Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 628: Sparks Flying

“Eh?” As Zhang Sanfeng’s fingers touched Ren Yingying’s wrist, he was startled by the cold energy coursing through her meridians. “Whose True Qi could be so sinister?”

Ah Zi hurriedly said, “This young lady was accidentally injured by my junior apprentice brother. It was all a misunderstanding, truly a misunderstanding.” Although she had grown up in the Western Regions, Zhang Sanfeng’s name was as famous as thunderclaps. Upon hearing that Ren Yingying was Zhang Sanfeng’s granddaughter-in-law, Ah Zi worried he might lash out and harm You Tanzhi in anger.

Seeing the celestial beauty Ah Zi step in to defend him, You Tanzhi’s eyes immediately welled with tears. He silently swore to himself: ‘For the rest of my life, I will protect Miss Ah Zi and never let her suffer any grievances!’

Little did he know that Ah Zi wasn’t concerned about his life or death but worried that finding another obedient servant like him wouldn’t be easy if he died.

“Miss Ren, is this truly the case?” Zhang Sanfeng asked suspiciously, his gaze fixed on Ren Yingying.

Ren Yingying frowned slightly and glanced at Song Qingshu, responding with a soft “Mmm” out of reflex. “Indeed, it was just a misunderstanding.” She noticed that Ah Zi had already been subdued by Song Qingshu, and since You Tanzhi listened to Ah Zi, he could be considered aligned with Song Qingshu. Given that the other party had helped her earlier, it wouldn’t be appropriate to sever a potential ally now.

Seeing that Ren Yingying wasn’t pursuing the matter, Zhang Sanfeng nodded slightly and refrained from further questioning. Instead, he resumed examining the cold poison within her body. Soon, he exclaimed again, “The cold poison in your body is extremely domineering. If someone hadn’t previously used their True Qi to protect your meridians at great personal cost, the poison might have already invaded your crown, heart, and dantian. At that point, external forces would have been powerless to dispel it.”

Having once treated Zhang Wuji’s cold poison caused by the Xuanming Divine Palm, Zhang Sanfeng had exhausted himself, gaining a deeper understanding of cold poison than most. Back then, Zhang Wuji’s poison had invaded his crown, heart, and dantian to such an extent that even Zhang Sanfeng’s century-long cultivation couldn’t extract a single strand of it. He had no choice but to seek the “Nine Yang Scripture” from Shaolin, hoping Zhang Wuji could cultivate its Yang Qi to dispel the cold poison himself.

“Ah?” Ren Yingying gasped. Given Zhang Sanfeng’s cultivation, if he said so, it must be true. Although she had been grateful to the mysterious person who saved her, she couldn’t help but suspect that the person had ulterior motives in holding her for so long. Now she realized he had acted purely to save her, without any evil intent.

Feeling guilty for misunderstanding him, Ren Yingying gave Song Qingshu an apologetic glance.
Noticing her expression, Zhang Sanfeng turned to look at Song Qingshu and couldn’t help but praise him. “To simultaneously suppress the domineering cold poison in Miss Yingying’s body and contend with the top experts in the martial world, your skills are truly unfathomable.”

Song Qingshu broke out in cold sweat, thinking, ‘Given our generational differences, how could I accept such an address from Zhang Sanfeng?’ He hurriedly bowed and said, “Junior greets Taoist Zhang.” He hesitated, debating whether to reveal his identity. However, lingering resentment from the Lion Slaying Assembly caused him to harbor resistance toward the Wudang Sect. After a moment of indecision, he chose to remain silent.

Zhang Sanfeng laughed heartily. “No need to be so formal, young Benefactor. If anything, I must thank you for saving Yingying. She is, after all, the future daughter-in-law of the Wudang Sect.”

Ren Yingying was both shy and flustered. Unable to explain her real relationship with Song Qingshu, she could only stew in frustration.

Song Qingshu’s expression turned odd, but he said, “Then I must trouble Taoist Zhang to suppress Miss Ren’s cold poison while I face Master Xu Zhu in battle.”

“Naturally.” Zhang Sanfeng smiled faintly. The pure and dense True Qi in his body surged into Ren Yingying’s meridians, melting the cold poison like snow in spring.

Ren Yingying bit her lip before speaking. “Taoist Zhang is a semi-immortal figure in the martial world. Even my father can only greet him as a disciple. If I were to let him personally treat my injuries, wouldn’t that shorten his lifespan? Please, let my friend detoxify me instead.”

Her words stunned everyone present, even Song Qingshu, who was visibly surprised. While she had phrased it politely, her tone carried an unmistakable undertone, as though she wanted to avoid entanglements with the Wudang Sect.

“This…” Zhang Sanfeng frowned slightly. He sensed that Ren Yingying held a strange affection for this masked stranger, which left him displeased. After all, she was nominally Song Qingshu’s fiancée. Her ambiguous relationship with another man was troubling.

“Another enchantress from the demonic sects,” Zhang Sanfeng sighed inwardly. While he didn’t particularly care for the distinction between righteous and demonic factions, the tragic fate of his disciple Zhang Cuishan—who had fallen in love with Yin Susu of the Heavenly Eagle Cult—left him wary.

Still, Zhang Sanfeng was a centenarian, his mind broad and forgiving. ‘This young lady dared to express her true feelings before me. It seems her engagement to Qingshu was forced upon her. A woman from the demonic sects indeed dares to love and hate with abandon. If only I’d had such courage in my youth…’  

He subconsciously touched the pair of iron Arhats hidden in his robes, lost in memories of his youth. Instead of anger, he felt a shred of admiration for Ren Yingying.

“If that’s the case, then I won’t intrude.” Zhang Sanfeng smiled faintly and gently pushed Ren Yingying back into Song Qingshu’s arms.

“You…” Song Qingshu stared at the woman in his arms, momentarily stunned.

“Shh! Don’t speak,” Ren Yingying whispered, forming the words silently with her lips.

Though puzzled, Song Qingshu refrained from questioning further. He quickly focused on expelling her cold poison, knowing that any delay could worsen her condition.

‘What… What is he doing with his hand on my abdomen again!’ Ren Yingying blushed furiously, her embarrassment almost driving her to stomp her feet.

Song Qingshu, acting out of habit, suddenly noticed the odd looks from Zhang Sanfeng and everyone else. Realizing the situation, he considered removing his hand but ultimately didn’t. Given their engagement, he saw no need to restrain himself.

“Are we still fighting, Benefactor?” Seeing Song Qingshu tending to Ren Yingying instead of preparing for battle, Xu Zhu frowned. Were it not for Zhang Sanfeng’s presence, he might have intervened already.

Observing Ren Yingying’s tacit acceptance of Song Qingshu’s actions, Zhang Sanfeng sighed. ‘It’s just as I thought. Oh well, I might as well help them further.’

“This Benefactor is treating Miss Ren’s injuries and cannot fight at the moment. Masters, could you grant me this small favor and let this matter rest for today?”

Xu Zhu’s expression stiffened, and he turned to Fang Zheng and Xuan Cheng. Though highly skilled, his low seniority required him to defer to them.

“This…” Fang Zheng hesitated. “For any other matter, I’d comply with your request, Taoist Zhang, but this involves—”

Before he could finish, Xuan Cheng interrupted, “I’ve always had questions about Shaolin’s 72 Ultimate Techniques. It would be an honor if Taoist Zhang could enlighten me.”

Zhang Sanfeng was briefly taken aback.

‘You practice Shaolin arts. Why not ask your fellow monks instead of me?’ Then he quickly realized Xuan Cheng was subtly accusing him of having stolen Shaolin techniques to establish the Wudang Sect. 

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