, has your martial arts really deteriorated that much?" Nan Menghua sneered. "You are quite clever." "I wouldn't go that far. It’s just that when all the major sects suddenly learned about the manual and insisted on coming here, it wasn't hard to guess you were behind it. I just didn't expect Soaring Eagle Fort to be the ones helping you. But that doesn't matter now. Your goal is obvious: only when everyone is at the Palace can you use the chaos to find Moluo’s manual. Moreover, you went to such lengths to provoke the Palace because even if you fail today, you want us to become pariahs. As long as this manual is in our hands, she and I will be the enemies of the entire martial world." Chu Ruo stared her down. "I truly don't understand. I can understand why you hate me, but why treat Xue'er like that? Why plot so relentlessly to kill your own daughter?" Nan Menghua clawed at her own face. "The scars on this face remind me of how that wench betrayed me time and time again!" "You were the one who stopped treating her like a daughter first! From the time she was a child, did you ever treat her well for even a single day? What right do you have to treat her like this? How old was she when you forced her..." Chu Ruo’s voice trembled with rage. "Forced her to kill her own father! Are you even human?!" A bizarre smile flashed across Nan Menghua’s face before she burst into laughter. "She is nothing but my shame." "It was your own heart that was twisted back then. A person like you doesn't deserve love." Driven by anger, Chu Ruo began to provoke her. "And you will never have Bai Xue." Nan Menghua’s expression shifted instantly, her hideous face becoming even more distorted. "Where is that wench? She’s busy dealing with the major sects. Why don't you think about why I would dare come here alone if I wasn't certain of success?" "You don't need to try and lure me away. I have faith in Xue'er. You don't actually think all those sects are united, do you?" Chu Ruo remained unmoved. "With the help of Casting Sword Villa and the Sea Dragon Gang, not to mention Zhi'er and the others, even if Liu Songhe is there, I believe Xue'er can handle it." Nan Menghua shook her head. "I wasn't talking about her." Her gaze suddenly became piercing. "I was talking about you." Chu Ruo felt a sudden surge of dread. It shouldn't be possible. Liu Songhe was currently with the other sects, and in Nan Menghua’s current state, Chu Ruo was more than capable of taking her down. Yet her confidence didn't seem faked. "You..." *Creak—* The door opened again. Before Chu Ruo could turn around, a hand clamped around her throat. A low, raspy voice spoke: "Hand over the manual." Tu Ao'zhi!!! She was in disbelief. "Why would you..." Nan Menghua was triumphant. "Didn't I say I had a trump card?" "Tu Jie?" Nan Menghua grew even more delighted. She looked at Tu Ao'zhi and said, "He found his precious son, only to find he’s been turned into a medicinal thrall. Not only did father and son fight each other, but the boy can no longer feel pain or smile. As long as I trigger the command, he will obey me. What use is finding him if he’s like that? How truly satisfying! Hahaha..." Tu Ao'zhi’s voice was filled with reluctant desperation. "I have tried every method, but I still cannot cure Jie'er. Even Zhi'er is powerless. Only she can save him." "Does Zhi'er know you're doing this?" "No, I don't want to involve her." Tu Ao'zhi sighed. "This time, this old man owes you an apology. The manual... was originally something I put out there anyway." "You... Xue'er was right. The treasure was a fake! You spent all those years setting it up just to get revenge on those people and their sects from back then. You couldn't decipher the manual, so you released it!" "Yes. It was because of that thing that my entire clan was wiped out. I found the treasure by chance, but after so many years, the mechanisms inside had rotted away; even the token to open the secret vault wasn't needed anymore. I learned many techniques from the treasure, but that manual was the only one I couldn't master. Later, I thought that since there was nothing on it, I might as well release it. I wanted those people to get it, and then watch them die in that pile of treasure while clutching it. However, circumstances