"Sister, you're not eating again," Bai Shan said, watching Bai Zhier stare blankly at her porcelain bowl.
"I just wonder how Ruo'er is doing... *Sigh*..." Bai Zhier replied softly.
"What could possibly happen to her?" Bai Shan scoffed with disdain. "It’s already been four days. If something were wrong, would Nan Muxue still be ignoring us? Sister, you’re just fretting over nothing and being sentimental for someone who doesn't care."
"I..."
"Zhier."
A familiar figure appeared at the doorway. Almost the instant she heard that call, Bai Zhier rushed toward the door. "Ruo'er, are you alright?!" She instinctively moved to embrace her, but forced herself to stop mid-step. Tears welled in her eyes. "Ruo'er, come... sit down and talk."
"Mhm." Chu Ruo nodded. Facing this woman, she felt a mixture of awkwardness and guilt. She sat down, but felt as though she were sitting on a bed of needles, not daring to look up. "Zhier, why aren't you eating? Is the food not to your taste?"
"Hypocrite."
The cold, mocking remark naturally came from Bai Shan. Chu Ruo wasn't incapable of arguing back, but because of Bai Zhier, she felt she owed them. She simply endured the sarcasm.
"Shanshan," Bai Zhier chided her sister, though her voice remained gentle.
"Fine, I talk too much," Bai Shan said boredly, scooping up porridge and letting it pour back into the bowl. "I’m just a busybody. You two carry on."
"I haven't even settled the score with you for drugging Ruo'er yet," Bai Zhier added.
"Forget it," Chu Ruo interjected. She didn't want the sisters to clash because of her. To put it bluntly, she was only showing face for Bai Zhier; as for Bai Shan, she had saved her once, so Chu Ruo considered this a way to repay that debt. There wouldn't be a second time. "Zhier, I’m fine. Thank you for your concern."
Bai Zhier reached out, wanting to check her pulse. "The rest of the poison in your system..."
"No," Chu Ruo pulled her hand back. The movement stung Bai Zhier’s heart. "My Master... she already checked me. I’m fine. She has a way."
Bai Zhier smiled, lowering her head to hide her expression. "That’s good then..."
"Zhier," Chu Ruo lowered her head as well. "I’m sorry."
"Why are you apologizing out of the blue?" The woman gave her usual gentle smile, showing no sign of resentment. "You... you’ve always been so silly."
"Zhier, I’ve always wanted to ask... what exactly is the grudge between you and Xue—my Master? It seems you won't rest until the Hundred Flowers Palace is destroyed. If there’s some misunderstanding..." Chu Ruo knew that while Nan Muxue was the Young Palace Mistress, the real power still lay with the inscrutable Nan Menghua. Nan Muxue had only recently begun handling palace affairs. She was essentially a puppet. What kind of deep-seated hatred could there be? Then again, Chu Ruo wasn't sure; the Hundred Flowers Palace took assassination contracts on strangers all the time. But looking at the Bai sisters, their desire to kill Nan Muxue and raze the Palace was absolute. What was the truth?
Bai Zhier had clearly caught the slip of the tongue when Chu Ruo almost said "Xue'er." She turned away to pour a cup of tea. "Did she send you to ask this?"
"No," Chu Ruo immediately shook her head. "It’s just me. You’re my best friend, and she... I don't want you two to..."
"If you want to know so badly, why don't you go ask your 'dear Master'?" Bai Shan couldn't hold back any longer, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Coming here to interrogate my sister... how shameless."
"You’re one to talk about shame. Knowing your sister likes Ruo'er, you still tried to seduce her. You’re the one who’s truly shameless."
What a domineering retort. Even without turning around, Chu Ruo could feel the aura of the newcomer. That graceful, wind-swept entrance was mesmerizing. The "Little Scorpion" was truly both beautiful and formidable. Chu Ruo wondered what kind of incredible luck she had stumbled into.
In a flash, Nan Muxue was by her side. She sat down casually, flicking her sleeves. A single sentence left the sharp-tongued Bai Shan choking with embarrassment.
Bai Shan slammed the table in a rage. However, her internal strength was currently sealed; the heavy blow did nothing to the table but likely turned her own hand red and sore. "What are you doing here? Get out!"
"You are but a fish on the chopping block, yet you dare bark at the one holding the knife?" Nan Muxue tilted her head, her eyes scanning Bai Shan with casual disdain. "Compared to your sister, you truly fall far short."
