Flower Stealing Master

“Eh?” Seeing Ren Yingying rushing toward the bed, Song Qingshu instinctively raised his hand to stop her. However, he suddenly reconsidered. Since the two women inside had already met, what harm would it do to have one more person involved?

Ren Yingying instinctively darted into the bed curtains, letting out a sigh of relief. But she immediately sensed that something was off. Turning to the side, she saw two young women with bright, expressive eyes glaring at her with hostility. Startled, she almost screamed but managed to cover her mouth in time.

Knowing she couldn’t afford to be discovered, Ren Yingying hastily calmed herself and began sizing up the two women. She quickly recognized one as Wu Yunzhu, the young lady from the Suo Etu family, and the other as a girl named Ah Zi.

Seeing Ren Yingying enter, Wu Yunzhu appeared as though she had seen a savior, shrinking closer to her and casting a resentful glance at Ah Zi.

Completely puzzled, Ren Yingying noticed Wu Yunzhu’s disheveled attire. Her cherry lips parted in shock. What kind of scenario was this—disheveled at such a late hour on a man’s bed? Anyone would think the worst. And with Ah Zi, who had already acknowledged the enigmatic senior as her master, now sharing a bed with Wu Yunzhu…

Thinking back to how Song Qingshu had been subtly trying to send her away earlier, Ren Yingying’s cheeks flushed. She couldn’t help but curse silently: ‘Pah! I thought he was a righteous gentleman, but to think he’s actually… this shameless!’

Ah Zi, though displeased that Wu Yunzhu had slipped out of her control, remained wary of Ren Yingying’s martial prowess. Not daring to act rashly, she held back. Thus, the three women on the bed fell into an eerie silence.

“Esteemed Zhang, what brings you here so late? Has something happened?” Seeing that the three women on the bed hadn’t descended into chaos, Song Qingshu sighed in relief and went to welcome Zhang Sanfeng inside.

“Don’t overthink it, young friend. I simply had a sudden impulse to chat with you,” Zhang Sanfeng replied with a hearty laugh as he entered, his brows furrowing slightly as he glanced toward the bed.

Song Qingshu’s heart sank. With Zhang Sanfeng’s cultivation, it would be nearly impossible to hide the presence of people on the bed. However, as long as it wasn’t explicitly mentioned, Zhang Sanfeng might let it slide.

“Esteemed Zhang, you overpraise me. This junior… Xu Ruowu, does not deserve such a title,” Song Qingshu replied, wiping cold sweat from his brow. Zhang Sanfeng was his grandmaster in the lineage, and though his true identity wasn’t known, Song Qingshu still didn’t have the gall to act overly familiar.

“Xu Ruowu?” Zhang Sanfeng was momentarily stunned. Having lived for over a century, he immediately caught the peculiarity of the name—’Xu Ruowu’, which essentially hinted at a fabricated identity. Still, Zhang Sanfeng’s nature was easygoing. He assumed the name’s revelation indicated honesty, and he didn’t dwell on it.

“Young hero Xu, though you are young, your martial arts are remarkable. Might I inquire about your lineage?” Zhang Sanfeng asked curiously. The martial world had its share of masters, but only a handful reached Song Qingshu’s level. Zhang Sanfeng was familiar with all of them, yet this young man seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

Despite Song Qingshu’s mask, Zhang Sanfeng’s cultivation allowed him to discern his youthful age with ease.

Hearing the question, the three women on the bed perked up their ears. They, too, were curious about Song Qingshu’s origins.

“My martial arts…” Song Qingshu hesitated before replying, “I’ve had several masters in my life. However, since I haven’t obtained their permission, I cannot divulge their identities. I beg for Esteemed Zhang’s forgiveness.”

What a joke! Whether it was the Nine Yin Scripture, the Divine Brilliance Scripture, or the Joyful Meditation Method, any mention would risk exposing his identity. After some thought, he decided to remain vague.

“I see…” Zhang Sanfeng looked slightly disappointed. Many sects had peculiar rules, so he didn’t press further. “If that’s the case, I won’t pry into your martial arts lineage. However, I do have another matter to discuss with you. I hope you won’t mind.” Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“Please, feel free to ask, Esteemed Zhang. If I know the answer, I’ll share it,” Song Qingshu replied.

“It concerns you and Miss Ren.” Zhang Sanfeng’s face revealed a trace of awkwardness.

“Huh?” Song Qingshu looked embarrassed, knowing he was impersonating a man who had essentially stolen Zhang Sanfeng’s future granddaughter-in-law.

“It’s like this,” Zhang Sanfeng explained, “There are aspects of your relationship with Miss Ren that I don’t fully understand. There are questions I can’t ask her directly, so I must trouble you instead.”

Zhang Sanfeng sighed inwardly. Due to the incident involving Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu, he harbored reservations toward the demonic cults. Learning that Song Qingshu was marrying their saintess left him unsettled. To him, women from the demonic cults were unsuitable companions. Moreover, he had sensed someone on the bed earlier—likely Ren Yingying herself. This only solidified his resolve to intervene and end this engagement.

If not for Song Qingshu’s display of heroism in the forest and his genuine affection for Ren Yingying, Zhang Sanfeng might have already expressed his disapproval. Nevertheless, he felt it necessary to clarify the situation before making a decision.

Hearing this, Ren Yingying’s heart raced. Fearing Song Qingshu might make a misstep, she breathed a sigh of relief when his answers came swiftly and flawlessly. She couldn’t help but admire him: ‘This man is truly extraordinary. Even though he seemed impatient earlier, he remembered every detail I taught him without missing a word…’

Suddenly, she froze, her gaze darting toward Ah Zi and Wu Yunzhu. If they stayed here, wouldn’t they have overheard everything she said earlier?

As if sensing her concern, Ah Zi’s face lit up with a sly smile. Ren Yingying instinctively glared at her, eyes filled with warning. But Ah Zi wasn’t one to back down, glaring back defiantly. 

Thankfully, neither dared make a sound, leaving their conflict confined to silent exchanges. 

Wu Yunzhu, observing their odd expressions, couldn’t help but stifle a laugh.

After finishing his questions, Zhang Sanfeng sighed. “So, you and Miss Ren have been through so much together, sharing life and death. It seems inappropriate for Qingshu to interfere… Very well, when I visit the Golden Serpent Camp, I’ll speak on your behalf.”

“Thank you, Esteemed Zhang.” Though grateful, Song Qingshu felt conflicted. ‘Speaking on my own behalf… What kind of ridiculous situation is this?’

Before leaving, Zhang Sanfeng hesitated and finally muttered, “Though you and Miss Ren are deeply in love, the proper way involves parental approval and a matchmaker. Proceeding as you have… is rather improper.” 

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