Flower Stealing Master

Once they were far enough from the inn, Song Qingshu breathed a sigh of relief. Dodging her attacks, he called out to Mu Wanqing, “Miss, if you keep this up, I’ll have no choice but to retaliate.”

Mu Wanqing stabbed at him with her sword, gritting her teeth. “Then do it! Kill me with one stroke so it’s all over!”

Song Qingshu stepped back just in time to dodge a sword aimed at his nose, feeling frustrated. “You keep calling me a heartless scoundrel—are you sure you’ve got the right person?”

“It’s you, you heartless scoundrel!” Mu Wanqing grew more agitated, her sword strikes becoming even fiercer.

“A young lady shouldn’t throw such insults at a man,” Song Qingshu retorted in frustration, seeing her stubbornness. “Fine then, explain to me how I was unfaithful. Whom have I wronged? Was it you?”

Mu Wanqing’s breath caught, and she huffed, “You know very well yourself.”

“If I knew, would I even be asking you?” Song Qingshu was at a loss.

“You…” Mu Wanqing started, but her cheeks flushed red, and she swallowed the words. She changed her approach. “You betrayed my sister! What else could you be but a scoundrel?”

“Your sister?” Song Qingshu was taken aback. “When did you get a sister?”

“Still pretending you don’t know me?” Mu Wanqing shot him a fierce glare. “If you don’t know me, how could you even know if I have a sister?”

“Wait…do you actually know who I am?” Song Qingshu felt something was wrong. He thought he’d successfully deceived everyone back at the tavern, but judging by Mu Wanqing’s behavior…

“Hmph. Once I’ve seen a shameless scoundrel like you, how could I forget?” Mu Wanqing’s face softened briefly as if recalling something.

“Uh…” Song Qingshu had no words. He took off his mask, smiling awkwardly at her. “Wanqing, I didn’t mean to hide from you. It’s just that my current activities must stay hidden from certain people.”

“Don’t call me that. Do we even know each other that well?” Mu Wanqing’s cheeks took on a slight blush.

“Didn’t we go through life-and-death together? Doesn’t that make us close? It hurts me a little to hear you say otherwise,” Song Qingshu sighed.

Mu Wanqing felt a pang of worry, fearing he might misunderstand her feelings. She wanted to explain but was still furious about his actions. She let out a cold hum. “We’re close, all right—close enough to be family.”

Song Qingshu brightened. “Wanqing, you truly are a bold woman, expressing your feelings so openly! As a man, I can’t keep being passive. How about I pick a good day to go to Dali and propose to your mother?”

Mu Wanqing flushed red from embarrassment and anger. “Who said I love you? And who wants you proposing anything! What I meant was…you’re already my brother-in-law!” Her voice softened as she began to sob.

Song Qingshu felt uneasy and quickly approached her, clumsily wiping her tears away. “I…I really don’t understand what you mean. How am I suddenly your brother-in-law?”

“Zhong Ling is my sister, and you…you treated her like that…” Sensing the warmth of his fingers on her cheek, Mu Wanqing blushed and took a step back, biting her lip. She didn’t know how to explain further, fearing he’d look down on her if he learned the truth about her background.

Thankfully, Song Qingshu was well aware of Duan Zhengchun’s complicated affairs, and Mu Wanqing’s hint helped him recall the details. He let out a nervous laugh. “You and your sister are quite close! I didn’t expect her to share such details with you.”

Mu Wanqing turned her head, unwilling to let him see her tears. She had left Nanjing in regret after being driven away by Shui Sheng but, with her pride, could never turn back to look for him. In despair, she returned to Dali to live with her master, Qin Hongmian, in isolation.

Qin Hongmian assumed Mu Wanqing’s distress was due to her infatuation with Duan Yu. Not knowing how to console her, and burdened by her own guilt, Qin Hongmian missed her daughter’s true feelings.

Then one day, Zhong Ling came to visit. Mu Wanqing learned that Zhong Ling had been studying with the Five Poisons Cult’s Lan Fenghuang and had come back to visit her mother and Mu Wanqing.

