A few days later.
"Xue'er, the second round of matches is tomorrow. Do we have a good chance? I mean, for the position of Alliance Leader." After Nan Yunshuang finished her first match, other sects continued to compete for two more days. Once all the sects had finished their initial rounds, there was a three-day break. It could be said that Chu Ruo had spent these past few days in absolute bliss. However, as much as she enjoyed herself, she still had to keep a close eye on the situation.
Nan Muxue handed her a kumquat. "From what I’ve observed these past few days, the other sects are performing much as expected. Although they wouldn't send their strongest experts in the first round, they still fielded top-tier first-class disciples. While it’s only a glimpse of their full strength, it’s enough to get a sense of their internal power and techniques. Reaching the final stage shouldn't be difficult. What concerns me is that I don't know what the Sword Casting Villa and the Heavenly Demon Palace are plotting. Then there are the sects that have a grievance with Baihua Palace—most notably Liu Songhe and his Feipeng Fortress."
*Look at this treatment,* Chu Ruo thought. To others, Nan Muxue was a woman of few words, but to her... Heh, she really loved these double standards. It felt great.
"I don't know what the Heavenly Demon Palace is up to, but they definitely didn't come with good intentions. And the Sword Casting Villa has had a grudge against us for a long time—last time you even sent me to steal their Ice..." She wisely shut her mouth. "Not to mention that Feipeng Fortress you just brought up. That big eagle's father clearly isn't someone to mess with. If you don't win, your mother won't let you off back home. I feel like every path leads to a dead end. How about we just elope?"
Nan Muxue arched an eyebrow at her, a playful, slanted smile appearing on her lips. "Alright."
Chu Ruo had just been lamenting her own mindless blathering when, to her surprise, Nan Muxue spoke again. "Then why don't you tell me, Ruo'er—the world is vast, where do you plan to go? Give me a detailed plan..."
"I... I was just speaking on impulse! Just pretend I didn't say anything, okay? Forget it." *I'm such a coward, but what can I do? I'm just hopeless like that.*
Nan Muxue’s white robes fluttered, and in the next second, she sat directly on Chu Ruo’s lap, reaching out to pinch her ears. "It’s not impossible if you truly wish for it. However, this matter requires long-term planning."
"You... are you serious?"
Nan Muxue met her gaze. "When has your Master ever joked with you?"
*No, but this... this is too much...* "I, well, actually, I think as long as we deal with your mother, all our problems will be solved." It was only because Nan Menghua was so ruthless that Chu Ruo had thought of eloping in the first place. Even Nan Muxue couldn't beat her, and if she actually mastered that Love Flower Intoxication, it would be even worse.
"Ruo'er," Nan Muxue called her name softly, her hand stroking Chu Ruo's eyes. "Didn't I tell you? You don't need to worry about my mother. I will handle everything. You only need to look after yourself."
"No, I don't want to just look after myself and hide behind you forever while you shoulder everything. I want to protect you. Why can't I be the one to take care of you? You've been tired enough in the past. Xue'er, maybe I'm not strong enough right now, but I hope that one day you can rest in my arms and not have to worry about a single thing. Right now, I can only say these things, but once we return to Baihua Palace, I'll definitely practice hard. I'll wake up early, I won't sleep in anymore. I'll help you with the palace affairs, I'll go on missions, I'll even memorize the ledgers. Trust me."
Nan Muxue had always felt that the eyes before her were exceptionally clear and sincere, brighter than the waters of a still lake. Seeing Chu Ruo’s determined expression—which was somewhat comical given her usual playfulness—Nan Muxue embraced her, leaning her head relaxedly against Chu Ruo's shoulder. "But I still want to protect you for a lifetime. Ruo'er, as long as you are by my side, I can give up everything else."
Chu Ruo was deeply moved. Although Nan Muxue was usually so "straight" that she could drive Chu Ruo crazy with frustration, she never doubted that Nan Muxue’s love for her was no less than her own. She hugged her back tightly. "You silly scorpion, why give anything up? Isn't it better for us to be together and have everything? Xue'er, anyway, I promise I will never become a burden to you."
"Mhm."
"Actually, I... I don't know if you'll be angry if I say this, but I still want to say it. If we can't win this time, and your mother finishes her secluded meditation, she might not spare you—especially with the rumors about us reaching a fever pitch. Why don't we prepare for the worst? If we don't become the Alliance Leader, let's just go back and... overthrow your mother." *Why sit around and wait for death?* Even if Nan Menghua was Nan Muxue’s biological mother, she hadn't exactly been kind. Instead of going back to be punished, it was better to strike first. Of course, if Nan Muxue cared too much about their blood relation, she would drop it. "I mean, she is your mother after all. If you didn't like what I just said, you can scold me."
