At the edge of the cliff, Chu Ruo had stood with her arms spread wide, half her body already suspended in the air. Facing the surrounding swarm of black-clad figures, she had resolutely leapt. Below lay a ten-thousand-foot abyss; a fall meant being ground to dust. As she plummeted, her eyes remained fixed on the heights above, her lips moving until a final cry finally broke through: "Master, save me!"
"Ruo'er!"
Nan Muxue jolted awake from the nightmare, not even pausing to wipe the cold sweat from her brow. "Ruo'er, no..." she murmured, rolling over to scramble out of bed. "Ruo'er, Ruo'er..."
"Young Palace Master," A-Yue hurried forward to support her. "You’ve only just regained consciousness."
Nan Muxue was so weak she nearly collapsed. "Ruo'er... where is Ruo'er?"
Yin Liuli and Duan Ning were also in the room. Seeing her state, they stepped forward to dissuade her. "Xue'er, you’ve been unconscious for six days. You aren't fit to move yet. Lie back down."
"Ruo'er?" She ignored them, her voice a frantic call for that name, hoping for a response. Perhaps that girl would be brewing medicine for her, or waiting outside. Perhaps, upon hearing her call, she would come bounding in and flash that brilliant smile, calling out *Master, Master*. Nan Muxue stared at the door. "Ruo'er?"
She knew, deep down, that this was a delusional hope. Yet the lack of an answer pierced her heart. "Where is Ruo'er!"
Yin Liuli and Duan Ning exchanged a look, their expressions grim. Finally, Yin Liuli spoke. "She... she is missing. We have already dispatched disciples to search for her."
"Missing? Ha." Nan Muxue’s laugh was jagged and tragic. The movement must have agitated her internal injuries, for she suddenly coughed, spraying a mouthful of bright, vivid blood onto the floor. It was a startling, gruesome sight.
"Xue'er!" "Young Palace Master!"
Everyone in the room cried out in concern. Nan Muxue ignored her own condition. "Where exactly is Ruo'er?"
Duan Ning couldn't help but say, "Calm down first."
Calm? Hearing those words, Nan Muxue found them increasingly ridiculous. She wasn't mocking the speaker, but herself. In the past, she was always the picture of composure, the Nan Muxue who remained unruffled regardless of the crisis. But how could she be calm now? "Speak."
"She... she jumped off the cliff."
"Which side?"
Duan Ning watched her expression closely and answered softly, "The eastern side." The eastern side of Cloud Mist Mountain—a bottomless abyss.
Yin Liuli added quickly, "We have sent every disciple we can spare. You... don't panic. Your injuries are the priority."
Nan Muxue’s gaze turned profound, losing the frantic edge she had when she first woke. she surveyed her surroundings; judging by the decor, this was the branch sect in the city. "Tell me everything that happened," she said calmly.
Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed that someone so frantic a moment ago could now sit there with such cold rationality, listening to a report. Others might not have known, but everyone in this room understood what Chu Ruo meant to Nan Muxue. To regain control of her emotions in an instant, as if nothing had happened—truly, the Young Palace Master of Baihua Palace lived up to her reputation.
The others summarized the situation. The branch in the city hadn't suffered as much as the one on the mountain. Firstly, this location was mostly for show; secondly, Liu Shaopeng’s primary targets were Nan Muxue and Chu Ruo, so he had only sent enough men to keep the city disciples pinned down.
After catching up on the events of that night, Yin Liuli frowned. "I can understand him using the name of the Heavenly Demon Palace to smear them, but it’s as if he was right beside us, knowing our every move."
Nan Muxue toyed with her thumb ring. "Is that even a question?"
Duan Ning picked up the thread. "Baihua Palace has a mole!"
"We will deal with that after we return. Where are the prisoners?"
Duan Ning gave a meaningful look, and A-Yue understood, opening the door. "Bring them in."
Several disciples shoved a few miners and a Feipeng Fortress disciple disguised as a member of the Heavenly Demon Palace into the room, kicking them until they knelt. The miners immediately began wailing and kowtowing. "Mercy, have mercy! Spare us..."
"And the others?"
"Locked away. These three have already confessed. They were bribed to sabotage one well first, then poison the other. And as for what they did to the disciples that day... those sisters chose death over dishonor. In short, they are all here."
Nan Muxue looked at the Feipeng Fortress disciple. "Speak. Are you a disciple of Feipeng Fortress?"
The man spat on the floor. "I know that even if I tell the truth, I’ll still die, won't I?"
Nan Muxue actually smiled. "Correct."