"You!"
"Whatever our relationship as sisters may be, it is not for the Young Palace Mistress to judge." Unfazed, Bai Zhier stepped forward, subtly shielding her sister behind her. "To what do we owe this visit?"
"Is it not obvious?" Bai Shan stood her ground defiantly. "Chu Ruo is fine, so we are of no further use. Naturally, she’s here to finish us off. Had something happened to her, we would have been buried with her. Treacherous and fickle—has the Hundred Flowers Palace not always been thus?"
Nan Muxue looked up at the Bai sisters. Before Chu Ruo could speak, she felt a sharp pinch at her waist. It was a ruthless squeeze. "My good disciple, won't you introduce your 'confidante' to your Master?"
*You little scorpion... you promised not to get angry! How can you be so unfair?* Chu Ruo’s eyes welled with tears from the pain, but she had to force a professional-looking fake smile. "Master, these are Miss Bai Zhier and Miss Bai Shan." *Ugh, as if you haven't seen them before! We've crossed paths several times, you little... Ow, ow, ow!* Before she could even finish her thought, she glanced at Nan Muxue, and the pain in her waist intensified. *Wuwuwu~ what a wicked woman. Give me back my gentle Sister Yan'er! Yan'er~ Yan'er~*
"I heard these two saved my disciple. Having some free time today, I came specifically to offer my thanks."
Bai Shan was not one for pleasantries. "Like disciple, like master. You’re just as hypocritical as she is. Chu Ruo’s heartless behavior is clearly a result of your 'excellent' guidance..."
*Slap!*
A crisp sound echoed. Chu Ruo was certain everyone was still in their original positions; no one had moved. She was right next to the Little Scorpion, while the Bai sisters were some distance away. Yet, Bai Shan was already clutching her cheek. Chu Ruo realized Nan Muxue must have used her internal energy to send a palm-wind across the gap.
Bai Shan stared in disbelief before erupting in a roar. "You dare hit me!"
The one who had struck her simply sat there, lifting a cup of tea. "One should mind their surroundings before speaking recklessly. How I, Nan Muxue, teach my disciple is none of your business, nor are you qualified to question it. Ruo'er does not settle scores with you because she is kind-hearted; that does not mean she is easy to bully. My disciple is not someone you are permitted to insult. Furthermore, for the matter of drugging her with 'Dream Ruyi,' a single slap is a mercy."
"Dream Ruyi? Is that the thing that trapped me in a dream world I couldn't escape?" Chu Ruo asked.
Nan Muxue nodded. "Mhm."
Just as Nan Muxue expected, Chu Ruo frowned with deep distaste. "What a tacky name." *But wow, the Little Scorpion is so bossy and protective! What kind of goddess is this? Wait, she’s actually a tiny bit younger than me... whatever, that’s not important. Ahhh, I’m so in love with this woman! Kill me now! I’m floating, I’m literally floating! If this keeps up, I’m going to have a nosebleed from excitement.* Lost in her infatuation, she unconsciously reached out and took Nan Muxue’s hand. The other woman gave her a surprised, slightly reproachful look, but cooperated by squeezing back firmly.
Bai Zhier looked at her sister with heartache, then fixed a hard stare on Nan Muxue. "Young Palace Mistress, if you want to kill us or cut us to pieces, just do it. There is no need for such humiliation..."
"Humiliation? Your sister nearly took Ruo'er’s life. If Ruo'er hadn't spoken up, and if you hadn't saved her several times, do you think the two of you would still be standing here alive?"
"I don't want your charity!" Bai Shan spat fiercely. "Nan Muxue, if you have the guts, kill me now! Otherwise, I will definitely kill you!"
Nan Muxue looked up again with utter indifference. "Leaving you alive is no different from letting an ant go. Next time, I can crush you underfoot just the same. You don't even qualify as prey."
"You..."
"Is 'you' the only word you know?" With a contemptuous smile, she stood up. "The descendants of the Bai Medical Clan... to think they have fallen to this."
Seeing her stand, Chu Ruo hurriedly followed. "Are you leaving?"
Nan Muxue glanced at Bai Zhier, then pulled Chu Ruo’s ear close to her lips. In a deliberately intimate posture, she whispered, "I’ll leave some time for you to say goodbye to your Miss Zhier. Since you two are so reluctant to part, why should your Master spoil the fun?"
