"Huh?" Chu Ruo scratched her head in utter confusion. "Thank me for what?"
She racked her brain. Honestly, if anyone should be giving thanks, it was her. Nan Muxue had taken her in, fed her, and taught her martial arts. Aside from the Hundred Flowers Poison and the occasional physical discipline, she was actually quite good to her.
...Could there truly be someone so dense and thick-headed?
"Stop dawdling and get down there. Do you want to be discovered?" Nan Muxue snapped.
She was, of course, thanking her for those words. For the first time, someone had spoken to her like that. Chu Ruo was the only one who had ever managed to warm her heart. Even though her relationship with Liu Li and the others was decent, it was fundamentally different.
*Me, dawdling? Who’s the one who called out to me just as I was about to jump? It was you, you little viper! Can’t you be a bit more reasonable?*
Chu Ruo looked down, only to meet a pair of eyes flashing with a cold light. Despite the summer heat, a shiver ran down her spine, and she wobbled, losing her balance. "Whoa—!"
"Ruo'er!" Nan Muxue stamped her foot, her voice a mix of concern and urgency. "Are you alright?"
"Oh, I'm fine. I caught myself."
"Then hurry up. If you make any more noise, I’m leaving immediately. You can deal with it yourself."
*I’m drawing circles to curse you, bleh...*
Separated by the wall, Chu Ruo made a few faces at the stone before obediently setting off to steal the Ice Fiend. What she didn't know was that if she had been even a second later in responding, the woman outside would have flown over the wall instantly to take her away.
***
Presently, Chu Ruo stood before a building, panting for breath. She had ten thousand "motherf—ers" she wanted to scream. Why was this place so huge? It was like a maze. And why was the map so rudimentary? It only marked a few general locations; the rest was left to her own guesswork. Did they not consider that she might be directionally challenged? There was no information on patrol routes, no tips—nothing. She had nearly been spotted several times. She couldn't help but wonder: *Little Viper, are you trying to help me or kill me?*
She pushed the door open, cautiously scanned the surroundings, and after confirming no one was there, she poked her head inside. She quickly shut the door and pressed her back firmly against it, refusing to take another step until she was certain there was no danger.
After observing for a while and confirming there were no people or traps, she walked over to a table where the Ice Fiend lay. She was certain this was it because it was the only weapon in the room, placed quite conspicuously. The thing radiated a chilling light, and though its shape was a bit peculiar, it fit the description perfectly. She picked it up. *Holy crap, it’s heavy and freezing!* There was no scabbard, but she didn't have time to examine it closely. She had to move.
Chu Ruo sprinted out, clutching the strangely shaped Ice Fiend. She couldn't help but feel that things were going a bit too smoothly. The villa was supposed to be heavily guarded, yet she hadn't run into a single soul on her way out. And the place where the Ice Fiend was kept—it was just sitting there without a single guard? The weapon looked bizarre, but the craftsmanship and materials were top-tier; otherwise, the Little Viper wouldn't have sent her to steal it. Yet it was just left alone in a room, making the theft effortless. Could it be... a trap?
*A trap?!*
God help her. Chu Ruo almost wanted to turn herself into a "face-palm" emoji. But wait, something felt off. The Little Viper wouldn't hurt her. Just as the other woman trusted her, she firmly believed Nan Muxue would never do anything to harm her. Hadn't she promised before she entered that she wouldn't let anything happen to her? So, what kind of play was this?
Whatever. She needed to get out first. Moments later, Chu Ruo reached a small courtyard. This was the only area she’d seen with a high concentration of people. The patrols were frequent, with three groups constantly cycling through. This was the most difficult part of the heist. However, with her current lightness skills, it wasn't an impossible task. She waited for a gap in the patrol rotation and prepared to dash across when—*CRASH!*
Yes, you heard that right. A crisp sound. Something had shattered right by her feet—sounded like a roof tile. Chu Ruo’s internal "MMP" count was now at ten million. *I just came to steal a sword! I didn't provoke anyone! What kind of grudge is this?*
While complaining, she immediately looked up at the roof. She caught a glimpse of a figure in dark navy night-clothes vanishing instantly. Only then did she realize that "night-clothes" weren't always pitch black; they were often a dark blue-green to blend with the night. That wasn't important, though. The figure was gone, and she had only seen a sliver of a hem as they jumped. The movement looked graceful and lithe—a ninety percent chance it was a woman. Unfortunately, Chu Ruo had hit that ten percent margin of error this time.
