The nights at the foot of the mountain were quite beautiful. Guangjiang City was a prosperous place, and as evening fell, it became a sea of brilliant, multicolored lights. From a distance, the flickering lanterns danced in harmony with the soft darkness of the night. A few scattered stars accompanied the cold moon, lending the scene an air of profound elegance.
*Knock, knock, knock...*
On her couch, Nan Muxue heard the sound. With a flick of her sleeve, she sent a gust of wind to extinguish the candle. However, the person outside was neither self-aware nor particularly concerned with saving face.
*Creeeak—*
Chu Ruo walked in, heading straight for the bedside. "Xue'er..."
"Leave. Your master is weary."
"Xue'er," Chu Ruo’s voice sounded pitiful and slightly urgent. "I’m having an allergic reaction. Look, I’m itching all over, it’s unbearable. I’ve almost scratched my skin raw."
Nan Muxue opened her eyes to glance at her, then promptly closed them again to resume her rest. And then... nothing happened.
"Xue'er, you—"
Still with her eyes closed, Nan Muxue spoke. "If you were truly unwell, your tender and virtuous Miss Zhier would have already treated you. Why bother coming to your master’s room to play the victim?"
*Cough, cough...* "Well, I wanted you to treat me. She’s an outsider; I can’t go troubling her for every little thing, right? Hehe."
"I find it troublesome. My disciple should go find her own bosom friend instead."
"It’s no trouble, really! Hundred Flowers Honey can cure it. You..."
"I have none."
"But I saw you with some earlier today..."
Nan Muxue opened her eyes and stared directly at her, saying nothing. Chu Ruo’s courage withered instantly. She shrank back, but still reached out with both hands to tug at the other woman’s sleeve. "Xue'er, I was wrong."
Nan Muxue looked away, lying flat with an expressionless face. "I am tired. Get out." This girl’s audacity was growing by the day. She had acted as if Nan Muxue were invisible while frolicking with Bai Zhier, even going so far as to buy two dogs together. If she didn't teach her a lesson today, the girl would surely try to overturn the heavens tomorrow. Yet, despite her words, she wasn't truly angry; she even felt a slight urge to laugh, maintaining her stern facade only with effort.
"Don't be angry anymore. It’s just a puppy, and it’s really cute. I’ve always wanted to raise one, but my family never liked them. Today, when I saw—"
"It has nothing to do with me."
"Xue'er," Chu Ruo tugged at her again, this time catching her fingers. "I’m itching and miserable right now. Do you really have the heart to watch me be disfigured?"
"You weren't much to look at to begin with."
Chu Ruo’s nose nearly twitched with indignation. *You little scorpion...* She checked herself—*can't curse, can't curse*—and instantly forced a smile. "Yes, yes, my Xue'er is the most beautiful."
Nan Muxue didn't take the bait. "Go find your Bai Zhier."
"I only want to find you..."
"Then itch to death for all I care."
"...What will it take for you to forgive me?"
"Even if I told you, you wouldn't do it."
"I will, I will! Just say it," Chu Ruo leaned in closer. At worst, she’d just have to ignore Zhier for a bit. No big deal—she’d pass this hurdle first and then coax Zhier in a few days to smooth things over. She puffed out her chest with feigned determination. "Tell me."
Nan Muxue chuckled inwardly but kept her face like a mask of stone. "Fine. Then listen closely..."
***
Xiao Guo’er and A-Yue were returning from the street when they saw a figure by the inn’s entrance. "Chu Ruo?" The city was lively, but the Young Palace Mistress and the others preferred peace and quiet, so they had chosen an inn on this secluded street. Chu Ruo was squatting there alone; in the empty street, she was impossible to miss.
"You’re back? Where are Duan Ning and the other two?"
"The three Protectors aren't ready to come back yet. They might just find another inn to stay in," Xiao Guo’er replied before asking, "What are you doing squatting on the ground holding a dog?"
"Huh? Oh," Chu Ruo said dejectedly. "Master said she’ll only forgive me if I throw the dog away."
"What did you do to make the Young Palace Mistress angry this time?"
"I..."
Xiao Guo’er cut her off ruthlessly. "You don't have to say it, I already know. It definitely has something to do with that vixen surnamed Bai. Scum!"
"Please, you were there this afternoon. It was the puppy’s fault." The little dog in her arms had eaten its fill earlier and was currently fast asleep in her warm embrace. "You’re lucky, little guy—eat, sleep, repeat. I’m the one getting rejected because of you."
"Blaming your own mistakes on a dog," Xiao Guo’er rolled her eyes. "But really, are you going to throw it away?"
Chu Ruo shook her head, immediately clutching the dog tighter. "Absolutely not. I’m trying to think of a way. Hey, can you and Sister A-Yue help me think?"
"You reap what you sow. You deserve it, so we’re not helping. Time for bed! Think about it yourself."
*What kind of people are these?* Chu Ruo muttered to the puppy, "What are we going to do with you, huh?"
"Not sleeping yet? It’s very late."
