Flower Stealing Master

Suddenly, everyone heard several sharp, piercing sounds that reverberated through the air. Just the sound alone made many feel their blood roil and stomachs churn with discomfort.

The crowd saw a flash before their eyes, and when the black-clad leader retreated abruptly, they noticed three ordinary leaves embedded deeply into the ground where he had previously stood. Only the tips of the leaves were visible, trembling slightly in the wind.

“Petals and leaves, all can harm.”

This phrase simultaneously surfaced in everyone’s mind.

Due to Wu Yunzhu’s voice revealing their location, the black-clad leader solemnly looked toward the direction of their hiding place and said, “I wonder which senior is there?”

The black-clad leader admitted to himself that the skill of throwing leaves to wound was beyond his capability. Though his martial arts and reputation were formidable, few in the martial world possessed such expertise. Thus, calling out “senior” felt justified.

Song Qingshu smiled faintly and gracefully descended while holding Wu Yunzhu’s hand. His effortless Qinggong immediately elicited astonished exclamations from the crowd below.

“Father, are you all right?” As soon as she landed, Wu Yunzhu rushed to Suo Etu, tugging at his bloodstained clothes while anxiously examining him for injuries.

“I’m fine,” Suo Etu replied, initially startled by Wu Yunzhu’s appearance. However, seeing that his daughter was safe with this mysterious expert, he quickly relaxed and asked, “And this gentleman is?”

“He’s a good brother I met on the way. Father, don’t worry; his martial arts are incredibly strong!” Wu Yunzhu said proudly.

Song Qingshu felt a bit awkward, thinking to himself that he was now considered of equal standing with her father, yet she had just demoted him by a generation with her words.

At this moment, Ren Yingying took the opportunity to leap out of the fray. Seeing Song Qingshu, she offered a slight bow. “Thank you for your assistance.”

Noticing that she didn’t recognize him, Song Qingshu chose not to reveal his identity. He simply nodded in acknowledgment and turned his gaze toward the black-clad group. “You all are quite bold to bully the eldest daughter of the Sun Moon Holy Cult.”

Ren Yingying was taken aback. She had assumed the man was Wu Yunzhu’s acquaintance and had come to rescue Suo Etu. Yet, his first words were in defense of her.

The black-clad leader laughed heartily and said, “This was all a misunderstanding. I offer my apologies to Miss Ren. If there were any offenses earlier, I hope Miss Ren can forgive us.”

His original intent was only to deal with Suo Etu, not to provoke the Sun Moon Holy Cult. This twist of events provided an excellent excuse to withdraw gracefully.

“Your vile insults earlier showed no such restraint!” Ren Yingying thought angrily. Yet, she also understood that their sudden politeness stemmed more from fear of this mysterious man than genuine remorse. With no better option, she could only express her displeasure with a cold snort.

Song Qingshu smiled faintly. “You’ve offended Miss Ren. If she chooses to forgive you, that’s her generosity. However, the daughter of Lord Suo happens to be my good friend. I can’t turn a blind eye to such treatment of Lord Suo, or I’d lose face in front of my friend.”

In truth, Song Qingshu wasn’t truly acting for Wu Yunzhu’s sake. He was curious about the identity of this group. While the comments from Qinghai Yixiao and the others suggested they were sent by Zuo Lengchan, he preferred to verify things firsthand. Using Wu Yunzhu as an excuse was merely convenient.

Unaware of his real motives, Wu Yunzhu’s clear eyes sparkled with an unusual light. She had found his demeanor cold and distant throughout their journey, but now, seeing him defend her so fervently, her heart fluttered with a strange warmth.

Hearing Song Qingshu’s words, the black-clad group erupted into murmurs. The one who had insulted Ren Yingying the most earlier sneered, “Our leader only called you senior out of courtesy. Your martial arts may be exceptional, but do you think we’re afraid of you just because you’re strong?”

“Exactly. For years, we’ve roamed the martial world, rarely encountering worthy opponents. Do you really think you can defeat all of us?” Another black-clad man chimed in coldly. 

Their confidence stemmed not only from their formidable reputation but also from the sheer number of skilled fighters in their group. With their combined strength, they could easily annihilate even a prestigious sect. While the man before them was undoubtedly powerful, he was still only one person. A few bold words were enough to bolster their image before their comrades.

“Be careful!” The black-clad leader’s expression changed drastically as he lunged toward the speaker.

“Oh, really?”

Song Qingshu let out a soft sneer. He had still been standing in the same spot when he said “Oh,” but as the word “Really” left his lips, he suddenly appeared in front of the man in black. 

In the other man’s shocked gaze, a single sword Qi from Song Qingshu had already shattered his heart veins.

His companion was both alarmed and enraged. Although they weren’t blood brothers, their bond after many years of friendship was closer than that of siblings. They were in perfect harmony, their cooperation seamless. Before he could even think through what had happened, his sword instinctively thrust toward Song Qingshu.