changed. I refined so many medicinal thralls, and the remaining sects have mostly submitted to Third Sister. Since you wanted to lure her into a trap, she was bound to bring those people along. The result is the same." "Heh," Chu Ruo scoffed. "One who can plot to kill her own daughter, and another who is being manipulated for the sake of his son. To think the two of you have become allies—how ironic." Tu Ao'zhi remained unmoved, his grip tightening. "Where is the manual?" "Let go of Ruo'er." "What are you doing here?" Chu Ruo’s voice became anxious. "I said I could handle it, you should be over there..." Nan Muxue held the Ice Soul sword, her expression unchanging. But Chu Ruo knew her; whenever Chu Ruo was in trouble, Nan Muxue’s heart was already in a frantic mess, even if she never let it show. "It’s fine. Everything over there has been settled." "Perfect timing," Nan Menghua clapped. "If you don't want your beloved to get hurt, hand over the manual." "Mother." "Shut up! That day, you were the one who said our bond as mother and daughter was severed. You wench, you are utter scum! I raised you, gave you power, status, and martial arts, only for you to turn against me in the end! You harmed me again and again, you shame! I hate you! You shouldn't even be alive! Now, give me the manual. I have nothing left anyway; at worst, we’ll all die together. You know that a person with nothing left is the most terrifying when they go mad." Nan Muxue looked at her. "Are you sure?" "Enough talk! Give me the manual!" Chu Ruo called out, "Xue'er!" Nan Muxue put away the Ice Soul sword. Calmly, she brought her other hand—which had been behind her back—forward and tossed an object over. Nan Menghua flew forward to catch it. It was a box. She landed in front of Chu Ruo and Tu Ao'zhi and commanded imperiously, "Open it." Chu Ruo was reluctant, but the item was already in their hands and she was still being held. Resistance was futile. She reached out and opened the wooden box. There were no traps; inside was indeed that wordless manual. Nan Menghua could hardly hide her excitement. She snatched the book, threw the box to the ground, and began flipping through it frantically. Naturally, there wasn't a single word on the pages, but she didn't seem surprised—she must have learned from Tu Ao'zhi that the manual was like this. Nan Muxue spoke up, "You have the item. Let her go." "Is that so?" Nan Menghua tucked the book into her robes. "Who said I was going to let her go?" She burst into another fit of wild laughter. "The two of you ruined me like this, and you think you can live happily ever after? Dream on! Kill her!" Tu Ao'zhi looked over. "Third Sister." "What, do you not want to save your precious son anymore?" Nan Muxue couldn't wait any longer. She raised Ice Soul and lunged. Nan Menghua immediately dodged to the side. With Tu Ao'zhi’s cultivation, even if the two of them fought him together, they shouldn't have been his match. Unexpectedly, her joy was premature. Before Chu Ruo could even make a move, Tu Ao'zhi launched a killing strike. Ice Soul parried the attack, and in the next second, Nan Muxue met his palm with her own. Tu Ao'zhi struck back, but his expression changed instantly. "You..." Nan Menghua’s face also paled. How could she not recognize it? "Passion Flower's Intoxication! You!" Though Chu Ruo hadn't practiced it, she could tell something was wrong. Little Scorpion had told her she had only practiced twenty percent of the first level. But looking at her now, how could that be just twenty percent? *I fell for your lies!* If it were only twenty percent, how could Tu Ao'zhi be unable to resist? He looked weaker by the second, his face turning as pale as Nan Menghua’s had been the day she absorbed Nan Muxue’s internal energy. If anything, it looked even worse for him. This woman must have reached the final stages of the technique. Chu Ruo’s face darkened immediately. "Didn't you promise me you wouldn't practice it? You dared to practice Passion Flower's Intoxication behind my back?" *This damn Little Scorpion! We agreed not to practice it because it would make her lose all emotion. What, does she want to break up?* But wait, she hadn't seemed emotionless lately. What was going on? *A woman's words are as deceptive as a ghost's!