Chu Ruo was seething with resentment, yet she had no choice but to force a smile onto her face. "Master, you refused to see me yesterday, yet here you are in my room first thing in the morning. May I ask what your intentions are?"
"I thought my disciple would have learned some manners by now. It seems I was mistaken."
"The antidote—give it to me."
Nan Muxue kept her gaze fixed elsewhere, the rim of her teacup never leaving her lips. She simply didn't respond. This left Chu Ruo feeling utterly dejected and frustrated. The agonizing sensation of the poison's onset—that feeling of being caught between life and death—made her want to end it all. Seeing the other woman’s indifference, her temper flared. She slammed her hands onto the table. "What exactly do you want?"
The onlookers gasped in unison. This freak had provoked the Young Palace Mistress time and again; did she truly have no fear of death?
Nan Muxue finally set down her teacup, her slender fingers tracing the rim. "Tell me, how does the Hundred Flowers Gu taste?"
In an instant, the Chu Ruo who had been puffing her chest out a second ago completely deflated. Her attitude softened immediately as she answered honestly, "It tastes... terrible."
"Then do you admit your mistake?"
"What did I do wrong?" she grumbled under her breath. *You poison me and then ask if I know what I did wrong?*
Xiao Guo’er stood to the side, tugging at Chu Ruo’s sleeve and whispering a reminder, "You didn't show up for practice yesterday. Hurry and apologize to the Young Palace Mistress."
"That counts? I was in so much pain, how could I have gone? Don't be so unreasonable. Anyway, now that I've fallen into your hands, you call the shots. There's no fairness to be had. Kill me or hack me to pieces, do as you wish."
"This Mistress has always prided herself on fairness. You claim you were suffering from the poison at the time. The disciples of this sect begin their practice at the Hour of the Rabbit. Xiao Guo’er," Nan Muxue called out.
Xiao Guo’er hurried forward. "Guo’er is here."
"When did her poison first take effect?"
"Around the Hour of the Horse."
"Ahem, cough, cough..." Hearing this, Chu Ruo’s face turned various shades of red and white. The Hour of the Rabbit was roughly five to seven in the morning, but her pain hadn't started until noon. Caught in her lie, she could only cough awkwardly to cover her embarrassment.
"A full three hours. Could it be that my dear Ruo’er rose early and spent those three hours washing up?"
"Uh, if you want to think of it that way, sure. After all, everyone likes to be clean."
"Since that is the case, you shall finish washing up now. Meet me at the martial arts field in three hours."
"Hey, wait! Don't go!" Seeing her about to leave, Chu Ruo panicked. If she had to endure that pain a few more times, she’d likely lose her life.
Nan Muxue feigned ignorance. "What is this, Ruo’er? Why are you stopping your Master?"
"Well... isn't Master going to give me the antidote?"
"My, Ruo’er is so formidable, I thought you no longer required it."
*You! Fine, you little snake-scorpion, I’ll endure it. I’ll endure you.* Chu Ruo lowered her head sincerely. "Disciple knows she was wrong. Please forgive me this once, Master."
"Wrong in what way?"
"I shouldn't have been lazy and slept in yesterday."
"And?"
*And? You’re really pushing your luck, aren't you?* Naturally, she only complained internally. When she looked up, she met the snake-scorpion woman’s sharp, discerning eyes. "Are you dissatisfied?"
"Disciple wouldn't dare. I am merely slow-witted and do not know where else I have failed. I hope Master will enlighten me."
"Indolence, disregarding palace rules, insubordination, and talking back to your Master," Nan Muxue said, stroking the jade signet ring on her finger. "Do you know the consequences?"
"When did I talk back to you?"
"I say you did, and you say you didn't. Is that not talking back?"
Chu Ruo was speechless. She scrutinized the woman from head to toe. *Is this person a fellow transmigrator? How does she know these kinds of tropes?*
"What are you looking at?"
While she was still dazed, her neck was once again seized. "Do not stare at me again, or I shall gouge out your eyes!"
"I... I understand." Chu Ruo truly wanted to cry but had no tears. *I just looked at you twice!* She couldn't find enough words to describe this wicked woman.
"Add another charge: gross disrespect. Xiao Guo’er, tell her the consequences of all these combined."
"Abolishment of martial arts, gouging of the eyes, severing of the hamstrings and tendons, and expulsion from the sect."
*Holy crap, what did I even do? Did I actually do anything?* If she had a choice, Chu Ruo would rather have been left to rot at the foot of the mountain than be picked up by this female demon. What kind of mess was this? She swallowed hard. "Master... mercy..."
"Oh?" Nan Muxue took a step forward, her right hand rising. Chu Ruo instinctively shielded her head with her arms, but instead, the woman gripped her chin and tilted it upward. *Hey, hey, I’m half a head taller than you, is it really okay to flirt with me in broad daylight? Do the palace rules not apply to this?* Nan Muxue continued, "I thought my disciple was fearless. So, you do know how to be afraid?"
"You aren't really going to gouge my eyes and cut my tendons, are you? How about we negotiate? Just give me half the punishment. I don't have martial arts anyway, so I’m already useless. Just expel me and throw me down the mountain. I won't complain at all."