*Shink—*
In the blink of an eye, the disciple was decapitated. More than that, his entire body was neatly sliced into four or five segments. The remaining men were just commoners; seeing this, they were scared out of their wits. One of the more cowardly ones had already soiled himself. "Mercy! We knew nothing, we were just following orders! Please, Great Heroine, stay your hand!"
"Mercy? The lives of my disciples cannot be repaid even if I kill you ten times over," Nan Muxue said, her brow furrowing. "What of the other laborers?"
"Still locked up. About several dozen of them."
"From this moment on, no food is to be given to those men. Only water. As for you three... every day, the flesh of your legs will be fed to the dogs, until not a single scrap remains on your bones..."
Before she could finish, the men kowtowed frantically. "Spare... us..."
"When did I say I wanted your lives?" Nan Muxue smiled eerily. "Killing you would only soil the hands of Baihua Palace."
They hadn't yet realized the horror in her expression, continuing to beg. "We were momentarily blinded by greed, please, let us go..."
"Let you go?" Nan Muxue stood up and walked past them, gazing into the distance. "Once the meat on your legs has been gnawed clean, I will send you back to the cell where your companions are kept. They will have been starving for so long... and such a feast will be delivered right to them..."
She didn't need to finish. Even the dimmest among them understood her meaning. The trembling men fell into utter despair, their faces turning ashen, unable to even cry for mercy.
Duan Ning watched the group being dragged away and spoke hesitantly, "Those few deserve it, but the others..."
"None of them are innocent. With so many people, do you really think none of them knew?" Nan Muxue stood with her hands behind her back. "To know and stay silent—that silence is the most hateful thing of all. By the way, how is the main Palace?"
"Everything is fine there. Yan'er wanted to come, but I told her to stay. The branch is destroyed; we can't afford any slips at the main headquarters."
"With Yun Shuang and her there, nothing should go wrong. Besides, Cloud-Ascending Peak isn't so easy to breach. What of Liu Shaopeng?"
Yin Liuli spoke up. "We went up the mountain as soon as we settled things here, but we were a step too late. He had already vanished."
"Mobilize the disciples. Spare no effort in attacking every branch of Feipeng Fortress."
Duan Ning was energized. "I’ve been waiting for you to say that! Those curs, we’ll wipe them out!"
"Ning'er," Yin Liuli interjected. "Liu Shaopeng deliberately posed as the Heavenly Demon Palace to muddy the waters and shift blame. He did it to prevent exactly this. We have no hard evidence. If we act rashly like this, we have no 'righteous cause,' and our two sects are technically allies. You shouldn't have killed that disciple just now."
"From the moment he moved against us, there was no alliance. The martial world has always been this way. As for that disciple—Liu Shaopeng is meticulous. Even if I kept a witness to confront him, do you think he would admit it? A single witness? He would just claim it was a Heavenly Demon disciple slandering him. Do you think it makes a difference?"
"Exactly, Liuli. They’ve stepped all over our heads, and you’re still worrying about appearances."
Yin Liuli shook her head. "Do you think I’m not angry? I’m doing this for Xue'er’s sake. Xue'er, you’ve never been this irrational. Don't forget, the Old Palace Master is still above us. She already disapproved of you opening branches. If she finds out you broke the relationship between two sects without a proper pretext..."
Duan Ning hesitated at this. "Xue'er, maybe we shouldn't be so obvious. We could strike from the shadows..."
Nan Muxue shook her head. "There are still several months before Mother finishes her seclusion. We must act quickly. As for Yun Shuang, as long as Mother doesn't emerge, she cannot stop me. The martial world must know that Baihua Palace is not to be trifled with."
Yin Liuli and Duan Ning exchanged a look, then smiled. "We follow the Young Palace Master’s command."
"As for the remaining disciples, all of them are to search for Ruo'er."
"Xue'er," they said in unison.
"Say no more. My mind is made up," Nan Muxue looked at the two of them. "Liuli, Ning'er, if you still see me as your Young Palace Master, then do as I say."
Yin Liuli sighed. "We’ve been friends for twenty years. Our bond is far greater than mere titles of Palace Master and Protector. Since you’ve decided, Ning'er, Yan'er, and I will support you with all our hearts. No matter... no matter the consequences, we will face them together."
"Mm." Nan Muxue was never a woman of many words. Only for one person would she ever be the exception.
"By the way, where is Xiao Guo'er?"
"She’s kneeling outside, waiting for your punishment. She told us everything. It’s thanks to her that many disciples were saved, and you as well. Although she stopped you from going after Chu Ruo, she did it to save your life. Don't be too hard on her."
Nan Muxue waved a hand and rose to go outside. A-Yue hurried to support her. "Young Palace Master, I’ll just call her in. You shouldn't move."