* She had solemnly promised not to practice it, yet she had even asked what would happen if she lied. She had been digging a hole for Chu Ruo even then! Nan Muxue withdrew her hand. Tu Ao'zhi collapsed in agony. It had been incredibly fast. Even when Nan Menghua had absorbed Nan Muxue’s energy, it had taken some time. Tu Ao'zhi was someone who had once been on par with Nan Menghua, yet Nan Muxue had absorbed his decades of cultivation in just a few moments. No wonder she had been able to rush over so quickly; it seemed the other sects hadn't fared well either. The Liu father and son must have suffered. Terrifying. Nan Muxue immediately stepped forward and grabbed Chu Ruo’s sleeve. "Ruo'er, let me explain..." Chu Ruo considered saying "I won't listen, I won't listen," but that felt too melodramatic. Still, she couldn't swallow her anger. "What is there to say? You said we wouldn't keep secrets, but you've been playing the double standard card for a while now. Practicing Passion Flower's Intoxication behind my back... you really are something. Why didn't you just kick me out while you were at it?" "I only..." Chu Ruo turned away. "I don't want to hear it." She looked around. "Where is Nan Menghua?" "She won't get far. Come, let's find her." Looking down at her hand being held, Chu Ruo felt a flutter of emotion but kept her face stern. "Why are you holding me now? Since you practiced that technique, shouldn't you hurry up and stay away from me?" As they walked, Nan Muxue replied gently, "Didn't I tell you? I discovered that when practicing this technique, suppression is useless. Instead, thinking of you made my progress incredibly swift." Her grip on Chu Ruo’s hand tightened. "What level have you reached?" Looking at her, Chu Ruo could tell she hadn't suppressed her feelings, even though the technique was supposed to sever them. "I have broken through the tenth level..." "You," Chu Ruo’s jaw dropped. "In such a short time, you broke through... You really are a martial arts genius." "In terms of martial arts, I am indeed more gifted than most. If it were you, I believe your achievements would not be lower than mine. If you wish to learn, I will teach you." "Aren't you afraid that if I practice it, I'll become like the others and leave you?" "You won't. Since I did not become so, my Ruo'er won't either." Chu Ruo pursed her lips. "This martial art is too terrifying. You drained someone's internal energy in the blink of an eye. Is Tu Ao'zhi crippled now? Wait, if there are Mandrake fruits and Ten-Thousand-Year Spring water, is there still hope?" Nan Muxue shook her head. "I did not destroy his dantian. He still has thirty percent of his internal energy left. He can still practice martial arts in the future, though he won't reach his current level of cultivation anytime soon. When my mother practiced it, she was too eager for success, which led to her qi deviation, making her strikes more overbearing and sinister." "I feel like you were being merciful. After all, he did help us before, right?" Little Scorpion had held back, only taking most of it. It was probably because of Chu Ruo; otherwise, given her old personality, she would have definitely crippled Tu Ao'zhi today. "If he hadn't truly intended to kill you just now, I wouldn't have done this. I said I would never let anyone have the chance to harm you. He was willing to attack you for the sake of his children today; people are selfish. I left him thirty percent of his power so that he and his Heavenly Demon Sect can still protect themselves in this martial world." "I feel like my Little Scorpion is becoming more and more kind-hearted." As they spoke, they arrived at a familiar place—the Silent Lake. Chu Ruo looked at Nan Menghua, who was staring back at them. "Since you didn't die when you jumped down back then, it seems..." "Surrender," Nan Muxue interrupted her. "You have no other choice." "Is that so? If none of you will die, then I..." Nan Muxue put her hands behind her back and said coldly, "You have already been infected with the Hundred Flowers Gu." "Impossible, don't try to deceive me..." "The Hundred Flowers Gu can enter the body silently. You know this better than I do." Nan Menghua tapped several of her acupoints, and her face changed instantly. "When did