Analysis was useless now because she was exposed. Every guard turned toward the noise. In an instant, dozens of eyes were fixed on her.
Chu Ruo gave a weak smile. "Uh, if I said I came here to buy a sword, would you believe me?"
"Guards! Assassin!" "Someone stole the weapon!"
*Dammit.* She groaned inwardly. She would have to fight her way out.
Chu Ruo had no actual combat experience, nor did she know the true extent of her current martial prowess. When so many people lunged at her at once, she panicked. Blades have no eyes. As four or five weapons swung toward her, she was reminded of when Hu Nuo and the others had attacked her shortly after she arrived at the Hundred Flowers Palace. Back then, the Little Viper had saved her.
The image of that white-clad figure flashed in her mind. Almost instinctively, she channeled her inner energy into her palm and struck out at the attackers. *BANG!* The five men were sent flying. Even Chu Ruo was stunned. She hadn't realized the techniques the Little Viper taught her were so powerful, or that her internal energy was so formidable. Before transmigrating, she had always thought internal energy was fake. Now that she was in a literal wushu world, everything was possible. And man, internal energy... it was the real deal.
"Frost Palm," one of the guards muttered, wiping blood from his lip. "She’s from the Hundred Flowers Palace!" He scrambled up to run, clearly intending to call for reinforcements.
Seeing there were already enough people to deal with, Chu Ruo rushed to stop him, but the remaining guards swarmed her. A chaotic melee ensued.
More and more people joined the fray. Chu Ruo fought as she retreated, but she had long since lost her way. As she fought, a realization dawned on her: *Luring the tiger from the mountain!* The person who intentionally exposed her was using her as a distraction. She had no enemies here, except perhaps Liu Shaopeng, but he was heavily injured. Besides, if he wanted to deal with her, he wouldn't just have her discovered. That person clearly wanted something from the Sword-Forging Villa and had drawn everyone’s attention to her. As the commotion grew, their goal became easier to achieve. Despicable!
*Hey, you bastard, you’re really using your grandpa as a shield!*
Having fought for so long without losing ground, Chu Ruo began to feel a bit cocky. Since she could handle these guys, she’d scour the whole villa to drag that son of a bitch out. *You want me to take the fall for you? In your dreams!*
Chu Ruo became decisive, leading the guards on a wild goose chase through the villa. She didn't know the way anyway, so she just ran wherever, determined to find the culprit. But after all that tossing and turning, the crowd only grew larger, and the noise louder. She vaguely heard someone shouting to get the Villa Master. That was bad. The Villa Master’s martial arts would definitely be on a different level. She couldn't afford to play around anymore.
Chu Ruo began to look for an exit. She had no idea where she was, and returning the way she came was impossible. She just needed to get out and regroup with the Little Viper.
There were simply too many people. Even though her martial arts were superior, she was starting to tire. In a final effort, she raised the Ice Fiend to block the blades of three attackers. Though it looked like a short sword, the blade was wavy and double-edged, with thorn-like protrusions along the edges that looked like frozen flames. It was incredibly sharp. If those thorns and the blade’s chill bit into someone, the pain would be unbearable. The blade wasn't a single piece but appeared to be three or four segments joined together, forged extremely thin yet remarkably hard. It had even snapped several guards' swords. It truly cut through iron like butter. No wonder the Little Viper wanted her to steal it. Aside from being heavy and cold, it was a magnificent weapon.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
In the heat of the battle, several guards behind Chu Ruo suddenly spat blood and collapsed. She looked over and saw that familiar figure. "Master!"
"What took you so long?" Nan Muxue held her sword, Ice Soul, shielding Chu Ruo behind her.
"I was..."
"Silence." Nan Muxue swung her longsword, and an invisible wave of sword intent knocked down the surrounding guards. She then grabbed Chu Ruo and took flight, using her lightness skills to soar toward the exit. "Let’s go."