"I’m not..."
"Don't think you're off the hook. Remember what you promised me yesterday? Once they’re gone, you will explain everything in detail." She pulled away but pointedly straightened Chu Ruo’s collar for her. "Disciple, do try to conduct yourself with some dignity..."
*That last tug on my collar almost strangled me! This little scorpion...* "I... I understand. This disciple shall follow Master’s teachings."
"Wait," Bai Shan said, realizing Nan Muxue intended to let them go. She had been certain that as long as Chu Ruo lived, she would plead for them, and Nan Muxue clearly cared for her deeply. This was Nan Muxue’s greatest weakness. "Give us the antidote for the poison you gave us."
"Is that the attitude of someone asking for a favor?" Nan Muxue stared at her jade thumb ring. "Can the descendants of the Bai family not even neutralize a minor poison? If you had herbs nearby, I suspect the poison in your bodies would have been cleared long ago. This Palace Mistress has business to attend to. I will not stay to keep you company."
"Hmph! Nan Muxue, listen well! Sooner or later, you will pay back a hundredfold for what you've done to me and my sister!"
"Zhier," Chu Ruo sighed. "I’ll go ask for the medicine for you. The girls from your island have already been released, and Xianlai Island is safe. Tu Ba and Tu Tianli are also fine; the Hundred Flowers Palace will release them, but there won't be a next time. You... you two should go back and rest."
Bai Zhier shook her head. "There’s no need to trouble yourself. As she said, this poison isn't hard to cure. It was only because she kept us imprisoned; if I had herbs, I’m confident I could neutralize it. Ruo'er, you..." she smiled faintly, "take care of yourself from now on."
"Zhier, actually, there are things..." Bai Shan looked at the two of them and interrupted. "Sister, I’ll go look around outside first. Come find me in a bit."
Bai Zhier knew her sister was giving them a moment alone. She watched the figure that had been by the door disappear. She knew her sister cared for her most of all, and she felt ashamed for not taking better care of her.
"Zhier?" Chu Ruo called again. "I... I want to tell you that you’re a good girl. In my heart, you are a wonderful woman. I... I’m not good enough for you. I’m just a woman, I don't deserve..."
"And what about her?"
There was no need to specify who "she" was. Chu Ruo felt so embarrassed she wanted to bury her head in the ground. "She and I, we..."
"No need to say it. I understand." This gentle woman didn't force her beloved to answer. "I don't blame anything. It’s all fate. If I must resent something, I’ll resent our lack of destiny. If I had met you first, perhaps everything would be different."
"Zhier, when I first arrived here, she was the one who saved me. She’s been very good to me," Chu Ruo said, her mind filled with that one figure. "Even though she loses her temper and scolds me, I... I don't know when it started, but she’s in my heart. I love her. Not just because she’s good to me, but because I find I can't stop thinking about her. My head is full of her—how she is, if she’s sick, if she’s resting, if she’s practicing her martial arts. At first, I thought she and another person were two different people, and I thought I had fallen for two women at once. Later, when I learned the truth, I was so happy I felt like I was going crazy. Zhier, I finally know why I came to this place. It was all heaven’s will. I came for her."
"You love her," Bai Zhier’s tone was half-question, half-certainty. "Love... so this is love..."
"You are my dearest friend. I don't know if we will be enemies in the future, but Zhier, I don't want to be your enemy. I don't want to see everyone hurt. I really don't, not at all."
"Zhier, you!" Chu Ruo was startled because, as she was speaking, the other woman suddenly lunged forward and embraced her tightly. She couldn't break free. "Ruo'er, no matter what, I hope you can be happy. Always as happy as we were on the grasslands."
"I know, you... you too. First, let go..." *Amitabha, if the Little Scorpion sees this, I’m dead! Sister, please let me go!*
"From the very beginning, your gaze never lingered on me. I was only deceiving myself." Bai Zhier struggled to control her tears. "The Heavenly Demon Palace will surely make a move at the Martial Arts Assembly. I don't know why my foster father has delayed moving against the Hundred Flowers Palace, but you... be careful."
"Zhier, thank you."
"This is 'Heart-Clearing Dew' that I refined myself. There are four pills in total." Bai Zhier handed her a small porcelain bottle. "It can neutralize almost any poison except for the most potent or unique ones. Even with her protection, you... must still be careful in all things."