"You certainly have a lot of nerve." Nan Muxue turned her head to look at her again, lifting a jade-like finger to tilt Chu Ruo's chin. "You've only been at Baihua Palace for a few days, yet you dare to incite the Young Palace Master against the Old Palace Master? Tell me, what are your intentions?"
Though her words were sharp, the smile in her eyes and at the corners of her mouth betrayed her completely. Chu Ruo played along, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender. "Spare me, Young Palace Master! This lowly one was just being loose-tongued."
"Loose-tongued?" The smile deepened. "Let your Master test just how sharp this tongue of yours is..."
*Tsk tsk, a proactive Little Scorpion is simply irresistible.* Chu Ruo was lost in the moment. Even after Nan Muxue pulled away, she still felt unsatisfied, smacking her lips and complaining, "Couldn't you have kissed me a bit longer..."
"You really are shameless," Nan Muxue chuckled, then turned serious again. "My mother has been in power for decades; her methods are extraordinary. Do not be fooled by the fact that I am currently managing Baihua Palace and that there are no elders from the previous generation left. I suspect she still has her own trump cards and her own people—she just hasn't let me know about them."
"That makes sense." Following Nan Muxue's lead, Chu Ruo realized something. None of the disciples in Baihua Palace were old; to be precise, there was no one from Nan Menghua's generation. So where did the people from before go? "You said when your mother was in charge... what happened to the previous disciples? I haven't seen a single one. That's way too abnormal."
Nan Muxue shook her head. "If I knew, I wouldn't be so conflicted. However..."
"However?"
"If my guess is correct, most of them were executed by my mother."
*What?!* There were at least a few thousand disciples in Baihua Palace. "Are you sure your mother is... normal?"
"Baihua Palace didn't use to have as many disciples as it does now. Mother never kept useless people. When she was the Palace Master, she would 'clean the house' once a month. The group with the weakest martial arts or those who failed in their duties would be forced to kill each other. Even those who survived never met a good end. To the victor go the spoils—she always believed that might makes right. Even the Protectors who grew up with her didn't have good endings. From my earliest memories, there were still some disciples of the previous generation in the palace, but they would disappear in batches after a short while. By the time I was fifteen, they were basically all gone. It only took her fifteen years of purging to complete the replacement of the disciples while ensuring Baihua Palace didn't fall."
Chu Ruo felt a cold sweat break out on her back. "Your mother is terrifyingly cruel." Ruthless and powerful—she was basically an old psycho. "Let's... let's just not provoke her."
"Coward," Nan Muxue laughed and pulled her ear. She continued, "But I still suspect she kept a portion of them. Also, I feel like her actions were as if she were trying to silence people for some reason, and she was in a desperate hurry. If she hadn't needed to train new disciples to consolidate the palace's power, I'm afraid everyone else would have been dealt with long ago."
"You mean, she has a secret?"
"Everyone has secrets; it just depends on what they are. Even if she fails her meditation this time and doesn't master the tenth level of the Love Flower Intoxication, I am still no match for her current martial arts. Unless absolutely necessary, I don't want to clash with her head-on yet. Besides, she did raise me after all. I don't want things to come to that."
Chu Ruo sensitively caught the key phrase. "Clash head-on?" She gave a knowing, playful smirk. "Does this mean you've been preparing all along? Did you plan to rebel against her from the start? Ow! You pinched my face again..."
Nan Muxue arched an eyebrow. "Your Master pinched you. What of it?"
*What can I say? What can I do? I can only suffer in silence. Sigh, what a hard life, living with a domestic abuser.*
Nan Muxue pinched harder. "It seems you'll never fix that old habit of yours."
"Xue'er, it really hurts. My face... it hurts..."
"It's not about rebelling; it's about self-preservation. I established the branch sects simply because I wanted a place to retreat to if something truly went wrong. Not just for me, but for Yan'er and the others. We grew up together; if something happens, Mother will surely strike them first—both as a warning and to cut off my support. As for the other disciples... for all these years, I've never been able to fathom Mother's thoughts. She is a truly terrifying person."
For someone as proud as the Little Scorpion to use the word "terrifying" to describe her own mother... Chu Ruo pulled her into her arms. "Don't be afraid of her. Even if I can't beat her in a fight, with my modern intelligence, do you think I can't handle an ancient lady? If all else fails, we'll just poison her. Something colorless and odorless. I refuse to believe we can't pull her down from her high horse."
"What a terrible idea. The martial arts she practices make her virtually immune to all poisons. Where would you find so many colorless and odorless poisons? Besides, even if she were poisoned, she could force it out of her system in an instant. Enough. You really don't need to worry about her. Just take care of yourself."
"I'm afraid she'll hit you again when we go back. Xue'er, I..."
"I used to hit you too. Why aren't you afraid of me anymore?"
"I'm being serious, you..."