Nan Muxue insisted on going out. The others couldn't stop her, so they followed.
Outside, Xiao Guo'er was kneeling in the center of the courtyard. Seeing the Young Palace Master emerge, she felt a surge of excitement and relief, but remembering her own defiance, she lowered her head again.
"Stand up." Nan Muxue arrived before her.
"Xiao Guo'er... does not dare."
"Do you know the consequences of taking matters into your own hands and defying the Palace Master’s orders?"
"I know."
"You knew, yet you did it anyway."
Xiao Guo'er replied honestly, "I am very afraid of death. I always have been. But that day, Chu Ruo didn't hesitate to draw them away to save you. I didn't want her sacrifice to be in vain. She often told me to do what I believe is right. So, I... I did it. Please punish me, Young Palace Master."
Nan Muxue was silent for a long time, making Yin Liuli, Duan Ning, and A-Yue want to speak up for the girl. Then, they heard her say, "From now on, you shall stay by my side."
What was this? The others looked at each other in confusion. Xiao Guo'er let out a bewildered and uncertain "Ah?"
A-Yue snapped back to her senses first and nudged her. "Xiao Guo'er, what are you dazing for? Thank the Young Palace Master!"
"Ah, yes! Thank you, Young Palace Master!"
"When I have time, I will personally instruct you. However, I will not take another disciple." That last sentence seemed pointed, as if spoken for others to hear, yet also as if she were talking to herself.
"Yes, this disciple will remember."
*Ruo'er, I promise you, you are my last disciple. I will keep Xiao Guo'er by my side. You were so close to her; if you knew, you would be happy, wouldn't you?*
"What is the situation on the mountain now?"
"The main Palace sent a group of disciples. I’ve also arranged for people to go up and begin repairs. It’s quite a mess right now."
"I want to go up and see."
"You have injuries..."
"Let’s go."
***
Cloud Mist Mountain.
Nan Muxue stood at the edge of the cliff. Below, the abyss was shrouded in mist, preventing her from seeing further. *You girl, someone so afraid of death and heights... where did you get the immense courage to jump?* If Chu Ruo were here, she would surely answer: *From you.*
"She... fell from right here," Duan Ning said regretfully. "It takes time to get down there. I’ve ordered the disciples to hurry."
Nan Muxue flicked her long sleeves. "Search day and night. Ruo'er has the Hundred Flowers Poison in her; we must find her as quickly as possible." Fortunately, it seemed the girl’s worries had been justified. Nan Muxue had given her enough antidote to last a month. There was still time. But if she was down there with no one to help her, just lying on the ground... *No... she won't!* She clutched her head in pain. *She won't! Ruo'er, nothing will happen to you. I won't let anything happen to you!*
A-Yue stepped forward anxiously to support her. "The wind is strong at the cliff's edge. Please, come away."
Nan Muxue clenched her fists. "How badly was Ruo'er’s room burned?"
"Actually, luck was on our side. The wind was blowing the other way that night, and since it was some distance from the source, her small section of rooms wasn't damaged much. Do you want to see?"
"Yes."
Xiao Guo'er and A-Yue supported her as they walked. Yin Liuli sighed behind them. "Xue'er... sigh."
"Setting aside the fact that a fall from this height is almost certainly fatal, even if there’s a river below, the poison in her system..."
"I heard Xue'er say she gave Chu Ruo some antidote, enough for half a year... but even with the medicine on her, if no one saves her, how can she take it?"
"Shh," Duan Ning silenced her, glancing at the departing Nan Muxue. She pulled a small silk pouch from her robe, her face filled with even greater sorrow. "I found this on the cliff face, just a little way down, caught on some shrubs. Inside is the antidote for the Hundred Flowers Poison."
Yin Liuli’s expression turned grim. "Then that means Chu Ruo..." Without the antidote on her person, Chu Ruo was doomed.
"Let’s not tell Xue'er for now," Duan Ning said. "The time she and Chu Ruo spent at the branch was the happiest I’ve seen her in all these years. Even though she tried to hide it, I could tell. I thought there was finally someone who could truly stay by her side."
"Yes, even at the main Palace, Xue'er changed completely after Chu Ruo arrived," Yin Liuli turned away, unable to bear it. "I thought that no matter how hard their path would be in the future, I never expected it to be so sudden, so brief."
"I can't bear to shatter her hope," Duan Ning suddenly hugged Yin Liuli. "Liuli, I’m so sad. I’m sad for Xue'er. I don't want to break her beautiful illusion. I’m so afraid that you and I will end up like this one day."
"We won't, we won't. Silly girl, don't be afraid," Yin Liuli comforted the woman in her arms tenderly. "We won't be like that. I will protect you. Haven't I looked out for you since we were children? Don't worry."