The two had grown up together, and although they weren’t blood-related, they were close as sisters. Zhong Ling, ever naive, revealed some of her private thoughts.

When Zhong Ling described her lover as a man like no other, Mu Wanqing merely smiled, picturing someone else. But as Zhong Ling continued, Mu Wanqing began to notice an unsettling resemblance between Zhong Ling’s descriptions and her own memories.

Driven by curiosity, she finally asked for the man’s name. Upon hearing “Song Qingshu,” Mu Wanqing felt as if she’d been struck by lightning.

Unaware of Mu Wanqing’s turmoil, Zhong Ling continued to share stories, occasionally blushing as she recounted the love she and Song Qingshu shared. Mu Wanqing could hardly bear it but forced herself to listen with a strained smile.

After Zhong Ling left, Mu Wanqing grew increasingly agitated. When Qin Hongmian asked her to assassinate a woman of the Suzhou’s Wang family, she agreed without hesitation.

However, upon reaching the Central Plains, she heard tales of Song Qingshu’s heroics as he led the Golden Serpent Camp to victory over the Qing forces. The stories stirred something within her, and she changed course to Shandong, unable to tell if she was seeking justice for Zhong Ling or closure for herself.

Seeing Mu Wanqing’s silence, Song Qingshu felt uneasy. He knew he hadn’t acted honorably—how could Mu Wanqing feel knowing he had been intimate with her sister?

“Wanqing, what happened between Ling’er and me… I was severely injured, and she only did it to save my life…” Song Qingshu briefly recounted their story.

“I already know.” Mu Wanqing huffed, recalling Zhong Ling’s joyful recount. Did he really have to bring it up again?

“I feel for both Ling’er and you alike. How could I be accused of betrayal?” Song Qingshu asked gently.

“Who has feelings for you!” Mu Wanqing scoffed, though she felt a pang of jealousy. “If you weren’t unfaithful, would you have abandoned Ling’er at the Five Poisons Sect without a word? She’s a fool to trust you unconditionally, but I’m not that easily deceived. Since I arrived in the Central Plains, I’ve heard of your romantic exploits— Ninth Princess, the Emei Sect leader, Miss Zeng…”

Mu Wanqing’s words dripped with bitterness, but she noticed him smiling and grew angrier. “Do you find this amusing?”

“Wanqing, did you come all this way to confront me for Ling’er’s sake, or was it…for yourself?” Song Qingshu’s smile held a hint of teasing.

Mu Wanqing’s expression shifted, her face flushed with anger. “I traveled a thousand miles just for you to insult me? What’s so special about Ling’er that you treat her so gently?”

“Would you like me to treat you as I do Ling’er?” Song Qingshu chuckled, moving a step closer.

Mu Wanqing was startled, retreating hastily, but he pulled her close. Losing her balance, she stumbled into his arms.

Before she could react, Song Qingshu’s lips met hers. She pushed him away, both embarrassed and angry. “You…how dare you take advantage of me!”

Song Qingshu smiled. “Isn’t this how I treat Ling’er? She always responds obediently.”

“Shut up!” Mu Wanqing’s face reddened further as she wiped her lips. “I’m not a fool like her.”

“And that’s the point,” Song Qingshu said, spreading his hands. “Each of you is unique, and I treat each of you uniquely. Would you want me to treat you as I do other women?”

“Ridiculous!” Mu Wanqing glared at him, her anger fading without her realizing it.

“Wanqing, if you’re still angry, you’re free to shoot me with your poison darts.” Seeing her expression soften, Song Qingshu seized the opportunity.

“Hah!” Mu Wanqing smirked. “With your skills, my arrows wouldn’t even touch you!”

Song Qingshu closed his eyes. “Don’t worry, to appease you, I won’t dodge or use inner power. If I die, let it be heaven’s punishment for my unfaithfulness.”

Seeing his surrender, Mu Wanqing pointed her wrist-dart at him in anger. “Do you really think I won’t shoot?”

Hidden behind a distant tree, Li Mochou watched with a strange expression. 

“It really is that rascal Song Qingshu—risking his life to win her over. Now that’s dedication.”

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