Chu Ruo stood there, utterly bewildered. "What?"
Then came the trademark cold sneer and icy words. "What is it? Has your memory failed you so quickly, Ruo’er? You just paid a five-hundred-tael bill for someone else, and now you’ve forgotten already?"
"Oh," Chu Ruo said, the realization dawning on her, followed immediately by continued confusion. "So? Do you think it was too expensive? Honestly, I thought that madam was quite the swindler too, charging such exorbitant prices. Tsk, tsk. I actually regret not haggling a bit."
Nan Muxue reached the limit of her patience. "Chu Ruo! Stop playing the fool!"
"Why are you so angry?" Chu Ruo asked, treading carefully. She was genuinely afraid the woman might actually explode. After thinking hard for a long moment, she finally reached what she thought was the reason for the Little Scorpion’s fury. "Oh, I get it. Look, I know I’m a bit of a spendthrift, and technically it was your money, but you lent it to me, so stop nagging, okay? Don't worry, I’ll pay you back eventually. Besides, you’re the Young Palace Mistress! The entire Hundred Flowers Palace belongs to you. You probably make tens of thousands of taels from a single mission. Don't be so stingy, alright?"
*Honestly,* she thought, *I just spent a few hundred taels at a brothel. As your head disciple, aren't I worth at least that much? So petty.*
As the saying goes: if you don't go looking for death, you won't die. The next second, Chu Ruo found herself being throttled by the neck.
"It seems I have been too indulgent with you," Nan Muxue hissed, "allowing you to challenge my bottom line time and time again."
"Cough..." Chu Ruo struggled, trying to pry the woman's hands off. *You damn Little Scorpion, you get physical every other day! Do you really think I’m just a soft persimmon for you to squeeze whenever you want?* Then, with a spineless realization, she admitted to herself: *Actually, yeah, I guess I am.*
In truth, Nan Muxue hadn't put much strength into it. She was startled to realize that her grip was becoming lighter and lighter. Almost as soon as she finished her threat, her hand relaxed. She snapped back to her senses—was she actually afraid of hurting her with such a small gesture? Frustrated by her own lack of resolve, she turned her back to Chu Ruo. "Remember your place!"
"Whew—" Chu Ruo took several deep breaths, patting her chest as she shot a glare at the other woman's back. She muttered internally, *My place? What place? And what does my 'place' have to do with spending money at a brothel? The problem is, in this situation, I don't know and I don't dare to ask.*
"From now on, you are not allowed to pay the bills for other women!"
The sentence came out of nowhere as they walked. Chu Ruo was truly at a loss. What kind of nonsense was this? Other women? Oh, right. It clicked. Those two girls disguised as men. *I was just upholding the spirit of a wandering hero while enjoying the thrill of being a big spender! Who knows, maybe it’ll be like one of those cliché dramas where they reveal they’re actually princesses and come back to repay me with ten million gold bars and countless livestock. Even this makes her angry? A woman’s heart really is a needle at the bottom of the sea...* She stuck her tongue out at Nan Muxue’s back.
The figure ahead suddenly stopped and turned. Chu Ruo, caught mid-grimace, immediately pulled a straight face. "Hehe, Master, is something the matter?"
"If you make those little faces again, the consequences..."
"I know, I know," Chu Ruo interrupted dejectedly. *Capricious, moody, and heartless—what kind of woman is she? What a waste of such a beautiful face. A goddess’s shell, completely squandered.*
"Chu Ruo!" Nan Muxue’s face was dark and cold. "Put those thoughts away!"
"???" Chu Ruo stared. "Can you... actually read minds?" *This woman is terrifying. Why does she seem to know exactly what I’m thinking?*
As expected, Nan Muxue didn't deign to answer. She simply kept walking.
"Why are you walking so fast? Wait for me!" Before she knew it, they had reached a secluded path. Chu Ruo hurried to catch up. "Talk to me. Doesn't it feel stifling to just stay silent like this?"
"Oh, come on, don't be mad anymore. At most... at most, next time I'll go to a cheaper brothel, okay?"
*Next time?* Veins popped on Nan Muxue’s forehead. "You want there to be a next time?"
"Well, didn't you agree to let me go? Now you're throwing this big fit. Besides, I listened to you and didn't stare at the girls. What's the harm in going for a bit of fun once in a while?"
Nan Muxue had almost forgotten that this brat had gone there specifically to look at women. "I wonder which ladies in the Drunken Dream Pavilion were fair enough to catch Young Master Chu’s eye?"