Beside them, Xiao Guo’er didn't know whether to be disgusted or speechless. "Stop talking nonsense! Cloud-Reaching Peak is surrounded by sheer cliffs. Being 'expelled' means being thrown directly off the summit!"
*Damn it...* Chu Ruo wondered what sins she had committed in a past life for the heavens to toy with her like this. She completely forgot that the two of them were currently in a rather... ambiguous posture. Nan Muxue remained as calm as ever. "What did Ruo’er just say? Your Master never likes to force anyone. I wouldn't mind granting your request."
"No, I didn't say anything! I know I was wrong! From now on, I’ll follow the rules and listen to everything Master says."
Seemingly satisfied with this performance, Nan Muxue finally released her and nodded. "Will you dare to be late again?"
"I won't."
"Will you dare to be lazy?"
"I won't."
"Will you—"
Chu Ruo hurriedly interrupted, "I won't, I won't do anything anymore! I will follow all of Master’s teachings."
"Oh?" That 'oh' sounded... well, it carried a hint of a smile that wasn't quite a smile. "I was originally going to ask if you wanted the antidote. Since you don't, then forget it."
"No! I want it, I want it! Master, my wonderful Master, please give me the antidote."
"Do you truly know your mistake?"
She nodded like a chicken pecking grain. "Mhm, mhm..."
"You want the antidote?"
She nodded even harder. "Yes, yes, yes, yes..."
"Go practice first. You have already wasted much time. Do not waste any more of mine."
"You aren't giving it to me?"
"As long as you are obedient, I will naturally bestow the medicine upon you. Are you still not going?"
Chu Ruo looked pitiful. "Um, can I eat something before I go?" Since yesterday, she hadn't had a single bite of food or a drop of water, aside from the few bowls of medicine Xiao Guo’er had brewed. Between the sleeping and the agonizing poison, she’d had no appetite. Now, her stomach was growling.
"It is too late. Choose for yourself: follow me now, or stay here to eat."
Xiao Guo’er stepped forward and gave her a shove. "Why aren't you following her? Haven't you provoked the Young Palace Mistress enough? Missing a meal or two won't kill you. Be careful, or you won't get that antidote!"
"What a nightmare this is," Chu Ruo grumbled, kicking the ground before following them out.
Once they reached the martial arts field, her attention was drawn to the disciples. They were practicing with great momentum and looked quite formidable. *This snake-scorpion woman is so skilled; if she’s teaching me, I shouldn't end up too bad, right?* Thinking this way, she found a silver lining. She was the type to look for luck in misfortune; a day spent happy was the same as a day spent sad, so why not be optimistic?
"Come here."
"Oh."
Chu Ruo followed obediently to a corner of the field where few people were around. She began to imagine herself learning peerless divine techniques. Seeing the woman’s display of flying needles yesterday had been impressive. Eager to start, she said, "Let's begin."
For the second time, Ayue saw an expression on the Young Palace Mistress’s face—one of amusement. "Begin what?"
"Learning martial arts! Weren't you going to teach me?"
"First, the horse stance."
"What?"
"Do you have an objection?"
*Do I dare?* She obediently sank into a horse stance. Then, her legs, waist, hands, and even her buttocks were pelted with something. Hissing in pain, she looked down to see pebbles on the ground. She looked back at Nan Muxue, who spoke with blatant disdain, "You can't even hold a proper horse stance."
Chu Ruo grimaced in displeasure. However, this scene caused the jaws of everyone else present to drop. The Young Palace Mistress was personally teaching this person the horse stance and supervising them? This was unprecedented. Looking at the legendary "freak," they noted how strange she appeared—short hair, an earring in only one ear. Was this a man or a woman? In truth, very few people in the Hundred Flowers Palace, let alone the martial world, knew Chu Ruo’s true gender or even her name. Nan Muxue had deliberately suppressed the information. Only a handful of people knew she was a woman. Xiao Guo’er knew because she cared for her, but she had been strictly forbidden from speaking of it. Seeing her in male attire today, looking quite handsome, the disciples assumed she was undoubtedly a man.
*Who the hell invented this anti-human horse stance?* Chu Ruo hadn't even lasted a minute before she wanted to quit. But the moment her fingers trembled, Nan Muxue’s voice—melodious to others but poisonous to her—drifted over. "Does my disciple no longer wish for the Hundred Flowers Gu antidote?"
She gritted her teeth and held on. "No, Disciple knows Master is testing my resolve. I will practice diligently and not let Master’s efforts go to waste."
"If you can stand for one hour, I will give you one pill. It will grant you one hour of relief."
Chu Ruo whipped her head around. "Only one hour?!"
"If you stand for another hour, I will give you another. And so on. Whether or not you receive the antidote is entirely in your own hands."
*In my own hands?* After all this time, she realized she couldn't beat this snake-scorpion woman in a fight, couldn't win in an argument, and certainly couldn't outsmart her. She might as well give up. But she wasn't one to stay passive forever; she was just in a weak position because she didn't understand the situation yet. *You little brat, fine. Just you wait. Once I find a way, I’ll show you. But for now, I’ll play along.* "Then what about when I sleep at night? You can't expect me to do the horse stance instead of resting."
