Flower Stealing Master

“Hehe, that young master is going to be in trouble,” Yue Lingshan said gleefully from a distance, her voice brimming with schadenfreude.

Song Qingshu couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated. 

‘What a small world! Even with a mask, she still found me. Could it be that she picked me out because I looked easier to bully?’

Seeing that Mu Wanqing hadn’t recognized him, Song Qingshu decided not to reveal his identity and mischievously said, “Miss, I don’t lack silver.”

“Then what do you lack?” Mu Wanqing gripped her long sword, her voice cold. It seemed that if he dared to say anything unpleasant, she would draw her sword without hesitation.

“I was just drinking alone out of boredom. If you don’t mind, why not join me?” Song Qingshu raised his hand, inviting her politely.

“I’m not used to sharing a table with men,” Mu Wanqing replied icily.

Song Qingshu shrugged. “Well, there’s nothing I can do about that. This is the only inn in town. I kindly invited you to share a table. If you don’t want to, you’re welcome to find someone else to sit with.”

“You!” Mu Wanqing’s eyebrows arched in anger, but knowing she was partly at fault, she couldn’t lash out. She glanced around at the rough, burly men sitting at other tables and frowned deeply.

“Who said I wouldn’t sit?” Mu Wanqing huffed as she sat down directly. After looking around, she decided that, among the people in the inn, this man was the least offensive to her eyes. She could put up with it—after all, she needed to ask someone for information.

“Waiter, bring some fine dishes. This lady’s meal is on me,” Song Qingshu said with a smile, pleased that she had sat down.

“Who wants you to treat me? I have my own money!” Mu Wanqing called the waiter over and ordered several exquisite dishes and snacks. As the waiter was about to leave, she hesitated and added, “Oh, and put his wine on my tab.” With that, she tossed a silver ingot over.

“Pfft!”

The onlookers knew of Mu Wanqing’s fierce reputation and had been eagerly waiting to see this spoiled young master get humiliated. To their surprise, this fearsome girl ended up treating him to a meal.

“Women always fall for pretty faces. Hmph!” 

The crowd grumbled in resentment, cursing Song Qingshu under their breath and looking down on him with disdain.

“I thought she was a heroine, but she’s just another vain girl.” Yue Lingshan was deeply disappointed.

“Senior Sister, keep your voice down. If she hears you, it’ll only cause trouble,” Lin Pingzhi whispered, tugging on Yue Lingshan’s sleeve. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder how his senior sister could judge a man’s looks when he was wearing a mask.

“Lingshan, don’t stir up trouble.” Yue Buqun glanced at his daughter. Though his martial skills were superior and he had many companions from the Huashan Sect with him, they were on an important mission. It was best to avoid unnecessary complications.

“Fine,” Yue Lingshan muttered, though she reluctantly pricked up her ears to hear what would happen next.

Seeing that Mu Wanqing had paid for him, Song Qingshu was briefly surprised but remained composed. “Thank you for your kindness, Miss. I shall accept it without hesitation.”

The crowd cursed inwardly at his shamelessness. 

‘What kind of man lets a woman pay for him? This pretty boy is an embarrassment to all men!’ 

They couldn’t understand what Mu Wanqing saw in him.

Mu Wanqing, however, wasn’t concerned about such trivial matters. She asked nonchalantly, “No need to thank me. I have a few questions for you.”

“Well, since I’ve accepted your favor, I’m at your service. Ask anything you like. If I know the answer, I’ll tell you everything,” Song Qingshu said, curious about what she wanted to ask.

Mu Wanqing gave a slight nod. “Are you a local here?”

“Uh,” Song Qingshu hesitated for a moment. “I’m… half a local.”

Mu Wanqing immediately scowled. “Yes or no—what does ‘half a local’ even mean?”

Song Qingshu gave a wry smile. “I wasn’t born here, but I’ve lived in the area for many years. There’s not much that happens around here that I don’t know about. So, I suppose I’m half a local.”

He wasn’t exaggerating. The entire region was under the control of the Golden Serpent Camp, and very little happened without his knowledge.

Hearing this, Mu Wanqing’s expression softened, and she was about to ask something when she suddenly closed her mouth, looking hesitant and uneasy.

Song Qingshu was puzzled. 

‘What kind of game is this? Why start asking and then stop?’ 

He urged gently, “Feel free to ask, Miss.”

Mu Wanqing took a deep breath as if summoning her courage. “Do you know anything about the Gold—”

Before she could finish, a collective gasp echoed through the inn. The people around them were all staring at the door, including Song Qingshu, whose gaze was fixed there. 

Curious, Mu Wanqing turned to look as well.

At the entrance stood a beautiful Taoist nun.

Her loose, apricot-colored robes couldn’t hide her graceful figure. Though she was dressed as someone in her thirties, her skin was still youthful, as delicate as that of a young maiden. She gently swung the horsetail whisk in her hand, her expression calm and serene. Her bright eyes sparkled with charm, and a faint blush adorned her cheeks, captivating everyone in the inn.

Mu Wanqing noticed that even the man across from her was staring dumbfounded at the Taoist nun. Annoyed, she thought to herself, ‘Master was right. There isn’t a single decent man in the world—all unfaithful and fickle.’  

Her mind drifted to Duan Yu and that Wang girl, but the scene was quickly replaced by a memory from Jinling City: a charming girl nestled in Song Qingshu’s arms, affectionately calling him “husband.” And that scoundrel hadn’t even tried to explain himself.

For some reason, the sight of the masked man in front of her reminded her of that scene.

Song Qingshu’s expression turned strange. ‘What kind of day is this? Why am I running into so many familiar faces?’ 

The beautiful Taoist nun at the door—wasn’t that Li Mochou?

Li Mochou, too, encountered the same problem Mu Wanqing had earlier: the inn was packed with no empty seats.

But unlike before, the entire inn fell into an awkward silence. No one dared to invite her to sit with them.

“Li Mochou, the Red Fairy!”

The people in the inn were no strangers to the martial world and had all heard of the infamous woman before them. Her apricot-colored robe and stunning beauty left no doubt about her identity.

Li Mochou scanned the room and calmly approached the table next to Song Qingshu and Mu Wanqing. She stared silently at the burly men sitting there.

The men’s faces turned pale. “Ah, Fairy Li, what a coincidence! We were just leaving. Waiter, the bill, please!”

Without waiting for the waiter, they tossed some silver coins onto the table and rushed out of the inn.

A soft chuckle escaped from Yue Lingshan in the distance. “What a bunch of cowards, scared of a middle-aged Taoist nun.”

“Lingshan, silence!” Yue Buqun’s expression darkened.

Li Mochou’s eyes glinted coldly. With a flick of her sleeve, a greasy chicken leg flew from the table, shooting straight toward Yue Lingshan’s face. 

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