Duan Ning muffled her voice against her chest. "Mm. About Xue'er... let’s not say anything. We’ll see how things go."
"Mm."
***
Nan Muxue stood in the center of the room. The table she had personally smashed hadn't been cleared away yet. It felt as if nothing had changed, as if the other person’s scent still lingered. she looked around, her mind picturing the girl in this room—how she loved to rummage through things, how she never tidied up, how she would jump to the door to embrace her the moment she heard her arrive at night. Nan Muxue smiled. *Ruo'er.*
She walked through every corner of the room, imagining what the person in her mind had done there. Finally, she came to the small writing desk. It was pitifully small, yet surprisingly tidy. It was ironic that she had never noticed it before. On it lay only a collection of poems and some Xuan paper, a brush, and an inkstone. She picked up the collection; it was simple, with only the words "Poem Collection" on the cover.
Xiao Guo'er stepped forward. "Chu Ruo wrote this. She said it was for you."
*Chu Ruo had been scribbling furiously at the desk. "I’m writing this for Master. Even though I didn't write these poems myself, my Master likes them. I don't have many talents, and it’s rare to find something she can use. I have nothing else to do anyway, so I’ll just write a bit whenever I think of it. Once I have a full book, I’ll give it to her."*
Visualizing this scene through Xiao Guo'er’s description, an unconscious smile touched Nan Muxue’s lips. To think that because of a casual remark she had made that day, the girl had actually done this for her. She flipped through the book; the thick volume was already three-quarters full.
"Do you not see the waters of the Yellow River descending from the heavens, rushing to the sea, never to return..."
She had always known that Chu Ruo didn't belong here—at least, not in the world she knew. The girl always said her hometown was very far away, so far that once she arrived here, she could never go back. What kind of place was it that could produce such a person? Nan Muxue even wondered if she had... perhaps returned to her home.
"Before my bed, the moonlight shines bright, I take it for frost upon the ground. I raise my head to gaze at the bright moon, then lower it, thinking of home." Nan Muxue murmured the lines. "She missed home." Her Ruo'er had missed home. A surge of dread filled her heart. The girl had mentioned home countless times; perhaps she shouldn't have kept her by her side. At the very least, today’s tragedy wouldn't have happened. Perhaps Ruo'er really could have gone home.
"Did she... mention her home often?"
Xiao Guo'er replied, "Every now and then. She always said her home was fun and interesting, and she said she missed it, and..."
"Ahem," A-Yue coughed lightly, signaling Xiao Guo'er to look at the Young Palace Master’s expression and stop talking.
Xiao Guo'er hurriedly shut her mouth. "This... this disciple spoke out of turn."
*Such a dim-witted reaction; no wonder you got along so well with her.* Nan Muxue’s heart and mind were full of that girl’s image. "You two may leave. Tonight, I will stay here."
"Here..."
"Go."
The Young Palace Master’s word was law. The two didn't dare say more and withdrew.
That night, Nan Muxue lay on the bed she had shared several times, staring blankly at the ceiling. Beside her lay the book of poems; she placed it carefully, fearing even a single wrinkle. On the Xuan paper were countless drawings of her—both as the "Little Scorpion" and as "Yan'er." Her favorite was one that seemed to be set at Baihua Palace; she was dancing with her sword, her swirling figure drawing a small swarm of colorful butterflies.
"Ruo'er," Nan Muxue realized she had called the name aloud, her voice already hoarse. There was no longer any warmth on this bed for her. She replayed those scenes in her mind over and over—the first time she saved her, the first time she visited her, threatening her to become her disciple, the first time she hit her, and their first kiss... and the countless nights they spent sleeping in each other's arms. She grabbed the pillow beside her and hugged it tightly. In this moment, Nan Muxue let go of all her strength. Tears soaked the pillow. *Why? Why is heaven always so cruel? To give her to me, only to snatch her away.*
Unfortunately, this time, there would be no one to coax her. No one would stubbornly wrap their arms around her waist from behind, refusing to let go even if they were knocked away, only to come back and hold her tenderly, calling out "Master." No one would act spoiled and say, "Master, Master, look..."
*Chu Ruo, you are so untrustworthy.* Nan Muxue felt the cold closing in from all sides. No matter how thick the quilt, it couldn't ward off this bitter chill. *We agreed that in the summer you would hold me to keep cool, and in the winter I would use you for warmth. Now that the weather has turned cold, you’ve run away. Even if you run to the ends of the earth, this Master will catch you! You are mine, Nan Muxue’s. Don't even think of escaping.*
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Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 43 | Uncertain Fate | Novela.app | Novela.app
