The morning sunlight was exceptionally bright. Just as Nan Muxue was about to wake the person beside her, she found the girl rubbing her eyes and waking up on her own. Her voice was soft and sweet. "Xue’er... time to get up..."
Nan Muxue felt as though the entire day had been brightened by that single moment. She leaned in with a smile. "You’re quite conscious of the time today. You didn't even need me to call you?"
"Today is the final match," Chu Ruo said, stretching. Instead of getting out of bed, she flopped onto Nan Muxue, speaking languidly. "Xue’er, I had a dream."
Nan Muxue gently stroked her hair, asking patiently, "What did you dream about?"
Chu Ruo didn't open her eyes. She wore a blissful smile, as if savoring the beauty of the dream. "I dreamed that we were old and gray. You were leaning on a cane, wearing a red robe, looking out from the summit of Cloud-Piercing Peak." She suddenly looked up at her beloved, her lips curling into a wide grin. "It turns out, you were waiting for me."
Chu Ruo saw only her own reflection in Nan Muxue’s eyes. She leaned in for a soft kiss. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could be like that when we’re old?"
Nan Muxue allowed the kiss. "Are we not like that now?"
Chu Ruo shook her head. "I mean, I want to walk through this life with you slowly and happily. When we are both old, you will be by my side, and I will be by yours. Five years, ten years, a hundred years—never changing."
"I will always be by my Ruo’er’s side. Forever."
***
At the martial arts arena, Chu Ruo was locked in a chaotic fray with several others. Duan Ning teased, "Don't you usually treasure her? You’re letting her go up there today—aren't you afraid she’ll get hurt?"
"The person I trained is not so easily injured."
"I don't know about that," Duan Ning countered. "Ever since she came to Baihua Palace, the days she *hasn't* been injured can be counted on one hand. She’s fallen off cliffs twice and gone blind twice. You call that—"
Nan Muxue didn't seem annoyed. Her gaze remained fixed on the figure on the stage. "Ruo’er is now capable of standing on her own. A little experience is no bad thing. If she couldn't even handle these few people, she wouldn't be my Ruo’er."
"If you say so," Duan Ning’s smile didn't fade. "I just fear that if she loses a single strand of hair on that stage, someone will be up there with Ice Soul in hand in an instant."
Nan Gongyan added, "These sects are currently in shambles and under our thumb, so they won't dare say much. But are you not worried about the future...?"
"Baihua Palace has never feared anyone."
"True."
Duan Ning continued her banter. "Today is the final match. Logically, as the head of Baihua Palace, you should be the one up there. It’s a perfect chance to show off in front of everyone, yet you pushed it onto Chu Ruo. Tsk, tsk. As the saying goes..."
As they spoke, the match on the stage reached its conclusion. When the announcer declared Baihua Palace’s Chu Ruo as the victor, a wave of cheers and congratulations erupted. The crowd grew lively, and the four Great Protectors began to respond with polite formalities. Only Nan Muxue stood with her hands behind her back, her eyes never leaving the person in front of her.
Chu Ruo sheathed Ice Bane behind her back. Today’s match hadn't been difficult, and she was genuinely happy. Although the Martial Arts Assembly had been organized by her "little viper," she had won the matches through her own strength. She knew what Nan Muxue wanted: she wanted to win the position of Alliance Leader legitimately and honorably. While the other sects were weakened, the martial world was a place where the weak were prey to the strong. If they couldn't win the matches fairly, the position of Alliance Leader would never be secure. Today, she had finally won this victory for Baihua Palace and for her Xue’er.
She ran toward Nan Muxue, weaving through the crowd, and finally stopped before her. "Master!"
Nan Muxue raised her hand, her eyes full of doting affection as she unhesitatingly smoothed a stray lock of Chu Ruo’s hair. Then, she spoke two words that no one expected.
"Kneel."
*What? Kneel?* Chu Ruo was baffled. Had she offended the little viper again? No, she hadn't looked at any pretty girls or said anything wrong. Moreover, Nan Muxue’s tone was soft, not angry, yet it was loud enough for everyone to hear. Seeing the eyes of the crowd turning toward them, Chu Ruo didn't understand, but she obeyed nonetheless. "Yes."
Chu Ruo knelt respectfully before her master. Nan Muxue stepped forward until there was almost no distance between them, her skirt brushing against Chu Ruo’s face. Chu Ruo didn't know what she intended to do, but she knew the entire martial world was watching. Whatever her Xue’er wanted to do, she would support her. She would listen.
"I, Nan Muxue, hereby sever the bond with my disciple."
The words caused an immediate uproar. The crowd erupted in hushed whispers. Even Chu Ruo was stunned. "Xue... Master, I—"
Nan Muxue simply looked around, her voice commanding silence. "From this moment forth, Chu Ruo, you are no longer my disciple."
Duan Ning spoke up, "Even if the Saint Envoy made a mistake, it only..."
"My mind is made up." Nan Muxue raised an object in her hand. "This is the Apprenticeship Scroll you signed that day. Today, before all these heroes and legends, I shall personally burn it."
With that, the scroll and several other documents from Chu Ruo’s entry into the palace were tossed into a brazier. Within moments, they were reduced to ash.
The onlookers were lost as to what Nan Muxue was planning. She had just had Chu Ruo win the position of Alliance Leader—what did this mean? Was she severing the bond to distance Chu Ruo from Baihua Palace so she could truly serve as the Alliance Leader? Rumors about the master and disciple had been circulating for a long time; was Nan Muxue really going to hand over the position of Alliance Leader just for the sake of a lover?