"But—" *THWACK!*
Before Chu Ruo could finish, something struck the back of her head. Her vision went black.
"Ruo'er!" a frantic, worried voice cried out. But she had already lost consciousness.
***
Sword-Forging Villa.
In the room of the Eleventh Young Master, Shen Ruoxuan, a white-clad woman suddenly appeared and attacked him without a word. He dodged her strike with a light laugh. "I say, Little Xue-Xue, you’ve really forgotten your old flame now that you have a disciple."
"Shut up!"
In truth, there was no such relationship between them. They had met by chance and shared a cooperative relationship—secret friends, of sorts. Shen Ruoxuan was the unloved eleventh son of the Sword-Forging Villa. On the surface, he was frivolous and playboyish, but in reality, he was meticulous. However, the Villa Master, Shen Wanxiong, didn't value him. Amidst the internal power struggles of the villa, he maintained his facade, biding his time. Of course, his joking demeanor was something he couldn't change for anyone. He acted effeminate and weak; to the outside world, he was a sickly man who likely preferred the company of men. Such a person was a disgrace to the villa. But if he hadn't been persecuted during the internal struggles of his youth, how could he have survived to this day without wearing this mask of frailty? Only by being "useless" and having no hope of inheriting the villa could he stay alive.
"My, you’re something else. We’ve known each other for years, and you turn on me just like that. Such a fierce girl—no wonder you’re still unmarried."
Nan Muxue’s face remained cold. "Shen Ruoxuan, I agreed to cooperate with you to investigate whether the Sword-Forging Villa is secretly colluding with the Heavenly Demon Palace. Instead, you dragged Ruo'er into this and even injured her. What are you playing at?"
"Can we be reasonable? We agreed she would steal the sword to create a distraction so I could slip into the suspicious areas. You’re blaming me now? Please, wasn't this your idea?"
Ice Soul was pointed directly at his throat. "I didn't tell you to hurt her!"
"Let’s get one thing straight," Shen Ruoxuan said, waving his hands. "I intentionally let the guards discover her, but I didn't interfere after that. I was too busy investigating the Heavenly Demon Palace. I heard from the guards that she was running all over the villa like she was afraid the commotion wasn't big enough, drawing everyone to her. I guess she realized someone was using her as a decoy. This disciple of yours... she’s got a good head on her shoulders." He tapped his temple with a smirk. Despite the rogue-like grin, he was undeniably handsome.
"Ruo'er is naturally gifted. You still haven't said why you injured her."
"Ooh, listen to that. Is this the cold-blooded Little Xue-Xue I know? Praising someone? Calling her so affectionately? No wonder the rumors say the Young Palace Mistress is fiercely protective of her precious disciple. You two aren't..." He wagged his eyebrows suggestively. "Actually doing *that*, are you?"
"Shen Ruoxuan!"
"Alright, alright." Seeing she was truly angry, Shen Ruoxuan stopped joking. "The person who injured your precious disciple wasn't me. At that time, I was hiding outside a secret room listening to the old man talk to someone."
Nan Muxue knew deep down it wasn't him. They had cooperated for years; she wouldn't have let Chu Ruo come tonight if she didn't have full confidence in him. Aside from his loose tongue, Shen Ruoxuan was reliable. "And what did you find?"
"The soundproofing in that secret room is too good. I grew up here and never even knew that passage existed. I couldn't hear clearly, but I’m fairly certain there were two women inside."
"That’s it?"
Sensing the disdain in her voice, Shen Ruoxuan rolled his eyes. "If you’re so capable, you try it! I’m risking my life and betraying my family here. You don't even care; you just come in swinging. When we worked together before, you called me 'Little Xuan-Xuan.' Now..." He theatrically wiped away non-existent tears with his sleeve, successfully making Nan Muxue look disgusted. "Now that you have your dear Ruo'er, the new love replaces the old. Waaaah! Such a heartless lady! Waaaah!"
Nan Muxue forced herself to stay calm. "Keep investigating. I’m leaving."
"Wait."
"What else?"
"The Ice Fiend I forged... is it easy to use?"
"Satisfactory."