Chu Ruo had heard Bai Shan mention that this medicine took years of Bai Zhier’s effort to create. She tried to decline. "It’s too precious. I can't take it."
"You... you’re always so prone to getting poisoned. Just keep it." The woman forced herself to look relaxed. "As for my grudge with her, do not concern yourself with it. Nan Menghua and her daughter are our sworn enemies. Ruo'er, let me hold you one last time." Bai Zhier meant what she said; after a brief moment, she let go completely. "Remember, if there ever comes a day when you have nowhere to go, I will be waiting for you."
"Zhier, I..."
"Alright, you’re a grown adult, you’re not going to cry, are you, you dummy?" She tapped Chu Ruo’s nose. Before Chu Ruo could recover from the bittersweetness, the other woman said, "Look, what’s that?"
Chu Ruo turned to look, only to feel her hair ribbon being pulled away. When she turned back, her hair had fallen loose. "It’s rare that I get to tease you," Bai Zhier said as she dashed out the door. Her voice floated back from outside: "I’m leaving. Go find your stingy little scorpion!"
Such a woman was truly peerless. Chu Ruo felt she had really done a disservice to such a good girl.
"My dear little Guoguo, is there anything good to eat—"
"Eek!" Xiao Guo'er jumped in fright as she turned around. "What are you doing? With your hair all messy like that, you look like a ghost!"
"Hey, I just don't have a hair tie. Is it that bad? Do you have a ribbon I can borrow?"
To her surprise, Xiao Guo'er took several steps back in disgust. "Even if you don't find it awkward, I’m afraid you’ll ruin my ribbon!"
"I say, I’ve only been missing for how long and you’re already acting like this? Have you forgotten how eager you were when you used to scrounge food from me? How can you be so heartless?" Chu Ruo huffed, hands on her hips. "Fine, fine, I won't bother with you. Give me something to eat, I’m starving."
"Pah!" Xiao Guo'er’s spit nearly drowned her. "Talk about heartless! Who could be more heartless than you? Don't come to me for food. Go to the kitchen! Would the Young Palace Mistress forget to prepare food for you? That little fox spirit named Bai was right—you really are ungrateful."
"I said, enough is enough! It’s one thing for Bai Shan to scold me, but how am I ungrateful? Do you know how hard it was for me to endure those six months undercover? I was getting poisoned left and right—who was I supposed to tell? I had to worry about my life every single day. Do you know what it feels like to have your heart in your throat? You heartless, soulless..." *Bastard? No, that's not right for a girl. How should I insult her?* "Anyway, you’re the heartless one!"
Xiao Guo'er was so angry she literally rolled up her sleeves. "I’m heartless? Chu Ruo! Don't you dare run! The Young Palace Mistress sacrificed so much for you, and here you are, acting all cozy with those two witches who killed our sect's disciples! How dare you!"
"I wasn't being cozy with them! I was gathering intelligence!"
"Bullshit!" As expected, when people get angry, they stop caring about their image. "For as long as you were gone, the Young Palace Mistress suffered. She couldn't eat or sleep. Everyone thought you were dead. You will never see the look in her eyes when we went to the bottom of the cliff and found a body we thought was yours. She was so devastated she almost had to be carried. Only she... only she never stopped looking for you. She even fought the Four Great Protectors for your sake! The food, toys, and things she bought for you have already filled your entire room! Go back to the Hundred Flowers Palace and see for yourself! She admitted she loved you in front of the Protectors! For you, she announced to the world she would never take another disciple! She buried herself in palace affairs just to numb the pain! She stopped talking to us unless it was about you—always asking what Ruo'er would do, or how Ruo'er was... and because of you..." Xiao Guo'er ranted so much she nearly ran out of breath. "Hmph! Because of an ungrateful wolf like you, she got injured. Her internal energy became chaotic, and she nearly suffered a cultivation deviation. She still hasn't recovered! Every morning she has to sit in meditation to heal. The Martial Arts Assembly is coming up, yet she diverted all our disciples just to find you. She spent so much energy, and all you care about are those two Bai women. You have no heart! They killed so many of our disciples, yet you want to let them go. Chu Ruo, you’re not just heartless, you’re incredibly stupid!"
