A vein throbbed in the woman’s temple. "It is late. Return to your quarters."
Her voice was as sweet as her face was beautiful, though it bore a slight resemblance to the Little Scorpion’s. However, while the Little Scorpion’s voice was steady and cold, this "Fourth Protector’s" voice felt a touch softer. Chu Ruo, viewing her through a thick filter of admiration, chose to ignore the similarities to Nan Muxue. Searching for a topic, she asked, "What is this place, anyway?"
The woman didn't answer. She simply turned and began to walk away. Chu Ruo hurried after her. "Hey, don't be in such a rush! You saved my life and I haven't even had the chance to thank you properly. Uh..." She looked herself over, then thrust a bright red apple toward the woman. "I don't have much to offer in return, so please, have an apple."
She hadn't expected the woman to stop so abruptly and turn around. Chu Ruo, who had been walking with her head down while offering the fruit, nearly crashed right into her. Fortunately, the woman was quick, placing a hand out to steady the distance before easily stepping back. "Why are you following me?"
"I want to thank you! Heh, and maybe we could be friends."
"There is no such word as 'friend' in the Hundred Flowers Palace."
"Well, there is now. You’re so pretty and kind-hearted, why shouldn't we be friends?" Chu Ruo stubbornly held out the apple again. "Go on, eat it."
The woman was unimpressed, dryly pointing out, "This belongs to the Hundred Flowers Palace."
"It’s in my hands now, so it’s mine. Just take it. My arm is getting tired holding it up like this."
"I am not hungry."
"Just have one. Eating an apple at night helps you sleep. Look at how sincere I’m being. You’re the one who saved me; do you really have the heart to reject my kindness?"
Finally, the woman reached out and took it, though she didn't move to eat it. Just as she was about to walk away again, Chu Ruo let out a sigh of relief. "You finally took it! My arm was killing me. It’s all that Little Scorpion’s fault."
The vein in the woman's temple throbbed twice more. "The... Little Scorpion?"
"Yeah, your Young Palace Mistress. She tortured me all day today." Chu Ruo paused, suddenly nervous as she looked at the woman. "You won't tell her I said that, will you?"
The woman’s lips curled into a smile—a terrifyingly beautiful one. "What did she do?"
To Chu Ruo, that smile was simply enchanting. She was utterly mesmerized. Convinced that this divine sister was far too kind and beautiful to ever betray her, she began to pour out her grievances like beans spilling from a jar.
"That crazy woman is a total she-devil! She’s either choking me or threatening to gouge my eyes out. Don't you think she’s sick in the head? She forced me to take her as my master—as if! Bah! She’s just a little slip of a girl. We’re probably the same age, and I might even be older than her. Then she poisons me with that 'Hundred Flowers Gu' or whatever. If she isn't a Little Scorpion, I don't know who is! What did I ever do to offend her? And that’s not even the half of it. She let me suffer through a whole day of agonizing pain yesterday, then today she claims she’s teaching me martial arts, but all she did was make me hold a horse stance while she pelted me with stones. She’s constantly scolding or hitting me, and she worked me to the bone without even giving me dinner! I had to sneak into the kitchen in the middle of the night just to find a snack. And let me tell you, the food quality here is abysmal. Not a scrap of meat in sight! You’ll get malnourished if you don't eat meat. That Little Scorpion isn't just malicious; she’s a cheapskate too."
The woman’s veins were practically bulging now, but she forced herself to remain calm. "Hearing you tell it, it seems the Young Palace Mistress is indeed in the wrong."
"Exactly! She’s completely in the wrong. Just she wait—once I find a way to escape, I’ll show her what’s what." Chu Ruo gnashed her teeth at the memory of the day's events, then looked back at the woman. "You know, you both grew up in the same place, but the difference between people is just staggering. Protector Sister, compared to that Little Scorpion, you’re an angel from heaven while she’s a demon from the pits."
"Oh? Am I truly that good?" The woman’s voice was unreadable. *How can the same person sound so different in your mouth?*
"Mhm! You saved me, so of course you’re the best. Actually... can I ask a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Can I call you by your name? We’re about the same age; calling you 'Protector Sister' all the time feels so formal."
"As you wish. I am leaving." *Fine. Very well, Chu Ruo. You are doing very well.*
As she turned to leave, Chu Ruo stepped in her way. She tried to move around, but Chu Ruo blocked her again. "Why are you stopping me?"
Chu Ruo gave an embarrassed laugh. "I... I don't know the way back."
...