"Ugh, don't even mention it. They were all just common grease and vulgar powder," Chu Ruo said with a look of regret. "I wouldn't call them 'crooked melons and split dates,' but their level was mediocre at best. I didn't see a single one that suited my taste. Compared to you and Yan’er, they’re a hundred and eight thousand..."
"Go on. Continue."
"...miles away." *Finished. I’m finished.* Chu Ruo had intended to take the opportunity to flatter her and calm her down, but she had overshot the mark. Not only had she compared Nan Muxue to brothel workers, but she had also mentioned Yan’er. Nan Muxue was already fuming over the paid bill; mentioning Yan’er was like throwing oil on a fire. She swallowed hard as she finished the sentence, bracing herself for a beating. She retreated several steps, though she didn't dare run too far, fearing that being dragged back would result in an even more gruesome death.
The result was... nothing. Nan Muxue didn't explode. She didn't even scold her. She simply turned and walked away. "Keep up."
"Oh," Chu Ruo answered obediently.
"How much longer until we..."
"Not far."
"Is it close?"
"Not close."
The awkwardness was so thick it was practically overflowing. Chu Ruo decided to say something to break the tension. Remembering something, she pulled a package from her robe and held it out. "Master, Master! This is for you."
Nan Muxue looked at the paper bundle, which was starting to show oil stains—likely some kind of fried snack. Having a natural aversion to anything unclean, she frowned slightly, but she still asked, "What is it?"
"Fried peanuts. They’re coated in flour and egg, I think. I didn't expect this era to have these. And they’re sweet! Most people make them salty, but I think sweet is better. I thought they did a good job with these, so I packed some for you. Try one. I saved them specifically for you. They’re clean, I didn't touch them with my hands, don't worry."
They were just ordinary fried peanuts, yet seeing the girl act as if they were some rare delicacy and carefully offering them to her, Nan Muxue felt the stifling anger in her chest dissipate significantly. Her expression softened. "I never eat such things."
"Why not? Just have one, they’re delicious," Chu Ruo persisted, moving closer. "Try it, really."
"Too greasy," the other woman refused, her pace never faltering. "The martial arts of the Hundred Flowers Palace require a slender physique to ensure the swordplay is light and ethereal. These things lead to weight gain."
*...Are you serious?* Chu Ruo followed her. "You haven't had a single snack your entire life?" She strongly suspected this was entirely possible. Forget snacks—even during regular meals, Nan Muxue only ate two or three bites. Chu Ruo had noted it privately; except for the time she grilled fish or cooked at the inn, she had never seen the Little Scorpion eat more than ten mouthfuls. And each mouthful was just a few grains of rice or a tiny bit of vegetable. No wonder she was so thin. Fortunately, the parts that needed to develop hadn't been neglected. Chu Ruo took a stealthy glance. *Like I said, she has the body of a goddess. Curves in all the right places. It’s a miracle she isn't malnourished.*
"Yes." Nan Muxue happened to turn her head to answer, and she caught a pair of rather lecherous eyes scanning her... It didn't take a genius to know that the brat wasn't thinking about anything good. Her face flushed with embarrassment and she snapped, "What are you looking at?"
"Uh, nothing, nothing." Chu Ruo snapped back to attention. Seeing that displeased gaze, her playfulness vanished, replaced by a look of genuine pity. "Was all of this... required by the Old Palace Mistress? Your mother?"
"All disciples of the Hundred Flowers Palace are the same. As the Young Palace Mistress, I am even more duty-bound." Her tone held a hint of helplessness, but also a firm resolve. "This is my responsibility and my obligation."
*What kind of bullshit obligation is not being allowed to eat a full meal?* Chu Ruo really wondered if this Little Scorpion was actually Nan Menghua’s biological daughter. No matter how much one cared about their sect, how could a mother be so cruel to her own child? It was practically abuse. "When you were little... did you make your mother angry?"
"Angry? No." A grey, somber shadow fell over Nan Muxue’s eyes. Once upon a time, as a naive child, she too had fantasized about winning her mother’s favor and receiving her love. But no matter what she did, she never received a single shred of warmth. "Most of the time, it was probably disappointment."
The words were on the tip of Chu Ruo’s tongue: *Are you sure you’re actually her daughter?* Of course, it wasn't the right time to ask, and ancient people were very sensitive about such things. Asking that would be an insult to her mother’s reputation. Even though the Little Scorpion suffered, she cared deeply for the Hundred Flowers Palace; she wouldn't tolerate such a question, and it would only hurt her further. She had probably asked herself that question countless times already. Chu Ruo felt a pang of genuine heartache for her. She stepped forward and took that cold hand in hers. "Then... what about your father?" She had never heard a word about the woman's father. Besides, the Hundred Flowers Palace didn't allow men. Where did the Little Scorpion come from? Did her mother drink from the River of Childbirth?