you..." She suddenly realized something and pulled out the manual. "It was this manual! You put the parasite in the manual!" Seeing that Nan Muxue didn't deny it, she grew furious. "You wench!" "If you curse Xue'er one more time, don't even think about getting the antidote!" Nan Menghua began to laugh maniacally. "How could I forget? You are also infected with the Hundred Flowers Gu. Fine, since I can't leave today, don't you dare think you can have a long life with your beloved!" Chu Ruo felt something was wrong. "What are you going to do!" As soon as she spoke, Nan Menghua pulled out a fire starter. "Do you know what else is special about the Under-leaf Violet, besides being the key to the antidote? Fire. It burns very, very easily." She let go. Chu Ruo screamed "No!", but even though she threw a hidden weapon, she was a step too late. The fire starter landed on an Under-leaf Violet, and a fierce flame erupted. In the blink of an eye, the entire patch was ablaze. "Water, quickly..." "Hahaha... Die! Let's all die together!" Nan Muxue held back the frantic Chu Ruo. But seeing the burning Under-leaf Violets, how could Chu Ruo not be agitated? "Xue'er, the antidote... without the Under-leaf Violet, the antidote..." There weren't many doses of the Hundred Flowers Gu antidote; they were usually made as needed. She didn't want to be separated from her beloved so soon. Nan Muxue simply refused to let go. She looked at Nan Menghua, closed her eyes for a few seconds, and then spoke slowly. "You chose this yourself; you have no one else to blame. Ruo'er no longer has the Hundred Flowers Gu in her body." As soon as she said this, the other two people present widened their eyes. Chu Ruo was even more incredulous. "The Hundred Flowers Gu in my body... how is it gone?" "Back at the branch sect, when you fell off the cliff and were saved by Bai Zhi'er, she used toxins to suppress the Hundred Flowers Gu. Later, Bai Shan gave you the Dream of Fulfillment. But the moment you woke up, I discovered that the Hundred Flowers Gu in your body had vanished." "You mean... those three things acted against each other in my body and neutralized both the parasite and the poisons?" "Mhm." "You kept this from me for so long! Wait, Zhi'er often checked my pulse after that, so she..." "She knew as well. For your sake, neither of us said anything. Because I knew that as long as people thought you still had the Hundred Flowers Gu, they would see it as your most easily controlled weakness." So from that moment on, Little Scorpion had planned everything for her. Chu Ruo marveled once again at this woman's intellect. "You all... treat me so well." Nan Muxue caught the nuance. "We?" *Cough...* "You, you treat me the best." "I'll settle the score with you when we get back." Nan Muxue simply looked at the stunned and frantic Nan Menghua. "You..." "Fine, fine, fine! Today, everyone dies together!" She had lost her mind. Knowing she was no match for them, she still charged like a madwoman. The two of them dodged her easily. She swung back, a blackened, poisoned dagger in her hand, aimed straight for Nan Muxue. Chu Ruo kicked it away, her anger reaching its peak. She raised a palm to strike, but—*Bang!* Something burst in the air, followed by a cloud of blue mist. She immediately held her breath, found Nan Muxue, and hurried away. Fortunately, though it was poisonous, they were unharmed. When they returned to the central square of the Hundred Flowers Palace, Bai Zhi'er was supporting a weakened Tu Ao'zhi. Fenghuang, Lin Jianghong, Shen Ruoxuan, and their group were there, along with the four Great Protectors. Even Nan Yunshuang, whom they hadn't seen in a long time, had appeared. They had Nan Menghua surrounded. Nan Yunshuang raised her Blood Sword. "You..." "I raised you for so many years!" Nan Menghua looked at everyone, realizing she was at the end of her rope. "Tu Ao'zhi, don't you want to save your son!" "Third Sister, stop. Can't you see? Your power is gone; there's no turning back. I beg you, save Jie'er..." "In your dreams! If I can't get out, your son will be buried with me!" Bai Shan was even more furious. "Nan Menghua, I'm going to kill you!" A palm strike landed, and blood sprayed. Nan Menghua was no longer a match for anyone. As a second strike was about