Flower Stealing Master - C.558: Might and Fear

As soon as Mu Wanqing spoke, her fair face flushed crimson, almost dripping with embarrassment. However, the effect was undeniable—the entire inn fell into complete silence, even Blank Fiend stopped in his tracks.

Song Qingshu’s body shook three times in surprise. He had never expected Mu Wanqing, with her usual proud and aloof demeanor, to say something like that.

“The Golden Serpent King, huh… It’s really not that big of a—” Blank Fiend hesitated, but before he could finish, Hao Mi pulled him aside and whispered urgently.

“….”

“What did you say? The one who injured your finger last time was the Golden Serpent King?” Blank Fiend’s expression changed slightly, and his heart trembled.

He knew the martial prowess of the Twin Fiends quite well. While he could easily defeat either one of them in a one-on-one fight, together, they were beyond his ability to handle.

Song Qingshu had fought both brothers simultaneously. When Hao Mi’s One Finger Zen struck his body, instead of harming Song Qingshu, the impact broke Hao Mi’s finger, nearly crippling his cultivation!

Such terrifying mastery left Blank Fiend shaken to the core.

“Yes. Afterward, we investigated and confirmed that the young man we encountered that night was indeed him.” Even now, recalling the events of that night sent chills through Hao Mi’s heart.

Blank Fiend’s expression shifted between doubt and alarm. Ever since arriving in the Central Plains, he had heard endless rumors about how extraordinary the Golden Serpent King, Song Qingshu, was—defeating top martial masters across the land, earning the title of Golden Serpent King, and causing the total annihilation of the Qing army’s 100,000-strong force as if controlling wind and rain itself.

At first, he thought these rumors were exaggerated hearsay. How powerful could someone as young as Song Qingshu really be? But after Hao Mi’s confirmation, he could no longer dismiss the tales as mere gossip.

However, Blank Fiend was a man of reputation, someone who had made his mark in the martial world for decades. If he backed down just because of a young girl’s intimidation, where would his pride go? With a sly gleam in his eye, he turned to Mu Wanqing and said, “Just saying you’re with the Golden Serpent King doesn’t make it so. Where’s your proof?”

Mu Wanqing was naturally strong-willed and thought to herself, ‘If not for saving Li Mochou, I would rather die than say something so humiliating.’ But since things had already escalated, she didn’t care if it became even more embarrassing.

She bit her lip and pointed at Qinghai Yixiao in the distance. “Ask your disciple. See if I didn’t come here… looking for him.”

Under the inquiring gaze of his master, Qinghai Yixiao hesitated before stammering, “She… she really was asking about the Golden Serpent Camp…”

‘Idiot!’ Blank Fiend was nearly bursting with rage. ‘You’ve been wandering the martial world for years, and you still can’t discern who can be provoked and who cannot?’

Qinghai Yixiao had brought such a powerful enemy upon them, and Blank Fiend felt as if he could tear his disciple apart. Normally, given his ruthless reputation, he would have chosen to kill everyone nearby to silence them and eliminate future troubles. However, with so many people in the inn, including Yue Buqun and other members of the Mount Hua Sect, there was no guarantee that someone wouldn’t escape to spread word of what happened. Forming a blood feud with the Golden Serpent King wasn’t something he wanted.

‘A minor offense is better than a mortal grudge,’ Blank Fiend quickly decided. He laughed heartily and said, “So, young lady, since you’re the Golden Serpent King’s woman. I offended you today, please forgive me.”

Mu Wanqing blinked in surprise. She had only mentioned Song Qingshu’s name to make him hesitate, never expecting the tactic to be so effective—he seemed thoroughly frightened.

‘Mother! Is Song Qingshu’s reputation really this powerful? Even more so than the Duan family of Dali?’ Yue Lingshan exclaimed in disbelief. The Duan family was already a force to be reckoned with in the martial world, and yet it seemed even their name paled in comparison to Song Qingshu’s.

“The most influential figure in the martial world right now is probably none other than Young Master Song,” Ning Zhongze said with admiration. As the wife of a sect leader, she knew more details than most. Although the rumors were slightly exaggerated, it wasn’t unreasonable to say Song Qingshu had a shot at claiming the title of the world’s strongest.

Yue Buqun’s eyes gleamed. ‘These scoundrels were so arrogant towards us a moment ago, but the mere mention of Song Qingshu’s name scared them off like mice before a cat. It’s clear that strength rules in the martial world. I must act swiftly regarding the Evil Exterminating Sword Manual…’

His gaze shifted to Lin Pingzhi and Yue Lingshan, who were whispering to each other, and a plan began to take shape in his mind.

“Wait!” Just as everyone was lost in their thoughts, Bu Tai spoke up. “This young lady may be with the Golden Serpent King, but what does that have to do with Daoist Li? The Golden Serpent King has no connection with her, does he?”

Bu Tai had been struck by Li Mochou’s Five Poison Palm earlier. Although he had forced the poison out of his system, he was still seething with anger and wasn’t about to let her off easily.

“Who says they’re unrelated? She’s also one of the Golden Serpent King’s women,” Mu Wanqing declared boldly. She had come to rescue Li Mochou, and with the situation turning against them, she decided to throw caution to the wind.

Song Qingshu nearly burst out laughing. ‘Who says Mu Wanqing is the jealous type? She’s clearly as understanding as a flower that knows how to please. Not only did she walk right into the lion’s den, but she even came with a bonus gift.’

Before Bu Tai could respond, Li Mochou’s face flushed with rage. “What nonsense are you spouting? I am not his woman!”

Although Li Mochou was infamous for her ruthless ways, she still cared deeply about her reputation in such matters. Even knowing Mu Wanqing meant well, she refused to accept such claims.

Hao Mi quickly ran over to Bu Tai and whispered, “Forget it, Senior Brother. If she really is involved with that Song fellow, killing her will only bring us endless trouble.”

Bu Tai’s anger had not yet subsided. “But she just said she isn’t!”

Blank Fiend burst into laughter. “Oh, Bu Tai, you don’t understand women. They often say ‘no’ when they mean ‘yes.’ If she weren’t connected to Song, why would she risk her life to save the girl, and why would the girl do the same for her?”

“Good point,” Bu Tai nodded thoughtfully. He turned to Li Mochou and said, “Fine. Out of respect for the Golden Serpent King, I’ll let you go this time. Let’s leave.”

The group bantered back and forth, their imagination running wild, leaving Song Qingshu in awe of their mental gymnastics. Meanwhile, Li Mochou was so enraged she could barely contain herself, though the trio’s martial skills made her hesitate.

Blank Fiend and his companions were on a mission from Zuo Lengchan of the Mount Song Sect, plotting something significant. They didn’t want unnecessary trouble, so after a few parting words, they led Qinghai Yixiao towards the exit.

However, halfway through the door, they halted abruptly, wary of the two figures entering the inn.

“Well, isn’t it lively in here? Oh, the Qinghai Sect and Mount Hua Sect are both present. This saves us a trip,” one of the newcomers, a portly man dressed like a wealthy merchant, said with a cheerful smile.

“Who are you two?” Bu Tai asked cautiously. He could tell from their graceful steps and steady breathing that they were top-tier martial artists, and his guard went up.

The portly man grinned. “We’re here to reward virtue.”

His tall, gaunt companion, dressed in black with a face as cold as eternal ice, added icily, “And punish evil.”

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