As soon as the question left her mouth, Chu Ruo regretted it. If the "biological daughter" question was off-limits, this one probably was too. It was family business, after all. Was it like those dramas where Nan Menghua was betrayed by some scumbag, leading to a twisted psyche and a hatred for her own daughter? Or maybe the guy wasn't a scumbag and there was just some massive misunderstanding that would take forty episodes to resolve? But that didn't matter. The person she cared about was the Little Scorpion, not the love-hate drama of her parents.
The other woman just stared at her. The intensity of the gaze made Chu Ruo feel a flush of heat all over. She didn't even notice they had left the city and reached the outskirts, following the other woman blindly while her mind raced. *Right, this is probably a painful subject for her. Even if she blows up, I should just take it. Why did I have to be so stupid and ask such a tactless question?* "I... I'm sorry..."
Nan Muxue seemed surprised by the apology. "Why are you apologizing?"
"I shouldn't have said such stupid things and brought up your painful memories. If you want to scold me or even hit me, go ahead. I deserve it."
What she got in return was a soft chuckle. "You... sometimes I really want to know what goes on inside that head of yours, Ruo’er."
"What? I—"
Nan Muxue sighed and shook her head. "My father... I don't know either."
Chu Ruo gripped her hand tighter, until her palm began to sweat. "I... I'm not very good at comforting people, but whenever you're sad, you can come to me. I'll stay with you. Oh, and from now on, as long as I'm around, I'll cook delicious things for you. I'm going to feed you until you're plump." *Look at this worrying little body of yours; a strong breeze could blow you away. With me here, I'll definitely raise you to be white and chubby. Wait, that sounds wrong. 'Raise'? Technically, she's the one supporting me.*
Nan Muxue pinched her chin again. "I thought you were terrified of me? You should be full of both hatred and fear. You can't beat me, I’ve poisoned you with the Hundred Flowers Gu, and your attempt to run away was thwarted. And yet, here you are, Ruo’er... caring for me?"
"So dull-witted." Nan Muxue did something entirely unexpected. She lightly tilted Chu Ruo’s chin upward, a gesture that was strangely intimate and playful. "We’re here."
"Oh." Ahead was a high wall, appearing to be a back entrance of some sort. They were at the foot of a mountain where people were scarce. It looked like a manor, but one capable of building such high walls had to be wealthy or influential. The location was incredibly remote; Chu Ruo guessed nobody came here except the trash collectors. Judging by the pile of refuse near the gate, even they hadn't been by in a while. Some grand houses had glittering front gates but neglected side doors due to their location. "What is this place? A landlord’s estate?"
Nan Muxue had not let go of her hand. Despite her obsession with cleanliness, she hadn't released her grip even when their palms grew damp with sweat. Only when the destination was in sight did she finally let go of that long, fair hand that provided her with such warmth. She reached out to straighten Chu Ruo’s collar. "The Sword-Forging Villa."
"What?" *Oho, that name sounds like something straight out of a novel.*
"The Sword-Forging Villa," Nan Muxue explained. "There are four prestigious sword villas in the martial world: Sword-Forging, Hidden Sword, Famous Sword, and Fine Sword. The one we are at today is the Sword-Forging Villa."
"Wait, wait." Chu Ruo suppressed a laugh. "Say the last one again. Which villa?"
"Fine Sword." (Hao Jian)
*Pfft—hahahaha!* "Hao Jian" (Fine Sword) sounded exactly like "Hao Jian" (So Shameless/What a Bitch). *What kind of eccentric came up with that name?* Chu Ruo tried her best to cover her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. "Who... who named it that?"
Nan Muxue shot her a displeased look. "The four great villas, like our Hundred Flowers Palace, have a century of history. If you encounter their disciples in the future, you must not underestimate them. Do you understand?" She then added to herself, "It is my oversight. Usually, I am so focused on pushing your martial arts and teaching you palace affairs that I forgot to tell you about the state of the martial world. From now on, I will set aside time every day to tell you a thing or two."
"Based on your tone, our relationship with them isn't exactly great, is it?"