to fall, she struggled backward, shouting at Tu Ao'zhi, "Tu Ao'zhi! Nan Muxue is your daughter!" Everyone was shocked. Chu Ruo immediately pulled Nan Muxue close. "Don't believe her, she doesn't have a single truthful word in her mouth." Nan Menghua slumped on the ground, blood at the corners of her mouth, looking utterly pathetic. "It’s true. When you came to find me back then, I didn't want to tell you the truth. I hated you, I hated Bai Ji. I lied about the timing of my pregnancy. Later, I eliminated every single disciple who was in the Hundred Flowers Palace at the time, just so you would never learn the truth. She really is your daughter." Bai Shan still wanted to attack, but Tu Ao'zhi stopped her. Though she was displeased, he was her foster father, so she stayed her hand. Tu Ao'zhi knelt down. "Tell me clearly, whose is she..." Nan Menghua suddenly grabbed him, pressing a dagger to his throat. "Let me go!" Given the situation, if Nan Muxue was his daughter, he certainly wouldn't kill her. Aside from Nan Yunshuang, the others didn't have such a deep grudge. As long as she held Tu Ao'zhi, the Bai sisters wouldn't dare act recklessly. Moreover, after what she just said, Tu Ao'zhi would definitely protect her first. Chu Ruo was both angry and anxious; this old witch was truly calculating. As Nan Menghua dragged Tu Ao'zhi out of the circle, Bai Shan’s heart hardened. She threw several Thunder-Fire Parasites at them. Seeing this, Nan Menghua retreated repeatedly, and in the chaos, Tu Ao'zhi managed to break free. Once again, she was left with only a dagger. Nan Menghua suddenly tore open her outer robes. Chu Ruo almost lost it. No wonder she had brought a fire starter; she was covered in explosives similar to the ones Bai Shan had just thrown. Their power was enough to kill everyone present. Why did it always seem like she was cornered, only for her to come up with some new trick? Every single time, she tried to take everyone down with her. Despicable! "None of you want me to live, do you? Then let's all die together!" "Menghua, stop." It wasn't anyone present who spoke. Tu Ao'zhi and Nan Menghua’s expressions changed. There was movement from behind, and Chu Ruo turned with the others to see a woman. She used light-body techniques to land right in front of Nan Menghua. At first glance, Chu Ruo recognized her because she looked so much like the portrait. "Are you... Bai Xue?" She didn't seem to have changed much; she didn't even look old. Every movement was breathtakingly beautiful. No wonder Tu Ao'zhi and Nan Menghua had both been obsessed with her. "Aunt?" Bai Xue first gave Chu Ruo a slight smile, then looked at Fenghuang. "Are you Fenghuang? You've grown so much." It really was Bai Xue. No wonder she could climb Cloud-Piercing Peak; Nan Menghua must have told her the way long ago. "Are you really my aunt? Where have you been all these years? Why didn't you show yourself?" Nan Menghua stared at the woman in front of her, murmuring, "Xue... Xue'er..." Subconsciously, she tried to hide her face, shrinking back and trying to avoid the other woman's gaze. She seemed to want to raise her hand to block her face, or perhaps use her long silver hair. In this moment, Nan Menghua seemed completely lost. "Menghua," Bai Xue sighed. "Why bother? Let it go." "It’s none of your business! Everyone wants me dead, so I'll take everyone with me!" Tu Ao'zhi stared blankly at Bai Xue. "All these years, you..." "I have been watching you all in secret. I am very ashamed. Everything back then started because of me. I have been living under a pseudonym in a small village." "You watched Nan Menghua commit all those evils and didn't stop her? If you were truly guilty, you should have stopped them. Otherwise, Bai Ji wouldn't have died, and Xue'er wouldn't have..." Nan Muxue squeezed Chu Ruo’s hand. "Ruo'er, I'm fine." However, Nan Menghua took this opportunity to light the fuse. "Hahaha..." Bai Xue pinched the fuse with her fingers, letting the flame burn her palm. Nan Menghua looked at her, filled with irritation and anxiety. "You!" "After all these years and so many mistakes, isn't it enough? She is your daughter; do you really want her to die?" "She is my shame!" Chu Ruo shouted back, "It was your own obsession! Having a mother like you is