Chu Ruo was equally dazed. She had no idea what she had done to make the little viper sever their relationship here and now. Was she angry about something from long ago? Had she been holding it in until now? *Wait, could it be that time Zhi’er kissed me... Oh no!* That was it. The little viper was so petty. But in this situation, how could she even speak? She looked up, about to say something, but Nan Muxue spoke first.
"Rise."
*Wait, shouldn't she make me keep kneeling according to her usual style?* Confused, Chu Ruo stood up obediently.
Nan Muxue continued, "The martial world has long been filled with rumors regarding Ruo’er and me."
*Hiss...* Chu Ruo wondered if she was trying to clarify things. But there was no need to expel her for that! How was she supposed to return to Baihua Palace now? It seemed she was destined to be a secret "kept man" forever.
However, Nan Muxue’s next words left everyone dumbfounded.
"Since you all say I am in love with my own disciple," she said, her voice infused with internal energy so that everyone nearby could hear clearly, "I shall not let that reputation go to waste. I *do* love her. I, Nan Muxue, love Chu Ruo."
*Boom!*
Chu Ruo felt her brain go numb. She had never imagined such a scene. She knew how important reputation was in this era, which was why she was content to call her "Master" in public and didn't even dare let too many people know about their marriage. She never imagined that her Xue’er would admit her love before the entire world for her sake. It turned out that severing the apprenticeship was only for this moment.
This declaration was enough to make everyone’s eyes bulge, but in the next second, Nan Muxue took her lover’s hand, their fingers interlacing. Her eyes were filled with deep affection. "I am going to marry her. I want everyone to bear witness. I am going to marry Ruo’er."
"Xue’er, you..." From shock to bewilderment, and finally to joy. Ignoring the whispers, the disdain, and the glares of the crowd—as well as the few looks of envy, such as from the Young Mistress of the Moon Shadow Sect and Xiong Feng of the Sea Dragon Gang—Chu Ruo took it all in. She simply pulled her beloved into her arms, shielding her from the world’s gaze. "Alright. We shall marry."
Baihua Palace held the position of Alliance Leader, but the event that left the deepest impression that year was Nan Muxue severing her bond with her disciple only to publicly admit her love for her. This scandal occupied the top spot in martial world gossip for a very long time. *Tsk, as expected of the eccentric Baihua Palace.*
But who dared to question them? At most, people would spit on the ground behind their backs to express their disapproval. However, it had nothing to do with them. No matter how much they disapproved, Baihua Palace remained powerful. And those two were getting married immediately—they even invited all the sects to observe the ceremony. It was preposterous! Yet, they still had to go. Yes, and they had to prepare generous gifts. Offending those two would lead to no good end.
***
That night, the moonlight was as beautiful as a full moon. Chu Ruo held her beloved in the same familiar embrace, never wanting to let go.
"Xue’er."
"Mm."
"Why were you so foolish?"
Nan Muxue didn't answer, simply leaning quietly in her arms. She looked at the moon. "I am truly grateful to the heavens for letting me meet you while you are in the prime of your youth." Nan Muxue didn't have to carry this infamy, but Chu Ruo understood—she simply didn't want Chu Ruo to feel wronged. But why go to such lengths?
"Are you after something, being so sweet-tongued?"
"I don't want anything. Except for you, I don't care about anything else. I only want to be with you."
"I know." Nan Muxue blinked. "I wanted to tell the world so that no one else would dare set their sights on you."
"You didn't have to today..." Chu Ruo knew the other sects already looked down on Baihua Palace. After today’s display, they would be even more scornful. And all of it was because of her.
Nan Muxue touched Chu Ruo’s eyes. "Before, it was because of my mother. Now, nothing can stand in our way. You were willing to give up everything for me; what is wrong with me admitting I love you? I have never regretted today’s decision. This is what I planned from the very beginning. One day, I would take my Ruo’er’s hand and tell the world: this is my disciple, and also my lover."
"So, that day when we saw the Young Mistress of the Moon Shadow Sect, you wanted to say it then but held back. You had already decided to let the whole world know at this specific moment. You didn't want anyone to know about us beforehand. However..."
"However what?"
"Wait, what you just said isn't right. 'Lover' is true, but as for 'disciple'..." Chu Ruo blinked. "You just severed our bond today."
"When I made you kneel today, you looked like you had something to say?"
*Cough...* "No, no."
"You looked like you had a guilty conscience. You always look like that when you’ve done something to wrong me."
"Always? When have I ever wronged you? You really are..."
Nan Muxue’s gaze turned sharp. "Speak. What are you hiding from me?"
*Mwah~*
"I love you. In this life, there is no one else."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
入云峰 | Cloud-Piercing Peak | A location within or near Baihua Palace.
冰煞 | Ice Bane | Chu Ruo's sword (contrasts with Nan Muxue's Ice Soul).
拜师帖 | Apprenticeship Scroll | The formal document establishing a master-disciple relationship.
武林大会 | Martial Arts Assembly | The grand gathering of the martial world.
海蛟帮 | Sea Dragon Gang | One of the martial arts sects mentioned.
熊峰 | Xiong Feng | A member/leader of the Sea Dragon Gang.
废徒 | Severing the bond | The act of formally ending a master-disciple relationship.