"What do you think?" In truth, aside from Feipeng Fortress, most sects in the martial world disdained associating with the Hundred Flowers Palace. The reasons were simple: first, they looked down on the Palace for using poisons on its own disciples (though most sects did this secretly, the Palace was open about it). But the second and most important point was that the Palace consisted entirely of women who had renounced men. Since there was no profit to be gained from them and they were "just a bunch of women"—even if their martial arts were superior to many men—they were sneered at. Even their ally, Feipeng Fortress, was merely using them for mutual benefit. Feipeng Fortress was much better at socializing with other sects and maintained a good reputation. In short, while the Hundred Flowers Palace struck terror into the world, it was not popular.
"This Sword-Forging Villa is quite close to us," Chu Ruo noted. The town below the Palace was small, and yet the villa’s territory was just on the other side. *Don't these two groups fight all the time?*
"Though we are not on good terms, neither side wishes to disturb the commoners. Guangjiang City is neutral ground. Besides, the election for the Martial Arts Alliance Leader is approaching; things will remain peaceful for a while."
Chu Ruo was confused. "Then why did you bring me here?"
"Do you know what the Sword-Forging Villa does?"
"Isn't it obvious? 'Sword-Forging.' They make weapons," Chu Ruo suddenly realized. "Aha! My dear Master, don't tell me you brought your disciple to someone's back door to ask them to forge a weapon."
"I always thought you were clever, Ruo’er, and so you are." Seeing that Chu Ruo was about to bolt, Nan Muxue clamped a hand firmly onto her shoulder. "Where are you going? The mission isn't finished. Are you trying to leave already?"
"Oh, my dear, beloved Master, can we please not go looking for trouble? They aren't bothering you, so why provoke them? If you want to go, just go yourself. Why bring me?"
"Enough nonsense." Nan Muxue’s voice held an unquestionable authority, a natural majesty that came with being the Young Palace Mistress. She rarely used this tone with Chu Ruo. "The Sword-Forging Villa finished a weapon a few days ago: the Ice Fiend. You are going to steal it. Here is the map of the villa."
*Holy crap, you even got a map?* Chu Ruo’s face fell. "Can't you steal it yourself? Besides, you’re a grand Young Palace Mistress. Isn't stealing someone's weapon a bit... beneath you?"
"As you said, I am the 'grand Young Palace Mistress.' Why would I engage in such petty thievery?"
"Then why—"
"Therefore, you are going, not I."
*You’re toxic.* "I'm not going." *I swear, once I can beat you, I’m going to make you beg for mercy. I won't make you kneel, but you’re definitely going to sing 'Conquered' for me.*
"That weapon is for you. It’s time you had a proper weapon of your own."
"I... I... didn't you say you were going to give me the Ice Soul?"
Nan Muxue narrowed her eyes, scaring Chu Ruo into silence. To her surprise, Nan Muxue looked almost exasperated. "If you truly want it, I will give it to you, but..."
"But what?"
"You have to be able to defeat me first." For a fleeting second, Chu Ruo thought the Little Scorpion looked almost playful, but she quickly returned to normal. "Enough. Get in there. The martial world has always been about the survival of the fittest. If you take their weapon, it only proves they didn't have the skill to protect what they forged. Besides, the four villas built their legacy on forging; these items will be taken by someone sooner or later. Why shouldn't it be the capable?"
Hearing this, Chu Ruo actually felt a spark of excitement and rubbed her hands together. "Do they have a lot of other treasures hidden away? Should I steal one for you too?" *I thought martial sects were... well, I didn't expect it to be like this.*
Nan Muxue gave a playful smile. "So you don't think stealing is shameful anymore?"
"Ahem. Do they get robbed often?"
Nan Muxue’s lip twitched. "If that were the case, how could they have a century of history? Chu Ruo, sometimes I really want to cut your head open to see if it’s filled with grass or water."
"Hmph. That basically means they *have* been robbed before."
"It’s unavoidable. Forging weapons requires massive amounts of iron and other heavy materials. If they set the villa in a treacherous mountain pass, they could rely on the terrain, but that would be too much labor for them. Furthermore, the villa is heavily guarded. Do you really think just anyone can walk in?"
"Then why are you sending me? Do you want me to die?"
"Chu Ruo, listen well." Nan Muxue’s gaze was unwavering. "I will never let anything happen to you."
Both of them froze after the words were spoken. Nan Muxue awkwardly looked away. "Killing or stealing the sword. Choose."
*I... I'll endure it again.* "Fine."
Chu Ruo leaped up onto the wall. "Ruo’er!"
*Damn, she scared me so much I almost fell.* Chu Ruo wobbled. "What?"
The other woman gave a brilliant smile. "Thank you."
***
**Glossary**