the real shame and misfortune for Xue'er!" "Enough, Menghua," Bai Xue said. "I chose to come today because I wanted to tell you not to keep making mistakes. Everyone was at fault for what happened back then." "What was my fault! I only wanted to have you!" Bai Xue shook her head. "Do you know why I left? Because back then, the person I truly loved..." She gave a bitter smile. "Was you." ...Chu Ruo didn't know what the others were thinking, but she was currently speechless, shocked, and finding the whole thing utterly absurd. Why did everyone seem to love Nan Menghua? She didn't understand. "You," Nan Menghua’s lips trembled. "I... impossible. I don't believe you. You're lying to me!" "At this point, why would I lie to you? Back then, you all thought I liked Brother Tu. No, I never did. You thought I was angry at you for talking to him on purpose, but the person I was always watching... was you, Menghua..." *Pfft...* Blood sprayed from Nan Menghua’s mouth from the sheer shock. Bai Xue went to support her, but was pushed away. "Liked me... Hahaha... Liked... Bai Xue, Xue'er, liar... Liked... Liar..." Nan Menghua repeatedly muttered those words as she began to run aimlessly. Chu Ruo watched as she laughed one moment and cried the next, bowing to the heavens and the earth. "She..." Nan Muxue remained calm throughout. "She’s gone mad." Indeed, what could be more cruel or humiliating than this? After all those years of plotting and even sacrificing her own virtue to get the person she wanted, she had to hear with her own ears that the person had loved her all along. Everything she had done was redundant, ridiculous, pathetic, and ironic. It seemed a twisted heart truly brought its own retribution. Bai Xue had loved her back then; for Nan Menghua, this shock was unbearable. Chu Ruo took Nan Muxue’s hand. "Xue'er, about your parentage... what she said just now..." "It doesn't matter," Nan Muxue said with a smile. "I don't care who my father is. I only care about my Ruo'er." "Then your mother..." The Under-leaf Violets were gone, along with all the precious plants by the Silent Lake. Nan Menghua’s fire had destroyed the foundation of the Hundred Flowers Palace. But Chu Ruo’s parasite had been cured, and the Bai sisters hated Nan Menghua to the bone; they certainly wouldn't save her. "It was her own choice." Chu Ruo looked at Bai Xue, who was now by Nan Menghua’s side, and sighed. "She really came just to drive her crazy, didn't she? Hiding for so many years, only to come out and drive someone insane. But I suppose we should thank her, otherwise..." "Perhaps she simply couldn't face it." "True." Thinking about the person you love using such schemes to get you—first with Bai Ji, then with Tu Ao'zhi... Bai Xue likely felt guilty. Tu Ao'zhi loved her too, so it really did start because of her, but it was Nan Menghua who brought it on herself. Love was truly a strange thing. "What about the other sects? And the Great Eagle and his father?" "They've been dealt with. As for that father and son, I have already crippled Liu Songhe’s martial arts. I will send Liuli and the others to take over Soaring Eagle Fort." "Xue'er." "Mhm." "From now on, can we really be together forever?" She kissed her. "Mhm." *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation ---|---|--- 莫罗先生 | Mr. Moluo | A legendary martial arts master mentioned as the original owner of the manual. 入云峰 | Cloud-Piercing Peak | The mountain where the Hundred Flowers Palace is located. 情花醉 | Passion Flower's Intoxication | A powerful and dangerous martial arts technique; also translated as "Lovesickness Drunk." 冰魄 | Ice Soul | Nan Muxue's signature sword. 百花蛊 | Hundred Flowers Gu | A signature poison/parasite of the Hundred Flowers Palace. 叶下堇 | Under-leaf Violet | A rare herb required for the Hundred Flowers Gu antidote. 梦如意 | Dream of Fulfillment | A specific type of poison mentioned in the text. 飞鹏堡 | Soaring Eagle Fort | A martial arts sect led by Liu Songhe. 柳松鹤 | Liu Songhe | Leader of Soaring Eagle Fort. 柳少鹏 | Liu Shaopeng | Son of Liu Songhe. 白雪 | Bai Xue | The legendary beauty and aunt of the Bai sisters; the object of Nan Menghua and Tu Ao'zhi's obsession. 雷火蛊 / 雷火弹 | Thunder-Fire Parasite / Thunder-Fire Bomb | Explosive devices used by Bai Shan and Nan Menghua.