With a slow lift of his left hand, Song Qingshu responded faster than the other’s attack, effortlessly trapping the long sword between two fingers. The opponent seemed struck by a lightning bolt, vomiting a large mouthful of blood onto his mask.

At this moment, the leader of the men in black had already attacked from behind. 

“Oh?” Song Qingshu let out a small sound of surprise, his fingers effortlessly severing the long sword he held, using the broken tip to block the leader’s deadly sword strike.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. The remaining men in black only reacted then, unleashing their strongest techniques as they rushed forward.

“Senior (Big Brother), be careful!” 

The two women shouted in unison. 

Ren Yingying glanced at Wu Yunzhu in surprise, but her attention quickly returned to the battle. She was stunned to see him smile slightly at her, even amidst the chaos.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Song Qingshu tapped the tip of his foot and swiftly disappeared from the siege, reappearing by Ren Yingying and the others. He was still holding the man in black from before, and with a smile, he handed him to Ren Yingying. “Miss Ren, this man had the worst mouth earlier. I’ve caught him for you; feel free to do as you please.”

“Thank you!” Ren Yingying’s heart skipped a beat at his smile. She wondered why this person seemed so familiar.

It wasn’t surprising that Ren Yingying didn’t recognize him. Song Qingshu knew that Ah Jiu and Xia Qingqing had to present his face at the Golden Serpent Camp. If his appearance was exposed, and someone realized that there were two Song Qingshus, it might lead to unwanted conclusions. Therefore, he wore a mask and deliberately altered his voice to ensure that people who had seen him wouldn’t recognize him.

The man in black had been so vulgar earlier that Ren Yingying had already wished she could tear him apart. Without hesitation, she pulled off his mask, revealing an elderly man with a wan expression. The most noticeable feature was his head of white hair.

“Hmph, so disrespectful.” Ren Yingying, who had always been very proud, and as the Saintess of the Sun Moon Holy Cult, wielding life and death over countless people, would never show mercy in such a situation. Without hesitation, she thrust her short sword forward, ending his life.

“The demoness dares!” The men in black cursed angrily, but no one dared approach due to the presence of Song Qingshu. They could only watch their companion die.

Song Qingshu, watching the scene, couldn’t help but take a deep breath, thinking, ‘Wow, how cold-hearted…she just cut him down with one stroke because he spoke badly to her. If I were to fall into this little girl’s hands someday, I’d probably end up with not a single piece of intact flesh left.’ 

He shuddered involuntarily.

Wu Yunzhu, watching the scene, paled slightly. She had never imagined that this seemingly goddess-like sister of hers would be so ruthless. A hint of regret rose in her heart: ‘The world of wulin is too dangerous. It’s much more comfortable to stay in the capital with those young masters and ladies, writing poetry and painting…’ But then, she quickly reconsidered: ‘If I hadn’t sneaked out, how would I have met such a heroic figure?’

Suo Etu looked at his daughter, whose expression was changing from red to white, and was puzzled. What could his daughter be thinking?

“Miss Ren, we have spared you several times, and yet you strike so mercilessly.” The leader of the black-clad men spoke in a low voice, his tone carrying an icy chill.

“Such despicable, filthy scoundrels, I killed him because he deserved it.” Ren Yingying huffed, though her grip on the short sword tightened, ready to defend against any counterattack. At the same time, she couldn’t help but feel a bit of regret. She shouldn’t have come alone; if she had brought her subordinates, she wouldn’t have ended up in this awkward situation.

However, Song Qingshu stepped forward and stood in front of her, blocking most of her body. He smiled and said, “Your reasoning is quite unreasonable. It was my hand that killed your companion, and I captured this old man with white hair. If you wish to take revenge, you should come for me, not make trouble for a young lady.”

Ren Yingying was taken aback and looked at him in surprise. She hadn’t expected him to repeatedly step in for her. She couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Could he be an old friend of my father?’ No, if he were truly an old friend of her father, he would have helped when they were besieging Dongfang Bubai. Her father would never have failed to invite him, and she had never heard her father mention him. ‘Then why is he helping me? Could it be… for me?’

As she thought about it, Ren Yingying’s face flushed. Her suppressed mood inexplicably improved: ‘Hmph, after being bullied by that b*stard Song Qingshu for so long, I’ve finally encountered a good person.’

The leader of the black-clad men glanced at Song Qingshu warily and waved to stop his restless subordinates. He spoke coldly, “Since we offended your friend’s father first, and you are retaliating, we have no words to say. Your skills were superior, and your opponents died by your hand. We will leave now.” He gestured for his companions to retreat.

Song Qingshu coldly responded, “Did I tell you to leave?” 

Since they chose this moment to attack the peaceful negotiations with Suo Etu, it was clear they were enemies, not friends, with the Golden Serpent Camp. Unfortunately, after their brief clash, it seemed that they had intentionally hidden their martial arts techniques. He couldn’t figure out their background, and he wasn’t about to let them leave so easily.

The leader of the black-clad men suddenly turned around, releasing a master-level aura. He coldly said, “Do you wish to exterminate us?”

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