The "divine sister" actually escorted her all the way back to her bedroom. She was truly a saint. Unfortunately, Chu Ruo had spent the entire walk staring at the woman’s face and hadn't paid the slightest bit of attention to the path. When the woman asked if she recognized where she was, Chu Ruo didn't want to admit she’d been daydreaming.
"Yeah, I’ve got it from here. Thank you! Oh, by the way, what was your name again?" She realized only then that Xiao Guo’er had only called her the Fourth Protector.
There was no answer. The woman simply leaped into the air, vanishing into the night using her qinggong. Her pure white robes looked ethereal against the dark sky. Chu Ruo stared at the spot where she had disappeared, completely lovestruck. "So beautiful... it would be amazing if she were my girlfriend."
The next morning, Xiao Guo’er went to Chu Ruo’s room, expecting to find the "freak" still dead to the world. Instead, the bed was empty and the linens were neatly folded. Chu Ruo was already washed and dressed, sitting at the table with her chin in her hands, staring at the ceiling and grinning like an idiot.
Xiao Guo’er waved a hand in front of her face. "Did you take the wrong medicine?"
"Stop that," Chu Ruo snapped, though her smile remained. "I’m not crazy. You’re the one who took the wrong medicine."
"Then why are you acting so weird? Oh, I know. You finally tasted the Hundred Flowers Gu and decided to be a good little student, right?"
"I’m not the type to 'be good.' If you must know, this is the power of love."
"Huh?"
"You wouldn't understand." Chu Ruo beamed. "I saw the Fourth Protector last night."
Xiao Guo’er scratched her head. "Is the Fourth Protector back?"
"What’s her name again?"
"Nangong Yan. We usually call her the Fourth Protector or Sister Yan’er."
"Yan’er... that’s a lovely name. I’ll call her Yan’er from now on."
"What is wrong with you this morning? Since you’re ready, get to the training grounds. If you’re late, the Young Palace Mistress will punish you again."
Chu Ruo slapped her forehead. "Right! I almost forgot about the Little Scorpion. Aren't you coming?"
Xiao Guo’er lowered her head, looking a bit dejected. "Someone of my rank isn't allowed there. Only the top experts and the senior disciples train there. Disciples like me go to the other training grounds."
Seeing her sadness, Chu Ruo comforted her. "Don't be sad. You’re still young. In a couple of years, once you’ve improved, I’m sure you’ll be able to train there too."
"Mhm! I’ll work hard. I want to become a first-class expert. Anyway, hurry up!"
"I’m going." Chu Ruo grumbled to herself as she left. *That Little Scorpion is so strict, yet she makes me go there just to hold a horse stance and make a fool of myself in front of everyone. She’s definitely toxic.*
When she reached the training grounds, the other disciples were already practicing. In the same corner as yesterday, Nan Muxue sat waiting. Chu Ruo walked over and gave a reluctant bow. "Master."
"You arrive quite late. Did you sleep well last night, disciple?"
Chu Ruo blinked, confused. What was the Little Scorpion playing at?
"I am asking you a question. Are you still asleep?"
"No," Chu Ruo answered quickly, terrified the woman would find another excuse to torment her.
"Then, let us begin."
Chu Ruo nodded and dropped into a horse stance. Her entire body ached; she wasn't sure she could last the day. But after only a few seconds, A'yue appeared out of nowhere, carrying two small bowls which she placed upside down on the ground.
Nan Muxue said calmly, "Stand on them."
"Excuse me?"
"Does my disciple not understand my words?"
"I understand." Chu Ruo looked down. The bowls were tiny. She didn't have the energy to argue with the Little Scorpion—she was the meat on the chopping block, after all. Sure enough, as soon as she stepped onto the bowls, she wobbled, nearly falling. The bases of the bowls were impossibly small, making balance a nightmare. To make matters worse, A'yue produced an incense burner. Chu Ruo had a bad feeling, and she was right: a single stick of lit incense was planted firmly in the ash, and the burner was placed directly beneath her crotch.
Chu Ruo felt like dying. *You’re trying to kill me!* But life has a funny way of showing you that just when you think things are at their worst, they can always get harder. Before she could even finish her internal lament, a large bowl filled to the brim with water was placed on her head. She tried to roll her eyes upward to see it, but she couldn't even see her own forehead. "Master, this is..."
"What does my disciple wish to say?"
"What exactly are we doing today?" Before she could finish the sentence, three more bowls of water were balanced on each of her outstretched arms. Her muscles screamed, wanting to drop.
Nan Muxue spoke leisurely. "If a single drop of water spills from those bowls, you will not receive your medicine today."