*Was that really Xiao Guo'er speaking?* She really had spent too much time around the Little Scorpion. Of course, now wasn't the time to worry about that. Every word Xiao Guo'er said branded itself into Chu Ruo’s heart. She pictured everything Nan Muxue had done for her—punishing the gossiping disciples, refusing to speak to anyone, admitting her love before the Protectors, and even risking cultivation deviation. All of it made Chu Ruo feel utterly ashamed. *Nan Muxue, what have I done to deserve such devotion?*
Nan Muxue returned to the room only to find Chu Ruo gone. She was curious; the Bai sisters had already left, so where could this girl have gone? She smiled softly. If she wasn't here, she was likely in the kitchen. After being cooped up for days, the sunlight today was quite pleasant. She didn't head toward the kitchen but walked straight outside. Before her was a vast, endless sea of flowers. A gentle breeze blew, and under the dazzling sun, the scenery was magnificent.
Nan Muxue closed her eyes, standing with her hands behind her back. She had never imagined she would one day stand under the warm sun enjoying the view. All of this was because of one person. She couldn't help but part her red lips and call out that name: "Ruo'er..."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she was suddenly embraced tightly from behind. She marveled at the coincidence. The person buried her head in the crook of Nan Muxue’s neck, her voice raspy. "Xue'er..."
Nan Muxue moved her hands from behind her back to cover the hands of the person holding her. "What? Your Miss Zhier left without a word, so now you remember your Master?"
"Xue'er..."
Nan Muxue froze. She had thought Chu Ruo was just feeling sentimental because of Bai Zhier’s departure and had used a teasing tone to help her relax. But hearing her now, it wasn't that. The tone made her heart ache. "What’s wrong?"
"Xue'er," Chu Ruo called her name a third time. Her nose felt tingly, and her eyes were wet with tears. "After everything that happened, why didn't you tell me? You did so much for me... why didn't you say anything?"
"Having you back by my side is enough," Nan Muxue smiled. "I only want you to return to me."
"I won't leave again, even if you don't want me anymore."
"Indeed. Only I am allowed to discard you; you are not permitted to leave me. Remember that well."
"Mhm," Chu Ruo was so obedient today she seemed like a different person, not even offering a witty comeback. "Only you can bully me. No one else is allowed."
Nan Muxue pursed her lips. "You certainly know how to find a powerful backer."
"Is your injury serious?" No wonder she had disappeared early this morning; she had been healing. "I heard from Xiao Guo'er that you almost suffered a cultivation deviation. Are you okay?"
The woman turned around, her beautiful eyes reflecting Chu Ruo’s anxious face. "If you annoy me less in the future, I will naturally be fine."
"I’m sorry."
Nan Muxue hadn't expected her joke to be taken so seriously. "In the future, I won't let you go through that for me again."
"Ruo'er," she stroked her cheek, but her expression changed in the next second. "You actually dared to jump off a cliff! Who gave you permission?!"
"Ow! I... I did it to save you!"
"Leaving your Master behind to go seek death... what kind of hero were you trying to be? Chu Ruo, I’m warning you, if you ever dare to act on your own again..."
"I won't, I won't!" she muttered. "As if I’d dare. No good deed goes unpunished... Ow, ow!"
Nan Muxue couldn't bring herself to be truly harsh. After a couple of pinches, she let go. Only then did she notice Chu Ruo’s hair was loose. "What are you doing looking like this? Where is your decorum?"
"I..."
Chu Ruo was too sheepish to speak. Nan Muxue, with her sharp insight, understood immediately. Everything had been fine when she was there, so it must have been Bai Zhier... She pulled Chu Ruo toward her. "You and your Miss Zhier... are indeed 'intimate,' aren't you?"
"I... uh, look! What’s that over there?"
Nan Muxue didn't budge; she didn't even look away. *Why didn't she fall for it?* "Speak."
"I... what should I say?" Chu Ruo rubbed her hands together. "Well, you know... I’ll just take my leave now..."
She had just started to bolt when her hair was grabbed from behind. *My god, she’s going to rip my scalp off!* "Stop pulling! I won't run!"
"You’re always so spineless when you’ve done something wrong. Come here." Nan Muxue stepped forward and began re-combing the messy long hair. She then took out her own silk handkerchief and used it as a ribbon to tie Chu Ruo’s hair.
Chu Ruo touched it. *Mhm, feels like she did a good job.* She grinned. "Hehe, Xue'er is the best."
