Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 1052: Abandoned After Use

Even Cheng Yaojia looked up at him in surprise, thinking that although this man was ugly and fierce on the outside, he was unexpectedly a loyal and righteous hero.

Song Qingshu chuckled, stood up, and walked towards the two. Because of his shocking performance, Mu Gaofeng and Mu Wanqing instinctively backed away.

“When did Mu Gaofeng, the ‘Hunchback of the Northern Frontier,’ become such a chivalrous person?” Song Qingshu said expressionlessly.

Mu Gaofeng laughed harshly, “Although I, Mu Gaofeng, am not a good person, I am not a coward who abandons his niece and flees alone!” As soon as he finished speaking, he shoved Mu Wanqing aside and simultaneously drew his sword, attacking Song Qingshu.

“Run…?” Mu Gaofeng’s roar abruptly stopped. He knew that with his martial arts skills, he was no match for his opponent, but he could try to hold him off for a while. However, his sword thrust missed its mark, and his opponent vanished without a trace.

Mu Wanqing had already jumped halfway over the second-floor railing when a soft laugh reached her ears: “I still have so much to say to you, young lady, why are you in such a hurry to leave?”

Mu Wanqing then realized she was being held in the arms of the bearded man. Startled, she immediately raised her sleeve dart to shoot him, but he pressed down on something on her body, and her hand, only halfway raised, went limp.

“Let her go!” Mu Gaofeng roared, hastily swinging his camel-shaped sword to attack, but Song Qingshu pointed a finger at his chest, freezing him in place.

“One Yang Finger? Who is Duan Zhengchun to you?” Mu Gaofeng was instantly filled with shock and anger.

Song Qingshu smiled slightly, ignoring him, and turned to carry Mu Wanqing away.

“If you dare touch me again, I… my husband will definitely kill you!” Mu Wanqing glared at him.

“Your husband?” Song Qingshu subconsciously touched his nose. “I wonder who your husband is, young lady?”

“I’m afraid I’ll scare you if I tell you,” Mu Wanqing said deliberately.

“Oh?” Song Qingshu had a rough idea, and his mischievous side emerged. He feigned curiosity. “Then I really must see for myself.”

“Hmph, my husband is none other than the Golden Serpent King, Song Qingshu!” Mu Wanqing said with considerable pride. When they parted, he had entrusted her with revealing his name in times of crisis. However, she hadn’t used his name when she encountered danger at Mantuo Manor. Now, having no other choice, she could only try it as a last resort.

“Song Qingshu!” Upon hearing this name, the Qing soldiers in the room all took several steps back, as if facing a formidable enemy. It turned out that the story of Song Qingshu’s crushing defeat of 100,000 Qing troops, and his final act of summoning wind and rain, had been deliberately exaggerated and embellished by certain individuals, becoming almost mythical. While this might not have affected other places, the Qing soldiers suffered greatly from it, and were terrified at the mere mention of his name.

Song Qingshu hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from the Qing soldiers around him upon hearing his name. However, seeing Mu Wanqing’s proud expression, how could he bear to disappoint her?

“Ah, could it be that Song Qingshu who defeated all the heroes of the world and ultimately won the title of Golden Serpent King?”

Song Qingshu deliberately feigned shock and took a few steps back.

Cheng Yaojia was startled. They had been together for the past few days, and she had long admired his martial arts to the point of utter admiration, even considering him the most powerful master she knew. Who knew he would react this way upon hearing a name? Was Song Qingshu really that powerful?

Mu Wanqing was also taken aback. She had only intended to use Song Qingshu’s name to instill some fear in him, but who knew he would react so dramatically? After all, in her memory, while Song Qingshu’s martial arts skills were high, they were probably only on par with the man before her. There was no need for him to be so frightened.

Seeing her puzzled expression, Song Qingshu realized his acting was rather amateurish. He coughed to cover his embarrassment: “Hmph, you think I will believe he’s your husband just because you say so? Who knows if you’re just making up some random story to scare me?”

“What young lady would joke about something like this?” Mu Wanqing immediately became anxious.

“I don’t care, take her back and interrogate her properly to find out if you’re lying.”

Song Qingshu was about to step forward when Mu Wanqing cried out, “Don’t touch me!”

Seeing her panicked expression, yet with a hint of determination in her eyes, Song Qingshu couldn’t bear to let her suffer any longer. He said softly, “Alright, alright, I won’t touch you. But is it alright if a woman helps you?”

He then returned to his seat and said to Cheng Yaojia, “Thank you for your help, Madam.”

Cheng Yaojia thought to herself, “You’re flirting with some young girl here, why are you dragging me into this?” But seeing the other woman’s gentle eyes, she found herself unable to refuse. She pouted slightly and walked to Mu Wanqing’s side, “Miss, let me help you.”

Although Mu Wanqing was usually ruthless, she couldn’t bring herself to get angry at this woman who was gentle to the core. After hesitating for a moment, she let her help her.

Seeing Song Qingshu leave with a beautiful and dignified young woman, and return with an exceptionally beautiful young girl, the guards at the Daotai Yamen were all inwardly impressed, thinking that this high-ranking Jin official was truly skilled at seducing women.