"If you can hold out from now until the Hour of the Dog, I will give you another pill that will ensure you don't suffer throughout the night."
The Hour of the Dog? She had to stand until seven or eight in the evening? Chu Ruo nearly collapsed then and there. Yet Nan Muxue sat there, calm and unruffled. "If you cannot endure, simply say so. Your Master never likes to... force... anyone."
*You’ve said that so many times, but you spend every moment trying to kill me! Fine, it’s just a horse stance. I’ll go all out. You’d better never teach me any other martial arts, because once I learn, you can forget about being my Master.* Fueled by a sudden burst of spite, Chu Ruo stood with renewed vigor. Her back was straight, her knees bent in a half-squat—it was as perfect a stance as could be. "Since Master is so dedicated, Disciple shall naturally accompany you."
Nan Muxue actually rested her head on her hand, staring at her. "A teachable student."
Even more shocking to the disciples was that their Young Palace Mistress actually stayed there, watching over the "freak" as she held the horse stance for the entire day. Heavens! What was happening? To the disciples of the Hundred Flowers Palace, this was truly unbelievable.
***
Chu Ruo didn't know how she survived the day, but the result was that she made it and received the antidote for the night. However, a day of horse stance was barely better than the torture of the poison. She felt as if her body had fallen apart; nothing felt like it belonged to her anymore. Her calves were shaking uncontrollably, turning into jelly. Most infuriatingly, the snake-scorpion woman hadn't let her eat, claiming it would interfere with her training, and had only given her a few sips of tea. She was exhausted, starving, and thirsty. Though she desperately wanted to rest, she knew she’d starve to death by morning if she didn't eat. Fortunately, Xiao Guo’er wasn't asleep yet. Chu Ruo knocked on her door. "Xiao Guo’er, I’m hungry. Where’s dinner?"
Xiao Guo’er seemed to be embroidering. She opened the door and replied, "The meal times for disciples are fixed. Once they’re over, they’re over. You’re only back now; you missed it long ago."
*I... I will endure!* "Fine! Just tell me where the kitchen is. I’ll find something myself."
"You’re going to steal? You freak, you’re actually a thief? I despise you."
"I haven't eaten a single thing since yesterday! Not one thing, Sister Guo! Have some mercy and tell me where it is! I’m about to collapse."
"Fine, fine. The kitchen isn't too far from here. I’ll tell you: go left, then..." After giving directions, Xiao Guo’er prepared to close the door, not forgetting one last insult. "Of all things to be, you choose to be a thief. And a food thief at that. No ambition at all, honestly."
*Is this girl an idiot?* Chu Ruo didn't bother arguing and dashed toward the kitchen.
Her terrible sense of direction was apparently overcome by the sheer potential of her extreme hunger. Despite Xiao Guo’er’s winding directions, she found the kitchen with ease. It was empty. As Xiao Guo’er said, the rules were strict, and no disciple dared to commit petty theft. Furthermore, the kitchen wasn't a high-security area, so it was unguarded. She turned the place upside down. To her surprise, for a place that looked so wealthy, the food was quite plain—mostly light fare with no big meat dishes. After rummaging for a while, she left with a few pastries and some fruit. As she ate, she lamented that if she ever got the chance, she’d have to improve their diet, otherwise, this place would turn into a nunnery. In truth, it wasn't that the Hundred Flowers Palace was stingy; rather, the disciples were all women, and their martial arts emphasized elegance and light footwork. Their diets were strictly controlled as a matter of course.
With food in hand, Chu Ruo stopped paying attention to where she was going. The result: she was hopelessly lost. But it didn't matter; she had food and the antidote, so she wouldn't suffer tonight. She wasn't in a hurry and wandered aimlessly. Just as she was walking with a smug, bow-legged gait, she ran into someone.
What kind of divine beauty was this? A goddess? A celestial being? Chu Ruo’s vocabulary failed her; she didn't know how to describe these perfect features. Jade-like skin tinged with a rosy hue, starry eyes beneath willow-leaf brows that radiated a cold elegance. Her complexion was as white as fresh snow, her teeth like bright pearls. Her cherry lips were slightly parted, her brows faintly furrowed, her chin delicate and pointed. Her jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders like silk, making her eyes seem as cold as autumn water and as deep as ink. Her white robes only enhanced her ethereal, fairy-like aura.
Wait... something was wrong. This woman’s eyes looked familiar. They looked like... the snake-scorpion woman!
No, no, no. The snake-scorpion woman always wore a mask or a veil. She remembered Xiao Guo’er saying that the Fourth Protector who saved her was kind-hearted and as beautiful as a flower. Moreover, she supposedly looked a bit like the snake-scorpion woman. Therefore, the person in front of her was undoubtedly the Fourth Protector!
The woman seemed startled to see Chu Ruo. "You..."
Chu Ruo, however, had already trotted up to her, generously offering her food. "You must be the Fourth Protector, right? I finally get to meet you, little fairy. Want something to eat?"
***