"Wasn't I a 'Little Scorpion'? Where did this 'best' come from?"
Chu Ruo plucked a purple flower and handed it to her. "For you."
"Why?"
"Giving a flower to the woman I like doesn't require a reason." Chu Ruo stepped forward and hugged her waist. "I made some food and brought wine. It’s enough for us to eat all day. We’ve been stuck inside for days; the scenery here is nice, so let’s stay here today. You should have some wine tonight. You haven't slept well lately; wine will help you sleep."
"You certainly know how to enjoy yourself." Nan Muxue sat down, and Chu Ruo sat beside her. Suddenly, Nan Muxue took out a jar of ointment. "Turn around."
Chu Ruo was confused but obeyed. The woman continued, "Take off your clothes."
"What are you doing? We’re all alone... I mean, I’ve craved your body for a long time, but doing it here, and with you on top... I’m telling you, I’d rather die than—"
She was still rambling when the person behind her lost patience and took matters into her own hands. Before Chu Ruo could react, her clothes were pulled down. Just as she was about to cry out, she felt the cool touch of ointment on her back. *Tch, what? She’s just giving me medicine? How disappointing. A total letdown.*
"This is Trace-Wiping Ointment. I formulated it myself." Nan Muxue looked at the scars, remembering the day Chu Ruo jumped for her. That feeling of unbearable heartache still throbbed faintly even now. "These scars have been there for so long, yet 'she' didn't think to help you hide them. It seems she wasn't that attentive after all."
The "she" could only be Bai Zhier. These two women were actually quite similar; they both loved referring to each other as "she." Chu Ruo laughed. "Why do I hear so much jealousy in your voice?"
*Smack!* Her back was slapped lightly. Nan Muxue had finished. Chu Ruo felt an object placed in her hand—the jar of ointment. "I see that being away for so long has made you increasingly bold."
"By the way, did you capture that bastard Liu Shaopeng?"
"Mhm."
Chu Ruo hugged her excitedly. "Great job! That brat... I bet you gave him a hell of a time to avenge me."
"I didn't capture him for you. Don't flatter yourself." Nan Muxue pointedly turned her head away. "It has nothing to do with you."
*Tsundere. Your mother Nan Menghua definitely doesn't know you're like this.* Better change the subject. "This ointment is good. It’s cool, better than Zhier’s. Hers was a bit spicy when applied..."
Nan Muxue narrowed her eyes. "What did you say?"
"Well, I was injured and unconscious at the time, and she was using medicine to save me, right?"
"Not that." Nan Muxue’s eyes became increasingly terrifying. "Using medicine... so that means she saw your back when she applied it?"
Unfortunately, Chu Ruo’s old habit of being a blockhead kicked in. She nodded. "Yes, she was trying to save me."
The other woman gave a strange smile. "In other words... she saw everything on your back?"
Chu Ruo swallowed hard. It was a very difficult swallow. She clutched her front tightly. "She didn't apply medicine to the front!"
Before Chu Ruo found herself hanging upside down from a large tree, she still didn't understand what she had done wrong.
...
"Xue'er, you’ve had me hanging from this tree all afternoon. All the blood has rushed to my head. Look how red it is. Aren't you over it yet?" Chu Ruo moved closer. Her words were an exaggeration; Nan Muxue had let her down before even a single stick of incense had burned out, though her expression remained cold. Chu Ruo put an arm around her shoulder. "Don't be mad. It won't happen again."
"Are you finished talking about your business with her?"
"Mhm, mhm, mhm!" Chu Ruo nodded like a chicken pecking grain. However, she still didn't mention things like sharing a bed with Bai Zhier. She hadn't even finished explaining and Nan Muxue was already this mad; if she said the rest, she’d be finished. She shook the other woman’s arm. "Xue'er, Xue'er..."
Nan Muxue ignored her, simply pouring wine and tasting the dishes while gazing at the sunset. She looked quite sophisticated and relaxed.
Chu Ruo scratched her head, then walked back to the tree. She struggled to climb onto a low branch, hooked her legs over it, and hung upside down. "Xue'er, look!"
Nan Muxue stood up and walked over. Chu Ruo’s hanging head was now level with her own. "What kind of madness is this? Get down."
"Xue'er," Chu Ruo reached out. Nan Muxue immediately moved to support her, afraid she would fall. Chu Ruo laughed. "Xue'er still cares about me."