"Tch, 'satisfactory'?" He rolled his eyes again. "I really don't understand you. You paid a fortune to have me forge the finest divine weapon for your disciple, only to make her steal it herself. Once word of tonight gets out, your disciple’s reputation is going to be trash. Actually..." He poured a cup of tea thoughtfully. "You did it on purpose, didn't you? Ruin her reputation so she’s looked down upon by everyone else. That way, she can only rely on the Hundred Flowers Palace and stay by your side forever."
Having her thoughts laid bare, Nan Muxue didn't even blink. "The affairs of the Hundred Flowers Palace are none of your business."
"How can you say that? We have years of friendship. Now that you have a new flame—and coincidentally, his name has a 'Ruo' in it too—could it be you couldn't bear to let me go, so you found a substitute? Ah, it’s all because of that 'Ruo.' If I get the chance to meet him, I simply must tell him. I know it was my fault for rejecting you back then, you..."
*CRACK!* The teacup shattered on the floor. The figure was already gone.
"If you dare to speak nonsense or make up lies in front of Ruo'er, I will make sure you regret the day you were born."
***
"Master!"
Chu Ruo jolted awake from a dream, only to be pulled into a warm embrace. Her head rested on a soft, supple shoulder, and a gentle voice whispered in her ear, "I’m here. Don't be afraid."
*Phew.* She let out a breath. Wait. Chu Ruo’s hands flailed. Why was there a white cloth over her eyes? It was pitch black. It wasn't just the cloth; she realized she couldn't see anything! Panic set in. "My eyes... what happened?"
"It’s alright," Nan Muxue comforted her, her voice incredibly calm. "You were struck on the back of the head during the ambush, which affected your vision. It will recover in a few days."
"A few days?" Chu Ruo was clearly skeptical. "You... you’re not lying to me?"
"I’m not. Come, drink your medicine. You’ll get better quickly once you take it."
*Ugh.* Just the smell was bitter. Chu Ruo’s entire focus was on her eyes. She didn't quite believe the Little Viper. She was blind; how could she just get better? In stories, people who went blind usually stayed blind. "I’m not drinking it. What’s the point if I’m blind? I know I’m going to be blind forever. You don't have to comfort me."
"You..." Chu Ruo felt a hand gently stroking the cloth over her eyes. Nan Muxue chuckled softly. "Usually you’re so fearless, but now you finally know how to be afraid."
"I am not!" Her words were stubborn, but Chu Ruo knew her voice was trembling. What was she going to do? She’d only been transmigrated for six months, and now her eyes were gone. She felt depressed, sad, and panicked.
"Alright, it really isn't that serious. It will be fine in three to five days."
"I don't believe you. You’re lying." Chu Ruo lay back down and pulled the blanket over her head like an ostrich.
There was a rustling sound. Then, a person unexpectedly slipped into the blanket with her. Nan Muxue hugged the curled-up girl. "Ruo'er."
"I’m not listening, I’m not listening..."
Nan Muxue endured it, considering the injury. "It truly isn't a major issue. Remember, I will not lie to you."
With just that one sentence, Chu Ruo found herself believing her. She believed her completely. She finally let go of her head, and the two of them felt exceptionally warm under the covers. "You really aren't lying?"
"I’m not. Get up and drink your medicine."
"No."
"You..." Nan Muxue pursed her lips and quietly picked up the medicine bowl from the bedside. "It seems Ruo'er wants me to feed her that way again?"
"Huh?"
Before Chu Ruo could react, familiar lips pressed against hers, accompanied by the bitter medicinal liquid. Yet, she drank it down greedily.
Once the medicine was finished, Chu Ruo had already pinned the other woman beneath her, desperately drinking in her sweetness. Finally, when she was nearly out of breath, Nan Muxue gently pushed her away. "Shameless..."
"You started it," Chu Ruo whispered, unable to stop herself from pecking those pink lips. The other woman didn't resist at all. "Master," she suddenly called out.
Nan Muxue looked at her, her eyes full of doting affection. "If I can never see again... will the Hundred Flowers Palace discard me?"
"No."
"Didn't you say the palace doesn't keep useless people?" Chu Ruo said gloomily. "You took me as a disciple just to have a helper. If I’m blind, I’m not just useless—I’m a total burden. The palace and you wouldn't want me anymore."
