Without any warning, Bai Xue suddenly returned.
She brought with her the still-insane and delirious Nan Menghua, drawing the curious gazes of the disciples. This was the former Palace Master who had once turned the martial arts world upside down; even the new, uninformed disciples couldn't help but be filled with curiosity.
"Are you all..." Bai Xue smiled, "not going to welcome us?"
Chu Ruo hurriedly replied, "No, we’re just a bit surprised. Did Fenghuang tell you about my letter?"
"Not exactly. I took Menghua back to the Miao territory to return the things I’d taken out, and we left shortly after. I thought taking her traveling might do her some good. Later, I received the letter Fenghuang forwarded; since we happened to be nearby, we came over."
Chu Ruo truly couldn't understand what charm Nan Menghua possessed. Whether traveling was good for her was one thing, but she prayed the woman would never return to her senses. Things were fine as they were; otherwise, who knew how much more heartache she would cause? "Then, do you know anything about the Nan family bloodline?"
Bai Xue nodded. "I think it is indeed possible. The Nan family has another branch."
"Really?"
"Yes. Menghua is in this state now, but she often talks about the past in her dreams. I remember one night she screamed quite fiercely, saying the position of Palace Master could never fall into the hands of a bastard. She said that for them to live in the shadows was a luxury, and that she would eventually find that person and kill them. She was likely referring to the mother of the child mentioned in your letter. It happened once or twice more—the general gist was that she believed herself to be the only orthodox bloodline of the Hundred Flowers Palace, and that the Nan family shouldn't have such 'stupid ideas' as maintaining other branches."
Hearing this, Chu Ruo’s heart finally settled, but she wanted to confirm one more time. "This jade pendant..."
Bai Xue recognized it at first glance. "An heirloom of the Nan family."
"So, Nan'er really is a descendant of the Nan family."
"I believe the possibility is very high."
Chu Ruo was so excited she immediately wanted to go find Nan Muxue. However, realizing she was being a bit rude, she quickly doubled back to say her goodbyes before vanishing in a flash.
Bai Xue smiled, then looked at Nan Menghua, who was playing with a teacup beside her. "She is very good to your daughter. What our generation failed to do, they have achieved together. The Nan family has other blood, and there will be someone to take over the Hundred Flowers Palace in the future. Menghua, for you and for everyone, this state is a kind of release."
Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—Nan Menghua could no longer understand her.
"Xue'er! Xue'er!"
Chu Ruo rushed into the room pulling Nan'er along, her eyes searching frantically for that familiar figure. In an instant, she spotted her beloved. Nan Muxue gave them a casual glance, but her gaze lingered meaningfully on their joined hands. She didn't say a word.
The moment she saw that look, Chu Ruo knew her Little Scorpion was unhappy again. She got angry eight hundred times a day; there was no end to the coaxing. Thus, Chu Ruo let her inner drama queen take over, letting out a long, heavy sigh.
"Shifu, what's wrong?" Nan'er asked.
"She’s just making a fuss over nothing. Ignore her," Nan Muxue said coldly.
"You little—!" Chu Ruo started, but after receiving a warning glare, she shut her mouth obediently. It only lasted a second. "My disciple is worried about me, why shouldn't she care?"
"Since the bond between master and disciple is so deep," Nan Muxue rose to her feet, "I shall take my leave—"
"Wait, wait!" Chu Ruo grabbed her. "I was just joking, why are you taking it seriously?"
Nan Muxue looked down at her captured hand. "Your hands certainly aren't staying idle, are they?"
"Shifu," Nan'er said, seeing the situation turn sour and forgetting whatever important matter they had been discussing, "I should go practice my cultivation. I'll take my leave now."
"Hey, this little brat runs fast..."
"You truly are a responsible Shifu," Nan Muxue remarked.
...Something was wrong. That tone was very wrong. Chu Ruo forced a smile. "What is it now?"
"You tell me."
"I..."
"Do you want to say you don't know, or do you want to change the subject to bluff your way through?"