Chu Ruo turned around. "Zhier, why are you out here?"
"I knew you must have been kicked out, so I came to check on you."
"What? I—I walked out on my own!"
*Giggle...* Bai Zhier covered her mouth with a smile. "Then these red spots on your body..."
"Xue'er ran out of Hundred Flowers Honey, so... so..."
Bai Zhier shook her head in exasperation. She pulled Chu Ruo over and fed her a medicinal pill. "I told you this 'bitter flesh' ruse wouldn't work. That little scorpion is far too shrewd. This powder I gave you only looks frightening; it’s actually harmless. Honestly, instead of wasting your energy on this, you should think about other things."
"Other things? Like what? Where’s your puppy?"
Bai Zhier was speechless again. "It’s perfectly fine, no need for you to worry. Instead of worrying about a dog, you should think about..." She looked up; the window to Nan Muxue’s room was just above them to the left. "...how to handle this marriage proposal."
Chu Ruo sighed. "People always say I’m heartless, but I’m not heartless—I’m just useless. Utterly useless..."
"Ruo'er, don't talk about yourself like that..."
"No, Zhier," Chu Ruo sat directly on the ground against the wall, still cradling the sleeping puppy. Bai Zhier didn't mind the dirt and sat down beside her to listen. "I really am just an ordinary person. Beyond ordinary. I’m not literary, and I certainly can't fight. I want to share Xue'er’s burdens, I want to stand in front of her, I want to be able to solve any difficulty we face... but the villains here are all so powerful and complex. I’m like an ox being led by the nose. Those who want to capture me, those who want to kill me... if it weren't for you and Xue'er protecting me, I’d have been torn into a thousand pieces by now."
Bai Zhier looked at her with heartache, reaching out to gently stroke the puppy. "Neither she nor I will ever let anything happen to you."
Chu Ruo let out a self-deprecating laugh. "I’ve realized how powerless this world makes me feel. I have to worry about my life at every turn. And then there’s Xue'er. If it weren't for me, how could she have been injured so many times? The first time, she turned against Liu Shaopeng for me. Her hand was so badly injured... just a little more, and she would have lost the use of it. And after that, I’ve lost count of how many times she’s protected me. Every time there’s danger, she stands in front of me. I’ve done nothing for her. In fact, it’s because of me that Nan Menghua hurt her. She actually poured scalding water on her own daughter’s arm. How could she? How could she have the heart? That’s her daughter!"
Bai Zhier was stunned. "She... I had thought that since mother and daughter relied on each other, their bond would be deep."
"The world is unpredictable. Not a single thing she’s done to Xue'er deserves the title of 'mother.' Xue'er seems to have infinite glory, but in reality, that woman controls everything. She forced Xue'er to do so many cruel things; Xue'er is nothing more than her puppet. Did you know? When Xue'er was seven, on her very birthday—"
Bai Zhier suddenly started, interrupting her with a sense of urgency. "That day... what happened?"
"Nan Meng—"
*Swish!*
Both women sharply tilted their heads. Four men in black flew in from each side—eight in total—closing in rapidly. Chu Ruo really wanted to slap her own mouth. *Speak of the devil.* "Heavens, who did I offend this time? Another assassination attempt? The Great Roc? Likely." She placed the puppy in the corner of the wall. "Zhier, go back inside!"
Before Bai Zhier could answer, Chu Ruo had already lunged forward. She assumed they were there for her, but they both realized they were wrong. All eight swords were pointed at a single person: Bai Zhier.
Chu Ruo became entangled with one of the assassins, but she soon realized something was wrong. If they were after her, they would have surrounded her. Instead, the others bypassed her and charged straight for her back. That meant...
"Zhier!" She turned around, and sure enough, they were all converging on Bai Zhier. These eight possessed formidable martial arts and were highly disciplined—top-tier experts. Chu Ruo abandoned her opponent and ran toward her friend. The assassin followed, turning the situation into a two-against-eight struggle.
The eight formed a circle, surrounding them. Their steps were cautious and precise. The two women stood back-to-back. Bai Zhier’s hands were filled with golden needles. "Ruo'er, they’re after me. Get inside! Do not call for help. I would rather die than owe a debt to the Hundred Flowers Palace."
*This girl is so stubborn even at a time like this.* Chu Ruo drew the Ice Fiend from her waist. "Zhier, you underestimate me. You haven't seen my martial arts before. Today, let’s see what I can do!"
To her surprise, when the Ice Fiend struck one of the assassins' swords, the blade didn't break. The Ice Fiend was a supreme treasure that could cut through iron like mud; very few weapons could withstand it. This meant the enemy was truly formidable. Aside from the Four Great Villas, no one else could forge such weapons. Even if they weren't equal to her Ice Fiend, they were made of no ordinary material. Who were they?
