Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 234 | A Promise of Peace | Novela.app

"Yunshuang?" Nangong Yan called out as she passed by. Seeing the light still flickering in the room, she walked over curiously. "Not asleep yet?" Under the dim candlelight, Nan Yunshuang was fervently writing something. Even upon hearing someone enter, she added a few more strokes before finally setting her brush down. "You just returned?" "Mhm." Nangong Yan sat down without invitation, massaging her own hands. "It’s that time again to assign disciples to the various branches. We have so many branches now; it wasn't nearly this exhausting in previous years. My eyes are practically blurring just from looking at the registers. Still, it shows that our Baihua Palace is flourishing more than ever." Nan Yunshuang frowned slightly. "Where are the others?" "Ning'er has naturally gone to the branches, and Liuli is following her around all day. As for Xue'er and her precious little one..." Nan Yunshuang handed her a cup of warm water. Nangong Yan took it with a smile, but then caught a sweet fragrance. "Did you add something to this?" "Hundred-Flower Honey, and some ingredients I prepared myself. It will help you sleep better." "I see." Perhaps because of the warm drink, Nangong Yan’s face began to flush slightly. The room fell into a brief silence before she asked, "What were you writing?" Yunshuang handed the papers directly to her. They were filled with martial techniques and personal insights. "These are some moves I came up with. I wrote them for you." "But I usually use my right hand..." Nangong Yan stopped herself, realizing she had misspoken. "Yunshuang." Nan Yunshuang shook her head. "The martial world is too perilous. Though Baihua Palace is now unrivaled, we are also too conspicuous. It is better for you to learn more. If I am not around..." "What nonsense are you talking about?" Nangong Yan interrupted her, her eyes instantly reddening with frustration. "What do you mean 'not around'? Everything is in the past now. For you to say such a thing..." Yunshuang forced a faint smile. "I only wish for you to be safe." "I am perfectly fine! I don't need to learn these rubbish sword techniques of yours!" "Yan'er, I... I didn't mean anything else." "Yunshuang, you make me feel as if I could lose you at any moment." "I am already a broken person, and now I’ve lost an arm. I am only afraid that if something happens to me, you won't be able to cope alone..." "That won't happen," Nangong Yan said, taking her hand. "So much has happened, and we have all been through so much. Xue'er and Chu Ruo, Liuli and Ning'er—they are all doing well. And so will we." Nan Yunshuang’s hand was very cold. She murmured, "The sins and slaughter I committed in the past are too many. Yan'er, I do not want to involve you." "Between us, how can there be any talk of 'involvement'? That day, you bore everything for my sake, even losing your arm. If there is a fault, it all began with me. I am the true sinner." "No." "Yunshuang," Nangong Yan embraced her. "Tell me, what are you thinking?" She couldn't understand why, after so much time had passed, Yunshuang’s eyes remained so deep and dark. "I have nothing to think about. The only thing I care for now is your safety." "I will be fine. It’s you, Yunshuang—stop trapping yourself in the past, alright? Seniors Qingshuang and Yunji wouldn't want to see you like this either. Just do it for me, please?" Nan Yunshuang used her remaining arm to pull the other woman into a tight embrace. "Yan'er, when the whole world gave up on me, at least I still had you." "I..." "I said that from now on, my future belongs only to us." "Then you..." "Life now is very peaceful. With you here, it is beautiful enough. But I am still terrified that all of this will shatter sooner or later." Nangong Yan comforted her with a smile. "It won't. I will always be by your side." "In the night, I often see Mother. Though I never met her, I know the woman in my dreams is her. She is always smiling at me, but I can never reach her. When I wake with a start, my mind is filled with you. I fear that one day, we..." "No, we definitely won't." They gazed into each other's eyes. "The tragedies of the previous generation will never happen to us." Nan Yunshuang brushed a stray lock of hair from Yan's face. "No matter what happens, I will protect you." "I only need you by my side, accompanying me. That is enough." "Yan'er..." On this somewhat chilly night, their warm lips finally met. "Yunshuang," Nangong Yan whispered, her face flushing crimson. After calling her name, she didn't know what else to say, so she simply leaned into the other's embrace. "I remember the last time it was like this, you gave me a slap." "You!" Nangong Yan was both embarrassed and exasperated. "How can you be so vengeful? I haven't even brought up what you did back then..." Nan Yunshuang only held her tighter. "This time, I won't let go." "Neither will I." "Are you still managing with the branch affairs? I’ve finished most of my own tasks; I can help you." Nangong Yan leaned against her beloved, feeling a sense of bliss. "No need. The four of us have managed all these years, haven't we? You, the Grand Protector, are the busiest of all. I can handle my side." "With Chu Ruo around, there are many things I don't have to worry about." "You have quite a high opinion of her now?" "Xue'er has trained her well." "If she heard you say that, she’d definitely pick a fight with you," Nangong Yan laughed, feeling sentimental. "I really didn't expect the two of them to actually make it to the end. I thought with Xue'er's cold personality... yet it turns out she was the first among us to fall in love." "No," Nan Yunshuang said. "She was simply the first to admit her love." "Mhm. No one expected her to be so bold. Truly daring." "The ones who fell in love first... were us." Nangong Yan chuckled. "Mhm. You're right." "In a few days, I want you to come down the mountain with me. We should pay our respects to Mother and Senior Yunji, alright?" "Alright."