"Xue'er~"
Nan Muxue walked straight to the left and sat down. "Why aren't you off watching your disciple?"
"Are you jealous over that again?" Chu Ruo followed her and crouched down by her side. "I have something to tell you."
"I'm not listening."
"Why?"
"No reason."
"You..."
Nan Muxue glanced at her sideways. "Do you have an objection?"
*I'll endure it.* "Wife, darling..."
"Get lost."
Chu Ruo tried to lean in for a kiss, but Nan Muxue was quick to dodge. In the back-and-forth struggle, someone’s hand pushed a bit too hard, and Chu Ruo’s eye slammed right into the edge of the table.
"Ow!" She clutched her eye, but peeked through her fingers. "Sigh... my eye hurts and nobody cares. No one pities me, no one loves me..."
Nan Muxue had only been playing with her. Seeing her like this, she wanted to laugh but held it back. "Come here, let me see..."
Almost instantly, that head was right in front of her face. "You're nowhere to be found all day, but the moment something happens, you remember to make me worry."
Chu Ruo wrapped her arms around her. "Because you're my Xue'er."
"And who am I to you?"
"I..."
"All your time now is given to others."
"I ask you to come along, but you're too lazy to move!"
Nan Muxue pinched her. "Watching you be a Shifu, I'm afraid I'll die of anger."
Chu Ruo looked up and kissed the corner of her lips. "I'm naturally not as formidable as my own Shifu was."
Nan Muxue finally smiled. "You were in such a rush... it seems Nan'er really is of the Nan bloodline?"
"You guessed that too?"
"Otherwise, why would you be so excited? Ruo'er, haven't I said it before? It doesn't matter if she is or isn't. I have never felt that being with you has hindered me. You know how the Nan family continues its line—did you really wish for that kind of thing to happen to me?"
"No, Xue'er, of course not!"
"Fine then. I didn't care originally; it was you who was obsessed. Now that you have your answer, is your heart at peace?"
Chu Ruo nodded. Seeing grapes on the table, she began to peel one. "I admit, this news makes me very happy."
"How is my mother?"
"No change." Chu Ruo knew that her Little Scorpion didn't want to face the mother who had harmed them countless times. The current situation was for the best.
"Mhm. From now on, you are not allowed to hold anyone else's hand."
Chu Ruo had just put a grape in her mouth. "Then..."
In the next second, Nan Muxue leaned in and bit the grape right out of her mouth. Chu Ruo was dazed. "What?"
Nan Muxue kissed her lover deeply. "It's sweet."
...
Nan'er knelt before the two of them, feeling a bit apprehensive. "What wrong has this disciple committed...?"
Nan Muxue remained seated in her high, regal position. "From this day forward, your name shall be Nan Chu."
"Xue'er, you..." Chu Ruo hadn't expected her to use her surname to name Nan'er. For some reason, she felt her tears welling up. She quickly rubbed them away when no one was looking, wetting her sleeve in the process.
"Yes. Thank you, Palace Master, for the name."
"What 'Palace Master'? You should call her Shiniang..." Chu Ruo winced as the woman pinched her again. *Ow...* Nan Muxue whispered in her ear, "I am entrusting her to you. You will be the one to tell her about her heritage. Also, remember what I said."
"I know, I know." *As if I’d dare forget.* She was getting more and more petty, forbidding any physical contact with the young disciples. *Sigh, they’re all so cute, with their round little faces, following me around calling me Shifu in their soft voices. I really want to pinch their cheeks and give them a hug. Alas, no more.*
"Nan'er, Shifu has something to tell you."
"Yes, Shifu. Please speak."
"Regarding your heritage..."
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
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南楚 | Nan Chu | The new name given to Nan'er, combining the surnames of Nan Muxue and Chu Ruo.
师娘 | Shiniang | Master's wife; the term Nan'er is instructed to use for Nan Muxue.
戏精上身 | Drama queen / Play-acting | A slangy term for someone acting overly dramatic or theatrical.