"I won't let anything happen to you." Nan Muxue gazed at the person above her, though Chu Ruo couldn't see her resolute expression. "Even if your eyes truly don't recover, I will take care of you for the rest of your life. Don't be afraid."
*Is this being 'kept'?* Well, she’d have to wait until she was actually blind for that. In truth, from the moment she woke up in darkness to the moment she took the medicine, she had started to see faint glimmers of light. It was very weak and incredibly blurry, but she could sense movement. It seemed the Little Viper was right; it wasn't that serious. But she wouldn't say anything yet; she’d wait a few days to see if it improved.
"You were the one who sent me to steal the Ice Fiend and intentionally let me be discovered, weren't you?"
Nan Muxue was taken aback. She knew Chu Ruo was smart, but the girl was usually so carefree that she hadn't expected her to figure it out. "You... you knew?"
"Yeah. A weapon that good left without a single guard? That was suspicious from the start. And when I saw that person in black, I realized that someone as cautious as you wouldn't have sent me to steal a weapon without even preparing night-clothes for me. Then that person intentionally exposed me. I guess you made a deal with him. One, to test my skills and see how I’ve progressed. Two, to make it easier for him to investigate something. Right?"
"My Ruo'er is indeed very clever." There was admiration in Nan Muxue’s eyes, and a certain pride. The words "My Ruo'er" had slipped out naturally, and hearing them made Chu Ruo’s heart swell with joy.
"But he injured me." Her voice was disappointed. It wasn't clear if she was upset about her eyes or because she thought Nan Muxue had intended it. "Why?"
"Ruo'er," Nan Muxue said with unprecedented urgency. "No. It wasn't him who injured you, and it wasn't my intention. I don't know who it was."
"Oh."
"You don't believe me?"
"No, I do."
Nan Muxue pinched her chin. "Then why that reaction?"
"I believe you. But if even you don't know who it was, there’s no way I would. There’s nothing else to say."
Only then did Nan Muxue relax. She picked up the Ice Fiend and asked, "Do you like this weapon?"
"It’s okay. It’s a bit heavy and cold, and it’s hard to use. I only used it once today to block the guards' swords, but it really does cut through iron like butter."
"Give me your hand."
Chu Ruo didn't know what she was doing, but she obediently reached out. Then, a sharp pain shot through her index finger. "Ow! You! You wicked woman, what are you doing?!"
Nan Muxue rolled her eyes. "Crying over a tiny scratch." Even as she spoke disparagingly, she was already applying ointment to the small wound. "Does it still hurt?"
The ointments of the Hundred Flowers Palace always had miraculous effects. It felt cool and comfortable. "No. But why did you cut my finger?"
"A divine weapon must recognize its master. Do you think this is an ordinary blade?" Nan Muxue placed the weapon in her hand. "The fingers are connected to the heart; blood and spirit as one. Your blood has awakened its edge. Try it again."
Lying in bed, they couldn't make large movements, but with a gentle flick, Chu Ruo felt the difference. The grip felt different than before, and she didn't understand why the heavy, freezing sensation had suddenly vanished without a trace. "This..."
"No matter how good it was before, without a blood awakening, it was just a piece of scrap metal. From now on, it is yours. You are its master, and the blade has a spirit of its own. This sword is bloodthirsty and leaves no trace, possessing a frost-chill intent. Though it’s an inch shorter than a standard longsword, it has its own strengths. With it, your combat power will increase. And..." She took her hand, pressed a specific spot, and flicked it hard. *Clang, clang, clang!*
Chu Ruo felt the Ice Fiend change shape. It felt like a circular ring around her hand, then it flew out, circled the room, and flew steadily back into her hand. "It can turn into a flying chakram, with sharp blades all around. Be careful not to cut your hand."
Chu Ruo felt it carefully. So that was why the blade was wavy. She truly admired the exquisite craftsmanship. This was essentially two weapons in one—a sword and a chakram. Excellent.
"This weapon is great. I like it."
"I’m glad."
"By the way, since the weapon was stolen from the Sword-Forging Villa, will they send people to hunt me down?"