"I've grown used to it over the years. But you," Nan Muxue’s lips curved into a beautiful smile again, "you've been afraid of this and that lately. You're becoming more and more timid."
"Nan Muxue."
Hearing Chu Ruo call her by her full name, Nan Muxue was about to tease her for her boldness, but the other woman’s tone was dead serious. "You little scorpion, you can't let anything happen to you, do you hear me? You have to protect yourself. If something happens to you, I won't stay here. Do you understand? You are my only reason for being in this world. You cannot let yourself get hurt. If you're gone, I'm gone."
"You promised me you would never leave," Nan Muxue tightened her hold on her. "You cannot go back on your word."
"I promise. But you must also promise me that you will never let anything happen to yourself."
"Alright." A single word, yet it was a lifetime's vow.
***
Later that evening.
Chu Ruo stood at the entrance of Xueruo Pavilion, looking a bit dazed. "Why did you suddenly bring me back to Tianyou?"
Nan Muxue simply stood with her hands behind her back and said calmly, "Go inside."
In a private room, she introduced Chu Ruo to the person in charge of the inn and then dismissed the others. "Did you remember the disciples just now?"
"I remember," Chu Ruo nodded while picking at the food. "Just two or three people. Are you underestimating my memory?"
"Keep this safe."
A box? "What's in it?"
"The title deeds for this place, the roster of disciples, and the tokens of authority. You must not lose them."
Chu Ruo was even more confused. "Why are you giving these to me?"
"From now on, this Xueruo Pavilion belongs to you. You can manage it however you like. If you don't like things being complicated, you can just run it as a business and not use it as a contact point. You can keep these disciples if you like them, or I can transfer them back and you can find your own people. All the profits belong to you. In short, this inn is yours. I will not interfere."
*I'm rich? I've won at life? I've achieved my dream of opening a shop, something I never did in the modern world?* Heavens, what kind of divine Little Scorpion was this? She gave a silly grin. "I gave you an inn before; are you paying me back now?"
"Aside from the main headquarters, this is the most profitable of all the Xueruo Pavilions. If you don't like it, you can pick any other one."
"Then, if I want..."
"No."
"Please, I haven't even said which one I want yet!"
Nan Muxue tilted her head. "I cannot give you the one at the foot of the mountain near Baihua Palace."
"...Ah. You really do know exactly what I'm thinking."
"That was your gift to your Master. How could I possibly let you take it back?" She would never admit that that specific place held a very special meaning for her.
"I was just joking. Like you said, I gave it to you. How could I do something like that? But..."
"But?"
Chu Ruo leaned in. "You said all the profits belong to me?"
Nan Muxue was sipping her tea. she nodded. "Mhm."
"Then if it loses money, you have to make up the difference for me."
*How can someone be so obsessed with money?* "Shameless," Nan Muxue said, though her eyes were soft. "Fine. If it loses money, your Master will cover it, lest you come up with more crooked schemes."
"How is it a crooked scheme? Just you wait. With my brilliant brain, I'll definitely make more money than you did. I'll have them improve the dishes and innovate a bit. You just wait for the day I support you. I think I said before we'd split the profits fifty-fifty... mhm, you wait. Starting next month, I guarantee I'll hand over a sum of money to you every month."
Nan Muxue tilted Chu Ruo's chin. "And if you can't?"
"If I can't? Let me think, let me think..." Chu Ruo put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth. She moved her stool so it was pressed right against Nan Muxue’s, wrapping her arms around the other woman's waist with practiced ease. "Then... I can always pay off my debt with my body."
Facing this person who was clearly taking liberties, Nan Muxue felt speechless. She wasn't even sure who would be the one losing out in that "payment." "Sit back and eat your dinner properly."
"I'm full. Look, have I gained weight lately?" As she spoke, she reached out and took Nan Muxue’s tea to drink. "I just need a sip of tea to clear my throat."
"Hey, you..."
"What?" Chu Ruo realized what was wrong. There was a faint pink ring on the rim of the cup. She suddenly remembered the bowl of sour plum soup she had drunk back at Baihua Palace and gave a wicked grin. "We're a couple now, why are you still so shy? Besides, I'm the one drinking your leftovers. Don't mind it."
Nan Muxue immediately pinched her face. "What, are you saying it's a hardship for you?"
"No hardship, no hardship at all! I love drinking your leftovers..."
"Shut up!"
"And that's not all! I don't even know how many times I've kissed—ow! I was wrong! I admit I was wrong..."
Finally letting go, Chu Ruo piteously clutched her cheek, seeking comfort, a hug, and a kiss. But when Nan Muxue refused to look at her, she took another sip of the tea. "Mmm, so sweet."
Nan Muxue paused, wondering if someone had used poison again, otherwise why would Chu Ruo's sense of taste be failing? "Since when has this tea been sweet?"