Back in the courtyard, Song Qingshu had his guards throw Zhang Hongfan into the woodshed. He was much more polite to Mu Gaofeng. Originally, he didn’t have a good impression of this treacherous and ruthless hunchback from the original story, but Mu Gaofeng’s actions in standing up for Mu Wanqing at the inn had greatly changed his opinion. So he secretly instructed his men to treat him well.

Then, Cheng Yaojia was resentfully sent to the next room, while Song Qingshu carried Mu Wanqing into his own room.

“Let go, you b@stard!”

“My husband will kill you!”

“Don’t t0uch me!”

Mu Wanqing struggled desperately until the door closed, causing the guards in the courtyard to wear knowing smiles.

After returning to her room, Cheng Yaojia sat down and stood up several times. Finally, biting her lip as if making a huge decision, she tiptoed to the wall and eavesdropped on what was being said next door.

Song Qingshu closed the door, gently placed Mu Wanqing on a chair, and then sat beside her, looking at her tenderly.

Although he didn’t touch her body again, which made Mu Wanqing secretly breathe a sigh of relief, her spine still felt uneasy from his direct gaze.

“What are you looking at? Believe me, I’ll gouge your eyes out!” She was used to speaking harshly, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized that the person in front of her was not one of those low-level figures in the martial arts world she could easily teach a lesson.

“If I lose my eyes, won’t you be the one who suffers in the end?” Song Qingshu laughed.

“Hmph, what does it matter to me if you lose your eyes?” Mu Wanqing felt that there was something strange about the person in front of her, an indescribable oddity… and a sense of déjà vu. 

“Of course it’s related! If I lost my eyes, wouldn’t you be marrying a blind husband?” Song Qingshu couldn’t bear to tease her any longer and spoke in his original voice.

“Who wants to marry you? I have a husband…” Mu Wanqing stopped mid-sentence, her face suddenly filled with disbelief as she stared blankly at him. “You are…”

Song Qingshu removed his mask, revealing his true face, and looked at her tenderly.

“Song Lang!” Mu Wanqing was overjoyed and immediately reached out to pinch his cheek. “Is it really you?”

“Ouch, that hurts!” Song Qingshu knew she was trying to confirm whether he was wearing a mask. “Who else could it be but me? The real deal!”

“Song Lang!” Having confirmed his identity, Mu Wanqing immediately threw herself into his arms and sobbed.

“You’ve suffered these past few days, my love, don’t cry~” Song Qingshu patted her back, gently comforting her.

Mu Wanqing suddenly sat up straight and slapped him.

Although Song Qingshu managed to dodge, he saw the tears welling in her eyes and his heart softened. He sat there and let her slap him.

“Are you satisfied now?” Song Qingshu gently wiped away the tears from her cheeks and asked tenderly.

“I hate you!” Mu Wanqing said, wiping her tears. “It was like this last time, and it’s like this again. Is it fun to tease me?”

Song Qingshu pulled her into his arms, his face gleaming as he whispered in her ear, “Because teasing you is really fun~”

Mu Wanqing’s heart fluttered. She unconsciously recalled their intimate moments, and her face flushed red. She said coquettishly, “You’re so annoying~”

Knowing her anger had subsided considerably, Song Qingshu seized the opportunity to change the subject, asking, “Why are you with Mu Gaofeng, and being chased by Murong Fu?”

“It’s because of that assassination attempt on that…that woman from the Wang family… well, Mantuo Manor was heavily guarded, and I accidentally got captured. Luckily, the woman from the Wang family wasn’t there; only a weak and frail girl was there. She didn’t make things difficult for me and even tried to secretly release me, but the manor’s matrons stopped her. So I was locked up, to be dealt with after the woman from the Wang family returned to the manor. Later, my uncle passed through Suzhou and, upon learning of my predicament, stormed into Mantuo Manor and rescued me. Because he injured many people in Mantuo Manor, it alerted Murong Fu in Yanziwu. To please his aunt, he volunteered to hunt us down.” Mu Wanqing spoke casually, but Song Qingshu’s heart pounded with fear.

He knew that the woman from the Wang family Mu Wanqing mentioned was Madam Wang, Li Qingluo. 

Qin Hongmian had the worst relationship with her and often sent Mu Wanqing to assassinate her. As for the weak and frail girl, she was naturally Li Qingluo’s daughter, Wang Yuyan. 

He hadn’t expected her to be so kind, so forgiving of those who came seeking revenge. However, what intrigued Song Qingshu most was the “uncle” she mentioned, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Isn’t your father Duan Zhengchun? How come Mu Gaofeng is your uncle?”

“Don’t mention that person to me!” Hearing the name Duan Zhengchun, Mu Wanqing immediately recalled some unpleasant things. After all, since becoming acquainted with the Duan family, she hadn’t encountered anything good.

After a moment, she spoke softly, “Back then, my mother was seduced and abandoned by that man. Heartbroken, she returned home, only to be forced by her family to marry into the Mu family of Western Xia to cover up this scandal.”