"The sword was stolen. You might not care about your reputation, but the Sword-Forging Villa does. Do you think they’ll go around announcing their weapon was stolen? I chose this place because it’s close and because the Villa Master values his reputation above all else. Don't worry."
*Easy for you to say; you weren't the one who stole it.* She idly raised her hand and touched the other woman’s mask. "I can't see anyway. Why are you still wearing this?"
"If my face were truly ruined, would you despise me?" Nan Muxue didn't know why she asked. She looked at the white-bandaged eyes and the question just came out.
Chu Ruo answered bluntly, "You underestimate me too much."
The answer was... well, perhaps not entirely appropriate. The Little Viper’s question was also problematic. What were they to each other? Why talk about "despising"? Was her face really disfigured? Regardless, Chu Ruo meant what she said. She didn't care about such things, especially since the Little Viper was so good to her. But she also felt a bit insecure. "What about you? I’m blind now. Will you despise me?" The Little Viper, even if disfigured, was still a Young Palace Mistress—the definition of rich and beautiful. Compared to her, Chu Ruo was nothing. She had nothing, and now she was blind.
"No." Just one word, but Chu Ruo knew she was a woman of few words. She believed it was the truth. Nan Muxue then added with a hint of guilt, "It was my fault for letting your eyes get hurt."
"It’s fine, it’s fine. I don't blame you." She hugged her, deciding to change the subject. "Speaking of which, I’ve completed my mission."
Nan Muxue saw right through her but didn't call her out. "Yes."
"Then where’s my reward?"
A pill was handed over. "This is the antidote for the Hundred Flowers Poison for the next six months."
Chu Ruo tucked it away carefully but leaned in persistently. "And?"
And? "What else do you want?"
*What do I want?* She had just asked on a whim, but the Little Viper seemed willing to give. Money? She didn't seem to lack money. She already had the antidote. *Don't miss this chance! What should I ask for?* After a few seconds of internal debate, Chu Ruo decided her brain must be full of water. She boldly raised her hand and pointed to her own lips.
There was no response. *Fine, with her personality, she wouldn't be the type to initiate a kiss...*
*Mmph!*
Even with the cloth over her eyes, Chu Ruo’s eyes widened. The Little Viper actually indulged her and kissed her! The feeling was wonderful. This was the first time she had initiated it—the medicine feeding didn't count. Whatever, she didn't have the mental capacity to think about that now. Focus.
When the kiss ended, Chu Ruo wanted to continue, but a slender finger blocked her lips. "Give an inch and you want a mile. Insatiable."
"I..."
"It’s late. Get some rest; it’s better for your eyes. We return to the Hundred Flowers Palace tomorrow morning."
"So soon?"
"It’s not like you’re forbidden from leaving the mountain ever again. I’ll take you out again after a while. This first trip was nothing but trouble. Learn to be still for a bit."
Chu Ruo had to admit, because of that kiss, she was currently lightheaded and floating. she clung to the other woman like an octopus. She was cool and refreshing. "Then let’s sleep. Goodnight, Master."
Nan Muxue didn't know why she indulged such an unreasonable request. But she had understood instantly and, without hesitation, offered her lips. *Chu Ruo, if I treat you like this, will you still leave me? No, you won't.* She admitted to herself that she would use any means necessary to get what she wanted. She indulged Chu Ruo’s every whim and had ruined her reputation. She wanted Chu Ruo to be unable to leave her, to stay by her side forever. Yet, Nan Muxue didn't realize that she wasn't doing this just for her original goal. She was truly willing to do anything for this person, just to see her happy.
***
Morning.
Perhaps because of her eyes, Chu Ruo woke up early. To her delight, her vision had improved a bit more. She could vaguely make out shapes, though everything was still blurry. She looked toward the Little Viper—couldn't see clearly, but the blur looked remarkably like Yan'er. She had been away for so many days; she missed Yan'er. The gift she’d bought was still tucked away on her person. But these nights with the Little Viper... *Sigh.* She was a scoundrel. What was coming would come. Once they returned, she had to face it and handle the situation between the three of them.
"Ruo'er." Just as she was lost in thought, Nan Muxue woke up. The first thing she did was look for Chu Ruo, placing a hand gently on her. "Ruo'er."
