Flower Stealing Master

“Be careful, Senior Sister!”

“Shan’er, watch out!”

Lin Pingzhi and Yue Buqun moved simultaneously. 

Lin Pingzhi’s sword flashed brilliantly, with flawless speed and angle. Unfortunately, due to his lack of combat experience, the force behind his attack was too rigid. Just as the flying drumstick accelerated mid-air, his precise thrust missed entirely.

Thankfully, Yue Buqun was nearby. Grabbing a chopstick from the table, he struck after the fact but still managed to pin the drumstick to the table. However, some grease from the drumstick splattered onto Yue Lingshan.

“Ah!” Yue Lingshan cried out, retreating in haste. Upon seeing the stain on her chest, she grew furious and was about to curse, but Yue Buqun interrupted her with a stern rebuke, “Shan’er, hold your tongue!”

“But it was clearly her…” Yue Lingshan began, but seeing the grim look on her father’s face, she stomped her foot in frustration, suppressing her anger.

“If it weren’t for Lady Li’s mercy, do you think you’d still be alive?” Yue Buqun scolded. He understood Li Mochou’s fearsome reputation in the martial world. For her to only toss a drumstick was already a rare kindness.

Though Yue Buqun was not afraid of the Scarlet Serpent Immortal, Li Mochou’s fearsome reputation stemmed not just from her martial prowess but from her deadly hidden weapon—the Frozen Soul Silver Needle.

With so many disciples present, Yue Buqun knew he couldn’t guarantee everyone’s safety if a fight broke out. If Li Mochou unleashed her rain of needles, half of the Mount Hua Sect disciples would surely perish. Therefore, he felt relieved and expressed his gratitude.

“I’ve heard that the head of Mount Hua Sect is a true gentleman, and now that I’ve seen it with my own eyes, the rumors are indeed true,” Li Mochou said with a slight nod. “For your sake, I’ll let this matter slide today.”

Li Mochou gracefully sat down, and the quick-witted server had already cleaned up the table, offering her a fresh pot of fine tea.

“Thank you, Lady Li,” Yue Buqun said with a sigh of relief. As he sat, he glanced thoughtfully at Lin Pingzhi. The sword technique Lin had just used in his panic was something Yue had never seen before, yet it bore traces of Mount Hua Sect’s swordsmanship…

Yue Buqun, known for his deep composure, concealed his suspicions.

Lin Pingzhi, however, felt his heart skip a beat. In his moment of urgency, he had accidentally used the sword technique taught to him by Brother Song. He wondered nervously if his master had noticed.

‘Surely, it was too brief for them to notice…’ Lin Pingzhi reassured himself.

Learning techniques from another sect was a grave taboo in the martial world. Yet, consumed by his desire for revenge, Lin Pingzhi had no choice but to disregard such conventions.

Sharing a temperament similar to Yue Buqun, and having experienced the ordeal with the Evil Exterminating Sword Manual, Lin Pingzhi understood the danger of revealing such secrets. The sword technique taught by Song Qingshu was far more exquisite than anything he had ever learned, so he practiced it in secret, fearing exposure.

Meanwhile, as Li Mochou sipped her tea, she thought to herself, ‘I truly underestimated the Mount Hua Sect Sect. Even an ordinary disciple possesses such refined swordsmanship. How much more terrifying must Yue Buqun’s skills be?’

Lin Pingzhi’s exquisite swordplay and Yue Buqun’s profound internal strength had left a lasting impression on her, planting seeds of caution in her heart.

What Li Mochou did not know, however, was that Lin Pingzhi’s sword technique wasn’t from Mount Hua Sect. In terms of sheer mastery of swordsmanship, even Yue Buqun might not be his match. What Lin lacked was simply experience and finesse.

The people involved harbored their own thoughts, and after a brief lull, the bustling inn gradually returned to its noisy ambiance.

“Hey, haven’t you stared enough?” Mu Wanqing snapped, noticing that the man across from her was still staring at Li Mochou.

“There is a long way to go, I’ve seen enough today,” Song Qingshu replied with a faint smile, snapping out of his daze.

Mu Wanqing leaned closer and whispered, “Are you tired of living? If she hears you, you won’t even know how you died.”

Though Mu Wanqing had killed people with her poison darts before, her reputation was nowhere near as fearsome as Li Mochou’s. For some reason, she didn’t want to see this man across from her get skewered by one of Li’s needles.

Song Qingshu smiled faintly. “So, the lady is concerned about me?”

Mu Wanqing’s expression instantly turned cold. She raised her arm, revealing a wrist crossbow. “Say another word, and I’ll shoot you.”

“Beneath that tough exterior, you have a kind heart,” Song Qingshu mused, thinking of Mu Wanqing’s troubled past. He couldn’t help but feel pity for her.

Swish!

The dart trembled on the table before him, leaving Song Qingshu speechless. ‘What a tsundere little girl.’

“My patience is limited,” Mu Wanqing warned coldly. “If I didn’t have questions for you, that dart would’ve already pierced you.”

“Thank you for sparing my life,” Song Qingshu said with a smile. “Ask whatever you want, I’ll answer.”

Mu Wanqing gave him a strange look. His eyes were like the ocean—deep and calm—and his voice was unnervingly steady, as if life and death held no meaning for him.

‘Could he be a hidden expert?’

She quickly dismissed the idea. If he truly were an expert, he wouldn’t have remained motionless when she shot at him.

‘He must be some young master from a wealthy family, out sightseeing and scared out of his wits.’

Thinking this, a faint smile appeared on her lips, like the first thaw of winter snow, stunning Song Qingshu for a moment.

Seeing his reaction, Mu Wanqing’s cheeks reddened slightly. She glared at him and snapped, “What are you looking at?”

“I’m looking at you. You look beautiful when you smile,” Song Qingshu replied matter-of-factly.

“One more look, and I’ll gouge out your eyes!” Mu Wanqing threatened, quickly wiping the smile from her face.

“If the lady doesn’t want me to look, I won’t.” Song Qingshu raised his hands lazily.

Mu Wanqing frowned. Normally, she would’ve killed a man like this without hesitation. Yet, for some reason, today she couldn’t summon the will to do so.

“Weren’t you going to ask me something?” Song Qingshu asked, curious about what had silenced her.

Mu Wanqing snapped out of her thoughts and hesitantly asked, “Since you’re half a local, do you know where the Golden Serpent Camp is?”

Everyone in the inn had been curious about what Mu Wanqing wanted to ask, and when she spoke, she didn’t lower her voice. Thus, most of the people present heard her question. The bustling inn suddenly fell silent, and the atmosphere turned strange.

Even Li Mochou’s ears perked up, her curiosity piqued by why this stunning young woman was asking about the Golden Serpent Camp. 

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