Chu Ruo propped her head up with one hand, leaning over the table with a rakish, playboy-like air. "Because your smile is the sugar."
Nan Muxue couldn't help herself. When it came to Chu Ruo, she was never stingy with her smiles.
***
That night, Nan Muxue was leaning against the railing, admiring the scenery, when someone suddenly appeared behind her. Without hesitation, she leaned back, and the person stepped forward to embrace her. "Admiring the moon again?"
"The weather is hot, and I'm having a bit of trouble sleeping. You've been clutching that box all afternoon. Have you admired your treasure enough?"
"Look at you. Xueruo Pavilion was a gift from you; can't I be happy about it?" Chu Ruo knew she could be childish sometimes, getting excited over a single object for half a day. But no one had ever just stayed by her side, watching her with such a tender, doting gaze and blooming into a smile just for her. In this life, this one person was enough.
"Indeed," Nan Muxue played along, reaching up to gently stroke the head resting on her shoulder. "I have yet to congratulate you, Shopkeeper."
Chu Ruo turned her around, giving a very obvious hint. "Just a verbal congratulation? No token of appreciation?"
She got her wish. Nan Muxue left a mark of love on that handsome cheek.
"Look what I made!" Chu Ruo said excitedly, presenting a plate of snacks like a child showing off a prize. "Glutinous rice balls. They're stuffed with meat—soft, savory, and not too greasy. Try one."
Just as Nan Muxue reached for the chopsticks, Chu Ruo picked one up with her own, held it between her teeth, and leaned in. Nan Muxue understood immediately and leaned in to meet her for a kiss.
But just as their lips touched, they were interrupted—again. "Yo, yo, yo... tsk tsk tsk..."
They scrambled apart. Chu Ruo jumped up in a rage. "Duan Ning, are you that bored? We're in Tianyou and you still tracked us down! You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Have you been stalking Xue'er and me this whole time?" *A lightbulb! A giant third-wheel lightbulb!*
"Please, could you two at least let everyone know before you wander off? Honestly." Duan Ning rolled her eyes as she walked over. Her eyes locked onto the plate of food, and with lightning speed, she snatched it away. "Mmm, not bad, not bad. A bit small, though. Make them bigger next time, and add more meat."
"Give it back! I made those for Xue'er! Give them back, you..."
"No!" Duan Ning actually stuck her tongue out at her. "Listen to that—'made them for Xue'er.' And what you two were doing just now... tsk tsk."
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
"Xue'er!" Duan Ning dodged clumsily. "As soon as this girl is around, you get so biased! Little Ruo-ruo, why do you even bother? Wouldn't it be better to take me as your Master? She makes you steal swords and gets you blacklisted by the Sword Casting Villa. Why do you like her so much..."
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh...*
"I'm not playing anymore, I'm leaving! Remember to be on time tomorrow!" Duan Ning greased her soles and bolted.
"What kind of person is she? Stealing my rice balls and interrupting us. How hateful."
"Chu Ruo."
"Huh?" *Why so serious?*
"If I asked you to turn against the world and bear a lifetime of infamy for my sake, would you be willing?"
Chu Ruo grinned. "Then I want some benefits."
Nan Muxue laughed too, the breeze catching the ends of her hair, her dark tresses flying. "What do you want?"
Naturally, the answer was obvious. No words were needed, only action. Chu Ruo pulled her beloved into her arms and kissed her under the moonlight.
***
The next day's matches held no surprises; Baihua Palace continued to win. The only difference was that the "Medicine Men" began to appear again. And not just in their match—they appeared in almost every match. In the subsequent bouts, traces of the Medicine Men were everywhere, and various sects began to suffer casualties. Everyone finally realized something was wrong. But even more infuriatingly, someone started a rumor that this was all a plot by Baihua Palace and the Heavenly Demon Palace. The reasoning was that no one from their sects had gone missing, no Medicine Men had appeared among them, and nothing had gone wrong within their own ranks.
Chu Ruo and Duan Ning were so angry they smashed several cups. Nan Muxue, however, remained calm. Explaining was useless. Even if people knew it wasn't Baihua Palace, the mud was going to be slung regardless.
Chu Ruo strongly suspected this was Tu Aozhi's plan—deliberately leaving Baihua Palace alone to easily make them the public enemy of the martial world. At first, she thought he might have a friendship with Nan Menghua, but now it seemed more like a deep-seated grudge. However, she couldn't rule out other possibilities, like Bai Shan. That little girl was quite the schemer; it might very well be her idea.
And so, with the third round approaching, Chu Ruo decided to do something reckless: visit a brothel. (Just thinking about it was thrilling.)
***
**Glossary**
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Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 68 | A Gift of Devotion | Novela.app | Novela.app
