Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 866: An Enigmatic Man

Tang Sai’er gave her companion a strange glance before turning back with a coquettish laugh. “My sister here is usually quite reserved and might be a little uncomfortable with such flirtatious talk. Please don’t take offense, young master.”  

Song Qingshu chuckled and shook his head. “I’m always very tolerant of beautiful women, but I do have a question for your sister.” He paused before continuing slowly, “Do you happen to know a young lady with the surname Zhou?”  

The frosty-faced woman’s expression flickered briefly before she coldly replied, “No.”  

“What a pity. I thought you bore some resemblance to an old friend of mine and wanted to introduce you.” Song Qingshu had asked because Zhou Zhiruo had mentioned she would go to reclaim her father’s former forces. Her father, Zhou Ziwang, had once been the Holy King of the White Lotus Sect. Yet, after so much time had passed, there had been no news of her, and he was growing worried. At first glance, this woman had reminded him of Zhou Zhiruo in disguise, but upon closer inspection, though she was beautiful, she was clearly not her.  

“Young master, your excuse for flirting is rather outdated,” Tang Sai’er giggled. “But did you know that openly courting our sect’s saintess is a grave crime punishable by flaying and heart extraction?”  

“Oh no, I’m so scared,” Song Qingshu said, patting his chest in exaggerated terror, earning silent curses from Zhao Min and Zhao Yingluo nearby.  

Then his tone shifted. “Well, since I’ve already flirted and the punishment is death either way, why not try my luck with you too? What do you think of me? Handsome enough? Care for a date? Or perhaps something more… intimate?”  

Tang Sai’er’s smile froze. Though she didn’t fully grasp his crude innuendo, a woman’s intuition told her it was nothing good. Her voice turned icy. “Zhao Yingluo, your man can’t seem to keep his eyes—or hands—to himself. Even in your presence, he dares to flirt with other women. Should I discipline him for you?”  

Zhao Yingluo had been simmering with anger at Tang Sai’er’s provocations, but hearing this, her rage melted into amusement. “If you’re so eager, sister, then by all means, go ahead.”  

She was inwardly delighted. ‘No matter how sharp Tang Sai’er usually is, she’s just stepped on a landmine this time.’  

Tang Sai’er was taken aback by the response. Seeing the faint smirk on Zhao Yingluo’s lips, she sensed a trap but couldn’t pinpoint it.  

Her companion tugged her sleeve and whispered, “Sister, we’re running out of time. Let’s just capture them and leave.”  

Tang Sai’er glanced at the dust clouds in the distance—the Jin Dynasty’s cavalry was approaching. They had about half an hour before arrival. Delaying further would only complicate things.  

“Since you agree, sister, why not join us as guests at our humble abode? I’ll make sure to teach your unruly lover some manners. How does that sound?” Though Tang Sai’er smiled, her eyes gleamed with murderous intent.  

Zhao Yingluo knew she was about to strike and was about to warn Song Qingshu when he spoke first.  

“Take your sisters and retreat. My father, along with Fourth Uncle Zhang and Sixth Uncle Yin, will escort you back to the Southern Song Dynasty. Leave this to me.”  

Zhao Yingluo protested, “No! I’ve already owed you too much. How can I let you take such a risk? Tang Sai’er is highly skilled and cunning, and the White Lotus Sect outnumbers us. We should face them together—”  

Song Qingshu cut her off. “The Jin troops are closing in. You need to get as far from Daxing Prefecture as possible so Queen Pei Man can intervene. If the Jin cavalry catches you first, even she won’t be able to help.”  

Seeing her hesitation, he grinned. “Relax. You’ve seen what I can do. These people can’t hurt me. Besides, chances to make you owe me favors are rare. I’d love for you to owe me so much that you can never repay it—unless you settle the debt with your b0dy.”  

Blushing but surprisingly unangered, Zhao Yingluo sighed. “You always say such things, even when you’re being kind. Fine, I’ll remember this favor. If you ever visit Lin’an, come find me at Jianshan Academy.” With a final smile, she turned and led her group away.  

Zhao Min sighed beside him. “I’m starting to worry for Zhou Zhiruo. If she doesn’t keep an eye on you, you’ll fill an entire house with sisters.”  

Song Qingshu laughed. “Since when did you care about Zhou Zhiruo? Weren’t you two mortal enemies? Shouldn’t you be happy if she suffers?”  

Zhao Min huffed. “That’s none of your business! I can worry about her if I want!”  

Meanwhile, Tang Sai’er grew furious at being ignored. “Do you really think you can leave without my permission?”  

Zhao Min poked Song Qingshu’s side teasingly. “See? Pleasing one woman always angers another.”  

Song Qingshu smirked. “And are you pleased or angry right now?”  

Zhao Min rolled her eyes. “Worried. You sent all the skilled fighters away. If you can’t handle these White Lotus fanatics alone, I, a noble Mongol princess, might become their prisoner.”  

The White Lotus followers grew impatient. “The saintess asked you a question! Are you deaf?”  

Song Qingshu finally looked up, his voice calm. “I said they could leave, so they will.”  (G: gigachad)

“Bold words.” Tang Sai’er sneered and raised her hand. Her followers immediately drew crossbows, aiming at the retreating group. “Take another step, and you’ll all become pincushions.”  

Zhao Yingluo turned pale at the sight of the gleaming arrowheads. “Military-grade repeating crossbows! How did you get these?”  

Crossbows were far deadlier than bows. While archers required years of training, anyone could fire a crossbow accurately with minimal instruction. For this reason, they were strictly controlled by the Dynasty and rarely seen in the martial world.  

Song Qingshu studied the weapons thoughtfully. In his past life, the rise of firearms had led to martial arts’ decline. After all, decades of training could be undone by a child with a gun. Only top-tier experts could evade crossbow bolts, but how many in the world reached that level? Without a broad foundation of practitioners, true masters would only grow rarer, hastening martial arts’ demise.  

Tang Sai’er interrupted his thoughts. “Where we got them is none of your concern. If your people move again, I’ll give the order. Maybe you’ll escape, but how many of your sisters will survive?”  

Confident, she knew Zhao Yingluo’s weakness was her companions. If she played this card right, capturing her for the White Lotus Sect’s Holy King would earn great favor.  

Meeting Zhao Yingluo’s questioning gaze, Song Qingshu smiled reassuringly. “Just go. I’ll handle this.”  

She hesitated. A volley from hundreds of crossbows could wipe out half her group. Yet, after a brief pause, she trusted the certainty in his eyes.  

“Move out!” she ordered, positioning herself at the rear to intercept any arrows.  

Seeing her defiance, Tang Sai’er’s eyes narrowed. “Fire!”  

With a synchronized click, hundreds of bolts shot forth like dark streaks of death.  

Zhao Min gasped. She and Song Qingshu stood directly in the bolts’ path. Even for someone as composed as her, the sight was terrifying.  

Song Qingshu shielded her with one arm and raised the other. What happened next stunned every White Lotus follower—the arrows froze mid-air as if seized by an invisible force.  

“Impossible!” Tang Sai’er’s confidence shattered. 

This defied all logic! Even the Holy King couldn’t achieve such a feat. ‘Who is this seemingly carefree man?’  

Zhao Yingluo, prepared to block the incoming arrows, watched in awe. She had always known Song Qingshu was strong, but this was beyond imagination.  

Zhao Min, equally stunned, murmured, “Truly… an enigmatic man.”