"A-choo! A-choo!"
Nangong Yan looked at Chu Ruo, who was lying on the bed looking half-dead, and shook her head. "You're a grown adult. How could you let a child lead you by the nose like that?"
Chu Ruo felt weak all over, her voice rasping and hoarse. "I was trying to..."
"Save it. You've said it several times already—you wanted to make her follow you with sincere conviction. The problem is, looking at you now, you can barely even follow a straight line, let alone win someone over."
"I was just... afraid that if Duan Ning saw me, she’d spend the whole time mocking me. I didn't expect you to take her place as the resident sharp-tongue."
Nangong Yan gave a mischievous smile. "I'm just stating facts. You really went overboard. She’s just a disciple, and Xue’er already made her bow to you. Yet you insisted on diving into that lake to scavenge for some jade pendant. It rained so hard last night, and now you’ve made yourself sick without even finding the thing. How are you going to save face now?"
"I didn't exactly..."
As they spoke, the woman who stayed by her side day and night walked straight from the doorway to the bedside. With a light flick of her sleeves, her snow-white skirts billowed gracefully across the floor. "Xue'er~"
At that pitiful, whining tone, the woman pulled Chu Ruo into her arms, her eyes shimmering with a tenderness as soft as water. "I'm back."
"Mmh... You knew I wasn't feeling well, yet you still went out. Are other things more important than me?" Chu Ruo knew the truth, of course. Although they had come down the mountain to relax, the Hundred Flowers Palace was not what it used to be. Since taking on the role of Alliance Leader, Nan Muxue’s responsibilities had multiplied. It was rare to be away from the peaks, so there were naturally many administrative matters to handle. These were tasks Chu Ruo should have shared, but now that she was bedridden, the burden fell solely on her wife. Thinking of this, she felt like quite a handful.
Nangong Yan threw up her hands. "Do you two have to be like this? Also, she was full of energy just a moment ago, and now..."
"I—I was not! Listen to my voice, Xue'er~"
"Enough," Nan Muxue said softly. "I'm right here. I won't go out again."
"Fine, fine. I'm clearly the third wheel here. I'll see myself out so you two can keep being lovey-dovey."
Nangong Yan closed the door behind her. Seeing this, Chu Ruo moved to kiss her wife, but was stopped. "I didn't want to scold you while Yan'er was here, but must you cause trouble elsewhere only to come back and demand my pity?"
"But you're my wife..."
Nan Muxue huffed and reached out to pinch Chu Ruo's chin. She couldn't bring herself to use any real force, merely giving it a gentle, soft wiggle. "Going behind my back to dredge a lake all night in such a downpour... you are a fool."
"If I weren't a fool, how could I have married you?"
As they spoke, Ayue knocked on the door, brought in a bowl of medicine, and promptly retreated. Without a word, Nan Muxue drank the medicine herself, then leaned down to transfer it all into Chu Ruo's mouth...
"You... you..."
"What?"
"You," Chu Ruo was genuinely surprised. This Little Scorpion was simply unpredictable. "How are you so proactive this time? I didn't even have to ask."
Nan Muxue traced Chu Ruo's lips with her finger. "You don't like it?"
"How could I not? I love it more than..."
She tried to continue the kiss, but was held back. Nan Muxue smiled faintly. "Do you really want to take her as a disciple that badly? To the point of making such a mess of yourself and even injuring your hand?"
Chu Ruo coughed. "I'm not injured. It's just a small cold."
"Have you forgotten my Heart-linking Gu?"
*I... how did I forget about that?* Chu Ruo forced a smile through her hoarse throat. "It's a minor scratch. I got cut by a rock while I was feeling around the lake yesterday. I didn't say anything because I didn't want you to worry. Don't be angry."
"How many times have I told you? I hate it most when you lie to me."
"Xue'er, I... I won't do it again."
Nan Muxue continued to hold her. "What am I supposed to do with you?" She raised her own hand, showing a bloodstain on her palm—not deep, but clear enough. "Ruo'er, the Heart-linking Gu allows me to feel what you feel."
Chu Ruo finally leaned in for a proper kiss. "Xue'er~"
"You still haven't answered me," the other woman said, her face flushed and her breath unsteady. "Do you really want to take her in that much?"
Chu Ruo smiled. "Well, it's like how I've only ever chosen you."
Nan Muxue frowned. "I don't like that analogy."
"Of course. You are the only one."
***
Once Chu Ruo had fallen asleep from the medicine, Nan Muxue summoned the others.
Nan'er followed the four protectors into the room. Nan Muxue sat on the edge of the bed, still cradling her beloved. "Kneel."
Nan'er walked over and knelt before the two of them. "Do you know why you were called?"
"I know."
"Do you admit your fault?"
"I am willing to accept punishment."
Nangong Yan watched from the side, fearing Nan Muxue might strike too hard in her anger. They had all witnessed how protective she was of Chu Ruo. "She... she's still young. Besides, she is the Palace Master's disciple." Chu Ruo liked this young girl so much that she was willing to brave a storm to search a freezing lake all night. If something happened to the girl, Chu Ruo would likely be devastated.
Nan Muxue remained cold and impassive. "Disrespecting one's master is not excused by youth."
Nangong Yan tried to persuade her further. "But..."
"The jade pendant is on your person, isn't it?" Nan Muxue interrupted.
Nan'er admitted, "Yes."
