Flower Stealing Master

“Esteemed Zhang, your guidance is wise,” Song Qingshu said gloomily. Unable to provide an explanation, he could only silently acquiesce.

“Boundless blessings of the heavens. What is meant to be will be, and what is not should not be forced…” Zhang Sanfeng shook his head slightly and drifted away.

Hearing Song Qingshu close the door, the three women on the bed could no longer sit still and fled in embarrassment. Only Ah Zi remained comfortably sprawled on the bed, showing no intention of leaving.

“Senior, I’m sorry. I didn’t know they… were inside,” Ren Yingying said, her face flushed red with embarrassment. She felt extremely awkward, especially since she had accidentally stumbled into such an indecent scene. But he was truly outrageous—having two women accompany him at the same time? And to think I once considered him a righteous gentleman.

Realizing he wasn’t the kind of virtuous man who could resist temptations, Ren Yingying suddenly felt that her plan to send herself into the tiger’s den was a terrible miscalculation.

“It’s fine. After all, they, like you, were just fleeing into hiding,” Song Qingshu said with a slight smile.

“Is that so?” Ren Yingying’s lips curved into a faint smile, but she cast him a doubtful glance, clearly unconvinced. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Song Qingshu felt even more frustrated. He could easily discern Ren Yingying’s thoughts, but the more he tried to explain, the worse it would look. Holding onto her to explain further was out of the question.

“By the way, what did Esteemed Zhang mean by his last words just now?” Ren Yingying suddenly remembered and asked quickly.

“Oh, you mean that? Esteemed Zhang assumed we were… involved and was subtly reprimanding us. Don’t you think someone as skilled as him wouldn’t know you were hiding on the bed?” Song Qingshu replied nonchalantly.

“Ah!” Ren Yingying panicked instantly, instinctively blaming him. “Why didn’t you explain?”

Before Song Qingshu could respond, Ah Zi interjected indignantly, “How can you be like this? My master went out of his way to help you annul your engagement, and you don’t even thank him but instead blame him?”

Wu Yunzhu, who had initially been grateful to Ren Yingying for saving her father, couldn’t help but voice her thoughts. “Sister Ren, Song Qingshu is a great hero. Why are you trying so hard to annul the engagement?”

Hearing this, Song Qingshu felt secretly pleased. No wonder Ding Chunqiu cultivated such flattering skills. Having someone around who admired you truly felt wonderful.

Ren Yingying realized that everything she had said to the senior earlier had been overheard by the two women. She glanced at Wu Yunzhu curiously. “You know that man?”

“I don’t.” Wu Yunzhu looked regretful but quickly became starry-eyed. “But I’ve heard many, many stories about him: attempting to assass!nate the emperor alone with just a sword, defeating countless heroes to seize the title of Golden Serpent King, rallying storms to vanquish an army of one hundred thousand… In my heart, he’s a great hero clad in golden armor, stepping on auspicious clouds.”

“He’s not as great as you make him out to be.” Song Qingshu felt a bit embarrassed by her praise.

“Big Brother, I wasn’t talking about you. Why are you getting shy?” Wu Yunzhu asked, puzzled.

“Uh…” Song Qingshu was at a loss for words when Ren Yingying suddenly chimed in, “Elder Xu was right. That man is no hero. He’s a despicable, shameless scoundrel!”

Song Qingshu’s face darkened. Sure, he had taken advantage of her a few times, but did she really need to insult him like this?

Wu Yunzhu was unconvinced. “Sister Ren, Brother Song isn’t that kind of person!”

Ren Yingying sneered. “You’ve never met him. How do you know he isn’t like that?”

“I…” Wu Yunzhu hesitated but insisted, “Brother Song definitely isn’t like that!” She quickly added, “Sister Ren, since you know him, why don’t you explain how he’s despicable and shameless?”

“He treated me…” Ren Yingying’s breath caught as she swallowed her words, too embarrassed to share the details. “He’s just that kind of person!”

“Sister Ren, you’re being unreasonable!” Wu Yunzhu was on the verge of tears.

“Heh,” Ah Zi, who had been quietly observing, suddenly chuckled. “Miss Ren’s hesitance, coupled with her embarrassed and angry expression, clearly shows that your Brother Song must have taken advantage of her. Perhaps she has already… well, naturally, she wouldn’t want to explain.”

“What?” Wu Yunzhu stared at Ren Yingying blankly. “Is that true?”

“Of course not!” Ren Yingying’s cheeks flushed as she glared at Ah Zi. “Stop spouting nonsense!”

“Such a pity, truly a pity,” Ah Zi remarked nonchalantly.

“What’s a pity?” Ren Yingying frowned and asked despite herself.

Ah Zi sighed deeply. “I pity Young Master Linghu. His beloved has probably cheated on him countless times, and he remains oblivious.”

“I’ll kill you!” Ren Yingying, who had always been revered in the Sun Moon Holy Cult, couldn’t bear such humiliation. She drew a dagger from her sleeve and lunged at Ah Zi.

Prepared for this, Ah Zi quickly dodged behind Song Qingshu, yelling as she evaded, “Ah! Someone is so enraged that she’s resorting to murder! Master, save me!”

Ren Yingying’s strikes were all blocked by Song Qingshu, leaving her both angry and anxious. “Come out if you dare!”

“Tch~” Ah Zi sneered. “I’m no match for you. Why would I step out and let you kill me? Do you think I’m stupid, or are you the one who’s stupid?” Having grown up in the scheming Xingxiu Sect, Ah Zi was a pragmatist who paid no heed to martial etiquette.

“You!” Ren Yingying stomped her foot in frustration.

“Alright, alright. Ah Zi, stop provoking her. Miss Ren has just recovered and can’t handle such stress,” Song Qingshu interjected, trying to defuse the situation. “Ah Zi grew up in the Western Regions and speaks without restraint. Please don’t take offense.”

“Hmph. For your sake, I’ll let it slide this time,” Ren Yingying huffed, glaring fiercely at Ah Zi, who returned the look with a brazen eye roll.

“It’s late. I won’t disturb your rest any longer,” Ren Yingying said, feeling uneasy after Zhang Sanfeng had seen through her hiding spot. She rose to leave.

“Miss Ren, you’ve just recovered and need rest,” Song Qingshu said, nodding slightly.

Ren Yingying acknowledged him with a nod and left gracefully.

After her departure, Wu Yunzhu also stood to leave. “Big Brother, I’ll head back too.” Now that she knew he wasn’t a man who stole others’ fiancées, a weight lifted from her heart.

Once the two women were gone, Song Qingshu noticed Ah Zi still hadn’t moved. Surprised, he asked, “Why are you still here?”

Ah Zi smiled sweetly and ran behind him, starting to massage his shoulders. “Ah Zi is staying to serve Master.” 

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