Chu Ruo, thinking of Yan'er, didn't know how to face her and decided to pretend to be asleep. Seeing this, Nan Muxue thought she was in a deep slumber. She knew that once Chu Ruo was truly asleep, even thunder wouldn't wake her. She decided not to disturb her and got up to wash.
"Who is it!"
Chu Ruo was secretly watching her wash her face (well, I’m wearing a blindfold, so I’m 'secretly' but 'openly' watching). Nan Muxue was staring at the door, her face cold.
"Young Palace Mistress."
*Not good.* It was Nan Yunshuang’s voice. Though they weren't close, Chu Ruo felt something was wrong. Of the four Protectors, she was the only one who belonged to Nan Menghua. What was she doing here? She’d keep pretending to sleep and react as needed.
Nan Muxue’s first instinct was to look at Chu Ruo on the bed. She still looked like she was dead to the world. "What is the Great Protector doing here?"
"I am merely curious why the Young Palace Mistress has not followed the original plan to expel Chu Ruo from the sect."
*What?!* Chu Ruo’s heart hammered. *You wicked Little Viper! I gave you my heart and soul (wait, maybe not quite), I’ve been a devoted disciple, and you were going to kick me out?! Hmph, you’re in trouble now. Big trouble.*
Nan Muxue glanced at the bed again. Chu Ruo was still "sleeping" peacefully. Her expression softened slightly. "The plan has changed. Ruo'er’s eyes are injured..."
"Changed? How convenient that she was injured now. Could it be the Young Palace Mistress’s own doing?"
Nan Muxue’s eyes turned cold. "What do you mean by that?"
"I am merely puzzled. The plan was for Chu Ruo to steal the Ice Fiend, ruin her reputation, and then be expelled. That would lure the Heavenly Demon Palace into recruiting her. Now the Ice Fiend is in our hands. The Heavenly Demon Palace loves recruiting outcasts; this would even sow discord between them and the Sword-Forging Villa, would it not?"
"I have already said, Ruo'er’s eyes are injured. Everything will be reconsidered once we return to the palace."
"Or perhaps you never intended to expel her at all." Nan Yunshuang suddenly drew her sword. "Since she is blind, she is useless to the palace. A redundant person should die."
"Yunshuang." Nan Muxue stood up. With a flick of her hand, Ice Soul flew into her grip. "If you think you can kill her while I am here, then try."
"I told you, she will only affect you. Look at what you’ve become. Xue'er, this person is not worth it."
"Whether she is worth it is not for you to decide." Nan Muxue turned to look at the person on the bed, her eyes filled with a hidden smile. "Go. I will act as if today never happened."
Chu Ruo could tell Nan Yunshuang was gripping her sword hilt with lethal force. Ultimately, she let go. As she retreated, she said, "I truly regret not hitting a vital spot last night."
"So, it was you." The answer was as expected.
"Yes. I am not afraid to admit it. This is the last time," Nan Yunshuang said as she walked away. "Watch your precious disciple well. I will strike again. She will only drag you down and harm you. She cannot be allowed to stay."
Nan Muxue sheathed her sword and sat back on the bed. The girl was still "sleeping." She stroked her brow with such tenderness and solemnity, knowing the person on the bed couldn't hear her. "Don't be afraid. Master will protect you."
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 冰煞 | Ice Fiend | The wavy, segmented divine weapon stolen from the villa. |
| 冰魄 | Ice Soul | Nan Muxue's signature longsword. |
| 沈若轩 | Shen Ruoxuan | The 11th Prince of Sword-Forging Villa; an ally of Nan Muxue. |
| 寒冰掌 | Frost Palm | A martial technique of the Hundred Flowers Palace. |
| 天魔宫 | Heavenly Demon Palace | A rival or antagonistic sect mentioned in the plot. |
| 南云霜 | Nan Yunshuang | The Great Protector of the Hundred Flowers Palace; loyal to Nan Menghua. |
| 飞轮 | Flying Chakram | The secondary form of the Ice Fiend weapon. |
| 削铁如泥 | Cut through iron like butter | An idiom describing an extremely sharp blade. |