"You little scor—! Did I kill your family in a past life? Is it really necessary to torture me like this? If you want me dead, just kill me and get it over with. Don't drag it out."
"Get it over with?" Nan Muxue took a sip of tea. "I simply don't wish to. What will you do about it?"
Chu Ruo felt a sudden urge to smash the bowls and quit right then and there. But the she-devil’s cold voice reached her ears again. "Before you fall, consider the consequences. If you are not afraid of the Hundred Flowers Gu, I certainly won't stop you. The path is yours to choose. Think carefully before you take a step... don't choose the wrong one."
*Fine. Quitting is for people without professional ethics, and I’m not that person.* Chu Ruo straightened her back. "Bring on whatever tricks you’ve got. I’m ready."
She stood there until noon. The other disciples dispersed for lunch. A'yue looked up at the scorching sun. While she and the Young Palace Mistress were sitting in the shade, the corner where Chu Ruo stood was exposed to the full, blistering heat. "Young Palace Mistress," A'yue said, "it is time for us to eat as well."
Chu Ruo let out a breath of relief, thinking she could finally rest. But the Little Scorpion simply waved a hand. "I am not hungry today. Bring some fruit instead. I wish to keep a close eye on my... dear... disciple."
"Hey! Just because you aren't hungry doesn't mean I’m not! Let me down to eat and drink something. I’m going to die of hunger or thirst at this rate."
"You truly wish to come down?"
"Mhm!" As Chu Ruo nodded, the bowl on her head shifted. She froze, her voice trembling with caution. "Yes. My dear Master, please show some mercy and let me rest for a moment."
"Then come down."
Chu Ruo was about to move when the voice added, "It simply means you won't get your medicine."
...
*Boom!* A sudden crack of thunder echoed through the clear sky. Chu Ruo nearly jumped, which would have sent the bowls crashing. Just then, the Second Protector, Yin Liuli, arrived. She stared at Chu Ruo’s predicament, seemingly stifling a laugh, before leaning in to whisper to Nan Muxue.
Nan Muxue nodded. "I have matters to attend to. A'yue, stay here. I will have someone bring your meal to you; watch her in my stead. And..." She whispered a few more instructions before departing.
"Yes." A'yue gave Chu Ruo a look of pity. However, the Young Palace Mistress’s orders were absolute.
*You...!* Chu Ruo watched the retreating figure, regretting that she had silently prayed for the lightning not to strike the Little Scorpion. As soon as Nan Muxue was gone, A'yue brought out a new device—a small stick with a flat end. She placed a bowl of water on the flat end and told Chu Ruo to grip the stick in her teeth. Again, not a drop could be spilled.
Chu Ruo was filled with ten thousand regrets. *God, I was wrong! Can you just kill her instead?*
Meanwhile, Yin Liuli and Nan Muxue walked away. "Why is Liu Shaopeng here today?" Yin Liuli asked.
"He heard I took a disciple and wanted to see for himself."
"He’s jealous, isn't he?"
"Liuli!" Nan Muxue walked with her hands behind her back, every bit the sect leader. "His Flying Eagle Fort has been eyeing the Hundred Flowers Palace for a long time. You still have the heart to joke?"
Yin Liuli sighed. "What else can we do? In this world, every sect is trying to swallow the others. We are partners, yet we covet each other's power. It remains to be seen who will come out on top. But it is an undeniable fact that he likes you."
"Likes me?" Nan Muxue’s tone was disdainful. "I fear it is only this shell he likes. By the way, is there any news from Yan’er?"
Yin Liuli lowered her voice. "That is what I wanted to tell you. Yan’er’s latest report says that people from other sects have infiltrated the palace recently. Their intentions are likely malicious."
"Then we must be even more careful. Find them as quickly as possible."
"I still think there’s something wrong with that disciple of yours."
"It is not her." Nan Muxue shook her head. "She has no guile. It couldn't be her."
"But she is the only newcomer lately."
"No. Have you forgotten the two or three batches of disciples we recruited recently? Every one of them is a suspect. And I suspect there is more than one spy. We have been searching for so long without a lead."
"True. That is my greatest concern. The new ones are one thing, but we know there is a mole we haven't been able to find. We don't know how long they’ve been lurking in our palace. If we don't root them out soon, they will become a disaster."
Nan Muxue nodded. "Tell Yan’er to keep investigating. She shouldn't return just yet."
"Understood. Speaking of which... what is going on with you and that disciple?"
"What do you mean?"
"How did she offend you?"
"She..." A faint, unconscious smile touched Nan Muxue’s lips. "She is quite capable. Especially that mouth of hers. It needs to be properly disciplined."