Chu Ruo held her own against four, but she was pinned down and couldn't break free. She was frantic about Bai Zhier. Though Zhier’s martial arts weren't bad, the Divine Doctor’s lineage was famous for medicine, not combat. Most terrifyingly, Bai Zhier had thrown poisonous powder at her four attackers twice, yet they acted as if nothing had happened, continuing their thrusts with strength that seemed even greater than that of the Poisoned Men. Their eyes, however, were focused, unlike the vacant stares of the puppets.
*Crash!*
A woman in white landed steadily on the ground amidst the shards of a shattered wooden window. "Xue'er!"
Nan Muxue first shielded Chu Ruo, then raised her Ice Soul sword. With a graceful sweep, she cut down an assassin attempting a sneak attack. Seeing her prowess, the remaining seven realized they needed to end it quickly and lunged at Bai Zhier. With two more flashes of her blade, another assassin fell. Bai Zhier dodged a blow and turned her head away. "This lady does not need your 'kind' intervention."
Nan Muxue replied coldly, "They simply disturbed my sleep. Besides, I am only saving Ruo'er. Your life or death is of no concern to me."
Bai Zhier was choked with rage. "You!"
These two—one word out of place and they’d snipe at each other until someone died. Both were masters of the stinging retort. Chu Ruo was about to laugh when two sharp gazes pinned her in place. "What are you laughing at?"
"...Nothing. Focusing on the fight."
Chu Ruo had a chance of winning on her own, but with Nan Muxue, it was like adding wings to a tiger. *Slash, slash, slash.* In moments, all eight assassins were eliminated. Every single one was dead. The end.
The fight should have been over, but Bai Zhier, annoyed at being snubbed earlier, said mockingly, "Meddling in others' business."
Nan Muxue remained expressionless, but her Ice Soul sword whipped toward Bai Zhier. "If your life is to be taken, it should be by my hand."
*Clang, clang, clang...* They started fighting each other. *Lord have mercy...*
Chu Ruo sat in the corner holding her dog, watching them fight for half an hour. What was meant to come would come; these two were bound to have a real match sooner or later. She looked down at the puppy, who was staring back at her with two round, black eyes. So cute. The pup had been whimpering in the corner earlier, but no one had paid it any mind. Chu Ruo was happy, though—the dog already knew to stay close to its master. It would surely be even better when it grew up. *It was worth offending Xue'er to keep you. When you’re bigger, I’ll treat you to a big bone.*
The two white figures fought from left to right, then right to left. Finally, Chu Ruo found an opening and jumped between them. "Ladies, take a break. How about we worry about the identities of these corpses first, and then you can... continue?"
With a cold huff, they sheathed their swords and turned away from each other. Nan Muxue used the tip of the Ice Soul to flip over an assassin’s mask. "Top-tier killers. Their faces are unfamiliar."
On the other side, Bai Zhier observed closely, even checking their wrists. She nodded and stood up. "Judging by their skill, they certainly act like top-tier assassins. Moreover, they are immune to poison powder. Their entire bodies must have been tempered in lethal toxins for forty-nine days. It is an agonizing process. However, neither their faces nor their martial styles match any known organization in the martial world."
"Zhier, have you offended anyone recently?"
"Naturally," Bai Zhier glanced sideways. "One is right in front of me. Why even ask?"
"To kill you, I would not need such elaborate schemes. If I, Nan Muxue, wanted it, your head would be mine whenever I pleased."
Chu Ruo diverted the conversation. "Ahem, we need to take this seriously. Do you think it could be Flying Eagle Fort? That Great Roc fellow slipped away early today; he seems very suspicious."
"No motive," Nan Muxue said. "If they were killing someone from Sword Casting Villa, it would make sense."
"Then who could it be?"
"Think about it yourselves. This lady is tired and going back to rest. Oh, and remember to clean up the floor."
"Zhier..."
"What, still reluctant to let her go?"
Chu Ruo turned back. "No, no. The only one I’m reluctant to let go of is you."
Nan Muxue ruthlessly dodged her hug. "The appearance of this group is too suspicious."
"But we have no clues."
Nan Muxue shook her head. "Forget it. Let her investigate it herself. I am worried about something else."
"What?"
Nan Muxue arched an eyebrow. "Why should I tell you?"
Chu Ruo shook her arm. "Xue'er~"
"My mother... she specifically sent us down the mountain, claiming it was to let the various families enjoy themselves. In reality, she might be plotting something. Those three are all old foxes; no one gets the upper hand when dealing with them."
"Hehe, well, you’re not bad yourself. After all, you’re the Little Scorpion."
*Thwack!*
*Ow, ow, ow... a scene of domestic strife. No wonder... ow...*
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
广江城 | Guangjiang City | A prosperous city at the foot of the mountain.
百花蜜 | Hundred Flowers Honey | A medicinal nectar from the Hundred Flowers Palace.
冰煞 | Ice Fiend | Chu Ruo's signature weapon, a sharp blade.
冰魄 | Ice Soul | Nan Muxue's signature sword.
飞鹏堡 | Flying Eagle Fort | A martial arts sect led by Liu Songhe.
铸剑山庄 | Sword Casting Villa | A sect renowned for its weapon-forging expertise.
