Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 937: Prince Hailing, Thoroughly Broken

Wanyan Liang’s heart was filled with humiliation and indignation, but he had no other choice. Once, he had been so proud and arrogant, believing there were few heroes in the world who could compare to him. But now, he discovered that he was merely a pitiful wretch willing to sell out his own w!fe just to stay alive.

“It’s done!” Wanyan Liang held a knife against the two w0men’s necks with one hand while furiously writing with the other. The moment he threw the completed “deed of sale” over, he seemed to have aged twenty years in an instant.

Song Qingshu reached out, and the letter in mid-air seemed pulled by an invisible force, flying into his hand. After a quick glance at the contents, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Your Highness is truly a man of both literary and martial talents. In ancient times, there was Cao Zijian who composed a poem within seven paces. Today, we have Prince Hailing gifting away his w!fe with a wave of his hand. I am sure this will become a celebrated anecdote passed down through the ages.”

Wanyan Liang felt the blood and energy churning within him, the veins on his forehead throbbing. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he finally couldn’t hold back—a mouthful of blood sprayed out.

Song Qingshu’s eyes narrowed. He had deliberately humiliated the other man repeatedly, waiting for precisely this opportunity. With a flick of his finger, Wanyan Liang felt a numbness on the back of his hand, and he could no longer maintain his grip on the weapon. It clattered to the ground.

Startled, Wanyan Liang ignored the burning pain in his chest and desperately reached out to grab the two women. However, an immense force emanated from them, making it impossible for him to hold on. He could only watch helplessly as they flew into Song Qingshu’s embrace.

“Your Highness, they are your lifelines. Why didn’t you guard them properly?” Song Qingshu held Empress Pei Man in one arm and Daiqisi in the other, his voice dripping with mockery.

Wanyan Liang’s face turned pale. At this point, he could only make one last effort. “You promised to let me go earlier,” he said, his eyes shifting to the paper in Song Qingshu’s hand.

Song Qingshu smiled. “Of course. Your Highness has even s0ld your wife to me. How could I not keep my word? You may go.”

“Really?” Wanyan Liang stared at him in disbelief. For a moment, he even felt a surge of gratitude toward Song Qingshu.

“Of course, it’s true,” Song Qingshu shrugged.

Wanyan Liang immediately turned and ran. But after only a few steps, he heard Song Qingshu’s voice behind him. “Leader Qiu, let him run for the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, then go catch him. If you fail to bring him back, heh heh…”

Qiu Qianren shuddered, knowing this was Song Qingshu’s way of demanding his loyalty. Cold sweat trickled down his back as he hurriedly replied, “Yes!” At that moment, he didn’t even consider trying to escape. He had witnessed Song Qingshu’s heaven-defying Qinggong. Even with his own reputation as the “Iron Palm Floating on Water,” he knew he could never outrun him, even if he ran his legs to the bone.

Wanyan Liang stumbled, nearly falling. He turned back, both shocked and furious. “Surnamed Song! You’re going back on your word!”

Song Qingshu replied indifferently, “I have already kept my promise and released you. But if someone else captures you, that’s hardly my fault. Rather than complaining here, you’d better run farther away. If you delay any longer, the half-incense time will be over.”

Wanyan Liang almost cursed aloud. Even if he were given three incense sticks’ worth of a head start, he could never outrun Qiu Qianren, who was famed for both his Qinggong and his Iron Palm. But at this point, he had no other choice. After shooting a venomous glare at Song Qingshu, he desperately sprinted into the distance.

Ouyang Feng couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. “The new generation really does surpass the old. Brother Song, the title ‘Western Poison’ suits you far better than it does me.”

Song Qingshu smiled slightly. “Brother Ouyang, you flatter me. I have a habit: if someone treats me well, I treat them even better. But if someone uses despicable and shameless tricks against me, I will be even more despicable and shameless than they are.”

Ouyang Feng laughed heartily. “Well said! You, young man, are very much to my liking. Far better than those hypocritical pretenders in the martial world.”

Song Qingshu chuckled but suddenly remembered something. “Why didn’t we see Murong Bo this time?” He had prepared for a tough battle today. If Murong Bo had been present, winning over Ouyang Feng and Qiu Qianren might not have been so easy.

Ouyang Feng answered, “After he was wounded by you at the Laundry Courtyard last time, he left the Prince Hailing’s residence not long after returning. It seemed he intended to find a place to train diligently and seek revenge against you in the future.”

Song Qingshu smiled dismissively. “Having a potential enemy like him to keep me on my toes will prevent me from ever growing complacent.” 

He didn’t take Murong Bo too seriously. Judging by Murong Bo’s actions in ‘Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils’, the old man had significant flaws in his intelligence. Even given time and opportunity, he wouldn’t be able to cause much trouble.

By the time the two finished their conversation, Qiu Qianren had already captured Wanyan Liang and brought him back. 

Looking at Wanyan Liang’s dejected appearance, Song Qingshu expressionlessly waved his hand. “For now, lock him up in a secret room within the Hall of Benevolent Governance.”

Objectively speaking, there wasn’t much personal enmity between him and Wanyan Liang. The humiliation he had inflicted today had already vented his anger. The rest, he would leave to Gebi, Wanyan Ping, Wanyan Chongjie, and her mother to deal with. Oh, and there was also Madame Tang. (G: he really forgot…)

“I’ve heard that Brother Ouyang’s White Camel Mountain has a special Corpse Dissolving Powder. Could you lend me some?” During a past conversation with Wei Xiaobao, Song Qingshu had learned that the Corpse Dissolving Powder seemed to originate from White Camel Mountain in the Western Regions. He had guessed it was likely the creation of the Western Poison.

Ouyang Feng looked surprised as he took a small porcelain bottle from his robe and handed it over. “How do you even know about this?”

Song Qingshu smiled without answering. He directly used the Corpse Dissolving Powder to completely dissolve Emperor Xizong’s body. Ouyang Feng’s eyelids twitched as he watched. “Why did you…”

“Today, Wanyan Liang intended to infiltrate the palace and assassinate the Emperor. Fortunately, His Majesty was already aware. Wanyan Liang’s plot was thwarted without a doubt, and the Emperor remains safe and sound.” Song Qingshu smiled as he looked at Ouyang Feng and Qiu Qianren. “Brother Ouyang, Chief Qiu, isn’t that what happened today?”

The moment their eyes met Song Qingshu’s, Ouyang Feng and Qiu Qianren felt the hairs on their backs stand on end. Having lived for decades, they were shrewd enough to immediately play along. “Of course, that’s exactly what happened. We witnessed it with our own eyes.”

“Good. For now, both of you may find empty rooms near the Hall of Benevolent Governance to stay,” Song Qingshu said, pausing briefly before continuing. “I have a rough idea of what both of you seek. Once I stabilize the court, I will certainly not treat the two of you unfairly.”

Qiu Qianren hurriedly added, “Young Master, you can rest assured. Who becomes emperor or holds power in the Jin Dynasty makes no difference to me. I, Qiu, will never utter a single word of this matter.”

His address for Song Qingshu had now changed. He had no choice but to pledge his loyalty. Wanyan Liang’s subordinates were all dead. Besides the two women, the only ones who knew what had happened tonight were him and Ouyang Feng. Those two women were enchanting beauties—no man would have the heart to kill them. That left only him and Ouyang Feng.

Ouyang Feng had a personal relationship with Song Qingshu, so he had nothing to worry about. But what leverage did he, Qiu Qianren, have?