"Get lost."
"Don't let go, Xue'er." She gripped her hand tightly. "Come closer. Get closer to me."
Nan Muxue remained expressionless but complied. Chu Ruo exerted herself to swing forward a bit, bringing them closer until their noses touched. She sought out Nan Muxue’s lips, wanting to kiss her.
Nan Muxue was startled by the peculiar move but went along with it. However, after only two seconds of their soft lips entwining—*Crash!* Chu Ruo ran out of strength. Amidst a shower of falling leaves, she fell straight down. If Nan Muxue hadn't caught her, she would have landed on her head.
Nan Muxue pulled her up, feeling both worried and annoyed. "Get up already, you silly thing."
*I guess I can't pull off an upside-down kiss. Sigh. I don't have the skills but I still want to be romantic. I’m just a noob who likes to play around and messed up. Sigh.* "I... I wanted to kiss you like that. To make it memorable."
"Nonsense." The voice was soft, not sounding angry at all. By now, Nan Muxue had drunk some wine; her face was slightly flushed, and she smelled of intoxicating wine. She looked at the girl with the drooping head, took her hand, and with a beautiful display of light-footwork, the two of them leaped into the lush branches of the tree. Aside from a few falling leaves at the start, they left no trace.
Chu Ruo lay on a slightly trembling branch. This branch was high up but very sturdy, and from below, they were almost invisible, hidden by the foliage. Nan Muxue leaned over her, supporting herself with one hand while holding wine in the other, occasionally taking a sip. "How is it?"
"Sleeping in a tree is quite interesting," Chu Ruo replied. She noticed Nan Muxue’s face getting redder; it seemed she had drunk too much. The wine she brought today was potent. She had wanted the other woman to sleep well, but it seemed she had brought too much.
Nan Muxue tilted her head like a little bird, tossed the wine bottle aside, and pinched Chu Ruo’s chin. "If you like it, I will bring you up to the branches in the future." Before Chu Ruo could respond, Nan Muxue performed a graceful flip. The branch swayed slightly. Her white robes fluttered like a dance as she ended up above Chu Ruo, facing the opposite way. She leaned down and finally kissed her.
*Oh god, I have zero self-control when the Little Scorpion is like this. So this is what an upside-down kiss feels like. It’s so strange, yet so wonderful. Heavens, a blushing Little Scorpion is the cutest. She’s so alluring when she’s shy.* Chu Ruo closed her eyes, losing herself in the kiss.
Perhaps the kiss disturbed the tree. Eventually, the two of them fell from the branch, but they didn't stop. As the moonlight emerged, they fell into the sea of flowers, still kissing. The silver moonlight gave the flowers a different kind of life—a quiet, silver beauty that couldn't hide the vibrant colors. Their fall, with white robes fluttering, looked like two immortals visiting the mortal realm. Chu Ruo was completely intoxicated by it all, unwilling to pull away.
"Xiao Guo'er told me... that in front of the Four Protectors..." She brushed her lips against Chu Ruo’s. "...you said you loved me."
Nan Muxue was tipsy, her expression slightly hazy. She looked at the person lying with her, her eyes full of deep affection. She nodded, her long hair brushing against Chu Ruo’s face. "Ruo'er."
Chu Ruo kissed Nan Muxue again. "Nan Muxue, I love you. I can't live without you."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
梦如意 | Dream Ruyi | A drug/poison that traps the victim in a dream-like hallucination.
清心露 | Heart-Clearing Dew | A rare medicinal pill refined by Bai Zhier that neutralizes most poisons.
拭痕膏 | Trace-Wiping Ointment | A medicinal cream formulated by Nan Muxue to remove scars.
仙莱岛 | Xianlai Island | The home/base of the Bai sisters.
屠霸 | Tu Ba | A character associated with the Bai sisters/Heavenly Demon Palace.
屠天丽 | Tu Tianli | A character associated with the Bai sisters/Heavenly Demon Palace.
医神白家 | Bai Medical Clan | A famous family of healers/physicians (Bai Zhier's lineage).
五斗米 | Five Pecks of Rice | A reference to a meager salary/living (from a classic Chinese idiom).
梦溪笔谈 | Dream Pool Essays | A real historical Chinese text, used here as a metaphor for Chu Ruo's world.