Nangong Yan was shocked. How could such a young child possess such calculating intent? "Why would you do such a thing?"
Nan Muxue answered for her. "To make Ruo'er give up. I have said before: in the Hundred Flowers Palace, disciples do not have the right to choose their masters. Chu Ruo is your master. Did you take my words for the passing wind?"
"I would not dare."
"According to the rules of the Hundred Flowers Palace, a disciple who errs must be punished. Furthermore, your transgression this time is truly unpardonable."
Nan'er's expression remained unchanged. "I am willing to accept punishment."
***
Chu Ruo slept for a while and felt much better when she woke up.
"Xue'er."
Nan Muxue held her. "Mmh."
"Did Nan'er come by just now?"
"You're quite clear-headed now, aren't you?"
"Did you punish her?"
Nan Muxue arched an eyebrow. "Do you have an objection?"
"I..."
"She played you for a fool, yet you still feel sorry for her."
Chu Ruo chuckled. "I know. She only said the pendant had *once* fallen in; she never said she hadn't already retrieved it."
"So you knew she was doing it on purpose?"
"Mmh. Wait... Ow! You're pinching me! I'm still sick!"
Nan Muxue actually applied pressure this time. "If you knew, why were you so stupid as to go?"
"I wanted to win her over. That girl is proud. To take her in, I have to make her respect me... Ow, go easy..."
"Who gave you permission to hurt yourself for others? I'm warning you: if there is a next time, I will cripple those disciples of yours and exile them to the branch sects."
Chu Ruo scrambled to beg for mercy. "I was wrong! I won't dare do it again! But, how did you know the pendant was with her?"
"She had no heart to apprentice under you. When you took the initiative, she naturally sought to toy with you."
"Hehe, see? Didn't I say this disciple of mine is quite something? So young, yet already so full of ideas. Who else has such schemes and guts?"
"Aren't you afraid she'll turn on her master one day?"
Chu Ruo hugged her tight. "Even if no one else in this world cares for me, I have you."
***
Night fell.
"Why do you keep looking outside?"
Chu Ruo replied unnaturally, "I'm looking at the sky. It looks like it's going to rain."
"You're inside. What are you worried about? You aren't going out tonight."
"Mmh, mmh."
"Alright. I have matters to discuss with Yan'er and the others. Go to sleep early, do you hear me?"
"I know," Chu Ruo leaned over to kiss her. "Then, you should come back to the room early too."
"I will."
*CRACK! BOOM!*
Thunder rolled and rain lashed down. Tonight's storm was even more violent than the previous night's, and the surroundings were eerie.
*Clatter!*
Nan'er looked around nervously. It was only a rat stealing food and knocking over an offering. The entire building was gloomy and cold. The only two candles flickered, threatening to go out. Surrounded by coffins and corpses, she curled into a corner, hugging her legs, frozen with fear.
A mortuary was always a place of silence, but tonight it was terrifyingly cold. The gale howled, making the doors rattle incessantly. *Whoosh... whoosh...* Everything felt sinister.
*Thump!*
A sudden sound made her nearly jump out of her skin. Listening closely, it seemed to come from inside one of the coffins. She held her breath, cautiously moving closer to investigate. *Thump! Thump!*
The noise grew louder. Terrified, she backed away, only to accidentally bump into a waterlogged corpse. She fell backward, and the body toppled right onto her. The pale, bloated face was enough to scare anyone out of their wits.
Nan'er struggled to push it off. Finally, she couldn't hold it back anymore and burst into loud sobs.
*Creak—*
The door opened. Her crying became uncontrollable until she saw the figure entering. "Nan'er?"
Chu Ruo's face was full of concern, her voice still raspy. Nan'er lost all her restraint, crying out as she ran toward her. "Master..."
Chu Ruo picked her up and began to coax her. "It's okay, it's okay. Don't cry anymore."
But the girl was truly terrified. Now that she could finally relax, her tears flowed like a river. "Master... Master..."
"It's alright now. Master is here. Don't be afraid. Let's go back."
"No," the girl sobbed into her shoulder. "Can't go back. The Palace Master... punished me... to stay in the mortuary for a night."
"But aren't you scared?"
"No... can't go back."
Chu Ruo smiled and sat down, still holding her. "Then, Master will stay here with you."
Nan'er wiped her eyes. "Mmh."
Chu Ruo laughed. "I didn't think you, who usually acts so grown-up, would be afraid of ghosts."
"I—I'm not."
"Let Master tell you a story..."
In the distance, someone held an umbrella, watching this rare, warm scene.
Nangong Yan sighed repeatedly. "She's just a child. You really are heartless."
"I don't care about anyone except my Ruo'er."
Duan Ning chimed in, "Exactly. You even made me go in there to make noises to scare the kid. Weren't you afraid of something actually going wrong? It's a good thing Liuli and Yunshuang were busy with other tasks, or I wouldn't have agreed to do this."
"She needed discipline."
Nangong Yan said, "I don't disagree. The girl definitely needed to be taken down a peg. But your method was a bit too frightening."
"If I had used the Palace rules, the consequences would have been far worse."
Duan Ning gave a teasing smile. "Punishment was only part of it. You wanted to facilitate this master-disciple bond, didn't you? In the end, you're still just doting on that precious 'disciple' of yours."
"No," Nan Muxue's gaze fell upon only one person, never wavering. "She is my... husband."
***
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Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 226 | A Master's Heart | Novela.app | Novela.app
